There’s never been a company more revolutionary for retail than Amazon. In the past few decades it has upended the retail industry and created a market that is both easy to access and impossibly difficult to compete with.
Amazon has taken the traditional retail sales model and has infused it with cut-throat efficiency and razor thin margins, which has helped it cut through the competition and set itself up as the undisputed leader of online retail.
If you’ve decided to start selling your products on this global platform, here’s what you need to know:
1. Vendor Central Vs. Seller Central
Depending on how you want to position your product in the Amazon market, you may have to make a choice between Vendor Central or Seller Central. Seller central is different in that it allows you to sell as a third-party vendor which means you retain more control over prices. The Vendor Central system is for sellers looking to position themselves as first party vendors and gain from Amazon’s marketing efforts to push products.
2. Selling Is Easy
Amazon isn’t just a run-of-the-mill ecommerce site. It’s completely unique. Right now, it’s the undisputed king of retail. Hundreds of billions of dollars worth of goods are sold through the platform every year. If you’re trying to sell anything, this platform is your best bet. Luckily, the selling process is not as difficult as it first appears. The Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) service really makes it much easier to become a retailer. For a small fee, the tech giant will take care of the entire customer fulfillment process. All you have to do is ship.
3. It’s Never Too Late to Start
Amazon is a crowded marketplace with all sorts of retailers. It may seem saturated right now, but there’s still a lot of potential for growth. There are nearly 200 million products listed on the US site alone and the platform receives 183 million monthly visitors. There’s enough space for a multitude of retailers who can sell unique goods online and invest in some digital marketing to help push their products.
4. Amazon Policies
If you’re going to sell on Amazon, you need to dig deep and understand how the company works. Understand delivery and FBA policies before you list. Make sure you know how the Buy Box works. Pay attention to the product detail page rules, shipping policies, policies and agreements, selling policies, and prohibited seller activities and actions.
Pick the right category to list in for maximum success. Usually, custom goods, unique items, hobby tools, and refurbished products do well on the platform.
5. The Future
Amazon will relinquish selling to third parties down the line as this is more profitable and efficient for them anyway. The company has already made a platform that spans the globe and now it wants to get involved in every aspect of retail imaginable. For third party sellers, this is good news.
It’s a great time to start selling on Amazon. This company has gone from a niche bookseller to the largest retailer on the planet in less than 25 years. There’s no reason to doubt its ambitions now. By setting up shop, you’re claiming your piece of the digital future of retail.
