The Ecomcrew Ecommerce Podcast

Discover key strategies to succeed in the booming supplements market via Amazon. John Smiddy shares expert insights on product formulation, marketing tactics, regulatory requirements, and how to leverage reviews and influencer collaborations for growth.
Timestamps
00:00 - The massive opportunity in Amazon supplements industry
02:17 - What solo entrepreneurs need to succeed in supplement branding
03:50 - Understanding customer problems for supplement success
05:08 - Innovative delivery systems in the supplement industry 
06:16 - How to choose ingredients without biochemical expertise
09:56 - Focus on problem-solving in Amazon search strategy
12:14 - Regulatory standards differences across countries and FDA compliance
13:06 - Requirements for selling supplements
16:00 - Building credibility with third-party testing
17:37 - Launching tactics—Amazon vs. Shopify 
22:45 - Strategies for mid-sized supplement companies 
25:03 - The potential of Amazon inserts
26:20 - When to shift focus from Amazon to your own site
27:23 - Starting with one flagship product 
31:21 - Pricing strategies
35:52 - Influencer marketing and platform focus—why TikTok isn't prioritized yet
41:24 - Insights on Brian Johnson's supplement brand
44:11 - How to connect with John Smiddy and his agency for partnership opportunities
Resources & Links
Nutramarketers — John Smiddy's agency
Eurofins — Third-party testing laboratory
NSF — Certification body for supplement testing
Helium 10 — Amazon research tool
Social Cat — Influencer campaign platform
Vine Voice Program — Amazon influencer review program
Connect with John Smiddy on his LinkedIn here!

Dave breaks down the recent wins for e-commerce sellers: tariff refunds now being available and Amazon rolling back their credit card policy changes. He talks about why this is a bigger deal than it seems to be, how you as an e-commerce seller can start claiming your tariff refunds, and what this means for sellers moving forward.
Sellers have gotten the biggest wins in the past week. 
First, Amazon sellers have managed to get Amazon to take back their credit card policy changes where Amazon would not allow sellers to pay for advertising with their credit cards.
Second, e-commerce sellers are now able to start collecting their tariff refunds after the tariffs were ruled illegal by the Supreme Court. 
In this episode, Dave walks through how you can collect your tariff refunds from the US government and breaks down Amazon's response to the sellers who were organizing a protest.  
Timestamps
00:00 - Recent big wins for Amazon and e-commerce sellers
00:58 - How to claim tariff refunds
03:08 - The problem with the tariff refunds 
04:33 - The refund process and timing
05:30 - Why the US government moved fast to reimburse tariffs
06:26 - My previous experience getting audited by the CBP
12:40 - Amazon's policy change on credit card payments for advertising
13:10 - Seller backlash and protest on April 15th
14:38 - Amazon's PR response 
16:31 - The importance of seller organization and collective action
17:29 - How seller protests influenced Amazon's messaging
19:23 - Final thoughts on organizing and pushing for e-commerce seller rights
Resources & Links
Quiet Light Brokerage
ACE CBP System

Dave talks to Alan Li from Copycatch AI to discuss how Amazon sellers can defend their products from infringement, understand the legal tools available, and learn the process of filing lawsuits to deter counterfeiters. Alan Li shares his experience with IP rights, when to pursue legal action, and how to maximize settlements.
Timestamps
00:48 - IP infringement challenges on Amazon
01:16 - How Copycatch.ai helps get listings removed
03:08 - Filing lawsuits on contingency and settlement strategies
05:48 - How to distinguish infringement from generic design similarity
06:46 - Copyright protections for artistic and structural design elements
08:02 - Easiest IP to defend: trademarks vs copyrights vs patents
10:42 - The importance of registering copyrights before enforcement
13:20 - Cost and process of registering trade dress, patent, and copyright
14:31 - How to efficiently protect images and designs for e-commerce
18:31 - Filing ex parte lawsuits and obtaining TROs for swift action
20:36 - When to go straight to litigation rather than DMCA takedowns
23:34 - Estimating settlement amounts based on competitor sales and revenues
26:28 - Using settlement and sales resurgence as part of your IP strategy
29:38 - Challenges of traditional legal fees and how contingency offers a solution
31:12 - Supporting small businesses and mom-and-pop Amazon sellers
32:15 - Building enforceable IP portfolios for ongoing protection
35:19 - How to contact Alan Lee for IP infringement issues
Resources & Links
Copycatch.ai
Quiet Light Brokerage
Jungle Scout
Helium 10

Dave dives into Amazon's updated policies that threaten sellers' credit card points and cash flow, including changes to DD7 payment terms. He shares tips on how to stay afloat amidst these challenges like getting a line of credit, and possibly using DDP shipping to get favorable terms for your next order of inventory.
Key Topics
How Amazon's new policies on ad payments and DD7 impact cash flow
How you can increase credit limits and ad spending thresholds
Why you should apply for lines of credit and negotiate payment terms with suppliers
Tactical steps to optimize cash flow, including invoice payments and DDP shipping advantages
The ongoing black market for seeded Amazon accounts tied to fraud schemes
The importance of preserving cash flow for business sustainability
Timestamps
00:00 - Amazon's new policies threatening seller cash flow
00:57 - The potential rollout of restricted credit card payments for ads
3:10 - Comparing Google/Facebook policies to Amazon's upcoming changes
4:09 - The glimmer of hope: Amazon offering alternative payments
6:29 - Why ad spend is important for Amazon's shareholders 
6:56 - Why a decrease in ad spend could influence policy adjustments
7:56 - The role of invoice payments as a temporary cash flow solution
8:24 - How to request credit limit increases and their benefits
12:45 - The challenges faced with DD7 
14:06 - Why Amazon pushed for DD7 
16:02 - Fraud on Amazon
Resources & Links:
Quiet Light Brokerage

Discover how some of the biggest brands on Amazon—some you've never heard of—have dominated the platform and generated hundreds of millions in sales annually. This episode explores the quiet giants of Amazon and their innovative approaches, business models, and how they break the mold.
It isn't easy being an Amazon seller. 
Its almost infinitesimally hard to be within the top 10 biggest sellers on Amazon. 
In this episode, Dave reveals the 5 biggest sellers on Amazon. This episode will dive into what their product niches are, how they operate, their origins and more. 
If you're interested in selling on Amazon, this episode is for you. It's filled with valuable insights into how you can leverage your differences against other e-commerce companies and how different product niches can be great opportunities. 
Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction
00:28 - Why Amazon sales figures matter for brand growth
01:11 - Quiet Amazon Giant #1
02:08 - Their origins
02:37 - Their competitors  
03:06 - How Dave knows co-founder David Ghiyam
06:00 - Quiet Amazon Giant #2
09:23 - Their stock performance
10:18 - Quiet Amazon Giant #3
13:10 - The surprising profitability of small-product companies
14:06 - Quiet Amazon Giant #4
16:26 - The booming coffee category and emerging trends
Resources & Links:
Quiet Light Brokerage
David Ghiyam - LinkedIn