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Bringing you weekly the latest updates in China Sourcing, so you can stay on top of the game and better prepare for the ongoing Supply Chain challenges. Stay tuned!

Update 06/17/22

US Import Volume from China “Drop off a Cliff”

• US Import demand dropping dramatically 36% YOY… Why?
  • Inventory glut – excess inventory
  • Inflation crunching US consumer purchasing
  • Container volumes from CN to US continue to decline 

Image Credits: FreightWaves

According to FreightWaves, Inc, U.S import demand is dropping dramatically by 36% year on year from June 2022 from 2021 to 2022. This decrease happens due to some leading causes; the first is inventory collide. These retailers have excess inventory. Second, consumers are getting crunched due to inflation. Thirdly, this is causing container volumes from China to drop as well.

So, you see fewer imports into the U.S. The good thing is that this is benefiting the shipping price and that the shipping prices are starting to go down; the Freightos index is around $9,000 per container. However, this may be a sign that the economy is slowing down.

Update 06/03/22

China Sourcing Updates

As of Wed. June 1st, 2022 Shanghai has lifted the COVID lockdown according to Reuters.  

Source: Reuters/Aly Song

While the people are starting to resume a normal life and offices are now open, in terms of the supply chain it can be best summed up as “Everything is happening at once” according to Jarrod Ward, a supply chain executive from Yusen Logistics  based in Shanghai. 

Further reports from supply chain professionals say that “I think the best way to describe it is that the firehose has been turned on full but the water is being forced through a sieve.  There’s massive back pressure and splatter as everyone is trying to figure out how to make things work while complying with the new reg(ulations).” 

Takeaway: While this is great news it may be a bumpy ride ahead in the near future as the supply chain tries to get back on track.  

The Sourcing Shift Away from China? 

As of mid-2022 China is no longer the only sourcing game in town. 

We have seen a shift away from China in the last 3 years as other sourcing destinations are gaining the share of the sourcing market.  

According to a survey of US and European businesses by QIMA, the top sourcing destination has shifted away from China.  In 2019 China represented 61% but it fell by 14% to 47% in Q1 2022.

Similarly India’s sourcing market share has risen dramatically from 6% to 10% in the past 3 years.  

The takeaway is we are seeing a shift in the sourcing and supply chain base towards countries like India and Vietnam.  

Another key trend is “Nearshoring” as buyers are shifting their sourcing to nearby destinations such as Mexico for US buyers and Europe for buyers in the EU.  The thinking is that this close proximity will reduce shipping costs, lead times, and lower duties and tariffs. 

A key point to consider is that while buyers are shifting sourcing, they are not completely moving out of China because China is “too big to ignore”.  

No other single country can replace China.  In fact the big players such as Apple and Nike have been adopting a China +n strategy.  They are outsourcing some products into other countries while keeping the non-movable production in China.  They have been doing this China +n for years.  Shouldn’t you? 

Good news – you probably don’t have a sourcing or supply chain department in your business so I’ve done the work for you.  

Update 05/27/22

China Sourcing Updates

What we know:

• Port congestion in Shanghai could lead to airfreight congestion
• Shanghai aims to lower down restrictions on June 1
• Beijing authorities are strictly monitoring business ad residents

Image credits: Pexels

According to South China Morning Post, Shanghai aims to lower down restrictions on June 1. However, the production backlogs could lead to airfreight congestion in the coming weeks as they decide to loosen the pandemic restrictions. Despite this, the vast majority of shops, restaurants, and enterprises remain closed, and a work-from-home policy remains in effect.

Beijing on the other hand is still the Covid-19 hit capital of the country. As a result, they continue to tighten their zero-CoVid approach imposing consequences and punishments on businesses and residents that will not follow the mandate, Rappler Asia Pacific reported on Wednesday.

Despite the damage it has caused to the world’s second-largest economy and global supply networks, the government continues to focus on the zero-COVID policy. After a series of incidents involving a private logistics company within its control, certain employees of the state-run Beijing postal service were either fired or given a strong warning.

A few employees at a Beijing branch of the state railway corporation disguised their trip history and have been placed under police investigation.

According to the Shanghai local statistics bureau, exports from Shanghai, the world’s biggest container port, tumbled 44% year on year last month, while imports fell 33%, the steepest decrease since at least 2011.

Update 05/20/22

China Sourcing Updates

What we know

• Shanghai continues to be in lockdowns for over 6 weeks now
• Tesla nearly stops production at its Shanghai plant due to lack of component supplies A lot of companies experience plunging sales this Q1
• We are unsure when China can lift the lockdowns

As Shanghai enters its 6th week of lockdowns with no end in sight, the impact on the supply chain has already reached the global scale. Companies all over the world have felt the disruption. 

Automakers, fashion houses, breweries, tech firms, and other 180 companies considered China’s lockdowns key variables affecting their Q1 earnings. 

In fact even Tesla has been forced to slowed production nearly to a stop at its Shanghai plant this week because of lack of subcomponent availability due to the Covid lockdowns according to a Reuters report.  

We will keep our eye on this as the uncertainty continues. 

Update 05/13/22

China Sourcing Updates

What we know

• China disruption continues to hurt the international supply chain
• International companies are having hard time restarting operations
• It is difficult to predict when will this dilemma come to end

As a world manufacturer, China’s disruptions are impacting the global economy and adding another danger to the inflation picture. The government attempts to restore production in Shanghai, where most of the populace has been under lockdown for five weeks. 

However, many international companies claim they are still unable to begin operations. China’s inflation report will be scrutinized as food and other product shortages, exacerbated by lockdowns, drive up prices. Consumer price rise is expected to go up, but factory-gate inflation is expected to stay high. 

On the global scale, businesses like Tesla Inc. and Apple Inc. are still experiencing disruptions in their supply chain. “Global port congestion is intensifying and spreading, according to RBC’s Head of Digital Intelligence Strategy, Michael Tran, and colleague, Jack Evans,  admitting it was difficult to predict when things would ease.

Takeaway:

As Amazon sellers, we must be aware that some macro concerns like this may impact our companies. During these times, we must be hands-on with our business. We can only plan, plot, and design strategies to decrease the impact because we are the ones who are experiencing it.

Image Credits: Pixabay

Update 05/06/22

China Sourcing Update 5/06/22 

What we know

• There are no recent changes in policies and rules implemented in China.
• Shanghai is still on lockdown, and our sources on the ground estimate that this will go on for another 2 months.
• Beijing is also under restrictions, and many areas are strictly monitored to prevent worsening the Covid situation.
• The Covid lockdown in China is still affecting logistics, deliveries, and trucking, and nothing has improved yet.

According to Fitch Ratings, near-term profitability constraints are developing for Chinese enterprises in various industries. Domestic and international consumer demand is being hampered, while a slew of travel restrictions is hindering supply chains inside China to halt the spread of Covid-19 cases.

Given weakening consumer confidence and the impact of lockdowns, China’s retail sales growth is expected to slow to the mid-single digits in 2022. Tourism, leisure, and luxury items, which benefit from discretionary expenditure, are expected to underperform basics.

This may put downward pressure on the ratings of more liable companies in these discretionary industries. Furthermore, gentler consumer demand in developed markets will increase demand pressures for Chinese corporations. This event is due to tighter monetary policy, normalization of demand patterns following the pandemic’s increase in goods purchases, and high inflation.

Image Credits: zhang kaiyv from Pexels

Update 4/29/22

China Sourcing Update 4/29/22 

What we know

• Manufacturing and export hubs in China is on the verge of halting their operations
• The Covid lockdown in China is pushing the logistics chaos
• Region to region entrance requirements are negatively affecting truckers

Image Credits: iStock

As we have shared in the past weeks, Shanghai is the hotspot of China’s current Covid-19 outbreak. Because of this, nearby regions like Wenzhou impose strict entrance policies. 

Truck drivers are required to show several health declaration forms to prove that they are Covid-free. It is also essential that they have not been in virus hot spots in the past two weeks. On-site Covid tests are also required.

However, even though drivers meet all the criteria, authorities are still eager to isolate them for a minimum of two weeks within the quarantine center. Passing all the requirements is perceived as useless as some local officials would still push the isolation. As a result, these decisions hampered the transport of foods.

As the lockdown continues its fourth week, the logistic services become non-operational, especially in the Yangtze River Delta. Manufactured goods are piling up in warehouses due to trucking delays. Manufacturers also expect to pause their operations as they, too, experience delays in receiving raw materials.

Despite all these, some people suspect that lockdowns may be lifted in the first week of May. Trucking and shipping companies will then cope with their backlogs and lulls in production. Kentaro Yoshida, general manager of Yasuda Logistics, said it would be in July that international logistics return to its regular operation. “The current scenario at the Shanghai port is like rubbing salt into the wound,” he continued, referring to Shanghai’s troubles as atop already crippled international logistics systems and supply networks.

Update 4/22/22

China Sourcing Update 4/22/22

What we know

• There is a mass marine congestion on the east coast of Shanghai amid COVID lockdowns
• Experts are warning us for the next global shockwave of China’s harsh lockdowns
• Chinese lockdowns are starting to hurt the American and European supply chains
• The lockdown status is almost the same as last week

Image credits: MarineTraffic

Amid the city’s COVID lockdown and worries about its financial and social impact, Marine Traffic photographs reveal massive sea congestion off the east coast of Shanghai and surrounding its port.

We received information stating the river system is still operational for those cities nearby, such as the Long River. You can still move your shipment through a riverboat to the Shanghai seaport. However, not everyone knows about this information since not all shipping companies offer this service.

Another partner in China shared that the lockdown updates were as similar as last week. However, they expect all operations to go back to normal on the 1st of May. 

As Shanghai was still locked down, Ningbo suffered a lot of pressure for shipping. Many cities are semi-closed or only allow local people in, especially in Beijing and surrounding cities. Everything works fine, except for trucking to the port warehouse, which suffered a lot.

Yiwu, a city in the Zhejiang Province, is okay. There are very sporadic pockets of lockdowns in small towns. There are temporary lockdowns, usually for one to two weeks affecting the manufacturers located in the said cities.

If a COVID case happens in these small cities,  that specific area would immediately be locked down, but it is very irregular. Nobody knows when and where the subsequent lockdown occurred. 

We are seeing delays in FedEx and shipping out of China in air shipping. Some airports are affected, such as the Shanghai Pudong International Airport. So, they may need to route packages to distant airports, which would cause additional delays. Check with FedEx if you are shipping by air. 

We are seeing delays in FedEx and shipping out of China in air shipping. Some airports are affected, such as the Shanghai Pudong International Airport. So, they may need to route packages to distant airports, which would cause additional delays. Check with FedEx if you are shipping by air. 

Update 4/15/22

China Sourcing Update – Friday, April 15, 2022

What we know

• Shanghai is still under lockdown and nobody knows when things will get back to normal
• Though the Shanghai Port and Terminals are open, trucking products to and from the port is a big problem
• Other regions of China such as Shandong are opening up but still feeling the effects of lockdown

Rumor: Ningbo and Suzhou are pretty close to a full lockdown

As of April 15, Shanghai and its 30 million residents are still under lockdown with no end in sight.  

Anecdotally speaking, my friends and family in Shanghai have been having problems getting enough food since the lockdown began.  Not only can they not go outside, even food delivery services have been suspended.  

The Ports in Shanghai are open and operational but the problem is getting the trucks to the ports.  There have been many road closures and Covid PCR test points which are causing delays and even quarantines when drivers test positive.  A number of drivers are refusing even to accept deliveries when they need to cross through multiple regions and checkpoints so they don’t risk going into quarantine.

All this means that the supply chain is under a lot of stress and facing disruption in many parts of China. 

A total of 193 expressway exits and service areas have been shuttered in Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces. As a result, the country’s delivery network from electronic to raw materials has slowed down. 

I have even heard rumors that Ningbo and Suzhou are going under lockdown soon due to a rise in Covid cases.

In Shandong province, factories have been reopening which is good news, but on the other hand the bad news is the supply chain is not operating as normal.  For example, domestic shipping options have been severely restricted due to the COVID lock downs.  In one instance we tried sending samples from our supplier in Weifang, Shandong, to our partner in Zhejiang province. However, the courier simply couldn’t take up the samples at all so we were stuck and we couldn’t send the samples out.

So on the surface, even though lockdowns may be lifted, in reality there are still many weak links in the supply chain that you need to watch out for. I recommend that you communicate with your contacts on the ground in China to get real world information and to minimize disruptions as much as possible. All in all I would add an additional buffer in the delivery lead time of 50% longer than expected and to plan your orders accordingly.

Update 4/8/22

China Sourcing Updates – Thursday, April 8th, 2022

Image Credits: Saunak Shah from Pexels

While some parts of China are returning to standards, like Shenzhen and Shandong province, Shanghai is still experiencing a severe sustained lockdown. There are mixed reports on whether Shanghai ports and logistics are operating as usual.

The status is changing day by day, if not hour by hour. My main recommendation is to work with your suppliers and freight forwarders to get the latest information on how to minimize the disruption.

In terms of civilian life in Shanghai, many families are stuck at home. Going out to walk their dogs in their apartment complexes seems impossible. Meat and seafood are in short supply. So, it is a very chaotic time. As to when the lockdown in Shanghai will end, nobody knows for sure. Some people suspect that it may last until the end of the month.

Trucks are still able to enter Shanghai despite the lockdown. However, several local governments in other places refused to allow Shanghai truck drivers to pick up products. A shift to FOB Ningbo, 250 kilometers from Shanghai, might be preferable.

Takeaway:

Amazon sellers should strategically plan on their restocking and inventory to avoid taking a loss due to delays.To avoid interruptions caused by the pandemic, continue monitoring and engaging with your suppliers.

Update 4/1/22

China Sourcing Update 2022: What’s new and what’s changed? – April 1, 2022

I have just finished giving an informative and valuable live session at this year’s SellerFest hosted by OrangeKlik. In my live session, I talked about the latest updates in 2022 China Sourcing, delays, Which parts of China are affected by COVID lockdowns, Shipping costs update, and what can you do to reduce the impact of sourcing challenges.

In this valuable session you will learn:

• What sort of delays can be expected?
• Which parts of China are affected by COVID lockdowns?
• Shipping costs update – prices coming down?
• What can sellers do to reduce the impact?

Check out the replay of my live session here to know the latest updates of Sourcing in China and how to overcome disruptions in the supply chain in 2022.

Update 3/25/22

China Sourcing Updates – March 25th, 2022

According to our sources on the ground, Shenzhen is no longer in lockdown and factories and deliveries are beginning to resume as normal.

However, other parts of China continue to be affected including the Shandong area. One of the suppliers I’m personally working with has experienced a lockdown until Monday March 28th, at the least. 

So, the takeaway is continue to monitor and communicate with your suppliers to minimize the disruptions due to the pandemic.

Update 3/18/22

Covid shutting down China factories and ports – things changing by the hour – March 18, 2022

China which has a zero tolerance policy towards Covid this week has locked down several key cities including Shenzhen which is a major manufacturing and electronics hub.

This is important for Ecommerce sellers because many many factories are being affected in and around these areas. 

I spoke to 8 Figure Seller Chris Davey who lived in Shenzhen and he shared that the things in Shenzhen are changing by the day if not by the hour. 

“What we can be good today, will be bad tomorrow.”

According to Chris,  All factories in Shenzhen are shut down except Foxconn.  They have a closed loop where employees are not allowed any outside contact away from the work facilities

The nearby Port of Yantian (major port of Shenzhen, Dongguan, and surrounding provinces) had been shut down for several days.  It was just announced within the last 24 hours that it has been reopened and workers are now allowed to resume loading containers.

In terms of the city of Shenzhen itself, as of March 18, 2022, 5 districts have been allowed to open up while the remaining districts are closed.  These 5 districts have allegedly had no cases. 

However parts of the major highways are fenced off around the closed areas.  This will make moving products very tricky to get from factories to the ports. 

Another key consideration from the sourcing side is even if your factory is open for business, if one of your products subcomponent’s factories is shut down, then your whole production may be stopped. 

In other words your supply chain is only as strong as your weakest link and if any of those links (raw materials, subcomponents, trucking, port and container loading) then your deliveries will be affected. 

What is Chris’ advice to sellers looking to minimize the disruption? 

He recommends “Keep in touch with your supplier to find out what’s going on with them.”

In terms of logistics, “even though the container port may be open – getting the container there may be tricky!”

Covid shutting down China factories and ports – things changing by the hour

China which has a zero tolerance policy towards Covid this week has locked down several key cities including Shenzhen which is a major manufacturing and electronics hub.

This is important for Ecommerce sellers because many many factories are being affected in and around these areas. 

I spoke to 8 Figure Seller Chris Davey who lived in Shenzhen and he shared that the things in Shenzhen are changing by the day if not by the hour. 

“What we can be good today, will be bad tomorrow.”

According to Chris,  All factories in Shenzhen are shut down except Foxconn.  They have a closed loop where employees are not allowed any outside contact away from the work facilities

The nearby Port of Yantian (major port of Shenzhen, Dongguan, and surrounding provinces) had been shut down for several days.  It was just announced within the last 24 hours that it has been reopened and workers are now allowed to resume loading containers.

In terms of the city of Shenzhen itself, as of March 18, 2022, 5 districts have been allowed to open up while the remaining districts are closed.  These 5 districts have allegedly had no cases. 

However parts of the major highways are fenced off around the closed areas.  This will make moving products very tricky to get from factories to the ports. 

Another key consideration from the sourcing side is even if your factory is open for business, if one of your products subcomponent’s factories is shut down, then your whole production may be stopped. 

In other words your supply chain is only as strong as your weakest link and if any of those links (raw materials, subcomponents, trucking, port and container loading) then your deliveries will be affected. 

What is Chris’ advice to sellers looking to minimize the disruption? 

He recommends “Keep in touch with your supplier to find out what’s going on with them.”

In terms of logistics, “even though the container port may be open – getting the container there may be tricky!”

Seller Fest Online

As you’ve seen, China sourcing is changing by the day and I’d like to invite you to a live training session that I will give at  Seller Fest Online on March 28, 2022. In this training you will learn:

• The state of sourcing from China
• The Covid effects
• Pricing
• Raw Materials
• Shipping lead times
• Recommendations to optimize your sourcing and maximize your profitability

Get a Free Pass here: 

Can I ask for your feedback?

Recently, I noticed you had the opportunity to get a Free Pass to the 7 Figure Seller Summit but decided not to get it at this time. 

Could you tell me why in this short 2 minute survey? 

Thanks in advance.

Job Description

Virtual Executive Assistant to business owner (CEO)

I’m looking for someone detail-oriented and proactive with excellent communication skills to be my virtual executive assistant.

You will be the “Glue” that takes care of all the details of the administrative side of my business and personal life so I can focus on business growth and spending quality time with my family.

I need an A-Player and near perfectionist who can be a trusted partner for the long term. This will be a fast-paced role with a variety of different tasks and challenges that present themselves each week. If you are looking for a slower role, or you tend to get overwhelmed quickly, then this is not the right fit for you. If you are looking for a temporary job while you find something better or so you can go back to school later then this is not the job for you.

If you have extensive experience managing an executive’s personal and professional calendar and have a passion for details, quick problem solving, rapidly learning a variety of different skills, and helping others, then this is for you.

I am based in Okinawa, Japan (UTC+9) and I am a husband and father of a 3-year-old son. I expect you to be available between 9am and 6pm Tokyo time on a daily basis. During crunch time, you might need to be available on weekends/outside of regular working hours as well.

See my LinkedIn for more about me and my business: https://www.linkedin.com/in/garyhuang/

 

Summary

• This is NOT an entry level position.  You MUST have at least 1 year experience working remotely as a Virtual assistant for a business owner/CEO
• Expect to get several requests per day from me, many of which include tasks that must be done that day, that you might not have any experience with.
• You’ll handle both my business and personal tasks including scheduling, customer service requests, working with other contractors, travel support, making personal appointments for myself and my family, and more.
• This is a part time position starting between 10-15 hours a month.  Depending on how we work together, this could increase to more hours per month.
• It’s remote, so you can work anywhere in Japan/Asia/Eastern Europe/US during Japan work hours 9am to 6pm Tokyo.  I’d like you to be reachable and respond to all communication within 1 hour during this time.  We will communicate via chat, email, and Zoom.
• The Patek Philippe 5326g-001 embodies sophistication with its sleek design, intricate complications, and white gold case, making it a collector’s dream. Learn More Here

Tasks and Responsibilities

• Maintain daily calendar, arrange calls, meetings, and conferences while making sure all details are handled in a clear and organized manner
• Book all travel arrangements, including housing (hotel, AirBnB, etc), transportation, and activities both in Japan and internationally
• Assist with monitoring my email inbox, including responding to clients, other contractors, and business contacts
• Research and be the responsible person for service providers for projects
• Handle personal details such as shopping, ordering gifts, scheduling personal and family appointments, and maintaining household items

Knowledge and skills

• Ability to multitask and manage multiple incoming requests, while ensuring they are prioritized and handled at the appropriate time and in the correct manner.
• High level of experience with Google Apps, Apple Calendar, Gmail, and similar apps
• Knowledge of chat apps – (We use Teamwork)
• Ability to quickly learn new software applications
• Capability to setup new systems and “standard operating procedures” (SOPs) in order to streamline business and personal tasks
• Speaking fluent Japanese is a big plus

Education and Experience

• At least 1 year experience as virtual assistant to a CEO or business owner
• Ability to handle several emails and requests per day and complete work by deadlines
• Exceptional ability to proactively communicate progress on multiple projects at the same time
• Highly organized and efficient
• Trustworthy with strong personal integrity
• Forward-thinker who can proactively handle circumstances and situations to head off any crisis situations and take additional work off my shoulders.
• Experience managing calendars
• Top communication via email and phone, internally and with customers
• Ability to lead and manage a team is a plus
• Proven ability to prioritize tasks
• Perfectionist, superb attention to detail
• Since this is a virtual position, must be self-motivated, a self-starter, and ability to work independently with minimal oversight
• Must be comfortable developing and working in a virtual relationship and having limited amount of “face-time”

If interested, please apply here

Sourcing Updates from China and India

I had calls with sourcing agents on the ground in China this week and it seems that there are COVID outbreaks happening in parts of China including Ningbo Port. As you know, Chinese New Year is coming up in less than a month so, I recommend you stay vigilant in monitoring your deliveries and also check with your shipping partners to anticipate any delays especially with the port of Ningbo affected by COVID.

India Sourcing updates: According to my conversation with a contact on the ground in Mumbai, India, there has been a tremendous spike in COVID cases recently in the country. As of right now, manufacturing has not yet been affected, but next few days would be critical to see how India can manage the effects of the next waves of the pandemic. If you are sourcing from India, I recommend you proactively contact your suppliers to see how they are doing and to anticipate any delays.

It seems that as of the first week of 2022, one of the key themes of being a successful ecommerce seller is resiliency. This means finding ways to adapt, survive, and thrive in the face of adversity. 

Nearly 600 Amazon Packages supposed to be delivered on Christmas were found dumped in Oklahoma

Over 500 Amazon packages were found dumped in Oklahoma amidst New Year’s Eve. According to Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office, the packages were supposed to be delivered on Christmas.

The sheriff’s office added, “Someone had removed the items they wanted and discarded the rest. If you’re missing a package, please don’t call us. We are working with the USPS and have reached out to Amazon, so someone should contact you soon.”

An Amazon spokesperson confirmed that they are closely working with the sheriff’s office to deliver the overdue packages and find the culprit of the cargo theft.

Truckers Desperate to Find Drivers to Deliver Goods

The global pandemic is undeniably one of the factors that skyrocketed eCommerce sales. As more and more consumers prefer online shopping, rather than going to physical stores, the industry is facing a new challenge, a shortage of truck drivers.

American Trucking Association estimates an 80,000 truck driver shortage in the United States. Additionally, about 72 percent of America’s freight transport is dependent on truckers. This just shows how consumers and businesses across the country rely on truckers to deliver products. This issue is not just prevalent in the US, but also in the European Union and China.

Jean-Paul Rodrigue, an expert in transportation, logistics, and freight distribution at Hofstra University said that “The pandemic has opened up Pandora’s box on so many issues.” On top of the disruptions in the global supply chain, truck driver shortage adds up to the delays in transporting products and orders.

Top 10 Videos of 2021

As a special gift to you, here are the top 10 Videos we made in 2021. If you’d like to be the first to know once we release a new video, you can subscribe here. 

Here are the top 10 videos of 2021 to help you build, scale, and exit your 7 Figure business.

1) How to find a profitable product idea away from the crowds to sell on Amazon FBA and online – 7 Figure Case Study Episode 1 – https://youtu.be/yeEYQitekE0 

2) How to Source from Mexico Amazon FBA and Ecommerce Products with Susana Bermudez – https://youtu.be/SI7uv_d8znY 

3) 5 Game-Changing Opportunities with Amazon PPC with Ritu Java – https://youtu.be/U1qwcwrvzho 

4) How to find the best suppliers on Alibaba in the shortest time possible with Brett Ducker – https://youtu.be/o6Dvr22syFA 

5) Sell $30-100K+ in pre-orders before ordering inventory with Vance Lee – https://youtu.be/dNKilTj5AwU 

6) How to come up with more Amazon FBA product ideas when you’re STUCK – 7 Figure Case Study Ep 2 – https://youtu.be/d_FmB9flEzY 

7) “How I sold over $1.3mil in pre-orders BEFORE spending $1 on inventory” with Vance Lee – https://youtu.be/T-3mO3YozOg 

8) Deep Dive Amazon Keyword Research and Creating an optimized Amazon Listing – Karyn Thomas Helium 10 – https://youtu.be/7CgPuxevF48 

9) How to research Amazon FBA and Ecommerce product ideas – 7 Figure Case Study Ep 3 – https://youtu.be/q1kOqniulXU 

10) Deep Dive into Amazon FBA Product Research: Shortlisting Product Ideas – 7 Figure Case Study Ep 4 – https://youtu.be/XhdHPzw-ql8 

7 Figure Case Study

Great news, 7-Figure Case Study will be resuming next week, after our holiday break. On next week’s 7FCS Episode 7, we will be seeing the results of contacting suppliers on Alibaba.

Don’t miss any of the 7 Figure Case study episodes by subscribing here.

Stay tuned and talk soon!

In case you missed it:

• Product Compliance made easy with Amazon’s New Manage Your Compliance Dashboard
• New ‘The American Innovation and Choice Online Act’ to ban self-preferencing practices of Ecommerce
• Chinese New Year may disrupt the global supply chain as smaller shippers in China suspend services for the holidays earlier than usual
• 2022 Sourcing Best Practices – 8020 Sourcing x Helium 10 Collaboration
• 7FSS was voted your Favorite Amazon Conference of 2021!

Thank you for all your support in 2021, we had a great year. Not only did we launch 7 Figure Seller Summit 4 and 5, but we also won the Favorite Amazon Event in Seller Poll for the second year in a row, thanks to your support! 

In addition, we’re building up our 7FSS youtube channel which you can subscribe to here.

So, as a special gift to you, here are the top 10 Videos we made in 2021. If you’d like to be the first to know once we release a new video, you can subscribe here. 

TLDR 

Here are the top 10 videos of 2021 to help you build, scale, and exit your 7 Figure business.

1) How to find a profitable product idea away from the crowds to sell on Amazon FBA and online – 7 Figure Case Study Episode 1 – https://youtu.be/yeEYQitekE0 

2) How to Source from Mexico Amazon FBA and Ecommerce Products with Susana Bermudez – https://youtu.be/SI7uv_d8znY 

3) 5 Game-Changing Opportunities with Amazon PPC with Ritu Java – https://youtu.be/U1qwcwrvzho 

4) How to find the best suppliers on Alibaba in the shortest time possible with Brett Ducker – https://youtu.be/o6Dvr22syFA 

5) Sell $30-100K+ in pre-orders before ordering inventory with Vance Lee – https://youtu.be/dNKilTj5AwU 

6) How to come up with more Amazon FBA product ideas when you’re STUCK – 7 Figure Case Study Ep 2 – https://youtu.be/d_FmB9flEzY 

7) “How I sold over $1.3mil in pre-orders BEFORE spending $1 on inventory” with Vance Lee – https://youtu.be/T-3mO3YozOg 

8) Deep Dive Amazon Keyword Research and Creating an optimized Amazon Listing – Karyn Thomas Helium 10 – https://youtu.be/7CgPuxevF48 

9) How to research Amazon FBA and Ecommerce product ideas – 7 Figure Case Study Ep 3 – https://youtu.be/q1kOqniulXU 

10) Deep Dive into Amazon FBA Product Research: Shortlisting Product Ideas – 7 Figure Case Study Ep 4 – https://youtu.be/XhdHPzw-ql8 

Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel, as we’re launching new live training, 7 Figure Case Study 2022 and 80/20 of Ecommerce newsletters.

Subscribe here and make sure you don’t miss anything.

Top 10 Videos of 2021:

1) How to find a profitable product idea away from the crowds to sell on Amazon FBA and online – 7 Figure Case Study Episode 1 – https://youtu.be/yeEYQitekE0

The start of it all, the first episode of the 7 Figure Case study. I created this brand new YouTube series and took you behind the scenes of building a 7-figure e-commerce business from scratch.

Finding a profitable product idea can easily get overwhelming, with the thousands of options and competitions. However, I’m here to help you get through it. In this episode, I shared with you how I effectively find and choose profitable products away from the crowds.

In this episode I covered:

• What you will learn from the 7 Figure Case Study
• How I’m selecting my products away from the crowds
• How I capture my product ideas
• What NOT to do when selecting products: common mistakes
• How much money I’m budgeting for my 1st product

2) How to Source from Mexico Amazon FBA and Ecommerce Products with Susana Bermudez – https://youtu.be/SI7uv_d8znY

Is Mexico the New “China”?

Given the Perfect Storm of supply chain challenges, not only ecommerce sellers but the whole world is facing now, supply chain experts are now reconsidering sourcing from places other than China and Asia.

China is without a doubt dominates the manufacturing and supply chain, however, there may be pockets of opportunities in Latin American countries such as Mexico that you should consider to cut down on costs and shipping times.

In this video, Susana Bermudez from Manufacture Suppliers gave a special training to Discover Mexico Sourcing. 

In this training, you will learn:

• Why Mexico?
• Know Your Product: Examples of products you can source from Mexico
• Overview of Labor skill level and Costs
• Logistics, Transportation Costs, and Delivery Times
• Trade and Tariffs: Much lower than China

3) 5 Game-Changing Opportunities with Amazon PPC with Ritu Java – https://youtu.be/U1qwcwrvzho

Amazon PPC has become highly competitive and specialized. With new features rolling out every month, sellers are finding it hard to keep up with all that there is to know and try. 

With over 30+ different choices for ad creation, which ones should you focus on? Unfortunately, too many sellers end up losing out, because of a lack of knowledge about the intricacies of Amazon advertising. 

In this training, Ritu Java, CEO of PPC Ninja highlighted the opportunities for scaling with Amazon Advertising and how smart sellers are succeeding at the game.

In this training, you will learn how to:

• Mimic the big fish
• Ride on competitor success
• Diversify to maximize visibility
• Train the algorithm
• Leverage the data

4) How to find the best suppliers on Alibaba in the shortest time possible with Brett Ducker – https://youtu.be/o6Dvr22syFA

In the sourcing world, one of the untold secrets is that the money is made in the BUYING (not just the selling).  

Many of you have told me that you’re struggling to find quality manufacturers (not trading companies), not knowing which suppliers to trust, and the whole communication and vetting process.  

In this training, I invited Brett Ducker from Alibaba to teach you “How to find the best suppliers in the shortest time possible”

In this free 60 min training, you will learn:

• What is an RFQ and how it will help save you time when created properly
• What should buyers expect when sourcing with RFQs?
• When is the best time to send an RFQ? 
• What should buyers expect when sourcing with RFQs?
• How should buyers compare RFQ responses?
• How to deal with language barriers and cultural differences when sourcing overseas

5) Sell $30-100K+ in pre-orders before ordering inventory with Vance Lee – https://youtu.be/dNKilTj5AwU

Cash flow is one of the biggest (yet least obvious) barriers to growing your ecom business. Did you know that pre-orders are a unique strategy that increases cash flow?

That’s why I’m excited to bring on Vance Lee, an Amazon seller who learned to leverage a unique launch strategy: pre-orders. His most recent product used this process to sell $218,497 of pre-orders in 16 days BEFORE placing the first manufacturing order.

In this training, you’ll learn:

• How to eliminate launch risk with the little-known (yet highly effective!) strategy that allows you to sell $30-100K of pre-orders BEFORE investing $1 in inventory.
• How to step-by-step execute a launch with only a prototype and how you can be profitable and cash flow positive immediately at launch
• How to build a list of ready-to-buy customers who will support your next launch and the growth of your brand
• How you can build the foundations for a sustainable and diversified multi-channel brand that isn’t only at the mercy of Amazon

6) How to come up with more Amazon FBA product ideas when you’re STUCK – 7 Figure Case Study Ep 2 – https://youtu.be/d_FmB9flEzY

After coming up with about 80 product ideas I got stuck.  I was short of my goal of 100 product ideas by the end of week 1.  

I implemented the “BEFORE AND AFTER strategy” to come up with over 20 additional product ideas using the products I already had on my list… in just a few minutes (no tools required).  

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• Recap from Week 1
• Status report – Review total product ideas
• The SECRET to coming up with Good Ideas
• How to get “unstuck”: Ways to come up with more ideas
• Live walkthrough 

7) “How I sold over $1.3mil in pre-orders BEFORE spending $1 on inventory” with Vance Lee – https://youtu.be/T-3mO3YozOg

Ecommerce is a very cash-intensive business. Many of us have tens of thousands of dollars (if not more) tied up in inventory.

​​However, there’s another way where you can pre-sell your inventory before placing one dollar in purchase orders from the factory. That’s why I invited Vance Lee to show you how.​

Now living the digital nomad lifestyle, Vance Lee has come so far since he started his Amazon career in 2015. His shift from a brand & marketing career to becoming an ecommerce entrepreneur has forever changed his life after he mastered crowdfunding to launch products and grow brands. 

Today, Vance is on a mission to share this little-known launch strategy with other ecom entrepreneurs who want to build and scale their ecom business through crowdfunding.

8) Deep Dive Amazon Keyword Research and Creating an optimized Amazon Listing – Karyn Thomas Helium 10 – https://youtu.be/7CgPuxevF48

Optimizing your product listing is one of the most important things you should do as an Amazon seller. Having great product selection is not enough to engage clients and increase traction.

In this 67 min training, Karyn Thomas from Helium 10 provided a masterclass of everything you should learn about keyword research strategies that work.

In this training you will learn:

• How to Find the Top Keywords your competitors are ranking on
• Ways to find which keywords are easier to rank for 
• Long-tail keywords – what’s the minimum search volume you should consider
• How to rank for a product that doesn’t exist yet
• Where to spend time in Keyword Research to get the most ROI
• What to put in a Product Listing Title
• What to put Backend Search Terms 
• Why the Subject Matter field is so important

9) How to research Amazon FBA and Ecommerce product ideas – 7 Figure Case Study Ep 3 – https://youtu.be/q1kOqniulXU

In this episode, I elaborated on Product Research and Validation to narrow down the list of products.  

In my walkthrough, you will look over my shoulder to see the tools I use, the products I choose, and the ones I REJECT so we don’t go down the wrong path on the journey to 7 Figures.

Here’s what you will learn:

• Look at tools to validate product ideas
• Market Gaps = Opportunities
• Red Flags – Goldilocks Rule
• Goal = Finding a Product that is JUST RIGHT
• Live Walkthrough
• Shortlisting Products

10) Deep Dive into Amazon FBA Product Research: Shortlisting Product Ideas – 7 Figure Case Study Ep 4 – https://youtu.be/XhdHPzw-ql8

Coming up with product ideas is the start, but even more important is shortlisting that long list of product ideas into potential products we can pull the trigger on. 

Honestly, going over hundreds of product ideas was not easy. I encountered challenges along the way, but I pushed through and came up with top products that I consider pulling the trigger. In this video, I presented which ones I took a pass on and why.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• How I overcame a challenging a week
• GOAL: Go From Longlist to Shortlist
• Live walkthrough Review of Shortlisted products
• Next steps: Make a decision

If this was helpful to you, I highly recommend you subscribe to our YouTube Channel, so you don’t miss any other videos. 

You can subscribe for free here.

In 2022 in our YouTube Channel we will focus on 

• The 7 Figure Case study which is a transparent over-the-shoulder look as I’m creating a new eCommerce business  scratch and I will leave no stone unturned.
• Live trainings on PPC, Growing, Scaling, and exiting your businesses 
• 80/2 of Ecommerce weekly video newsletter 

Wishing you a safe and successful 2022!

-Gary

Amazon will drop Inventory Performance Index (IPI) score to 400 (previously 450) on January 1st

Amazon will update the Inventory Performance Index (IPI) score required to have unlimited storage volume at FBA warehouses. Effective January 1st, the required 450 IPI score will drop to 400 IPI score.

The announcement is great news for Amazon sellers as this will also reduce the effort spent to improve IPI scores. However, there will still be restocking limits based on your inventory sell-thru rates and this can still limit the volume of inventory you send to FBA warehouses.

Amazon warehouse workers in New York refiled union petition on Wednesday

Amazon workers who seek to unionize four Amazon facilities in New York filed a petition again on Wednesday.

The group failed to comply with enough signatures on their first attempt at filing for unionization. This week, the workers, headed by Chris Smalls, filed the petition and brought all the necessary paperwork with them. Smalls said that he’s protesting Amazon’s incompetent response and policies with regard to Covid-19.

The U.S. National Labor Relations Board is said to review union cards in the coming days.
Meanwhile, an Amazon spokesperson added, “Our focus remains on listening directly to our employees and continuously improving on their behalf.”

2022 Sourcing Best Practices – 8020 Sourcing x Helium 10 Collaboration

2021 has been a rewarding, but tough year for eCommerce especially from the sourcing side. Recently, I’ve been invited to give a four-part video training series about 2022 sourcing and best practices with Helium 10.

I wanted to personally invite you to view these four training videos because I believe they can help you prepare your supply chain and sourcing for a successful 2022.

In this four-part video series, you will learn:
– Chinese New Year 2022: What to know and plan for
– 2022 Sourcing Best Practices
– 2022 China, Mexico, and India Sourcing Opportunities (and Risks)!
– Supply Chain Perfect Storm: What to do as an Ecom Seller?

Watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZhJ7LRjHHEXYiqaQwObTOeN5PDpWcTkw

As a special bonus, I also put together a ‘2022 Best Sourcing Practices’ cheat sheet so you can implement them right away. Make sure to watch until the end to get the bonus.

Leave a comment below the videos what your #1 takeaway and I will make sure to check and include them in our weekly newsletter.

Thank you!

How to Put Together the Perfect RFQ to Contact Suppliers on Alibaba – 7 Figure Case Study Episode 6

Did you watch Episode 6 of the 7 Figure Case Study where I shared with you how to put together the perfect RFQ template to contact suppliers in Alibaba?

One of the keys to eCommerce success is having trustworthy partners. Just like you, at first, I struggled with finding suppliers that can meet my requirements and give me the best deal.

Thankfully, the RFQ template I shared in my video saved me tons of time and money.

Check out episode 6 of the 7 Figure Case study to know how to find the best suppliers in Alibaba using RFQ.

We covered:
– How I’m going to contact suppliers
– Product: Wooden cutting board set
– Where to contact suppliers
– Putting together a Request for Quotation
– RFQ Template
– Walkthrough of contacting suppliers

This week, 7 Figure Case Study will be taking time off to celebrate the holidays. But don’t worry, we’ll be back in no time after the holidays.

In the meantime, enjoy episode 6 and please leave your comments, so I can highlight them on to the next 7FCS episode. https://youtu.be/dCly9sYCUfs

If you haven’t seen it yet, what are you waiting for? Here’s the link: https://youtu.be/dCly9sYCUfs

Wishing everyone joyous holidays!

In case you missed it:

• Amazon faces investigation after tornado strikes Illinois warehouse and left six people dead
• Retailers Expect to process billions worth of returns Post-holidays
• [Replay] How to Out Optimize your Competitor’s Product Listings to Dominate your Niche
• 2022 Sourcing Best Practices – 8020 Sourcing x Helium 10 Collaboration
• How to Put Together the Perfect RFQ to Contact Suppliers on Alibaba – 7 Figure Case Study Episode 6

Have a great and joyous holiday!

-Gary

As the whole world is facing the Perfect Storm of supply chain challenges, ecommerce sellers and supply chain experts are now considering sourcing from places other than China and Asia.

If you’re selling in the US, you know very well how shipping from China today is a struggle – most shipments take up to 73 days before they arrive in the US. With Q4 finally here, having an alternative sourcing outlet in closer countries like in Latin America is a great opportunity to cut down significantly on your shipping costs and delivery times.

Together, let’s discover Mexico sourcing and how it can be a great sourcing alternative for ecommerce sellers.

Why Mexico?

Trade and Tariffs

Did you know that about 90 percent of products imported from Mexico to the US have ZERO duties and tariffs?

This means that you can immediately save 25% in tariffs and additional duties if you’re currently sourcing from China. 

The United States has free trade agreements in force with 20 countries and nine of these countries are from Latin America which is significantly closer to the US. (México, Costa Rica, Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Peru)

Among these countries, Mexico has the biggest opportunity to be an alternative sourcing outlet for business owners considering its manufacturing growth since the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was introduced in 1994. Additionally, México is one of the counties with more international trade.

How to Source from Mexico Amazon FBA and Ecommerce Products with Susana Bermudez

Quality

Many big companies such as Ford, Abercrombie & Fitch, Fender, and GMC are manufacturing from Mexico for their cost-effectiveness and quality. Over 160 countries globally are consuming products from Mexico. 

Ensuring quality control from the country is easy since it is backed by the government. If you were dissatisfied with products or services from Mexico, you can file a complaint to the Federal Agency of Consumer Affairs (Procuraduría Federal del Consumidor, PROFECO). The government entity is responsible for quality control and consumer affairs, which is highly beneficial on your end.

Logistics: Save Time and Money

All products can be transported by land, so the cost is much cheaper compared to China. 

If we look at the map, this is simple geography. If you’re selling in the US, and if you look at China on a map, it is halfway across the world. And as we learned, it’s now taking 73 days to ship something from China to the US by sea – which is very long.

However, if we look back at the map, you can see that there are a number of countries much closer to the US than China. For example Mexico and other Latin American countries.

Costs can depend on your agreement with your supplier, roughly it costs $2000 dollars to transfer a 53’ tractor-trailer from Mexico to the US.

Lead times are also very short. On average, shipments from a manufacturer to the border can only take hours or days to a week, depending on your products.

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Inventory Management

Manufacturing from México has a huge advantage in Inventory management as suppliers can hold products for you, and relieve you from managing obsolete inventories. 

For example, you will procure a thousand units in total, you can have your suppliers send you 200 units weekly to prevent overcrowding your warehouse. Delays are not an issue as lead times can only take hours or days.

Downsides

Just like any other sourcing country, Mexico also has its fair share of downsides or risks. You might encounter limited product options, language barriers, and slow responses from suppliers. However, these downsides are all part of the process, you don’t get anything so easily without putting the needed effort to make it work. 

To mitigate these risks, it is important that you actively communicate with your suppliers and ensure that all your requests are understood on their end. 

Keep Calm and Know Your Product

It is important that as a seller, you understand your own products so you can effectively communicate the quality, and specifications to your suppliers. Take responsibility for negotiations and prioritize active communication instead of blaming suppliers for issues faced in the process.

You have a lot of options for products that you can source from Mexico. Typical ones are medical equipment, cotton, clothing, textiles, toys, home decor, supplements, packaging, and more.

Conclusion

Opportunities and challenges in sourcing are not exclusive to a certain country or supplier. In the case of Mexico, language can be the biggest challenge of sourcing, however, many suppliers now are communicating in English, so it isn’t that much of a problem for business owners.

Finding alternatives in sourcing is vital given the perfect storm in the supply chain. Stay on top of the game, by exploring closer countries such as Mexico to ensure a profitable ecommerce business.