Marketplace Mavericks

Jonathan Cutler, Peter Phillips, Blake Jennings

Three 40+ old everyday guys stumbled into the world of Amazon arbitrage and share a transparent view of how online selling has changed their lives. The goal is to empower others with an unfiltered view of how the business works, what to look out for and how to get started with little experience.

  1. 5d ago

    She's Been Sourcing Amazon Brands Since 2003 — Here's Her Trade Show Playbook

    Most Amazon sellers source the same way everyone else does — and then wonder why every brand they email already has ten resellers. Diana Gershman doesn't have that problem. She's been doing brand-direct wholesale since 2003, and she sources where almost no one else is looking: the trade show floor. In this special part-podcast, part-webinar edition of Marketplace Mavericks, host @BuyBoxMaverick sits down with Diana Gershman — founder of Sellers United, the annual convention coming up in August — for a free-form, high-value breakdown of how she finds, networks, and closes brand accounts at trade shows. With 25 years in the space, Diana is a rare OG who has watched Amazon change over and over and kept mastering her craft the whole way through. This one is tactical and unscripted. Diana sits down with the host and students from their online class to walk through exactly how she builds her sourcing spreadsheets, how she preps for and attacks a trade show, how she networks a room without being salesy, and how she wins accounts by quietly adding value and solving brands' problems before she ever asks for anything. It's a masterclass in the relationship side of wholesale that spreadsheets alone can't teach. Whether you're brand new to Amazon or years into wholesale and looking for a sourcing edge nobody else is using, this is your roadmap to the trade show channel. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: Why trade shows are an underused sourcing channel for Amazon wholesale and brand-directHow a 25-year veteran preps before walking the floorThe spreadsheet system Diana uses to organize and prioritize brandsHow to network a trade show room without sounding like a salespersonThe "add value first" approach: fixing a brand's problems before asking for the accountHow to turn a single conversation on the floor into a long-term brand partnershipWhat's changed — and what hasn't — in Amazon sourcing over 25 yearsHow mastering one craft over time compounds into a real competitive advantageCONNECT WITH DIANA: Sellers United: [LINK] Sellers United Convention (August): [LINK] Instagram / LinkedIn: [LINK]FOLLOW MARKETPLACE MAVERICKS: Subscribe & turn on notifications: [LINK] Instagram / TikTok / YouTube: [LINK] Join Operation Amazon: [LINK] New episodes weekly. Like, subscribe, and share this with a seller who needs a better way to source. KEYWORDS: Amazon FBA, Amazon wholesale, brand direct, trade show sourcing, wholesale sourcing, Amazon selling, ecommerce business, brand partnerships, Amazon seller tips, scaling on Amazon, sourcing spreadsheet, networking, Sellers United, Diana Gershman, ungating, ecommerce entrepreneur #AmazonFBA #AmazonWholesale #BrandDirect #TradeShowSourcing #WholesaleSourcing #AmazonSeller #Ecommerce #AmazonBusiness #FBAWholesale #SourcingStrategy #SellersUnited #Entrepreneur #SellingOnAmazon #AmazonSourcing #MarketplaceMavericks

    1h 8m
  2. May 28

    From Side Hustle to Brand Direct Empire: How Jonah Hodges Cracked the Amazon Wholesale Code

    In this episode of Marketplace Mavericks, host John sits down with Jonah Hodges (@jonahhodges_) — a 15-year Amazon veteran who turned a high school side hustle into a full-blown brand direct wholesale operation. Jonah pulls back the curtain on how he went from reselling textbooks and used Apple products in 2010, to running a mini-agency with 12+ VAs, scaling exclusive brand partnerships, and coaching sellers inside The Wholesale Network. If you're a wholesale or brand direct seller — or you're stuck in OA/RA and wondering what's next — this conversation is loaded with practical gold. 🔑 What we cover: Why Jonah ditched pure reselling after one too many listing cutoffsHow "fixing listings for free" became his secret door-opener with brandsThe myth-busting conversation every Amazon seller needs to have with brands (you're NOT an agency)Structuring deals: exclusives, contracts, buyout clauses & launch protectionWhy phone calls and trade shows crush cold emails every single timeBrand launches that flop vs. brand launches that print — the difference is in the dataHow Jonah uses AI without falling down the rabbit hole (rules: make money, save time, improve client journey)Building VAs and a team that actually scale your businessThe transactional vs. relationship mindset shift that separates wholesale from arbitrageDistributors as gate-openers — and why you should be talking to them tooWhat's ahead for The Wholesale Network: more exclusives, AI tooling, and faster brand launchesWhether you're doing $5K a month or $250K a month, Jonah's perspective on partnership, patience, and playing the long game will change how you approach your next pitch. 🔗 Follow Jonah: Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/jonahhodges_/X / Twitter → https://x.com/jonahhodges_YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@jonahhodges_🎙 Next week on Marketplace Mavericks: Diana Gershman joins to break down how she sources and dominates trade shows — a must-watch on YouTube. If you got value from this episode, smash that like button, subscribe, and share it with someone who's tired of getting cut off listings. #AmazonFBA #BrandDirect #Wholesale #AmazonSellers #Ecommerce #MarketplaceMavericks #JonahHodges #TheWholesaleNetwork #AmazonBusiness #BrandPartnerships

    53 min
  3. May 21

    Stop Flipping Products: The Brand-Direct Move That Builds a Real Business

    Most Amazon sellers walk away from a brand after one "no." That instinct is exactly why they never land the accounts that change everything. In this episode of Marketplace Mavericks, host @BuyBoxMaverick sits down with wholesale operator Justin Taliaferro (@jett.llc) to unpack the real mechanics of going brand-direct on Amazon — including the story of a seller who hadn't spoken to a brand in over a year, got a surprise call out of nowhere, and walked straight into an $80,000-a-month exclusive deal. This is a tactical, no-fluff conversation about making the jump from online arbitrage (OA) and retail arbitrage (RA) into Amazon wholesale and brand-direct selling — the model where you stop chasing the next product flip and start building an actual business. Justin and the host get into what scaling really takes: when to hire your first VA, why building systems too early will burn you, how to run 100–150 outreach calls a week, and how to structure deals that make brands want to work with you instead of around you. Whether you're three weeks into Amazon or a year into wholesale and grinding to scale, this one is a roadmap for turning a side hustle into a sustainable, partnership-driven business. WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: Why wholesale and brand-direct beat retail/online arbitrage for building a repeatable businessThe "Buy Back Your Time" mindset shift every solo seller needsWhen to hire a VA and an ad agency — and why hiring slightly early unlocks scaleThe #1 mistake new founders make: building systems and SOPs before the revenue exists to support themWhy outreach is a volume game — and why you should call, not email"Follow up till they die": how timing turns dead leads into six-figure accountsHow transparent fee breakdowns (FBA, referral fees, advertising) build trust and close better dealsWhy Amazon should be a premium sales channel — never your discount channelHow to evolve from "reseller" to a true brand partner who tells the brand's story#AmazonFBA #AmazonWholesale #BrandDirect #OnlineArbitrage #RetailArbitrage #AmazonSeller #Ecommerce #AmazonBusiness #FBAWholesale #SideHustle #Entrepreneur #AmazonTips #SellingOnAmazon #WholesaleSourcing #MarketplaceMavericks

    43 min
  4. May 4

    EP43: Miami Sellers Conference 2026 Preview

    The Miami Sellers Conference kicks off this Thursday and it's the party of the year for the Amazon space. Last year was Omar's first MSC. This year is mine. So we got on and broke down the whole thing — the schedule, the speakers, the panels, the after parties, the yacht, and the tips you actually need to make this trip worth what you're paying for it. Whether you're doing OA, RA, brand direct, wholesale, TikTok Shop, or you haven't sold your first product yet — there is something in that building for you. The lineup this year is stacked. We're talking Reezy Resell, Carter Maxwell, Joy Williams on Section 3, Bill Martlank (top eBay seller and top 10 on Amazon), Levy crushing Whatnot, Jonah on brand direct, the FBA boys, Stephen Does Business with $1.7M in OA in Q4, gift card legends Taylor Thomas and Friend, Emily Baker, Avery, Carter Maxwell on VAs, and a whole lot more. Omar and I are also on the Rookie of the Year panel — "$100K a Month in Your First Year" — hosted by Miles and Warner. So if you're new and want to know how guys like Bruce and Rich went from zero to $100K/month in their first three months, come find us. We get into Omar's tips that actually worked for him last year — walk in with goals, treat the lunch break like a workday, hunt the speakers down AFTER their session, and don't be shy. Most people in that building don't know anybody either. Walk up. Say hi. Start the momentum. We also talk about treating the trip like a real working week — sourcing, podding, even running Whatnot lives while you're down there. Brian Noll's idea about bringing one of each item and selling on Whatnot the whole trip is genius. If you're on the fence about going — go. If the yacht and VIP fits in your budget without putting you in a bad spot, get it. If not, the general ticket alone is worth every dollar. The networking is the ROI. The relationships you build at this thing pay you back six months, twelve months, two years later. WHAT WE COVER: Why MSC has a different vibe than Sellers UnitedOmar's #1 tip: walk in with goals (any goals — just have them)How to actually network if you're introverted (start with a "nobody" like us)The yacht experience — is it worth it? Who should pay up for VIPFull schedule walkthrough — Day 1, Day 2, both panel roundsSpeakers we're most fired up to see (Jonah, Reezy, Carter, Joy Williams, the FBA boys)Why short 20-minute talks force speakers to drop the actual nuggetsTreat lunch as a workday — don't hide in your hotel roomHow to maximize the trip: sourcing, podding, Whatnot lives in MiamiThe Rookie of the Year panel — Jon, Omar, Bruce, Rich, Ashley with Miles & WarnerWhy investing in conferences is one of the cheapest ways to invest in yourselfThe gift card market crash story (17-20% down to 0.5%)DISCOUNT CODES: 3+ tickets bought together = 30% offUse code OMAR50 for an extra $50 offCONNECT WITH OMAR (The Gap King): Instagram: @TheGapKingOmar YouTube: search "The Gap King" CONNECT WITH JON: Instagram: @BuyBoxMaverick If you're heading to Miami — come find us. Walk up, say what's up, and we'll introduce you to the room. That's how this works. New episodes every week. Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify if you're getting value out of the show — it helps other Amazon sellers find us. #AmazonFBA #AmazonSeller #WholesaleAmazon #AmazonBusiness #FBATips #Ecommerce #OnlineArbitrage #BrandDirectWholesale #SellerCentral #AmazonPPC #MiamiSellersConference #MSC2026 #AmazonConference #AmazonNetworking #TheGapKing #BuyBoxMaverick #MarketplaceMavericks #WhatnotSeller #TikTokShop #EcommerceEntrepreneur

    47 min
  5. Apr 30

    He Sold $10M on Amazon. Now He's Teaching Sellers How to Use AI | Corey Ganim

    Corey Ganim was the first person I ever watched on YouTube when I started researching brand direct wholesale — so having him on the show is a full circle moment. Corey did over $10M in Amazon FBA wholesale before walking away from a $16M e-commerce business to build Return My Time, a company helping non-technical entrepreneurs use AI to get real leverage without writing a single line of code. In this episode, we dig into how AI fits inside a brand direct wholesale business — where the whole game is relationships, showing value, and winning exclusives. AI won't replace the phone call. But it will make everything you do to show value dramatically better and more impressive. And right now, nobody else in the brand direct space is doing this. We cover GPT Image 2 and why it's now the gold standard for Amazon product images and A+ content. We get into connecting Seller Central to Claude via MCP to pull your own sales data without touching a spreadsheet. We talk Claude projects for your exclusive brands, automated monthly brand reports that give you a reason to call your contact every single month, and using AI to build pitch decks and case studies that actually stand out. Corey also breaks down his four-level AI framework, we get into browser automation as the big prediction for the rest of 2026, and we cover what Open Claw did to the Mac Mini supply chain. If you're doing Amazon FBA wholesale or brand direct, this is the AI episode you've been waiting for. WHAT WE COVER: Corey's 4-level AI framework: prompting, automation, vibe coding, AI agentsGPT Image 2 and what it means for Amazon listings and A+ contentConnecting Seller Central to Claude via MCP for real-time dataThe automated monthly brand report nobody else is sendingAI pitch decks, case studies, and interactive brand presentationsHow Jon won a brand doing close to $200K/month by showing value consistentlyClaude projects as a knowledge base for each of your exclusive accountsWhy great VAs are MORE valuable in the age of AIWhere AI is headed for the rest of 2026CONNECT WITH COREY: Website: https://returnmytime.com YouTube: https://youtube.com/@coreyganim Instagram: https://instagram.com/coreyganim X: https://x.com/coreyganim LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/coreyganim CONNECT WITH JON: Instagram: @BuyBoxMaverick New episodes every week. Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify if you're getting value — it helps other Amazon FBA sellers find the show. #AmazonFBA #AmazonSeller #WholesaleAmazon #BrandDirectWholesale #AmazonBusiness #FBATips #Ecommerce #SellerCentral #AmazonPPC #AIforAmazon #MarketplaceMavericks

    50 min
  6. Apr 7

    Amazon OA, Influencer Program & UGC — How She Does It ALL | Christina Chiu

    She quit restaurant management, taught herself Amazon selling from free YouTube videos, and now runs her e-commerce business full time. In this episode, I sit down with Christina Chiu (@ecomwhisperer) to talk about her journey into Amazon OA, why she thinks the Amazon Influencer Program is one of the best side hustles out there, how she's building out her UGC brand, and what it's like being a woman in a space dominated by dudes (shoutout to my daughters for calling me out on that). We get into the real talk — patience vs. instant gratification, why orange bars mean nothing, how to find your niche naturally, hiring your first VA, and why you should never have all your eggs in one basket on someone else's platform. TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 - Intro & Meet Christina Chiu 1:49 - Christina's Journey: From Restaurant Management to Amazon 4:10 - Going Full Time & Building Structure 5:08 - Why Full-Time Sellers Scale Faster 6:57 - What Christina Sells: Amazon OA, AIP & UGC 8:12 - Why OA is Harder to Start Today 9:41 - Amazon Influencer Program as a Side Hustle 10:35 - What Do You Do With All the Free Products? 12:57 - AIP is Evergreen: The Snowball Effect 14:04 - OA vs. AIP: Where to Start 15:10 - Don't Put All Your Eggs in One Basket 16:11 - When to Focus vs. When to Expand (Taxi Business Lesson) 17:05 - It's Not a Race — Move at Your Own Pace 17:44 - Orange Bars Mean Nothing 20:05 - Finding Your Niche Naturally 21:36 - Christina's Niche: Vitamins & Sports Nutrition 25:15 - Riches Are in the Niches 28:41 - Women in the Amazon Space 30:53 - More Women Sellers Exist Than You Think 32:32 - Learning From Social Media 34:22 - Christina's 2026 Goals: From Operator to CEO 36:34 - Building Real Brand Partnerships 38:23 - The Power of a Great VA 43:04 - Final Thoughts: Patience, Consistency & Start at the Gym 43:32 - Where to Find Christina CONNECT WITH CHRISTINA: Instagram: @ecomwhisperer X/Twitter: @_ecomwhisperer CONNECT WITH ME: Instagram: @BuyBoxMaverick If you enjoyed this episode, smash that like button and subscribe for new episodes every week. Drop a comment below and let me know — have you tried the Amazon Influencer Program? #AmazonFBA #AmazonSeller #WholesaleAmazon #AmazonBusiness #FBATips #Ecommerce #OnlineArbitrage #AmazonInfluencerProgram #UGC #SellerCentral #AmazonPPC #SideHustle #WomenInEcommerce #MarketplaceMavericks

    46 min
  7. Apr 1

    From Drywall to $200K/Month: How Phil "Amazon Trapstar" Reinvented Himself With Wholesale

    📝 EPISODE DESCRIPTION(Paste this into Riverside at publish) What does it take to walk away from a steady union paycheck and build a real Amazon wholesale business from scratch — as a single dad? In this episode, Jon sits down with Phil, aka Amazon Trapstar, a former union drywall taper from Missouri who scaled from retail arbitrage to $50K+ months in wholesale — and now coaches others to do the same. They get into the real talk behind the switch from RA/OA to wholesale, why patience is the #1 skill no one talks about, how to build supplier relationships that actually last, and why your business systems need to be in place before you're ready to scale. If you've been thinking about making the jump to wholesale — or you're already in it and wondering why the phone calls feel so hard — this one's for you. Topics covered: Why RA/OA hit a ceiling (and how Phil knew it was time to switch)The patience mindset that separates wholesalers who make it from those who don'tHow to get past the "we don't sell to Amazon sellers" objectionBuilding supplier and brand relationships that grow your orders over timeNet terms, trade shows, and the long game of wholesaleWhy systems need to come before scalingPhil's free weekly wholesale training and how to find himConnect with Phil: Instagram: @Amazon.Trapstar1 YouTube: Amazon Trapstar TikTok: Amazon Trapstar Connect with Jon: Instagram/X/LinkedIn: @BuyBoxMaverick Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/4O25TdyNYmsH3xVfGWo21L

    41 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

Three 40+ old everyday guys stumbled into the world of Amazon arbitrage and share a transparent view of how online selling has changed their lives. The goal is to empower others with an unfiltered view of how the business works, what to look out for and how to get started with little experience.

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