Scott returns from a month of trade shows to break down what he’s seeing on the front lines of e-commerce, and why we’re entering a new era of “AI visibility” for Amazon sellers.

He shares how the largest brand client his team has ever signed actually found them through ChatGPT, and what that means for agencies, software tools, and brands trying to stand out online.

Scott walks through the major eras of selling on Amazon, from early booksellers and repricers to retail and wholesale resellers, the private label boom with Jungle Scout, the rise of Amazon advertising and analytics tools, TikTok Shop’s rapid growth, and now AI business agents and shopping assistants.

He explains how AI tools like ChatGPT and Gemini already influence which Amazon products, agencies, and software tools get recommended, and why strong written content, clear bullet points, and smart keyword strategy matter more than ever.

Episode Notes:

00:30 - Signing Up a Large Corporation

01:30 - The Evolution of Amazon Selling: Era by Era

06:50 - The Dawn of AI Visibility

07:29 - Understanding AI Visibility on Amazon

10:05 - Building Amazon Visibility

11:19 - Amazon vs. AI Shopping Agents

13:47 - Content Optimization for the AI Era

16:02 - Keyword Ranking by State

16:55 - SmartScout’s Feedback Tool

Related Post: The Ultimate Guide to Amazon Selling Tools (and How to Choose the Right One)

Scott’s Links:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/scott-needham-a8b39813

X: @itsScottNeedham

Instagram: @smartestseller

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@smartestamazonseller2371

Newsletter: https://www.smartscout.com/newsletter-sign-up

Blog: https://www.smartscout.com/blog

Discover why simplicity might be the ultimate Amazon strategy. This is straight from an industry veteran who’s seen it all.

In this episode, Scott sits down with Scotty O. of Quickfire and Always Off Brand podcast to unpack decades of experience navigating Amazon’s third-party marketplace.

From working with iconic brands like Columbia Sportswear and North Face to building agencies and embracing straightforward solutions over flashy tech, Scotty O. shares practical wisdom for sellers at every stage. They dive into the realities of ad management, finding your ideal client fit, surviving category competition, and why Amazon Business is suddenly a hot topic.

Episode Notes:

00:11 - Scotty O Introduction

03:08 - Scott Ohsman's Retail Journey

05:15 - Entering the Agency World
06:22 - Life at Quickfire

09:51 - Tech, Tools, and Agency Value

10:40 - Audience Awareness and Communication Styles
13:43 - Niche Services and Transparent Relationships

15:49 - The Realities of the Amazon Marketplace

17:39 - The Seller's Dilemma: Guarantees and Incremental Wins

21:15 - Pricing and Competition: Can Small Brands Win?

26:00 - Chinese Sellers, External Traffic, and Ad Tech

27:54 - Amazon Business: The Sleeping Giant

Related Post: How to Know Amazon Market Share by Category: What Brands Are Winning on Amazon and Why

How to Reach Scotty O:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/scott-ohsman-861196a6

Website: quickfirenow.com

Always Off Brand Podcast: Spotify  | Apple Podcast

Scott’s Links:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/scott-needham-a8b39813

X: @itsScottNeedham

Instagram: @smartestseller

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@smartestamazonseller2371

Newsletter: https://www.smartscout.com/newsletter-sign-up

Blog: https://www.smartscout.com/blog

Nick from Aiometrix explains how agentic AI can automate busywork and boost results for Amazon brands.

He began in a California garage with retail arbitrage, then expanded into wholesale and manufacturing during the COVID surge. Today, his team builds AI agents that connect to WMS and ad APIs to make real-time decisions on bids, budgets, and inventory so operators can focus on strategy.

Scott and Nick cover Amazon’s AI roadmap for sellers and shoppers, why large companies move slowly, then fast, and how to use copilots without losing human judgment. The conversation also touches on advances in image generation, including Google’s Nano Banana update, and what these developments could mean for PDP creative.

Episode Notes:

00:15 - Nick Bahr Introduction

01:35 - Nick’s Personal Background and Journey

03:04 - The Shift During Covid and Evolution in E-Commerce

05:15 - Amazon's Announcements and AI Adoption

07:24 - The Changing Landscape of AI in E-Commerce

09:20 - The Role and Potential of AI Agents

11:30 - Enhancing Workflow and Decision-Making with AI

13:40 - Specific Use Cases and Technology Developments

16:32 - The Complexity and Regionality in AI Applications

17:45 - Aiometrix: A ChatGPT for Amazon Sellers

18:45 - Education and Mastery in AI Interaction

20:10 - AI for Image Generation

22:15 - Aiometrix Special offer: FREEAGENTS30

Related Post: Top 10 Amazon Quotes From the Operators Podcast

How to Reach Nick:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nick-bahr-47346b9a/

Website: https://aiometrix.com/

Scott’s Links:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/scott-needham-a8b39813

X: @itsScottNeedham

Instagram: @smartestseller

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@smartestamazonseller2371

Newsletter: https://www.smartscout.com/newsletter-sign-up

Blog: https://www.smartscout.com/blog

Scott and Noah unpacks agency growth that actually moves the needle for Amazon sellers.

They tackle conference takeaways, real playbooks for managing hundreds of brands, and how “unreasonable hospitality” builds sticky B2B relationships. You will hear how top teams stay resilient, communicate proactively, and keep speed and flexibility at the center of every client touchpoint.

Also learn how AI is reshaping product discovery on Amazon, from ChatGPT workflows to Rufus and what that means for ranking, conversion, and revenue.

Instead of chasing vanity metrics, Scott and Noah show how to optimize for sales and profitability first, with SEO as a supporting lever.

If you run an Amazon agency or lead an in-house marketplace team, this episode is your roadmap to faster growth, smarter tools, and happier clients.

Episode Notes:

00:50 - Noah Wickham Introduction
02:25 - E-commerce Beginnings and Favorites
04:20 - Joining My Amazon Guy
05:24 -  Leadership Journey with Steven Pope
09:55 - What Amazon Sellers Value
11:00 - The Four Pillars of Amazon Success
11:59 - Amazon Accelerate
13:35 - Amazon’s AI Strategy and New Tools
15:45 - Building an AI Tool for Amazon Sellers
19:17 - Adapting to AI Search Behavior
20:25 - The Rise and Adoption of Rufus
21:55 - Golden Seller Awards
24:06 - Managing Hundreds of Seller Accounts
27:10 - The Importance of Speed and Execution
28:20 - Unreasonable Hospitality in B2B Contexts
29:10 - Fast Onboarding and Proactive Communication
31:04 - Business Growth, Innovation, and Culture

Sellers United 2025

Related Post: Top 10 Creator Brands on Amazon in 2025

How to Reach Noah:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/noahwickham/

Scott’s Links:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/scott-needham-a8b39813
X: @itsScottNeedham
Instagram: @smartestseller
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@smartestamazonseller2371
Newsletter: https://www.smartscout.com/newsletter-sign-up
Blog: https://www.smartscout.com/blog

Scott welcomes Dan Buford, known online as @1000Asins, to share the journey of scaling a wholesale Amazon business from the ground up.
Dan explains how he left a demanding real estate career in New York to pursue e-commerce, starting with retail arbitrage before shifting to wholesale during the pandemic. He highlights the breakthrough moment of selling yeast during COVID, which fueled his full-time transition, and discusses how his team now spans the US, Philippines, and Serbia with in-house prep operations to navigate changing FBA rules.
The conversation covers the realities of running a wholesale business today, from the challenges of account suspensions and rising fees to building profitable brand-direct relationships. Dan also shares insights into the future of wholesale, where resellers add value with SEO, content, and advertising support.

Episode Notes:

00:09 - Daniel Boufford Introduction

01:52 - Transition from Real Estate to Amazon Selling

03:15 - Retail & Online Arbitrage

04:05 - Pivot to Wholesale & Pandemic Opportunities

06:02 - Building and Scaling the Business

07:35 - Strategies for Wholesale Growth

08:40 - Market Trends & Seller Suspensions

12:15 - Evolution of the Wholesale Model

16:12 - Entry Barrier and Advice to New Sellers

20:14 - Wholesale Exit Opportunities & Business Valuation

23:00 - Insights from Seller Events & Community

25:10 - Content Creation and Personal Brand Building

Sellers United 2025

Related Post: The Best Carriers for Different Shipping Needs: A Data-Driven Guide

How to Reach Jeremy:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/danielboufford

Instagram: @1000asins

Scott’s Links:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/scott-needham-a8b39813

X: @itsScottNeedham

Instagram: @smartestseller

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@smartestamazonseller2371

Newsletter: https://www.smartscout.com/newsletter-sign-up

Blog: https://www.smartscout.com/blog

Scott invites Jeremy, founder and CEO of Euka.ai, to tell us how TikTok Shop is transforming e-commerce growth.

Jeremy shares how brands are leveraging micro-creators and affiliates to generate viral content, scale sales, and even create a halo effect that boosts demand on Amazon. Together, they unpack why TikTok has become a key driver for brands looking to go from zero to $100M in record time.

Scott and Jeremy also discuss how Euka’s AI-powered platform helps brands automate creator outreach, re-engagement, and incentive programs to keep affiliates producing high-performing content.

Episode Notes:

00:18 - Jeremy Yaoxin Ding Introduction

02:35 - The TikTok Affiliate Model Explained

05:40 - Yuka’s Tools for Brand Success

06:47 - Activating and Incentivizing Creators

09:38 - Category Suitability and Limitations

11:15 - The Evolving TikTok Shop Landscape

12:49 - Managing Creator Saturation

15:58 - TikTok Shop’s Halo Effect on Amazon Sales

18:05 - LTV-to-CAC Metric

19:44 - Performance Marketing and Incrementality

20:51 - Where Social Commerce Is Going

23:07 - Practical Steps for TikTok Shop Newcomers

Related Post: How Amazon Sellers Can Use Content Marketing to Increase Sales and Build Brand Authority

How to Reach Jeremy:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jeremy-yaoxin-ding-6bb60554

Website: https://www.euka.ai/about

Email: [email protected]

Scott’s Links:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/scott-needham-a8b39813

X: @itsScottNeedham

Instagram: @smartestseller

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@smartestamazonseller2371

Newsletter: https://www.smartscout.com/newsletter-sign-up

Blog: https://www.smartscout.com/blog

Scott welcomes Belal El-Harazin, founder of Automato AI, to discuss how AI is transforming Amazon content creation, keyword strategy, and catalog management.



Belal shares Automato AI’s mission to help sellers scale with automated content refreshes, brand voice integration, and powerful keyword discovery. Also highlighting fun.com’s AI-generated listings outperforming human copy.



The conversation covers the shift from manual listing updates to autonomous optimization, Amazon’s evolving search from keyword-driven to intent-based, and best practices for updating listings without losing relevance.



Belal also explains how Automato AI serves as an “operating system” for large catalogs, complete with analytics, segmentation, and price monitoring.

Episode Notes:

00:38 -  Belal El-Harazin Introduction
01:55 - Automato AI’s mission
03:06 - The Evolution of Amazon Content Creation
04:59 - Founding Story and Company Background
06:26 - Agency vs SaaS
08:50 - Analysis of Amazon Search Today
10:53 - The Power of Brand Voice in Amazon Content
12:24 - Intent vs Keyword Search
13:58 - Best Practices for Updating Amazon Listings
16:50 - Keyword Rotation and Relevance
19:17 - Discovering the Right Keywords
21:57 - Catalog Management for Scale
24:50 - Adoption and Getting Started with Automato AI

Related Post: The Ultimate Amazon Repricing Strategies: AI-Powered Price Optimization

How to Reach Belal:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/belharazin
Website: maverickdigital.com | automatoai.com

Scott’s Links:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/scott-needham-a8b39813
X: @itsScottNeedham
Instagram: @smartestseller
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@smartestamazonseller2371
Newsletter: https://www.smartscout.com/newsletter-sign-up
Blog: https://www.smartscout.com/blog

Scott is joined by CPG expert Nik Hall to discuss what truly drives success for consumer packaged goods brands on Amazon.

Drawing from his experience building and exiting a gummy vitamin company, Nik shares hard-earned insights on category trends, why most failures come from chasing hype too late, and how overlooked niches often present the best opportunities.

Get real-world lessons from both failed launches and breakout brands, highlighting the importance of strategy, timing, and execution.

Scott and Nik also explore how to validate product-market fit through blind taste tests, review mining, and competitor analysis. Nik emphasizes that in the world of consumables, taste still reigns supreme. No amount of marketing can save a mediocre product.

They discuss how tools like SmartScout can guide smarter decisions around product development and launch timing, offering a clear roadmap for new sellers aiming to succeed in today’s competitive CPG landscape.

Episode Notes:

00:15 - Nik Hall Introduction

01:20 - Nik’s Background

01:57 - Success vs. Failure in CPG on Amazon

03:31 - Chasing Trends: Opportunities and Pitfalls

05: 10 - Multi-Trend Positioning

08:30 - Taste and Longevity: What Really Drives LTV

08:52 - Product Development: Testing and Sensory Analysis

11:07 -  Navigating Manufacturing and Co-Packing Challenges

14:50 - Real-World Failure

18:17 - Product-Market Fit in CPG

19:03- Customer Conversations and Amazon Research

20:53 - Choosing a Launch Path

21:24 - The Realities of Retail

22:14 - The Permissionless Nature of Amazon and D2C

23:10 - Startup Resource Requirements

23:40 - Founders’ Stories

25:05 - Best Resources for New CPG Entrepreneurs

27:25 - Networking, Mentorship, and Building Real Relationships

29:08 - Content Marketing and Honest Advice

29:30 - Helping Select Brands and Giving Back

Related Post: The Top CPG Brands That Launched on Amazon Since 2018

How to Reach Nik:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/nikhall

Website: vitafive.com

Scott’s Links:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/scott-needham-a8b39813

X: @itsScottNeedham

Instagram: @smartestseller

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@smartestamazonseller2371

Newsletter: https://www.smartscout.com/newsletter-sign-up

Blog: https://www.smartscout.com/blog

Scott and Alan Weiss, CEO of AVX Returns and a former 8-figure reseller, unpack the real cost and hidden opportunity behind Amazon returns. They explore why return management is often overlooked, how AVX turns chaos into cash, and what resellers can do to stop leaving money on the table.

Episode Notes:

01:22 - Alan Weiss Introduction

02:23 - Alan’s Background and the start of AVX Returns

03:40 - The Reseller Landscape and the Sellers United Conference

04:33 - The Real Costs and Challenges of Handling Returns

07:35 - AVX Returns’ Unique Approach to Reseller Returns

10:30 - Return Categories and Recovery Realities

11:37 - Reimbursement Opportunities

13:06 - The Psychology and Business Wisdom of Returns Management

15:16 - Operational Best Practices for Sellers

Related Post: Why U.S. Amazon Shoppers Deliver Near-Double Value Compared to International Buyers

How to Reach Alan:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/alan-weiss-1b6a4431

Website: avxreturns.com

Email: [email protected]

Scott’s Links:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/scott-needham-a8b39813

X: @itsScottNeedham

Instagram: @smartestseller

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@smartestamazonseller2371

Newsletter: https://www.smartscout.com/newsletter-sign-up

Blog: https://www.smartscout.com/blog

Scott gets into the real-world financial decisions Amazon sellers face, especially when it comes to leveraging debt. He shares firsthand experience navigating inventory demands, Q4 cash crunches, and the lure of fast growth, while also examining the dangers of borrowing, from overvaluing inventory to the addictive cycle of continual loans.

Hear case studies, cautionary tales, and reflections on what separates sellers who survive from those who flame out. Whether you’re debating your first credit line or considering a private label acquisition, this episode offers grounded insight—and a compelling argument for building debt-free, sustainable Amazon businesses.

Episode Notes:

00:09 - Iconic Companies That Haven’t Taken Loans

01:12 - The Need for Cash in Amazon Selling

02:04  - Navigating Financial Leverage

02:26 - Types of Financial Leverage Used

06:32 - The Downside of Leverage

12:10 - A Case Study: Private Label Acquisition During Leverage

13:52 - Survival and Demise of Major Amazon Sellers

16:12 - The Case for Debt-Free Growth

18:21 - Amazon Accelerate

Related Post: Nike and Amazon's Renewed Partnership

Scott’s Links:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/scott-needham-a8b39813

X: @itsScottNeedham

Instagram: @smartestseller

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@smartestamazonseller2371

Newsletter: https://www.smartscout.com/newsletter-sign-up

Blog: https://www.smartscout.com/blog

Scott returns from Prosper to share some personal updates and Amazon insights.
Prime Day is expanding to four days this year — a move that makes sense as Amazon tries to give shoppers and sellers more time to take advantage of the buzz.
Scott also talks about the return of Sellers United this October near New York City, a conference built for resellers of all sizes.
Plus, he gives a casual rundown of what’s new at SmartScout. From tools that help track where your products get mentioned online to ways of better understanding pricing trends. It’s a laid-back, behind-the-scenes update with a bit of everything for Amazon sellers.

Episode Notes:

00:15 - New developments and Upcoming Announcements

01:14 - Amazon Prime Day – Strategy and Insights

02:30 - Sellers United Conference Announcement

05:57 - New Tools: Traffic Links

09:43 - Pricing Intelligence

14:40 - Content Marketing and Brand Awareness

Related Post: Who Competes with Circana? The Top Alternatives for Retail and CPG Data Intelligence

Scott’s Links:

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/scott-needham-a8b39813

X: @itsScottNeedham

Instagram: @smartestseller

YouTube: www.youtube.com/@smartestamazonseller2371

Newsletter: https://www.smartscout.com/newsletter-sign-up

Blog: https://www.smartscout.com/blog