Hey there,
Amazon’s making big moves (again), tariffs are shifting, and if you’re in Shanghai, we’ve got an in-person seller meetup you won’t want to miss.
Plus, Sean Stone just dropped a free GPT tool that can help you uncover hidden keyword gems—backed by real data and case studies. It’s what I call the 80/20—things that actually move the needle in your business.
Amazon has announced that it will phase out its Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) prep and labeling services in the U.S. starting January 1, 2026. Sellers will now need to manage their own prep operations or partner with third-party service providers. This change is part of Amazon's broader effort to streamline FBA operations and reflects increased confidence in sellers’ ability to handle packaging, especially for items requiring special handling like sharp objects.
Key Highlights:
Amazon to discontinue FBA prep and labeling services in the U.S. effective Jan 2026
Applies to all items, including those needing special prep (e.g., sharp objects)
Sellers must self-manage prep or use third-party services
Reason: Improved seller packaging capabilities and streamlining of FBA
Takeaway for Sellers:
Start planning now to either bring prep in-house or build relationships with reliable third-party prep centers ahead of January 2026.
President Trump has signed an executive order formalizing country-specific tariff rates for over 60 trading partners, with implementation beginning August 7 (a one-week delay from the initial timeline). This move is part of a broader trade enforcement strategy and introduces greater rate clarity by country. A wide range of imported goods and materials will be affected.
Key Highlights:
Tariff rates codified via executive order
Effective August 7, delayed by 7 days
Applies to 60+ trading partners
Targets a broad spectrum of imported products
Aims to enhance trade enforcement and transparency
Takeaway for Sellers:
Review updated tariff rates for your sourcing countries and adjust your pricing or sourcing strategy to stay competitive.
Shanghai Amazon Seller Meetup – Aug 13 at Abbey Road
Picture from our Aug 2024 - Shanghai Amazon seller event last year
August is here and so is our next meetup! Join fellow Amazon sellers in Shanghai on Wednesday, August 13, from 7:30 PM to 9:30 PM at Abbey Road for a fun and insightful evening of networking, sharing, and scaling together.
📣 The Shanghai Seller Meetup is proudly sponsored by Wayward – a performance-based influencer platform helping sellers drive traffic and boost conversions. You only pay if you get sales, and it supports your organic ranking.
🔗 RSVP: Scan the QR code to join the WeChat group chat
Spots fill fast, so don’t miss it!
What if you had a crystal ball to reveal the keywords your product could rank for on Amazon?
Now you do — and it’s free.
In this exclusive session, Sean Stone, founder of Stones Goods, unveils the Conversion Benchmark Buddy — a Custom GPT designed to help Amazon sellers identify high-converting keywords by analyzing conversion rates, search volume, and competitor data.
🚀 Get a step-by-step walkthrough and see real case studies, including one showing 169% profit growth using this strategy.
🎥 Watch now:
AI Hacks Are Back – Sneak Peek Inside…
Get ready — AI Hacks Week kicks off next Monday! From ChatGPT 5.0 to Hikesper AI, we’re diving deep into the latest AI tools for e-commerce sellers.
We've got hacks that’ll help you automate, analyze, and scale like never before.
✅ Want to participate? We still have a few spots left!
Just hit reply and let us know — and if there’s something specific you want to learn about AI + ecom, we’d love to hear it.
Stay tuned Monday — something special is coming to your inbox.
Have a great weekend!
That's your 80/20 for this week. Focus on what moves the needle: fee transparency, cost reduction, and automation that actually works.
Gary