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On this week’s The Asian Seller podcast, we talk to a few inspiring women entrepreneurs from the Amazon and ecommerce world.  They share what drives them, what inspires them, the challenges they have faced, and lots more.  They also talk about their presentations at the Branded by Women conference.  The Asian Seller founder, Meghla Bhardwaj is also a speaker at the conference, and will be sharing some of the lessons learnt in 2020.  Episode highlights:  Introductions When did the entrepreneur bug bite them? The biggest challenge they face as woman entrepreneurs What they do for encouragement or to stay motivated Tips for other women who would like to start their own businesses Rapidfire - Answer in one  sentence:  Favorite thing to do in their free time What mantra do they live by Biggest regret if any  Biggest achievement What's the dream Advice to their younger self Their topic at Branded by Women. Sign up for Branded by Women Join The Asian Seller community Facebook Group YouTube Meetup Telegram

When she was in school, she painted stones and drew cartoons to sell to her classmates. She sold keychains from her father’s store and her pre-loved toys.  It was evident she had an entrepreneurial spark in her from the time she was in school.  When she started working, she started feeling restless in her 9-to-5 and wanted to do something more challenging that would give her freedom of time and creativity.  She discovered the business of ecommerce and Amazon, and knew this is what she wanted to do. Despite the limited ecommerce opportunities in her country, she is determined to build an Ecommerce Empire.  On this week’s The Asian Seller podcast, winner of Spark Ecom Scholarship, Farah Zaidi from Brunei shares her story and her lofty plans for her Amazon business.  Hear her story, be inspired.  Watch Farah’s video that she sent as an entry for Spark Ecom Scholarship.  🌟 WHAT IS SPARK? 🌟 Spark is a US$2,000 scholarship to help one seller start and scale their Amazon business 🤩 📈 👨‍🏫 The scholarship recipient will receive training from Jason Tay, one of the top Amazon sellers from Singapore, and consultation calls with Margaret, Kevin and Meghla. The winner will also get 6 months free access to Helium10, access to in-depth PPC and listing optimization workshops, and more - ALL FREE, all part of the scholarship 🙌 🎓 🎉 Spark is awarded by Jasontayonline.com​, The Asian Seller, and India Sourcing Network. Episode highlights:  Introduction  Farah’s entrepreneurial spirit growing up Her other scholarship  How she felt winning the Spark eCom Scholarship  How she discovered Amazon What appeals to her the most about selling on Amazon / ecommerce She put in a lot of effort into creating the Spark video. What was her motivation Where is she in her Amazon journey now, and plans for the future Follow Farah on Instagram Join The Asian Seller community Facebook Group YouTube Meetup Telegram  

On this week’s The Asian Seller podcast, Nate Ginsberg from Seller Plex and Dream Team Machine shares a blueprint for an Amazon FBA dream team.  Nate stresses that entrepreneurs should strive to be the best they can be, have the biggest impact, receive the biggest impact and focus on being the visionaries for their business. And if they continue to “donkey work” or repetitive, low-value tasks, they are limiting themselves and their business.  Nate also talks about a “hiring funnel” that he has developed to help him make the hiring process more efficient.  Nate is an entrepreneur, investor, writer and world traveling yogi. After selling his FBA business in 2017 Nate dedicated himself to helping other entrepreneurs unplug from and scale their business.  He now supports other FBA entrepreneurs through his agency SellerPlex, his Podcast Ecom Exits, and his Dream Team Machine Training.  Nate believes in pursuing win/win collaborations with good people. So connect with Nate on Facebook or IG @nateginsburg and say Hi to explore any ways to collaborate or work together. Episode highlights:  Introduction  Why is it important for founders to unplug from “donkey work”  Why have an org. structure  What does the team look like - there are four buckets to focus on in an FBA business:   Amazon bucket  Supply chain: Supplier relationship management / inventory management / logistics  Finance  New product development Why it is important to get the right people in place earlier - even when you’re a small business  What is a hiring funnel Relaunch of Nate’s course  Nate’s services:  Seller Plex Dream Team Machine Contact Nate:  Facebook Instagram  Join The Asian Seller community Facebook Group YouTube Meetup Telegram

On this week’s The Asian Seller podcast, Davide Nicolucci from Growth Hack Consulting talks about key trends in the Amazon space in 2021 based on a comprehensive article he has published recently.  We also talk about crypto currency, and why he thinks digital currencies and blockchain are going to be increasingly important with potential e-commerce applications.  Here are some of the trends he talks about:  Amazon is upping their game with advertising. There will increasingly be more opportunities for showcasing your products via video and other pay-to-play means  Being brand registered is extremely important  Amazon Live is picking up  Look into influencer marketing on TikTok and other platforms  Buyer and supplier messaging may become stricter  Amazon exits will be a huge opportunity as more investors look to buy profitable businesses  Amazon Singapore is expected to pick up Amazon India is a growing opportunity  Facebook Shops is gaining traction E-commerce with Facebook Live  Read Davide’s article: Amazon Trends and Predictions for 2021 by Industry Experts Contact Davide: info@wearegrowthhack.com Join The Asian Seller community Facebook Group YouTube Meetup Telegram  

On this week’s The Asian Seller podcast, I talk to Felix Law, a Singapore-based e-commerce seller who quit his full-time engineering career and is now focused 100 percent on e-commerce.  Just three years ago in early 2018, Felix quit his job because he was unhappy working a 9 to 5, and started exploring entrepreneurship. He started working as a delivery boy for Ninja Van and Amazon Prime Now, which is how he was exposed to e-commerce. The high volume of parcels he was delivering made him realize the potential of selling online.  His first product was coffee cups, which didn’t really sell well. Even though the product was a failure, it was a learning experience for Felix and helped familiarize him with the process. He also learnt valuable lessons about product research and PPC.  The second product was a glass-based item, which had many breakages and he dropped it altogether.  The third product he launched on Amazon was more consistent and it’s still selling. As of now, Felix is selling on Amazon US and also has three Shopify stores for his various brands.  Recently he has been appointed as an Ambassador by the Amazon team in Singapore, and he has been hosting meetups trying to help other local sellers. Felix is currently a 6-figure seller, and aiming for 7 figures this year.  Episode Highlights  How and why Felix quit his R and D and engineering job to focus on e-commerce How Jason Tay’s course helped Felix get started  His first few products, why they failed, how much he invested and lessons learnt  About Felix’s brands and which marketplaces he sells on The process of launching new products  Mistakes he made when starting out Which aspect of the business does he find most challenging and which is his favorite  How Felix does influencer marketing on social media  How does he deal with cash flow Being an entrepreneur can get lonely. How he keeps himself motivated Advice for new sellers Contact Felix on Telegram: felixlaww   Learn more about Jason Tay’s live Amazon Training  Join The Asian Seller community Facebook Group YouTube Meetup Telegram

On this week’s The Asian Seller podcast, I share the story of my life on Seller Sessions with Danny McMillan. Life hasn’t been easy for me, but the experiences have shaped me into who I am today. I had a not-so-fun childhood, but that’s what instilled in me a strong desire to be independent, financially stable and strong. I’ve had a successful corporate career working for an amazing company, Global Sources for over 19 years in 4 countries. I moved up the corporate ladder quickly with my dedication and hard work. But then life gave me a big blow when my husband suddenly and unexpectedly passed away from a heart attack in 2017 leaving me to raise my then 6-year-old son. A year later, I was made redundant from my cushy corporate job, and had to search for a new path. I decided to venture into entrepreneurship in 2019, and I’m so glad I did!  I’m extremely lucky and thankful that I found my tribe in ecommerce and Amazon FBA. The Asian Seller, and India Sourcing communities are what drive me today.  My mission in life now is to build my own ecommerce business, and help others achieve their dreams of creating profitable, sustainable businesses.  Wishing you best of luck in your ecommerce endeavours, and hope our paths will cross someday. Contact:  Reach out to me if you want to connect: https://www.facebook.com/meghla.bhardwaj  Join The Asian Seller community Facebook Group YouTube Meetup Telegram

On this week’s The Asian Seller podcast, Jason Tay, Margaret Jolly, Kevin Oldham, Meghla Bhardwaj and Baptiste Porzier get together in a virtual meetup and share what they believe are the top e-commerce / Amazon FBA trends for 2021.  Some of the trends discussed are more like strategies you need to continue emphasizing as we head into the new year, while others are specific shifts we’re seeing on Amazon and in e-commerce.  Here are 10 Amazon FBA and E-commerce Trends for 2021: Continued E-commerce Growth: Online shopping is becoming more mainstream and e-commerce sales will continue to grow globally. More Competition - The growth in ecommerce means more sales but also more competition. Be ready for more competition as more entrepreneurs jump on the bandwagon, and big brands invest more in e-commerce. Focus on Product Selection: Increasingly more important to focus on product selection to ensure you have the right keywords, and profitable products.  Diversification: Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Diversify for products, keywords, sourcing, sales channels, and traffic funnels. Continued Logistics Disruptions: Expect continued disruption in supply chain and logistics when shipping from Asia. Also anticipate issues with FBA including inventory restrictions. It is critical to have a 3PL warehouse in place in the US.  Video Content: Video PPC ads on Amazon are doing really well currently, and will continue to be popular in 2021. In addition, product videos on listings will  Social E-commerce: Amazon Live is gaining traction, and will continue to be enhanced and given more exposure on the website. Plus, livestream shopping on social media such as Facebook, Instagram, and services such as Talk Shop Live will be more popular. Influencer Marketing: We’re seeing the rise of micro influencers on social media, and they can provide an incredible platform for product promotions and launches.  Exit and Acquisitions: A huge opportunity for entrepreneurial sellers is cashing out on their business. In 2021, companies such as Thrasio and Alpha Rock Capital will continue to buy more businesses. Make your business profitable and investor-friendly.  New Ways to Network: Networking and learning from each other will continue to be super important for Amazon sellers. New apps such as Clubhouse, and Voice Chat in Telegram will give us new ways to collaborate and learn. Join a mastermind, find your tribe and grow together.  Contact: Jason Tay: www.facebook.com/jasontayonline  Margaret Jolly / Kevin Oldham: www.facebook.com/margaretjollybrightdezigns  Meghla Bhardwaj: www.facebook.com/meghla.bhardwaj  Join The Asian Seller community Facebook Group YouTube Meetup Telegram

On this week’s The Asian Seller podcast, Raja Hamza Rasheed, CEO of eCom Managers talks about how to find, vet and work with Virtual Assistants (VAs) in Pakistan.  He shares how these digital marketers are being trained on Amazon-related tasks, what types of tasks they are good at, and ways to test and judge their skills.  Raja is a marketer and consumer behavior analyst. He holds a degree in consumer behavior & marketing from the University of Punjab in Pakistan. Along with his own Amazon selling business, he is also a consultant and trainer.  His main area of expertise includes product research, launching, ranking, branding, marketing, advertising and merchandising. Raja has worked on various Amazon marketplaces including USA, UK, Canada, Germany and India. Episode Highlights  Background and intro We’ve been seeing a lot of VAs from Pakistan specializing in Amazon FBA. What is driving this? Are there also many FBA agencies emerging?  Are sellers from Pakistan also selling on Amazon globally themselves, or mostly focused on providing services? What are the types of ecommerce tasks they are good at? How are they different from VAs in other countries, such as the Philippines?  What is the best way of finding VAs, and how much does it cost? What is the best way to test / judge their skills before hiring them?  Are they good with other digital marketing tasks as well such as SEO, social media, website development, etc?  What are some ways that you do product research at your agency?  What are some of your launch strategies that are working right now?  Are women in Pakistan working in ecommerce too? Contact Raja Hamza:  Email: hamzaraja596@gmail.com WhatsApp: +923328547961 Website: eCom Managers Join The Asian Seller community Facebook Group YouTube Meetup Telegram

What a year 2020 has been! While there have been tons of challenges, ecommerce sellers have also been presented with many opportunities. We are in fact lucky to be in one of the few industries that are growing during the pandemic. On this podcast episode, India Sourcing Trip coaches, Tim Jordan, Chris Thomas, Gary Huang, Margaret Jolly, Kevin Oldham and Meghla Bhardwaj reflect on 2020, and gaze into their 2021 crystal balls. They share: the biggest lesson they learnt in 2020 what are they most looking forward to in 2021 their one piece of advice for 2021

On this episode of The Asian Seller podcast, Michael Michelini, founder of Global from Asia, and ecommerce SEO agency, Shadstone, talks about ways to build a community around your brand.  Michael shares best practices to start, develop, engage, maintain and grow a community. He gives tips on leveraging various mediums such as social media, emails, bloggers, and the like.  Michael is an American social media, e-commerce, and SEO specialist who has lived in China since late 2007. He is a passionate business connector who helps companies do business in China as well as Chinese companies to work in overseas markets. Episode highlights:  Why invest in off Amazon content and community  When is the right time to start building a community  Starting a community - and the strategy behind a Facebook group for your community Email collection - ways to build an email list with inserts  Email promotions - what to do with the emails you do collect (hint - use it or lose it!) Maintaining the community - similar to email lists, you need to engage or it will lose effectiveness Growing the community - segmenting - make a VIP list, VIP group, brand vs industry naming Making a blog - put content on your brand site, or make a separate blog site Making an influencer gift bag / onboarding - what to do with  your VIP  Launching a new product with this community - how to leverage this to grow your sales Contact Michael: Email: michelini@shadstone.com   Websites: www.globalfromasia.com www.getfrenzi.com  www.shadstone.com  Join The Asian Seller community Facebook Group YouTube Meetup Telegram

CJ Rosenbaum from Amazon Sellers' Lawyer talks about listing and account suspensions, and other issues sellers face.  He also shares best practices when preparing and submitting plans of action to Amazon, and the strengths sellers have that they may not know.  CJ is the Founding Partner of Rosenbaum Famularo, PC, the law firm behind Amazon Sellers Lawyer. He and his team help sellers with IP protection and writing plans of action for listing suspension. Episode highlights:  Common reasons for account / listing suspension What can sellers do to prevent account suspensions Preparing a plan of action - best practices What kind of documentation should sellers have ready in case of a suspension Dealing with Error 5665 when trying to list a product  Ramifications from Amazon revealing sellers' IDs in the US Increase risk of IP complaints hitting home Increase in related accounts suspensions What strengths do sellers have that they might know about? Trademark or counterfeit complaint - claims against brands that make baseless complaints Copyright complaint - Digital Millennium Copyright Act Counter Notices Contact CJ: Email: cj@amazonsellerslawyer.com   Website: www.amazonsellerslawyer.com  Join The Asian Seller community Facebook Group YouTube Meetup Telegram

Steven Selikoff from The Product Development Academy returns to The Asian Seller podcast to talk about trends in retail.  We also talk about the upcoming Global Sources Virtual Summit, and Steven’s exclusive 6-hour China Sourcing Workshop at the Summit.  2020 has been an exciting and challenging year for eCommerce sellers around the world - while some of us saw steep sales increases, others experienced declines. While no one can tell what exactly the new year has in store for us, we can learn from the past and be ready for the future.   The agenda of Global Sources Virtual Summit is designed to help you be better prepared for the coming year. Take a look at the agenda and speakers here, and reserve your seat: www.globalsources.com/summit Use the code WIN2021 for a 10% discount on the ticket.  Episode highlights:  Trends in retail Omnichannel eCommerce is here to stay  Selling beyond Amazon  Topics at the Global Sources Virtual Summit to help sellers develop an omnichannel strategy How is sourcing changing  Emerging alternative sourcing markets  Steven’s China Sourcing Workshop at the Summit  Contact Steven: Email: steven@productdevelopmentacademy.com   Website: www.productdevelopmentacademy.com  Join The Asian Seller community Facebook Group YouTube Meetup Telegram

On this episode of The Asian Seller podcast, Steven Selikoff from The Product Development Academy shares best practices when working with Virtual Assistants for your Amazon / eCommerce business,  Margaret Jolly and Kevin Oldham also join the conversation.  While VAs can help make your business more efficient, their services should be utilized to assist you with specific tasks. Many sellers make the mistake of depending on VAs for product research and business strategy. Episode highlights:  Introduction Why a VA?    What tasks do you think are suitable to outsource to a VA?  What tasks would you never give to a VA?  At what stage of your Amazon business should people look at using a VA  Can my business sustain their services without giving away too much profit?  Before you outsource do you feel that you need to know how to do it yourself to delegate correctly  How do you track their hours and check out their work quickly (otherwise you may as well do it all yourself)? Contact Steven: Email: steven@productdevelopmentacademy.com   Website: www.productdevelopmentacademy.com  Join The Asian Seller community Facebook Group YouTube Meetup Telegram  

On this episode of The Asian Seller podcast, writer & editor extraordinaire Ana Warren Gonzalez talks about the importance of crafting a compelling story in your Amazon listing.  Ana is the founder of AWGCopy, an emerging copywriting firm that also specializes in Amazon copywriting. The agency prides itself on elegant copy that employs marketing principles to further client goals. As an individual, Ana's been writing professionally since 2008. She pretty much learned on the job; she was enmeshed in traditional marketing, local store marketing and retail, public relations, and events management, and she figured out copywriting on the fly. She has contributed as well to many publications in Manila, Philippines, as well as all over Asia, as a contributing features writer. She believes she's a good teacher because she's inherently bossy - a trait that comes in handy in her day-to-day profession (the most important one) of Single Mom! (So, yes, oftentimes the Mom Voice comes out in her training - so be sure to sit up straight and keep your elbows off the table!)  Episode highlights:  Introduction Why you can't ignore your organic SEO How to write a balanced title that is meaningful and also good for SEO  The importance of storytelling How much text do people actually read on a listing  KISS - easier said than done Engage, convert, tease - AKA be memorable, be persuasive, develop a relationship How to highlight core emotional benefit for customer  Search volume vs. relevancy >> Department stores vs. boutiques  Why buyer psychology is so crucial Contact Ana: Email: awarrengonzalez@gmail.com  Website: https://awarrengonzalez.wixsite.com/awgcopy  Join The Asian Seller community Facebook Group YouTube Meetup Telegram

On this episode of The Asian Seller podcast, US attorney Yael Cabilly from Cabilly & Co talks about brand registry, trademarks, patents, hijacking and more.  She shares insights on how to choose a relevant brand name, how to search if the brand name is already in use, and the correct way to apply for a trademark.  Yael  is the founder of Cabilly & Co., and one of the leading attorneys in the field of eCommerce law. With over 13 years of experience in Intellectual Property, Yael uses her IP background to solve problems on eCommerce platforms, and protect her clients’ interests.  Episode highlights:  Introduction Trademarks Do you really need a trademark on Amazon?  How do you know if your trademark is available How to search for brand names Choosing your brand name  What do you need to prepare before applying for a trademark  How much does it cost  Copyrights What does it include? How do you avoid infringements? Patents How do you protect a new product? How do you know if your product is already patented? Contact Yael: Email: yael@e-cabilly.com  Website: www.e-cabilly.com  Join The Asian Seller community Facebook Group YouTube Meetup Telegram

On this episode of The Asian Seller podcast, Amazon consultant Laura Buhl talks about selling on Amazon’s European marketplaces. Most sellers prefer to sell on Amazon US, and are often daunted by selling on Amazon Europe because of many barriers including language, VAT, stricter product compliance, and the like. However, Laura says these obstacles are easily overcome if you have the right information and access to specialists.  Laura used to work at Amazon where she coached top 100 sellers in the EU.  She has recently started a 12-week course specially for women where she walks them through the process of finding and launching a product on Amazon.   Episode highlights:  Introduction Main marketplaces in Europe, and key differences Which is easiest to sell on Is it advisable to sell on all European marketplaces or is it better to focus on one / a few?  Differences between the various options for FBA: European Fulfillment Network (EFN), Multi-country Inventory (MCI) and Pan-European FBA? And what are the pros and cons? Are there specific product categories that sell more than others on the key marketplaces?  Is VAT registration required for all our only UK? How to apply for VAT number? Ways to manage product quality and compliance Other marketplaces in European countries  How to localise listings for various countries About Laura’s services and course  Contact Laura: Email: hello@laurabuhl.com  Website: www.laurabuhl.com/home40108993  Join The Asian Seller community Facebook Group YouTube Meetup Telegram  

Norman Farrar aka The Beard Guy joins us on The Asian Seller podcast to talk about working with influencers for eCommerce and Amazon.  Norm is an Amazon, ecommerce and online marketing expert. He has 20 years of branding experience, and is an international public speaker and a podcaster. Episode highlights:  Introduction  What is influencer marketing?  Are you seeing an increase in influencer marketing among online sellers? Why? What is the difference between an influencer and a brand ambassador? What are the different types of influencers? What is the objective of influencer marketing - increase reach, branding, sales..? All three? Where and how do they find influencers? What are some ways to approach influencers and pitch products to them? How can Amazon sellers leverage influencer marketing to increase sales / conversions? What are some dont’s or mistakes to avoid? Are there any influencer marketing tools that can be used? About Norm’s new chat agency  Learn more: The Chat Agency  Join The Asian Seller community Facebook Group YouTube Meetup Telegram

Given that Amazon is a customer-centric marketplace, it is essential for sellers to manage customer relationships on the platform really well. On this episode of The Asian Seller podcast, Lisett Lees and Augustas Kligys from Orange Kilk talk about how you can improve your customer relationship, and keep them returning to your store. About Lisett: Lisett started out in 2016 as an Amazon FBA store assistant and since then has been working daily with different Amazon FBA sellers. Years of experience as a store manager along with the mission of helping businesses run daily operations cost- and time efficiently has shaped her into a strategic partner for Amazon sellers. She helps to manage stores, product-related tasks, customer relations and the team while advising company owners to set their goals and strategy. She is the head of international e-commerce at the Estonian Export agency and a video host on the Orange Klik Youtube channel. About Augustas: Known in the business simply as the “Amazon Summits Guy”, Augustas is committed to providing others with the opportunity to achieve success by offering powerfully informative expert sessions and guides to becoming a top Amazon seller. Since 2016 he has recorded over 400 sessions with Amazon industry leaders, experts and speakers. Augustas is also the founder of Orange Klik Company and the following in-person events for Amazon sellers: European Seller Conference, Seller Fest and PPC Congress. Episode highlights:  Introduction  Lisett talks about improving customer relations  How to get more positive reviews about the product and service if sellers can’t directly ask for reviews in messages If the customer is thanking the seller or just sending a short message with not a lot of information how can sellers start a conversation How often should sellers check their messages 
The biggest no-no when answering to buyer-seller messages How to work with negative reviews About Seller Fest  Sign up for their upcoming virtual Seller Fest Join The Asian Seller community Facebook Group YouTube Meetup Telegram

In this episode of The Asian Seller podcast, Suzanne Smith, Director of Customer Success at eComEngine talks to us about Amazon’s updated communication guidelines for buyer-seller messages Suzanne explains what you should know about these guidelines for both direct communication and indirect communication. Amazon defines two types of Buyer-Seller Messages. Both are considered direct communication with buyers: Permitted Messages: Communications necessary to complete an order or respond to a customer service inquiry. You can only send Permitted Messages to customers who contact you about purchasing a product or who have already purchased an item from you on Amazon. These messages are specific to an order and must be sent from your seller account. Proactive Permitted Messages: Communications initiated by sellers that are not responses to a buyer’s question. These can be sent via email and must be sent within 30 days of order completion.  Episode highlights:  Introduction - Suzanne’s background  What are the changes announced by Amazon, and when do they go into effect How can sellers send messages? Are third-party tools allowed? What should sellers be aware to ensure they don’t get restricted What is the safest or best way to send feedback and review requests About eComEngine More information:  eComEngine breaks down the changes in a blog post Here are the updated guidelines  Automate your requests through Amazon Buyer-Selling Messaging with Feedback Five  Contact eComEngine  Join The Asian Seller community Facebook Group YouTube Meetup Telegram

In this episode of The Asian Seller podcast, Francois Jaffres, Director of Business Development at Noviland Technologies, Inc. talks about how Chinese New Year (CNY) holidays impact supply chains in China. For those who may not be familiar with CNY, this is a month-long holiday in China that usually falls in January or February. All factories and businesses are closed as millions of workers travel back to their hometowns to be with their families.  CNY falls on Feb 12 in 2021, and according to Francois, the time to start planning your Q1 inventory is now. Episode highlights:  Introduction - Francois’s background and experience with sourcing  Is manufacturing back to normal in China now About CNY, and how the supply chain is impacted before and during CNY holidays  How delivery lead times are affected Impact on product quality  Production issues before, during, and after CNY holidays: worker turnover, delivery lead times, quality  How logistics is affected  When should importers start planning for CNY holidays, and what are some steps to take to avoid supply chain disruption and impact on the quality More information:  Learn more about Noviland  Join The Asian Seller community Facebook Group YouTube Meetup Telegram