Issue 107: Sourcing for Amazon and starting a subscription box
Hello, MyFBAPrep Sellers!
In our latest interview series, Ritika Jain of MMF Infotech shares Amazon advertising best practices. Then read on to learn how to source products for Amazon, and steps to starting your own subscription business.
▶️ Amazon Advertising Best Practices:
A Chat With Ritika Jain of MMF Infotech
In this video, Rachel chats with Rikita Jain, director and CEO of MMF Infotech Technologies. Ritika shares why she decided to start MMF Infotech, her focus on Amazon, the balance between SEO and advertising, and Amazon ads best practices.
How to Start a Subscription Box Business
Looking to start a subscription box business? Below is a short list of steps we recommend. Visit the blog for the full list and more detailed advice.
Conduct market research
- Is there a particular category or product type they seek?
- How much are they willing to pay?
- How often do they want to receive the goods?
- Is it for themselves or someone else?
- Are they purchasing for replenishment, curation, or access?
Identify opportunities in existing inventory
- If you already sell products, you should have a good idea of your consumer’s main interests.
- Review your most popular items to see what your customers purchase most.
- Look at what products people frequently buy together.
- Use that information to build curated subscription boxes based on buyer interests.
- You can offer replenishment subscription boxes or curated collections related to your bestsellers.
Source high-quality products
- Look into various sourcing methods like wholesale purchasing, brand partnerships, or even manufacturing yourself.
- Each has its benefits, but your choice should align with your brand image and the needs of your audience.
Run your numbers
- Box presentation
- Mailer packaging and any packing materials
- Shipping
- Picking and packing
- Printed materials
- Products to be included in the box
- Marketing
Craft a unique selling proposition
- Unique product selection
- Commitment to sustainability
- Charitable contributions
Map the customer journey
- The first interaction someone has with your brand
- Product pages
- The buying experience
- Social media content
- Online reviews
- Post-purchase communications
- Delivery experience
- Follow-up communications
- Ongoing interactions
Nail your picking, packing, and shipping
- Choose a reliable shipping carrier
- Track packages and manage shipping costs
- Develop an international strategy
Market your subscription box
- Social media marketing
- Email marketing
- Influencer collaborations
- Referral programs
- SEO and content marketing
- Positive reviews and word-of-mouth marketing
Manage returns and exchanges
- Craft a clear return policy
- Process returns and exchanges efficiently
- Leverage returns for continuous improvement
Create an unforgettable unboxing experience with MyFBAPrep
MyFBAPrep can work with your brand to strategize and then follow precise packing directions, to ensure every unboxing is branded, uniform, and makes an impression.
In addition to prep, we can handle fulfillment, returns, and much more.
Insider Tips for Product Sourcing for Amazon
Looking to source on Amazon? Here’s how to check for quality.
- Supplier verification: Conduct thorough background checks and site visits to verify the credibility and manufacturing standards of your suppliers. Request product samples for inspection and testing before placing bulk orders.
- Product testing: Invest in third-party testing services or in-house quality assurance processes to assess product durability, functionality, and compliance with safety standards. Test items under real-world conditions to identify any potential defects or performance issues.
- Certifications and compliance: Ensure your products meet relevant industry certifications, regulatory requirements, and Amazon’s guidelines for product safety and authenticity. Display certifications prominently in product listings to instill confidence in buyers.
- Batch inspections: Implement regular batch inspections during the production process to detect and rectify quality deviations. Inspect raw materials, components, and finished goods for consistency, accuracy, and adherence to specifications.
- Feedback loops: Establish a feedback loop with suppliers, manufacturers, and customers to gather insights, address quality concerns, and drive continuous improvement. You can then use customer reviews and return data to identify quality issues and take corrective actions proactively.
Learn where to find suppliers, how to do market research, and more on the blog.
📢 Partner Spotlight: CPG Sourcing
China Performance Group (CPG) provides importers their own branch office and sourcing team in China. They bring more than 45 years of China sourcing experience and apply a cost-effective and transparent pricing model that gives merchants access to the vast resources of China.
CPG provides a wide range of services, such as supplier vetting and audits, product development, price benchmarking, contract negotiation, quality assurance, and logistics management.
Each CPG client has its own dedicated China team designed to understand and execute their vision, protect their interests, and address their concerns. CPG is product agnostic and works with all industries and product lines, from large machinery to fine jewelry.
Visit their blog to learn how long it takes to start sourcing from China, and how to qualify suppliers.
Top Industry News
From Cart to Customer: How to Optimize Your eCommerce Logistics with Taylor Smits [Ep.158] (Empire Flippers)
Expanding into omnichannel sales is a great way to grow your eCommerce business, but it also results in a more complicated supply chain. That’s why working with a logistics partner who has their finger on the pulse of the industry is so important. In this episode, Empire Flippers chats with Taylor Smits, co-founder of MyFBAPrep, the largest Amazon prep and eCommerce fulfillment network in the US. Taylor joins to explain how to optimize your supply chain without hindering growth and expansion.
Millennials’ Fast-Fashion Favorite Forever 21 Can’t Keep up With Shein’s Meteoric Rise (Fortune)
Formerly a fierce competitor of mall stalwarts H&M and Zara, Forever 21 now is at risk of being gobbled up by the next generation of fast-fashion giants like Shein and Temu, which have made a name for themselves chasing trendy designs and delivering them at lightning-quick speeds to their widespread Gen Z audiences.
Target Taps Shopify to Add Sellers to Its Third-Party Marketplace (CNBC)
Target is turning to Shopify to add new and trendier brands to its website. Starting Monday, the Minneapolis-based discounter said companies that work with Shopify can apply to join Target Plus, its third-party marketplace. Some of Shopify’s customers are smaller or up-and-coming brands that use the e-commerce platform to build and operate a website.
Sustainability And Purpose-Driven Branding Is The Future Of E-Commerce (Forbes)
There’s no question that e-commerce is a driving economic force. In 2024, there are more than 26.5 million e-commerce brands worldwide, with over half originating in the U.S., according to reporting from Doofinder. These millions of e-commerce companies will serve nearly 3 billion people worldwide in 2024 who find shopping online more accessible, and often less expensive, than browsing in stores, according to Oberlo.
Assessing the eCommerce Supply Chain as Sales, Imports Grow (Supply Chain Management Review)
Among the challenges, e-commerce space has lower volumes than what retailers would like to see. While retail sales continue growing, they are at levels below where retailers would like. The upside is that shipping rates have remained flat or even decreased due to the excess capacity, although that may be turning a bit as volumes increase.
Shopify Pilots AI Assistant for Merchants (PYMNTS)
Shopify is offering merchants early access to a commerce-focused artificial intelligence assistant.The AI assistant, dubbed Sidekick, is one of more than 150 updates Shopify has added to its integrated platform for merchants. The company also expanded the AI image generation capabilities in its platform beyond those introduced six months ago. Merchants can now use AI to edit images in their online stores and emails, and they can do so via the Shopify mobile app.
Amazon Ramps up B2B Ecommerce Offering to Capture More Business Buyers (Retail Touchpoints)
The business-to-business (B2B) ecommerce market is on track to reach $3 trillion by 2027, according to Forrester research. To capture some of that spend, Amazon Business, the company’s B2B online procurement store, is launching several new features designed to simplify the buying process and capitalize on this growth potential. Amazon Business currently drives approximately $35 billion in annual gross sales and has more than 6 million customers worldwide, including 96 of the Fortune 100.
Daydream Rakes in $50M Seed Funding to Build an AI-Powered Search Engine Suited for eCommerce (TechCrunch)
Online shopping trends are expected to stay strong this year, but e-commerce is more fragmented than ever. With brands selling on so many platforms — from TikTok Shop, to established marketplaces, live shopping and owned channels — you’d think it would have become easy for shoppers to find what they’re looking for. Daydream focuses on providing personalized shopping results by using generative AI, machine learning and computer vision. The company plans to offer up the platform in beta to consumers in the U.S. this fall, and will concentrate on the fashion vertical for the time being.
Until next time,
Rachel Andrea Go
Marketing Director, MyFBAPrep