You mean you sold $2.5m of backpacks?!
j.k.
Thanks, nice to see some real numbers... kind of missed that in recent time.
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Free registration at the forum removes this block.You mean you sold $2.5m of backpacks?!
Wait... are you selling something now? Congrats dude! Can we get a thread on what you're up to?
I say what I say without a hint of irony or sarcasm, but if you've defied the conventional and collective wisdom of all these successful people by following your passion and ignoring the market needs, and created lightning in a bottle, I think everyone here will give you a standing ovation based on your gumption alone.Lol, maybe. If I do plan to, I will make a big post. The reason for hesitation is that many people on this forum say my opinion is worthless and my name has no weight.
Technically, you can convey the weight of the backpack through images. A picture of each backpack on a scale or video on Amazon.
You are right about the doubling of costs which is why I don't sell on Amazon. It locks you in on commodity zone where people are only competing on function-based value.
The fact that you are considering "price" as a value skew tells me this is in commodity zone. Amazon sales channel suppresses the abstract value (brand) which locks you into the commodity zone.
One of my products is literally 5x the retail cost. But why does it sell? Because it has abstract value on my own website. I don't even consider the price of competitors anymore.
But for me personally, I do click on the pricest option if I do a search. I click because I am wondering "What makes this backpack double the price? What is so good about it?" Although quality and price don't always go hand in hand, I got burned many times buying the cheaper product.
Gotcha, as @AgainstAllOdds stated the work ratio from doing these smaller businesses isn't worth it. I feared that you these low value adds as your main business...
As for the $5k...It would be hard for me to justify dumping $5k at scale for a product that isn't much different than the rest with a single value add, since you need to hit MOQ. If it doesn't sell, you just stuck there with essentially nothing. But if it does, your return can be quick. These businesses are just short term thinking and a small policy change can destroy them. Which is why I don't like that avenue.
What I am doing now is spending $5k on materials that can be used the prototype numerous iterations. The $5k is now many product iterations rather than at scale for a single product.
I'm starting to miss the point of this thread
It's a response like this that makes me think that you've never sold on Amazon before. Somebody looking for a backpack is scrolling and only seeing your main photo. That photo will have to convey that your back is lightweight somehow and make the person stop scrolling.
Yes but the scale would have to have only two points: "Light!" and "Not Light!""you can convey the weight of a back pack through a picture of a back pack on a scale.."
This thread is filled with doom and gloom, so it is good to see this and a few other posts that show that it really is possible to do well on Amazon.Product is king. I made a successful product, tested it into the real world. It costs me 60c, I listed it for $14.99. I listed it, never read one amazon guide, did not use any 'tactics'. Nothing . This month it will do 8k in revenue, (6k profit). All automated income, have friends I pay to make the product and ship in bulk to Amazon.
Correct. The great majority of negative posts in this thread are aimed at either:The stats on your post are of what average people (wantraprenuers) most likely doing retail arbitrage, selling white label items, or doing what ever money making product came across in an email from jundglescout took.
Vigilante was in effect talking about finding unique products to import and sell. A couple of years later I posted on this subject, and about weak efforts to sell products on Amazon.The bottom line is in order to succeed in the game the OP is trying to succeed in, you have to find a product that has never been imported into the United States and import it. That is the path of least resistance, and the best way to create value where none exists.
Unique products can still be found, but few are willing to make the extra effort required, although that effort can be considerably less than re-engineering existing products, or designing something totally new. I applaud those who do both, but finding unique products should not be ignored as an option.
As for slapping on a $5 Fiverr logo, that also is part of many e-commerce courses and does little to disguise the sameness that prevails among those who lack real marketing ability. They call it Private Labeling, but it's a poor way to differentiate. Helping overcome this problem was behind my writing of my second book about creating and sourcing labels and packaging that can help sell the product.
Finally, anyone relying only on Amazon has all their eggs in one basket, and that basket is being shaken.
Walter
Yep! And they take your product go to your supplier and under cut you selling the same product. Slick fishes! hahaGreat post! Add to that they can terminate your account anytime they want, and you're screwed!
I'm sorry to say that your venture was doomed from the moment you chose to use Junglescout. To find something unique it must not simply be without any existing listings on Amazon, or anywhere for that matter.My Personal experience getting a product going in the pets niche (note product was not unique but unique in the sense that there was nothing like it on amazon)...I used the junglescout course and extension to find a product that was 9/10 on the viable product metrics it had everything according to them, I invested 10k in a fully vetted manufacturer in China. Had It customized made all the product labelling did all the upc codes everything above board had 50 reviews. Product was starting to break even on what I had invested within 3 months.
It took me forever, but I just finished reading this thread. There was a lot to take in and I feel like I learned a lot, but I still have a million questions. I think the one on everyone’s mind who is new to E-commerce is: If Amazon sucks so bad, what is the better alternative?
I’m ready to invest in my future, e-commerce seems like the route that will get me where I want to be, but even after reading the negativity (and a lot of positivity) surrounding selling in Amazon, it seems to me to still be the best place to launch a new product. What would be a better alternative, if any?
It took me forever, but I just finished reading this thread. There was a lot to take in and I feel like I learned a lot, but I still have a million questions. I think the one on everyone’s mind who is new to E-commerce is: If Amazon sucks so bad, what is the better alternative?
I’m ready to invest in my future, e-commerce seems like the route that will get me where I want to be, but even after reading the negativity (and a lot of positivity) surrounding selling in Amazon, it seems to me to still be the best place to launch a new product. What would be a better alternative, if any?
I would like to add: don't disregard the power of direct mail for selling your ecommerce products. You can mail letters/promotions stupidly cheap and direct mail has significantly better conversion rates than online media. Plus - no Google or Facebook blocking your ads.Amazon's not bad. Make the listings. But also don't consider that your whole strategy. Other avenues that give you more control:
SEO > Own Site
Google PPC > Own Site
Facebook Ads > Own Site
Influencer Marketing > Own Site
SMM > Own Site
Direct Mail > Own Site
Email > Own Site
Cold Calling > Own Site
Tradeshow > Own Site
Amazon's not bad. Make the listings. But also don't consider that your whole strategy. Other avenues that give you more control:
SEO > Own Site
Google PPC > Own Site
Facebook Ads > Own Site
Influencer Marketing > Own Site
SMM > Own Site
Direct Mail > Own Site
Email > Own Site
Cold Calling > Own Site
Tradeshow > Own Site
If you can find a worthwhile product that has never previously been imported and sold in the US, you will for a while at least have no competition. To find something unique, I recommend looking at countries other than China for ideas.It seems like you need something a little more niche or innovative or you’re going to have a constant uphill battle competing with others. Right now that is my main focus, what can I provide that is going to be useful/helpful that isn’t already being sold by a ton of other people?
That's very good advice.Amazon's not bad. Make the listings. But also don't consider that your whole strategy. Other avenues that give you more control:
It's good to see that someone understands that direct mail is still a viable advertising medium.I would like to add: don't disregard the power of direct mail for selling your ecommerce products. You can mail letters/promotions stupidly cheap and direct mail has significantly better conversion rates than online media. Plus - no Google or Facebook blocking your ads.
If you can find a worthwhile product that has never previously been imported and sold in the US, you will for a while at least have no competition. To find something unique, I recommend looking at countries other than China for ideas.
If you do start selling such a product, take care to avoid allowing Amazon to know its origin.
Walter
I ordered some items the other day from AMZ and today they came in all separate boxes, 5 in total, with different labels and I'm sure, different shipping costs. The thing is, the entire order could have fit into a box about twice the size of a shoebox ...
I'm not familiar with logistics, but is there any reason for this? It looks like everything came from the same warehouse. So instead of one box and one shipping cost, they incurred five -- with five packaging costs. Makes zero sense.
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