80/20 of Ecom 1/31/25: Big Shifts: AI Wars, Ocean Freight drops & Amazon DSP

The First month of 2025 is almost in the books!

Ocean rates drop as January demand cools

According to a Freightos update via Supply Chain Dive “During the week of Jan. 28, rates per forty-foot equivalent unit from Asia to the U.S. West Coast fell 7% week over week, meanwhile prices from Asia to the East Coast declined 1% week over week, according to a Freightos weekly update.”

Takeaway: Good news for sellers as container rates are dropping but things are bound to remain volatile once the new tariffs are planned to take effect on Feb 1 and also once suppliers return to work after Chinese New year.  Stay vigilant!

Which AI to use Now: ChatGPT, Claude, DeepSeek, Gemini???

In this excellent overview from Wharton professor Ethan Mollick, find out the pros and cons of ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, Microsoft Copilot, and DeepSeek. 

Personally I’m paying for ChatGPT and Claude.  

ChatGPT because it’s the easiest one to use, especially the voice mode on my phone.  But the results may be mixed and sometimes it feels lazy.  

Claude is better when it comes to strategy and creating content but it’s less user friendly.  And it doesn’t have online search capabilities.    

Meanwhile DeepSeek is the Chinese David that is threatening to unseat OpenAI’s Goliath.  

Have you tried using DeepSeek?  Hit reply and let me know how it went.

Speaking of AI…

Former AI for Ecom Hacks Champion Ritu Java is hosting an AI for E-Commerce: Show Me How Workshop TODAY. 

This paid 120-minute masterclass is your opportunity to dive deep into actionable AI trends, tools, and strategies that will elevate your e-commerce business to the next level. Whether you want to streamline operations, spark fresh ideas, or see AI in action, this session is designed to deliver transformative insights.

Date/Time:

New York: Friday, 31 January 2025, 16:00

Melbourne: Saturday, 1 February 2025, 08:00

London: Friday, 31 January 2025, 21:00

Pacific Time: Friday, 31 January 2025, 13:00

You’ll Learn:

• Live automation demo: Watch as one pivotal aspect of business is completely automated live during the session.

• Step-by-step AI solutions, broken down so even beginners can follow and apply.

• Discover the exact tools and workflows that drive growth, streamline operations, and transform customer experiences.

• Join live demos designed to inspire action and deliver real results.

• Learn how to use AI for realistic video generation and storytelling.

• No-code AI apps: Build apps with Claude.AI and Google Spreadsheets.

• AI-powered workflows: Streamline your operations using Make.com to create AI-powered workflows.

Register here: Click to join

(Note: I’m an affiliate, so if you join, I’ll earn a small commission which helps support this newsletter)

Is DSP the Missing Piece in Your Amazon Advertising Strategy?

If you’re spending $5K+ per month on PPC but not seeing the results you want, it’s time to look beyond traditional ads. In this exclusive training replay, Vincenzo Toscano, CEO of Ecomcy, reveals how a household item brand achieved 4x ROAS with DSP—outperforming a $50K/month Sponsored Ads budget. You’ll learn how DSP drove 65% new-to-brand purchases, reduced CPA by 34%, and secured the #1 Bestseller ranking in a competitive category.

📺 Watch the training now to see how you can leverage Amazon DSP for higher returns. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7AhKIYc6XQ

 Want to see if DSP is right for your brand? Book a FREE Amazon DSP Mini Audit with Vincenzo’s team at Ecomcy and Find out:

• How big your audience is with DSP

• Your potential reach and impact

• Get a FREE PDF slide deck with key insights

👉 Book a free mini audit here: https://calendly.com/ecomcy/30min

📩 Have questions? Email: [email protected]

Next week I’m giving training on How to start selling on Amazon Japan Next week at the Convert More Clicks summit. 

In addition to my session on The 6 Bridges to Selling on Amazon Japan, they have brought together other amazing speakers who are going to cover a wide range of topics to help you more profitably maximize your results with more traffic and higher conversions.

Join me at the Convert More Clicks Summit next week, starting Tuesday, February 4.

Find out more and signup at the link below.

7-Figure Seller Japan Mastermind 3: Two Tracks, One Exclusive Opportunity

I’m excited to announce that the 7-Figure Seller Japan Mastermind 3 will now feature two powerful tracks to help you grow your Amazon business in 2025:

• Track 1: Learn how to scale your sales to up to $965,000 on Amazon Japan in just 12 months.

• Track 2: Master proven strategies to expand your e-commerce business globally on Amazon and other platforms.

This event will take place over two days in Tokyo, March 17th and 18th. And on Day 3, we’re adding something truly unique: exclusive store visits based on your product niche.

For example:

• If you’re selling pet products, we’ll take you to Japanese pet stores so you can see how similar products are marketed, from packaging to QR codes.

• Selling toys? Explore top Japanese toy stores and uncover new product opportunities you’d never find online or outside of Japan.

This hands-on experience will help you better understand the market and find ways to stand out in one of the most lucrative and untapped Amazon marketplaces.

Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind opportunity to level up your business and get insider insights from the Japanese market!  Learn more

Want to be featured here in the 80/20 of eCommerce Newsletter?

I work with brands and sellers to help them grow, scale, and succeed. Here’s how we can work together:

• Sponsorships: Promote your service to 13,000 engaged e-commerce sellers.

• Consulting: Get tailored strategies to launch your profitable products, cut product costs sourcing, or Japan entry strategy

• Partnerships: Let’s collaborate on webinars, content, or events.

Contact: gary [at] 8020sourcing.com

In Case You Missed It

• The Amazon Rufus Blueprint

• Chinese New Year 2025: Prepare for Factory Closures and Delays

• Prepare for February 1st Trump Tariffs: Key Takeaways for Sellers

• AI Tool Analyzes 2,097 Amazon Reviews in 2 Minutes – Watch Now! 

Gary

It’s so good brands can’t stop!

minisocial is a UGC platform that is so confident in what they offer they don't force any longterm commitments it's just so good brands can’t seem to stop coming back for more! 💁‍♀️

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