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AMAZON FBA - The Journey Begins

A detailed account of a Fastlane process...

Ayanle Farah

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This is my progress thread. I will start Amazon FBA, now I don't know anything about this whatsoever but I've decided to learn as I go, I'm going to allow experience to teach me.

I won't read a single article, book or watch any videos on the topic, I'll only learn through trial and error.

Here we go!
 
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LittleJohn

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This is my progress thread. I will start Amazon FBA, now I don't know anything about this whatsoever but I've decided to learn as I go, I'm going to allow experience to teach me.

I won't read a single article, book or watch any videos on the topic, I'll only learn through trial and error.

Here we go!
Sounds positive.
What business experience if any might you already have?
 

Kyle T

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This will be interesting to watch unfold. Better keep us updated!
 
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biophase

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I won't read a single article, book or watch any videos on the topic, I'll only learn through trial and error.

Here we go!

But you will use jungle scout?

Your strategy makes no sense to me. But ok...

I’ll be reading.

Good luck!
 
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Ayanle Farah

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But you will use jungle scout?

Your strategy makes no sense to me. But ok...

I’ll be reading.

Good luck!
Thanks, I'm not even sure what jungle scout is exactly, if it's going to give me instructions then I won't use it. I just assumed it was an essential tool, kinda like how you can't create an online business without an internet connection.
 
G

Guest58302

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Well we're technically competing whether we know the other person's store name or not.
I think @Fastlane Liam means that someone could copy your products and directly compete with you. This thread comes to mind.
You can be transparent if you want to be but since you're on the Outside I would advocate being cautious and much more secretive about those things.
We can still learn from your experiences and cheer you on without knowing all the precise details.

Good luck!
 
G

Guest58302

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Your strategy makes no sense to me. But ok...
I'm posting once more to say that I agree here.
What compels you to try to build an Amazon business completely blind?
If you have the funds and it's some sort of experiment, I could understand...
But otherwise, you should know that business mistakes can be costly in both time and money.
It's much cheaper and less riskier to learn from others.
 

Ayanle Farah

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I think @Fastlane Liam means that someone could copy your products and directly compete with you. This thread comes to mind.
You can be transparent if you want to be but since you're on the Outside I would advocate being cautious and much more secretive about those things.
We can still learn from your experiences and cheer you on without knowing all the precise details.

Good luck!
Thanks to you and @Fastlane Liam I'll be more cautious from now.
 
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Ayanle Farah

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I'm posting once more to say that I agree here.
What compels you to try to build an Amazon business completely blind?
If you have the funds and it's some sort of experiment, I could understand...
But otherwise, you should know that business mistakes can be costly in both time and money.
It's much cheaper and less riskier to learn from others.
I'm not in any rush, it can take whatever time it needs to, I tried what you suggested for years and got nothing to show for it.

Being an entrepreneur is about carving your own path anyway, I got out of the mindset that I need specific instructions for everything which was ingrained in me from school.

I can figure it out on my own, I'm still open to take advice but I'm no longer going out of my way to search for it.

At the end of the day, nothing teaches better than experience.
 

Roli

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I'm not in any rush, it can take whatever time it needs to, I tried what you suggested for years and got nothing to show for it.

Being an entrepreneur is about carving your own path anyway, I got out of the mindset that I need specific instructions for everything which was ingrained in me from school.

I can figure it out on my own, I'm still open to take advice but I'm no longer going out of my way to search for it.

At the end of the day, nothing teaches better than experience.

It's all about getting the right product and having enough money to market it using the Amazon ads and you'll be fine. Otherwise you'll crash n burn.

Good luck.
 

Ayanle Farah

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If you dont mind me asking, what kind of responsibilities and/or time constraints might you have?
I'm studying at university, I don't have too much responsibilities but I've decided to give atleast two hours to Amazon everyday, ideally first thing in the morning.
 
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G

Guest58302

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I'm not in any rush, it can take whatever time it needs to, I tried what you suggested for years and got nothing to show for it.

Being an entrepreneur is about carving your own path anyway, I got out of the mindset that I need specific instructions for everything which was ingrained in me from school.

I can figure it out on my own, I'm still open to take advice but I'm no longer going out of my way to search for it.

At the end of the day, nothing teaches better than experience.
That's fair enough.
I gave you that suggestion because I know that in importing there can be pitfalls that beginners can easily fall into. So, if you're importing and/or getting a factory to manufacture your own product, I would at least recommend to learn about that process. (I'll link this thread. It's up to you whether or not you read it!)
#RIPCommandmentOfEntry
If you want to meet the Commandment of Entry: modified and improved versions of existing products is a good way to go at it. Another way is to find a product that is unavailable in whatever Amazon region you're selling in.
 
G

Guest58302

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any particular method you are aware of for doing this come to mind..
When searching the B2B platforms, and you find a product that looks interesting, at least ask the manufacturer do they already sell it in ......... (insert your country.)

There are other ways, not the least of which is to search in countries other than China. I have been recommending this approach for years and my latest book revision includes a large number of places to look. See: GOLD! - Sharing my lifetime experience in export/import. Product sourcing specialist.

I also feel the need to clarify something. Neither of the two methods of meeting the Commandment of Entry that I suggested are my original methods. I learned them from Biophase and Walter Hay respectively.
 
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CareCPA

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...
I won't read a single article, book or watch any videos on the topic, I'll only learn through trial and error.
..!
This is the reason I'm watching. Should be entertaining at least.

I would gently suggest that this is the most difficult way of starting a business, and difficulty does not always lead to success. If others have done similar things before, why not take a lesson from what has worked for them, and then iterate to make it better? Seems foolish to start from scratch when others will have two decades of experience in Amazon already. By the time you get the basics, the landscape will change again.
 

biophase

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I think @Fastlane Liam means that someone could copy your products and directly compete with you. This thread comes to mind.
You can be transparent if you want to be but since you're on the Outside I would advocate being cautious and much more secretive about those things.
We can still learn from your experiences and cheer you on without knowing all the precise details.

Good luck!

To be quite honest, I don't think it will matter. I don't mean to be a pessimist here, but the chances of a first run product being successful without any guidance in my opinion is close to 0%. I highly doubt that anyone would copy him or try to compete with his chosen product.

This thread may turn into ecom's version of the disaster artist (the room).
 

Ayanle Farah

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Dec 13, 2016
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This is the reason I'm watching. Should be entertaining at least.

I would gently suggest that this is the most difficult way of starting a business, and difficulty does not always lead to success. If others have done similar things before, why not take a lesson from what has worked for them, and then iterate to make it better? Seems foolish to start from scratch when others will have two decades of experience in Amazon already. By the time you get the basics, the landscape will change again.
Since what I learn will be based on experience, wouldn't that give me the most up to date information on what's going on?

What you're suggesting is straightforward logic, it works not theory, not so much in practice.

If you did something great, there is little chance I can replicate your results unless you show me everything in detail and even then I still might lack something which makes it not work out.

Learning from others experience is something a person like Tai Lopez would say and I gave it a go, the person doing that is focused on shortcuts though I can only speak for myself.

Like I said above, I'm open to advice but I will no longer go out of my way to look for it.
 
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CareCPA

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Since what I learn will be based on experience, wouldn't that give me the most up to date information on what's going on?
No.

There are a plethora of subjects that go into this. E-commerce is a full business, not just a hobby.
You need to learn:
Product Sourcing
Quality Control
Manufacturing Specs
Importing (including what testing is needed for your products, tariff rates, etc)
Freight forwarding and general logistics
Warehousing (at home, or third party, or Amazon's rules)
Amazon packaging and labeling requirements
Trademarking (if you want any brand protection)
Amazon PPC
Google Ads
Facebook Ads
Bing Ads
All other smaller advertising platforms
Brand following and social media
Branding and Labeling
Entity Creation
Taxation
Accounting
Lending

How long do you think it's going to take to learn all this by trial and error? And what do you think the financial cost will be? And once you learn it, how are you going to keep up with all the different areas?
One dumb move on freight forwarding or customs: thousands of dollars
One dumb move on advertising: probably hundreds of dollars wasted
One dumb move on taxation: thousands of dollars (assuming you actually make a profit).
One dumb move on testing (i.e. you didn't get something tested for lead that you needed to): product rejected. Thousands wasted.

I just think this is a pretty ignorant (in the most literal sense) way to start a business.

I'm open to advice but I will no longer go out of my way to look for it.
The above is my advice, freely given. If you don't follow it, that is completely your choice, but I wouldn't expect the more experienced e-commerce guys to jump in if you seem unwilling to do any research.
 

Ayanle Farah

Silver Contributor
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Dec 13, 2016
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No.

There are a plethora of subjects that go into this. E-commerce is a full business, not just a hobby.
You need to learn:
Product Sourcing
Quality Control
Manufacturing Specs
Importing (including what testing is needed for your products, tariff rates, etc)
Freight forwarding and general logistics
Warehousing (at home, or third party, or Amazon's rules)
Amazon packaging and labeling requirements
Trademarking (if you want any brand protection)
Amazon PPC
Google Ads
Facebook Ads
Bing Ads
All other smaller advertising platforms
Brand following and social media
Branding and Labeling
Entity Creation
Taxation
Accounting
Lending

How long do you think it's going to take to learn all this by trial and error? And what do you think the financial cost will be? And once you learn it, how are you going to keep up with all the different areas?
One dumb move on freight forwarding or customs: thousands of dollars
One dumb move on advertising: probably hundreds of dollars wasted
One dumb move on taxation: thousands of dollars (assuming you actually make a profit).
One dumb move on testing (i.e. you didn't get something tested for lead that you needed to): product rejected. Thousands wasted.

I just think this is a pretty ignorant (in the most literal sense) way to start a business.


The above is my advice, freely given. If you don't follow it, that is completely your choice, but I wouldn't expect the more experienced e-commerce guys to jump in if you seem unwilling to do any research.
Thanks, I will take your advice and do research on the subjects above.
 

Roli

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To be quite honest, I don't think it will matter. I don't mean to be a pessimist here, but the chances of a first run product being successful without any guidance in my opinion is close to 0%. I highly doubt that anyone would copy him or try to compete with his chosen product.

This thread may turn into ecom's version of the disaster artist (the room).

I learned this the hard (and expensive) way.
 
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miraman

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Thanks, I will take your advice and do research on the subjects above.
Whoops, did you just violate your own rule? lol - I think maybe I understand where you're coming from though, not wasting time on endless youtube guru videos and instead learn from the Amazon platform itself as you go.
 

Ayanle Farah

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Dec 13, 2016
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Whoops, did you just violate your own rule? lol - I think maybe I understand where you're coming from though, not wasting time on endless youtube guru videos and instead learn from the Amazon platform itself as you go.
I did say I was open to advice and I'm studying the above subjects, taking notes on each one, once I have a basic understanding of these topics, I'll create a detailed long-term plan, I already have a great potential product I'm going to focus on.
 
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