The DealNews Seller's Guide

Were the Best Products to Sell Online Different in November 2020 vs. November 2019?

We go over the items that were popular with DealNews readers in both November 2020 and 2019, giving you a broad look at the best items to sell this November. Plus, we talk about the two big sales opportunities you won't want to miss this month.

With 2020 being... 2020, we thought it would help to look at which items trended with DealNews readers in both November of that year and in November 2019. That way you can see how the two months differed, and get a broader view of what to sell in November 2021. We're also going to talk about the month's big sales opportunities: Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

 

So how did November 2019 and November 2020 compare? Let's begin with a rundown of products that were popular with our readers in November 2019.

First up are household supplies; lots of these items trended with our readers a few Novembers ago. They included gallon-size storage bags, tall kitchen trash bags, toilet paper, toilet bowl cleaner, dishwasher detergent pods, liquid laundry detergent, Clorox disinfecting wipes, scrub sponges, and batteries.

 

Also popular were health items, such as caramel-flavored protein shakes and sheer bandages.

 

Our readers gravitated toward personal care products, too. Among them were men's disposable razors, skin-healing ointment, dental picks, and electric toothbrushes.

 

Another popular category in November 2019 was small electronics, such as streaming sticks, smart speakers and displays, Bluetooth earbuds, and Apple AirPods Pro.

 

Packaged food and drinks resonated with our readers, as well. These included Milano and Danish butter cookies, nut bars, pistachios, 2-packs of creamy peanut butter, watermelon-flavored mineral water, and unsweetened green tea.

November 2019 was apparently a big month for pet treats, too. These ranged from chicken-flavored dog treats and beef-flavored sausage links for dogs, to dental dog treats and chicken-flavored cat treats.

 

The final category on our November 2019 list is tools and home improvement products. Popular products included smart garage hubs, WD-40 lubricant, insulating foam sealant, bit holders, and cutting wheels.

 

During both November 2019 and November 2020, readers gravitated toward Clorox disinfecting wipes and Lysol toilet bowl cleaner.

Streaming stick products and earbuds were also popular during both months. Earbuds often make our "what to sell" lists, but streaming sticks don't, indicating that November could be the best time of year to sell these devices.

 

As for the differences between the two months?

Phone accessories, home products, automotive items, and clothing and computer accessories all seemed to hold more sway among our readers in November 2020 than they did in November 2019. Readers also seemed more drawn to health items in 2020 — perhaps due to the pandemic. We also noticed more lighting products trending last November, compared to two Novembers ago.

 

November 2019 had its own winners, though, namely packaged drinks and pet treats. 

DealNews readers also appeared to gravitate toward more household supplies that month, especially batteries.

 

We'll end today by talking about two huge sales opportunities in November: Black Friday and Cyber Monday.

These two shopping holidays may be the two biggest sales opportunities of the year for Marketplace sellers, and in 2021 they fall on November 26th and November 29th, respectively. Have you begun preparing for Black Friday and Cyber Monday? Now is the time to start if you haven't. Be aware, too, that Black Friday deals show up pretty much anytime in November now, so you don't have to limit your promotions to those two days.

 

Around Black Friday 2020, DealNews readers seemed to be drawn to items like Apple products, toys, and small and large appliances. Apple products were popular around Black Friday 2019, as well, in addition to smart home devices; flash drives and memory cards; kids' coats and jackets; and board, table, and card games.

 

Be sure to subscribe so you'll never miss a new episode. If you want to learn how you can turbocharge your Marketplace revenue and gain access to the exclusive DealNews traffic network, head to advertise.DealNews.com, or send an email to advertise@DealNews.com.

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5 MORE Items to Sell Online in November 2021 (Plus 3 Things to Sell Later)

We looked at DealNews shopping trends from last November and want to share our findings. That way, you'll know about the best products to list in November 2021 — and which items may be better to sell later.

November is a huge month for shopping, thanks to Black Friday and Cyber Monday. You'll want to make the most of it! That's why we're going to go over five of the best products to sell online in November 2021, plus three products that might be better to sell later.

 

First on our list of things to sell in November is clothing accessories.

Consider these items if you're looking for a small product to sell. Last November, DealNews readers gravitated toward accessories like neck gaiters and men's bifold wallets. There's a good chance people purchased neck gaiters as a face mask option, as they can double up as a mask and neck warmer during colder months. People may be seeking out neck gaiters again this November if COVID-19 cases remain high.

 

The next type of product we'll talk about is small electronics.

Electronics are a big deal around Black Friday, and sellers may benefit from selling smaller ones. Earbuds and in-ear headphones trended with DealNews readers last November, ranging from low-cost wireless earbuds to Apple AirPods Pro. Also popular were indoor digital TV antennas and a variety of streaming sticks. Should you decide to sell these items, though, just remember that recent floods in China and Europe are impacting supply chains. According to CNBC reporting, "some of the worst-hit industries from the floods include autos, technology and electronics."

 

Another item you may want to sell in November is computer accessories.

Items that go with computers and tablets may be worth listing if last year's shopping trends repeat themselves. In November 2020, readers gravitated toward products such as tablet stands, 256-gigabyte memory cards, and blue-light-blocking glasses.

 

People will likely gravitate toward tools and home improvement products, as well, should you decide to sell them in November.

We recommend selling tools and home improvement supplies often, but the best items to sell in the category can vary from month to month. For November, consider listing lighting products like LED ceiling lights and flashlights, solar-powered outdoor torch lights, and computer monitor lights, which were all popular with DealNews readers in November 2020. Other trending items that month included 18-foot aluminum ladders, cordless 7-tool combo kits, cordless screwdrivers, and face shields.

 

Wrapping up our list of things to sell this November is packaged food.

Packaged food is another product category that frequently lands on our "what to sell" lists. Last November, readers gravitated toward Sriracha-flavored almonds and 250-piece bags of chocolate Halloween candy, likely snagged as a post-holiday deal.

 

November may seem like the best month to sell everything, thanks to Black Friday and Cyber Monday. But after examining the shopping trends of our readers, we determined that certain items may be more appealing a few months down the road.

 

Let's go over a few products you might want to list later.

 

First you have kitchen items, which we recommend selling in December.

Consider listing kitchen products after Thanksgiving instead of before. Popular items in December 2020 included spatula sets and garlic presses.

 

Next up are bathroom products, and we suggest listing those in January.

The new year may bring extra motivation to complete bathroom renovation projects. In January 2021, readers gravitated toward toilet paper rollers, bathroom hardware sets, hair catchers, and toilet repair kits.

 

The final products we'll talk about today are beach and camping items. Think about selling those in January instead of November.

Perhaps the cold days of January make people dream of warm-weather vacations. This past January, trending products included portable folding stools to bring on fishing and camping trips, as well as pop-up tents for babies.

 

Be sure to subscribe so you'll never miss a new episode. If you want to learn how you can turbocharge your Marketplace revenue and gain access to the exclusive DealNews traffic network, head to advertise.DealNews.com, or send an email to advertise@DealNews.com.

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6 of the Best Items to Sell Online in November 2021

Black Friday and Cyber Monday make November one of the biggest shopping months of the year. So what should Marketplace sellers know about this month? ​​​We looked at which items were most popular with DealNews readers last November, so you'll know what to sell in November 2021.

November will be here before you know it, and with it the shopping bonanza brought on by Black Friday and Cyber Monday. According to Adobe, consumers spent 10-point-8 billion dollars online last Cyber Monday, which turned out to be the biggest online shopping day in U.S. history. Black Friday 2020 raked in 9 billion dollars online, making it the second-biggest online spending day ever in the U.S.

Do you want to reap the rewards of these November shopping holidays — and succeed that month in general? Then it helps to know what to sell in November. We examined DealNews shopping trends from November 2020 to give Marketplace sellers an idea of the best items to sell this year. We'll talk about six of those items today.

 

Let's begin with household supplies.

It's hard to go wrong with items people need to buy over and over.  

 

You could also have good luck with a broad range of health items this November.

Last year, readers gravitated toward first-aid products like Neosporin, wellness devices like massage guns and digital bathroom scales, and over-the-counter medications like cough drops. Pulse oximeters and digital thermometers were also popular, but their appeal this year could hinge on how widespread COVID-19 and flu cases are come November.

 

Another type of product to consider selling in November is phone accessories.

According to eMarketer, the average amount of time U.S. adults spent with their mobile devices reached 4 hours and 16 minutes per day in 2020, a jump of 31 minutes from 2019. Charging products should only grow more popular as people spend more time on their devices. In November 2020, items that appealed to DealNews readers included portable solar power banks and dual-port USB wall plugs. Three-packs of iPhone screen protectors were another popular phone accessory.

 

The fourth category on our "what to sell" list is personal care products.

Hair removal seemed to be on the minds of many DealNews readers last November. Among the popular personal care products that month were nose hair trimmers, along with 6-packs of shave gel for sensitive skin. Readers also went for cocoa-butter bath bars.

 

Next on our list is home products.

Colder weather can bring dry air, which in turn can lead to respiratory problems. Humidifiers can combat that dry air, so we weren't surprised to see them as a trending item in November 2020. Other home products to consider selling this month are Command replacement strips and flexible door stops.

 

The final type of product we'll talk about today is automotive items.

According to Edmunds, October through December are the months that tend to see the largest car discounts. And people purchasing cars in November may be buying items that go with them. Automotive products that appealed to DealNews readers in November 2020 included 2-packs of silicone license plate frames, as well as windshield-cleaning tools with microfiber cloths. Just be aware that 2021 isn't a typical year for the auto industry, as computer-chip shortages are affecting vehicle production, prices, and selection.

 

Be sure to subscribe so you'll never miss a new episode. If you want to learn how you can turbocharge your Marketplace revenue and gain access to the exclusive DealNews traffic network, head to advertise.DealNews.com, or send an email to advertise@DealNews.com.

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6 Ways to Deal With Supply Chain Issues

Businesses are still facing upheavals and recovering from interruptions brought on by the pandemic. But how can Marketplace sellers deal with supply chain issues now? We offer tips that can help your business cope.

DealNews last visited the potential for supply chain issues and how to prepare for them in March 2020, at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The world of 2021 feels like an entirely different place. And most consumers have newfound compassion and understanding for what businesses are going through, but it doesn't mitigate the loss of income or sleep for many business owners.

 

Dealing with supply chain challenges has become par for the course in many sellers' cases. But why? What's causing these extreme complications both globally and domestically? And what can you as a Marketplace seller do to stay afloat despite them? Let's talk about six ways to deal with supply chain issues in 2021.

 

First, make sure you monitor inventory closely.

According to the Council of Economic Advisers, domestic supply chain shortages and interruptions are largely due to rapid fluctuations in supply and demand. Inventory-to-sales ratios rocketed up at the beginning of the pandemic when businesses couldn't sell their merchandise. The pendulum has swung in the opposite direction at this point, however. Now businesses can't keep enough merchandise in stock. For example, in February 2020 retailers carried 43 days' worth of inventory on average. Today the average hovers around 33 days' worth.

 

Another way to work around supply chain challenges is to stock up strategically.

Low inventory is only one of the problems wreaking havoc on supply chains. A growing demand has caused prices to increase, leaving some struggling businesses behind. Factories are still playing catch-up after closures during COVID-19 surges, meanwhile. What's more, shipping container shortages and limited air freight capacity are slowing down shipping and lending themselves to 2021's supply chain challenges.

Your best bet is to be cautious about purchasing too much inventory or waiting for your stock to dwindle too low. Keep a reasonable amount on hand, as long as you have the ability to do so, and you should be able to weather some supply chain issues.

 

Our third recommendation today is to beware of smaller staffs. Yes, we're talking about the labor shortage.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 9-point-3 million jobs had opened up by the end of April. But numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that only 51 percent of Americans are fully vaccinated. Add that to the ongoing fears of COVID-19 and the ending of certain government benefits, and it makes sense that the job market is unstable. Many American workers are questioning what they want from a job, and businesses across industries are reporting difficulties in staffing as a result.

 

These labor shortages can result in a myriad of issues at every stage of the supply chain. Retailers may find it harder to put physical stock on shelves, due to a lack of workers available to do so. And manufacturers may have trouble filling orders — not because the products aren't there, but because they don't have the physical labor required to do the job. These are important factors to keep in mind when managing your own inventory, as they could delay receiving replenishments.

 

So what else can Marketplace sellers do to protect their businesses and manage these supply chain issues, especially with the holiday season looming? Lessons from Amazon Prime Day 2021 might be the best indicator of how to move forward. 

What have successful sellers learned during a time when supply chain failures can threaten everything?

What we now know is that businesses that had planned far ahead seemed best prepared for this June event. And planning far in advance may be necessary now. Shortly before Prime Day 2021, CNBC reported that more than two-thirds of the National Retail Federation's members said they'd had to add two to three weeks to their supply chains.

 

Do your margins not allow for that added 3-week buffer? Then consider reevaluating your inventory, and swapping pricier inventory for less expensive items. 

For example, toy manufacturers have been anticipating shortages for months. Take the time now to map out your timeline and a solid plan of action on how to deal with these potential shortages, and adjust your inventory as needed.

 

Our last tip is to consider reaching out to additional vendors for some of the more popular items, as well as finding alternative merchandise to pad your inventory. 

 

The holidays are ahead, so don't let global supply chain interruptions halt your business flow. Preparing now means being able to give yourself a chance to meet these challenges head on.

And if all else fails? Call the North Pole. Maybe Santa can help.

 

Be sure to subscribe so you'll never miss a new episode. If you want to learn how you can turbocharge your Marketplace revenue and gain access to the exclusive DealNews traffic network, head to advertise.DealNews.com, or send an email to advertise@DealNews.com.

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Were the Best Things to Sell Online Different in October 2020 vs. October 2019?

We look at which items were popular with DealNews readers in both October 2020 and 2019, so you can get a broad view of the best items to sell this fall. Plus, we go over October's holiday sales opportunities.

Remember that long-gone, pandemic-free year of 2019? We examined the shopping trends among DealNews readers from October of that year and compared them with the trends from October 2020, so you'll have a broad idea of what to sell this fall. We'll also talk about the big October holidays, and if sellers should do anything to prepare for them.

 

First, let's go over several products that were popular with our readers in October 2019.

 

We'll start with household and health items. Among the trending products were kitchen trash bags, 3-packs of sandwich bags, liquid laundry detergent, cold and sinus medication, and blue vinyl gloves.

 

Home improvement supplies also resonated with our readers. These are things like insulating foam sealant, downspout extensions, reusable twist ties, color-changing strip lights, solar lights, string lights, spray paint, and garage storage items.

 

Another popular item that October was packaged food. Readers gravitated toward microwavable instant noodles, cookie and Halloween candy bar variety packs, packages of almonds, and tins of Danish butter cookies.

 

Next on our list is clothing basics, like women's low-cut socks and wool socks, men's V-neck T-shirts, and men's sweaters.

 

Readers went for tools in October 2019, as well. These included clamps, wire cup brushes, mini LED flashlights, reciprocating saw blades, tire inflators, and power tools.

 

Home cleaning products also made our list, and they ranged from dryer vent cleaner kits and grout brushes, to dish squeegees and grease remover.

Yet another item that was popular a few Octobers ago is personal care products. These include 6-packs of toothpaste, 3-packs of men's antiperspirant and deodorant, beauty bars for sensitive skin, men's disposable razors, and daily moisturizing lotion.

 

No. 8 on our list is phone accessories like 3-in-1 USB charging cables, power banks, 2-packs of wireless chargers, magnetic car mounts, and USB-C wall chargers.

 

And then you have lawn and patio items. Our readers gravitated toward things such as fall lawn food, crabgrass-prevention products, and barbecue smoking chips.

 

The final trending item from October 2019 is automotive products. These include car air fresheners, fuel system cleaners, microfiber towels, car battery testers, and LED light bars.

 

The top 3 types of items DealNews readers went for during October of 2019 and 2020 were home improvement supplies, packaged food, and household and health items. This is no surprise, as household and home improvement items tend to hit the top 3 frequently, like they did in September and August.

 

We did see differences between the two months, though. In October 2020, kitchen supplies, audio products, and computer-related items appeared to be more popular than they were in October 2019. Clothing basics, lawn and patio items, and automotive products seemed to hold more sway in October 2019 vs. October 2020.

 

Let's move on to another October topic now, and that's holidays.

 

October brings both Halloween and Columbus Day — now Indigenous Peoples Day in many areas. What should sellers do about these holidays?

 

Many retailers have abandoned Columbus Day sales, no doubt due to the controversy surrounding the holiday. But some retailers do still hold shopping events during this mid-October holiday weekend. Are you wanting to sneak in a promotion before Black Friday season rolls around? These holidays present an opportunity to do so.

 

As for Halloween? Don't miss out on this holiday if you sell costumes or candy! And start preparing if you haven't already, as lists of 2021 costume ideas and the best Halloween candy are already coming out. Halloween items that were popular with our readers in October 2020 and 2019 include bulk party bags of Hershey's Nuggets Halloween candy, 250-piece mixed bags of Mars chocolate candy, rubber-spider prank boxes, inflatable dinosaur costumes, and LED costume masks.

Be sure to subscribe so you'll never miss a new episode. If you want to learn how you can turbocharge your Marketplace revenue and gain access to the exclusive DealNews traffic network, head to advertise.DealNews.com, or send an email to advertise@DealNews.com.

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The 11 Best Things to Sell Online in October 2021

Planning what to sell this October could be a tricky venture, but we're here to help! We give you a big-picture idea of the best products to list in October, from Halloween candy to home improvement items.​

Planning what to sell in October 2021 could be a tricky venture. Last year Amazon's Prime Day event occurred in mid-October, but this year it was held in June. Plus, Marketplace sellers will likely have supply chain issues to deal with this October, not to mention the delta variant of the coronavirus — or perhaps another variant altogether.

 

So we don't blame you if you're wracking your brain about what items are worth listing this October. But we're here to help! We looked at the most popular items with DealNews readers in October 2020, which should give you an idea of the best items to sell in October 2021. We'll also talk about whether you should wait until the holiday season before you sell toys, or if it's worth listing them in October instead.

 

Let's begin by going over the 11 best products to sell online in October 2021.

 

We dove into the DealNews archives and came up with a variety of items that resonated with our readers in October 2020. They could be worth selling again this October, given their popularity last year. So what are these products, exactly?

 

First up are home improvement supplies. We're talking items like garage hubs, painter's caulk, duplex outlets, color-changing strip lights, outdoor solar lights, expandable garden hoses, and water-tight cord locks.

 

Packaged food is next on our list of items. Consider selling things like Halloween candy, bags of pistachios and almonds, snack variety packs, and 12-packs of ramen noodle soup.

 

Household and health items are another type of product that was popular with our readers last October. They include drain clog remover, liquid laundry detergent, dishwasher detergent tablets, sleep masks, and heating pads.

You might also want to sell home products, which can really run the gamut. These could include hanging wall storage items, rugs, craft glue, floor and desk lamps, automatic soap dispensers, dryer vent cleaner kits, and personal neck fans.

 

Kitchen items resonated with our readers in October 2020, as well, and they ranged from cleavers and measuring cups to OXO and KitchenAid tools.

 

Grooming and personal care products made our list, too, including deodorant bar soap, back scrubbers, hair clippers, body lotion, and toothpaste for sensitive teeth.

 

Number 7 on our list is audio products, such as on-ear wireless headphones, gaming headsets, and wireless earbuds.

 

Number 8, meanwhile, is phone accessories like USB wall chargers, car phone mounts, clear iPhone cases, and iPhone charging cables.

 

Computer-related items are another thing to look into this October. You might want to list dry-erase desktop computer pads, tablet stands, webcams, memory cards, and USB flash drives.

 

Don't forget about tools either. In 2020, our readers gravitated toward items like circuit breaker finders, Bosch tools, folding pocket knives, and bit holders.

 

Last on our list of items to consider selling is office supplies. You could have good luck with silver permanent markers, printer paper, double-sided tape, and 3-packs of scissors.

 

Another item that's worth a second look in October is toys. 

 

Supply chain challenges across many sectors are already throwing a wrench into fourth quarter plans, and we know that toy sales are a big part of the winter holiday season. The question is whether you should wait until November and December to list kids' toys, or go ahead and start in October.

 

DealNews readers gravitated toward toys and games more in November and December 2020 than they did in October of last year. Popular items included unicorn plush toys, motorized train sets, card games, LEGO car sets, remote-control dinosaurs, and construction vehicles sets. We wouldn't be surprised to see these types of products resonate with our readers again this year.

 

The issue is timing. In 2021, winter gift-giving holidays like Hanukkah and Christmas will fall during the last two months of the year, as always, so customers will definitely be buying during those two months. But higher costs and competition for shipping containers, not to mention delays, could make inventory harder and pricier to get.

 

According to Forbes, "The container shortage will mean hot toys will sell out faster, and retailers may not be able to restock them in December, as they have in past years." In fact, a toy company CEO quoted in that Forbes article recommended that consumers do their shopping before Thanksgiving if they want toys. So there's an argument for listing them in October and not waiting until November, if you're able to secure the toys you want to sell by then.

 

Whether you decide to get a head start or wait, you'll want to start your holiday prep early this year!

Be sure to subscribe so you'll never miss a new episode. If you want to learn how you can turbocharge your Marketplace revenue and gain access to the exclusive DealNews traffic network, head to advertise.DealNews.com, or send an email to advertise@DealNews.com.

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What You Should Know About Creating Amazon Coupons

Amazon brought coupons to Seller Central in 2017, but these aren't your grandmother’s coupons. We go over how to create coupons on Amazon, and the pros and cons of doing so.

In this episode we’ll give you the lowdown about how sellers can create coupons on Amazon. What steps do you need to take, and what are the pros and cons of Amazon coupons?

 

According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the original 1822 meaning of the word coupon was "certificate of interest due on a bond," or a piece that could be cut from a bond and presented for payment. Coupons later became something people cut out of newspapers and magazines for discounts. The first coupon is believed to have been a ticket for a free glass of Coca-Cola, and was offered in the late 1880s.

 

Amazon brought coupons to Seller Central near the end of 2017, likely as a way to boost sales and motivate sellers. But these aren't your grandmother's coupons. And they aren't your ordinary promotional codes either. So what should Marketplace sellers know about how to create coupons on Amazon Seller Central?

 

Learning how to create Amazon seller coupons is actually pretty easy, and setting them up requires only a few steps. Let's go over them now.

 

The first step to take is to log into your Amazon seller account.

Then click on "Advertising," followed by the word "Coupons" in the drop-down menu. An intro page should appear for first-timers with some basic information, including a video that will help to walk you through the process. Follow the steps up to "submit your coupon"; then Amazon will review the coupon before it goes live.

 

The next thing to do is decide on coupon limitations.

Amazon allows you to limit the number of coupon redemptions per customer. Alternatively, you may allow the same customer to use your Amazon coupon multiple times. You can also target customers by specifying Amazon Prime customers only, or select for any buyer at all on a given Amazon seller coupon. You must also decide how long a coupon will be available — anywhere between one and 90 days.

 

Another step to take before creating your first Amazon seller coupons is to set your budget. 

Decide in advance what your budget is going to be and make sure you set it. Amazon will deactivate your coupon as soon as that limit has been reached, so you won't have to worry much about going over budget, though that could still happen. According to Amazon Seller Central, they'll actually take your coupon offline once your budget has been 80 percent utilized.

 

Make sure you decide how many items you want discounted, too.

You can use either ASINs or SKU numbers to create coupons. And according to Amazon Seller Central, you can enter up to 200 parent ASINs to run a coupon on.

 

The final step you'll want to take is selecting your discount type.

You're able to discount an amount of money off a product, or a percentage. According to experts, either is attractive to buyers, and which to use may depend on the price point of the item you wish to discount. Consider this: five dollars off and 25 percent off a 20-dollar item is an identical amount, but buyers might perceive 25 percent as a greater discount. Therefore, they'll be more likely to shop the item with those savings rather than a simple 5 bucks off.

 

Now you know how to create Amazon coupons, so let's move on to what's good and bad about them.

First we'll go over the pros of creating coupons.

The biggest benefit of using Amazon seller coupons is the visibility they can achieve for your products. One extra advantage is that Amazon seller coupons are discoverable on the platform. A green banner calling out each coupon shows up next to listings on Amazon search result pages. And a coupon will appear in your listing with an orange icon that helps your product to stand out.

 

Amazon also features items discounted with coupons in their Today's Deals section. Additionally, coupons are shown to improve customer conversion rates — or the number of sales you net per page visit.

 

So what's the catch with Amazon coupons? 

Well, first of all, Amazon charges 60 cents per redeemed coupon, so that can cut into your profits if you aren't careful. And according to Amazon Seller Central, sellers can only offer discounts based on an item's lowest listed price over the last 30 days. And don't forget that Amazon can modify or cancel coupons at any time.

 

Make sure you've considered how coupons might eat into your profits, especially since there's no guarantee a customer will return to your Amazon Marketplace shop and buy that item again at full price.

 

Amazon seller coupons are another promotional opportunity for your Amazon store. Understand your profit margins before you begin in order to make the most of them.

 

Be sure to subscribe so you'll never miss a new episode. If you want to learn how you can turbocharge your Marketplace revenue and gain access to the exclusive DealNews traffic network, head to advertise.DealNews.com, or send an email to advertise@DealNews.com.

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Were the Best Things to Sell Online Different in September 2020 vs. September 2019

We look at the items that were popular with DealNews readers in both September 2020 and 2019, giving you a broad view of the best items to sell this September. Plus, we go over a sales opportunity you won't want to miss this month.

Wondering what products are actually worth selling this September? 2020 was a wacky year, so we decided to examine DealNews shopping trends from both September 2020 and September 2019. That way, you can get a big-picture view of what to list when September 2021 rolls around.

 

So how did September 2019 and September 2020 compare? Let's begin by looking at a selection of products that were popular with readers in September 2019.

First up are household items like glass cleaners, toilet paper, solid air fresheners, baking soda, and 20-packs of double-A and triple-A batteries.

 

Grocery items also trended with our readers in September 2019, and included smoked snack sticks, watermelon-flavored carbonated mineral water, microwavable macaroni and cheese, microwavable lentil entrees, and mixed nuts.

 

You also had home improvement products like silicone sealant, water putty, painter's tape, paint roller frames, square LED bulbs, and air filters.

 

Dental and personal care products were popular that month, too. Examples included crème brûlée-flavored lip balm, eyebrow tweezers, shampoo and conditioner bottles, spring water-scented deodorant soap, and whitening toothpaste.

 

Another trending category in September 2019 was home items, like drill brush attachments, refillable moisture absorbers, 12-inch wooden rulers, battery storage cases, 12-piece sets of latching boxes, and cotton towels and washcloths.

 

Phone accessories resonated with readers, too. They included USB-C to USB-A charging cables, splitters, car mounts for phones, and clear iPhone cases.

 

Also popular? Grilling, lawn, and garden products like fall lawn food, grass seed, sets of gardening hand tools, and barbecue smoking chips.

 

Readers gravitated toward electronic components and audio products, as well, like wireless Bluetooth earbuds, surge protectors, and 4-outlet smart plugs.

 

Computer accessories were also trending that September. You had USB flash drives, 128-gigabyte memory cards, 32-gigabyte microSD cards, WiFi range extenders, and USB-C to USB 3-point-0 adapters.

 

Then there were automotive items like microfiber towels, lithium grease, parking mats, razor blade scrapers, and UV protectant spray.

 

Our last trending category was men's clothes, including sport coats, blazers, dress pants, slim-fit shirts, sweaters, and 3-packs of cotton T-shirts.

 

A few products trended in both September 2019 and September 2020, such as painter's tape and barbecue smoking chips. Those could be safe bets for 2021, as well.

 

As for differences between the two years? Tools and home improvement items were both significantly more popular in September 2020 than September 2019. That makes sense, given the DIY trend during the pandemic. In 2019, meanwhile, phone accessories and automotive items seem to hold more appeal than they did in 2020.

 

Before we end for today, let's talk about a big promotional opportunity that shows up in September, and that's Labor Day Sales.

Labor Day falls on September 6 in 2021, and if you haven't started thinking about whether you want to offer coupons, discounts, or other promotions for the holiday, now's the time to get moving.

 

Wondering which types of items to discount? In September 2020, our readers gravitated toward Labor Day sales offering items like appliances, mattresses, tools, furniture, clothes, and home and garden products.

 

Be sure to subscribe so you'll never miss a new episode. If you want to learn how you can turbocharge your Marketplace revenue and gain access to the exclusive DealNews traffic network, head to advertise.DealNews.com, or send an email to advertise@DealNews.com.

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5 MORE Items to Sell Online in September 2021 (And 3 Things to Sell Later)

We looked at which items resonated most with our readers last September and want to share what we found. That way, you'll know about the best items to list in September 2021 — and which products are better to list during a different month.

What do garden products, grilling items, and groceries have in common? They're all things you might want to sell come September! 

 

We looked at which items resonated most with our readers last September and want to share what we found, so you'll know what's worth listing in September 2021 — and which products are better to list during a different month.

 

The first thing we recommend selling in September is garden, lawn, and grilling products.

September is a sweet spot in some parts of the U.S.; it's still warm enough to spend time outdoors, but the temperatures don't get overwhelmingly high. That makes it an ideal time for listing grilling, lawn, and garden products. Among the items DealNews readers gravitated toward last September were sprinklers that rotate 360 degrees; grass-care products like a combination mulch, seed, and fertilizer; 50-foot garden hoses; garden hose spray nozzles; and rainwater collection systems. As for grilling supplies? Readers went for grill mats and barbecue smoking chips.

 

Next on our September selling list is headphones.

Who doesn't need a pair of headphones these days, whether to tune out noise during the workday, make phone calls, or listen to music during workouts? Consider listing wired on-ear headphones, Bluetooth 5-point-0 wireless earbuds with charging cases, Apple AirPods Pro, and even Bluetooth sleeping headphones. These audio products trended with our readers last September.

 

Another tech-related product that could be good to sell in September is computer accessories.

In September 2020, popular items included USB WiFi adapters, 3-packs of USB-C to USB-A charging cables, 1080p webcams with microphones, and audio-video capture cards.

 

Grocery items may also be worth selling in September.

Many consumers did their grocery shopping online during the pandemic, and you don't have to worry about all of them going back to in-store shopping. According to a recent study by Coresight Research, about "60 percent of online grocery shoppers plan to buy groceries online more frequently or at the same frequency as during the crisis."

 

So which grocery items are worth selling this September? Last year, items that resonated with our readers ranged from instant-coffee packets and variety packs of Doritos chips, to containers of popcorn kernels, squeeze bottles of honey, and packs of s'mores-flavored granola bars.

 

The final category on our list of things to sell is clothes and accessories.

 

Are you hoping to sell apparel and accessories in September? Then you may want to go with men's basics and sporty brands. Last September, popular items with DealNews readers included 5-packs of boxer briefs in assorted colors, 5-packs of men's crew T-shirts, leather bifold wallets, Reebok shoes and apparel, and Under Armour apparel.

 

Sometimes knowing what's not worth selling during a given month is just as important as knowing what is. So let's spend some time talking about what you might not want to list online in September 2021.

 

One item that may be more popular among our readers in future months is kitchen products.

Wait until October and beyond, and you may have better luck selling kitchen items. In October 2020, 7-inch cleavers and 2-point-5-cup measuring cups were trending; in November 2020, electric kettles and garlic presses were popular.

 

Next up are toys, which we recommend selling in November, December, and April.

Consider waiting till the holiday season to list kids' toys — or even until next spring. During those months, readers have gone for items like card games, LEGO sets, toy cars, portable gaming consoles, and Nerf blasters.

 

Another category that could bring you success during the springtime is health-related and personal care appliances.

Consider selling these in March. Items that were popular in March 2021 included electric razors, blood pressure monitors, toothbrushes, massage guns, and back-stretching devices.

 

Be sure to subscribe so you'll never miss a new episode. If you want to learn how you can turbocharge your Marketplace revenue and gain access to the exclusive DealNews traffic network, head to advertise.DealNews.com, or send an email to advertise@DealNews.com.

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5 of the Best Items to Sell Online in September 2021

September marks the transition from summer to fall, but what should Marketplace sellers know about this month? ​​​ We examined DealNews shopping trends and learned which items were most popular with our readers last September, so you'll know what to sell in September 2021.

Welcome to the DealNews Seller's Guide. Today we’ll discuss five of the top items to sell online in September 2021. What products resonated with DealNews readers last September, and will they be popular again this year?

 

September marks the transition from summer to fall, from warm lazy days to the hustle and bustle of the new school year. But what should Marketplace sellers know about this month, and more importantly, what to sell during it?

 

To answer that question, we examined the shopping trends of DealNews readers in September 2020. So let's dive into five of the best products to sell online this September.

 

First up are home improvement products.

Much has been said about the DIY surge that's happened during the coronavirus pandemic, so we weren't surprised to see home improvement was the most popular product category among DealNews readers last September. And it doesn't look like the trend is going to end anytime soon.

 

According to Kermit Baker at Harvard's Joint Center for Housing Studies, "in the short term, many homeowners who deferred projects — both large and small — in 2020 are expected to complete those renovations once the pandemic is over. … Additionally, there has been an upturn in homeownership as younger households look to purchase homes, the number of multigenerational households has been growing, and remote work has given people more locational flexibility and the desire to modify their homes."

So which home improvement items are worth selling, exactly? Last September, items that resonated with DealNews readers included tubes of painter's caulk; 15-amp, 125-volt electrical outlets; rolls of 1.88-inch multi-surface painter's tape; ¾-inch electrical tape; LED garage lights; toilet repair kits; and flat-panel air filters.

 

Another type of product to sell in September is health and household items.

Refillable household items seem to have lasting appeal among our readers. In September 2020, trending products included toilet bowl cleaners, basil-scented hand soap refills, dishwasher detergent pods, 13-gallon tall kitchen trash bags, and packages of 40 double-A Batteries.

 

You might have good luck with allergy relief products this month, too. Among the health products readers gravitated toward last September were 100-counts of antihistamine tablets. That's making us wonder if lots of our readers have ragweed allergies! According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, "the most common culprit for fall allergies is ragweed...In many areas of the country, ragweed pollen levels are highest in early to mid-September."

 

Like household items, dental and personal care products are purchased over and over again, and they also made our list of things to sell in September.

They may be ideal for sellers wanting to list items that rake in steady sales. In September 2021, consider selling bars of antibacterial deodorant soap, rosemary lavender-scented deodorant, 2-packs of "satin" dental floss, packages of waxed dental floss, and nail clippers with curved blades. All of these items resonated with DealNews readers last September.

 

Let's move on now to the fourth item on our list, which is home items.

Home products make our "what to sell" lists month after month, but the category is broad and always includes a hodgepodge of items. In September 2020, popular home products included 8-piece sets of interlocking storage bins, ideal for the junk drawer; dryer vent cleaner kits; matte acrylic paint; and 12-inch hybrid queen mattresses.

 

Our readers also went for 2020 Christmas ornaments, whose designs came complete with toilet paper, masks, and hand sanitizer. But we'd be really surprised if those were also popular in 2021!

 

The final item we'll recommend today is tools.

What do people need to complete all those home improvement projects they have planned? Tools! And you may reap the benefits from selling tools of all types in September. In 2020, trending items included DeWalt tools and accessories, PVC flagging tape, LED flashlights, 22-foot multi-position ladders, and safety glasses.

 

Be sure to subscribe so you'll never miss a new episode. If you want to learn how you can turbocharge your Marketplace revenue and gain access to the exclusive DealNews traffic network, head to advertise.DealNews.com, or send an email to advertise@DealNews.com.

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How Marketplace Sellers Can Start Preparing for Black Friday

Black Friday is months away, but that doesn't mean you should wait to prepare! We offer several tips for getting your business ready for this big shopping holiday.Today we’ll talk about ways Marketplace sellers can start preparing for Black Friday. How can setting milestones and optimizing product listings get your business ready for this shopping holiday?

 

Black Friday means increased traffic to your online store, and that can bring added stress if you haven't adequately prepared. The coronavirus pandemic is still a big concern for many consumers, too, so you can expect e-commerce to win big and possibly exceed the sales figures of brick-and-mortar entities.

 

That's all to say that the time to start getting ready for Black Friday is now. Let's go over some ways to begin preparing for the shopping holiday, which will help ensure your Black Friday sale goes off without a hitch.

 

First, start getting everything in place.

It's not enough to start planning your Black Friday advertising campaigns early. You'll also want to have everything you need in place for the actual sale. Develop a spreadsheet now with sales projections and check your inventory levels. If you don't have enough products on hand, coordinate with suppliers now to avoid shipping delays and shortages.

 

The second thing you'll want to do is set milestones for different tasks.

Rolling out a Black Friday sale involves several phases: planning, ad development, presale, execution, and post-sale. Ideally, you want to list out what needs to be done at each phase, including setting deadlines and delegating if necessary.

 

Make sure you fine-tune your tech, too.

Revamp your website now to make sure it's e-commerce-friendly and easy to view on mobile devices. Also back it up just in case your site crashes on Black Friday! And be mindful that site speed is everything — consumers likely won't stick around if your website is slow. They'll just shop with a competitor. Also, your checkout process should be seamless. Run a few test transactions to confirm everything is running smoothly, and don't forget to test out your coupon codes.

Another step to take is to optimize product and service listings for maximum exposure and likability. 

Additionally, consider getting help from an SEO expert to optimize your site's visibility. A copywriter can lend a helping hand, too, if you're struggling with crafting clever product descriptions. Also, use verbiage that will get your customers to move, like "get this item while supplies last," "limited quantity only," or "X items left."

 

Plan to get your promotions going ahead of Black Friday, as well.

It can be tempting to wait until Black Friday itself to launch your deals. However, it pays to roll out the promotions ahead of the holiday for the early birds who want to get a head start on shopping.

 

Remember to make your promotions no-brainers for shoppers, too.

The idea is to have potential customers visit your site and not think twice about making a purchase because they're getting an amazing deal.

 

Finally, use free marketing tools.

Paid ads aren't the only way to get the word out about your Black Friday sale. Be sure to leverage social media and use email blasts to showcase deals to your followers and subscribers.

 

So what's the bottom line for Black Friday?

Give your business the best shot at boosting revenue this upcoming holiday season by planning ahead. Start brainstorming now for ways to create ads that convert, and don't forget to map out the logistics for the actual sale. And if it's too much to handle? Then consider hiring a professional digital marketing agency to do the work for you.

 

Do you want to learn more about Walmart Fulfillment Services and Fulfillment by Amazon? You can get info on WFS at marketplace.walmart.com, and FBA info is available at sell.amazon.com.

Be sure to subscribe so you'll never miss a new episode. If you want to learn how you can turbocharge your Marketplace revenue and gain access to the exclusive DealNews traffic network, head to advertise.DealNews.com, or send an email to advertise@DealNews.com.

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5 Reasons Why You Should Think About Your Black Friday Campaigns Now

Get ahead of the advertising game! If you haven't given much thought to your Black Friday ad campaigns, now's the time to start. We go over five reasons why early prep can pay off.

Black Friday will be here in a few months. You can expect consumers to be parked at their computers or on their mobile devices during this big shopping day, eagerly awaiting the opportunity to score the best deals.

Have you given much thought yet to your Black Friday advertising campaigns? Now's the time to start if you haven't. Let's go over the reasons why.

 

First of all, you can save money.

Ad placement can be relatively pricey if you're in a saturated niche. So the sooner you can bid on specific keywords and audiences, the better. That's unless you want to spend a fortune after you've waited too long and the competition is fierce.

 

The second reason to begin planning now is that you'll get ahead of the competition.

Some marketplace sellers wait until the last minute to create ad campaigns for Black Friday, and they may or may not get results. But the gamble isn't worth it.

In fact, the earlier you start planning, the quicker you can get your ads in front of prospective customers. Then they can add you to their list of stores to check out when they finalize their shopping lists.

 

Another reason for early prepping is that you can conduct market research to identify trends.

It's challenging to analyze consumer behavior and gauge which products garner the most attention without an effective ad campaign. Ideally, you want to start showcasing the products you plan to discount during Black Friday ahead of time. That way you'll be able to determine which ones consumers are most interested in. Also, it's important to monitor competitor activity in order to identify what's trending and what's not.

 

Use the information gathered from your market research to select the best deals for your target audience. Doing this in advance gives you ample time to cultivate the perfect Black Friday ad strategy and product lineup.

 

Working on your Black Friday campaigns now also means you'll have time to test out different ads.

Innovation takes time — it's not always an easy feat to construct the perfect ad right away. You may also need time to figure out the best platforms to run your ads. One ad probably won't cut it; you likely need an entire multiplatform campaign to give yourself the best chance at succeeding. Also consider using retargeted ads to reach existing customers and let them know about your upcoming Black Friday deals.

 

The final reason to start thinking about your campaigns now is that you'll be able to adjust your strategy.

The reality is some ads will convert, and others won't. Start early, though, and you can return to the drawing board if needed and pivot until you get the traction you're looking for. You could also uncover new Black Friday campaign ideas that you hadn't thought of before.

 

Be sure to subscribe so you'll never miss a new episode. If you want to learn how you can turbocharge your Marketplace revenue and gain access to the exclusive DealNews traffic network, head to advertise.DealNews.com, or send an email to advertise@DealNews.com.

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Walmart Fulfillment Services vs: Fulfillment by Amazon: How Do They Compare?

WFS is an emerging program from the nation's largest retailer. But how does it compare with Amazon's FBA service? Learn what each program provides in terms of pricing, product size requirements, and other factors.

Welcome to the DealNews Seller's Guide. Today we’ll be looking at Walmart Fulfillment Services and Fulfillment by Amazon. How do these two programs compare in terms of pricing, product size requirements, and other factors?

The Walmart Fulfillment Services program features a streamlined system that makes it easy to get your items in front of millions of customers. And rapid shipping, simple returns, and accessible customer care representatives are a few of the benefits your customers will enjoy.

 

But how does WFS compare to the Fulfillment by Amazon program, which is available to Amazon Marketplace sellers and better known as FBA? Let's look at what both of these offerings provide.

 

First of all, do these programs have easy qualification criteria?

The answer for both is yes. FBA also offers extra perks, including a sponsored ads campaign and free monthly storage on select products for first-time users.

 

And what are the product size requirements?

Maximum product dimensions for WFS are 25 inches by 20 inches by 14 inches, and products are limited to 30 pounds. FBA requirements are determined by product size tier, and there are more flexible weight and dimension limits.

 

Be aware that both programs give you an account management dashboard, but do they both have the same pricing and storage fees? 

Not exactly. Walmart has no monthly subscription fee. Instead there's a fixed monthly storage fee, and fulfillment price is based on shipping weight. Amazon charges about 40 bucks a month, plus selling fees, for the Professional plan. Their monthly storage fee is determined by the daily average volume in cubic feet. And the fulfillment price is based on shipping weight.

 

Inventory management is another important factor to know about.

It can be tracked on user-friendly dashboards if you have WFS. For FBA users, it's handled through a user-specific portal.

 

Let's move on now to return policies.

Walmart customers get 90 days for returns in-store, by mail, or via a scheduled home pickup. Amazon offers 30 days for returns by mail, and 90 days for select baby items in new, unopened condition.

 

Now what about shipping?

WFS provides 2-day shipping, and with FBA it's free 2-day shipping with Amazon Prime. FBA also provides free shipping for all Amazon customers on eligible orders.

 

Then there's customer support.

Walmart offers personal advisors to help out Marketplace sellers. And Amazon has a free service available day and night by phone or email, though a processing fee applies for returns in select categories.

 

Finally, know that coverage for both WFS and FBA is nationwide.

 

Now we've covered the nitty-gritty details of the programs, so let's talk about how sellers can benefit from Walmart Fulfillment specifically.

Sellers can get higher profit margins from increased exposure, and delegate pesky duties so they have more free time to market their business and scale up operations. Payments are made biweekly, and you can track sales activity and generate summary reports directly from the Seller Center dashboard.

 

Customers enjoy expedited shipping with 2-day delivery and the convenience of ordering from the comfort of their homes. There are also call center associates standing by to help your customers with shipping, refunds, return-related issues, and other general inquiries.

 

Do you want to learn more about Walmart Fulfillment Services and Fulfillment by Amazon? You can get info on WFS at marketplace.walmart.com, and FBA info is available at sell.amazon.com.

 

Be sure to subscribe so you'll never miss a new episode. If you want to learn how you can turbocharge your Marketplace revenue and gain access to the exclusive DealNews traffic network, head to advertise.DealNews.com, or send an email to advertise@DealNews.com.

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What Should Sellers Know About Walmart Fulfillment Services?

It's easy to get started, and the program can be a good way to increase your sales without having to spend a fortune. We go over the benefits of WFS, what it costs, and who it's a good fit for.

Walmart Fulfillment Services is an emerging program offered by the nation's largest retailer. WFS provides affordable solutions to brands that rely on e-commerce to help their business flourish, and is also a viable option for brick-and-mortar businesses that want to tap into the world of online marketplaces.

 

We'll go over the important details of this program, and whether Walmart fulfillment might be a good option for your business.

SEE ALSO: 5 Reasons for Selling on the Walmart Marketplace

 

So why should you consider using WFS to bring your product to the online marketplace? 

The program can potentially boost your sales, but it also offers an assortment of perks to Marketplace sellers, including customer service that entails packing, shipping, rapid delivery, and easy returns. You get straightforward pricing, plus user-friendly dashboards to track inventory, orders, and shipments. There are also built-in tools to help elevate search rankings for your products. Another perk is the dedicated call center support specialists to answer your questions or address your concerns, and finally, WFS offers detailed product listings to help increase conversions.

 

It's easy to get up and running with the platform. Once you're approved as a Marketplace seller, mail your inventory to a Walmart fulfillment center and their team will handle the rest. This allows you to focus on making sales and growing your business.

 

Now the benefits that WFS offers sellers may be appealing, but the competitive pricing structure also makes this service stand out.

There are no fees to get started with the program, and you won't be hit with monthly subscription dues to use the platform. Instead, sellers are assessed a fixed monthly storage rate, and the Walmart fulfillment price is based on shipping weight.

 

So who should use WFS, exactly?

WFS is ideal for independent sellers who offer products that are simple to pack and ship, and are seeking ways to increase their online sales without spending a fortune. It's also a good fit for e-commerce entities with high sales volumes who want to outsource the picking, packing, and shipping.

 

This low-cost solution can also help these brands identify even more prospective customers, increase brand awareness, and scale their business by attracting existing Walmart shoppers.

 

Are you interested in leveraging WFS to grow your business?

Prospective Walmart Marketplace sellers should ensure their products meet certain qualification criteria. Products must ship to Walmart fulfillment centers from a location within the United States, and no perishable or regulated items are allowed. Items must weigh no more than 30 pounds, too. Products also can't exceed dimensions of 25 inches by 20 inches by 14 inches.

 

Do you meet the eligibility guidelines and want to move forward? Then submit a request at marketplace.walmart.com/wfsinterest to learn more. A personal advisor will reach out to talk about the next steps and start the onboarding process if you're a good fit.

Already a seller on Walmart.com? Log in to your online Seller Center portal to request access to WFS. Note that approval is not guaranteed, though, as you still must meet the eligibility requirements.

 

Be sure to subscribe so you'll never miss a new episode. If you want to learn how you can turbocharge your Marketplace revenue and gain access to the exclusive DealNews traffic network, head to advertise.DealNews.com, or send an email to advertise@DealNews.com.

• Check out all the latest marketplace advice here: https://www.dealnews.com/features/marketplace/
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Related DealNews Marketplace Posts:

• 5 Reasons for Selling on the Walmart Marketplace — And 5 Reasons to Reconsider
• 9 FBA Alternatives That Amazon Sellers Should Consider
• The Best Inventory Management Software for Amazon Sellers: 6 Top Tools to Consider

3 MORE Tips for Increasing Amazon Back to School Sales

Back to School season is a marathon for Amazon Marketplace sellers, and it helps to be prepared. Learn about three more things you can do to bring in more Back to School sales on Amazon this year.

According to the National Retail Federation, households spent an average of 789 dollars on Back to School last year, with college students and their families spending even more, at an average of 1,059 dollars.

The coronavirus pandemic sent shoppers online last year, too. According to estimates from Digital Commerce 360, online sales were up by 44 percent in 2020. And consumers are clearly comfortable online shopping, because that sales boost has continued into 2021, even as lockdowns have eased. In fact, the U.S. Census Bureau has online sales up 39 percent year over year for the first quarter.

That makes this year's Back to School season potentially very lucrative for Amazon Marketplace sellers — as long as you're ready for it. Let's talk about three more things you can do to increase your Back to School sales on Amazon this year.

 

1.  Be Sure Your Product Listings Look Their Best.

You'll want to be sure your product listings are in tip-top shape before you put anything on sale. Even small improvements can have a big impact on your conversion rates, so after you've selected items for sale, you should review your product pages.

Optimize product titles. The title is the first thing shoppers see when they search for an item, so be sure your product titles highlight the major features with the right keywords to get click-throughs. Say you're selling a Bluetooth keyboard. You might list what devices it's compatible with, whether it's rechargeable, and other key selling points like portability or ergonomics. Additionally, you'll want to do a similar review of product features and descriptions to make sure you're properly highlighting your biggest selling points.

Use the best images. Check to make sure your products have high-resolution images, as well. Large pictures from multiple angles will show off your product and help shoppers feel confident it's what they want. According to Amazon Seller Central, you can have up to nine product images, so there's plenty of space to thoroughly show off your wares.

Join the Amazon Brand Registry. Finally, check to see if you're eligible for the Amazon Brand Registry. This lets you add A-plus Content to your product listings, providing you with more control over your product pages.

 

2. Pay Close Attention to Stock Levels

There's nothing that ruins a sale more than items selling out completely. Ensure you have plenty of your products available, using previous sale amounts to estimate how much inventory you'll need. Are you using Fulfillment by Amazon? Then be sure your products are properly prepped, as even a small mistake can prevent them from being stocked. And send them well in advance of your promotions so they're stocked and ready to go beforehand. What if you aren't using FBA? Then make sure you're staffed to handle promptly packing and shipping items, so they get to your customers as quickly as possible.

You can't stop paying attention to your inventory once your sales begin, though. Keep watching stock to be sure you have available product, and be ready to restock any especially hot items as needed. Back to School sales stretch out over several weeks — this is a marathon, not a sprint.

 

3. Invest in Back to School Advertising

You need to inform shoppers about your sales with a smart advertising campaign once you have your sales items picked and prepped, your stock levels set, and your product pages optimized. It's a good time to start if you're not advertising at all — and it's a good time to boost your ad spend if you are advertising. The more visible your products are, the more likely you'll be to get sales.

There are many places to advertise, but Amazon offers one particular option that's especially lucrative to its sellers: cost-per-click sponsored product placement. It'll result in your items being displayed prominently in searches, listed above the competition for high visibility. If you've put in the work to set up a great Back to School sale, these can result in a very good return on ad spend. If you already have sponsored products, it's a good time to review your budget to ensure your ads stay visible throughout Back to School season.

You shouldn't run general ads when you're advertising; your ads should specifically target Back to School shoppers instead. Make sure to include specific wording or images to show shoppers that your products are especially fit for Back to School season. And think about the audience for your products when you're crafting these ads. Are you selling to teachers or parents? College students or elementary students? Tailoring your ads specifically for your audience can help increase conversion rates and result in more sales.

There's a good chance you have products that are appropriate for Back to School sales, no matter what you're selling. So spend some time this summer reviewing your products, setting up appealing discounts, and advertising for Back to School to bring in summer profits.

Be sure to subscribe so you'll never miss a new episode. If you want to learn how you can turbocharge your Marketplace revenue and gain access to the exclusive DealNews traffic network, head to advertise.DealNews.com, or send an email to advertise@DealNews.com.

• Check out all the latest marketplace advice here: https://www.dealnews.com/features/marketplace/
• Visit our website: https://www.dealnews.com/
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Related DealNews Marketplace Posts:

• The 10 Best Items to Sell Online in August 2021
• 8 Amazon Listing Optimization Tips You May Not Have Considered
• 5 Tips for Creating a Killer Amazon Storefront

3 Tips for Increasing Amazon Back to School Sales

Back to School is a relatively long sales season that runs from late July to early September.​ We go over three ways your business can prep for Back to School and hold a successful sale.

Welcome to the DealNews Seller's Guide. Today we’ll go over three ways sellers can increase their Amazon Back to School sales. What should you do to be successful during Back to School season this year?

The school year has just let out for the summer in some places, but it's time for Amazon sellers to start prepping for Back to School season. 

Want to increase your Amazon Back to School sales in 2021? Let's go over three ways your business can prep for the upcoming school year and hold a successful sale.

1. Get the Timing Right

Back to School is a relatively long sales season that runs from late July to early September. In the U.S. it usually wraps up around Labor Day, when kids are back in classrooms. Schools don't have set return dates nationwide, as classrooms across the country begin the school year at different times; however, most students get school supply lists by August at the latest. Early shoppers may have already been hunting for bargains by then, but those who wait until the last minute could be scrambling to get supplies right as the school year begins.

SEE ALSO: 8 Amazon Listing Optimization Tips You May Not Have Considered

Aside from school start times, you can also look to state sales tax holidays to guide your own sales plans. Seventeen states offer tax free events that line up with Back to School season, and they can range from two days to a full week. These allow parents to pick up items in categories like clothing, computers, and school supplies without paying sales tax on them.

The tax breaks are generally restricted to purchases under a certain amount, but these holidays are a very appealing time for shoppers to make big purchases. And it doesn't cost you anything to benefit from these sales! If you sell products in tax free categories to people in the appropriate state during one of these holidays, they won't pay taxes on the items automatically. Amazon isn't a regional marketplace, but you'll want to be sure your sales are ready to grab people's attention when they're shopping these tax free events.

So when should you start prepping your Back to School promotions? Probably as soon as your Amazon Prime Day sales wrap up. You should also plan for your promotions to run through early September.

 

2. Be Aware of Changes for 2021

A lot of learning went online in 2020, which changed the season's typical sales patterns. According to the National Retail Federation, the year saw parents investing more heavily in home learning setups, including computers, desks, and other must-haves.

But most students are expected to return to in-person learning in 2021. In fact, The Washington Post reported that nearly half of U.S. schools were open full time before the school year ended for the summer. And even more will fully reopen in the fall, as increased vaccination rates and lowered social distancing guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention mean it's easier and safer to do so.

So Back to School sales are more likely to resemble those from 2019 than 2020 this year, with an increased focus on items needed for in-person learning. Expect backpacks and lunch bags to be in high demand, as well as furniture and decor for kitting out a college dorm room.

 

3. Gauge Which Products Will Be Back to School Bestsellers

The first thing to think about when you're prepping for Back to School is which products to sell. Fortunately, Back to School products are relatively predictable year to year — the things kids need to head to the classroom every year are pretty much the same. Here are some steps you'll want to take.

SEE ALSO: The 10 Best Items to Sell Online in August 2021

Review your sales metrics. Doing so will allow you to see what your top sellers were in previous Back to School seasons. Look for your bestselling ASINs (A-sins), as well as products with high ratings and good reviews. These products have a higher chance of ranking well in search, so offering them at sale prices is more likely to result in high conversion rates.

Investigate the competition. If you don't have enough sales data to work with or just aren't sure which products are best for Back to School, you can also check out what other retailers are promoting. Target and Walmart both already have splashy Back to School pages that show off must-have products by category and age group. These mega-retailers know what sells, and examining what they're offering can help you come up with your own Back to School sales plan.

Don't limit yourself either. The season's sales go beyond typical school supplies, so don't limit yourself to listing paper, pencils, and Back to School clothes. Cleaning supplies will be a must-have for homes and classrooms, with students coming and going every day. And these items may be even more important in 2021, as the coronavirus is still fresh in the minds of parents and teachers. Students going off to college this semester will be shopping for just about everything they need to live away from home, including furniture, decor, and personal care products.

Remember that electronics are also a major part of Back to School sales. According to the National Retail Federation, 37 percent of shoppers planned to buy laptops and 26 percent planned to buy digital accessories last year. Laptops, Chromebooks, and tablets will likely continue to be key parts of Back to School shopping in 2021. Lower-cost basic systems are more common for elementary and middle school students, while high schoolers and college students will be looking for more powerful machines. Durability is a key feature for all age groups, while portability and battery life are must-haves in college laptops.

Be sure to think about who you're marketing to when picking items to promote with Back to School sales. Do you sell electronics that don't quite fit Back to School needs? Then you probably don't want to highlight them for your event.

Consider creating bundles. Say you're selling regular school supplies. Then perhaps you could package notebooks, pens, binders, and other basics. Such bundles give you a unique product offering and appeal to time-strapped parents because they won't have to pick out items individually.

What if you're selling consumable items like printer paper or health and beauty products? Consider offering them through Amazon's Subscribe & Save program to increase long-term sales. You can set up specific discounts and coupons for Subscribe & Save to further entice shoppers.

Be sure to subscribe so you'll never miss a new episode. If you want to learn how you can turbocharge your Marketplace revenue and gain access to the exclusive DealNews traffic network, head to advertise.DealNews.com, or send an email to advertise@DealNews.com.

• Check out all the latest marketplace advice here: https://www.dealnews.com/features/marketplace/
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How Did Shopping Trends Compare in August 2019 and August 2020?

We look at the items that resonated with DealNews readers in both August 2020 and August 2019, giving you a big-picture view of the best items to sell online this August. Plus, we go over two sales opportunities to take advantage of during the month.

We can all agree that the coronavirus pandemic made 2020 an atypical year, including for shopping. So we looked at which products were most popular with DealNews readers in August 2019, and compared those with the trending items from August 2020. That way you can get a big-picture view of the best items to sell this August. We also go over the opportunities surrounding back-to-school and Labor Day sales this month.

 

Let's begin by seeing how August 2019 and August 2020 compared.

Items that trended with our readers in August 2019 included household products like toilet paper, 20-packs of triple-A batteries, glass cleaner, dishwasher cleaner tablets, lime and rust removers, brooms, and bathroom scrubber refills.

You also had home improvement items like silicone sealant, super glue, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, soap dispenser extension tube kits, and air and water filters.

 

Then there were groceries like meat snack sticks, vegetable juice, instant ramen noodles, wasabi and soy sauce-flavored almonds, and Starbucks Mocha Frappuccino drinks.

Another popular category in August 2019 was plant- and lawn-care products like Baby Groot planters, grass seed, tree wraps, and backyard bug control spray.

 

Automotive items resonated with readers, too. These included razor blade scrapers, tread depth gauges, valve tools, microfiber towels, parking mats, and wash mops with telescoping poles.

 

Charging items like wireless earbuds with a portable charging case, 10,000 and 20,000 milli-amp-hour power banks, USB-C charging cables, and seven-point-five-watt wireless charging stands were also popular.

 

Office and school supplies trended, as well, and among those were eight-tab binder dividers, 12-packs of gel pens, reusable notebooks, scissors for kids, backpacks, and divider sticky notes.

 

Then there were popular tools like bit holders, cut-off wheels, screw extractor and bolt extractor sets, pocket screwdrivers, and refurbished cordless portable power cleaners.

 

Our readers also gravitated toward home products in August 2019, like travel pillows, blankets that look like tortillas, and refurbished robot vacuum cleaners.

 

Our final trending category was personal care items like whitening toothpaste, mouthwash, travel grooming sets, two-in-one shampoo and conditioner, and scalp massagers.

 

So how did the popular items from August 2020 and August 2019 compare, exactly? Products that appeared to resonate more with readers last August included home audio products, computer and tablet accessories, and kitchen items. But in August 2019, readers seemed to gravitate toward automotive items, office and school supplies, and charging products more.

Household products were very popular during both months, as were home improvement supplies; the latter was the number-two most popular category during August 2019 and August 2020.

 

Before we end for today, let's talk about two promotional opportunities that pop up in August: back-to-school and Labor Day sales.

August is the heart of Back to School season, but what will that look like for sellers this year? In August 2020, the National Retail Federation's Katherine Cullen told NPR that "families who last year might have been looking at calculators or maybe a new smartphone... are now looking at bigger dollar items like laptops, tablets, desktops." She added that "they're also buying things that you might not expect as much — desks, lamps, headphones — a lot of new items that weren't traditionally on the school shopping list."

The prospect of long-term virtual schooling may have influenced Back to School buying last year, but this year could mark a return to traditional Back to School purchases. Consider the school supplies that were popular with readers in August 2019, such as gel pens, scissors, and backpacks. These types of items could trend once again as we look forward to a more "normal" school year in 2021.

Along with Back to School promotions, August brings the start of Labor Day sales. The holiday falls on September 6th in 2021, so you'll want to consider the discounts or coupons you might want to offer later this month or in early September. In 2019 and 2020, our readers leaned toward Labor Day sales offering items like computers, appliances, TVs, clothing, shoes, and home items.

 

Be sure to subscribe so you'll never miss a new episode. If you want to learn how you can turbocharge your Marketplace revenue and gain access to the exclusive DealNews traffic network, head to advertise.DealNews.com, or send an email to advertise@DealNews.com.

Check out all the latest marketplace advice here: https://www.dealnews.com/features/marketplace/

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5 MORE Items to Sell Online in August 2021 (And 3 Things to Sell Later)

What do garden hoses, headphones, and honey have in common? They're all items that were popular with DealNews readers in August 2020, and ones Marketplace sellers might want to list this year, too. We talk about five of the best items to sell online in August 2021.

What do garden hoses, headphones, and bottles of honey have in common? They're all items that were popular with DealNews readers in August 2020, and ones Marketplace sellers might want to list this year, too.

Let's talk about five of the best items to sell online in August 2021. Plus, we'll go over the products you might want to list during another month instead.

 

The first item that might be good to sell in August is lawn and garden products.

Hoses, especially, seemed to appeal to DealNews readers in August 2020. Among the popular hose options were 100-foot expandable garden hose sets, and expandable hoses with a 10-function spray nozzle.

Other trending items included bamboo plant stakes, liquid soil looseners, and seven-piece modular patio furniture sets.

 

Next on our list is home audio products.

Wondering what else to sell in August 2021? Then know that headphones and speakers are both worth considering. Our readers gravitated toward wired, on-ear headphones last August, along with wireless Bluetooth earbuds, portable Bluetooth speakers, and even sleep headphones. They also went for Bose products and refurbished Apple AirPods Pro.

 

Shelf-stable grocery items and snacks may also be good to sell in August, if you're up for listing food items. 

Among the popular items in August 2020 were one-pound boxes of baking soda, 8-ounce tubs of cocoa, bottles of honey, steak bite snacks, and brownie bites.

 

Let's move on to the fourth item we recommend selling, and that's computer and tablet accessories.

Computers and tablets are big purchases, but people often need smaller items that go along with these devices. And those present an opportunity for sellers.

Last August, our readers leaned toward computer and tablet accessories like stylus pens for Apple iPads, wireless mice, 10-80-p webcams with microphones, 256-gigabyte memory cards, and 32-gigabyte microSDHC cards with SD adapters.

 

The last product on our list of things to sell is kitchen items.

Apparently, DealNews readers were stocking their kitchens in August 2020. And the items that resonated with them then could also be popular this summer. Consider offering three-packs of cutting boards, compact can openers, 8-inch nonstick frying pans, two-point-five-cup measuring cups, and even vegetable choppers.

 

Are you overwhelmed by all the items that could be good to list in August?

Then take a deep breath and relax, knowing that you don't need to count the next items we're going to talk about. These products will likely be more appealing to readers a few months down the road, instead of in August.

 

First, you have boxer briefs, which we recommend selling in September.

Five-packs in medium, large, and extra-large sizes were popular in September 2020.

 

Then there's clothing accessories. We suggest listing those in November.

Accessories were big with our readers last November, and perhaps that trend will repeat this November, as well. Among the popular items were wallets, neck warmers, cotton athletic socks, and wool socks.

 

Last up are kids' toys. Consider selling these in November and December.

Unsurprisingly, DealNews readers gravitated toward kids' toys during the holiday season last year. You may have good luck with items like remote control dinosaurs, construction vehicle toy sets, train sets, and unicorn plush toys.

 

Be sure to subscribe so you'll never miss a new episode. If you want to learn how you can turbocharge your Marketplace revenue and gain access to the exclusive DealNews traffic network, head to advertise.DealNews.com, or send an email to advertise@DealNews.com.

Check out all the latest marketplace advice here: https://www.dealnews.com/features/marketplace/

Visit our website: https://www.dealnews.com/

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5 Items to Sell Online in August 2021

August brings Back to School season and the last days of summer. But what does this month mean for Marketplace sellers? We examined DealNews shopping trends and learned which items resonated most with our readers last August, so you'll know what to sell in August 2021.

Today we’ll talk about five of the best items to sell online in August 2021. What were the most popular products with DealNews readers last August, and are these items going to sell well this year?

August brings Back to School season, the beginning of Labor Day sales, and the last days of summer. But what does this month mean for Marketplace sellers?

We examined DealNews shopping trends and learned which items resonated most with our readers last August, so you'll know what to sell in August 2021. Let's go over five of the items that are worth listing.

 

First up are health and household items.

This was the most popular product category with DealNews readers last August, and we expect it to be number one this year, as well. In August 2020, trending household items included toilet bowl cleaners, scented oil plug-in kits, and plastic scrubbing pads.

As for health-related products? Our readers gravitated toward 500-milliliter containers of mouthwash, nighttime vaporizing rub, and disposable pill pouches. Those pill packs also made our list of the best items to sell online in July!

Non-contact infrared thermometers were popular last August, too, but the coronavirus pandemic likely strengthened their appeal. You've probably had your temperature taken with one of these items if you've been to a doctor's office, the dentist, or even to certain restaurants in the past year. COVID-19 restrictions are now loosening throughout the U.S., though, so we expect these thermometers to be less popular in August 2021.

 

Next on our list of things to sell in August are home improvement products.

Home improvement supplies frequently make our lists of items to sell because of their appeal with readers, and we believe that streak will continue this month. Items that resonated in August 2020 included repair kits for pesky running toilets, rolls of multi-surface painter's tape, and downspout extensions. Products for the garage were also popular, including LED garage lights and garage storage hooks.

Let's move on now to the third item on our list, which is personal care products.

Skincare and grooming products are good bets for sellers, as people go through these items on a regular basis. But which personal care products should you be selling in August?

Items that trended with DealNews readers in 2020 included cocoa butter and vitamin E bar soap, deodorant bar soap, rosemary lavender deodorant, razor holders and razor blades, and haircutting kits. The popularity of that last item may have stemmed from the need for at-home haircuts last year, so it may not hold the same appeal in 2021.

 

We're at our fourth type of item to sell in August now, and that is products for the home.

The home category continually shows up on our lists of the best items to sell online, but the products that DealNews readers gravitate toward can change from month to month. Among the popular home items last August were touchless soap dispensers, weighted blankets, remote shower cradles, and electronic keypad deadbolts.

 

The final item we'll talk about today is tools.

You could have luck selling all types of tools this August, if last year is any indication. In August 2020, items that trended with DealNews readers included 14-piece twist drill bit sets, tools for shutting off gas in case of an earthquake, safety glasses with a wraparound frame, and one-and-a-half-inch clamps. The glasses and clamps were popular during multiple other months, as well.

The popular tools didn't end there, either. Readers also gravitated toward DeWalt tools and refurbished Worx tools, 15-piece accessory tool kits, hand tools like pliers and pocket knives, and garden and outdoor power tools.

 

If you liked what you heard, be sure to subscribe so you'll never miss a new episode. If you want to learn how you can turbocharge your Marketplace revenue and gain access to the exclusive DealNews traffic network, head to advertise.DealNews.com, or send an email to advertise@DealNews.com.

Check out all the latest marketplace advice here: https://www.dealnews.com/features/marketplace/

Visit our website: https://www.dealnews.com/

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4 MORE Tips for Optimizing Your Amazon Product Listings

Crafting a successful Amazon product listing can be a tricky endeavor for sellers. We're here to help with four more tips for Amazon listing optimization, from prices to titles and beyond.

Welcome to the DealNews Seller's Guide. Today we’ll cover four more tips for optimizing your Amazon product listings. How should competition and pricing factor in when you're putting your listings together?

Maybe you're an Amazon seller who's making sales, winning the Buy Box, and already using top-tier inventory management software. But maintaining those winning ways means keeping up with the trends.

Let's make sure your listings are in top shape with these four Amazon listing optimization tips you may not have considered.

1. Keep Your Enemies Close

It's good business practice in general to study your biggest competitors. Watch their pricing, the language they use, and any other ways in which they make their product listings sparkly and eye-catching. Utilize software and other tools like price trackers to "spy" if you don't have time to hunt down each and every competitor listing yourself. Then, when you know their strategies, you can cherry-pick their best practices and adopt them for yourself. Simultaneously, you'll see where their listings can inspire you to do something different — and better — to achieve Amazon listing optimization on your own.

2. Be Specific

The best way to ensure an item will be returned is to sell someone something they find they can't use. Think of all the reasons you've personally returned products you've bought. We bet you'll agree that the No. 1 motive is that you needed an item, but the one you purchased didn't work out. Factors like measurements, weight, and voltage all matter, so you should make them clear and correct in the listing right from the start.

Your best bet for Amazon listing optimization is to put the main information at the top of your entry.

3. Put the Best Stuff First

Amazon suggests that many people who read product listings only take in the first few lines. So your best bet is to put the main information at the top of your entry. In fact, the title might be one of the most important things you write. Ensure that it's clear, accurate, and appealing to your audience. As any good writer will tell you, the job of the first line is to grab the reader's attention.

4. Price Perfectly

Pricing is an overwhelming endeavor on its own, never mind the other business practices you must be concerned with. Entire courses are offered just to teach sellers the best practices for pricing not only to sell, but also to earn. For instance, some sellers forget to factor in associated fees — the biggest offender being shipping costs. (The complicated world of shipping costs could also be covered in a course all on its own.)

Unfortunately, you can lose money quickly just by pricing your items incorrectly or inefficiently. And don't forget, Amazon takes up to 45% in sales commission. It's in your best interest to strike the perfect balance between appealing to customers and improving your bottom line, without handing over too much to Amazon itself.

Crafting the perfect listing takes some consideration, but done right and with a little luck, you'll be able to watch your sales — and income — soar.

If you liked what you heard, be sure to subscribe so you'll never miss a new episode. If you want to learn how you can turbocharge your Marketplace revenue and gain access to the exclusive DealNews traffic network, head to advertise.DealNews.com, or send an email to advertise@DealNews.com.

Check out all the latest marketplace advice here: https://www.dealnews.com/features/marketplace/

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4 Tips for Optimizing Your Amazon Product Listings

No matter how much time you take to create your Amazon listings, you may wonder if you could do more. We offer four tips for Amazon listing optimization that you may not have previously considered.​

Welcome to the DealNews Seller's Guide. Today we’ll go over four tips for optimizing your Amazon product listings. Why do keywords and language matter, and how can you make your listings as optimized as possible?

Maybe you already take a lot of time to create your Amazon listings, but as a seller, you probably always wonder if you could do more to make your products stand out. 

We're here to help with that. Let's go through four tips for optimizing your Amazon product listings that you may not have previously considered.

1. Choose Your Language Carefully

Amazon restricts the use of certain language in its listings. Ignore that, and it can affect listing optimization. Also consider that terms can actually be misunderstood by Amazon software and algorithms. In fact, one seller told DealNews that he included the phrase "pesticide-free" in his listing for tablecloths. Over the course of several months, he received pushback from Amazon, in which the company tried explaining they didn't sell pesticides in "Home & Kitchen." It took the seller a long time to be able to remedy the situation, which brings us to our second tip.

2. Get the Listing Right the First Time

It may surprise newer sellers, but changing your listing can be difficult once it goes live. Not only that, but if you are able to change the listing, the process can be time-consuming. So it's best to have the Amazon listing optimization exactly to your liking before you go live with it.

Certain terms can actually be misunderstood by Amazon software and algorithms.

Be sure to give yourself the time and space needed to edit. Double- and triple-check that you've made the product listing as clear as possible, in exactly the language you want it to have.

3. Know That Keywords Matter

Amazon has its own keyword language, and it's important to know how to make the most of it. Do what you can to make your products appear in Google searches, but even more crucial might be ensuring your keywords fling your products to the top of Amazon searches.

Use keywords that are accurate, and avoid what's known as "keyword stuffing." Basically, too many keywords sound jumbled and can affect your product listing optimization, which could then hurt your rankings. However, if you don't have enough keywords, the algorithms likely won't work in your favor. It's a balancing act to be sure, but one you can do via a little online exploration or professional help.

4. Make a Movie

It's safe to assume that most of what you write for a listing may never be read. But that doesn't mean you can skip listing vital information altogether. Obviously, the more a customer knows about what you're selling, the more likely they'll be to buy it. Even better, the more they know ahead of purchasing, the more likely they'll be to keep the item after it arrives. So consider creating a video for every listing you make!

If you liked what you heard, be sure to subscribe so you'll never miss a new episode. If you want to learn how you can turbocharge your Marketplace revenue and gain access to the exclusive DealNews traffic network, head to advertise.DealNews.com, or send an email to advertise@DealNews.com.

Check out all the latest marketplace advice here: https://www.dealnews.com/features/marketplace/

Visit our website: https://www.dealnews.com/

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5 Ways Sellers Can Prepare for Prime Day 2021

Checking inventory and optimizing listings are just a couple of the measures Amazon Marketplace sellers should take to get ready for Prime Day. Learn what else you can do to prep for this big shopping event.

Maybe you've decided on the discounts you want to run during Amazon's Prime Day event, but you don't know what else to do to get ready. We're here to help, with five ways Amazon sellers can prepare for Prime Day 2021 and make the most of the sal

 

The first step is ensuring you have adequate stock of your sale items.

Nothing ends sales more surely than an out-of-stock notice, so review your past sales performance and be sure you have enough to meet potential demand. Do you use Fulfillment by Amazon? Then pay attention to cut-off dates for getting your items stocked. Be sure you have items on hand if you use Seller Fulfilled Prime — and have the staff and supplies to ship out higher Prime Day volumes. If you aren't sure you'll be able to fulfill orders for the Prime Day rush, now's the time to consider whether it makes sense to use FBA.

 

Another thing you can do to get ready for Prime Day is to review your listings and be sure they're optimized.

This could be the most important thing to do, in fact. A better listing can help your product show up in more search results and look more appealing to shoppers when they wind up on the product page. You may think your listings are perfect, but now's the time to review them to catch any errors or see if there's room for improvement.

Let's talk about the key elements of your product pages to focus on.

 

First you have titles.

Make sure they clearly describe your products and include relevant keywords.

 

Then there are high-resolution product images.

These should meet Amazon's image requirements, which are available on Amazon Seller Central.

 

You'll also want to focus on A-plus Content.

Include extra images, charts, and more product details. Note that Amazon restricts A-plus Content availability to Professional sellers enrolled in the Amazon Brand Registry.

 

The next step of Prime Day prep is to work on improving your product reviews.

Good reviews sell products, so you want to have the best product reviews you can. Amazon has strict rules about reviews and what you can't do.

For example, you can't offer compensation for reviews, ask for positive reviews, ask reviewers to change their reviews, or get employees or family to submit positive reviews.

You need to be absolutely sure you follow these rules, because Amazon can remove your selling privileges if you try to manipulate your reviews.

But don't fret — there are things you can do to improve your product reviews.

 

You can request product reviews, for one thing.

This can bring in positive reviews from buyers who hadn't bothered to leave a review before. You can't suggest buyers leave positive reviews or offer any kind of compensation, but you can ask them to leave a review through Buyer-Seller Messaging or with the "Request a Review" button on order detail pages. There's no guarantee it'll be a positive review, but you have pretty good odds.

 

You can also address negative reviews in a polite, professional manner.

Respond publicly in a comment or privately through Buyer-Seller Messaging, offering to fix the problem. Again, you can't ask buyers to change their reviews or offer compensation for an improved review, but providing good customer service and making sure your shoppers are happy can lead to them updating their review.

 

Looking for another way to prepare for Prime Day? Consider upping your ad budget.

In addition to Lightning Deals and daily deals, you can pay for sponsored product placement that displays prominently in search results. These are cost-per-click ads, and you can expect to pay more for them during Prime Day; but they can be a big boost to product visibility and are generally a good return on ad spend. Do you already have Sponsored Products on Amazon? Then review your budget and bids to be sure your products will stay visible during Prime Day.

 

Our last Prime Day tip is to run off-Amazon promotions.

Be sure to let potential buyers know you're having a Prime Day sale by announcing it on social media channels and your mailing list, if you have one. Where you spend and how much you spend will depend on your advertising budget and marketing strategies, but your goal on Prime Day is to get the word out about your deals — which is where paid advertising can excel.

Remember that shoppers start looking for deals in the two weeks leading up to Prime Day. So you'll want to have your stock ready to go, your advertising set up, and all of your listings looking their best before the big day. Making your plans in advance is the best way to ensure Prime Day goes smoothly.

 

If you liked what you heard, be sure to subscribe so you'll never miss a new one. And if you want to learn how you can turbocharge your Marketplace revenue and gain access to the exclusive DealNews traffic network, head to advertise.DealNews.com , or send an email to advertise@DealNews.com.

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Should Sellers Prepare for Amazon Prime Day in 2021?

It's time to think about how to approach this year's Prime Day event. We go over whether preparing is worth it, the kinds of deals sellers can run, and even last-minute strategies to ensure your business sees success during the big sale.​

Today we’ll be talking about Amazon Prime Day. Should sellers prepare for this shopping event, what types of deals can you run during it, and how can you prep at the last minute?

It's time to get your business ready for the biggest sales event of the summer: Amazon Prime Day. The sale could occur in July once again this year, so Amazon sellers may have a limited amount of time to get their Prime Day plans in place.

Fortunately, we have some tips on how Amazon sellers can approach the event. Let's talk about the types of offers you can run for Prime Day, and how to prepare at the last minute.

 

But first, should sellers prepare for Amazon Prime Day at all? 

Sellers can reap sales and other rewards during Prime Day, so carving out time to prep can be worth your while. The annual Prime Day sale rivals big holiday shopping days like Black Friday and Cyber Monday for sales volume. Additionally, many major retailers offer sales during the same time to compete. The event fell later in the year in 2020, but was still a massive success for Amazon and third-party sellers alike.

Last Prime Day got delayed until October due to the coronavirus pandemic. According to estimates from Digital Commerce 360, Prime Day 2020 brought in more than 10 billion dollars in sales over a two-day period. It was only overshadowed by Cyber Monday. According to Adobe Analytics data, that shopping holiday reportedly brought in more than 10 billion dollars in a single day. And those numbers are likely to hold or even increase in 2021, considering consumers have widely shifted to online shopping as the pandemic has continued.

In short, sellers shouldn't ignore Prime Day. It's a big opportunity to bring in sales while more shoppers than ever have their eyes on Amazon. And winning those sales now could help your products earn ranking and make them more visible, leading to even more sales in the future. But you're competing with millions of other Amazon sellers who are trying to do exactly the same thing. How can you distinguish your products?

 

One way is by running deals on them for Prime Day.

It's best to prepare for Amazon Prime Day by planning ahead. Let's go over the different kinds of offers you can employ to drive sales and make Prime Day a success for your business.

 

First up are Lightning Deals.

There are a number of different types of promotions you can offer on Amazon. Note that Lightning Deals are especially appealing for Prime Day, because they're prominently placed. Of course, shoppers will also be glued to the site already in an effort to catch these "blink and you'll miss it" flash sales. Daily deals are available, too, and they last for longer periods of time. But according to Amazon Seller Central, only certain products and sellers are eligible for these deals. What's more, paying to participate in a situation like this doesn't guarantee your deal will receive prominent placement — even if Amazon approves it.

 

There are still ways to participate in Prime Day even if you can't get an official Amazon deal.

The most straightforward way is to just set your own sales for the holiday — but avoid raising your base prices before your sale in an effort to make your discounts look better. Savvy shoppers often use price trackers and are sure to notice.

 

Coupons are another option and come with their own benefits. 

Coupons give great visibility to your sale, putting a banner next to your product on search pages so shoppers definitely know it's being discounted.

 

Yet another type of offer is the Prime Exclusive Discount.

These deals are only available to Prime members, as you can guess from the name. There are restrictions on which products are eligible, like with other promotions. But similar to coupons, these give your sales extra impact with a visual indication of the deal in search results.

 

Remember to not stop at just one sale, too.

More offers means more chances to have a promotion featured, if you're trying to get a Lightning Deal or daily deal. And even if you aren't, an extra deal provides more chances for customers to be tempted into clicking that buy button.

Amazon customers are very cost-conscious and looking for the best deals, especially on Prime Day. A low price can earn a lot of sales, even if you don't have an official Amazon Lightning Deal or similar offer.

 

Now let's say you had the best of intentions about setting up deals and preparing for Prime Day, but time got away from you. 

Don't panic if you've waited until the last minute to figure out your plans. There are still things you can do to take advantage of Prime Day:

 

One option is to polish up your product pages. 

Even doing a little work to improve your listing can do a lot to help you appear in search results. Going over product names is especially important.

 

You can also up your ad budget.

Sponsored Products are a great way to get your items noticed, and you don't need much lead time to set them up.

 

Another thing you can do is discount your products.

It's not too late! Using coupons to cut prices gives them extra visibility in search — and coupon deals don't require Amazon approval, though Amazon can deactivate coupons.

 

Finally, tell your fans you're having a sale.

Share your best bargains on social media and other community channels.

It's best to get your plans settled in advance, but even very last-minute efforts can do a lot to attract shoppers' attention. And with a ton of consumers browsing Amazon on Prime Day, that can lead to a lot of sales.

 

If you liked what you heard, be sure to subscribe so you'll never miss a new one. And if you want to learn how you can turbocharge your Marketplace revenue and gain access to the exclusive DealNews traffic network, head to advertise.DealNews.com , or send an email to advertise@DealNews.com.

Check out all the latest marketplace advice here: https://www.dealnews.com/features/marketplace/

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5 Reasons to Reconsider Selling on the Walmart Marketplace

Walmart's multi-seller marketplace grew a bunch in 2020. But is it a good fit for your business? We go over five reasons why you may want to think twice about selling on the Walmart Marketplace.

It looks like Walmart is focused on sellers from Amazon, eBay, and beyond these days. They really want these folks to be third-party sellers on the Walmart Marketplace, too, if what they're offering is any indication.

Is it a good idea for you to join up? Maybe, but maybe not. Let's go over five reasons why you might want to reconsider selling on the Walmart Marketplace.

 

Let's begin with the fact that this marketplace is growing, but everyone else is growing, too.

Online sales increased markedly overall in 2020 as a result of the global pandemic. Amazon reported a 44 percent increase in sales year over year for the fourth quarter of 2020. And according to Digital Commerce 360, eBay increased gross merchandise volume by 17 percent year over year, with a 14-point-five billion-dollar increase in GMV. Marketplace Pulse reported that Etsy's numbers grew as well in both buyers and sellers — thanks at least in some degree to face masks. Everyone staying at home seemed to help all the big-name online marketplaces grow, generally speaking.

 

Another thing to know about Walmart is that it's easy to start selling, but not that easy.

Not everyone is allowed to sell on the Walmart Marketplace. First you have to be approved. According to SellerApp, that waiting period typically takes upwards of two weeks. Including onboarding, the entire process can take up to four weeks. What's more, Walmart expects its sellers to be able to show that they have a few factors nailed down. These include top-notch customer service, competitive prices, and the ability to fulfill orders fast, efficiently, and accurately.

They also care about what you sell. The oversight might feel cumbersome for some sellers who like the freedom and control of curating and monitoring their own inventory. But the vetting process also marks you as a seller that buyers can trust.

 

Our third reason to reconsider the Walmart Marketplace is that competing with tried-and-true services is tough.

The Fulfillment by Amazon program started in 2006, so Amazon's had a lot of time to work on it. It's imperfect, but it's a system that continues to evolve. The Walmart Marketplace will benefit from some of the knowledge gleaned by that evolution, of course. But it'll inevitably go through growing pains of its own, as it merges, grows, and adapts to the expectations of sellers as well as buyers.

 

You might also want to know that being a Walmart Marketplace seller isn't completely free.

Walmart charges what they call a "reasonable referral fee," and they only do so after you make a sale. The fee varies by product category. But according to Walmart, it runs between 6 percent and 20 percent of whatever you charge per item.

 

SEE ALSO: 9 FBA Alternatives That Amazon Sellers Should Consider

Our final reason to reconsider selling on the Walmart Marketplace is that you're bound to lose the trust of some consumers.

According to data from Kantar Retail's ShopperScape survey, Walmart's average customers have an annual household income of around 76,000 dollars. Amazon's customers have household incomes of 84,000 dollars, meanwhile. There are shoppers who will associate the Walmart brand with lower-end products. Those buyers likely won't be looking for you at the Walmart Marketplace, and very likely, never will.

 

If you liked what you heard, be sure to subscribe so you'll never miss a new one. And if you want to learn how you can turbocharge your Marketplace revenue and gain access to the exclusive DealNews traffic network, head to advertise.DealNews.com , or send an email to advertise@DealNews.com.

Check out all the latest here: https://www.dealnews.com/features/marketplace/

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Related DealNews Marketplace Posts:

• What Is a Multi-Vendor Marketplace?
• 9 FBA Alternatives That Amazon Sellers Should Consider

5 Reasons to Sell on the Walmart Marketplace

Walmart's marketplace has been around for 12 years, but they're just starting to get serious. Before you dive in, learn about five reasons why you might want to become a Walmart Marketplace seller.

Walmart's multi-seller marketplace has been around for 12 years, but they're just beginning to get serious. According to Marketplace Pulse, the Walmart Marketplace's gross merchandise volume more than doubled in 2020, with sales growing by more than 100 percent in the third quarter. Last summer Walmart partnered with Shopify, a platform providing e-commerce tools to sellers. Then they added the e-commerce platform BigCommerce early in 2021.

SEE ALSO: What Is a Multi-Vendor Marketplace?

So is now the time to jump on board with Walmart? Here are five reasons why selling on the Walmart Marketplace might be right for you.

 

1. First of all, it's free and easy to begin selling.

Right now Walmart has no setup fees, unlike some other multi-seller marketplaces. Just sign up to become a Walmart Marketplace seller. You can begin selling with only your own overhead to worry about once you've been approved.

 

2. Another perk is that Walmart offers top-tier analytics and inventory management.

The Walmart Marketplace wants to woo sellers with some of the best e-commerce analytics and inventory management available, thanks to partnerships with companies like Shopify and Payoneer. Right now, those tools include Shopify's inventory and order management system and bulk listing editing. And don't forget Walmart's recent fulfillment service rollout.

 

A third reason to consider this marketplace is that you don't have to pay subscription fees as a Walmart seller.

 At the moment, there are no subscription or monthly fees to sell on the Walmart Marketplace, on top of zero setup fees. Amazon's individual selling plan makes you hand over 99 cents per unit sold, and its professional selling plan costs about 40 dollars per month. But you can sell and keep selling for free at Walmart.

 

3. You're also certain to gain the trust of many new buyers as a Walmart seller.

Walmart is a brand that many shoppers trust. Even better, Walmart's online shoppers are considered more desirable, by and large, than its in-store shoppers. A University of Arkansas study suggests that while Amazon still has a higher percentage of buyers with an income range between 50,000 and 125,000 dollars, Walmart seems to be getting online shoppers who are more like those Amazon buyers demographically than its in-store customers.

 

4. Our final reason to consider the Walmart Marketplace is that it's growing.

According to Marketplace Pulse, the Walmart Marketplace was outperforming both eBay and Amazon as of May 2020. Getting in on the ground floor of a growing marketplace means more traffic being driven directly to you and your products, at least in the short term. That can lead to higher profits from the minute you sign up.

 

If you liked what you heard, be sure to subscribe so you'll never miss a new one. And if you want to learn how you can turbocharge your Marketplace revenue and gain access to the exclusive DealNews traffic network, head to advertise.DealNews.com , or send an email to advertise@DealNews.com.

Check out all the latest here: https://www.dealnews.com/features/marketplace/

Visit our website: https://www.dealnews.com/

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Related DealNews Marketplace Posts:

• What Is a Multi-Vendor Marketplace?
• 9 FBA Alternatives That Amazon Sellers Should Consider

 

How Did Shopping Trends Compare in July 2020 and July 2019?

We look at the popular items among DealNews readers in both July 2020 and July 2019, so you get a big-picture view of the best items to sell online this July. Plus, we talk about two big sales opportunities that could show up during the month.

Welcome to the DealNews Seller's Guide. Today we’ll examine the shopping trends of DealNews readers during July 2020 and July 2019. How did the most popular products compare from year to year, and which events could offer big sales opportunities in July?

How Did Shopping Trends Compare in July 2020 and July 2019?

Will the popular items from July 2019 be the big sellers in the "slightly more typical" year of 2021? Or will last July's shopping trends stick around for another year? We'll have you covered either way through our comparison of the two months. We'll also talk about the July shopping events you shouldn't forget about.

Let's begin by looking at which items resonated most with DealNews readers in July 2019.

Among them were health and household products like first-aid kits, toilet paper, triple-A batteries, dryer sheets, and dishwasher detergent pods.You also had home improvement items like smart garage hubs, garage organization products, generators, and especially lighting products like garage lights, LED candle bulbs, LED desk lamps, and smart light switches.

Then there were packaged food and drinks like cans of V8 Original vegetable juice, peppermint-flavored mints, canisters of mini pretzels, and cookie variety packs, plus products for the home like decorative lights, washcloths, bath mats, and folding boards.

Next up were storage products like memory cards and USB flash drives, along with personal care items like men's razors and razor blade refills, electric toothbrushes, body wash, and lotion sunscreen.

Also popular in July 2019 were kitchen supplies like pan organizers, stainless steel water bottles, hamburger meat choppers, silicone cooking utensils, and scrub brushes for cleaning cast iron.

Another type of item that trended among our readers was garden and patio products, like self-watering planters, garden solar lights, insect repellent, indoor/outdoor thermometers, and grill brushes.

Finally, there were electronics galore, from Amazon devices, to smartphones, to video doorbells and other smart home items. Refurbished items also made the list.

In both July 2019 and July 2020, health and household items and home improvement products were the two most popular product categories with our readers. Laundry-related products seemed big in both years, too, with liquid detergent, mesh wash bags, dryer sheets, and folding boards appealing to many folks. A variety of summer-related items peppered the lists, as well. Among them were grilling supplies, sunscreen, beach blankets, and patio furniture.

What about the differences between the two Julys? Tools seemed to hold more sway in 2020 versus 2019, as did headphones. Products that trended more with our readers in 2019 included phone charging cables, UV lights and lanterns that are designed to kill mosquitos, and shoe inserts meant to help with plantar fasciitis.

Let's move on now and talk about two sales opportunities that may show up in July: Independence Day and Prime Day.

Wondering when to offer discounts and promotions for your products? One good opportunity in July is during Independence Day sales, which tend to show up every year. In July 2020, popular 4th of July events offered items like furniture, bedding, lighting, tools, appliances, grills, patio furniture, electronics, clothing, and shoes.

Another July event to watch for is Prime Day. This shopping holiday happened in mid-October last year, and while Amazon hasn't announced the dates for Prime Day 2021, it could return to its usual July timing. This event can provide big opportunities, too. According to Amazon, independent third-party sellers took in more than two billion dollars in sales during Prime Day 2019, the last year Prime Day took place in July.

Just make sure you meet Amazon's submission deadlines if you're planning to have coupons, Lightning Deals, or other types of Prime Day promotions. As for which Prime Deal deals were popular with DealNews readers in 2019? They included AmazonBasics items, Alexa and Apple devices, smartphones and other smart items, and storage and memory products.

If you liked what you heard, be sure to subscribe so you'll never miss a new one. And if you want to learn how you can turbocharge your Marketplace revenue and gain access to the exclusive DealNews traffic network, head to advertise.DealNews.com , or send an email to advertise@DealNews.com.

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5 MORE Items to Sell Online in July 2021 (Plus 3 Things to Sell Later)

You could have sales success with several types of products this July, but other items may be better to list later. We explore several products that were popular with our readers in July 2020, and tell you about others to hold off on for now.

Welcome to the DealNews Seller's Guide. Today we’ll talk about five more products that would be good to sell in July. What items trended with DealNews readers in July 2020, and which products could be better to list later?

5 MORE Items to Sell Online in July 2021 (Plus 3 Things to Sell Later)

Want to know what to sell in July 2021? Then let's get right to it. We're going to go over five of the most popular items with DealNews readers in July 2020, plus talk about back-to-school season this year, and products that might be better to list later.

One type of item that would be good to sell in July is tools.

Know that small can be mighty when it comes to tools this month. Popular items among our readers last July included one-and-a-half-inch clamps, bit holders, speed square combo kits, pocket knives, and safety glasses. Those glasses were also popular in June 2020. 

Like tools, certain computer accessories fall into the "small but mighty" category when it comes to reader appeal.

Ones to consider selling in July include the following types of flash drives: USB two-point-oh flash drives, 128-gigabyte USB three-point-one flash drives, and flash drives with both USB-C and traditional USB connectors.

Last year our readers also went for USB-A to USB-C cables, along with USB WiFi adapters.

Let's move on to the next item on our product list, and that's headphones.

You could have good luck with these electronics in July 2021. Our readers gravitated toward headphones in the wireless earbud style last July; popular features included Bluetooth technology and a charging case. We saw that many folks did go for a pair of over-ear, noise-cancelling headphones, as well, if you'd prefer not to sell earbuds.

Now we'll talk about kitchen supplies, which is another type of product that's worth listing in July.

Kitchen items that could sell well have purposes that span from food prep, to storage, to being a reference guide. Products that resonated with our readers in July 2020 included pan organizers that fit up to five pans, four-packs of food storage containers, sets of three cutting boards, eight-inch chef's knives, and cheat sheets for using air fryers and pressure cookers.

We've made it to the final item on our July list, and that's TVs.

Big-screen sets may not be the easiest items to sell, but your efforts could pay off come July. Should you decide to take the plunge, know that the popular TVs with our readers last July were 4K smart sets made by Samsung. They ranged in size from 58 inches to 65 inches.

We've now wrapped up our list of what to sell in July, but another topic that's worth talking about is back-to-school season.

Widespread shutdowns, remote learning, and other consequences of the pandemic have interfered with standard school schedules and school supply needs. But the 2021-2022 school year will likely be more "normal," meaning July could be a good time for sellers to ramp up their Back to School offerings.

According to Adobe's Digital Economy Index for July 2020, "work from home and distance learning boosted online purchases of school supplies in April, May and June — a time when kids are just finishing up the school year and not typically in the market for supplies." But Adobe's marketing and customer insights VP John Copeland notes that July is typically the beginning of the Back to School season. So you may want to bump up your inventory starting in July this year if you list school supplies, dorm room gear, or related items.

We'll end today's edition on a different note, by talking about what not to sell in July 2021.

Some items may be better sellers several months down the road, based on DealNews shopping trends. Here's a rundown of those products.

First up are men's clothing basics, which we recommend selling in December. Items that were popular with readers last December included crew socks, T-shirt multipacks, and boxer briefs. Perhaps some people like getting socks and underwear as holiday gifts after all? 

Next up are automotive items, which could be good to sell in January. Readers gravitated toward parking gadgets, glass and hand cleaners, clips and fastener removers, and telescoping snow brushes during the first month of 2021.

Camera and video accessories round out our list of items not to sell in July. Consider selling them in March instead. Lighting kits for video conferencing could be good to sell in March if lots of people continue to work from home. Other popular items with readers that month are camera lights, phone tripods, and webcams.

If you liked what you heard, be sure to subscribe so you'll never miss a new one. And if you want to learn how you can turbocharge your Marketplace revenue and gain access to the exclusive DealNews traffic network, head to advertise.DealNews.com , or send an email to advertise@DealNews.com.

Check out all the latest here: https://www.dealnews.com/features/marketplace/

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6 of the Best Items to Sell Online in July 2021

Wondering which items were most popular with DealNews readers in July 2020? They included dental products, garden items, and some summer favorites. We talk about six of the best products to sell in July during this edition.​

Welcome to the DealNews Seller's Guide. Today we’ll go over six of the best items to sell online in July 2021. What were the most popular products with DealNews readers last July, and will they be a good bet again this year?

6 of the Best Items to Sell Online in July 2021

July could be a turning point for both American consumers and Marketplace sellers. According to MarketWatch, JPMorgan analysts are saying that July 4th will mark the reopening of the U.S., and that there's a lot of demand to "get out and gather." And data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that hundreds of millions of COVID-19 vaccine doses have already been administered across the country. Those numbers will only grow as July nears.

Does this mean people will be spending on products for backyard cookouts, campfires on the beach, and other get-togethers? We can't say for sure, but we're here to offer a look at six of the best items to sell online in July 2021, based on their popularity with DealNews readers last July.

Let's begin with health and household products.

Health and household items proved to be the most popular category by far in July 2020, and we expect the same in 2021. Last year people gravitated toward products such as flushable wet wipes, packs of pill pouches, gallon-size slider storage bags, liquid laundry detergent, powder cleansers, and hand soap refills. Many of these goods came from big-name brands, such as Ziploc, Ajax, Cottonelle, and Tide.

Two other items that appealed to our readers last year were noncontact digital thermometers and two-packs of hand sanitizer bottles. We're betting that their popularity had a lot to do with the coronavirus pandemic, so they might not be as big of a draw in 2021.

Let's move on to the second type of product to sell in July, and that's home improvement items.

Home improvement supplies show up frequently on our lists of good items to sell, and that may stem from the eternal list of house projects homeowners seem to have. So which of these home improvement items could be good to sell in July? Items that resonated last year included outdoor light timers, downspout extensions, Bluetooth LED strip lights, and dual carabiners. Our readers also went for grill and outdoor scrubbers — an unsurprising choice for the summer grilling season.

Next up on our list is skincare and dental products.

People always need to take care of their teeth and skin, which makes skincare and dental products safe bets for sellers pretty much anytime. Even better, these types of items lend themselves to repeat purchases. Popular items last July ranged from deodorant bar soap and bath bars with cocoa butter, to containers of mouthwash and multipacks of manual toothbrushes.

Packaged food and drinks are another type of product that folks purchase year-round, and they're the next category we recommend selling in July.

But the variety of food and drinks is endless, so it helps to know which food and drinks hold appeal during the month. Popular items will include one-pound boxes of baking soda, bags of almonds with a wasabi and soy sauce flavor, 12-packs of beef-flavored noodle soup cups, K-Cup pods with dark roast coffee, and bags of dark roast ground coffee, if the list is anything like last July's.

Now we'll move on to products for the home, which is the fifth type of item to sell online come July.

July could be a good month to sell goods for the kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, and even the laundry room. Our readers gravitated toward paper towel holders, Egyptian cotton sheet sets, color-coded mesh wash bags, brushed nickel shower cradles, and automatic soap dispensers in July 2020. Other items that resonated were two-packs of moisture absorbers and seasonal beach blankets.

We'll wrap up this edition by talking about garden and patio products.

Summer is prime time for hanging out outdoors; keep that in mind when deciding what to sell in July. In 2020 our readers sought out items like patio furniture, fire pits, 17-inch barbecue skewers, and outdoor cooking products in general.

Popular items on the garden front ranged from garden irrigation systems to greenhouses, and indoor plant food spikes to bird bath solar fountains. Note that backyard bird feeding became a trendy hobby in the midst of the pandemic last summer, so people who've kept up with it may be looking for more birding merchandise.

If you liked what you heard, be sure to subscribe so you'll never miss a new one. And if you want to learn how you can turbocharge your Marketplace revenue and gain access to the exclusive DealNews traffic network, head to advertise.DealNews.com , or send an email to advertise@DealNews.com.

Check out all the latest here: https://www.dealnews.com/features/marketplace/

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How Can Amazon Attribution Help Grow Sales?

Amazon Attribution is a useful analytics tool, but how can it actually help sellers? We answer that question in this edition, plus take a look at how this program works.

Amazon Attribution is a valuable analytics tool that can help you determine what ads are working and which campaigns need to be redirected. But what exactly can it do to help Amazon sellers? And are there any ads that don't work with it? 

How Can Amazon Attribution Help Grow Sales?

There are a number of ways to drive people to your Amazon product page, most of which involve online advertising. Amazon Attribution provides on-demand analytics on the performance of each of your advertisements, so you can identify which ads and platforms work for your brand.

You could even carry out A-B testing to see which ad variations perform best on which channels. You can access this data immediately, so you can adjust ad strategies on the fly if you aren't seeing results. Altogether, Amazon Attribution lets you put more resources into ads and channels that pull in customers, while fine-tuning your strategy for ads that don't perform.

But the Amazon Attribution beta also provides details on your sales funnel to help you earn repeat customers. Are people clicking through your ad, but leaving after looking at the product details page? Are they adding your item to their cart but never buying it? Knowing this kind of information can help you improve your store to convert ad clicks into sales. And that can help you in refining your advertising strategy, so you make the most of your marketing budget, no matter how large or small.

What Types of Ads Work With the Amazon Attribution Beta?

Amazon Attribution is basically a tracking URL. You add specific tags to your links, and then Amazon tracks customer behavior after they click those links. That means the Amazon Attribution beta can give you data from practically any marketing campaign — whether it's a social ad or a blog post on your website.

But there's one major exception: you won't be able to track your ad if it leads to a landing page on your website or any other intermediary page, and then goes to Amazon. Amazon Attribution can only track links that go directly to Amazon. It limits its value for brands that sell in many places, but it shouldn't be much of an issue if you primarily sell on Amazon.

You'll have to give Amazon a bit of data on your third-party advertising campaigns in order to set up Amazon Attribution. Want to create an attribution tag for your marketing campaigns? Then you need to enter the advertiser and the products you want to track. You'll need to generate a new tag for each advertiser and marketing campaign. You need to generate a tag for each ad variation, as well, if you want to do any kind of A-B testing.

SEE ALSO: The Best Inventory Management Software for Amazon Sellers: 6 Top Tools to Consider

Get your campaign set up, and Amazon will generate a URL you can link in your campaign. Just add the link, and Amazon will track what happens whenever a potential customer clicks on it.

That's all for this edition of the DealNews Seller's Guide. 

If you liked what you heard, be sure to subscribe so you'll never miss a new one. And if you want to learn how you can turbocharge your Marketplace revenue and gain access to the exclusive DealNews traffic network, head to advertise.DealNews.com , or send an email to advertise@DealNews.com.

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Related DealNews Marketplace Posts:

• Can Sellers Get an Amazon FBA Refund?
• 7 Reasons Why You Can Boost Your Business by Advertising on DealNews
• Why a CPC Campaign Is a Good Way to Manage Your Marketing Budget

What Is Amazon Attribution?

When you spend money on advertising, you want to know how many clicks converted to sales, and which ads drove the most sales. Amazon Attribution provides this crucial information. Listen as we tell you all about this analytics tool.

You want to be sure you're getting a good return on your investment when you spend money on advertising. But you only have part of the picture when you're using third-party ads to direct people to your Amazon products: potential customers fall into an analytics black hole as soon as they click on your ad.

You know how many people clicked your ad, but what happens on Amazon is a mystery. How many of those clicks converted to sales? Which of your ads drove the most sales? And just where are you losing your potential customers if you're getting plenty of click-thrus on an ad, but few sales? This information is crucial to knowing if your ad campaigns are working, and it's exactly what Amazon Attribution provides.

Keep listening to learn about this tool and how it compares to third-party offerings.

The Basics of Amazon Attribution

Amazon Attribution is an analytics tool, and it lets you see the kind of impacts your third-party advertisements and other marketing efforts have on your Amazon sales. You can see a variety of metrics when you set up Amazon Attribution. You can look at how many people clicked on each of your ads, as well as how many people viewed the product detail page, added your product to their shopping cart, and purchased your product after they clicked an ad.

You can identify which ad strategies are most effective, and can also find the point in your sales funnel where you're losing customers. It's exactly the data you'll need to refine your ad campaigns and address any issues with your funnel — which hopefully leads to more sales. And you'll be happy to know that Amazon Attribution is free for all eligible users.

Who Can Use Amazon Attribution?

Amazon Attribution is in beta form still, and currently only available for select groups. One is professional sellers with a trademarked brand identity who are enrolled in the Amazon Brand Registry. Vendors are eligible, too, as are agencies with clients who are Amazon sellers. The Amazon Attribution program is running in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain.

SEE ALSO: Why a CPC Campaign Is a Good Way to Manage Your Marketing Budget

It might become available to additional sellers in the future, but Amazon hasn't announced anything as of this recording.

How do you sign up for the program?

Go to the Amazon Attribution page, which you can access through advertising-dot-amazon-dot-com. Then click the "Get Started" button near the top. That will bring you to a lower section of the page, where you can click the "Get started" link if you're a vendor, or select the North America or Europe marketplace if you're a seller.

Other tools, and how they compare to Amazon Attribution

Many analytics tools help you view sales data, analyze your competitors, and optimize your product pages to garner more attention. But only Amazon knows exactly what happens on Amazon product pages, which leaves a big gap if you're only relying on other tools.

You can collect pieces of the puzzle from other data, like ad click-thrus and sales. But what happens in between those two points is a mystery without extra information provided from Amazon Attribution. The service won't replace your other analytics tools; instead, it supplements them with new data to offer insight on your marketing efforts.

Third parties can build Amazon Attribution data into their analytics software, thanks to the Amazon Advertising API. But you'll still need to sign up for Amazon Attribution in order to see that data if you opt for one of those tools.

That's all for this edition of the DealNews Seller's Guide. 

If you liked what you heard, be sure to subscribe so you'll never miss a new one. And if you want to learn how you can turbocharge your Marketplace revenue and gain access to the exclusive DealNews traffic network, head to advertise.DealNews.com , or send an email to advertise@DealNews.com.

Check out all the latest here: https://www.dealnews.com/features/marketplace/

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8 Things to Know About Multi-Vendor Marketplaces

What Is a Multi-Vendor Marketplace?

It can be a great way to grow your business, but if you aren't careful, you might be setting yourself up for failure.

It took you years to build a successful marketplace to sell your own wares. Now you're considering expanding to a multi-vendor marketplace in order to grow your business even further!

Whether this is your first toe in, or you've already taken a few steps down the path, here are eight important things you need to know about launching a multi-vendor marketplace.

8 Things to Know About Multi-Vendor Marketplaces

 

1. What Is a Multi-Vendor Marketplace?

Once upon a time, a shop owner selling bread realized if they moved their store near the cheesemonger's, they'd not only be able to sell bread to their own customers, but to the customers visiting the cheesemonger, too. And thus the multi-vendor marketplace was born!

A multi-vendor marketplace is a virtual mall with multiple sellers inside.

Not quite, but almost. In terms of e-commerce, a multi-vendor marketplace is the metaphorical block containing the bread and cheese shops. It's the virtual mall with multiple sellers inside. Amazon, Wayfair, and Etsy are big name-examples. But anyone can create this type of marketplace. Yes, really. Even you.

2. What Is the Role of the Multi-Vendor E-Commerce Marketplace?

If the job of a brick-and-mortar mall is to attract customers to the shops within, the job of a multi-vendor marketplace is to attract consumers to its virtual site. So what do you do if you can't decorate the halls for Christmas and hire a Santa?

You can choose from several popular marketing models, including B2B and B2C marketing — business to business and business to customer, respectively. Amazon uses the B2C strategy, focusing on connecting consumers with products. Alibaba, on the other hand, uses the B2B strategy, concentrating on fostering sales and relationships between businesses. eBay uses a C2C strategy (customer to customer), whereby customers are incentivized not only to buy, but to sell.

3. Should a Multi-Vendor Marketplace Curate Its Vendors?

There are two types of multi-vendor marketplaces: curated and self-service. A self-service marketplace is something of a free-for-all. Like sellers on eBay, vendors can be anyone selling anything. Many consider the experience of a self-serve marketplace too unwieldy to connect with customers as a brand. Meanwhile, a site like Etsy vets its sellers to maintain its branding as a multi-vendor marketplace for "talented creators."

SEE ALSO: How to Move Your Marketplace Listings From Amazon to eBay

Curating your vendors means maintaining control over the brand image of your site, but it also means more work for you. Software, like Jetti, gives you the option of generating product descriptions yourself, or leaving it to your vendor — in other words, you have the option of having the best of both worlds.

4. How Do You Monetize a Multi-Vendor Marketplace?

Finding the best revenue strategy is the core of every business. Before you even start to populate your site with products, know how you plan to make money from it. You can implement the following:

• Listing fees
• Subscription fees
• Additional fees for premium listings
• Transaction fees

The last of these are something sellers can even pass along to their customers, if they wish. The important thing is to establish how your business will make money. Once you have your marketplace monetization model in place, you can use it to attract vendors.

5. Do You Already Need to Have Your Own Store?

Are you wondering if you need your own store in order to launch a multi-vendor marketplace? Well, it doesn't hurt to already have an engaged customer base, especially when it comes to being able to initially attract vendors. If you want to shutter your own space, or even offer your own customers in trade to desirable vendors, you could also consider that a way of attracting sellers. Which brings us to No. 6.

Build your marketplace with the merchandise and sellers that fit your brand vision, by making them an offer they can't refuse.

6. How Do Multi-Vendor E-Commerce Marketplaces Get Vendors?

Look through active sellers on other sites and incentivize them to join your marketplace. Also, make sure to build a marketing platform large enough to get your marketplace noticed. You can write blogs, use press releases, and otherwise engage with the media to help get the word out.

But if you're curating your own vendors, go after them directly! Find out what the vendor wants, and see if it's something you can offer. Build your marketplace deliberately, only including the merchandise and sellers that fit your brand vision, by making them an offer they can't refuse.

7. What's the Worst Thing About a Multi-Vendor Marketplace?

Unfortunately, a multi-vendor marketplace isn't simply a goose laying golden eggs. Just look at the American landscape, littered with empty malls and shopping centers. An online multi-vendor marketplace can just as easily go under if you can't encourage sales. If you outsource developers and pay for ready-to-launch solutions, you could overspend without a return. And as with any business, that's a recipe for failure.

8. What's the Best Thing About a Multi-Vendor Marketplace?

Running a multi-vendor marketplace means your vendors will do much of the heavy lifting. You don't have to worry about inventory, shipping, or much of the customer-facing problem-solving. Plenty of software options, like the platforms Yo!Kart and Arcadier, can help you maintain the site and make sure everything is running smoothly. Once you have your multi-vendor marketplace platform handled, it can be a great way to grow your business and your financial future.

 

That's all for this edition of the DealNews Seller's Guide. 

If you liked what you heard, be sure to subscribe so you'll never miss a new one. And if you want to learn how you can turbocharge your Marketplace revenue and gain access to the exclusive DealNews traffic network, head to advertise.DealNews.com , or send an email to advertise@DealNews.com.

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How Did Shopping Trends Compare in June 2020 and June 2019?

The coronavirus pandemic made 2020 a year like no other, and the impacts extended to shopping, too. We looked at the popular items among our readers in both June of last year and June 2019. This fuller picture could help you decide on what items to sell in June 2021.

Welcome to the DealNews Seller's Guide. Today we’ll talk about the shopping trends of DealNews readers during June 2020 and June 2019. How did the best items to sell online compare from year to year, and which holidays offer sales opportunities come June?

 

2020 wasn't exactly a "normal" year for shopping, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. So we figured it would be good to look at which products resonated with DealNews readers in both June 2020 and June 2019. Comparing the shopping trends might clue you into which items will sell well in June of this year.

 

So how did these two months compare?

Differences did show up when we explored DealNews shopping trends for June 2019 and June 2020. But there was also plenty of overlap. Consider the following items that were popular with our readers during both months.

They included home improvement products for the garage, super glue, USB-C cables, nail clippers, and indoor plant food spikes. Also trending were USB flash drives, carbonated mineral water, jump ropes, mosquito-repelling devices, and hand soap refills.

 

Will these items be popular in June 2021, too? We can't say for sure, but their appeal in both June 2019 and 2020 means they may be well worth listing. Let's look at the other products that trended with DealNews readers in June 2019.

 

We'll begin with household items like toilet paper, air freshener, and baking soda. Home improvement supplies like duct tape, garage lights, and ceiling lights were popular, too, as were phone accessories like iPhone screen protectors, phone holders for cars, charging cables, and wireless power banks. Up next are beauty and personal care items like electric toothbrushes, men's disposable razors, hair elastics, and nose hair trimmers. Also trending that June were cleaning tools like drill brush attachments and microfiber mops, plus other home items like moisture absorber systems, knee pillows, and window privacy film.

 

June 2019 was a good month for selling lawn, garden, and patio products like grill brushes, garden ties, insect repellent, bug zappers, yard tools, and indoor bonsai trees. People also went for kitchen-related items like beer glasses, kitchen wall clocks, and scrub brushes for cleaning cast iron. Storage items like microSDXC memory cards resonated, as well, and so did packaged food and drinks like cups of noodles, coffee K-Cup pods, packs of gum, energy bars, and salted peanuts.

 

What else was popular with DealNews readers in June 2019? You had sports and fitness items like no-tie shoelaces, carabiner clips, and sun hats for fishing, plus refurbished products like video doorbells, iPhones, computers, and power tools. Finally, people gravitated toward items from sporty brands like adidas, Nike, and Reebok.

 

Products that appeared to be more popular with readers in June 2019 over June 2020 included the phone accessories we mentioned earlier, as well as kitchen products. Items that trended stronger in June 2020 were tools and protective gear, along with electronic components and small devices.

 

Then there are the beauty and personal-care products. They resonated with our readers during both months, but were more than twice as popular in June 2020 versus 2019. One category that remained consistent was health and household items; these were the most popular products with our readers in June 2019 and 2020.

 

Another thing that tends to be consistent is holiday sales. And the events sellers should think about in June are Father's Day and the 4th of July.

June brings Father's Day, and DealNews trends from the last two years show that people are shopping Father's Day sales. They include sales featuring curated Father's Day gift options, as well as sales on refurbished laptops, power tools, and other products. Are you listing common Fathers' Day gifts like tools, tech, and outdoor items? Then June may be a good time to feature a promotion.

 

Don't forget about promotions around the 4th of July either. This holiday is in, well, July, but sales are already going by late June. In 2019 and 2020, our readers gravitated toward 4th of July sales with home and garden items, outdoor tools, sporting goods, tech, and more.

That's all for this edition of the DealNews Seller's Guide. If you liked what you heard, be sure to subscribe so you'll never miss a new one. And if you want to learn how you can turbocharge your Marketplace revenue and gain access to the exclusive DealNews traffic network, head to advertise.DealNews.com , or send an email to advertise@DealNews.com.

Check out all the latest here: https://www.dealnews.com/features/marketplace/

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5 MORE Items to Sell Online in June 2021 (and 3 Things to Sell Later)

Trying to decide which items to list this June, and which ones to hold off on? We go over the products that were most popular with our readers in June 2020, plus ones that could be stronger sellers later in 2021.

Welcome to the DealNews Seller's Guide. Today we’ll look at five more items that are worth listing in June 2021. What products resonated with DealNews readers last June, and what items are better to sell later in the year?

If you liked what you heard, be sure to subscribe so you'll never miss a new one. And if you want to learn how you can turbocharge your Marketplace revenue and gain access to the exclusive DealNews traffic network, head to advertise.DealNews.com , or send an email to advertise@DealNews.com.

Check out all the latest here: https://www.dealnews.com/features/marketplace/

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6 of the Best Items to Sell Online in June 2021

We looked at which items appealed to DealNews readers most in June 2020, and they included health products, home improvement supplies, and even bug-control spray. Learn about some of the best products to sell online in June 2021 in this edition.​

Are you wondering what types of products to sell in June 2021? Then we have two words for you: get moving. This month brings the beginning of summer, and for many people that means warmer weather and more opportunities to work and play outdoors, exercise, and do projects around the home.

 

We examined our shopping trends to learn which items were popular with DealNews readers last June. Here are six you should know about.

 

Let's begin with health and household products.

It's hard to go wrong with products people inevitably need to replace, and our readers gravitated toward plenty of those items in June 2020. Health-related and household items were actually the most popular product category with readers that month. People went for health products like Band-Aids in assorted sizes, medicated body powder, and two-packs of isopropyl alcohol. And what about those everyday household products? Flushable wipes, liquid laundry detergent, and hand soap refills all seemed to resonate with readers, as did cleaners and polishes for glass cooktops and stainless steel.

 

We'll move on now to the second category on our list, which is beauty and personal care products.

Our skin, teeth, and nails always need attention, and that showed in June with the popularity of beauty and personal care items. Trending products included deodorant bar soap, nail clippers, dental floss picks, two-packs of dental floss, and three-packs of men's body wash. People purchase personal-care products time and time again, just like they do with household items. So selling these frequently bought items could be a winning formula in June.

 

The third type of item that's good to sell this month is tools and other home improvement supplies.

Home improvement has been nothing short of a trend during the coronavirus pandemic. According to a July 2020 survey from the home services platform Porch, 76 percent of U.S. homeowners have carried out at least one home improvement project since the beginning of the pandemic, and 78 percent plan to do at least one of these projects in the next 12 months. That means sellers continue to have opportunities in this area.

 

Home improvement products that resonated with our readers last June included super glue, electrical outlet covers, door stops, hand towel holders, and LED work lights. Certain tools and tool-related items were also popular, from toolbox organizers, cutting wheels, and clamps to power tool battery kits. Our readers were apparently thinking about garage projects last June, too. Trending items included garage hooks and other garage organization products, as well as garage door accents.

 

Now the fourth item on our list is protective gear, which is very much related to home improvement products.

We weren't shocked to see protective gear among our readers' favored items in June 2020, given the popularity of home improvement items that month. Trending products included safety goggles and glasses, along with 5-packs of nitrile work gloves. People will need equipment to protect their eyes, hands, and other body parts as long as they're undertaking home improvement projects. So listing protective gear this June should be a good bet.

 

Next up are lawn and garden products.

June brings summer, and summer also brings bugs to much of the country. That could partly explain the appeal of pest-control products among our readers last June. Popular items included backyard bug-control spray, fly shooters that use table salt to kill insects, and mosquito-repelling devices. Other trending lawn and garden products were grass seed, lawn fungicide, and indoor plant food spikes.

 

Our readers weren't only thinking about living organisms either. They were also drawn to outdoor fencing products, including rolled bamboo fencing.

 

We've now arrived at the final category we're going to recommend selling during this edition. And that's food and drinks.

Grocery items frequently show up in our "what to sell" guides, if for no other reason than people eat and drink all the time. Products that were popular with our readers in June included almonds and carbonated mineral water.

That's all for this edition of the DealNews Seller's Guide. If you liked what you heard, be sure to subscribe so you'll never miss a new one. And if you want to learn how you can turbocharge your Marketplace revenue and gain access to the exclusive DealNews traffic network, head to advertise.DealNews.com , or send an email to advertise@DealNews.com.

Check out all the latest here: https://www.dealnews.com/features/marketplace/

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Can Sellers Get Amazon FBA Refunds?

Sellers who use Fulfillment by Amazon often do so for the convenience it brings. But can they receive Amazon FBA refunds if something goes wrong? We go over what to expect, and how third-party services might be able to help.

Can Sellers Get Amazon FBA Refunds?

Sellers who use Fulfillment by Amazon often do it to alleviate some of the big headaches that come with online sales. Let's say a customer places an order. Amazon will make sure each item in the order makes it out their door and to your customer's in one piece. You as the seller need only ensure that Amazon has your inventory in stock. The rest is up to them.

 

Many sellers love this convenience, but what if there's a problem with an FBA sale? Can a seller get an Amazon FBA refund if the situation calls for it? The good news is that sellers are able to get Amazon FBA refunds — in some cases. We'll go over what to look out for when using FBA, and how third-party services might be able to help with reimbursement issues.

Let's begin by talking about what Amazon can do for FBA sellers.

Amazon will cover the cost of lost or damaged inventory, returns that don't get sent back, and even incomplete FBA returns in some instances. According to Amazon Seller Central, Amazon will either replace damaged items with one that has the same fulfillment network stock keeping unit, or they'll reimburse you for the cost of the item.

What Amazon means by the cost of the item and what the seller expects could be two different things, however. Amazon Seller Central clarifies that they'll "compare several price indicators to determine an estimated sale price for the item when calculating the reimbursement amount." This happens regardless of what amount you claim.

They could reimburse the item for the median price you've listed it at over the last 18 months, for example. They'll also compare it to the amount other sellers have charged for the same item. And they have the right to estimate a cost per unit; what's more, they won't refund Amazon seller fees such as referral or fulfillment fees in the process.

Linoto CEO and founder Jason Evege [EH-veg -like vegetable] says, "When I started out... Amazon only reimbursed 85 percent of the cost of the item." Linoto is an artisan linen sheets company manufacturing in New York.

Another downside to using FBA as part of your business model is that mistakes are bound to happen.

This is due to the sheer number of sellers and the even larger number of products for which FBA is responsible. Worse, Amazon might not automatically give you an FBA refund.

Sellers have to keep on top of all their FBA sales, in other words, and follow up if they realize Amazon has made a mistake. You're also locked into a nine- or 18-month claim window, depending on the point in the fulfillment process your item was damaged or lost. Amazon no longer has to reimburse you if you wait longer than that.

Refund Retriever president Brian C. Gibbs says, "Some of the companies we work with never see a single screwup, while for others, we literally find thousands of dollars owed in reimbursements." Refund Retriever is a company that specializes in finding and refunding Amazon sellers when Amazon makes a mistake.

For Linoto's Evege, trying to get a refund can end up costing him painfully in time and energy. 

Sellers have to first open a case in order to file a claim, and sometimes they have to follow up with photographs and other forms of documentation. He says, "rather than making money from the sale, you end up spending your own time creating a case so you can get part of your money back. … Then you have to wait for them to get back to you. You can't afford to lose that money, but you also can't afford to lose all that time and effort."

That's where companies like Gibbs' come in handy. He says, "if we do it for you, we have a process. … A seller might speed through, but we're combing through every piece of monotonous information."

Refund Retriever and businesses like it aren't imperative, but they can be helpful.

Consider the money you're saving on things like the overhead of a brick-and-mortar store, and it might even make sense that you spend some cash for the peace of mind. After all, you'd be dealing with your inventory and customers face to face if you were operating a physical store.

Refund Retriever only charges if they find you're owed a refund, and then they take a percentage. Outsourcing Amazon reimbursements can be well worth it if you consider those FBA refunds to be "found money."

According to Refund Retriever's Josselyn Mejia, her job as an Amazon Specialist is to make sure there's an outcome for any mistakes. She says, "We're following the entire life cycle of your inventory. … We don't use any automation. If you have things in FBA, you want to make sure you're getting paid for it. 

You're subject to all the risk that goes with it when your relationship is between you and Amazon, and not you and a customer. FBA makes online retail a whole lot easier for most Amazon sellers, but it also creates additional barriers. But there are ways to make sure that the comfort you get from knowing Amazon will fulfill your orders isn't outweighed by the fear that you might lose money in mistakes you fail to catch.

Just knowing you have to look for those mistakes is a great place to start.

That's all for this edition of the DealNews Seller's Guide. If you liked what you heard, be sure to subscribe so you'll never miss a new one. And if you want to learn how you can turbocharge your Marketplace revenue and gain access to the exclusive DealNews traffic network, head to advertise.DealNews.com , or send an email to advertise@DealNews.com.

Check out all the latest here: https://www.dealnews.com/features/marketplace/

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How Did Shopping Trends Differ in May 2020 vs. May 2019?

2020 wasn't a typical year for shopping, so we compared the popular products among our readers in May of last year and May 2019. Our deep dive could help you choose what to sell in May 2021 — and what to sell later in the year. 

If you liked what you heard, be sure to subscribe so you'll never miss a new one. And if you want to learn how you can turbocharge your Marketplace revenue and gain access to the exclusive DealNews traffic network, head to advertise.DealNews.com, or send an email to advertise@DealNews.com. 

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5 MORE Items to Sell Online in May 2021

If you're trying to figure what products to sell in May, you have a lot of good options to choose from. We look at the items that resonated with our readers in May 2020, in case you need help picking out products to list this year.

If you liked what you heard, be sure to subscribe so you'll never miss a new one. And if you want to learn how you can turbocharge your Marketplace revenue and gain access to the exclusive DealNews traffic network, head to advertise.DealNews.com, or send an email to advertise@DealNews.com. 

Thanks for listening!

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6 Items to Sell Online in May 2021

Welcome to the DealNews Seller's Guide. Today we’ll talk about six of the best items to sell online in May 2021. What products resonated with DealNews readers last May, and will they be popular again this year?

People bought a lot of stuff online last May — and that's putting it mildly. According to Adobe's Digital Economy Index for May 2020, "e-commerce shopping levels during April to May were higher than what retailers saw during the 2019 holiday season." Consumers' online spending reached 153 billion dollars last April and May; that's seven percent higher than the amount people spent online during the last two months of 2019.

But what were people actually shopping online for in May? And what does that mean for Marketplace sellers this year? We looked at which items resonated with DealNews readers in May 2020, and will tell you about six of the best items to sell online this May.

 

Let's kick things off with home improvement supplies.

We don't know if our readers were inspired by round-the-clock HGTV viewing or a general desire to DIY, but they made home improvement items the most popular product category in May 2020. So these items could be a safe bet, if you're wondering what to sell in May. Last year, readers gravitated toward supplies like super glue gel, vinyl electrical tape, vacuum-hose attachments for cleaning dryer vents, and door-seal strips.

 

The second category to consider listing in May is household products.

Getting shoppers hooked on an item they must replace on a regular basis can be a boon for sellers. And household products definitely fit into this category. Household items that were popular with our readers last May included toilet bowl cleaner, which was also popular in March, along with double-A batteries, lithium coin batteries, freezer and snack bags, and even ant killer.

 

Let's move on now to the third thing to sell in May, which is dental products.

Lots of our readers were apparently focused on their dental hygiene in May 2020. And selling dental products could be a smart bet, as people must care for their teeth and gums every month of every year. Last May, DealNews readers went for items such as waxed dental floss, toothpaste for sensitive teeth, and two-packs of vibrating toothbrushes. Dental care items require periodic replacement, just like household products. That gives them extra appeal.

 

Going hand in hand with the home improvement category from earlier are tools and related items. 

In May 2020, our readers were drawn to clamps, nitrile-coated and nylon work gloves, safety goggles, and sharpeners for lawn mower blades, among other products.

It's no surprise that tools ranked among our most popular categories last May. According to a report from Mastercard, in-store and online U.S. hardware sales were up 36-point-two percent in that month compared to May 2019. This could mean that tools and related items may not be as big of a draw in May 2021, but that remains to be seen.

 

Another type of product to sell in May is plant and lawn care items.

Many folks took up gardening last year in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, and this hobby shows no signs of slowing down in 2021. A survey from Axiom Marketing found that 86 percent of homeowners plan to continue gardening this year. What's more, 47 percent of the people surveyed said they'll plant more and expand their garden spaces this coming season.

So what garden items should you sell? Popular items with our readers last May included indoor plant food spikes, crabgrass-control products, bug-control lawn spray, and grass seed mixes, not to mention garden decor.

 

The final item we'll talk about today is one we're all familiar with, and that's groceries.

Online grocery buying boomed in 2020, and if consumers keep purchasing food online, that could be a big opportunity for Marketplace sellers. According to the Mastercard report we mentioned earlier, U.S. grocery sales were up nine-point-two percent year-over-year in May both online and in-store. Mastercard states that "this is the strongest grocery sales volume for the month of May in SpendingPulse history."

The best grocery items to sell can be hard to pinpoint, but among the trending items with our readers last year were yellow corn, tins of butter cookies, bags of trail mix, instant yeast, and breakfast cereal.

That's all for this edition of the DealNews Seller's Guide. If you liked what you heard, be sure to subscribe so you'll never miss a new one. And if you want to learn how you can turbocharge your Marketplace revenue and gain access to the exclusive DealNews traffic network, head to advertise.DealNews.com, or send an email to advertise@DealNews.com. 

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Were the Best Things to Sell Online Different in April 2020 vs. April 2019?

2020 was far from a "normal" year, so we compared the shopping trends of our readers from both April of last year and April 2019. Our deep dive could help you decide what to sell this April — and what to sell at a later date.

The pandemic appeared to influence consumer buying decisions last April, and it's hard to say what this April will look like exactly. Are you trying to decide on items to list in April 2021? Then you may want to consider the shopping trends of DealNews readers from both April 2020 and 2019. After all, consumers' priorities last year may not be the ones they'd have in a typical year.

We'll compare these two months, plus look at items you may want to sell later in 2021. That should give you a full picture of what to list — and not list — in April.

So how did April 2019 and April 2020 compare? Were the best things to sell online different during those two months?

Let's begin with the items that were popular with DealNews readers in April 2020. They included grills, indoor and outdoor storage products, Mother's Day gifts, and outdoor recreation items. Also big draws were lawn and garden products, home office items, footwear, outdoor furniture, and power tools.

Now let's compare that with the notable items that were popular with our readers in our April 2019. They included men's shirts, among them polo shirts and T-shirts, plus refurbished electronics and other secondhand items. Other trending products were both smart and non-smart watches, laptops, Bose headphones, and home improvement items like ladders, air filters, and Lowe's gift cards.

Now you could make the argument that laptops count as a home office product. But popular home office items were more furniture products than electronics in April 2020. One area of overlap we did see in April 2019 and 2020 was in storage and organization products. Popular April 2019 products included hose storage and closet organizer systems, though not the trendy sheds of 2020.

Both months also featured popular power tool offerings. That meant products like sliding miter saws in April 2019. It appears that home improvement products should still be a safe bet for sellers this April, given the power tool and storage overlaps, plus the appearance of home improvement items in April 2019.

Footwear and bikes should be safe bets, as well. Those are two other areas where we noticed overlap in April 2019 and April 2020. It's also worth looking into headphones, as Bose products seemed to be trending during these times. And note that readers gravitated toward Apple offerings in April 2019 and April 2020, as well. Popular items in 2019 were the Apple Watch Series 3 and refurbished iPhone 8; in 2020 it was the newly released second-generation iPhone SE.

Now that we've compared the popular items of April 2019 and 2020, let's talk about what NOT to sell in April 2021.

Not every item will be great to sell this April, after all. We expect consumers to purchase more of the following products later in 2021, based on our shopping trends. So you may want to wait on these if you're weighing which items to list.

We'll begin with computers, which we think are better to sell in June or later.

We expect laptops and other computers to be bigger sellers beginning in June, when people start thinking about products for school. Back to School sales really tend to ramp up in August, especially.

Next up are TVs. Maybe wait until July to go full steam ahead if you're listing larger electronics like these.

TVs seemed to be a big draw for our readers in July 2020, especially 58-inch and 65-inch 4K smart sets from Samsung.

One more product to sell later is shorts and other summer clothes. Consider selling these in July.

Summer is in full swing come July, and based on last year's popular offerings, it seems like that's when our readers will be ready to buy shorts, T-shirts, and other summer clothes.

That's all for this edition of the DealNews Seller's Guide. If you liked what you heard, be sure to subscribe so you'll never miss a new one. And if you want to learn how you can turbocharge your Marketplace revenue and gain access to the exclusive DealNews traffic network, head to advertise.DealNews.com, or send an email to advertise@DealNews.com. 

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5 MORE Items to Sell Online in April 2021

If you're wondering what products to sell this April, you might want to focus on the outdoors and the home office. We go over the products that were particularly popular with our readers in April 2020, in case you need help deciding what to list this year.

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4 Items to Sell Online in April 2021

We delved into the DealNews archives to see what items resonated most with our readers in April 2020, and outdoor products came up big.  Listen as we go over some of the best products to sell online this April.​

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The 6 Best Ways to Save on Amazon Seller Fees

Wondering how to reduce the Amazon seller fees you have to pay? We're here to help! We go over six ways to minimize these fees — or avoid them entirely​.

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What Are the Amazon Fulfillment Fees for FBA vs. FBM Sellers?

Today we’ll talk about Amazon fulfillment fees. What are you on the hook for if you use the Fulfillment by Merchant option, as opposed to Fulfillment by Amazon? We'll let you know.

Sellers have two ways to handle fulfillment with Amazon: they can ship items to customers themselves, or they can let Amazon ship items for them.

The latter option is called Fulfillment by Amazon, or FBA, and it can save you a lot of time and trouble. But this option has a lot of associated costs you need to weigh before you sign up.

You'll pay fewer fees to Amazon if you choose to fulfill items yourself. That doesn't necessarily mean you're saving money, however, as the shipping fees Amazon charges may or may not cover your actual shipping costs.

Fulfillment by Amazon offers low shipping costs, which you pay as a fee per unit sold — but it comes with a network of additional fees you need to consider.

There isn't a right or wrong answer here; you just have to do the math based on the kind of products you sell and what you'll pay to ship them. You could save cash by doing the shipping yourself, if you have an economical way to ship. But don't forget that your time has value, too — and using Fulfillment by Amazon can save a lot of time.

Here's the rundown of costs for each type of fulfillment.

Let's begin with Fulfillment by Seller, also called Fulfillment by Merchant.

Amazon's Fulfillment by Seller option is DIY, so shipping is all on you. Amazon charges a shipping fee when it processes an order, and that fee is returned to you in the form of a shipping credit. You'll use your credit to buy packaging and postage to send the item to the purchaser.

But your shipping credit may not actually cover the cost of packing and shipping your item. You can't set your shipping prices and simply receive Amazon's standardized shipping rates as reimbursement if you're an individual seller. According to Amazon Seller Central, Amazon's shipping credit can be as low as four bucks or so. You're on the hook for the extra cash if shipping costs more than the credit.

You can set your own shipping rates if you have a Professional plan, but you still have to do your homework to be sure you aren't losing money on shipping.

Carefully review how much you're spending on shipping, whether you have an Individual selling plan or a Professional plan. Then you can adjust prices accordingly. Make sure to include boxes, packaging materials, and postage.

You may need to raise the selling price to fully cover the cost of shipping if you're an Individual seller, whereas Professional sellers can simply set their own shipping rates.

Now we'll move on the costs of Fulfillment by Amazon.

Amazon takes over a lot of your work if you use FBA — it's for a price, of course. You'll send your products to Amazon. The megaretailer will store your goods in its warehouses, and then pack and ship them when a customer places an order. Amazon will also handle customer service and returns, so you won't need to do much more than list your products to sell.

FBA has a lot of fees, though, and it can be a headache to figure out exactly how much you'll pay ahead of time. Get out your calculator and be ready to do some math before you decide to use the FBA program. We looked at Amazon Seller Central to compile the FBA fees you can expect. 

We'll begin with fulfillment fees, which are for picking, packing, and shipping an order.

These can range from two dollars and 50 cents for a small item to over 100 dollars for heavy, oversize items. Review FBA shipping fees and compare them to what you would pay to do your own shipping.

Let's move on to inventory storage fees. They're for keeping your items. 

These fees are charged monthly and have seasonal rates. You'll pay 75 cents per cubic foot from January through September, and you'll pay two dollars and 40 cents per cubic foot from October through December. Oversize items get a discounted storage rate.

There are also long-term inventory storage fees, which are for storing items longer than a year.

They're charged in addition to the regular storage fees. The cost is six dollars and 90 cents per cubic foot or 15 cents per unit, whichever is greater.

Another fee type is removal fees.

They're incurred when removing inventory from storage, either to return it to you or dispose of it. The cost varies by item size and begins at 25 cents per unit. You may not have to worry about this cost if your items move regularly, and you aren't at risk of incurring long-term storage fees.

Return processing fees are yet another fee you may have to pay, and they're charged for customer returns. 

These are equal to the original fulfillment fee.

Finally, there are the unplanned service fees, which are charged when you don't properly package or prep items you ship to Amazon. 

For example, you may ship an item that isn't properly barcoded or is packaged in an oversize box, which Amazon has to correct before the item can be sold. You can avoid these fees entirely by carefully following Amazon's guidelines.

You can also sign up for additional services that have their own fees. You can have Amazon apply barcode labels at 30 cents per item, for instance. And they can package items to FBA standards, starting at 50 cents per item. These services are convenient, but weigh the costs before you sign up.

The FBA program can be a cost-effective way to manage your products, despite all the fees. Just do your research ahead of time. Amazon offers a few helpful tools for determining how much you'll pay for FBA, including a revenue calculator and a fee preview.

That's all for this edition of the DealNews Seller's Guide. If you liked what you heard, be sure to subscribe so you'll never miss a new one. And if you want to learn how you can turbocharge your Marketplace revenue and gain access to the exclusive DealNews traffic network, head to https://www.advertise.dealnews.com/ , or send an email to advertise@DealNews.com. Thanks for listening! 

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What You Should Know About Amazon Seller Fees

Selling on Amazon comes with a lot of fees — and if you don't pay close attention to them, it's all too easy to spend more than you make. We go over some of the most important fees you'll encounter as an Amazon seller.

 

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The 6 Best Inventory Management Software Options for Amazon Sellers

If your SKU numbers have begun to outpace your typing fingers, there is some useful software on the market that might help you organize your business so it can grow. We go over our six favorite options for Amazon inventory management software.​

If you're asking yourself whether inventory management software for Amazon sellers will help your business, you might already have your answer. After all, if you're able to easily track and reorder your Amazon inventory already, you probably don't need to change a thing. An Excel spreadsheet can go a long way!

It's also possible you simply don't trust artificial intelligence — maybe you aren't sure it can successfully reorder your inventory based on the velocity numbers you provide. Or maybe you worry that outsourcing important data to a software system will eventually prove unreliable or even disastrous.

But now, with bar codes and radio-frequency identification, you can reduce the time it has previously taken to track your inventory. If your stock-keeping-unit numbers have begun to outpace your typing fingers, there is some very useful software on the market that might just help you organize your business so it can grow.

Here are our six favorite options for Amazon inventory management software.

The Best Inventory Management Software for Amazon Sellers

Sellbrite

With plans that start at $0 per month, Sellbrite not only offers inventory management solutions that are useful, but they're also one of the more affordable companies on the market. (Note that the free plan only tracks up to 30 orders per month.) They're geared toward small- to medium-sized businesses who want to add or expand inventory.

With plans that start at $0 per month, Sellbrite is one of the more affordable companies offering Amazon inventory software.

Sellbrite also helps retailers with their online presence. Their software even tracks returns, something many of their competitors' software products don't do. Add to that SEO, catalogue and channel management, as well as data synchronization, and Sellbrite just might be the answer to some prayers you didn't even know you had.

Teikametrics

Teikametrics wants you to think they're all about driving growth to any e-commerce business selling on the Amazon Marketplace. Using an AI tool they call Flywheel, Teikametrics can help you optimize bids, monitor your ads, and also track your inventory. You can also personalize programs by using their software to plot out your goals.

SEE ALSO: 7 Reasons Why You Can Boost Your Business by Advertising on DealNews

Even better, they give you a 30-day trial to figure out how to best incorporate their many varied services into your existing business model. Prices start at $59 a month.

Listing Mirror

With a focus on e-commerce and supply chain businesses, Listing Mirror integrates product management with third-party websites. Their packages come in at one of the higher starting price points, at $69 a month. Listing Mirror is also relatively new to the marketplace, which can be worrisome given the rate at which startups fail.

Listing Mirror's ratings are consistently five stars.

But Listing Mirror's ratings are consistently five stars, even if they have fewer reviews than many of their competitors. They simply haven't been around long enough. But you can bet the technology and practical assistance they offer is cutting edge.

Veeqo

Veeqo wants to be known for its inventory management features. And they offer a lot of ways to help with inventory: control, automation, forecasting, reporting, and management. They even have an app. With this Amazon inventory software, you can sync your inventory in real time. And they say they'll get you access to the lowest U.S. Postal Service shipping rates.

SEE ALSO: How to Make the Most of Amazon Buyer-Seller Messages

After a 14-day trial period, their lowest package starts at $156 a month. They're also open to custom pricing options, if you're the kind of Amazon seller who knows exactly what you want.

SellerSprite

SellerSprite is a China-based brand (formerly known as Seller Spirit) that is relatively new to the U.S. market. It offers a standard plan that runs $98 a month; they'll track up to 100 products for you at that price. (There is also a free plan, but it tracks zero products.) For some sellers, it might also be helpful to know that Amazon MWS info is reportedly not required in order to use SellerSprite's software.

Amazon MWS info is reportedly not required to use SellerSprite's software.

On the downside, this is a company still ironing out some of its kinks — for example, some of the English on their website isn't translated well. But they work with eight marketplaces: the U.S., Japan, U.K., Germany, France, Italy, Canada, and Spain. This software is worth considering if your company plans to grow internationally.

QuickBooks Commerce

QuickBooks Commerce (formerly TradeGecko) uses an AI tool called Automation to organize and automate the repetitive work of inventory management. It will help you customize your workflow, so things you used to do manually now happen while you're busy doing other things. They'll even send Slack notifications to customers and staff. And they can help to automate your supply chain.

SEE ALSO: Which Multi-Channel E-Commerce Software Can Help YOUR Business Grow?

This Amazon inventory management software is especially useful for sellers with multiple warehouses, so you'll instantly know when inventory is low. Their most basic package will only run you $39 a month, but that only covers 10 sales orders or less. It's cheap, but maybe not too practical for a company hoping for meaningful growth. Their pricier packages, on the other hand, are much more comprehensive.

 

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Will the Best Items to Sell Online Be Different in March 2021 vs. March 2020?

Wondering what you should sell in March 2021? To help you out, we compared our shopping trends in March 2020 with those in March 2019. Plus, we'll tell you about three products to sell later in 2021.

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The 10 Best Items to Sell Online in March 2021

While 2020 wasn't a typical year, looking at the items that resonated with DealNews readers in March could provide valuable insight if you're a Marketplace seller. We examined our March 2020 shopping trends to give you a preview of what to sell in March 2021.

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3 MORE Reasons Why Advertising on DealNews Can Help Your Business

What is it about our DealNews that benefits sellers of all sizes?  We talk about why advertising on DealNews can boost your sales, plus offer tips for getting started.

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4 Reasons Why Advertising on DealNews Can Help Your Business

 

One website that could be a great complement to your current marketing mix is DealNews. From traffic to users to deal experience, we tell you why sellers can boost their bottom line by advertising on our site.

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Should You Stay in the Amazon Seller Fulfilled Prime Program?

Requirements for Amazon's Seller Fulfilled Prime program will be stricter come February 1. We give you questions to ask yourself to determine whether you should remain in the program, plus tips for adapting to the changes.

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