So here we are, approaching the last quarter of 2019 and it’s shaping up to be the biggest ever for Amazon sellers, but whilst most of you will enjoy higher sales, you’re leaving a lot of opportunities on the table if you don’t do anything differently to maximise how much you sell, and for how much. Top Amazon seller, Stephen Smotherman shares ten things you need to know to maximise profits and sales during this bumper period.
1. Amazon’s busy Q4 is November to January
Although most of us think of October to December as the fourth quarter, Stephen reminds us that, in terms of Amazon sales, November to January is when things really happen for Amazon sellers, so prepare yourself for a busy November and don’t panic too much if October isn’t keeping you too busy.
2. Keep plenty of stock for January too
For many sellers, January can be almost as busy and profitable as December, when many shoppers use those Amazon gift cards to get what they actually wanted for Christmas. The January sales are still a huge part of the retail calendar, so ensure you’ve got plenty of stock left in the new year.
3. Don’t let sales rank mislead you in Q4
Stephen reminds us products that perhaps ranked 200,000 to 300,000 during the summer and only sell twice per month, might sell one per day during December. Toys are an obvious example here but there are plenty of products that will shift a lot more volume during the run-up to Christmas.
4. Approval to sell toys is only for Merchant Fulfilled
If you’re worried that you may not get approved by Amazon to sell in the Toys & Games category during the holiday season, remember, that approval is only relevant if you’re selling Merchant Fulfilled toys—if you’re selling via FBA, approval is automatic during the holiday sales season.
5. Adjust your repricing strategy
Stephen recommends that sellers slow down on repricing as products can typically sell for more closer to Christmas. As a company with vast repricing experience, we would recommend you adjust your repricing strategies to follow trends upwards in price in November and December.
By looking on CamelCamelCamelyou’ll see if an item’s price tends to go up during the last quarter — if it does, you can quickly adjust its Min and Max upwards and allow the repricer to find you the most competitive price in line with other sellers. Regardless of what price your item is at, it needs to be competitive in relation to competitors if you’re going to win more Buy Box share and high visibility.
