amazon vendor central

In this episode, I am joined by Scott Ohsman, a seasoned veteran of Amazon Vendor Central and an expert in the world of eCommerce.

He is also the VP of Digital Commerce at Quickfire, LLC, Speaker, Brand Strategist, and co-host of the "Always Off Brand" podcast.

Scott Ohsman's journey in the retail industry began long before eCommerce took center stage. He has seen the industry undergo significant shifts, from brick-and-mortar dominance to the rise of online marketplaces.

With over 28 years of experience in retail and eCommerce, Scott has not only launched over 200 brands on Amazon but also witnessed the platform's transformation from its early days to the present.

In this insightful conversation, we delve into the changing landscape of Amazon, the evolution of 1P (Vendor Central) and 3P (Third-Party Sellers) dynamics, Amazon's streamlined logistics, Amazon's response to antitrust concerns, and more.

Key Takeaways

- Meet Scott Ohsman (01:15)

- The importance of sales training (06:57)

- Vendor Central (1P) evolution (09:05)

- The big purge of Vendor Central in 2018 (17:01)

- The major changes in 1P (19:22)

- Strategic Vendor Services (21:08)

- Some Amazon news (25:08)

- Concerns with Amazon's streamlined logistics plan (30:26)

- FTC lawsuit against Amazon (34:02)

Additional Resources:

- Always Off Brand Podcast by Scott Ohsman: https://alwaysoffbrand.libsyn.com/

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- Schedule a FREE consultation with the Ave7 team

- Grab the FREE Amazon Seller Central Checklist

- Get the book “The Amazon Jungle” book by Jason Boyce

- Learn more about Avenue7Media

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Day 2 Podcast has a goal of helping Amazon sellers learn how to launch, grow and protect their brand on the world's largest online marketplace (and beyond).

Follow us on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode!

There are two ways you can sell on Amazon. You can sell through Seller Central (3P) or to Amazon via Vendor Central (1P). For many third-party sellers, 1P is somewhere they never want to go, but it's an absolute necessity for some brands.

Today's episode is all about 1P.

I interview Martin Heubel about the pros and cons and the common issues brands face when using Amazon Vendor Central.

Martin is a former Amazon Vendor Manager, strategy consultant, and ecommerce enthusiast. He is an Amazon vendor manager whisperer for brands looking to survive and thrive on Amazon 1P.

Having sat on the other side for many years, Martin has a unique perspective on what brands need to do to succeed on Amazon and beyond.

Often, we dehumanize Amazon, but once you listen to this episode and hear how they make some of their decisions, you'll understand why they do it.

They are not just thinking about you as a vendor; they are also thinking about the greater online retail landscape, which can make negotiations tough. This makes selling online complex, especially if you are selling to Amazon and other channels.

A key requirement for success for 1P sellers on Amazon Vendor Central is to have a solid channel control strategy to enforce pricing and distribution control across all your digital channels. This way, you can effectively negotiate with Amazon for price increases.

This is a valuable episode for any Vendor Central Seller who wants to understand the inner workings of Amazon. Even 3P sellers will get a lot of value for it.

Tune in.

Key Takeaways

- 1P vs. 3P from a brand and Amazon perspective (03:23)

- Amazon's excess warehousing capacity (07:22)

- The major cons of 1P (10:33)

- The Amazon marketplace is a mirror of your distribution strategy (14:39)

- Channel control in the digital age (20:07)

- Vendor central negotiation tactics (24:00)

- Amazon overstock problem (34:05)

- The #1 mistake vendors make when negotiating with Amazon (41:55)

Additional Resources:

Connect with Martin Heubel

✅  Website 

✅  LinkedIn

----

- Schedule a FREE consultation with the Ave7 team

- Grab the FREE Amazon Seller Central Checklist

- Get the book “The Amazon Jungle” book by Jason Boyce

- Learn more about Avenue 7 Media

----

Day 2 Podcast has a goal of helping Amazon sellers learn how to launch, grow and protect their brand on the world's largest online marketplace (and beyond).

Follow us on your favorite podcast platform so you never miss an episode!