ECommerce Momentum podcast

#Business #Podcasting Education #ECommerce Momentum

32:08

Did you know there’s an actual science to uncovering your hidden genius? It’s not about filling out a “dream job” worksheet—it’s about understanding how your brain is wired, identifying your natural aptitudes, and using them to thrive. This isn’t just a self-discovery exercise. It’s a game-changer for your career, your relationships, and how you show up in the world. Betsy Wills and Alex Ellison are redefining how we approach career discovery, proving that finding the right path isn’t just about landing a job—it’s about creating a life that aligns with who you actually are. ✅ Betsy Wills – Cofounder of YouScience, a groundbreaking psychometric assessment platform reshaping how we understand our talents. She’s also the Director of Marketing & Branding at Diversified Trust and a frequent lecturer at Vanderbilt University and NYU’s Stern School of Business. ✅ Alex Ellison – Founder of Throughline Guidance, a global college and career counseling practice. She’s a sought-after writer, speaker, and expert in college readiness and career development. ✅ Together, they co-authored Your Hidden Genius: The Science-Backed Strategy to Uncovering and Harnessing Your Innate Talents. Discovering your hidden genius isn’t just about career success—it’s about tapping into what makes you, you . Connect with Betsy & Alex: Website (Free Downloads): www.yourhiddengenius.com Book: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/your-hidden-genius-elizabeth-m-willsalexandra-ellison Related Podcast Episodes: How To Be You, But Better with Olga Khazan | 288 Finding Purpose Through Human Design with Emma Dunwoody | 228 195 / Finding (And Using) Your Voice with Amy Green Smith Share the Love: If you found this episode insightful, please share it with a friend, tag us on social media, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform! 🔗 Subscribe & Review: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music…

eCommerce Momentum Podcast

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Ecommerce MOMENTUM is a podcast created for you, the Amazon, Ebay, Shopify seller, or the Next Great eCommerce seller! We are here to help you understand how the top successful ecommerce sellers today got where they are, they tell you how they got unstuck, how they were able to outpace the herd and create a true “lifestyle” business. Each episode brings you a top seller with specific actionable steps to help you start, grow or get unstuck. This twice a week podcast will help your Amazon and Ebay Business with selling on Amazon podcast and selling on Ebay podcast episodes.

197 episodes

eCommerce Momentum Podcast

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updated 3 years ago

Series home•Feed

197 episodes

#Business #Podcasting Education #ECommerce Momentum

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eCommerce Momentum Podcast

1
440 : Kellon Ambrose - Some things just work - How foundation building on Amazon brings results 54:42

3 years ago54:42

54:42

Again another super smart, no-excuses seller who figured stuff out. Building out what you figured out seems smart enough, but avoiding shiny object syndrome (seems most sellers have this gene!) and staying focused, has brought Kellon incredible results. Kellon's previous episode for context: https://ecommercemomentum.com/episodes/319-kellon-ambrose-gaining-slight-edge-can-make-difference-amazon-business/…

eCommerce Momentum Podcast

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439 : Matthew DeGlopper - Manage your cash or it will manage you - Practical steps to improve everyday 1:01:33

3 years ago1:01:33

1:01:33

Feels great to be back in the saddle releasing great new episodes. Here we go pretty deep with a successful seller who stumbles like the rest of us but is willing to say it out loud! I even delete part of the conversation as he gets too honest! (I explain my decision in the episode) So sit back and learn how to make incremental improvements, build a team and build out your systems.…

eCommerce Momentum Podcast

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438 : Jamison Philippi – Small changes repeated everyday to become a 7 figure seller 51:49

4 years ago51:49

51:49

Jamison tells us his biggest secret..... He changed his perspective. He realized the things that were holding him back and slowly changed them. Not overnight mind you, slowly he adjusted over time. That can stick. Think of that last diet you were on. You cut out all the good things and guess what. It likely lasted two weeks. Jamison has figured out that he is also like that and by breaking them down into bite sized changes (ha!) he has benefitted.…

eCommerce Momentum Podcast

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437 : Tyler Nelson – Adjusting to significant changes in Amazon and life 1:01:56

4 years ago1:01:56

1:01:56

Another great episode as part of my 50+ years of selling series. Here we have Tyler Nelson, a 26 year old seller. We spend time talking about the changes in the last three years since we last talked. Most importantly how he dealt with them. Lot's of places to stumble, yet Tyler pushes through. As he says: Selling on Amazon is the only job he has ever had.…

eCommerce Momentum Podcast

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436 : Dan Wentworth - 20+ year overnight success - Add more value than you take 54:58

4 years ago54:58

54:58

This continues my series on 50+ years of selling. Dan is 61 (as of this recording) and he has been successful for the last 20 years. It has not been easy, but it is simple. So could you start at 41 (pick any age between 41 and 61) and you too could have Dan level success. However you will also have to make the sacrifices Dan has made. You will have to win and lose as Dan did. You will have to help hundreds of other sellers (competitors) as Dan did. You will have to have a super great partner (a "Michelle" ) as Dan does. You will have to develop a great team and make them even better as Dan has. So get the point. It's hard work. But it is doable. So why not get started?…

eCommerce Momentum Podcast

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435 : Stephen Peterson – Putting together a string of good decisions makes you lucky 57:55

4 years ago57:55

57:55

So this episode is about our business. The good and the not so good. As the title suggests we have been fortunate to be able to take advantage of some good choices. Mind you, we have not always made great decisions. So if you can start by making the next right decision, then the next, the next, etc... you too can have a phenomenal year.…

eCommerce Momentum Podcast

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434 : Lloyd Nohl – Keep pushing and do it – Selling ecommerce and retail in this environment 49:27

4 years ago49:27

49:27

Great episode where Lloyd talk us through pushing through adversity. How do you keep going when others are closing? How do you grown when others are shrinking? Is there really failure?

eCommerce Momentum Podcast

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433 : Lou Borella – It’s all about relationships 1:14:05

4 years ago1:14:05

1:14:05

Great episode with very a relevant and timely message about relationships. Lou gives you his top three: 1- Give more than you get- Contributing matters 2- You don't get rich on one deal 3- Work on your relationships

eCommerce Momentum Podcast

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432 : Taurin Bellavance – Level Up Your Amazon Business as a Value Buyer 50:46

5 years ago50:46

50:46

Welcome back to the eCommerce Momentum podcast, this week our guest, Taurin Bellavance. We had him as a guest a few years ago in episode 258 . Back in that episode we talked about the importance of walking away. In this episode Bellavance talks about his progress since then and how he’s been managing his business and balancing work and personal life in order to provide for his family. We will branch off of the last episode Bellavance was a part of as we discuss the benefits of walking away from toxicity. In this episode, we discuss some of the challenges that Bellavance has traversed through and overcome since we last spoke to him. Additionally, we discuss how Bellavance adapted his business during our nation’s current pandemic. In tandem with his success, we hear from Bellavance about 3 things we should consider when we come upon challenge in our business. Finally, Bellavance will go over steps he plans to take in the future to gear up and ready himself for the future. Make sure you tune into this episode to ensure you catch all of the important information shared. Sponsors Amazon Accounting Simplified – Learn how to manage your business with specific Amazon Accounting training for Quickbooks online from a real CPA AsinZen.com – 30 DAY FREE TRIAL Viral Launch – Save $50 with this link (Use coupon code: Momentum) SPECIAL OFFER FOR MY LISTENERS ONLY TWO WEEKS FREE TRIAL!!!! Gaye Lisby and Garry Ray’s Seller Tribe – (Get 14 day free trial!!) Solutions4ecommerce Scope from Sellerlabs Tactical Arbitrage – Get an 10 day free trial with code: “Tactical” Freeeup – Save 10% (forever) and get an instant $25.00 voucher for your first hire. GoDaddy Grasshopper…

eCommerce Momentum Podcast

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431 : Douglas Levin – 3 Key principles: Know your: Customers, Brand Values and Competitors in building out your ecommerce business 57:33

5 years ago57:33

57:33

Can you answer the questions in the title? Do you really know who your ideal customer is? Does your brand represent the value you think it is? How well do you know your competitors? All of those things should be influencing your business.Every decision should take those "Key" principles into consideration and Doug helps you see what affect hey can have on your business. Oh yes, we also get into Chatbots! Mentioned: Doug's Facebook contact Morning Marketing Machine Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvDqo7Ue5qFmFCr_lU50wZA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/morningmarketingmachine/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morningmarketingmachine/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MachineMorning Email: douglas@morningmarketingmachine.com Sponsors Amazon Accounting Simplified – Learn how to manage your business with specific Amazon Accounting training for Quickbooks online from a real CPA AsinZen.com – 30 DAY FREE TRIAL Viral Launch – Save $50 with this link (Use coupon code: Momentum) SPECIAL OFFER FOR MY LISTENERS ONLY TWO WEEKS FREE TRIAL!!!! Gaye Lisby and Garry Ray’s Seller Tribe – (Get 14 day free trial!!) Solutions4ecommerce Scope from Sellerlabs Tactical Arbitrage – Get an 10 day free trial with code: “Tactical” Freeeup – Save 10% (forever) and get an instant $25.00 voucher for your first hire. GoDaddy Grasshopper…

eCommerce Momentum Podcast

1
430 : Sean Humenchuk : Selling in different categories helps when the market changes quickly 41:22

5 years ago41:22

41:22

Sean is very humble. He will say he does not have it all figured out. I would ask have you met the person who does? So his advice is strong: Sell in multiple categories to weather the storms that will be coming. Now is the time to diversify. How many of us are heavy seller fulfilling right now? Well there are many Amazon businesses that are not built for it and are feeling the pinch.If you sell in grocery you are likely killing it where most clothing sellers are struggling. So diversification across channels, categories and methods allows you to flex. Fix your "B Plan"! Mentioned: Seans previous episode Tips: 1- Work on terms with your vendors 2- Adjust your Ad Spend 3- Don't send all your inventory to Amazon 4- Add a thank you card to your FBM 5- Revise your listing to recognize people are at home right now Sponsors Amazon Accounting Simplified – Learn how to manage your business with specific Amazon Accounting training for Quickbooks online from a real CPA AsinZen.com – 30 DAY FREE TRIAL Viral Launch – Save $50 with this link (Use coupon code: Momentum) SPECIAL OFFER FOR MY LISTENERS ONLY TWO WEEKS FREE TRIAL!!!! Gaye Lisby and Garry Ray’s Seller Tribe – (Get 14 day free trial!!) Solutions4ecommerce Scope from Sellerlabs Tactical Arbitrage – Get an 10 day free trial with code: “Tactical” Freeeup – Save 10% (forever) and get an instant $25.00 voucher for your first hire. GoDaddy Grasshopper Transcript: Sean ( 00:00 ): Wait, they find new products they get in the market. You already know. Um, and then I think product research where if you're looking at, uh, looking to keep the charts and looking at what was selling last summer, uh, and last Christmas are two things that I'm kind of focusing on. Um, because I know if it was selling last Christmas, it's going to be selling again this Christmas most likely. Cool voice guy ( 00:21 ): Welcome to the e-commerce momentum podcast where we focus on the people, the products, and the process of eCommerce selling. Today. Here's your host, Steven Peterson. Stephen ( 00:34 ): Hey, I'm staying with the no pitch a, I'm not pitching any of the services I've got a bunch of sponsors are and a bunch of companies that if you're looking for any services, which you really shouldn't be buying any surfaces right now, but if you are, I have discounts to them and they pay me. So I don't want to hide that. But they're out there in a website just to go check out this episode. But I'm staying with no pitch right now. I want you to focus and put your head down and do the work. Welcome back to the eCommerce momentum podcast. This is episode 431 Sean human check. I brought Sean back on. Um, because I, I just think again, there, there has to be optimism out there. You've got to sit back and say, yeah, this sucks. I mean, it's face it right now. Stephen ( 01:12 ): This is a challenge, you know, especially as people are getting sick and people, I mean, it's just breaking my heart to see some of these stories. It's just heartbreaking. But you can't cower in the corner. You have to push through it. Or I see people who are having huge financial problems because they're up against the wall. You know, and I understand it. You know, if you've listened to my show, you heard that our account went under review. You know, that pause for a day and a half. But it's still, it was the first time that's ever happened to us. So it was like, Whoa, that was a wake up, you know? But there are some really good information out there. There's some good plans, there's some people doing it right. And I think Sean, Sean got some really good advice, um, in this episode and some things I had not thought about. Stephen ( 01:53 ): But I, I love, I mean I want you to really pay attention to product mix and fulfillment mix those two, four pieces of the formula that you can plan for. You know, and again, fulfillment mix might not be activated until you need it, but based on drip inventory, you can manage that. So the, all these terms, I know I'm just dropping some things, but listen to the episode and we get into exactly what all that means and how it can apply to you. And it's got me thinking about, you know, what we're going to do. So I just think there's some really solid advice. Um, and it just, just a wonderful person and just a really smart guy who can offer, um, some optimism to you. Let's get into the podcast and welcome back to the eCommerce momentum podcast. Excited for a return guest. Actually, it wasn't that long ago. It was a little more than a year or so ago that we spoke, but I thought, I thought, uh, it's a perfect person to come bring on during these trying times. And I think that's a fair description trying times to talk to some rationalization, some reason and kind of how he's doing it and I think, I think he has something to offer. So welcome back Shawn human Chuck, welcome Sean. Sean ( 02:58 ): Thanks for having. Um, as Stephen ( 03:00 ): always, I love talking to you and, uh, excited to, uh, excited to be here. Yeah, I'm excited to have you because again, go back to January, 2019. You can listen to Sean's episode, um, and get some backstory there, but you really did a great transition in your business from the old RA and all that stuff. Built out wholesale, built out private label, uh, then took your wholesale to other levels, which I, I'm always impressed with cause it's not easy. Back then. This was the phrase, and I told you this in the preinterview create a job you like, let me ask you how that's working for you right now. Sean ( 03:35 ): It's working great. Um, I mean, I'm still, what I want positivity, a lot of the, a lot of the same stuff I was doing a little over a year ago. I'm still doing, Stephen ( 03:45 ): but the world's uploading. Sean, I don't think anybody told you the worlds. Have you been outside? Have you seen there? Uh, there are flying saucers over Philadelphia in New Jersey right now. Uh, there's volcanoes going on there. They're definitely outside your house circling right now. Sean ( 04:04 ): Yeah. Right. So, I mean, um, you know, obviously things are a little crazy right now with, uh, with the Curt, the coven, 19 everything that's going on. Um, I'm trying to not panic at all, especially with my business. Um, luckily I haven't seen too, too bad of a hit and sales and not as bad as some people I know. Stephen ( 04:24 ): Got a second. But you, you said one of your products, and we won't, don't out any of them, but one of them, you've sold nothing. So you've had a hundred percent reduction in that particular product, but then you, because you're in multiple categories, you've been able to see a pretty even. Correct. I mean, I don't wanna put words in your mouth, but that's, that's pretty, I mean, did, were you that smart to know that that's what you should have done? Sean ( 04:47 ): Yeah, I wish, I wish I could take all that credit. No, it just, um, you know, just my, my sourcing habits I guess kinda, um, have brought me into different, different categories and, um, luckily, you know, some of them have taken off and other ones that have been here, especially with the, uh, renewed delivery delays now people aren't, uh, getting, getting prime products for a month now. So, um, you know, some of those products had definitely taken a hit, but like you said, other ones have, have kind of filled in that void. Uh, so it evens out. And I think, um, I think a lot of sellers, uh, I think a lot of settlers are experiencing the same thing. Um, if you're stuck in one category, like, like travel, um, and you know, like we were talking shoes, stuff like that, that that stuff has taken a huge hit right now. But there's definitely categories that are seeing huge lists. Stephen ( 05:36 ): They're having the best of their life. Right. I mean, if you're in grocery, you're having the best year ever. Sean ( 05:41 ): Yeah. I was looking in some Facebook groups, uh, earlier and people were saying it's been like black Friday for the last week and a half or two weeks. Um, so I'm sure they're, they're doing great, but even with that, there comes a, there come struggles. You've run out of stock and you're, you're struggling to find inventory. If you're doing RA. No way. I'm sure. Uh, it's tough to find that stuff at certain stores and, um, certain stores are closed down. It's, it's very, uh, like I said, everything I think is hectic right now for no matter what your business model is, no matter what your, uh, product category is. I think everyone is kind of scrambling right now. Stephen ( 06:17 ): We, we, when I, uh, I, I just think though that product mix that is such a smart move, you know, as I think going forward, even for our business, um, I have to pay more attention. I, I, you know, that we, uh, we got our account went under review and we got through it. It wasn't even two days. It was down immune. It didn't go down. Our stuff stayed live. They held your money, which is interesting. I never had this happen before, but they hold your money and so within a day it was released. But I literally thought, you know, Hey, we've got to go a different approach. And we went back into grocery, which we haven't done in a long, long time and add it back in. And then we went back to fulfilled by merchant. Now you've been to our warehouse many times. You see we have a lot of shipping. Stephen ( 06:55 ): We ship every single day. But adding that back to Amazon was a weird feeling for me. It's like, man, I've got, I've become so accustomed, so hooked on FBA. I don't even think that way anymore. Like literally everything we buy, it's always like sending it in. That's the only way we look at it. We don't even judge it any other way. Um, will you, will you make, you know, when you're done with all this, when, when all this cycles through, will that now play into decision making that you make, um, whether you should or could survive, you know, doing fulfilled by merchant products and stuff? Sean ( 07:30 ): Um, so for sure, I mean for me, I know a lot of people kinda think fulfilled by merchant is like taking a step back from FBA or it's, it's more work than it's worth or things like that. But I mean, as you know, you have clients that do primarily FBM and do awesome. Um, I think it depends on the product number one. And I do think it's re it's really good to have some stock on hand in another warehouse or in a storage unit where FBM is a possibility. Um, in case of something like this, you never know. I mean, who would have thought that Amazon would be shutting down fulfillment centers and have a month long delivery time for prime products that are normally a day or two delivery time? No, I don't think anyone really thought this was going to happen. Um, I sure didn't. And, uh, but so now for sure, anything that I possibly can, I'm going to try to keep some extra stock on hand. Um, you know, just in case something like this happens. Um, I'm definitely gonna. I have my one private liberal product that's selling well and I'm not gonna be able to ship anymore in because it's not an essential product, but it is seeing a sales lift. So we're definitely gonna have to, uh, merchant fulfill that for the time being. Stephen ( 08:41 ): So it, it, I mean, I want to get back to this. This is, I mean this is really deep Sean, right here. Thinking about this, the product mix is really important. That was cross categories, right? What would be the categories that no matter what the zombies are walking the earth, the people are going to want food and grocery. We all know that health and beauty toilet paper for God's sake, right? That would be one of the big categories. We all, we're all going in the toilet paper business, right? But seriously, but then I thought about this, that fulfillment, um, mix. That's another piece of the formula. If you really want to have an even business because it's a challenge. I mean, you've been to a warehouse, you know, uh, you know, I laid off to the guys, you know, those guys you've been here and so it's a challenge. You know, if we were doing more self-fulfillment, uh, we could have probably absorbed more of that. Right? I mean, Hmm. I think, I think, you know, I'm going to sit back and ponder this for a while. Um, I think those two things have to play into the future of our business. Um, and it sounds like you're playing into yours. Um, yeah, for sure. Well, Oh, go ahead. If you want to add anything there. Sean (…

eCommerce Momentum Podcast

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429 : Paul Retherford Scanpower – Don’t lose your bread and butter focus when scaling your business 51:32

5 years ago51:32

51:32

Get ready for some great advice from someone who sees a lot of successful (and some not so successful) Amazon businesses. It is has been a long time since I had Paul on and Scanpower has advanced so far since then. We catch up, catch up on Scanpower and then Paul gives us advice on taking action steps. Especially useful in these uncertain times. He does give me a special offer (message me to save 20%) but in my no pitch series I will leave that here. Mentioned: Paul's contact Paul's previous episode #29 Sponsors Amazon Accounting Simplified – Learn how to manage your business with specific Amazon Accounting training for Quickbooks online from a real CPA AsinZen.com – 30 DAY FREE TRIAL Viral Launch – Save $50 with this link (Use coupon code: Momentum) SPECIAL OFFER FOR MY LISTENERS ONLY TWO WEEKS FREE TRIAL!!!! Gaye Lisby and Garry Ray’s Seller Tribe – (Get 14 day free trial!!) Solutions4ecommerce Scope from Sellerlabs Tactical Arbitrage – Get an 10 day free trial with code: “Tactical” Freeeup – Save 10% (forever) and get an instant $25.00 voucher for your first hire. GoDaddy Grasshopper Transcript: Cool voice guy ( 00:00 ): Welcome to the e-commerce momentum podcast where we focus on the people, the products, and the process of eCommerce selling today. Here's your host, Steven Peterson. Stephen ( 00:14 ): Welcome back to the e-commerce momentum podcast. It's episode four 29 and Paul Rutherford from scan power. And I've had some Paul on before and we talk about that. Um, as part of my, no pitch a series here, I'm doing a no pitch series because you know, we've got enough challenges going on. I've recorded this awhile ago, but we, it wasn't really happening, um, this full pandemic thing, but we, we, we had some reference to it. Um, they, they have a great program and it gives me a discount and you get a longer money back guarantee, but you know, you shouldn't be buying these things unless you're ready to advance your business. Now I use it because it could do my cost of goods. It can do our inventory. I can see profit and analysis by shipment, by product, by all the things that, um, that you can find from inventory lab. Stephen ( 01:00 ): I've used inventory lab two. I ran in parallel and for me, um, just because I've been with skin power forever, it didn't make sense for me to move. Um, they didn't offer anything that scan power didn't. So, you know, if you have a home and stay with it, whatever, you know, but if you're interested in it, um, just message me and I'll have that for you. But I'm not, I'm not going to pitch in this one. It's a really good, interesting, uh, some of the things that he gives us ideas about how to get through challenging times and, and action steps. Take advantage of them. You got some downtime or you're struggling. Like we are just looking at TV in the news all the time. Pull away from it and work on your business. Work on yourself also. So let's get into the podcast and Paul Rutherford and we'll come back to the eCommerce momentum podcast or excited about today's return. Stephen ( 01:47 ): Guests. We are both a lot older because we have not spoken. Get ready Paul. September 28th of 2015. Paul Rutherford from scan power. Welcome back, Paul. Hey Steven, thanks for having me. I can't believe it's been that long. I can't believe it blew my mind. I was like, ah, it's been a been a year or two. I mean literally cause I've see, uh, you know, every conference or whatever. And I'm like, Oh, it's been a year or two. Yeah, we got to get together. Blew my mind. Well, you must have a thousand podcasts. Nah, I'm up to, I'm getting closer to the 500 number. Not, not quite a thousand. I appreciate that. I will get to a thousand last time. Chris green and I talked about that. I said, yeah, I can see episode 1000. I'm like excited about it, you know, and it's, uh, it gets to be a grind sometimes just because of time. Cause life happens and, and that part. But man, it's just, you talk to people, I get enthused. It's like the conference we were at, right. Both of us were down at the unconference. It wasn't really a conference. Right. Um, but how enthusiastic are the sellers that were there? I mean, think about that. Oh, they're, they're just excited to have, you know, this incredible business. Paul ( 02:59 ): You know, Amazon love them or hate them. They've created a marketplace where, you know, millions of people can get involved in starting and running and growing small businesses. And a lot of them, especially those that we met at the unconference have large businesses. So it's just an exciting time to be working for yourself and kind of going after opportunities that you might not have and you know, your previous professional life or whatnot. And um, even though, you know, the weather didn't cooperate as much as we liked, it was a little cool down there. It was still just so good. See everyone and everyone's positive and everyone is there to help. So, um, yeah, it's, it's, it's a good, it's a good time to be alive. Stephen ( 03:50 ): Yeah. You were definitely one of the men of the hour. Um, I never saw you without a crowd. Um, which is pretty cool because I know, I mean, it's funny as in a pre conference call, we were talking a little bit about this. You, you're not far from the bottom and not far from the top, right. I mean, you're like, you know, you could Chris have the company and yet people have access to you. You know, that to me is so rare today, you know, there's so many layers to get to somebody who can literally make a decision and any, you know, and I find myself, I need help. I mean I'm, I'm at a place I need help, I can message and boom, I actually get a reply. And it's like, Oh my gosh, uh, unlike my podcast company, which I've had trouble with, the massive trouble and the owner's a friend and it's just like you fight through their system and it's, it's just, it hurts so much. So as a seller, when you can actually get somebody a year and say, you know, these are the challenges I'm up against Paul, you know, and then you sit back and you're like, huh, let me see if I can figure what, I mean, how many times have all the improvements that you made to scan power? I mean, you're probably going to say every time come from sellers. Paul ( 04:53 ): Well that's, that's what I was going to say. Stephen ( 04:56 ): Yeah, Steve. Yeah, thanks. Paul ( 04:59 ): First of all, um, and I set this last year at the unconference because, um, Elizabeth Thompson wanted me to meet with a group of people who, um, had similar needs to theirs but weren't using scam power and had some concerns. And so we sat down in a room and, you know, they ask questions and I, you know, gave honest answers about what we could do, what we couldn't do. Um, but my introduction was, you know, scam power initially could come up with some of the best and brightest features for sellers because, you know, we, we knew the marketplace almost as well as some of our customers, but that hasn't been the case for a very long time. It's no longer possible for me or my staff or, you know, to come up with the best features for our products because we're not in the trenches in the same way that the sellers are. Paul ( 05:59 ): And so a lot of those little powwows that you saw me having down in Florida were, you know, groups of sellers who have a feature request or have a better way of, you know, solving the problem. And so, you know, I'm, I spend a lot of time listening to feedback and then trying to massage that into a good feature that works with all their existing features and isn't going to impact customers who don't want it and whatnot. But yeah, it's been a long time since since we had the best ideas about what makes what makes our products great and what features they need. Stephen ( 06:37 ): To me that's kinda cool, isn't it? Like, uh, I heard this from Dan, uh, when were says that to me yesterday. Ah, the student is teaching the master on something silly that we were chatting about. You know, and it's just so neat. I mean, you've gotta feel good is that you guys have helped developed those people or many of those people into the sellers that they are by making it easier, by giving me the capacity right now, I'm an old seller who'd been with you guys a long time. You gave me more capacity. You gave me time. You bought me time, Paul. I couldn't do it. You were the silent employee. Two didn't call off. That's a big deal because, Oh and you didn't give me grief and you didn't eat all the food or you didn't leave your water bottles half filled across my warehouse, which is making me insane right now from these boys. But it's the truth though, you guys have helped develop our business. That's got to feel pretty stinking cool. Paul ( 07:29 ): It does. And you know, like a lot of business relationships, it's hard. It's hard to measure it. You know, if you're, if you're looking back and you kind of visualize it, it's, it's really just a whole bunch of people kind of walking hand in hand that, that sounds kind of kumbaya. But that's not my intention. It's, it's, you know, people learning, people growing together and you know, here we are, you know, 10 years later to talking about 10 years later, six years later, and it's just, you know, it's humbling cause you, you know, how much work it took and you know that some, some people fell off the chain along the way. Um, but to see so many of us still around and you know, mostly happy and you know, just profiting from each other, you know, so, and I'm not trying to make it sound too touchy feely, but you know, that's, I think we're all grateful that, you know, we, we had a chance to do this at this time and, and it's worked out well for a lot of people. Stephen ( 08:34 ): Those of us who used to do the 30 up labels off of just doing them off of Amazon, I'm telling you, I was telling the boys, so we have a whole bunch of new employees and I was telling him, I said, guys, we would print these 30 up labels in my living room and we'd spread them out and we spread out with the merchandise and we were buying onesies, twosies back then, you know, all the silly stuff and trying to read the seven characters and then to match it up. And we would, we would do it by, we would narrow it down, right. The ones aren't, we're not sure. Let's leave it aside. And we just keep narrowing it down. Ah, this has to be that one and we, it would take forever and forever and forever to do it. And we're so spoiled. I mean spoils relative. Stephen ( 09:11 ): But we've been paying for the service. We, we've been so fortunate. I guess that is the right way to say it. We've been so fortunate to be able to, you know, to be part of it and have that, that and that ride along with you. So it's funny, um, um, uh, doing something different in my podcast now, and I told you in the pre-call is I'm endorsing certain, um, certain things, certain, um, certain groups I'm in because I've watched over time I pay for, there's a whole bunch of groups I pay for it and a lot of them they give me for free and I don't hide that. They give it to me for free. They want me to look at it and ideally they'd let me to promote it, you know, be honest. Right. I get those all the time. Hey, could you promote this? Stephen ( 09:45 ): Could you promote this? And generally I don't, or if I don't or if I do, I'll let you promote it yourself and I'd be just like, you know, sure. Go right ahead. I don't want anything. I don't want your money. Just go right ahead. I'll let you, and I always tell the listeners if you're, if it's a good fit for you, that's awesome. You do well with it. Whatever. But skin power, you know, I'm endorsing it because I'm a user. It's funny, we went back and I just pulled to go back and look and you said on this version, so it could be earlier, but at least we'll just call it this January of 2014 I've been paying you guys for that long pole. I have put kids through college. I have paid for car payments. Paul, I have, but you have bought me a beer here and there or Chris has. Stephen ( 10:23 ): So there is that. Well we appreciate that and I think, you know, we didn't always know kind of what we were going to look like five or six years down the road. But, um, it's, it's these longterm relationships that, that really work. And um, yeah, I mean SBA in 2014, you know, it's kind of like looking back to your childhood when you come home from school and play outside and it seemed like it was four or five hours of just, you know, uninterrupted. Uh, so on times, I mean that's, yeah, FBA has changed a lot since then. We were, we've been FBA since 2011 cause we still, we have, we have that secret daily payouts that they talk about. So we've been there, so imagine all that time in between there and I was doing it the really hard way. And so it was like magic, like unicorns and rainbows and stuff when I found this and I'm like, Oh, they're printing my labels and this action. Stephen (…

eCommerce Momentum Podcast

1
428 : Stephen & Nick Peterson – Pivoting, spinning, adjusting and surviving challenging times 37:55

5 years ago37:55

37:55

How does the phrase go? "May you live in interesting times?" Well here we are. Very challenging to say the least. I see so many sellers struggling (us included). The day Amazon announced no more "non-essential" inventory could be sent in our account went under review. Scary times became even more scary for sure. Just made big bets (Yes they really are bets) and didn't quite work out as we wanted to. But we are on the other side. So Nick (my younger son) and I share what steps we have/are taking to dodge the minefields and get through these challenging times. I found that picture of me and Gary V from a while back. Still was cool to me. We do have sponsors so it helps us out if you buy from them with our codes as they pay us, but this is a no pitch episode. Please don't add more fees to your business. Streamline, adapt, pivot and plan for your successful future. Reach out if I can help in any way. Stephen Sponsors Amazon Accounting Simplified – Learn how to manage your business with specific Amazon Accounting training for Quickbooks online from a real CPA AsinZen.com – 30 DAY FREE TRIAL Viral Launch – Save $50 with this link (Use coupon code: Momentum) SPECIAL OFFER FOR MY LISTENERS ONLY TWO WEEKS FREE TRIAL!!!! Gaye Lisby and Garry Ray’s Seller Tribe – (Get 14 day free trial!!) Solutions4ecommerce Scope from Sellerlabs Tactical Arbitrage – Get an 10 day free trial with code: “Tactical” Freeeup – Save 10% (forever) and get an instant $25.00 voucher for your first hire. GoDaddy Grasshopper…

eCommerce Momentum Podcast

1
426 : Mendy Lipszyc – Take stock of the skills you are learning on Amazon – They might come in handy 1:06:07

5 years ago1:06:07

1:06:07

So, good lede? Yes Mendy does not sell on Amazon any longer. (He might come back someday) But he honed some pretty strong skills and took advantage of them to find (create) an opportunity after Amazon. Great episode if you want to find out with people who you know longer see posting in the Facebook groups. If this is a phase in your entrepreneurial career then make the most of it. Learn everything you can. Learn what you like and more importantly what you don't. Mentioned: Mendy's previous episode Mendy's contact info: Phone : (786) 571-8855 mendy@panther.com Sponsors Amazon Accounting Simplified – Learn how to manage your business with specific Amazon Accounting training for Quickbooks online from a real CPA AsinZen.com – 30 DAY FREE TRIAL Viral Launch – Save $50 with this link (Use coupon code: Momentum) SPECIAL OFFER FOR MY LISTENERS ONLY TWO WEEKS FREE TRIAL!!!! Gaye Lisby and Garry Ray’s Seller Tribe – (Get 14 day free trial!!) Solutions4ecommerce Scope from Sellerlabs Tactical Arbitrage – Get an 10 day free trial with code: “Tactical” Freeeup – Save 10% (forever) and get an instant $25.00 voucher for your first hire. GoDaddy Grasshopper Transcript: Mendy ( 00:00:00 ): The other side is to flip their algorithm and almost overnight, you know, our CEO started dropping. Coll voice guy ( 00:00:06 ): Welcome to the e-commerce momentum podcast where we focus on the people, the products, and the process of eCommerce selling. Today. Here's your host, Steven Peterson. Anna Hill ( 00:00:20 ): Are you looking forward to 2020 are you looking forward to finally having better control of your business and knowing your numbers? Hi everyone. I'm Anna Hill, CPA e-commerce seller and founder of the popular accounting. We will go Facebook group and my podcast, Amazon accounting podcast. I repeat the phrase, know your numbers so often because I believe that is the key the top sellers have that makes the difference to their success. They can see what is working and more importantly what isn't working. They make adjustments on the fly and they get to do it every month because they have good, strong monthly financial statements. Now, I know it sounds intimidating to figure out how to get from where you are now to that place of having monthly financial statements like these top sellers have. But that's why we created the course Amazon accounting simplified, which will help you understand what it takes to set up, maintain and really manage your business. Anna Hill ( 00:01:09 ): With QuickBooks online in the course we break down step-by-step all that is necessary to know your Amazon specific business. Learn how to handle cost of goods, sold, inventory operating expenses in so much more. We even teach you how to reconcile your Amazon statements so that you know how much you've earned from Amazon. We will help you understand what it takes to systematically get accurate monthly financial statements so you can be better prepared for success in 2020 finally, Oh, we'll even help you get ready for the tax returns when it's tax time. So this is the year you're finally ready to take action and this is the year that you want to get control of and work on your business and not in your business. We are here to help. The course can be started at any time and we'll allow you to pause, understand, and implement what we have learned and what we've taught you from real life e-commerce examples before moving on to the next stage. Each section builds on each other with easy to understand and even easier to implement solutions for your business. Access is for lifetime. And you also have access to the free private Facebook group for all other students in the course. So if you're ready to take on that journey, then get the course. Please go to accounting. We will go.com forward slash momentum and get the course Amazon accounting simplified. Thanks so much guys. Once again, this is Anna Hill, CPA e-commerce seller and founder of the popular accounting. We will go Facebook group. Stephen ( 00:02:34 ): Welcome back to the e-commerce momentum podcast. This is episode 426 mentee Lipschitz. Mandy, uh, when you hear the date, how long ago? Since him and I talk it blow your mind, blew my mind hitting his two. We were really shocked and when he reached out to me and I knew that he's not selling on Amazon anymore, and I thought to myself, huh, that'd be interesting to talk to somebody. Um, his perspective is great. He took advantage of his time selling and applied it and now he's that much better at what he does. And in the after call, I, I we didn't, it didn't come out in the conversation. His time selling made his life so much better. It gave him perspective and man, wouldn't you like to have perspective? 20 years ago I would, I wish I got perspective 20 years ago or 19 years ago or 18 years ago. I might have it now, but I didn't have it then. And man, just think of how much further you would be. Well, he's a good example of it. Let's get into the podcast. Very interesting. And we'll come back to the e-commerce woman in podcasts. I, I'm going to take it back. I'm going to take us all the way back. Way, way back to my first year of podcasting. Mandy Lipschitz number 17, August of 2015. Welcome back. Mendi Mendy ( 00:03:49 ): thank you, Stephen. Great to be on. Stephen ( 00:03:51 ): I can't believe, I mean we were chatting. I mean it's four and a half years. Is that crazy? Mendy ( 00:03:57 ): It's kinda crazy how lives change things move on. Yeah. Stephen ( 00:04:01 ): Well, and, and this is going to be a story of life after Amazon. And so I'm going to jump to the conclusion, which is Mendi no longer sells on Amazon, but he still has an online presence and we're gonna talk about all that. But life has evolved for Mandy and his family and that's kind of the reason you reached out to me. Correct, Mendy ( 00:04:22 ): exactly. You know, uh, we've spoken before, you know, I always enjoy your podcast and you know, I feel, I felt that as I continue this journey of life, things just change and you know, you take lessons from what happened prior and apply it to your future successes as well. Stephen ( 00:04:39 ): I think that is just so smart. I mean, um, I think it's Dan Wentworth who says this a lot. You know that this is a vending machine business. You know, you want to make your money as much as you can and jump out, you know, and now jump out his relative. He doesn't plan on jumping out. He's been jumping out for 20 plus years. So I don't mean it that way, but meaning that knowing that there is a life cycle, more than likely in a lot of this business, and if you're creating a brand, for example, you might sell that brand. I know a lot of people that have sold their brands or I know a lot of people who developed a brand and then the brain got consumed by competitors and they're no longer in that brand. Right? You, you know, a lot of those same people. So I think your approach, uh, the evolution of your business is an interesting story. Okay, so take us back. You were selling and six figures on Amazon, right? You've really figured it out. You really, you were, you were making some big buys at that point, correct? Mendy ( 00:05:33 ): Yeah. You know, we started off, as you know, back in the day and retail arbitrage and we built on our business, didn't add it. Our online arbitrage. And then at a certain point we found our niche and you know, you kind of develop, you always want to change what you're doing, et cetera. We found a niche that was working well for us and then we were doing a bet, $150,000 a month in sales at our best. Stephen ( 00:05:59 ): Well let me ask you, how did you find your niche? Because I think that's, that's interesting cause you, I mean you had an unusual niche, but how did you, how did that light bulb go on that? This seems to be a natural for us. Mendy ( 00:06:11 ): So my niche, my niche per se was actually a lingerie and it was unusual sizes. Lingerie. Now, something most people don't realize is most women are wearing the size broth they go through their life, not realizing that they don't need to be uncomfortable. Um, my wife luckily had been educated about wearing the right size bar. Um, and unfortunately for her, the closest place to purchase it was about a two hour drive away from us. Okay. And you've got to get fitted every, you know, year, because your bra size changes constantly. And so every year she would make a drive to the keys, two hours each way. You know, it was a full day trip. And she called me from there one day during our, uh, during our early days in the business. And she said, you know, this bar is $150. You know, does that make sense? What's it going for on Amazon? Mendy ( 00:07:04 ): And I pulled it up on Amazon. I said, Hey, there aren't many sellers. There's no, uh, Amazon fulfilled sellers and it's $150 is what it sells for on Amazon. We should reach out to the wholesaler. Um, at that point in time, I was already doing a call seal in the clothing line. I had a number of shoe, all sale accounts, um, as well as some other clothing. And so I reached out to them and I knew that the profit margins on clothing, you know, should be pretty decent on $150 bra. So I reached out to that company and that was our first Val lingerie vendor, Stephen ( 00:07:41 ): you know, so if you think about this, right, those listening. Okay. So pay attention to what he's saying. So he did RA learned, paid his dues, figured it out, watched and found a particular items. And I'm, I'm assuming that before that particular bra, you sold other bras, right? Uh, just as part of your RA, is that fair? Mendy ( 00:08:01 ): The good old days of Marshall's buying guy. What was at Warner vanity fair? Um, Stephen ( 00:08:07 ): yeah. Okay. So you, you had learned that you'd learned that there's a market for it, so it's not a big deal to sell them, but then you realize that this specialty issue is, like you're saying, is that if people really pay attention to their body, that these things are important and, and so therefore people will pay a premium because that two hours of your wife's life that she could get back now is huge. Right? I mean, that's huge amount of time. And so the fact that you had already made the jump to wholesale or partial wholesale, getting past asking to be a wholesale vendor, right? You did trade shows or could, I've seen you at trade shows. She should shoot ones especially. So you've gotten past that. So again, these are skills that he's been building. All right. So when you go back and listen to Monday's original, you know, he was in sales so you could tell by his voice, he's very good at sales, but then he takes and applies it to all these different things and you come along and I don't want to lose this though. I think this is really important. Many you, you weren't able to just jump as soon as you joined an Amazon to go have that comfortable discussion with that wholesale vendor and get that unique bra you built all along, paid attention and learned, and then you were able to do that. I don't think you would have had success in the beginning. Is that fair? Mendy ( 00:09:20 ): It's definitely a fear thing. You know, you've got to know it. I don't call it sales. I call it relationship building. Okay. Okay. Ultimately, whether you're on the buyer end or the seller end, you're creating a relationship of trust. Okay. And if someone trusts you, you can do business. If they don't trust you, I'm like a really bad experience. I had tried to buy used cars today. You're not going to do the business. Um, actually let me jump back in time a little bit. I don't know if I've previously mentioned as about one of my early jobs being with New York life as a life sales insurance agent. Have we ever mentioned, discussed that the fire Stephen ( 00:09:54 ): we might've,…

eCommerce Momentum Podcast

1
425 : Todd Ferguson - Our team is the real secret to our success selling on Amazon 1:02:41

5 years ago1:02:41