• The 80/20 of Ecommerce
  • Posts
  • 80/20 of Ecom - Quick hits: tariff tools, viral selling, & 7 Figure Seller Book Recommendation. 6/13/25

80/20 of Ecom - Quick hits: tariff tools, viral selling, & 7 Figure Seller Book Recommendation. 6/13/25

The 14-Day Tariff Challenge + new tools + wild TikTok wins

Author

Gary Huang
June 13, 2025

Hey there, 

If you’re still playing the old game in e-com, you’re gonna get smoked. This week’s lineup is all about leverage. We’re talking next-gen tariff tools that turn border fees into profit plays, TikTok Live strategies minting new millionaires, and the return of a challenge that’s helped 7-figure sellers plug six-figure leaks — all happening right now. No theory. Just weapons you can deploy today.

Whether you’re stuck in spreadsheets or still guessing landed costs, now’s the time to step up. The sellers who move fastest — who read, learn, act — are the ones printing cash while others wait. So let’s get tactical, stay scrappy, and make this the week you stop reacting and start dominating.

This week, we’re diving into:

  •  Flexport & friends just dropped some game-changing tariff tools.

  •  TikTok Live is minting new millionaires—fast

  • The 14-Day Tariff Profitability Challenge is back

  • 7 Figure Seller - Check Book Recommendation!

With shifting tariffs becoming the norm, Flexport and C.H. Robinson have released tools to help importers stay ahead of duty costs. Flexport’s new Tariff Simulator lets users estimate landed costs, check duty rates by country, and navigate classification rules. CEO Ryan Petersen says it’s designed to prevent “expensive surprises” from trade policy changes.

C.H. Robinson’s Tariff Impact Analysis tool breaks down duty exposure by SKU, origin, or lane—helping shippers reroute with cost clarity. They join a growing group including UPS and Shopify in pushing for real-time trade visibility in today’s volatile landscape.

🔑 Key Highlights

  • Flexport Tariff Simulator: Open-access tool with live global trade data, duty rates, and a searchable tariff code library.

  • C.H. Robinson’s Duty Analyzer: Enterprise-grade analytics for SKU-level tariff optimization and sourcing strategy.

  • Competitive landscape: UPS, Shopify, and Agtools also launching tariff tools — this isn’t a niche play anymore.

  • Use case: Retailers can now compare duty spend across origins and shift sourcing strategies in days, not months.

Takeaway for Sellers

Tariffs aren't just a government issue — they’re a bottom-line issue. If you're importing at scale and still relying on Excel sheets and guesswork for landed costs, you’re playing defense. These new tools turn duty risk into a sourcing lever — and the smartest operators are already moving upstream to optimize before goods hit the water.

How did Jared Mortensen go from engineering airplane parts to selling $2M in men’s underwear on TikTok? In the latest Serious Sellers Podcast, the Real Men Apparel founder reveals how a Q4 inventory crunch led to a TikTok Live breakthrough — with up to 12,000 units sold in an hour.

Jared breaks down how he set up streams, scaled content, and leveraged affiliates using Helium 10. It’s a raw, tactical playbook for any seller looking to win big on TikTok Shop.

 Key Highlights

  • ✅ Sold $2M+ on TikTok Shop, 60–70% via Live.

  • 🛍️ Turned inventory overload into opportunity by embracing livestream selling.

  • 🎯 Demonstrated how to hook, loop, and sell using minimal gear and maximum volume.

  • 💡 Strategy: Repeat key product benefits every 30–60 seconds — “It’s Groundhog Day, and that’s the point.”

  • 🤝 Built a cult-like fan base — including customers who volunteer to moderate live shows in-person!

As we move into the second half of the year, profitability is more important than ever. One of the most effective actions you can take is identifying high-impact levers to improve your margins.

The 14-Day Tariff Profitability Challenge is your no-fluff, high-impact crash course to reclaim profit, boost cash flow, and future-proof your sourcing strategy.

💡 Here’s what you’ll learn:

  • Cut six figures in tariff costs from 7–8 figure brands

  • Plug hidden margin leaks and improve cash flow

  • Use real-world tactics top Amazon sellers are using today

  • Smart pricing strategies that protect profits without hurting sales

  • Diversify sourcing beyond China: Mexico, India, LATAM & more

  • Daily action steps to keep you moving

✅ Our Promise: 10x ROI or Your Money Back + $50 Amazon Gift Card
Do the work, and if you don’t get results, we’ll pay you for your time.

📉 Most sellers are still sleeping on this. Want to be in the top 20% who are ready to win in 2025?

7 Figure Seller Book recommendation 

Several speakers at the 7 Figure Seller Summit recently recommended the book "Buy Back Your Time" by Dan Martell

- CJ Rosenbaum, Founding Partner at Amazon Sellers Lawyer.com, highly recommends "Buy Back Your Time" as a book he's currently "really in love with" [1]. He explains that the book focuses on "identifying the things that are absorbing your time, that you don't love or that are not incredibly profitable, and passing them off to somebody else" [1]. 

- Chad Rubin, one of the OGs in the e-commerce space and founder of Prosper Show, lists "Buy Back Your Time" as one of his "top of mind" book recommendations.    

This emphasis on strategic delegation and freeing up your most valuable resource – time – is key to growth and efficiency, not just in business, but in any demanding endeavor.

I’ve loaded up this book on my kindle already and let me know what you think of it if you’ve read it! 

📌 In Case You Missed It

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 for Amazon Japan, sourcing, or profitability.
🤝 Partnerships – Let’s collaborate on webinars, content, or events.
📩 Contact me: gary [at] 8020sourcing.com