Selling on Giants: The eCommerce Marketplace Podcast

Send us Fan MailDrone delivery isn't science fiction anymore—it's already changing the way products move from businesses to customers.In this episode of Selling on Giants, Will sits down with Beth Flippo, CEO of DEXA, one of only a handful of FAA-certified drone delivery operators in the United States. Beth shares how autonomous drones are reshaping last-mile logistics, reducing delivery times to as little as 11 minutes, and giving local retailers a powerful new way to compete with e-commerce giants.Together they discuss:-How drone delivery actually works today-What it took to become one of the few FAA-certified drone airlines-Why last-mile delivery is the most expensive part of e-commerce-How drones could help local retailers compete with Amazon-The future of autonomous logistics, AI, and robotic delivery networks-Why companies like Kroger, Grubhub, and Wonder are already embracing drone delivery-What the next 5–10 years of retail and logistics could look likeWhether you're an e-commerce operator, retailer, logistics professional, or simply fascinated by emerging technology, this conversation offers an inside look at one of the biggest shifts coming to retail and supply chains.If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to Like, Subscribe, and share it with someone interested in the future of retail and technology.Website: https://flydexa.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flydexa/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flydexa/X: https://www.instagram.com/flydexa/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flydexa/#DroneDelivery #Ecommerce #LastMileDelivery #RetailInnovation #Logistics #SupplyChain #ArtificialIntelligence #AutonomousVehicles #SellingOnGiants #DEXA #RetailTechnology #Amazon #FutureOfRetail

Send us Fan MailThis week’s Selling on Giants News and Updates examines how Amazon, TikTok, Google, DoorDash, Instacart, and the payment industry are competing to control more of the customer journey.The biggest shift in eCommerce is no longer happening only on the traditional search results page. Product discovery is moving into AI conversations, social content, delivery apps, retail media networks, and connected checkout experiences.At the same time, tariffs, marketplace compliance, global logistics, and payment consolidation are changing the economics behind every transaction.In this episode, Mr. Will covers:Tariff uncertainty and Q4 landed costsThe temporary ten percent United States import surcharge is approaching its current expiration date, while new tariffs on certain Brazilian goods and additional forced-labor-related trade actions remain in development.Brands preparing Q4 purchase orders need to review country of origin, HTS classifications, customs entry dates, exclusions, and multiple landed-cost scenarios before finalizing pricing or promotional plans.Amazon account deactivation and Account HealthAmazon published a new prevention and reinstatement guide covering performance metrics, intellectual property complaints, authenticity concerns, restricted products, identity verification, tax records, and INFORM Act requirements.The real operator lesson is that Account Health needs a daily owner. Sellers should organize invoices, authorization letters, compliance documents, and supplier records before Amazon requests them.Amazon expands Global Warehousing and DistributionAmazon expanded GWD into Shanghai and added support for Free on Board shipping terms. China-sourced sellers can now compare Amazon’s upstream warehousing and replenishment model against freight forwarders, overseas warehouses, third-party logistics providers, AWD, and direct-to-FBA shipping.The potential benefit is lower storage and more automated replenishment. The tradeoff is greater dependence on Amazon throughout the supply chain.Amazon Alexa creates a second product-discovery shelfNew research found that many Alexa for Shopping recommendations did not appear among the corresponding top organic Amazon search results.That means sellers may soon be optimizing for two different discovery systems: traditional keyword-based search and AI-generated recommendations based on shopper intent, attributes, specifications, compatibility, and use cases.TikTok Shop tests platform-managed growthTikTok is reportedly recruiting sellers for a managed-services pilot in which the platform would oversee advertising, creator recruitment, content production, listing optimization, and creative testing.Brands approached for the program need to model the full cost, including service fees, commissions, advertising, samples, fulfillment, returns, and product margin. They should also clarify creative ownership, reporting transparency, pricing control, and creator relationships.AI-generated videos flood TikTok ShopSynthetic product demonstrations and AI avatars are creating faster content production, but also introducing new risks around inaccurate claims, weak disclosure, and loss of brand control.TikTok Shop sellers should create a formal AI affiliate-content policy and regularly review the videos generating the most traffic and sales.DoorDash becomes a Shopify sales channelEligible Shopify merchants with physical stores can now publish products directly to DoorDash while keeping product, inventory, and order management inside Shopify.This gives local retailers another way to reach nearby customers seeking same-day or one-hour delivery, but merchants still need to account for commissions, store labor, packaging, refunds, and channel-specific pricing.Google AI Mode connects with InstacartGoogle AI Mode can now help shoppers build a grocery list and move selected products into an Instacart cart.Search is beginning to move from answering questions to executing shopping tasks. Product availability, attributes, imagery, retailer content, category placement, and structured data increasingly influence which products AI places into the basket.Instacart expands beyond groceryInstacart partnered with Tractor Supply to offer same-day delivery from more than twenty-four hundred locations, including pet products, livestock supplies, tools, hardware, lawn products, and outdoor merchandise.Delivery platforms are becoming broader marketplaces built around local inventory and immediate fulfillment.Stripe and Advent make a bid for PayPalStripe and Advent International reportedly offered more than fifty-three billion dollars to acquire PayPal. The offer has not been accepted, but the potential combination highlights the growing value of merchant infrastructure, wallets, Venmo, buy now pay later, fraud prevention, checkout data, and AI-enabled payments.The bigger takeaway:Platforms increasingly want to control discovery, advertising, content, inventory, fulfillment, payments, and the customer relationship.The answer is not to chase every new channel.Serious operators need to understand who controls the customer data, who owns the creative, where the inventory sits, how the platform makes money, and whether the brand still controls its economics.Follow Selling on Giants for weekly operator-level breakdowns on Amazon, Walmart, retail media, AI commerce, marketplace strategy, and what platform updates actually mean for sellers.Subscribe to Selling on Giants for weekly insights that go beyond headlines and focus on what actually impacts your business.

Send us Fan MailThis episode of Selling on Giants takes on founder burnout from a different angle.Most people treat burnout like a workload problem. Too many meetings, too many emails, too many fires, and too many people needing something at the exact same time. The usual advice is to hire more people, delegate better, take a vacation, or finally get a hobby that does not involve checking Slack between sets at the gym.But that diagnosis misses the deeper issue.Founder burnout is not always caused by working too much. Sometimes it comes from building a life where nothing exists outside of work anymore.In this solo episode, Mr. Will breaks down the idea of a leisure deficit, inspired by philosopher Joseph Pieper’s view that leisure is not laziness or idleness. Leisure is the space where meaning, perspective, creativity, and connection are rebuilt.And for founders, that space often disappears first.In this episode, we cover:Why burnout is often misdiagnosedBurnout is usually framed as exhaustion from workload, but for many entrepreneurs, the real issue is that every part of life has become useful, optimized, monetized, or tied back to the business.How entrepreneurship turns everything into outputTime becomes a resource. Conversations become transactions. Rest becomes recovery for more work. Even family time can become something you are physically present for while mentally still working.Why productivity can become dangerousProductivity looks responsible, but when it becomes the only scoreboard, people become outputs, time becomes units, and leadership becomes transactional. The business may still hit numbers, but the culture starts to thin out.Why fulfillment is socialYour best memories are probably not dashboards, revenue milestones, or optimized workflows. They are shared experiences with people. A real conversation. A dinner where nobody is rushing. A win celebrated together. Success can scale alone, but fulfillment usually does not.What leisure actually meansLeisure is not scrolling, zoning out, or doing nothing while your brain keeps running. Real leisure is presence. It is being engaged in something that has no immediate business purpose.Why founders lose creativity inside the grindThe best ideas usually do not arrive while staring at a screen. They come when your brain finally has space. On a walk, in the shower, mid-conversation, or during a moment that does not look productive on a calendar.The hidden business cost of burnoutA leisure deficit does not only hurt the founder. It hurts the company. When leaders are constantly in the weeds, they stop coaching, stop developing people, stop thinking long term, and eventually stop creating leverage.Mr. Will’s personal storyThis episode ends with a personal story about taking on a major enterprise client, saying yes to too much, burning out team members, losing weight, missing family time, and realizing that growing one client came at the expense of BellaVix, his team, and his health.The bigger takeaway:You do not fix burnout by working less.You fix it by living more.By creating space that is not tied to output. By being present in moments that do not serve the business. By reconnecting with people as people, not as functions inside a schedule.Because fulfillment is not built in the work.It is built around it.Follow Selling on Giants for operator-level conversations on entrepreneurship, leadership, marketplace growth, Amazon strategy, eCommerce operations, and what it really takes to build a business without losing yourself in the process.Subscribe to Selling on Giants for weekly insights that go beyond headlines and focus on what actually impacts your business.

Send us Fan MailThis week’s Selling on Giants News and Updates focuses on what marketplace operators should do now that Prime Day is behind us and Q4 planning is already underway.Amazon is opening holiday deal submissions, changing how sellers compete for the Featured Offer, expanding Seller Central passkeys, adding B2B pallet delivery, and pushing Amazon DSP deeper into full-funnel media. Walmart is doubling down on value, AI shopping, and marketplace maturity, while broader retail updates continue pointing toward one theme:The second half of the year will reward operators with cleaner systems, better data, stronger inventory planning, and sharper execution.In this episode, Mr. Will covers:Amazon Featured Offer changesAmazon is removing the separate Featured Offer eligibility requirement for more sellers. That does not mean every seller can win the Buy Box. It means more offers can compete, while price, delivery speed, account health, inventory, and customer experience remain the deciding factors.Holiday deal submissions are already openAmazon opened holiday deal submissions on July eighth, including Best Deals, Lightning Deals, and Prime Exclusive Discounts. Q4 planning is not a future project anymore. Brands need to identify hero ASINs, confirm inventory, model margins, and submit eligible deals early.Amazon holiday fulfillment guidanceAmazon’s holiday fulfillment timelines and peak season fee guidance reinforce that Q4 is usually won before October. Sellers should work backward from inbound deadlines, manufacturing schedules, freight timelines, AWD utilization, and FBA replenishment plans.Seller Central passkeys for secondary usersAmazon is expanding passkeys for secondary users, making account access more secure for employees, agencies, contractors, and partners. Sellers should audit user permissions, remove outdated access, and eliminate shared logins.Amazon Business pallet deliveryAmazon Business introduced pallet delivery for eligible FBM orders, giving commercial buyers a better option for larger shipments. This matters for brands selling industrial, healthcare, foodservice, janitorial, office, or bulk products.Amazon DSP expands into Spotify podcast adsAmazon DSP now supports buying Spotify podcast inventory, showing that Amazon Advertising continues moving beyond marketplace search into a broader full-funnel media ecosystem.Prime Day advertising lessonsPost-event analysis shows the best advertisers were not simply the biggest spenders. They adjusted budgets, watched pacing, protected inventory, and optimized during the event instead of waiting for next-day reports.AI across eCommerce softwareAI is becoming embedded into product content, merchandising, customer engagement, marketing automation, and workflow tools. The opportunity is not using AI for the sake of it. The opportunity is using AI to reduce repetitive work while protecting quality and operator judgment.Walmart price cuts and consumer value pressureWalmart and Sam’s Club are lowering prices across seasonal grocery and household staples, reinforcing that shoppers are still spending but remain highly value-conscious.Walmart Sparky and AI shoppingWalmart’s Sparky AI assistant continues showing how AI shopping tools may influence discovery, comparison, and conversion. Sellers need complete product data, strong images, accurate attributes, reviews, and clear positioning so AI systems can understand and recommend their products.USPS, trade policy, Google Merchant Center, and CostcoShipping changes, trade policy hearings, Google product feed updates, and Costco’s June sales results all point to the same operating reality: costs, data quality, sourcing, and value communication matter more heading into the second half of the year.The bigger takeaway:The second half of 2026 is not about chasing every platform update.It is about building a cleaner operating system.Better inventory planning. Cleaner product data. Stronger access controls. Sharper promotional strategy. Smarter ad pacing. Better shipping math. More disciplined pricing. And a clear answer to the question every shopper is asking:Why should I buy this product now, from this brand, instead of the alternative?Follow Selling on Giants for weekly operator-level breakdowns on Amazon, Walmart, retail media, AI commerce, marketplace strategy, and what platform updates actually mean for sellers.Subscribe to Selling on Giants for weekly insights that go beyond headlines and focus on what actually impacts your business.

Send us Fan MailFor years, brands focused on keyword density, search volume, and traditional SEO tactics. But Amazon's product discovery engine is evolving, and AI is changing how listings are understood, ranked, and recommended.In this episode of Selling on Giants, Will Haire sits down with Jon Tilley of ZonGuru for a live working session exploring the future of Amazon listing optimization. Instead of another theory-heavy discussion, they demonstrate how AI is reshaping product listings and why many brands are still optimizing for an Amazon algorithm that no longer exists.Using a real client example, they walk through how AI analyzes brand positioning, customer reviews, competitors, and product attributes to build listings that are designed for both human conversion and machine understanding.What You'll Learn: Why keyword-first Amazon listings are becoming outdated  How AI-driven product discovery is changing Amazon SEO  The difference between keyword optimization and structured product understanding  Why listing structure matters more than keyword stuffing  How AI analyzes reviews, competitors, and brand positioning  A live demonstration of ZonGuru's Helix AI transformation process  Practical strategies brands can implement today Whether you're an Amazon seller, brand owner, agency, or eCommerce marketer, this episode will help you prepare for the next evolution of Amazon search and product discovery.https://www.zonguru.com/https://www.linkedin.com/company/zonguru/Subscribe for weekly conversations with industry leaders covering Amazon strategy, retail media, AI, eCommerce growth, and marketplace innovation.

Send us Fan MailThis week’s Selling on Giants News and Updates moves beyond the Prime Day revenue headlines and focuses on what marketplace operators should do next.Prime Day generated record online spending, but smaller baskets and value-focused purchasing made profitability more important than top-line growth. Consumers continued spending, but they concentrated more heavily on lower-priced essentials, beauty, supplements, grocery, and products they could easily justify buying.For Amazon and Walmart sellers, the real question is not whether sales increased.It is whether the event left the business stronger.In this episode, Mr. Will covers:The post-Prime Day profitability test: Why sellers should review contribution margin by ASIN, TACoS, new-to-brand customers, inventory burn, organic ranking, Subscribe and Save growth, and repeat-purchase opportunities instead of celebrating revenue alone.Why record sales can hide weak economics: A strong promotional event can still damage profitability when discounts deepen, advertising costs rise, baskets shrink, and customers concentrate around lower-ticket products.Amazon Seller Central passkeys: Amazon is expanding passkey access across Seller Central, allowing sellers to authenticate through Face ID, fingerprints, or device PINs. The rollout is also a reminder to audit users, administrator access, agency permissions, and backup account owners.Amazon Business delivery requirements: Seller-fulfilled offers serving Amazon Business customers will need to meet a new Business Hour Delivery Rate standard. FBM sellers should review carrier selection, warehouse cutoffs, handling times, delivery settings, and shipping automation before enforcement begins.Why Amazon’s marketplace is becoming more professional: Third-party sellers still represent the majority of Amazon unit sales, but stricter compliance, higher advertising costs, stronger security requirements, and measurable fulfillment standards continue raising the barrier to entry.Prime Day advertising beyond Sponsored Products: Prime Day continued evolving into a full-funnel media event across Sponsored Brands, video, Amazon DSP, connected television, and external traffic. Sellers need to separate branded demand capture from real customer acquisition.AI shopping and machine-readable product data: Shopping assistants are becoming another interface between consumers and products. Titles, attributes, specifications, images, reviews, availability, pricing, and product feeds increasingly influence whether AI can understand and recommend a product.Walmart’s July integration deadline: Walmart is moving Solution Provider integrations toward OAuth two point oh. Sellers should confirm that feed tools, inventory platforms, ERP systems, agencies, and internal applications are prepared before existing access methods are retired.Walmart and Amazon race toward instant commerce: Flipkart Minutes and Amazon Now show how localized inventory and quick commerce are pushing delivery expectations from days toward minutes. The long-term advantage may come from better inventory placement, not simply better advertising.Target Plus and curated marketplace growth: Target continues expanding its invitation-only marketplace with established brands while maintaining a more selective operating model than Amazon or Walmart.North American trade uncertainty: The United States did not agree to renew the USMCA in its current form during the latest review. No immediate changes have occurred, but brands sourcing from Mexico or Canada should continue monitoring negotiations and modeling tariff exposure.The bigger takeaway:The market is not getting easier.It is getting more operational.The brands best positioned for the second half of the year will have cleaner account access, stronger profitability reporting, structured product data, reliable fulfillment, better inventory placement, and enough discipline to separate promotional revenue from durable growth.Follow Selling on Giants for weekly operator-level breakdowns covering Amazon, Walmart, retail media, marketplace operations, AI commerce, supply chain strategy, and what platform updates actually mean for sellers.Subscribe to Selling on Giants for weekly insights that go beyond headlines and focus on what actually impacts your business.

Send us Fan MailThis episode of Selling on Giants takes a different look at Amazon PPC, keyword stuffing, and why most ad accounts do not need more campaigns, more keywords, or more daily adjustments.They need subtraction.Using Bruce Lee’s philosophy from Tao of Jeet Kune Do, Mr. Will breaks down why high-performing Amazon ad accounts are not built by adding endless layers. They are built by removing what does not work, focusing on what actually lands, and simplifying the system so the signal becomes clear.Bruce Lee’s idea was simple: do not add moves for the sake of adding moves. Strip away what is unessential. Keep what works under pressure.Amazon advertising works the same way.In this episode, we cover:Why most Amazon PPC accounts are overbuiltMany accounts look sophisticated from the outside, with hundreds or thousands of keywords, dozens of campaigns, overlapping match types, competitor campaigns, defensive campaigns, and constant bid changes. Under the hood, much of that structure creates noise instead of performance.Why every keyword is a punchEvery keyword is an attempt to land with the right shopper at the right moment. The question is whether those punches are actually landing, or whether the account is spending money swinging at traffic that never converts.Why adding feels like controlWhen performance drops, sellers usually add more campaigns. When A-Costs rises, they add more keywords. When sales slow, they test another tactic. It feels productive, but Amazon does not reward activity. It rewards outcomes.Why context beats rigid PPC rulesRules like “always negate after X clicks” or “always scale low A-Costs” can be useful, but only when the operator understands the situation behind the metric. A keyword with no sales might need to be cut, lowered, isolated, or given more time depending on context.What BellaVix removes firstThe episode breaks down the practical subtraction process, including irrelevant traffic, non-converting spend, overlapping campaign structure, low-value tactics, and over-optimization caused by reacting to unstable data.What high-performing accounts keepOnce the noise is removed, the account should be built around high-intent keywords, clear campaign roles, bidding tied to real math, non-brand growth, and decisions grounded in context instead of guesswork.Why simple does not mean easySimple accounts are easier to understand, faster to manage, and better at revealing what is actually working. But simple still requires judgment, discipline, and knowing when to push, pull back, cut, or leave the account alone.The bigger takeaway:You do not need more keywords. You need better ones.You do not need more campaigns. You need clearer ones.You do not need another strategy stacked on top of a cluttered account. You need less of what is not working.This episode is for Amazon sellers, brand owners, marketplace operators, and ad managers who are tired of confusing activity with progress and want a cleaner way to think about profitable growth.The question is simple: are your keywords landing, or are you hoping one eventually does?Follow Selling on Giants for operator-level breakdowns on Amazon PPC, marketplace strategy, Walmart growth, retail media, and the systems that help brands scale profitably.Subscribe to Selling on Giants for weekly insights that go beyond headlines and focus on what actually impacts your business.

Send us Fan MailThis week’s Selling on Giants News and Updates breaks down what happened after Prime Day and what it tells us about the second half of eCommerce in 2026.Prime Day beat expectations, but the headline sales number does not tell the whole story. U.S. online spending grew strongly, but average order value declined, household spend softened, and shoppers leaned heavily into lower-ticket products, essentials, grocery, household items, supplements, and consumables.The consumer is still spending.They are just spending more intentionally.In this episode, Mr. Will covers:Prime Day beat expectations, but baskets got smallerPrime Day delivered strong top-line growth, but smaller average orders show that shoppers were more value-conscious. For sellers, the post-event review cannot stop at revenue. Brands need to look at contribution margin, inventory depletion, new-to-brand customers, Subscribe and Save enrollment, organic rank movement, ACoS, TACoS, and ROAS.AI shopping traffic is no longer experimentalAI-referred shopping traffic surged during Prime Day and converted better than many traditional sources. That is a major signal for Amazon sellers, DTC brands, and marketplace operators. AI discovery is becoming measurable, which means product data, structured attributes, clear bullets, reviews, images, and product feeds matter more than ever.Amazon’s Item Highlights and title changesAmazon’s new Item Highlights field, combined with the upcoming 75-character title limit, shows that listing optimization is entering a new phase. Sellers can no longer rely on keyword-stuffed titles. Titles, highlights, bullets, images, attributes, and A+ Content need to work together as one structured listing system.FBM handling times and operational disciplineAmazon’s new seller-fulfilled handling time requirements are now live. Sellers need accurate SKU-level handling times or Amazon may adjust them based on historical performance. This impacts delivery promises, conversion, Buy Box eligibility, and Seller Fulfilled Prime performance.The INFORM Act as an account health issueAmazon is reminding high-volume sellers to keep business information, identification, bank details, tax information, and annual certifications current. Compliance is no longer background paperwork. It is part of account health and long-term marketplace stability.Walmart acquires Vibe.co and moves deeper into connected TVWalmart’s planned acquisition of Vibe.co shows that Walmart is building a full-funnel advertising platform, not just a marketplace. Walmart Connect, VIZIO, first-party shopper data, closed-loop measurement, and self-service connected TV could make streaming advertising more accessible to marketplace brands.Walmart Sparky and AI-powered shoppingWalmart’s Sparky AI assistant is becoming part of the shopping experience, including live commerce. Alongside Amazon, Google, OpenAI, and Shopify, Walmart is rebuilding product discovery around conversational AI and machine-readable product data.WFS long-term storage fees and Walmart Marketplace maturityWalmart Fulfillment Services is introducing long-term storage fees for aging inventory. This brings Walmart closer to the FBA model and reinforces that inventory planning, sell-through, bundling, liquidation, and SKU discipline matter more as Walmart Marketplace matures.Walmart product claims enforcementWalmart is tightening policy around Made in USA, biodegradable, compostable, PFAS, and other product claims. Sellers need to make sure packaging, images, descriptions, attributes, and marketing claims are accurate and supported.FedEx, tariffs, and supply chain pressureFedEx results suggest parcel demand remains healthy, but shipping costs and carrier margins are still under pressure. At the same time, new tariff proposals tied to forced labor enforcement could expand sourcing complexity beyond China. Sellers need to stress test landed costs, shipping assumptions, supplier documentation, and margin sensitivity before peak season.The bigger takeaway:Prime Day may be over, but the real work starts now.The strongest brands will not be the ones that only celebrated top-line sales. They will be the ones that review margins, clean product data, fix listings, audit compliance, protect inventory, and prepare for the next wave of platform changes.The market is still growing.It is just getting less forgiving.Follow Selling on Giants for weekly operator-level breakdowns on Amazon, Walmart, retail media, AI commerce, marketplace strategy, eCommerce profitability, and what actually changes for brands responsible for growth.Subscribe to Selling on Giants for weekly operator-level breakdowns on Amazon, Walmart, retail media, marketplace strategy, AI commerce, eCommerce growth, and what actually changes for brands responsible for profitability.

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Selling on Giants, we sit down with Ian Walker, President and Co-Founder of Hippie Snacks and Left Coast Naturals, to unpack what it really takes to build a successful retail brand.From humble beginnings selling at a farmer's market nearly 30 years ago, Ian has grown the business into a leading manufacturer, brand owner, and distributor supporting more than 40 natural food brands across North America. Along the way, he's learned firsthand why retail success requires far more than simply landing shelf space.Ian shares practical advice on:- How to determine if your brand is truly ready for retail.- The biggest mistakes digital-first brands make when expanding into stores.- Why understanding retailer, distributor, and manufacturer margins is critical.- How to budget for listing fees, promotions, advertising, and trade spend.- The importance of starting with core retailers and expanding region by region.- How private label, distribution, and diversified revenue streams can help fund long-term brand growth.- Why curiosity, patience, and continuous learning are some of the greatest competitive advantages in consumer products.Whether you're selling on Amazon, building a DTC brand, or preparing to enter retail for the first time, this conversation offers a realistic look at the financial and operational challenges of omnichannel growth—and the strategies that help brands succeed for the long haul.If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to like, subscribe, and follow Selling on Giants for more conversations with founders, operators, and industry experts helping brands scale across Amazon, retail, and beyond.Website: https://www.leftcoastnaturals.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leftcoastnaturals/#Twitter: https://x.com/leftcoastfoodsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/left-coast-naturals/

Send us Fan MailThis week’s Selling on Giants News and Updates breaks down the biggest retail promotional window of the summer.Amazon Prime Day is the center of gravity, but it is no longer the only event competing for shopper attention. Walmart Deals, Target Circle Deal Days, Best Buy Tech Fest, TikTok Shop promotions, DTC websites, email offers, Google Shopping, and retail media campaigns are all fighting for the same customer during the same week.The customer is not thinking about retailer calendars.They are thinking:Everything is on sale.In this episode, we cover:Amazon Prime Day is the main eventAmazon Prime Day remains the center of gravity, with major discounts, daily deal drops, Amazon Haul promotions, and Alexa for Shopping becoming part of the customer discovery experience.Why Amazon Haul mattersAmazon Haul’s aggressive discounting shows how Amazon is pushing value-conscious shoppers toward lower-priced products, creating greater pressure on private-label brands, low-ASP sellers, and price-sensitive categories.Alexa for Shopping and AI-driven discoveryAmazon is training shoppers to delegate more of the buying process to AI. That means sellers need listings that are clear to both humans and shopping agents, with strong product data, attributes, reviews, pricing, and fulfillment signals.Amazon’s upcoming title changesStarting July 27th, Amazon’s title structure changes will force sellers to rethink keyword-stuffed titles, searchable fields, Item Highlights, and how listing content works together after Prime Day.Walmart Deals is no longer a side eventWalmart Deals is running directly against Prime Week traffic, supported by Walmart Plus, Walmart Connect, Sam’s Club Connect, and a stronger retail media infrastructure.Walmart Connect and full-funnel retail mediaWalmart’s growing retail media stack, including first-party audiences and off-platform measurement, shows that Walmart is becoming a more serious advertising ecosystem for marketplace sellers.Target, Best Buy, TikTok Shop, and DTC competitionTarget Circle Deal Days, Best Buy Tech Fest, TikTok Shop Deals For You Days, and brand websites are all part of the same promotional moment. Shoppers are comparing across platforms, not shopping in isolated channels.Why execution matters more than discountsThe deepest discount does not matter if the listing does not convert, the Buy Box is unstable, the campaign runs out of budget, or the hero product goes out of stock.The bigger takeaway:Prime Day has become the summer version of Black Friday, but even that framing may be too narrow now.This is a retail-wide promotional battle.Amazon is still the main event, but Walmart, Target, Best Buy, TikTok Shop, and DTC brands are all fighting for the same consumer attention.Promotions amplify fundamentals.They do not replace them.Subscribe to Selling on Giants for weekly operator-level breakdowns on Amazon, Walmart, retail media, marketplace strategy, AI commerce, eCommerce growth, and what actually changes for brands responsible for profitability.

Send us Fan MailThis episode of Selling on Giants breaks down why some eCommerce founders always seem to catch a break while others stay stuck, even when they are operating in the same market, using the same tools, and facing the same competitors.The easy explanation is luck.But after working across enough Amazon, Walmart, Target, and broader marketplace accounts, the pattern looks different. Some brands are not luckier. They interpret signals differently, move faster, stay engaged longer, and treat setbacks as feedback instead of failure.In this episode, we cover:Why “luck” is often behavior, not randomness Psychologist Dr. Richard Wiseman’s research on luck shows that lucky people tend to notice more opportunities, act faster, expect better outcomes, and reinterpret setbacks in ways that keep them moving.Why opportunity usually looks like a problem first In eCommerce, opportunity rarely shows up cleanly. It often looks like rising CPCs, crowded categories, slower reviews, weak conversion, or a launch that does not match the forecast.How two founders can see the same data differently One founder sees rising ad costs and says the category is too expensive. Another sees demand and starts improving the offer, listing, creative, pricing, and conversion path.Why speed matters more than perfection The cleanest brand on day one does not always win. The brand that learns faster usually does. Real data comes from being live, testing, and listening to the market.How failure separates operators A weaker operator sees failure as a verdict. A stronger operator sees it as feedback. That one word, “yet,” keeps a team in the game long enough to improve the offer, creative, pricing, positioning, or product strategy.Why expectations shape execution Mindset is not soft. It affects budget decisions, testing cadence, risk tolerance, and how quickly a founder responds to data.The market is hard, but some brands are still growing Costs are up. Competition is real. Advertising is more complex. Review building is harder. Consumers are more selective. And still, some brands are finding ways to win.The bigger takeaway:Luck is not always random.A lot of the time, luck is how you interpret what is in front of you.Same market. Same challenges. Same inputs. Different approach.The brands that move forward treat data as feedback, act before the window closes, and stay engaged after others stop. They do not ignore problems. They simply do not let problems decide what happens next.The edge is not magic. It is perception. Behavior. Speed. Resilience.If you are building on Amazon, Walmart, Target, or across marketplaces, this episode gives you a practical way to think about momentum, setbacks, and why some founders seem to create more opportunity than others.Follow Selling on Giants for operator-level breakdowns on marketplace strategy, Amazon growth, Walmart expansion, eCommerce leadership, and what it really takes to build a stronger brand.Subscribe to Selling on Giants for weekly insights that go beyond headlines and focus on what actually impacts your business.

Send us Fan MailThis week’s Selling on Giants is focused on one thing: last-minute preparation before the biggest promotional window of the summer.Amazon Prime Day runs June twenty third through June twenty sixth. Target Circle Deal Days runs during the same window. Walmart Deals starts one day earlier, on June twenty second, and runs through June twenty eighth.That means consumers are not thinking about this as one Amazon event. They are thinking, everything is on sale.They will compare Amazon, Walmart, Target, brand websites, Google Shopping, email offers, Meta ads, TikTok content, and whatever promotion gets in front of them first. For sellers, that makes this more than a marketplace event. It is a retail-wide battle for attention, trust, inventory, and conversion.In this episode, Mr. Will breaks down the final actions brands can still take one week out. At this stage, the goal is not to rebuild the strategy. Inventory should already be moving. Promotions should already be approved. Budgets should already be aligned. The job now is to remove friction before traffic arrives.In this episode, we cover:Amazon Prime Day hero ASIN auditsWhy brands need to review top-performing ASINs like first-time shoppers, checking main images, reviews, pricing, A plus Content, mobile experience, and the first three images before expensive event traffic hits.Amazon ad cleanup before CPCs riseHow sellers can use recent search term reports to remove waste, cut irrelevant traffic, clean up high-spend non-converting terms, and stop funding keywords that already proved they do not convert.Sponsored Products, Sponsored Brands, video, and placement coverageWhy Prime Day shoppers do not move in a straight line, and why brands need visibility across Top of Search, Sponsored Brands, Sponsored Brand Video, Product Pages, and Brand Store pathways.Subscribe and Save, bundles, and cross-sell opportunitiesHow brands can turn first-time Prime Day buyers into longer-term customers by reviewing Subscribe and Save offers, Brand Store navigation, bundles, and complementary product paths before customers leave.Inventory alignment with advertisingWhy brands should protect hero ASINs first, align spend with available inventory, and avoid pushing traffic into products that may run out of stock during the event.Walmart Deals preparationWhat sellers should check before Walmart Deals, including Buy Box ownership, Walmart Connect coverage, listing quality, WFS inventory, fulfillment speed, and competitive pricing.Target Circle Deal Days preparationWhy brands active through Target and Roundel should review budgets, campaign caps, promotional participation, product content, hero SKUs, and inventory before Circle Deal Days begins.DTC and website readinessWhy brand websites still matter during Prime Day week, including summer sale landing pages, email and SMS capture, retargeting, bundles, and pre-event email campaigns.Team readiness and reportingWhy every brand needs clear owners for budget pacing, Buy Box checks, pricing, inventory monitoring, promotion issues, dashboards, and escalation before the event starts.The bigger takeaway:Prime Day has become the summer version of Black Friday.Amazon is still the center of gravity, but Walmart, Target, and DTC brands are all competing for the same shopper during the same promotional window.The winners will not always be the brands with the deepest discounts. They will be the brands with the strongest operational execution, cleanest customer experience, best inventory discipline, and fewest surprises.Promotions amplify fundamentals.They do not replace them.Follow Selling on Giants for weekly operator-level breakdowns on Amazon, Walmart, retail media, marketplace strategy, eCommerce growth, and what actually changes for brands responsible for profitability.Subscribe to Selling on Giants for weekly insights that go beyond headlines and focus on what actually impacts your business.

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Selling on Giants: Going Retail, Will sits down with Kristyn Carriere, co-founder of 7 Summits Snacks, to discuss the realities of building a food brand and successfully expanding into retail.7 Summits Snacks was born from a unique partnership between two sisters—Kristyn, a food scientist, and her sister, a former Canadian decathlete. Together, they created a functional chocolate energy bar that delivers great taste, premium ingredients, and performance-focused nutrition for active consumers.During the conversation, Kristyn shares how the company launched through a crowdfunding campaign during the pandemic, built an early e-commerce presence, and eventually grew retail into 75% of the business. She explains why listening to customer feedback played a critical role in deciding where and how to expand.Will and Kristyn explore some of the biggest lessons brands should understand before entering retail, including the importance of shelf positioning, packaging design, pricing strategy, and understanding the competitive landscape. Kristyn also offers practical advice for founders on working with retail buyers, conducting customer research, and ensuring their products stand out in crowded categories.The episode highlights the differences between selling online and in-store, and why success in retail requires brands to think beyond simply having a great product. From understanding customer purchasing behavior to designing packaging for specific retail environments, Kristyn provides actionable insights for brands considering the move into physical retail.The discussion wraps up with a preview of 7 Summits Snacks' newest innovation—a protein-focused chocolate snack designed to meet growing consumer demand for high-protein options while staying true to the brand's chocolate-first philosophy.Whether you're a digital-first brand exploring retail opportunities or a founder looking to strengthen your retail strategy, this episode offers valuable lessons from a company actively navigating both channels.Website: https://sevensummitssnacks.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/7summitssnacksFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/7SummitsSnacks LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/seven-summits-snacks/https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristyncarriere/

Send us Fan MailThis week’s Selling on Giants breaks down the June ninth marketplace updates shaping Amazon sellers, Walmart operators, retail media teams, and eCommerce brands preparing for a more connected and more demanding commerce environment.The theme this week is clear: eCommerce is not getting less complex. It is getting more connected.Amazon is turning Sponsored Brands into richer discovery experiences with Brand Gallery. Amazon is also pushing AI-powered visual search, making creative assets part of product discoverability. Reddit is becoming more important for GenAI visibility as AI systems learn from real customer conversations. Walmart’s internal AI usage is so high the company had to cap access, showing that AI adoption is moving from experimentation into daily operations.At the same time, DHL’s ten billion dollar USPS deal shows how last-mile delivery is becoming shared infrastructure. Tariff policy and import volatility are putting pressure back into supply chain planning. McKinsey’s consumer research shows shoppers are still spending, but they are far more selective. Retail bankruptcies continue exposing weak operators. And brands are preparing for World Cup demand without needing official sponsorship rights.In this episode, we cover:Amazon Sponsored Brands Brand GalleryAmazon introduced Brand Gallery for Sponsored Brands, giving advertisers a richer way to showcase multiple products and brand assets. This is another signal that Amazon advertising is moving beyond single-ASIN transactions and toward brand discovery, catalog exploration, and customer lifetime value.Amazon AI visual searchAmazon’s AI image generator for search bar queries shows that shoppers may increasingly search with concepts, aesthetics, and outcomes instead of exact keywords. For sellers, that means product photography, lifestyle imagery, structured data, and creative quality are becoming part of search visibility.Reddit and GenAI visibilityAI search engines and large language models increasingly rely on Reddit discussions to understand products, categories, buying advice, and customer sentiment. In an AI-driven world, authentic reputation may become one of the most valuable marketing assets a brand can build.Walmart’s internal AI adoptionWalmart reportedly capped usage of an internal AI tool after employee demand exceeded expectations. The bigger signal is that AI is becoming operational infrastructure inside companies, not just a customer-facing commerce trend.DHL’s ten billion dollar USPS partnershipDHL’s last-mile delivery deal with USPS shows that fulfillment infrastructure is becoming more interconnected. Even major logistics providers are choosing partnership over duplication as the last mile remains expensive and difficult to operate profitably.Tariffs, forced labor enforcement, and import timingTrade policy uncertainty and NRF’s import forecast show that supply chain planning is back in focus. Brands are pulling inventory forward to manage tariff risk, freight uncertainty, and peak-season readiness, but that also creates cash flow and forecasting pressure.The selective consumerMcKinsey’s latest consumer research reinforces that shoppers are still spending, but they are asking harder questions before they buy. Value does not always mean cheapest. It means the purchase feels smart, trustworthy, and worth the money.Retail bankruptcies and operational disciplineRetail bankruptcies continue showing that revenue does not protect businesses. Weak margins, poor inventory management, high fixed costs, and failure to adapt continue separating strong operators from fragile ones.World Cup marketing without official sponsorshipsBrands are finding ways to participate in World Cup demand through cultural relevance, watch parties, social content, fan experiences, and seasonal campaigns without paying for official sponsorship rights.The bigger takeaway:Advertising connects to creative. Creative connects to search. Search connects to AI interpretation. AI interpretation connects to customer conversations. Supply chain connects to ad efficiency. Inventory connects to ranking. Fulfillment connects to customer trust. And cultural relevance connects to demand.The edge is not in hacks.It is in execution, clean systems, and fast decisions.Follow Selling on Giants for weekly operator-level breakdowns on Amazon, Walmart, retail media, AI commerce, marketplace strategy, supply chain risk, and what actually changes for brands responsible for growth and profitability.Subscribe to Selling on Giants for weekly insights that go beyond headlines and focus on what actually impacts your business.

Send us Fan MailThis episode of Selling on Giants breaks down why so many eCommerce founders stay busy, grow revenue, and still feel stuck.The problem is not effort. It is incentive design.Using the game theory concept of the Stag Hunt, this episode explores the difference between chasing short-term wins and building the systems, teams, and trust required to scale.In the beginning, every founder hunts rabbits. They run the ads, fix the listings, answer customer service emails, chase invoices, and handle whatever is on fire that day. Rabbits keep the lights on, and early in the business, that matters.But eventually, survival behavior becomes the ceiling.If every important decision still runs through the founder, the company is not truly scaling. It is staying dependent on one person’s urgency, judgment, and control.In this episode, we cover:Why founders get trapped chasing rabbits Short-term wins feel productive because there is movement, but movement is not always progress.What the Stag Hunt teaches about leadership Bigger outcomes require trust, coordination, patience, and credible commitment from the team.Why ecommerce rewards reactive behavior Amazon sales data, ad dashboards, rankings, inventory, and reviews all create urgency, which can train founders to chase the next immediate problem instead of building long-term leverage.How control becomes the ceiling Founders often believe control protects the business, but at a certain stage, too much control prevents the team from maturing.Why teams need shared context People make better decisions when they understand the larger outcome, not just the task in front of them.Why tactics are not enough to scale More ads, more products, more channels, and more activity do not matter if the operating system underneath the business is weak.The operator takeaway:Rabbit hunting keeps the business alive. Stag hunting is how the business scales.The best founders eventually stop asking, “What can I fix today?” and start asking, “What system are we building that makes the next stage easier?”That shift changes everything.It impacts hiring, delegation, accountability, strategy, marketplace expansion, advertising, and leadership. It is the difference between a founder-owned job and a company that can compound without everything depending on one person.The bigger picture:If you are building on Amazon, Walmart, Shopify, or across marketplaces, the question is not only what tactic should come next. The better question is whether your team is aligned around the bigger hunt.The edge is not in more activity. It is in trust. Coordination. Clear priorities. Better systems.Follow Selling on Giants for operator-level breakdowns on eCommerce leadership, marketplace strategy, Amazon growth, Walmart expansion, and what it really takes to build a durable brand.Subscribe to Selling on Giants for weekly insights that go beyond headlines and focus on what actually impacts your business.

Send us Fan MailThis week’s Selling on Giants breaks down the June second eCommerce updates shaping Amazon sellers, Walmart operators, retail media teams, and brands trying to grow in a marketplace environment that keeps getting more complex.The theme this week is clear: eCommerce is still growing, but growth is not being handed out evenly.Amazon is tightening Brand Registry and identity verification. AI shopping agents are becoming the new layer between customers and products. Google wants more of the checkout experience. Meta is opening its ad ecosystem to third-party AI tools. Walmart is turning last-mile fulfillment into infrastructure. Consumers are still spending, but they are becoming harder to win.In this episode, we cover:Amazon Brand Registry rejections and verification frictionAmazon opened up more guidance around Brand Registry enrollment rejections, appeals, and trademark verification. For sellers, this is not paperwork anymore. Brand Registry is foundational infrastructure because it unlocks A+ Content, Brand Stores, Sponsored Brands, Brand Analytics, and brand protection tools.Why identity verification is becoming marketplace infrastructureAmazon is reminding sellers to keep identity, ownership, banking, business records, and verification documents clean and current. A simple account update, EIN change, ownership change, banking update, or marketplace expansion can trigger additional review if documentation does not line up.The rise of AI shopping agents and agentic commerceAI agents are becoming a major layer in product discovery. Instead of shoppers manually browsing search results, AI systems may compare reviews, check pricing, evaluate availability, and recommend products before the customer ever visits a website.Why product feeds are becoming the new SEOProduct data, structured attributes, pricing accuracy, inventory availability, taxonomy, review signals, and catalog consistency are becoming strategic assets. If AI systems cannot clearly interpret your product, your brand may become harder to recommend.Google’s universal shopping cart and the fight for checkout controlGoogle’s unified shopping cart shows that the company wants to move deeper into the transaction layer, not just search and discovery. The battle for eCommerce is increasingly about who owns the decision layer between the consumer and the purchase.Meta opens advertising to AI toolsMeta is expanding third-party AI integrations inside its advertising ecosystem. Campaign creation, optimization, audience management, and creative workflows are becoming more automated, which shifts the value of operators and agencies toward strategy, creative direction, and data interpretation.McKinsey’s consumer research and the selective shopperConsumers are still spending, but they are more intentional. They want value, quality, convenience, trust, and a clear reason to buy. Weak positioning and unclear offers are getting exposed faster.Target’s World Cup activation and cultural commerceTarget’s soccer event tour shows how retailers are becoming media and lifestyle platforms. Major cultural moments like the World Cup create opportunities for brands that plan inventory, creative, and retail media early.Walmart passes one million drone deliveriesWalmart’s drone milestone is not really about drones. It is about last-mile infrastructure. Walmart is using stores, delivery, pickup, Walmart+, marketplace growth, and retail media to build a commerce ecosystem that competes directly with Amazon on convenience.U.S. eCommerce keeps taking retail shareCensus data shows eCommerce sales grew faster than total retail sales in Q1 twenty twenty six. The channel is still expanding, but brands need to ask whether they are growing faster than the market or quietly losing share.The bigger takeaway:The next phase of eCommerce will not be won by brands that only chase traffic.It will be won by brands that are easier to trust, easier to understand, easier to fulfill, easier for AI systems to interpret, and easier for customers to justify buying.The edge is not in hacks. It is in execution, clean systems, strong data, and fast decisions.Follow Selling on Giants for weekly operator-level breakdowns on Amazon, Walmart, retail media, AI commerce, marketplace strategy, and what actually changes for brands responsible for growth and profitability.Subscribe to Selling on Giants for weekly insights that go beyond headlines and focus on what actually impacts your business.

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Selling on Giants: Going Retail, we sit down with Chris MacLean, co-founder of Yew Healthy Aging Nutraceuticals, to explore what it really takes to launch a science-backed wellness brand into retail.Unlike many modern brands that begin online and later expand into stores, Yew Healthy Aging chose a retail-first strategy — focusing on independent pharmacies, specialty health retailers, and education-driven partnerships from day one.Chris shares:- Why the team spent three years developing their products before launch- How their pharmaceutical and biopharma backgrounds shape product development- Why education and trust are critical in the nutraceutical industry- The realities of launching into retail as a premium health brand- Sustainability initiatives behind their packaging and ingredient sourcing- How independent pharmacies and healthcare practitioners became key retail partners- What founders should know before bringing technical or science-based products to marketThe conversation also dives into product formulation, Health Canada regulations, retail readiness, expiration considerations, consumer education, and the future of longevity-focused wellness products.Whether you’re building a CPG brand, entering retail for the first time, or interested in the future of healthy aging, this episode offers practical insights into launching thoughtfully in a highly competitive category.🎧 Listen now to hear how Yew Healthy Aging is combining science, sustainability, and retail strategy to redefine longevity products for modern consumers.Website: https://yewlongevity.com/pages/the-scienceInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/yewnutraceuticals/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yewnutraceuticalsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/yew-nutraceuticals/?originalSubdomain=ca 

Send us Fan MailThis week’s Selling on Giants breaks down the May twenty sixth marketplace updates shaping Amazon sellers, Walmart operators, retail media teams, and eCommerce brands preparing for a more demanding commerce environment.The theme this week is simple: commerce is becoming more intelligent on the front end, but more demanding on the back end.Platforms are getting smarter. AI is changing how products are discovered. Walmart is building a serious commerce infrastructure engine. Amazon is preparing sellers for Prime Day return disputes. Supply chain risk is still very real. And consumers are still spending, but far more selectively.In this episode, we cover:Amazon SAFE-T claims and Prime Day return riskAmazon is encouraging sellers to prepare SAFE-T claim workflows ahead of Prime Day. For FBM sellers, Seller Fulfilled Prime, high-ticket items, electronics, and seasonal categories, return fraud and reimbursement disputes are not edge cases. They are part of the operating model.Why sellers still want buyer blocking toolsSeller Forum discussions show growing frustration around repeat return abuse, fraudulent claims, switcheroo returns, and limited seller-side protection. Amazon continues to prioritize marketplace openness and customer trust, which means sellers need better documentation, margin discipline, and return workflows.Walmart’s Q1 FY27 results and marketplace growthWalmart reported strong growth across eCommerce, advertising, marketplace, membership, and store-fulfilled pickup and delivery. The bigger signal is that Walmart is no longer just a traditional retailer adapting to eCommerce. It is becoming a commerce infrastructure platform competing more directly with Amazon.Why Walmart can no longer be treated as a secondary channelWalmart Connect, marketplace expansion, fulfillment positioning, membership behavior, and omnichannel logistics are becoming more important. Brands that treat Walmart like an afterthought will fall behind as the platform matures.Supply chain risk from the Strait of HormuzGeopolitical disruption can quickly impact fuel, resin, plastic packaging, food logistics, freight, warehousing, and last-mile delivery economics. eCommerce may feel digital, but the physical supply chain still controls margin.Retail crime as commerce infrastructure riskOrganized retail crime and cargo theft are no longer only store problems. They affect inventory, marketplaces, unauthorized sellers, pricing stability, brand protection, and sourcing documentation.AI shopping agents and the future of product discoveryAI agents, ChatGPT product feed ads, Google’s universal commerce protocol, Shopify AI search insights, and Amazon’s shift toward Alexa shopping agents all point in the same direction. AI is becoming the interface layer between customers and products.Why product data is now strategic infrastructureClean titles, complete attributes, accurate pricing, review quality, product feeds, metadata, and cross-platform consistency will become more important as AI systems compare, recommend, and help purchase products.The consumer is still spending, but more selectivelyRecent retail earnings show a consumer that has not disappeared, but has recalibrated. Value, trust, convenience, promotions, and strong positioning matter more, while weak mid-tier products face more pressure.The bigger takeaway:The next stage of eCommerce is not just about being better at selling.It is about being harder to break.The brands that win will have cleaner data, stronger documentation, tighter margins, better fulfillment, clearer product positioning, and enough operational discipline to survive a market where platforms and customers are both getting more demanding.Follow Selling on Giants for weekly operator-level breakdowns on Amazon, Walmart, retail media, AI commerce, marketplace strategy, supply chain risk, and what actually changes for brands responsible for growth and profitability.Subscribe to Selling on Giants for weekly insights that go beyond headlines and focus on what actually impacts your business.

Send us Fan MailThis episode of Selling on Giants takes a deep look at the business models behind Fanatics and Starter, and why their stories matter far beyond sports merchandise.Starter became one of the most iconic sports apparel brands of the nineteen nineties. Starter jackets were cultural status symbols across the NFL, NBA, NHL, college sports, and streetwear. The brand had relevance, demand, and identity.But underneath that cultural momentum was a structural weakness.Starter relied heavily on wholesale distribution, traditional retail cycles, and slower operational systems. It had brand heat, but it did not fully control the customer relationship, fulfillment speed, or demand response.Fanatics represents a different model.Instead of operating like a traditional sports merchandise company, Fanatics built a vertically integrated commerce engine. It controls licensing relationships, manufacturing, ecommerce infrastructure, fulfillment, customer data, and real-time demand response.That gives Fanatics a major advantage when demand spikes. When a team wins a championship, a player gets traded, or a major sports moment happens, Fanatics can react quickly and capture demand while attention is still high.This episode breaks down why that matters for modern eCommerce operators.In this episode, we cover:The rise and decline of StarterHow Starter became a cultural force, why the brand mattered, and what structural weaknesses made it vulnerable when retail changed.Why Fanatics built a stronger operating modelFanatics is not just a merchandise company. It is an infrastructure company built around speed, licensing, fulfillment, and customer data.Vertical integration as a competitive advantageThe more of the value chain a company controls, the more margin, data, and flexibility it can capture.Why brand heat is not enoughCultural relevance can create demand, but infrastructure determines how much of that demand a company actually captures.What marketplace sellers can learn from thisAmazon, Walmart, Shopify, and DTC brands face the same strategic question: what part of the customer journey do you actually control?Why infrastructure matters more as markets changeAd costs rise, fees increase, fulfillment gets more expensive, and platform rules shift. Durable businesses are built to absorb those changes.The operator takeaway:Starter had culture, but Fanatics built control.That is the real lesson.Strong branding matters, but branding without operational durability becomes fragile. The best eCommerce brands are not just better marketers. They are better system builders.They understand their supply chain, fulfillment model, data, customer relationship, pricing power, and channel dependency.As commerce evolves, the advantage is moving toward brands that control more of the infrastructure underneath their growth.The edge is not in hype. It is in control. Vertical integration. Operational speed. Infrastructure ownership.If you are building a brand on Amazon, Walmart, Shopify, or across multiple marketplaces, this episode gives you a practical way to think about long-term durability, not just short-term performance.Follow Selling on Giants for operator-level breakdowns on marketplace strategy, eCommerce growth, retail trends, and the business models shaping the future of commerce.Subscribe to Selling on Giants for weekly insights that go beyond headlines and focus on what actually impacts your business.

Send us Fan MailThis week’s Selling on Giants breaks down the May nineteenth eCommerce updates shaping Amazon sellers, marketplace operators, retail media teams, and brands trying to protect margin in a more complex operating environment.The theme is clear: the brands that win from here are not necessarily doing the most. They are operating the cleanest.Amazon is tightening expectations around inventory, customer service, intellectual property, and operational discipline. Retail media is becoming a required cost of visibility. AI is changing how products are discovered. Marketplaces are competing through infrastructure, payments, data, and seller workflows.In this episode, we cover:Amazon pushes FBA Liquidations as inventory pressure risesAmazon is promoting FBA Liquidations as a way for sellers to recover some value from excess, idle, unfulfillable, or customer-returned inventory. The hard truth is that recovery rates are usually low, often around five to ten percent of average selling price before fees. The real value is stopping storage fees, aged inventory surcharges, and the financial bleed tied to inventory that should no longer be sitting in FBA.Buyer satisfaction scoring gets more detailed for FBM sellersAmazon replaced the old yes or no survey with a one-to-five satisfaction rating for self-fulfilled sellers. This gives sellers more nuanced feedback, but it also raises the bar on measurable customer service quality. Buyer contact rate, response time, and dissatisfaction rate are no longer soft support metrics. They are operating standards.Amazon reinforces intellectual property complianceAmazon is increasing education around trademarks, copyrights, patents, counterfeit complaints, sourcing authorization, and Brand Registry. The operator takeaway is simple: sellers need clean documentation before there is a problem. Once an IP complaint hits, the seller is already playing defense.Amazon cancels planned SP API feesAmazon reversed planned SP API usage fees that were expected in May twenty twenty six. That matters because SP API powers reporting tools, inventory systems, advertising software, repricers, dashboards, and automation workflows. The reversal protects the economics of third-party tools for now, but sellers should continue watching how Amazon manages data access and ecosystem control.Etsy launches a ChatGPT shopping experienceEtsy’s ChatGPT-powered shopping experience shows how product discovery is moving from exact keywords toward natural language intent. Instead of searching only by product terms, shoppers can describe style, use case, mood, and preference. That makes clear positioning, strong attributes, descriptive language, and visual storytelling more important.Agentic marketplaces are comingAI agents may soon compare products, evaluate reviews, analyze specs, and assist with purchases. That means listings must be understandable to machines as well as humans. Structured data, complete attributes, pricing clarity, review consistency, and trust signals will matter more.Retail media becomes shelf spaceRetailers are increasingly tying visibility, discovery, and merchandising to media spend. Advertising is no longer separate from retail performance. It is becoming part of distribution economics, which means sellers need to evaluate total contribution profit, not isolated ROAS.Amazon expands self-service measurement studiesAmazon is giving advertisers more direct access to measurement tools. That creates opportunity for better allocation, incrementality analysis, and funnel strategy, but more data only helps when operators know how to interpret it.The bigger takeaway:Amazon is becoming less forgiving toward inventory and compliance weakness. Customer service is becoming more measurable. AI is changing how products are found. Marketplaces are competing through infrastructure. Retail media is becoming shelf placement.The edge is not in hacks. It is in execution, clean data, clear systems, and fast decisions.Follow Selling on Giants for weekly operator-level breakdowns on Amazon, Walmart, retail media, AI commerce, marketplace strategy, and what actually changes for brands responsible for growth and profitability.Subscribe to Selling on Giants for weekly insights that go beyond headlines and focus on what actually impacts your business.

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Selling on Giants, Will sits down with Dawn Chapman, founder and CEO of Lazy Daisy Café and Lazy Daisy Foods, to discuss how a beloved neighborhood café in Toronto evolved into a growing consumer packaged goods brand now carried in over 200 stores across Canada.Dawn shares the story behind Lazy Daisy’s homemade, farm-inspired food philosophy and how customer demand for their famous buttermilk biscuits sparked the transition from cafe to retail. The conversation explores the challenges of entering the CPG world, the steep learning curve of scaling production, and how the pandemic became an unexpected catalyst for expansion into frozen baked goods.They also dive into what it takes to maintain product quality while growing nationally, the realities of retail distribution, and why emotional connection and comfort food continue to resonate with consumers. From independent cafe owner to grocery shelves across Canada, Dawn offers an honest look at building a food brand rooted in community, authenticity, and persistence.Website: https://www.lazydaisyfoods.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lazydaisystoYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP3IbKe-XyPw5RKLncByETgTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@UCP3IbKe-XyPw5RKLncByETg Pinterest: https://www.tiktok.com/@lazydaisyscafe

Send us Fan MailThis week’s Selling on Giants breaks down how Amazon, Walmart, Shopify, Meta, and the broader retail ecosystem are moving toward a more structured, automated, and AI-mediated version of commerce.The theme this week is clear: platforms are not just helping customers buy. They are shaping what customers see, how products are explained, how ads are sequenced, and how brands are measured.In this episode, we cover:Amazon Business pushes seller certificationsAmazon is encouraging sellers to upload certifications to improve visibility with B2B buyers. For procurement-driven categories, certifications can become a real advantage by helping sellers appear in searches tied to diversity, compliance, quality, and institutional purchasing requirements.Lithium battery compliance tightensAmazon is expanding documentation, testing, inspection, and listing attribute requirements for lithium batteries and battery-powered products. Sellers in electronics, toys, fitness, beauty devices, and rechargeable household products should audit compliance before suppressions happen.Prime Video ads become sequentialAmazon is turning streaming into a more performance-oriented ad channel by allowing Prime Video ads to change based on what viewers have already seen. Creative strategy now needs to think in sequences, not isolated ads.Amazon launches “Join the Chat” AI shopping assistanceProduct pages are becoming source material for AI. Amazon’s AI can summarize listings and answer shopper questions, which means clear bullets, complete attributes, strong reviews, and consistent positioning matter more than ever.Google adds more links to AI OverviewsAI search is becoming competitive real estate. Ranking alone is no longer enough. Brands need content that is clear, structured, authoritative, and easy for AI systems to cite.AI investment is rising, but impact remains unevenCompanies are spending more on AI, but many are not seeing measurable ROI because tools are not the same as operational integration. The advantage still comes from execution, workflow design, and clean data.Apparel spending softensDiscretionary demand is becoming more selective. Apparel brands and sellers should watch inventory depth, hero Skews, conversion trends, and promotional pressure closely.Commerce moves into media and contentSports Illustrated’s shoppable content shows how product discovery is moving beyond marketplaces and into editorial, creator, lifestyle, and entertainment environments.Walmart expands its beauty strategyWalmart is investing in premium, trend-driven beauty experiences, showing that retailers are competing on discovery, trust, and category perception, not just price.Shopify, Meta, and AI agents reshape operations and shoppingShopify’s ChatGPT and Claude connectors show how ecommerce operations are becoming conversational, while Meta’s AI shopping assistants point to a future where Instagram becomes an even stronger discovery and recommendation layer.The bigger picture:Commerce is becoming more AI-mediated, more measurable, more structured, and more controlled by the platforms that own the customer interface.The edge is not in hacks. It is in execution, clean data, clear systems, and fast decisions.Subscribe to Selling on Giants for weekly insights that go beyond headlines and focus on what actually impacts your business.

Send us Fan MailAmazon has officially confirmed Prime Day for June 2026, and the timeline is tighter than most operators expect. This episode of Selling on Giants is a focused breakdown on how to prepare without overcommitting inventory, overspending on ads, or damaging margins.This is not about hype. This is about execution.Key dates you need to know:May 27th: Target for minimal shipment splits into FBA June 5th: Final window for optimized shipment placement Prime Day (June): Expected four-day event with major demand spikes on Day 1 and Day 4 If inventory is not moving now, you are already behind.Inventory strategy that protects your business: Plan for 2.5x your average daily sales velocity across the four-day window  Push to 3x only if your category supports demand spikes Avoid overcommitting inventory that leads to post-event liquidation Not all products benefit equally from Prime Day. Categories driven by urgency or necessity will not see the same lift as impulse or lifestyle purchases.Promotions that actually convert: Every brand should run something: Lightning Deals, Best Deals, or coupons Use coupons if you do not qualify for deals or need margin flexibility  Test $ off vs % off — higher perceived value often wins Prime Day is one of the few times where increased traffic can carry promotional performance.Advertising approach by experience level:For newer sellers: Start with automatic campaigns to build data  Layer into manual targeting campaigns Use Sponsored Products, then expand into Sponsored Brands and Sponsored Display For advanced operators: Build audiences 2–3 weeks ahead of Prime Day Use contextual, intent-based, and demographic targeting Focus on converting existing audiences, not starting from zero Where brands waste money (and how to avoid it): Over-investing in short bursts of full-funnel advertising  Expecting immediate returns from mid and upper funnel campaigns  Cutting spend immediately after the event and losing momentum Prime Day rewards preparation and consistency, not last-minute spend spikes.Real operator insight: Overstocking without demand leads to liquidation and margin loss  Not all categories benefit equally from the event  Advertising needs to align with long-term strategy, not short-term bursts The bigger picture:Prime Day is not a make-or-break event. It is a controlled opportunity to accelerate performance if executed correctly. Be ready, not reckless  Anchor decisions to real data  Protect margins while capturing demand  Focus on execution over volume The edge is not in doing more. It is in doing the right things at the right time.If you are selling on Amazon and preparing for Prime Day, this episode gives you a clear, operator-level framework to execute with confidence.Follow Selling on Giants for weekly insights on what actually impacts your business.Subscribe to Selling on Giants for weekly insights that go beyond headlines and focus on what actually impacts your business.

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Selling on Giants, we sit down with Marina Mushlovina and Nila Cook, founders of Neo Naturelle, to unpack how they turned a personal skincare need into an award-winning brand.Neo Naturelle focuses on women experiencing hormonal changes like perimenopause and menopause—an often overlooked market. Built on their backgrounds in chemistry and food science, the founders created products rooted in real needs, validated through direct customer feedback.The conversation dives into:- Building a brand from scratch — starting online, then pivoting into retail post-COVID- Finding and owning a niche — serving women 40+ with hormone-focused skincare- Changing the narrative around aging — positioning it as something to embrace, not fight- Retail expansion lessons — from consignment strategies to navigating large retailer risks- Bootstrapping growth — using customer interaction and grassroots efforts to refine products and messaging- What actually drives retail success — strong margins, storytelling, and ongoing in-store supportThey also open up about the realities of entrepreneurship—self-doubt, financial risk, and the importance of resilience—while sharing how awards and customer testimonials helped validate their journey.If you're building a brand or considering retail expansion, this episode is packed with practical insights on how to grow sustainably while staying true to your mission.Learn More: https://neonaturelle.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neonaturelle/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/neonaturellecosmetics/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/neonaturelle/

Send us Fan MailIn this week’s Selling on Giants News & Updates, we break down what is actually happening across Amazon, Walmart, and the broader eCommerce landscape and what it means for brands, operators, and even consumers.Here’s what we’re covering:Amazon Compliance Is Getting Stricter Restricted product violations are rising across categories, and enforcement is becoming more automated. Listings are getting flagged unexpectedly, appeals are being denied quickly, and even legacy products are triggering account health issues. Takeaway: Compliance is no longer reactive. It needs to be treated as a core part of operations.Prime Day Is Moving Earlier Amazon continues to push deadlines forward. Deals, pricing, and inventory decisions now need to be locked in weeks ahead of the event. Takeaway: Prime Day is no longer a last-minute push. It is a planned campaign that requires early commitment.Amazon Expands Beyond Its Marketplace Multi-Channel Fulfillment is now expanding globally, allowing brands to use Amazon as their fulfillment layer across channels. Takeaway: Operations become simpler, but dependency on Amazon increases.Walmart Is Building a Controlled Ecosystem Walmart is integrating stores, fulfillment, AI, and eCommerce into a single system designed for speed and efficiency. Takeaway: Inventory placement, delivery speed, and execution now determine performance.Retail Media Is Moving Up the Funnel Walmart Connect is simplifying connected TV ads, and Amazon is expanding DSP placements like Kindle lockscreen ads. Takeaway: Brands are now competing before the customer even starts searching.Search Is Shifting from Rankings to AI Answers With GenAI, visibility is no longer just about ranking. It is about being cited and referenced in AI-generated responses. Takeaway: Content needs to be structured for clarity, authority, and trust, not just keywords.Operational Risks Are Increasing USPS is tightening enforcement on underpaid postage, leading to shipment delays and rejections. Takeaway: Small operational errors now have larger consequences.Platform Economics Are Changing BigCommerce is introducing new fees tied to payment providers, pushing brands toward native systems. Takeaway: Platform decisions now directly impact margins.AI Is Automating Advertising Execution Meta is expanding AI tools that simplify campaign setup and optimization. Takeaway: Execution becomes easier, but strategy and creative become the differentiators.The Bigger PictureAutomation is increasing.Control is tightening.The systems are getting better, but they are less forgiving.Brands that focus on clean data, clear strategy, and strong execution will adapt faster and capture more value.If you are running an eCommerce brand or managing marketplace growth, this is one of those moments where understanding how the system works matters more than ever.Subscribe to Selling on Giants for weekly insights that go beyond headlines and focus on what actually impacts your business.

Send us Fan MailThis week’s Selling on Giants breaks down a major shift happening across Amazon, Walmart, and the broader marketplace landscape. The headlines may look unrelated, but they all point in the same direction.Platforms are moving beyond transactions and into infrastructure, while operators face increasing pressure across fulfillment, compliance, and discovery.Top stories this week:Amazon expands Multi Channel Fulfillment for Shopify globallyAmazon extends its MCF Shopify integration into Europe, Japan, and Canada, positioning itself as the fulfillment layer for direct-to-consumer brands. Efficiency increases, but so does dependency.eigh to Z claims continue to create frictionEven with Buy Shipping and proper documentation, sellers report inconsistent outcomes. The process is clear, but enforcement remains unpredictable, shifting risk toward the seller.VAT complexity increases for EU expansionGlobal growth introduces operational overhead, including registration, reporting, and tax compliance across multiple countries. Expansion is no longer plug and play.Operational pressure is building:Supply chain diversification becomes more complexNew restrictions in China slow down efforts to shift manufacturing, increasing friction in sourcing and planning.Distribution expectations continue to riseSpeed, reliability, and automation are now baseline requirements, not differentiators. Fulfillment performance directly impacts conversion.Amazon tightens advertiser payment structuresLess flexibility in billing ties ad spend more closely to cash flow, requiring tighter control and faster optimization.Discovery and behavior shifts:AI-driven shopping adoption increasesMillennials and Gen Z are using AI tools to guide purchasing decisions, shifting discovery from search to assisted selection.AI traffic grows, but remains inconsistentTraffic from AI sources is increasing, but conversion and intent vary widely, making it an additive rather than foundational channel.Conversational and voice-based advertising emergesNew formats like Alexa-based ads signal a move beyond screens into interactive discovery environments.Retail and marketplace evolution:Walmart pilots store-based fulfillmentPhysical stores become logistics nodes, improving delivery speed and raising expectations across ecommerce.Sam’s Club connects in-store experience with dataOffline interactions become measurable, giving retailers more control over customer insights and performance tracking.Marketplace expansion acceleratesBrands continue to diversify across platforms to reduce dependency, increasing operational complexity but improving stability.The bigger picture:Platforms are expanding into infrastructureCosts and complexity are increasingDiscovery is becoming fragmented and AI-drivenRisk is shifting toward the operatorExecution is becoming the primary differentiatorThe edge is not in hacks. It is in execution. Clean data. Clear systems. Fast decisions.If you are operating on Amazon, Walmart, or scaling across marketplaces, this episode provides a clear operator-level perspective on what is changing and how to respond.Subscribe to Selling on Giants for weekly insights that go beyond headlines and focus on what actually impacts your business.

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Selling on Giants, Will sits down with Milton and Gisela, founders of Not Bad Snacks, to explore what happens when a digital-first brand takes its first steps into retail.Not Bad Snacks is a Vancouver-based better-for-you snack brand built around the idea that healthy snacks shouldn’t be boring. Known for their clean ingredients and bold flavors, the brand has been growing through direct-to-consumer channels, local events, and a strong community presence.Learn more: https://notbadsnacks.caFollow them: https://instagram.com/notbadsnacksThis conversation breaks down that transition from online to retail, and what founders often underestimate along the way.You’ll learn:- How real customer demand (not just strategy) pushed the brand toward retail- Why local events became a key proving ground for product-market fit- What actually needs to change before approaching retail buyers (pricing, packaging, case packs, shelf presence)- How retail buyers evaluate products—velocity, margins, and category fit- Early signals that indicate retail success, including reorders and in-store feedback- Why retail is still a relationship-driven business—and how that impacts growthMilton and Gisela also share honest insights into the learning curve of entering the CPG space for the first time, from operational challenges to pitching buyers and navigating new stakeholders beyond DTC.If you’re building an eCommerce brand and considering retail expansion, this episode offers practical, real-world perspective on what it actually takes to make that leap—and what to pressure test before you do.Follow Selling on Giants for more conversations with founders and operators scaling across Amazon, Walmart, and retail.Follow BellaVix:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bellavix/ Website: https://www.bellavix.com/

Send us Fan MailThis week’s Selling on Giants breaks down a clear shift happening across Amazon, Walmart, and the broader marketplace landscape. It is not one major update. It is a series of smaller changes that all point in the same direction.More platform control. More operational pressure. Less room for error.If you are responsible for performance, this is the environment you are operating in.Top stories this week:Amazon launches “Unmet Demand” insights A new feature inside Product Opportunity Explorer highlights high search, low conversion opportunities. Strong in theory, but still too broad for direct execution. Useful for validation, not decision-making. eigh-to-Z claims remain inconsistent despite clear process Sellers follow the rules, provide documentation, and still absorb losses. The issue is no longer understanding the process. It is trusting the outcome. Amazon doubles down on AI infrastructure AI is not a feature. It is becoming the system that drives search, ads, and visibility across the platform. Google search shifts toward AI-generated answers Ranking matters less. Selection matters more. Fewer links, more synthesized results, and tighter competition for visibility. Operational pressure building across the board:Supply chain complexity impacts scalability Categories like fragrance highlight how sourcing, compliance, and production variability affect margins and inventory. Packaging costs becoming volatile Material costs, sustainability requirements, and supply disruptions turn packaging into a variable cost center. Variation enforcement tightens on Amazon Review consolidation strategies are being phased out. Each Skew must now build its own credibility, increasing launch cost and time. Retail and demand signals:Walmart leans into cultural product drops Limited-time collaborations show a shift toward event-driven commerce and demand creation. Easter spending hits record levels Demand remains strong, but consumers are more price-sensitive and value-driven. Discovery and advertising shifts:Conversational ads expand with Alexa+ Voice-based interaction introduces new discovery surfaces beyond search and scrolling. Community and AI reshape visibility Reddit, AI-generated results, and conversational interfaces influence perception before customers reach listings. Macro trends shaping the market:Potential tariffs on digital goods WTO developments introduce uncertainty around costs tied to software, tools, and services. Shift toward profitability and efficiency Growth-at-all-costs is fading. Operators are focusing on margin, retention, and disciplined execution. The bigger picture: Platforms are taking more control  Costs are increasing across the board  Discovery is becoming fragmented  Consumers are more selective  Operations are more complex The edge is not in hacks. It is in execution. Clean data. Clear systems. Fast decisions.If you are operating on Amazon, Walmart, or scaling across marketplaces, this episode gives you a clear operator-level breakdown of what matters right now and how to respond.Subscribe to Selling on Giants for weekly insights that go beyond headlines and focus on what actually impacts your business.

Send us Fan MailThis week’s Selling on Giants goes deep on one of the most important updates sellers have seen this year, Amazon’s so-called “temporary” three point five percent fulfillment surcharge and what it actually means for your business.This is not just another fee update. This is a continuation of a pattern.If you are operating on Amazon, this episode breaks down what is really happening behind the scenes and how to respond like an operator, not a spectator.Main focus this week:Amazon introduces a 3.5% fulfillment surcharge Positioned as temporary, but sellers know how this plays out. Costs increase, margins compress, and the burden shifts downstream. Margin pressure compounds across the board Rising ad costs, tighter competition, and pricing sensitivity are already limiting flexibility. This adds another layer of pressure. Seller control vs platform control Amazon continues to centralize decision-making across fulfillment, data, and expansion tools, while sellers absorb more variability. What serious operators should be doing now:Reduce fulfillment costs at the unit level Packaging optimization, dimensional adjustments, and SIPP qualification all directly impact fee exposure. Reevaluate fulfillment strategy Fulfilled by Merchant becomes more relevant for specific SKUs where FBA economics no longer make sense. Control participation in promotions Prime Day and other events require discipline. More volume does not always equal more profit. Test pricing, don’t guess Incremental price adjustments paired with conversion monitoring become critical in a constrained environment. Diversify beyond Amazon Walmart continues to expand reach, TikTok offers lower acquisition costs, and DTC provides control. Dependency is now a risk. Additional shifts shaping the market:Amazon tightens ecosystem control From fulfillment standardization to guided expansion tools and closed data environments, control continues to consolidate. Discovery moves beyond search Reddit, AI-driven answers, and community-driven content are influencing visibility before customers reach product pages. AI moves from reporting to decision-making Systems are starting to execute on pricing, inventory, and campaign decisions, shifting the role of the operator. Product data becomes infrastructure PIM systems and structured listings are now required to scale across Amazon, Walmart, and emerging channels. AI-driven advertising emerges Early signals show product feeds and shopping placements entering AI environments, creating new acquisition channels. Regulatory complexity increases State-level regulations introduce more fragmentation, adding operational overhead and compliance challenges. The bigger picture: Costs are rising  Control is consolidating  Discovery is shifting  Complexity is increasing The edge is not in hacks. It is in execution. Clean data. Clear systems. Fast decisions.If you are an eCommerce brand selling on Amazon, Walmart, or scaling across channels, this episode gives you a clear, operator-level breakdown of what matters right now and how to respond with confidence.Follow Selling on Giants for weekly insights that go beyond headlines and focus on what actually impacts your business.Subscribe to Selling on Giants for weekly operator-level insights built for serious marketplace brands navigating co

Send us Fan MailThis week’s Selling on Giants breaks down the real shifts happening across Amazon, Walmart, retail media, and AI-driven commerce. This is not a surface-level recap. This is an operator’s view of what actually changes when you are responsible for the P and L.The pressure is building across multiple fronts at the same time, and the brands that adapt fastest will hold their position.Top stories this week:Amazon linked account enforcement tightens Amazon is now treating seller accounts as a single entity. One violation can take down multiple accounts, and recovery depends on resolving the root account first. This is a structural risk, not an isolated issue. DD+7 reserve policy creates cash flow pressure Sellers are now waiting longer to access funds, creating real constraints on inventory, ad spend, and daily operations. This is not just a policy change, it is a financial shift. Retention marketing faces new regulation Pennsylvania’s proposed bill introduces stricter rules around email and SMS marketing. More consent, less flexibility, and reduced ability to re-engage customers. Ulta expands store fulfillment capabilities Speed is becoming the baseline. Inventory positioning now directly impacts visibility and conversion, not just delivery time. Platform and discovery shifts:AI reshapes product discovery (Sephora + Gen AI search) Discovery is moving from keyword search to guided interaction and AI-generated answers. Visibility now depends on structured, clear, and complete product data. Meta and TikTok push AI and creator-led commerce Discovery is shifting from intent-based search to algorithm-driven exposure. Creators and AI are becoming primary drivers of product visibility. Walmart expands into connected TV commerce Product discovery is moving into content environments, reducing reliance on traditional ecommerce entry points. Operational and marketplace signals:Etsy reinforces listing quality as a ranking factor Complete, accurate, and structured listings are now required for visibility. Keywords alone are no longer enough. NRF highlights growing regulatory pressure Labor, supply chain, data, and compliance are all tightening at the same time, increasing operational complexity. Brands experiment with alternative acquisition channels Rising costs are pushing brands to test lower-cost tactics like offline marketing to maintain efficiency. The bigger picture: Compliance is tightening  Cash flow is getting tighter  Discovery is shifting toward AI and content  Platforms are consolidating control  Customer acquisition is getting more expensive The edge is not in hacks. It is in execution. Clean data. Clear systems. Fast decisions.If you are an eCommerce brand operating on Amazon, Walmart, or beyond, this episode gives you a clear operator lens on what matters right now and how to respond with confidence.Follow the show for weekly breakdowns of what is actually changing in eCommerce, and how serious operators are adapting in real time.Subscribe to Selling on Giants for weekly operator-level insights built for serious marketplace brands navigating complexity with discipline.

Send us Fan MailThis week’s Selling on Giants breaks down the biggest shifts impacting Amazon, Walmart, and the broader eCommerce landscape, with a focus on compliance risk, customer behavior, and tightening margins.These are not surface-level updates. This is how operators are responding in real time.Top stories this week:“Made in USA” enforcement is tightening A new executive order increases scrutiny on product claims. If your listings are not fully compliant, you are exposed to suppression, penalties, and account risk. Amazon buyer abuse and feedback threats Customers are leveraging negative feedback to push refunds and concessions. Learn how to protect your rating without sacrificing margin. NRF forecasts 4.4% retail growth Demand is steady, but competition is tightening. Growth comes from execution, not market lift. Walmart UPC and GTIN exemption friction More visibility into denials, but the process remains inconsistent. Listing velocity now depends on structured, precise submissions. Additional insights covered:Shipping pressure from USPS losses Rising costs and service variability are forcing brands to rethink carrier strategy. Amazon returns and recovery data expansion New visibility into return reasons and costs creates opportunities to improve contribution margin. Target’s $915M retail media growth Paid visibility is becoming a baseline requirement across retail platforms. Sam’s Club and the participation era Membership, retention, and customer ownership are becoming central to growth. Shift away from third-party tools Amazon continues to pull sellers into its native ecosystem, changing how brands operate. The bigger picture: Compliance is tightening  Customer behavior is more aggressive  Growth is steady, not explosive  Margins are under pressure  Platforms are taking more control The edge is not in hacks. It is in execution. Clean data. Clear systems. Fast decisions.If you are an eCommerce brand operating on Amazon, Walmart, or beyond, this episode gives you a clear operator lens on what matters right now and how to respond.Like, follow, and subscribe to stay ahead of what is actually changing in eCommerce.Subscribe to Selling on Giants for weekly operator-level insights built for serious marketplace brands navigating complexity with discipline.

Send us Fan MailConsumers everywhere are noticing something strange.Your favorite snack looks the same. The price looks the same. But somehow… the product inside feels smaller.Welcome to the era of shrinkflation.In this episode of Selling on Giants, we break down why products across grocery stores and marketplaces are quietly getting smaller — and why inflation is only part of the story.The bigger shift is happening behind the scenes.Modern retail economics — especially the rise of Amazon, eCommerce logistics, and marketplace fulfillment costs — are creating powerful incentives for brands to design smaller, lighter, and more efficient products.What looks like shrinkflation on the shelf may actually be margin engineering driven by logistics, packaging optimization, and marketplace economics.This episode connects the dots between consumer trends, global retail strategy, and the operational realities brands face when selling across Amazon, Walmart, Target, and other modern commerce platforms.Along the way, we look at some real-world examples making headlines right now — from shrinking chocolate bars to evolving product packaging strategies.Because once you understand the economics behind it, shrinkflation stops looking like a mystery… and starts looking like a system.In this episode we cover:• The rise of shrinkflation and why brands reduce product size instead of raising prices • Why consumers notice price increases more than quantity changes • The Reese’s example and how iconic products make shrinkflation visible • Cadbury and the global chocolate shrink trend happening across Europe • How Amazon fulfillment fees and shipping costs influence product design • Why smaller packaging improves logistics efficiency in eCommerce • The growing policy debate around shrinkflation transparencyKey takeawayProducts are getting smaller not only because of inflation, but because modern retail and marketplace economics reward smaller, more efficient product designs.As eCommerce continues to reshape global retail, packaging, product sizing, and fulfillment efficiency will play an increasingly important role in how brands manage margins.Shrinkflation may not be a temporary trend.It may be the future of retail product design.If you enjoy the show• Leave a review • Share the episode with another brand operator • Subscribe for weekly insights on Amazon, Walmart, Target, and the evolving marketplace economyYour support helps more operators understand how modern retail really works.Selling on GiantsReal insights on Amazon, marketplaces, and the changing economics of modern retail.Subscribe to Selling on Giants for weekly operator-level insights built for serious marketplace brands navigating complexity with discipline.

Send us Fan MailThis week on Selling on Giants, Mr. Will breaks down several major shifts shaping eCommerce, Amazon selling, and retail strategy. From AI entering Seller Central to retail media becoming a billion-dollar business, the rules of marketplace growth are evolving fast.The common thread across this episode is simple. Platforms are becoming smarter, more automated, and more data-driven.Key topics in this episode include:Amazon Adds AI to Seller Central Analytics Amazon is embedding generative AI directly into Seller Central to help sellers analyze sales trends, advertising performance, and inventory movement via natural-language questions. For smaller brands, this could function like having a built-in analyst. For experienced operators it speeds up pattern detection across complex data sets.Agentic Commerce and the Rise of AI Shopping Agents New research from McKinsey highlights the next phase of online commerce. AI systems will not only recommend products but may soon execute purchases on behalf of consumers. That means product discovery could shift from human browsing to machine-driven decision making.Target’s Advertising Business Keeps Growing Target generated $915 million in advertising revenue in 2025 through its Roundel media network even while retail sales remained soft. This reinforces a massive industry shift where retailers are evolving into media companies and brands increasingly pay for visibility inside retail ecosystems.Amazon Expands Product Opportunity Explorer A new “Saved Opportunities” feature allows sellers to track niches and product ideas directly inside Seller Central. This signals Amazon’s continued push to keep product research and demand validation inside its own platform rather than relying on third-party tools.Tariffs, Supply Chains, and Retail Cost Pressure Costco is proactively adjusting sourcing strategies as tariffs begin influencing global supply chains again. Brands should expect renewed pressure on margins as retailers negotiate pricing with suppliers.Returns Continue to Drain Retail Profitability Retailers processed roughly $706 billion in product returns in 2025. Operational gaps and omnichannel returns like buy online return in store are becoming major margin challenges across retail.Celebrity Backed Brands Continue to Reshape CPG Kim Kardashian has joined energy drink startup Update as a co founder as the brand launches into Walmart with a paraxanthine based formula targeting wellness focused consumers.The Bigger ThemeThe future of commerce is becoming increasingly automated and data driven.Retailers are building media businesses.Platforms are embedding AI into operations.And shopping behavior itself may soon be influenced by autonomous AI agents.For brands and marketplace operators, the companies that adapt fastest to these structural changes will have the strongest advantage.If you sell on Amazon, operate across marketplaces, or care about the future of retail, this episode provides the operator-level perspective behind the headlines.Subscribe to Selling on Giants for weekly operator-level insights built for serious marketplace brands navigating complexity with discipline.

Send us Fan MailAmazon Tightens Capital. Ads Demand Discipline. AI Compresses Competition.This week’s Selling on Giants episode breaks down the structural tightening happening across Amazon, retail media, AI search, and global retail infrastructure. None of these shifts are cosmetic. Each one affects capital flow, attribution control, data visibility, and long-term margin durability.Here’s what serious operators need to understand right now:Amazon DD+7: A Working Capital Shift, Not a Fee Increase• Funds now release seven days after confirmed delivery • The reserve clock starts at delivery confirmation, not shipment • No manual overrides if Disburse on Demand is not enabled • Cash conversion cycles quietly extendThis is not emotional. It is arithmetic. If you front inventory, freight, ads, and payroll, payout timing matters. Extended float increases working capital needs and magnifies debt cost exposure. Strong brands model this. Weak capital structure gets exposed.Sponsored Products: Is Your Account Maintained or Just Running?• Do you know your break-even ACOS? • Are bids tied to Revenue Per Click math? • Are budgets open on winners and capped on waste? • Can your team diagnose which lever moved when ACOS shifts?Most accounts do not fail because Amazon is “rigged.” They fail because margin math, search term hygiene, and structural clarity are missing. Discipline, not emotion, separates scalable ad accounts from expensive ones.Meta Targets Retail Media Budgets• Closed-loop measurement improvements • Retail data integrations • Direct competition for Amazon and Walmart ad dollarsThis is budget warfare, not branding. Attribution is becoming the battleground. Platforms that prove incremental sales impact win allocation. Habit-based budget placement is losing power.AI Shopping Behavior Is Changing Product Discovery• Consumers use AI tools upstream to compare products • Listings are being summarized before shoppers land on Amazon • Clarity and differentiation matter more than keyword stuffingAI compresses competition. If your PDP cannot be summarized clearly in one paragraph, positioning is weak. Structured, benefit-driven content wins.Google’s Universal Commerce Protocol• Standardized product data requirements • Structured, machine-readable commerce feeds • Data integrity over keyword tricksSEO is shifting from content optimization to data architecture discipline. Messy feeds and incomplete attributes quietly erode visibility over time.McKinsey Grocery Report: Growth Paradox in MENA• Consumer confidence rising • Premium willingness increasing • Formal grocery growth laggingThe issue is not demand. It is execution and format relevance. Retail expansion alone does not guarantee velocity. Brands must align assortment, positioning, and innovation to how shoppers actually buy.The Big PatternCapital discipline is tightening. Ad discipline is tightening. Data standards are tightening. Execution tolerance is shrinking.This is not a panic cycle. It is a precision cycle.Strong operators model cash, margin, attribution, and velocity. Undisciplined brands feel friction first.Subscribe to Selling on Giants for weekly operator-level insights built for serious marketplace brands navigating complexity with discipline.

Send us Fan MailThe Supreme Court just struck down the administration’s sweeping Liberation Day tariffs — and the impact on Amazon sellers is bigger than the headline suggests.In this February 2026 edition of Selling on Giants, Mr. Will breaks down what the ruling actually means for importers, marketplace operators, and brand owners navigating volatile cost structures.This is not political commentary. It is operational analysis.Here’s what you’ll learn:What ChangedThe Supreme Court ruled 6–3 that tariffs issued under IEEPA were unlawfulThe 10% baseline tariff and country-specific tariffs up to 50% lose their legal foundationOver $100 billion collected now sits in legal limboWhat Has NOT ChangedSection 301 (China tariffs) remain intactSection 232 (national security tariffs) remain intactA new 10% tariff was quickly introduced under Section 122Trade policy volatility is still very much aliveWhy This Matters for Amazon SellersTariffs directly affect landed cost, and landed cost determines:Contribution marginBreak-even ACOSAllowable TACoSAdvertising aggressionInventory planningEven a 10% shift in cost can reduce contribution margin by 20% or more.That changes everything.Refund Opportunities — And ComplicationsIf you paid IEEPA-based tariffs:You may have exposure to potential refundsThere is no clear federal refund framework yetTrade attorneys expect administrative claims and possible litigationTimeline uncertainty remainsStrategic question: If capital is returned months from now, do you reinvest, hedge, or stabilize?Second-Order EffectsIf tariffs normalize toward pre-tariff levels:Gross margins improveAd auctions heat upPromotional intensity increasesPrice competition acceleratesCost relief often leads to competitive aggression.Sourcing RealityMany brands diversified manufacturing during tariff pressure:VietnamIndiaMexicoDomestic optionsThose shifts required new tooling, freight lanes, and working capital cycles. Even if tariffs decline, most brands will not fully reverse course.Trade policy is now a structural operating variable.Reverse Logistics & Margin DisciplineReturns are a growing margin leak across eCommerce.AI is now being used to:Predict high-return ordersAutomate SKU-level disposition decisionsImprove recovery ratesReduce idle inventory velocityWhen tariffs compress margin on the front end and returns erode margin on the back end, disciplined operators win.Strategic TakeawaysSeparate cost assumptions from strategyAudit IEEPA exposure cleanlyStress test break-even ACOS quarterlyMaintain supplier optionalityAssume volatility as the baselineThe headline says tariffs were struck down.The operator takeaway: uncertainty remains.If you sell on Amazon, Walmart, or Target, trade policy is no longer background noise. It is a core P&L driver.Subscribe to Selling on Giants for weekly operator-level insights built for serious marketplace brands navigating complexity with discipline.

Send us Fan MailAmazon is not slowing down. It is tightening standards while simultaneously building the next generation of retail infrastructure.In this February seventeenth, twenty twenty six edition of Selling on Giants, we break down what is actually changing across Amazon, retail media, AI commerce, and consumer behavior and what serious operators should be watching.This week’s episode connects the dots between fulfillment enforcement, AI driven discovery, capital investment cycles, and shifting shopper frequency. The common thread is professionalization. The margin for operational sloppiness is shrinking while the surface area for monetization expands.Here is what we cover:Amazon’s New Business Hour Delivery Rate Metric • What BHDR measures and why it is now visible inside Account Health • Why “informational” metrics rarely stay informational • How Amazon is signaling higher B2B fulfillment expectationsOTDR Enforcement Gets Surgical on February Twenty Eighth • How listing level deactivations replace full catalog shutdowns • The growing importance of Shipping Settings Automation and Buy Shipping • Why Amazon’s fulfillment stack is becoming defensive infrastructureAmazon’s Two Hundred Billion Dollar Capex Bet • Why short term margin pressure signals long term control • How AI infrastructure investment will reshape search, ads, and fulfillment • What sellers should monitor instead of stock price headlinesRetail Media Invades the Physical Aisle • Digital end caps at CVS and Kroger • Why in store merchandising is becoming programmable media inventory • What this means for trade spend and performance measurementAmazon Set to Surpass Walmart in Annual Revenue • Why the real story is revenue mix, not headline comparison • The structural advantage of AWS and advertising • Ecosystem versus ecosystem competitionShopify, Google, Bing, and the AI Commerce Layer • Who controls checkout in an AI agent world • Why structured product data is no longer optional • The fragmentation of discovery and consolidation of transaction railsConsumer Shopping Frequency Is Normalizing • Why daily online shopping is pulling back • How this impacts forecasting, retention, and average order value • The shift from growth tailwinds to operational precisionTariffs and Advertising Pressure • How macro trade policy affects digital ad budgets • Why margin modeling must include sourcing, pricing, and mediaThe big takeaway: Amazon is raising performance expectations while investing heavily in AI and infrastructure. Retailers are monetizing every high traffic surface. AI is embedding itself into discovery and checkout. And consumer behavior is stabilizing.The brands that win in this environment will not be the loudest. They will be the most disciplined.If you are running Amazon, Walmart, or Shopify at scale, this episode is your operator briefing for the week.Follow us on Selling on Giants on LinkedIn for weekly insights.

Send us Fan MailThis week’s episode of Selling on Giants feels less like a collection of updates and more like a directional shift. Across Amazon, ecommerce, and brand marketing, the signal is getting louder and clearer. Platforms are done absorbing operational sloppiness, and the cost of getting the basics wrong is showing up faster and with fewer warnings.We start with Amazon’s updated enforcement around frequently returned items. If a vendor does not have a valid U.S. return address on file, Amazon will now dispose of high return inventory and bill the vendor for both the product and the disposal. This is not a new program and not a policy expansion. It is Amazon removing ambiguity and converting operational gaps directly into financial consequences.That same zero tolerance posture is showing up on the seller side as well. Sellers are receiving shipping address mismatch warnings even when Account Health looks clean and nothing operationally changed. Automated detection is firing before human review, and once the clock starts, sellers are forced into reactive support loops with little clarity. Clean configurations, minimal ship-from locations, and alignment between templates and reality are now as important as performance metrics.From there, we zoom out to brand marketing and culture. Super Bowl sixty once again proved that attention can be bought, but meaning cannot. The ads that worked trusted the audience, stayed culturally aware, and kept the brand front and center. The ones that failed relied on celebrity, spectacle, or jokes without payoff. The lesson is not about Super Bowl budgets. It is about signal efficiency. If your message is unclear at the biggest attention moment of the year, it will fail everywhere else too.That clarity gap is also showing up in consumer behavior. Valentine’s Day spending is rising, but consumers are adapting quietly to higher prices. Smaller bundles, fewer add-ons, and delayed purchases are becoming the norm. Seasonal demand no longer hides pricing misalignment. When value is unclear, churn does not show up loudly. It simply never comes back.We also break down Amazon’s Q4 growth, which reflects demand concentration rather than a broad retail rebound. Consumers are choosing where to buy, not necessarily buying more. Convenience and delivery reliability continue to win, making Amazon less optional during uncertain periods.Outside marketplaces, traffic is becoming more volatile. Google Discover updates reshuffled visibility quickly and without explanation, reinforcing that recommendation-based traffic is upside, not foundation. At the same time, Amazon’s physical retail experiments are better understood as ecosystem support moves, not retail disruption.We close with two bigger themes. Fulfillment is no longer a cost center. It is risk management. And in B2B, technology is not the blocker. Leadership and culture are.Across every story this week, the takeaway is the same. Gray areas are disappearing. Automation is moving faster than communication. Clean execution now matters as much as performance.If you operate inside these platforms, this episode helps you understand what is changing and how to stay ahead as the rules harden.Follow us on Selling on Giants on LinkedIn for weekly insights.

Send us Fan MailMarketplaces are sending a clear message this week. Risk, compliance, and execution now sit squarely with sellers, not the platforms. From Amazon brand protection and account health to Walmart returns, catalog limits, and AI-driven discovery, this episode breaks down how responsibility is moving downstream and why disciplined operators are pulling ahead.In this episode, we cover:Amazon brand protection remains reactive Amazon reaffirmed how sellers must report unauthorized brand name changes. The workflow exists, but recovery is still slow, disruptive, and operationally expensive. Once a hijack happens, sellers are already behind. Clean Brand Registry status, documented ASIN ownership, and escalation readiness are no longer optional.Account Health is now Amazon’s primary suspension prevention system Amazon is positioning Account Health as a daily operational discipline, not a reactive alert center. Missed deadlines and incomplete documentation now carry real downside. Suspensions are increasingly execution failures, not policy surprises.Why macro signals still matter for eCommerce operators With Kevin Warsh nominated as the next Fed chair, rate expectations are shifting again. Softer short-term rates may support demand, but financing costs and capital discipline still matter. Operators need plans that work across uneven demand and funding environments.Walmart tightens control on returns and catalog growth Return exemptions are discretionary, not guaranteed. Item and selling limits are actively enforced. Walmart is rewarding clean execution and proven performance, not SKU volume. Growth is earned, not assumed.Leadership changes signal platform direction Walmart’s CEO transition points to continuity and scale with rising expectations. Target’s leadership reset suggests slower, more selective marketplace expansion. Sellers should align strategy to where each retailer is heading, not wait for policy relief.Seasonal and emotional demand is still alive Valentine’s Day spending is hitting record highs, reinforcing that demand has concentrated, not disappeared. Consumers still spend when the moment matters. Readiness, clarity, and fulfillment speed win in compressed timelines.Retail therapy is reshaping conversion Discretionary spending is flowing toward categories that deliver emotional payoff and immediate improvement. Listings that lead with outcomes convert better than those overloaded with specifications, especially in ad-driven traffic.AI is compressing the funnel, not flattening marketplaces Meta is betting on agentic shopping while Amazon and Walmart tighten control over how AI operates inside their ecosystems. AI rewards clarity, structured data, and clean execution. Vague positioning gets filtered out faster than ever.Unified commerce is becoming table stakes Retailers are moving from omnichannel talk to unified operating systems. Centralized inventory, fulfillment, and data are now required to meet rising platform expectations without creating internal chaos.The through line Platforms are no longer promising protection. They are demanding discipline. AI is not removing friction. It is relocating it. Demand still exists, but it rewards operators who execute cleanly, move early, and stay aligned with platform incentives.Follow us on Selling on Giants on LinkedIn for weekly insights.

Send us Fan MailAd fraud has the potential to drastically change online business, if we keep underestimating it.In this episode of Selling on Giants, we sit down with Rich Kahn, Founder and CEO of Anura.io, to break down what ad fraud really looks like today and why it’s no longer a question of if you have fraud, but how much.Rich has spent more than three decades in digital advertising. He didn’t set out to build a fraud prevention company — he built one after his own marketing platform was hit and he realized there was no credible solution on the market. So he built it himself.This conversation goes beyond theory and headlines. We unpack how ad fraud actually works in the real world, how it hides inside legitimate-looking performance data, and why many brands don’t notice it until ROAS drifts, lead quality drops, and chargebacks show up months later.What we cover in this episode:• What ad fraud really is — and how it operates today • The three main forms of fraud: bots, malware, and human fraud farms • Why human-driven fraud is more common and affordable than most brands expect • How fraud can inflate conversions and ROAS, not just hurt performance • Why polluted data pushes ad platforms to optimize in the wrong direction • Why affiliate and partner traffic often carries higher fraud risk • The early indicators most teams overlook • What you can do immediately to reduce exposure • Why prevention beats trying to recover ad spend after the fact • How AI-driven media buying is making fraud more sophisticated, not lessGuest Resources & ContactWant to go deeper on fraud prevention, traffic quality, and performance protection?You can access valuable tools, insights, and free resources from Anura, including their Ultimate Guide to Ad Fraud.Website: https://anura.ioLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richkahn/Highly recommended if you’re serious about protecting ad spend, improving attribution, and scaling with confidence.

Send us Fan MailThis week on Selling on Giants, the signal gets louder across every platform. Creative, pricing, and discovery all move faster, and the brands that win are the ones that can iterate quickly without letting fundamentals or compliance turn into the bottleneck.We start inside Amazon’s ads stack where creative creation becomes more native and more iterative. Then we move into the less glamorous side of the business, chargebacks and dispute discipline. From there, we zoom out into the bigger shifts shaping two thousand twenty six: cross border pressure from Temu, tariff driven margin compression, AI powered shopping interfaces, and Walmart’s continued move toward curated category expansions.Here’s what we break down in this episode.Amazon Creative Agent inside Creative Studio Amazon pulls more of the creative workflow into the ads stack so teams can concept, generate, and iterate faster. Creative velocity becomes a real performance lever once targeting and budgets are stable. We also cover where the tool performs well today and where you still need extra passes for labels, perspective, and in scale realism, plus what to prep now so you move fast with guardrails, not chaos.Chargeback disputes are winnable, but outcomes stay buyer centric Amazon reinforces tighter dispute windows and higher evidence standards, which means the cost of slow ops goes up. We explain why the operator move is treating disputes like cost control, not a one off appeal. We also walk through how to package documentation as patterns, build an escalation trail that holds up, and when a recovery partner like GETIDA becomes worth it for consistency and throughput.Amazon’s Health AI agent inside One Medical and the bigger agentic signal Amazon keeps pushing assistants from answers to actions in high intent workflows. The long term takeaway is that the moat becomes data access plus execution paths, not the chat interface. We also cover what stays the same: trust, privacy, compliance, and real outcomes still matter.Temu closes the gap in cross border ecommerce momentum Cross border keeps consolidating around platforms that reduce friction and uncertainty. This is a transparency and trust battle, not only a price battle. We cover what shoppers want most: landed cost clarity, credible reviews, and predictable delivery, and how brands protect conversion with tighter value communication and stronger differentiation.Tariffs squeeze the margin math and there are few clean levers Cost pressure forces hard tradeoffs between protecting conversion and protecting profit. We break down why doing nothing lets the algorithm decide through weaker rank and slower turns, how to run SKU level margin math and test pricing with intent, and how to build a trade down path with packs, bundles, Subscribe and Save, and smarter promo posture.Retail’s AI commerce bet creates a reach versus ownership trade Retailers chase demand through external AI shopping interfaces, but they risk giving up funnel control. We cover the two risks that matter most: data leakage and disintermediation, why clean structured product data becomes a competitive advantage in agent driven discovery, and how brands build retention off platform so the customer relationship is not rented forever.The common thread Speed is accelerating, discovery is shifting, and value pressure stays high. The teams that compound advantages are the ones that keep fundamentals tight, keep creative fresh, and make their catalog easy to trust and easy to recommend.Follow Selling on Giants on LinkedIn for weekly insights, and if this episode saved y

Send us Fan MailThis week on Selling on Giants, the signal is consistent across every platform. Retail is getting faster, more automated, and less forgiving, and the operators who win are the ones who build systems that hold up under pressure.We start with fulfillment because it quietly decides margin, cash flow, and how much risk you carry into the year. Then we move into returns and buyer abuse, where the right documentation and escalation approach makes the difference between progress and endless loops. From there, we zoom out to the next discovery shift, ads inside ChatGPT style conversations, and what that means for product data, trust, and visibility. We also cover Walmart’s push into drone delivery, the retail tech trends that are becoming real infrastructure, and why Google core updates keep reshuffling traffic even when nothing is technically wrong.Here’s what we break down in this episode.Amazon fulfillment options for twenty twenty six, and when to use eachFBA, AWD, SFP, FBM, Multi Channel Fulfillment, and Remote Fulfillment• Where each model fits based on velocity, margin, and operational control• A practical primary lane plus backup plan approach that protects profit firstBuyer abuse that keeps repeating, and how to force progressWhen support keeps looping you, the fix is almost always packaging this as a pattern, not one off incidents• How to consolidate the story into one primary case with a clean timeline• Evidence standards that hold up and reduce denial risk• When to escalate, when to request buyer restriction, and how to use forums strategicallyOpenAI brings ads to ChatGPTConversational discovery is becoming a paid surface, and that changes how brands win the decision moment• Why product data becomes creative in chat based recommendations• Why trust becomes the moat when ads show up inside a helper experience• What to tighten now across titles, attributes, images, reviews, pricing, and inventory stabilityWalmart and Wing expand drone deliverySpeed keeps moving from days to hours to minutes in certain categories• What faster delivery changes for assortment strategy and repeat purchase behavior• Why local availability and in stock performance becomes the whole gameDigital innovation in retail, minus the hypeThe trend is less about pilots and more about systems that shape discovery and execution• Retail agents, generative AI, and new sponsored surfaces that sit outside the search bar• Social commerce pulls demand upstream, and content quality decides whether you capture itGoogle core updates, explainedCore updates reshuffle intent, not only punish bad behavior• How to diagnose drops using Search Console comparisons• When to adjust page structure and helpfulness versus when to avoid panic editsThe common threadDiscovery is shifting, speed is accelerating, and platforms keep trading seller flexibility for buyer trust. Brands that run clean operations and make their catalog easy to recommend will compound advantages over time.Follow us on Selling on Giants on LinkedIn for weekly insights.

Send us Fan MailThis week on Selling on Giants, the platforms are sending a clear message. Control, speed, and accountability are no longer optional.Amazon, Walmart, and the broader eCommerce ecosystem are tightening systems that directly impact margins, conversion, and account health. If you are running real volume, these are not background updates. They are operating constraints that need attention now.Here’s what we break down in this episode.Amazon ends high value return exemptions starting February eighth All United States seller fulfilled orders must now use Amazon prepaid return labels, regardless of item value. Refund windows compress. Buyer seller messaging during returns disappears. • Faster refunds improve buyer trust and conversion • Premium and fragile brands take on more immediate financial exposureThis turns returns into a performance lever, not an ops afterthought.Amazon introduces new Amazon Business B2B metrics For the first time, sellers can clearly separate business buyer behavior from retail noise. • B2B refund rates, feedback, and claims now live inside Business Reports • Bulk order issues surface faster and more accurately • Brands can finally evaluate whether Amazon Business deserves more focus or lessFor established brands, this is required reading.Walmart raises the bar on seller performance heading into twenty twenty six Walmart continues to enforce one of the strictest performance frameworks in marketplace retail. • Negative Feedback Rate becomes a core enforcement metric • Product quality and expectation management now carry account level consequences • Suppression, suspension, and termination move fast and appeals are not guaranteedDisciplined operators benefit. Sloppy execution gets exposed.Amazon changes how reviews are shared across variations Starting February twelfth, reviews will no longer flow across functionally different variations. • Cosmetic differences still share reviews • Functional differences now stand on their ownThis is a catalog hygiene moment, not a wait and see update.Google and Walmart deepen their partnership This is not a press release partnership. It is infrastructure alignment. • Search intent moves closer to Walmart checkout • Attribution improves and inefficiency gets exposedStrategy matters more than tactics here.Holiday eCommerce spending hits two hundred fifty eight billion dollars The bigger signal is how shoppers are deciding. • AI assistants are shaping discovery and comparison • Funnels compress and clarity winsFundamentals beat shortcuts.EU eCommerce compliance and why it feels so complex Layered regulations, buyer first protections, and aggressive enforcement create friction. • Successful brands enter selectively • Documentation and claims alignment matterUSPS restricts access to package tracking data This is a data access change, not a delivery disruption. • Some third party tools may face new fees or break • Sellers need to understand who is authorized to access tracking dataFast refunds drive repeat orders more than discounts Refund speed is now a loyalty lever. • Faster refunds build trust • Slow refunds often turn into negative reviewsThe common thread Platforms are trading seller flexibility for buyer trust. Operators who run clean systems, document everything, and manage experience intentionally will win margin and stability over time.Follow us on Selling on Giants on LinkedIn for weekly insights, operator level commentary, and marketplace updates that actually matter.

Send us Fan MailJanuary gets written off every year as a slowdown month. Sellers pull back spend, throttle inventory, and assume momentum won’t return until February.That assumption is costly.In this episode of Selling on Giants News and Updates, Mr. Will breaks down why January is not a dead zone. It’s a transition month driven by funded demand, elevated returns, and operational signals that quietly separate disciplined operators from reactive ones.This episode is not about theory or motivation. It’s about how January actually behaves inside Amazon and across eCommerce, and how sellers should respond when the noise dies down but the signals get clearer.Here’s what we cover:Why gift cards make January one of the most misunderstood revenue windows of the year • Gift cards represent already funded demand, not casual browsing • Why January shoppers convert differently than Q4 shoppers • Categories that consistently benefit when listings align with New Year intent • How staying in stock while competitors slow down creates quiet share gains • Why bundles, minimum spend offers, and AOV strategies outperform blunt discounting • How January gift card traffic doubles as a customer acquisition moment, not just redemptionsPost holiday returns and why January is a returns season, not a cleanup week • Why returns stay elevated well into mid January, even when December looks calm • How refunds distort cash flow right as teams plan new spend and launches • The hidden inventory lag caused by returned units stuck in inspection limboAmazon’s seller fulfilled refund update starting January 26, 2026 • The shift from two business days to four calendar days to process refunds • Why more time does not mean less accountability • How automated refunds impact SAFE T reimbursement eligibility • Why Amazon is steering sellers toward the Guided Refund workflowWhat to do when a customer pulls a switcheroo return • Why this happens more often on high value FBM items • How speed and documentation determine outcomes more than policy language • Why photos and evidence matter more than explanations • How to communicate with buyers without triggering escalationBackend keyword myths and Amazon’s actual indexing rules • Why only one Generic Keyword field matters, regardless of how many boxes appear • The hard 250 character limit Amazon enforces • What Amazon explicitly says to avoid including • Why overstuffing backend keywords rarely moves rankingsWeather as a real time mindset signal for eCommerce performance • How weather influences attention, emotion, and memory • Why short term conversion swings are often mindset driven, not bid driven • How creative performance shifts based on real world conditions • Categories that are disproportionately affected by weather changesWhen heavy, oversized products actually make sense for international expansion • Why “domestic only” assumptions leave revenue on the table • How international demand often shows up in analytics before sellers notice • Why margin and scarcity matter more than product weight • Categories where cross border freight consistently worksThis episode is a behind the curtain look at January through an operator’s lens. No hype. No fear tactics. No forum folklore. Just how demand, returns, policy, and execution actually intersect when the calendar flips.If you want to stay ahead of marketplace updates, AI driven retail shifts, competitive pressures, and growth strategies across Amazon, Walmart, and Target, subscribe to Selling on Giants for weekly analysis rooted in real operator experience.

Send us Fan Mail2026 is not about chasing the next tactic. It’s about understanding how platforms actually decide who wins.In this episode of Selling on Giants News and Updates, Mr. Will breaks down what eCommerce brands need to prepare for in 2026 based on real platform signals, operator experience, and frontline insights from the BellaVix team.This is not a hype driven predictions list. It’s pattern recognition.We cover how AI driven discovery, dynamic advertising, fulfillment gravity, and stricter compliance are quietly reshaping Amazon, Walmart, and the broader eCommerce ecosystem. The common thread is simple. Platforms are done rewarding effort. They reward outcomes.What we break down in this episode:• Why search is dissolving into AI driven decision making and how listings must shift from keyword targeting to intent resolution • How rankings stop behaving like a shelf and start behaving like software, flexing by behavior, location, and confidence signals • Why ads are becoming modular and maintenance focused, and where real growth actually comes from now • How returns, repeat purchase, and post purchase behavior quietly outweigh branding at scale • Why fulfillment is no longer a feature but gravity, pulling brands deeper into platform infrastructure • How Walmart’s store native fulfillment changes the competitive equation • Why content creation is getting easier while trust gets harder, pushing brands toward proof over polish • What cross border expansion looks like when it becomes mainstream, not experimental • Why external traffic and social commerce now influence platform visibility more than most sellers realizeWe also address the uncomfortable reality many brands are facing heading into 2026. More systems. More automation. Less margin for error.Midway through the episode, Mr. Will shares how BellaVix helps brands cut through marketplace complexity with hands on execution, operational clarity, and alignment across strategy, advertising, and fulfillment.If you sell on Amazon, Walmart, or anywhere eCommerce is becoming more algorithm driven and less forgiving, this episode gives you a clear mental model for what actually matters next.This is not about predicting features. It’s about understanding direction.If you want to stay ahead of marketplace updates, AI driven retail shifts, competitive pressures, and growth strategies across Amazon, Walmart, and Target, subscribe to Selling on Giants for weekly analysis rooted in real operator experience.

Send us Fan MailThe Frequently Returned badge is showing up on products that are well-reviewed, accurately described, and fully optimized. For many sellers, that has been the breaking point.In this episode of Selling on Giants, we lead with what the badge actually represents today and why Amazon’s guidance only explains part of the story. While platforms continue to frame returns as a listing clarity issue, seller experience tells a more complicated truth.What’s really driving returns right nowFree returns have normalized buy-now, decide-later behaviorComparison shopping has moved into the checkout flowCustomers increasingly order multiple variations with intent to returnItems come back used, damaged, or unsellable, regardless of listing accuracyThe system captures the return. It does not capture buyer intent.That distinction matters, because the Frequently Returned badge is no longer just a quality signal. It is becoming a risk indicator that impacts visibility, Buy Box eligibility, fees, and long-term profitability, even for strong products with four point seven and four point eight star ratings.From there, we connect returns to a much bigger shift happening across eCommerce.Amazon’s RUFUS shopping assistant is not a convenience feature. It is a signal that discovery is moving away from traditional keyword search and toward AI systems that interpret intent, compare options, and decide what gets surfaced before shoppers ever scroll.What AI-driven discovery changes for sellersListings are no longer just sales pages. They are training dataClean attributes and structured catalog data matter more than keyword densityReviews, returns, and behavioral signals influence visibility fasterWeak or inconsistent catalogs get filtered out earlierThis shift is not limited to Amazon.Across retail, the same pattern is emergingTikTok Shop is shaping demand through creators and entertainment before marketplaces ever see the searchShopify is rolling out AI-powered discovery based on intent rather than keywordsWalmart is consolidating AI into platform-level systems while tightening compliance requirementsCheckout, discovery, and comparison are collapsing into fewer, faster decision momentsPlatforms optimize for convenience and speed. Sellers absorb the operational and financial volatility that follows.We also break down why holiday returns are projected to hit one hundred sixty billion dollars, why returns should now be treated as a core operating cost instead of a support issue, and how sellers can think more strategically about pricing, variation strategy, and early warning signals before penalties appear.Finally, we touch on Walmart’s recent updates, including tighter tax verification standards and the delayed Orders API change, as signs of how marketplaces are prioritizing scale, stability, and system-led decision making going forward.If you sell on Amazon, Walmart, Shopify, or across multiple marketplaces, this episode connects the dots between returns, AI-driven discovery, and the quiet ways platform design is reshaping risk, visibility, and profitability.This is not about chasing tools. It is about understanding how selling actually works now.If you want to stay ahead of marketplace updates, AI driven retail shifts, competitive pressures, and growth strategies across Amazon, Walmart, and Target, subscribe to Selling on Giants for weekly analysis rooted in real operator experience.

Send us Fan Mail2025 quietly rewrote the rules of eCommerce.AI stopped being a novelty and became the default decision layer.Consumers felt price pressure but still spent, just with more scrutiny.Discovery moved from search bars to chatbots, social feeds, and algorithms making recommendations on shoppers’ behalf.In this episode of Selling on Giants – News & Updates, Mr. Will breaks down the real consumer behavior shifts that emerged in 2025 and explains what they mean for eCommerce brands heading into 2026.This is not a recap of headlines. It is a strategic deep dive into how people actually shop now.We cover how AI tools like ChatGPT, Amazon’s Rufus, and Walmart’s Sparky are reshaping product discovery and why clean product data, reviews, and clarity matter more than ever. We unpack why price sensitivity is real but confidence matters more than discounts, and how value framing beats racing to the bottom.You will hear how Gen Z, Millennials, and older shoppers are behaving very differently and why one-size-fits-all messaging is quietly killing conversion. We dig into sustainability and purpose as decision factors, not buzzwords, and explain why consumers increasingly buy outcomes and experiences, not features.We also break down the rise of always-on shopping, social commerce, and why discovery and checkout are collapsing into the same moment on platforms like TikTok and Instagram. If your product is hard to buy the second someone becomes interested, that sale is already gone.Finally, we connect the dots on regulation, transparency, and platform shifts, and outline what eCommerce operators should prioritize now to stay visible in an AI-moderated marketplace.If you sell on Amazon, Walmart, Shopify, or across multiple channels, this episode gives you a clear mental model for how the customer journey is changing and how to position your brand for 2026.No fluff.No panic.Just practical insight from the trenches.If you want to stay ahead of marketplace updates, AI driven retail shifts, competitive pressures, and growth strategies across Amazon, Walmart, and Target, subscribe to Selling on Giants for weekly analysis rooted in real operator experience.

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of Selling on Giants, Mr. Will breaks down the four major forces transforming how consumers shop and how sellers must adapt heading into 2026. This is the full picture of what’s happening across Amazon, Walmart, Target, TikTok Shop and the wider digital landscape, all tied together in one clear roadmap for operators and brand leaders.We unpack the rise of AI-powered shopping assistants, the pressure of tariffs and consumer price sensitivity, the widening gap between Boomers, Millennials and Gen Z buying behaviors, and the shift toward continuous, experience-driven shopping across social and marketplaces. If you’ve been following our weekly updates, this is the stitched-together master episode that explains where the market is going and what to do about it.You’ll learn how AI is changing discovery, why structured data determines whether your product gets surfaced, how generational differences shape messaging, why value framing matters more than discounting, and what it takes to speak to both the human shopper and the AI agent guiding them.What we cover: • How AI has become the new search bar across Amazon, Walmart, Target and ChatGPT • Why consumer confidence is tied to algorithmic recommendations • The impact of tariffs and inflation on marketplace buying behavior • Generational purchasing drivers and the rise of purpose-driven, experience-led shopping • Why social commerce is reshaping product discovery • The increasing importance of structured catalog data for twenty-twenty-six • How to prepare your brand for AI-mediated selling on every platform • Why diversification across Amazon, Walmart and TikTok Shop is no longer optional • How BellaVix helps brands adapt to the chaos with hands-on strategyIf you’re preparing your brand for 2026, this episode is the blueprint. Tune in, take notes and get ahead before algorithms, tariffs and shopper expectations shift again.If you want to stay ahead of marketplace updates, AI driven retail shifts, competitive pressures, and growth strategies across Amazon, Walmart, and Target, subscribe to Selling on Giants for weekly analysis rooted in real operator experience.

Send us Fan MailThis week on Selling on Giants, Mr. Will breaks down the biggest shifts impacting Amazon sellers, Walmart merchants, and multi-channel eCommerce operators heading into twenty twenty six. Amazon rolled out a major upgrade to Shoppable Videos, Black Friday exposed the widening gap between platform level headlines and seller level profitability, Amazon’s CTO detailed a future where AI systems drive product discovery, and ChatGPT officially entered the comparison shopping landscape with a research tool that can redirect demand before shoppers ever reach a marketplace.In this episode, we cover: • The full scope of Amazon’s Shoppable Video upgrade, including analytics, click through measurement, return tracking, and the new Canva templates designed for mobile conversions • How bulk video uploads create leverage for brands with seasonal products, variations, or large catalogs • Why Black Friday twenty twenty five produced record online revenue while many operators saw flat sales, higher ad costs, and lower margins • How platform glitches, pricing overrides, and extended event windows influenced seller performance across Amazon, Walmart, TikTok Shop, Teemoo, Sheen, and AliExpress • What rising average selling prices and declining order volume signal about shopper intent and value driven behavior • How AI driven shopping traffic surged by more than eight hundred percent and what that means for catalog quality, content accuracy, and marketplace competitiveness • Why Amazon’s “AI in the human loop” vision suggests that discovery, merchandising, and CX will be shaped by autonomous agents rather than manual keyword strategies • What this shift means for operators who manage catalog data, advertising, pricing, inventory, and customer experience across Amazon, Walmart, and Target • How ChatGPT’s new shopping research tool functions as a cross retailer comparison engine that can recommend products across categories, brands, and price tiers • Why integrations through Instant Checkout with Walmart, Etsy, Shopify, and Target will influence where product discovery begins and how fast shoppers convert • What brands need to prioritize across titles, images, attributes, and reviews to appear in AI generated buyer guides that many shoppers may rely on instead of marketplace searchCore themes for sellers: Video is now a front line conversion tool. Margin awareness matters more than hype. Catalog data is becoming machine readable currency. AI driven comparison tools now sit between shoppers and your listings. Discovery is no longer limited to marketplace search bars, and multi platform behavior is the norm.If you want to stay ahead of marketplace updates, AI driven retail shifts, competitive pressures, and growth strategies across Amazon, Walmart, and Target, subscribe to Selling on Giants for weekly analysis rooted in real operator experience.

Send us Fan MailThis week on Selling on Giants – eCommerce News and Updates, we run through a busy cross-platform cycle that delivered something rare. Amazon gave sellers tools that actually help, Walmart doubled down on creator revenue, Etsy sharpened its holiday search game, Target leaned into AI, and Meta transformed Marketplace into a social discovery engine.In this mixed-marketplace edition, I break down what changed, why it matters, and what smart operators should be doing right now.In this episode we cover:• Amazon’s new Seller Challenge tool Your second chance at overturning bad enforcement decisions if you’re enrolled in Account Health Assurance. What it fixes, who qualifies, and how to use it strategically.• FBA’s new “Why This ASIN?” insights Amazon finally shows your speed advantage, conversion gaps, and the real upside of Prime eligibility.• Profit Analytics inside Seller Central A true profitability dashboard that replaces spreadsheets, guesswork, and expensive third-party tools.• Jewelry category enforcement Fine versus Fashion classification, pearl specs, metal stamps, and how to avoid suppression headaches.• Walmart’s Creator Program upgrade Bonuses, collabs, upgraded storefronts, and in-platform influencer partnership tools.• Walmart’s Pro Seller holiday advantage Why metrics matter and how to use Q4 data to climb tiers and strengthen Buy Box performance.• Etsy’s Marketplace Insights for peak season Real-time keyword demand, competition signals, and how to refresh listings while shoppers are active.• Amazon DSP’s Ads Agent test AI audience suggestions sound convenient, but precision matters. How to test it without tanking your funnel.• Meta Marketplace gets social Collections, collaborative buying, reactions, AI buyer coaching, and partner inventory from eBay and Poshmark.• Global trade: digital goods stay duty-free Meanwhile physical imports face tightening controls after the de minimis shift. What operators should expect in 2026.• Target’s new AI-powered gift finder Plus list scanning, Store Mode upgrades, and the retailer’s push to rebuild engagement.As always, I take the side of sellers. My goal is clarity, education, and impact so operators can move faster and make better decisions.If this episode saved you hours of research, hit subscribe and stay close. New episodes arrive every Tuesday for the operators building the future of eCommerce.Sign up for the Selling on Giants newsletter to stay ahead of marketplace updates, AI trends, and seller insights every week.

Send us Fan MailThis week on Selling on Giants – eCommerce News and Updates, we run through a busy cross-platform cycle that delivered something rare. Amazon gave sellers tools that actually help, Walmart doubled down on creator revenue, Etsy sharpened its holiday search game, Target leaned into AI, and Meta transformed Marketplace into a social discovery engine.In this mixed-marketplace edition, I break down what changed, why it matters, and what smart operators should be doing right now.In this episode we cover:• Amazon’s new Seller Challenge tool Your second chance at overturning bad enforcement decisions if you’re enrolled in Account Health Assurance. What it fixes, who qualifies, and how to use it strategically.• FBA’s new “Why This ASIN?” insights Amazon finally shows your speed advantage, conversion gaps, and the real upside of Prime eligibility.• Profit Analytics inside Seller Central A true profitability dashboard that replaces spreadsheets, guesswork, and expensive third-party tools.• Jewelry category enforcement Fine versus Fashion classification, pearl specs, metal stamps, and how to avoid suppression headaches.• Walmart’s Creator Program upgrade Bonuses, collabs, upgraded storefronts, and in-platform influencer partnership tools.• Walmart’s Pro Seller holiday advantage Why metrics matter and how to use Q4 data to climb tiers and strengthen Buy Box performance.• Etsy’s Marketplace Insights for peak season Real-time keyword demand, competition signals, and how to refresh listings while shoppers are active.• Amazon DSP’s Ads Agent test AI audience suggestions sound convenient, but precision matters. How to test it without tanking your funnel.• Meta Marketplace gets social Collections, collaborative buying, reactions, AI buyer coaching, and partner inventory from eBay and Poshmark.• Global trade: digital goods stay duty-free Meanwhile physical imports face tightening controls after the de minimis shift. What operators should expect in 2026.• Target’s new AI-powered gift finder Plus list scanning, Store Mode upgrades, and the retailer’s push to rebuild engagement.As always, I take the side of sellers. My goal is clarity, education, and impact so operators can move faster and make better decisions.If this episode saved you hours of research, hit subscribe and stay close. New episodes arrive every Tuesday for the operators building the future of eCommerce.Sign up for the Selling on Giants newsletter to stay ahead of marketplace updates, AI trends, and seller insights every week.