Issue 122: How to prepare your inventory for the peak of Q4 sales
Hello, MyFBAPrep Sellers!
Today we dive into prepping inventory for the holidays, how to foster good relationships with your logistics partners, data analytics tips to build your business, and the challenges, trends, and considerations of using AI in eCommerce.
Preparing Your Inventory for Q4 eCommerce Sales
\That heightened Q4 eCommerce sales velocity makes it critical to go into the end of the year prepared, which requires understanding your market, estimated sales increases, and how to prep inventory to reduce potential bottlenecks, backorders, and other issues.
Preparing for Q4 will reduce costs while ensuring your business provides a great customer experience, even when supply chains bottleneck and your postal carriers are overwhelmed with goods.
Our top tips:
- Forecast sales
- Mark key dates (shopping days and shipping deadlines)
- Review your setup with your 3PL
- Distribute inventory strategically
- Leverage kits and bundles
- Prevent and prepare for returns
Get the details on the MyFBAPrep blog.
How to Build Strong Partnerships With Logistics Providers (With Tips From an Expert)
Logistics providers are integral to the supply chain, as they manage the flow of goods from the point of origin to the end consumer. They handle transportation, warehousing, inventory management, and order fulfillment, ensuring products arrive on time and in good condition. That efficiency directly affects customer satisfaction and brand reputation.
As Kathleen Sullivan Garman aptly puts it, “[Logistics providers] are the last people to touch your product before your customer opens it up. They are the first people to open up your returns and decide if they’re worthy of being reshelved or not. They are seeing your stuff go in and out all day, every day.”
Smart fulfillment operations are essential for maintaining profitability and competitiveness, so choosing a provider to handle them deserves close scrutiny.
Start investing in your key logistics and supply chain partnerships.
Stay agile his Q4 with lightning fast FBA prep
Need some help augmenting your Q4 logistics? Not sure if your current warehouse has capacity or the ability to scale with your peak sales? Work with MyFBAPrep’s global network of logistics experts and access reliable, professional kitting, bundling, co-packing, and more.
Access Our Robust Suite of Logistics Services
How to Use eCommerce Data Analytics to Build Your Business
Imagine optimizing your marketing campaigns, streamlining operations, and managing inventory with laser precision. This is the power of data analytics at your fingertips.
Here are a few things smart data analytics can reveal:
- Market and consumer trends
- Smart product recommendations
- Personalization that works for conversions
- Optimal stock levels and risk of stockouts
- Supplier reliability balanced with cost
- And much more
Start optimizing for market trends and ideal inventory levels.
The Double-Edged Sword of AI and eCommerce
To earn the greatest results from your Amazon Sponsored Brand video ads, it’s important to understand best practices that can help drive clicks and conversions. Here are six tips for maximum effect:
- Keep it short and engaging
- Include a clear call to action (CTA)
- Show the product in use
- Invest in high-quality production
- Optimize for mobile
- Leverage reviews and social proof
Take these into consideration before deploying AI.
Partner Spotlight 📣 Share it Studio
Share it Studio helps brands boost Amazon sales with expertly crafted visual content. They have found that merchants can boost conversions by 77% with effective visuals and keyword-driven content.
Share it Studio can help you:
- Design professional product images
- Create stunning PPC videos
- Make an impact with visuals
They can also do a complete Amazon listing optimization to pinpoint where you’re leaving money on the table.
Top Industry News
4PL vs. 3PL: What Makes Fourth-Party Logistics Stand Out? (Sweet Analytics)
Discover how fourth-party logistics (4PL) streamlines and optimises your entire supply chain, offering a single point of contact and cost-saving strategies compared to traditional third-party logistics (3PL) solutions.
Five Shifts To Make When Expanding From A Major E-Commerce Marketplace (Forbes)
As one of the world’s largest marketplaces, Amazon sees more than 60% of sales (some 4.5 billion items) occur through third-party sellers. Entrepreneurs often start on Amazon, which is understandable considering the platform dominates the U.S. e-commerce market. As your store grows, however, Amazon can begin to bottleneck your sales. Branching off the marketplace is a way to release this constriction so you can reach new customers, expand into new regions and find opportunities for partnerships and even retail store sales.
Consultant Bullish on Trump’s Impact on Retail, eCommerce, FreightTech M&A (FreightWaves)
With the new Trump administration come expectations of regulatory changes, including potential shifts at the Federal Trade Commission, that could unlock M&A activity. These shifts could mean promising activity in retail and e-commerce, as well as greater investment in supply chains. Lower interest rates may also drive fresh investment in housing and retail, benefiting brands like The Home Depot and Lowe’s, while new entrants such as Temu, leveraging social commerce models, intensify competition in grocery and affordable retail.
The Rise of Social Commerce: How Brands Are Shaping the Future of Online Shopping (PYMNTS)
The integration of social media and eCommerce has led to the rise of social commerce, a model that allows consumers to make direct purchases within social platforms. What started as basic product links has expanded into a multi-billion-dollar industry, with brands and consumers embracing the convenience of shopping directly within social media environments. In recent years, social commerce has grown substantially, reflecting a change in how products are discovered and purchased online. The numbers are hard to ignore. TikTok surpassed $10 billion in consumer spending, a testament to its evolving role in shaping buying behavior and its impact on the consumer culture.
US Foods Grows a Bigger Appetite for More Digital Transformation (Digital Commerce 360)
US Foods Inc. continues to expand its digital footprint, leveraging mobile and artificial intelligence (AI) to drive sales growth and efficiency. The company is seeing increased engagement with its mobile app, MOXē, and continues to introduce AI-driven tools to optimize operations.
PDD Holdings (PDD)’s Rapid Rise: How Pinduoduo and Temu Are Shaping E-Commerce (Yahoo)
According to a report published by FTI Consulting, the United States e-commerce is experiencing a revival after a period of stagnation post-COVID. After 18 months of slow growth, e-commerce sales began to pick up again in early 2023 as consumers resumed shopping habits that had been altered during the pandemic. The report notes that e-commerce sales growth represented 46% of total retail sales growth in 2023 and surged to 57% in the first quarter of 2024, marking its highest contribution since 2017, excluding pandemic spikes.
How eCommerce Merchants Fight Fraud for the Holiday Shopping Season (PYMNTS)
eCommerce merchants large and small regularly face fraud threats, and the stakes are rising. Traditional authentication tools, once reliable for verifying customer identities, are now being circumvented by AI-powered technologies. This is just one growing concern for eCommerce merchants and their customers, who are expected to ramp up their shopping this holiday season.
How To Speed Up E-Commerce Deliveries (Global Trade Magazine)
In today’s fast-paced digital world, speed isn’t just a luxury — it’s a necessity. For e-commerce businesses, fast delivery can make or break the customer experience. With rising consumer expectations, companies must ensure their products arrive swiftly, or they risk falling behind competitors who prioritize quick and efficient shipping. This article outlines proven strategies to help your own organization streamline its deliveries for increased customer satisfaction (and decreased costs).
Motley Fool: Amazon is eCommerce and Much More (Dallas Morning News)
According to Statista, Amazon controlled over 37% of the domestic e-commerce market in 2023, compared to 6% for No. 2 e-tailer Walmart. But there’s much more to Amazon. Its total revenue grew 10% year over year in the second quarter, from sources such as advertising, cloud services, subscription services and physical retail locations
How Amazon Sellers are Navigating Capacity Constraints (Supply Chain Dive)
Amazon sellers are assessing alternate shipping and storage plans to counter capacity constraints within the e-commerce giant’s logistics network ahead of the holidays. The capacity issues, coming in the thick of Amazon’s inbound fulfillment makeover, are leading to extended processing times for seller inventory at some West Coast facilities. Amazon has rerouted goods to other regions and lowered fees for products going to Eastern U.S. locations in an attempt to right the ship.
Marketplace Briefing: Amazon is Quietly Testing Product Search Results That Show Seller Ratings (Modern Retail)
Amazon is quietly experimenting with adding seller feedback ratings to the overall search page on its marketplace. Some agencies and sellers recently noticed changes to the Amazon website and mobile app that add seller ratings to products that appear in search results.
Perplexity Rolls Out Its AI-Powered Ecommerce Experience in the US (Adweek)
Perplexity has unveiled its AI-driven ecommerce feature, ‘Buy with Pro,’ for its U.S. Pro users.Previously dubbed ‘Pro Shop,’ consumers can now purchase items directly from Perplexity’s app. Perplexity is incentivizing people to shop by offering free shipping.
AI Shopping Agents, A ‘Vibe-Cession,’ And Other E-Commerce Trends For 2025 (Forbes)
In the fast-moving world of retail media and marketplaces, industry podcasts have become a crucial source of insights and analysis for professionals trying to stay ahead of rapid change. Some of the most influential voices in this space are the hosts who spend hundreds of hours each year interviewing industry leaders, analyzing trends, and sharing strategic insights with their audiences. This article showcases leading e-commerce podcast hosts and their predictions for the major trends they expect to see in 2025.
The Secrets of Walmart’s Success? Groceries, Low Prices and a Popular eCommerce Platform (Marketplace.org)
The country’s largest retailer will release its third-quarter earnings Tuesday, and it’s looking like Walmart will be sharing good news. The value of its shares has jumped 60% this year. That means it’s on track to have its best year since 1999.
Amazon Launches Low-Cost eCommerce Service in US to Challenge Temu (Reuters)
Amazon.com launched a low-cost ecommerce service called Amazon Haul for some customers in the United States giving them a selection of products at $20 or less, the online retailer said on Wednesday, as it looks to take on Chinese firms Shein and PDD Holdings’ (PDD.O), opens new tab Temu.
TikTok Integrates with LTK to Enhance E-Commerce Offerings (TechCrunch)
An integration with LTK, an app that lets consumers shop from creator and influencers’ recommendations, is rolling out on TikTok, according to videos by select creators viewed by TechCrunch. The collaboration could boost fashion creators’ ability to earn affiliate commissions via LTK, while also making it easier for consumers to locate the clothes and accessories creators are talking about.
Until next time,
Rachel Andrea Go
Marketing Director, MyFBAPrep