Amazon sellers face a tough decision ahead of the holidays 🤨 [MDSR #35]

Hot Off The Presses 📰

We may officially have an election winner, but brands and retailers aren’t totally out of the woods of uncertainty. 

For starters, Trump’s tariffs could mean dramatically higher prices for consumers and retailers in the next year, and many brands are already scrambling for workarounds — like relocating their manufacturing to anywhere but China.

And as expert holiday sales forecasts continue to roll in, cautious optimism is being overtaken by predictions of a total mixed bag for retailers… Many of whom are still recovering from consumers using Amazon as a Halloween costume rental service. 

Then there’s Canada port strikes and Amazon’s capacity constraints popping up just in time for the holiday shopping rush. Experts say Amazon's West Coast congestion is unlikely to get resolved until the new year, forcing sellers to make difficult decisions before the holidays.

To avoid bottlenecks with more expensive restocking methods, or to risk low inventories when demand spikes? That is the question. 

If the facelift Amazon just gave its shopping app works to drive more sales — ideally of items other than toothpaste — maybe sellers will be able to afford the former. 

It turns out that only Amazon can afford to sell lower-priced items economically these days, and it’s partly thanks to Q3 results underscoring their position as an advertising and media juggernaut — and spending the last two years making it increasingly difficult for advertisers to *not* pour money into Amazon DSP. 

Speaking of peak season advertising, it’s looking like those ad dollars will go further if brands ditch the generational stereotypes and labels and focus on making customers feel valued year-round — not just when they’re expected to buy more. 

That said, you can bet your bottom dollar that every eCom giant is pulling out all the stops to foster strong customer relationships in time for the holidays. 

Amazon just opened an immersive virtual holiday shop to help shoppers find the perfect gift. Walmart is making holiday shopping more personalized with AI. Target’s holiday plans include in-store winter wonderland popup shops, complete with fantastical creatures. 

And TikTok Shop is reimagining BFCM with not just exclusive product drops and bigger brands to attract shoppers — but a strategic Venmo partnership to ensure a secure and seamless holiday shopping frenzy.

Million Dollar Advice 💸 

Once upon a time, selling on Amazon was something like the wild west. New sellers had less to lose, mistakes were low stakes, and there were plenty of loopholes for sellers to benefit from. 

If you’re thinking it’s still kosher to have poor account health, just know that the landscape has changed a lot. The stakes are higher.

And neglecting your Amazon account health rating is one mistake you don’t want to make leading up to the holiday season…

BFCM Hack: Use Buy With Prime on TikTok 🎁

With Amazon’s TikTok integration going live this month, TikTok users will soon be able to seamlessly buy Amazon products directly from ads featuring the Shop with Prime button. 

As BFCM approaches, there’s no better time to take advantage of the integration. To that end, here are five ways your brand can use Amazon’s Buy With Prime on TikTok to take your holiday strategy to the next level. 

1. Partner with influencers to build trust and drive traffic. This works best when you choose influencers who know the art of subtlety and selling without selling. Bonus points if they can incorporate casual mentions of Prime benefits like fast shipping and seamless checkout as if they’re talking to a friend.

2. Boost relevance with holiday-themed TikTok content. The secret is making content that feels organic rather than like an infomercial — and right now, authentic holiday content is what’s grabbing attention. 

3. Emphasize what’s in it for them with Buy With Prime. Shoppers care about things like fast shipping and overall convenience even more than usual leading up to the holidays, so don’t be afraid to remind them how fast they can get your products with Buy With Prime. 

4. Retarget TikTok viewers for another chance at conversion. TikTok’s retargeting options let you remind potential buyers of the exact product they were considering, and just how easy it is to check out with Buy With Prime — so make the most of it!

5. Maximize value with product bundling. Showcase your Buy With Prime-eligible bundles in TikTok ads positioning them as holiday gift sets or BFCM exclusive bundles. With the right visuals and messaging to highlight the value of your offer, TikTok users won’t be able to resist clicking Buy With Prime. 

Read the full article here. 

Think this is helpful?

Save the date: March 24-26, 2025 📆🥂

This year is almost a wrap and it’s time to start getting your ducks in a row for a successful 2025. That’s why we’re inviting you to brush elbows with 500 elite brands and innovators on TikTok Shop, Amazon, and DTC at MDS Inspire 2025.

📅 March 24-26, 2025 

📍Caesar Palace, Las Vegas 

You’re guaranteed to leave Vegas full of actionable growth strategies, valuable insights, and ready-to-try techniques.

It’s a year’s worth of content in three days where we can come together to learn what’s new, what’s hot, and what’s working right now in the eCom world at the only MDS event open to non-members.

Make sure you catch us at MDS Inspire 2025 ⬇️

Did you see that post 📲

Friendly reminder that the way you ship to Amazon matters… 🧐

Until next time ✌️

As always, thanks for sticking with us until the end. 

If you’d care to share your thoughts on this newsletter, we’re all ears. Just hit reply to sound off. 

See you next time with more of the latest and greatest content you need to succeed this year 🔥

Sincerely, 

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*To qualify, you must be a full-time seller or brand owner and do at least 1 million in verified annual revenue. Will Amazon’s Returnless Resolutions solve the returns debacle? [MDSR #30]