Issue 121: Bridging Creative and Technical Teams in eCommerce
Hello, MyFBAPrep Sellers!
In this newsletter, you’ll learn how to manage creative and technical teams, embrace the need to pivot, manage your Amazon ads, and reduce returns by optimizing your listings.
Retargeting, attribution, and ad spend: An interview with Julian Timings of Autron
In this video, Autron Co-founder & CTO Julian Timings discusses machine learning in Amazon advertising, the importance of retargeting, balancing inventory and ads in Q4, and much more.
Bridging Creative and Technical Teams: An eCommerce Leadership Perspective
The world of eCommerce thrives on the harmonious interplay of creativity and technology. Success in this space hinges on eCommerce retailers’ ability to integrate these seemingly disparate forces seamlessly. This requires a nuanced understanding of both, as well as the fostering of effective collaboration among the creative and technical teams that drive them.
Drawing on the insights of Liz Saunders, founder of Fluencer Fruit, this article explores the art of bridging the gap between creative and technical teams from an eCommerce leadership perspective. We’ll explore the essential qualities of leaders in this space, their unique challenges, and the strategies they can employ to cultivate a culture of cooperation and innovation.
As consumer preferences and technological advancements continue to alter the industry, leaders who embrace change will be the ones to drive success in the years to come.
Learn how to communicate across creative and technical teams to be a better leader.
The Critical Pivot: Embracing Change in Your Business Model
eCommerce is an industry of continuous fluctuation. Beyond dedication and fresh ideas, success hinges on recognizing when your business model needs a fundamental shift. From evolving customer habits to tech leaps and crowded markets, understanding when and how to pivot strategically can mean the difference between stagnation and skyrocketing your business.
Learn the signs it’s time to pivot and how to successfully prepare and execute it.
Enjoy Amazon 3P Selling With 1P Ease
Work with MyFBAPrep to streamline your Amazon logistics. We can handle everything from port to porch, including receiving, QA, kitting and bundling, FBA prep, shipping to Amazon, restocking for FBM, and much more.
Access Our Robust Suite of Amazon Services
An Amazon Listing Optimization Guide That Minimizes Returns
The average Amazon return rate can vary greatly depending on the product: While some categories hover around 5% to 15%, others, like clothing, jewelry, and electronics, can see a returns rate as high as 40%. That’s a significant chunk of profits vanishing.
High return rates can hurt your seller reputation and even lead to account suspension. Although you can’t eliminate them completely, you can slash your rate and keep it low.
Lowering returns on Amazon requires a strategic approach to your Amazon listing optimization. By focusing on clear and comprehensive titles, high-quality images, detailed descriptions, and accurate sizing information, you’ll set realistic expectations for your customers. This reduces confusion and disappointment, which leads to fewer returns and happier customers.
How to craft your listings to reduce returns on Amazon.
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Top Industry News
Amazon Sets Ultra-Low Pricing Plans for Temu Rival Store, The Information Reports (Reuters)
Amazon.com is imposing severe price caps on what merchants can charge for their products on a new low-cost storefront that the e-commerce giant is preparing to launch. The company’s price limits include $8 for jewelry, $13 for guitars and $20 for sofas, according to the report, which cited messages from Amazon to merchants.
FTC’s Rule Banning Fake Online Reviews Goes Into Effect (ABC)
A federal rule banning fake online reviews is now in effect. The Federal Trade Commission issued the rule in August banning the sale or purchase of online reviews. The rule, which went into effect Monday, allows the agency to seek civil penalties against those who knowingly violate it.
Amazon to Shut Down Speedy Brick-and-Mortar Delivery Service (CNBC)
Amazon is shutting down a service that offers same-day delivery from mall and brick-and-mortar retailers, CNBC has learned. The company has stopped any new development of the service, called Amazon Today, and will begin to wind it down, according to two people with knowledge of the matter.
Amazon Makes It Easier for Sellers to Analyze Product Performance (eCommerce Bytes)
Amazon sellers had previously been able to filter reports by individual product (using the ASIN identifier). But the company announced on Friday that sellers can now filter business reports data by ASIN in Seller Central. The filter allows sellers to enter up to 100 ASINS in the search bar at a time.
Where do North Americans Shop Online? (Digital Commerce 360)
Amazon.com Inc. dominates North American online retail in 2024, capturing more than 39% of the dollars spent online last year by consumers in the United States, Canada and Mexico, data shows. But it faces significant challenges from store-based retailers selling online, as well as marketplaces.
Third-Party Logistics Helps Retailers do Battle with ‘Zombie SKUs’ (Retail Brew)
When inventory is declared dead, retailers can find themselves in a spooky situation. Without some kind of afterlife planned for these products, whether in a resale market or a landfill, they become what some in the industry call a “zombie SKU.” Outerspace, which specializes in serving apparel, beauty, and home goods brands, is like a lot of 3PLs in that it doesn’t want to waste valuable space on products that are not moving, because it would rather get paid for outbound shipment than storage. Where it hopes to differentiate itself is in working directly with retailers to bring that inventory back from the dead.
E-commerce Faces Competition This Holiday Season, While Brands Focus Social Content on Hauls and Unboxing (DigiDay)
Holiday prep is well underway for brands and retailers, who are already busy fine-tuning their channel and pricing strategies. Brands are also readying their gift guides and haul and unboxing social marketing content, while watching old-school marketing tactics like catalogs closely and potentially putting a bit less emphasis on e-commerce.
Until next time,
Rachel Andrea Go
Marketing Director, MyFBAPrep