Selling on Giants: The eCommerce Marketplace Podcast

Selling on Giants: The eCommerce Marketplace Show

Selling on Giants: The eCommerce Marketplace Show is dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs and businesses with the insights, strategies, and best practices needed to succeed across major eCommerce platforms such as Amazon, Walmart, Shopify, and WooCommerce. Our podcast covers a broad spectrum of eCommerce topics, including product sourcing, inventory management, pricing, advertising, customer service, and fulfillment. We focus on the latest trends and developments within the industry, featuring interviews with experts, successful sellers, and thought leaders who offer valuable insights and actionable tips. Our mission is to be a comprehensive resource for anyone looking to build a successful online business on these leading eCommerce marketplaces.

  1. 3d ago

    Bruce Lee’s Amazon PPC Lesson: Stop Swinging at Keywords That Don’t Land

    Send us Fan Mail This episode of Selling on Giants takes a different look at Amazon PPC, keyword stuffing, and why most ad accounts do not need more campaigns, more keywords, or more daily adjustments. They need subtraction. Using Bruce Lee’s philosophy from Tao of Jeet Kune Do, Mr. Will breaks down why high-performing Amazon ad accounts are not built by adding endless layers. They are built by removing what does not work, focusing on what actually lands, and simplifying the system so the signal becomes clear. Bruce Lee’s idea was simple: do not add moves for the sake of adding moves. Strip away what is unessential. Keep what works under pressure. Amazon advertising works the same way. In this episode, we cover: Why most Amazon PPC accounts are overbuilt Many accounts look sophisticated from the outside, with hundreds or thousands of keywords, dozens of campaigns, overlapping match types, competitor campaigns, defensive campaigns, and constant bid changes. Under the hood, much of that structure creates noise instead of performance. Why every keyword is a punch Every keyword is an attempt to land with the right shopper at the right moment. The question is whether those punches are actually landing, or whether the account is spending money swinging at traffic that never converts. Why adding feels like control When performance drops, sellers usually add more campaigns. When A-Costs rises, they add more keywords. When sales slow, they test another tactic. It feels productive, but Amazon does not reward activity. It rewards outcomes. Why context beats rigid PPC rules Rules like “always negate after X clicks” or “always scale low A-Costs” can be useful, but only when the operator understands the situation behind the metric. A keyword with no sales might need to be cut, lowered, isolated, or given more time depending on context. What BellaVix removes first The episode breaks down the practical subtraction process, including irrelevant traffic, non-converting spend, overlapping campaign structure, low-value tactics, and over-optimization caused by reacting to unstable data. What high-performing accounts keep Once the noise is removed, the account should be built around high-intent keywords, clear campaign roles, bidding tied to real math, non-brand growth, and decisions grounded in context instead of guesswork. Why simple does not mean easy Simple accounts are easier to understand, faster to manage, and better at revealing what is actually working. But simple still requires judgment, discipline, and knowing when to push, pull back, cut, or leave the account alone. The bigger takeaway: You do not need more keywords. You need better ones. You do not need more campaigns. You need clearer ones. You do not need another strategy stacked on top of a cluttered account. You need less of what is not working. This episode is for Amazon sellers, brand owners, marketplace operators, and ad managers who are tired of confusing activity with progress and want a cleaner way to think about profitable growth. The question is simple: are your keywords landing, or are you hoping one eventually does? Follow Selling on Giants for operator-level breakdowns on Amazon PPC, marketplace strategy, Walmart growth, retail media, and the systems that help brands scale profitably. Subscribe to Selling on Giants for weekly insights that go beyond headlines and focus on what actually impacts your business.

    15 min
  2. 5d ago

    Post-Prime Day News Update: Smaller Baskets, AI Shopping Traffic, and Walmart’s Retail Media Push

    Send us Fan Mail This week’s Selling on Giants News and Updates breaks down what happened after Prime Day and what it tells us about the second half of eCommerce in 2026. Prime Day beat expectations, but the headline sales number does not tell the whole story. U.S. online spending grew strongly, but average order value declined, household spend softened, and shoppers leaned heavily into lower-ticket products, essentials, grocery, household items, supplements, and consumables. The consumer is still spending. They are just spending more intentionally. In this episode, Mr. Will covers: Prime Day beat expectations, but baskets got smaller Prime Day delivered strong top-line growth, but smaller average orders show that shoppers were more value-conscious. For sellers, the post-event review cannot stop at revenue. Brands need to look at contribution margin, inventory depletion, new-to-brand customers, Subscribe and Save enrollment, organic rank movement, ACoS, TACoS, and ROAS. AI shopping traffic is no longer experimental AI-referred shopping traffic surged during Prime Day and converted better than many traditional sources. That is a major signal for Amazon sellers, DTC brands, and marketplace operators. AI discovery is becoming measurable, which means product data, structured attributes, clear bullets, reviews, images, and product feeds matter more than ever. Amazon’s Item Highlights and title changes Amazon’s new Item Highlights field, combined with the upcoming 75-character title limit, shows that listing optimization is entering a new phase. Sellers can no longer rely on keyword-stuffed titles. Titles, highlights, bullets, images, attributes, and A+ Content need to work together as one structured listing system. FBM handling times and operational discipline Amazon’s new seller-fulfilled handling time requirements are now live. Sellers need accurate SKU-level handling times or Amazon may adjust them based on historical performance. This impacts delivery promises, conversion, Buy Box eligibility, and Seller Fulfilled Prime performance. The INFORM Act as an account health issue Amazon is reminding high-volume sellers to keep business information, identification, bank details, tax information, and annual certifications current. Compliance is no longer background paperwork. It is part of account health and long-term marketplace stability. Walmart acquires Vibe.co and moves deeper into connected TV Walmart’s planned acquisition of Vibe.co shows that Walmart is building a full-funnel advertising platform, not just a marketplace. Walmart Connect, VIZIO, first-party shopper data, closed-loop measurement, and self-service connected TV could make streaming advertising more accessible to marketplace brands. Walmart Sparky and AI-powered shopping Walmart’s Sparky AI assistant is becoming part of the shopping experience, including live commerce. Alongside Amazon, Google, OpenAI, and Shopify, Walmart is rebuilding product discovery around conversational AI and machine-readable product data. WFS long-term storage fees and Walmart Marketplace maturity Walmart Fulfillment Services is introducing long-term storage fees for aging inventory. This brings Walmart closer to the FBA model and reinforces that inventory planning, sell-through, bundling, liquidation, and SKU discipline matter more as Walmart Marketplace matures. Walmart product claims enforcement Walmart is tightening policy around Made in USA, biodegradable, compostable, PFAS, and other product claims. Sellers need to make sure packaging, images, descriptions, attributes, and marketing claims are accurate and supported. FedEx, tariffs, and supply chain pressure FedEx results suggest parcel demand remains healthy, but shipping costs and carrier margins are still under pressure. At the same time, new tariff proposals tied to forced labor enforcement could expand sourcing complexity beyond China. Sellers need to stress test landed costs, shipping assumptions, supplier documentation, and margin sensitivity before peak season. The bigger takeaway: Prime Day may be over, but the real work starts now. The strongest brands will not be the ones that only celebrated top-line sales. They will be the ones that review margins, clean product data, fix listings, audit compliance, protect inventory, and prepare for the next wave of platform changes. The market is still growing. It is just getting less forgiving. Follow Selling on Giants for weekly operator-level breakdowns on Amazon, Walmart, retail media, AI commerce, marketplace strategy, eCommerce profitability, and what actually changes for brands responsible for growth. Subscribe to Selling on Giants for weekly operator-level breakdowns on Amazon, Walmart, retail media, marketplace strategy, AI commerce, eCommerce growth, and what actually changes for brands responsible for profitability.

    23 min
  3. From Farmers Market to National Retail: 30 Years of Growth for Left Coast Naturals

    Jun 25

    From Farmers Market to National Retail: 30 Years of Growth for Left Coast Naturals

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Selling on Giants, we sit down with Ian Walker, President and Co-Founder of Hippie Snacks and Left Coast Naturals, to unpack what it really takes to build a successful retail brand. From humble beginnings selling at a farmer's market nearly 30 years ago, Ian has grown the business into a leading manufacturer, brand owner, and distributor supporting more than 40 natural food brands across North America. Along the way, he's learned firsthand why retail success requires far more than simply landing shelf space. Ian shares practical advice on: - How to determine if your brand is truly ready for retail. - The biggest mistakes digital-first brands make when expanding into stores. - Why understanding retailer, distributor, and manufacturer margins is critical. - How to budget for listing fees, promotions, advertising, and trade spend. - The importance of starting with core retailers and expanding region by region. - How private label, distribution, and diversified revenue streams can help fund long-term brand growth. - Why curiosity, patience, and continuous learning are some of the greatest competitive advantages in consumer products. Whether you're selling on Amazon, building a DTC brand, or preparing to enter retail for the first time, this conversation offers a realistic look at the financial and operational challenges of omnichannel growth—and the strategies that help brands succeed for the long haul. If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to like, subscribe, and follow Selling on Giants for more conversations with founders, operators, and industry experts helping brands scale across Amazon, retail, and beyond. Website: https://www.leftcoastnaturals.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leftcoastnaturals/# Twitter: https://x.com/leftcoastfoods LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/left-coast-naturals/

    26 min
  4. Jun 23

    Prime Week News Update: Amazon Prime Day, Walmart Deals, and Target Circle Deal Days

    Send us Fan Mail This week’s Selling on Giants News and Updates breaks down the biggest retail promotional window of the summer. Amazon Prime Day is the center of gravity, but it is no longer the only event competing for shopper attention. Walmart Deals, Target Circle Deal Days, Best Buy Tech Fest, TikTok Shop promotions, DTC websites, email offers, Google Shopping, and retail media campaigns are all fighting for the same customer during the same week. The customer is not thinking about retailer calendars. They are thinking: Everything is on sale. In this episode, we cover: Amazon Prime Day is the main event Amazon Prime Day remains the center of gravity, with major discounts, daily deal drops, Amazon Haul promotions, and Alexa for Shopping becoming part of the customer discovery experience. Why Amazon Haul matters Amazon Haul’s aggressive discounting shows how Amazon is pushing value-conscious shoppers toward lower-priced products, creating greater pressure on private-label brands, low-ASP sellers, and price-sensitive categories. Alexa for Shopping and AI-driven discovery Amazon is training shoppers to delegate more of the buying process to AI. That means sellers need listings that are clear to both humans and shopping agents, with strong product data, attributes, reviews, pricing, and fulfillment signals. Amazon’s upcoming title changes Starting July 27th, Amazon’s title structure changes will force sellers to rethink keyword-stuffed titles, searchable fields, Item Highlights, and how listing content works together after Prime Day. Walmart Deals is no longer a side event Walmart Deals is running directly against Prime Week traffic, supported by Walmart Plus, Walmart Connect, Sam’s Club Connect, and a stronger retail media infrastructure. Walmart Connect and full-funnel retail media Walmart’s growing retail media stack, including first-party audiences and off-platform measurement, shows that Walmart is becoming a more serious advertising ecosystem for marketplace sellers. Target, Best Buy, TikTok Shop, and DTC competition Target Circle Deal Days, Best Buy Tech Fest, TikTok Shop Deals For You Days, and brand websites are all part of the same promotional moment. Shoppers are comparing across platforms, not shopping in isolated channels. Why execution matters more than discounts The deepest discount does not matter if the listing does not convert, the Buy Box is unstable, the campaign runs out of budget, or the hero product goes out of stock. The bigger takeaway: Prime Day has become the summer version of Black Friday, but even that framing may be too narrow now. This is a retail-wide promotional battle. Amazon is still the main event, but Walmart, Target, Best Buy, TikTok Shop, and DTC brands are all fighting for the same consumer attention. Promotions amplify fundamentals. They do not replace them. Subscribe to Selling on Giants for weekly operator-level breakdowns on Amazon, Walmart, retail media, marketplace strategy, AI commerce, eCommerce growth, and what actually changes for brands responsible for profitability.

    20 min
  5. Jun 18

    Why Some eCommerce Founders Get Lucky and Others Stay Stuck

    Send us Fan Mail This episode of Selling on Giants breaks down why some eCommerce founders always seem to catch a break while others stay stuck, even when they are operating in the same market, using the same tools, and facing the same competitors. The easy explanation is luck. But after working across enough Amazon, Walmart, Target, and broader marketplace accounts, the pattern looks different. Some brands are not luckier. They interpret signals differently, move faster, stay engaged longer, and treat setbacks as feedback instead of failure. In this episode, we cover: Why “luck” is often behavior, not randomness Psychologist Dr. Richard Wiseman’s research on luck shows that lucky people tend to notice more opportunities, act faster, expect better outcomes, and reinterpret setbacks in ways that keep them moving. Why opportunity usually looks like a problem first In eCommerce, opportunity rarely shows up cleanly. It often looks like rising CPCs, crowded categories, slower reviews, weak conversion, or a launch that does not match the forecast. How two founders can see the same data differently One founder sees rising ad costs and says the category is too expensive. Another sees demand and starts improving the offer, listing, creative, pricing, and conversion path. Why speed matters more than perfection The cleanest brand on day one does not always win. The brand that learns faster usually does. Real data comes from being live, testing, and listening to the market. How failure separates operators A weaker operator sees failure as a verdict. A stronger operator sees it as feedback. That one word, “yet,” keeps a team in the game long enough to improve the offer, creative, pricing, positioning, or product strategy. Why expectations shape execution Mindset is not soft. It affects budget decisions, testing cadence, risk tolerance, and how quickly a founder responds to data. The market is hard, but some brands are still growing Costs are up. Competition is real. Advertising is more complex. Review building is harder. Consumers are more selective. And still, some brands are finding ways to win. The bigger takeaway: Luck is not always random. A lot of the time, luck is how you interpret what is in front of you. Same market. Same challenges. Same inputs. Different approach. The brands that move forward treat data as feedback, act before the window closes, and stay engaged after others stop. They do not ignore problems. They simply do not let problems decide what happens next. The edge is not magic. It is perception. Behavior. Speed. Resilience. If you are building on Amazon, Walmart, Target, or across marketplaces, this episode gives you a practical way to think about momentum, setbacks, and why some founders seem to create more opportunity than others. Follow Selling on Giants for operator-level breakdowns on marketplace strategy, Amazon growth, Walmart expansion, eCommerce leadership, and what it really takes to build a stronger brand. Subscribe to Selling on Giants for weekly insights that go beyond headlines and focus on what actually impacts your business.

    14 min
  6. Jun 16

    Last-Minute eCommerce Prep Before Amazon Prime Day, Walmart Deals, and Target Circle Week

    Send us Fan Mail This week’s Selling on Giants is focused on one thing: last-minute preparation before the biggest promotional window of the summer. Amazon Prime Day runs June twenty third through June twenty sixth. Target Circle Deal Days runs during the same window. Walmart Deals starts one day earlier, on June twenty second, and runs through June twenty eighth. That means consumers are not thinking about this as one Amazon event. They are thinking, everything is on sale. They will compare Amazon, Walmart, Target, brand websites, Google Shopping, email offers, Meta ads, TikTok content, and whatever promotion gets in front of them first. For sellers, that makes this more than a marketplace event. It is a retail-wide battle for attention, trust, inventory, and conversion. In this episode, Mr. Will breaks down the final actions brands can still take one week out. At this stage, the goal is not to rebuild the strategy. Inventory should already be moving. Promotions should already be approved. Budgets should already be aligned. The job now is to remove friction before traffic arrives. In this episode, we cover: Amazon Prime Day hero ASIN audits Why brands need to review top-performing ASINs like first-time shoppers, checking main images, reviews, pricing, A plus Content, mobile experience, and the first three images before expensive event traffic hits. Amazon ad cleanup before CPCs rise How sellers can use recent search term reports to remove waste, cut irrelevant traffic, clean up high-spend non-converting terms, and stop funding keywords that already proved they do not convert. Sponsored Products, Sponsored Brands, video, and placement coverage Why Prime Day shoppers do not move in a straight line, and why brands need visibility across Top of Search, Sponsored Brands, Sponsored Brand Video, Product Pages, and Brand Store pathways. Subscribe and Save, bundles, and cross-sell opportunities How brands can turn first-time Prime Day buyers into longer-term customers by reviewing Subscribe and Save offers, Brand Store navigation, bundles, and complementary product paths before customers leave. Inventory alignment with advertising Why brands should protect hero ASINs first, align spend with available inventory, and avoid pushing traffic into products that may run out of stock during the event. Walmart Deals preparation What sellers should check before Walmart Deals, including Buy Box ownership, Walmart Connect coverage, listing quality, WFS inventory, fulfillment speed, and competitive pricing. Target Circle Deal Days preparation Why brands active through Target and Roundel should review budgets, campaign caps, promotional participation, product content, hero SKUs, and inventory before Circle Deal Days begins. DTC and website readiness Why brand websites still matter during Prime Day week, including summer sale landing pages, email and SMS capture, retargeting, bundles, and pre-event email campaigns. Team readiness and reporting Why every brand needs clear owners for budget pacing, Buy Box checks, pricing, inventory monitoring, promotion issues, dashboards, and escalation before the event starts. The bigger takeaway: Prime Day has become the summer version of Black Friday. Amazon is still the center of gravity, but Walmart, Target, and DTC brands are all competing for the same shopper during the same promotional window. The winners will not always be the brands with the deepest discounts. They will be the brands with the strongest operational execution, cleanest customer experience, best inventory discipline, and fewest surprises. Promotions amplify fundamentals. They do not replace them. Follow Selling on Giants for weekly operator-level breakdowns on Amazon, Walmart, retail media, marketplace strategy, eCommerce growth, and what actually changes for brands responsible for profitability. Subscribe to Selling on Giants for weekly insights that go beyond headlines and focus on what actually impacts your business.

    15 min
  7. Why Great Products Fail in Retail (And How 7 Summits Snacks Got It Right)

    Jun 11

    Why Great Products Fail in Retail (And How 7 Summits Snacks Got It Right)

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Selling on Giants: Going Retail, Will sits down with Kristyn Carriere, co-founder of 7 Summits Snacks, to discuss the realities of building a food brand and successfully expanding into retail. 7 Summits Snacks was born from a unique partnership between two sisters—Kristyn, a food scientist, and her sister, a former Canadian decathlete. Together, they created a functional chocolate energy bar that delivers great taste, premium ingredients, and performance-focused nutrition for active consumers. During the conversation, Kristyn shares how the company launched through a crowdfunding campaign during the pandemic, built an early e-commerce presence, and eventually grew retail into 75% of the business. She explains why listening to customer feedback played a critical role in deciding where and how to expand. Will and Kristyn explore some of the biggest lessons brands should understand before entering retail, including the importance of shelf positioning, packaging design, pricing strategy, and understanding the competitive landscape. Kristyn also offers practical advice for founders on working with retail buyers, conducting customer research, and ensuring their products stand out in crowded categories. The episode highlights the differences between selling online and in-store, and why success in retail requires brands to think beyond simply having a great product. From understanding customer purchasing behavior to designing packaging for specific retail environments, Kristyn provides actionable insights for brands considering the move into physical retail. The discussion wraps up with a preview of 7 Summits Snacks' newest innovation—a protein-focused chocolate snack designed to meet growing consumer demand for high-protein options while staying true to the brand's chocolate-first philosophy. Whether you're a digital-first brand exploring retail opportunities or a founder looking to strengthen your retail strategy, this episode offers valuable lessons from a company actively navigating both channels. Website: https://sevensummitssnacks.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/7summitssnacks Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/7SummitsSnacks  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/seven-summits-snacks/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristyncarriere/

    24 min
  8. Jun 9

    Amazon Brand Gallery, AI Search, Reddit Visibility, and Why eCommerce Is Becoming More Connected

    Send us Fan Mail This week’s Selling on Giants breaks down the June ninth marketplace updates shaping Amazon sellers, Walmart operators, retail media teams, and eCommerce brands preparing for a more connected and more demanding commerce environment. The theme this week is clear: eCommerce is not getting less complex. It is getting more connected. Amazon is turning Sponsored Brands into richer discovery experiences with Brand Gallery. Amazon is also pushing AI-powered visual search, making creative assets part of product discoverability. Reddit is becoming more important for GenAI visibility as AI systems learn from real customer conversations. Walmart’s internal AI usage is so high the company had to cap access, showing that AI adoption is moving from experimentation into daily operations. At the same time, DHL’s ten billion dollar USPS deal shows how last-mile delivery is becoming shared infrastructure. Tariff policy and import volatility are putting pressure back into supply chain planning. McKinsey’s consumer research shows shoppers are still spending, but they are far more selective. Retail bankruptcies continue exposing weak operators. And brands are preparing for World Cup demand without needing official sponsorship rights. In this episode, we cover: Amazon Sponsored Brands Brand Gallery Amazon introduced Brand Gallery for Sponsored Brands, giving advertisers a richer way to showcase multiple products and brand assets. This is another signal that Amazon advertising is moving beyond single-ASIN transactions and toward brand discovery, catalog exploration, and customer lifetime value. Amazon AI visual search Amazon’s AI image generator for search bar queries shows that shoppers may increasingly search with concepts, aesthetics, and outcomes instead of exact keywords. For sellers, that means product photography, lifestyle imagery, structured data, and creative quality are becoming part of search visibility. Reddit and GenAI visibility AI search engines and large language models increasingly rely on Reddit discussions to understand products, categories, buying advice, and customer sentiment. In an AI-driven world, authentic reputation may become one of the most valuable marketing assets a brand can build. Walmart’s internal AI adoption Walmart reportedly capped usage of an internal AI tool after employee demand exceeded expectations. The bigger signal is that AI is becoming operational infrastructure inside companies, not just a customer-facing commerce trend. DHL’s ten billion dollar USPS partnership DHL’s last-mile delivery deal with USPS shows that fulfillment infrastructure is becoming more interconnected. Even major logistics providers are choosing partnership over duplication as the last mile remains expensive and difficult to operate profitably. Tariffs, forced labor enforcement, and import timing Trade policy uncertainty and NRF’s import forecast show that supply chain planning is back in focus. Brands are pulling inventory forward to manage tariff risk, freight uncertainty, and peak-season readiness, but that also creates cash flow and forecasting pressure. The selective consumer McKinsey’s latest consumer research reinforces that shoppers are still spending, but they are asking harder questions before they buy. Value does not always mean cheapest. It means the purchase feels smart, trustworthy, and worth the money. Retail bankruptcies and operational discipline Retail bankruptcies continue showing that revenue does not protect businesses. Weak margins, poor inventory management, high fixed costs, and failure to adapt continue separating strong operators from fragile ones. World Cup marketing without official sponsorships Brands are finding ways to participate in World Cup demand through cultural relevance, watch parties, social content, fan experiences, and seasonal campaigns without paying for official sponsorship rights. The bigger takeaway: Advertising connects to creative. Creative connects to search. Search connects to AI interpretation. AI interpretation connects to customer conversations. Supply chain connects to ad efficiency. Inventory connects to ranking. Fulfillment connects to customer trust. And cultural relevance connects to demand. The edge is not in hacks. It is in execution, clean systems, and fast decisions. Follow Selling on Giants for weekly operator-level breakdowns on Amazon, Walmart, retail media, AI commerce, marketplace strategy, supply chain risk, and what actually changes for brands responsible for growth and profitability. Subscribe to Selling on Giants for weekly insights that go beyond headlines and focus on what actually impacts your business.

    21 min
5
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

Selling on Giants: The eCommerce Marketplace Show is dedicated to empowering entrepreneurs and businesses with the insights, strategies, and best practices needed to succeed across major eCommerce platforms such as Amazon, Walmart, Shopify, and WooCommerce. Our podcast covers a broad spectrum of eCommerce topics, including product sourcing, inventory management, pricing, advertising, customer service, and fulfillment. We focus on the latest trends and developments within the industry, featuring interviews with experts, successful sellers, and thought leaders who offer valuable insights and actionable tips. Our mission is to be a comprehensive resource for anyone looking to build a successful online business on these leading eCommerce marketplaces.

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