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  • 80/20 of Ecom - What Nintendo, Amazon, and Tariffs Mean for Sellers This Week - 6/25/2025

80/20 of Ecom - What Nintendo, Amazon, and Tariffs Mean for Sellers This Week - 6/25/2025

3.5M Switch 2 units sold—but can Nintendo dodge the tariff hammer? Plus: Amazon’s $4B rural blitz, and Brandon Young’s secret sauce for AI-smart selling.

Author

Gary Huang
June 25, 2025

In partnership with

Hey there,

Earlier today, Julian Timings from Autron asked me a straightforward question: "What's your take on Amazon and ecommerce right now?"

Here's the reality. We just went through hell with the tariff uncertainty. When rates hit 145%, everything stopped. Orders froze. Sellers went into wait-and-see mode. Some shut down completely.

Now we have clarity at 55%. Not ideal, but we can plan around it. Orders are resuming. The supply chain is moving again.

But here's what separates the survivors from the casualties: Amazon isn't a place where you "get lucky" anymore. It's a real business that demands real strategy. 

With tighter margins and higher stakes, every lever matters—especially PPC, your biggest expense after product costs.

The game is evolving fast. Yes, people are dropping out. 

But for those who adapt and get leaner, there's less competition waiting on the other side. 

When the tide rises, all the remaining boats rise with it.

The question isn't whether Amazon will survive the changes. It's whether you will. 

The winners are the ones getting smarter about profitability, leveraging AI tools, and treating this like the real business it's become.

That's why this week's insights matter more than ever…

This week, we’re diving into:

  • Switch 2 Launches Strong Despite Trade Headwinds

  • No more guessing—get instant, accurate tariff estimates.

  • Seller Spotlight | Brandon Young - Co Founder of DataDive

  • Amazon Expands Rural Delivery While USPS Pulls Back

Nintendo’s Switch 2 hit the U.S. market on June 5, selling over 3.5 million units in four days, despite being caught in a wave of trade uncertainty following the Trump administration’s announcement of reciprocal tariffs. With duties on imports from Vietnam and China looming—up to 46% and 55%, respectively—Nintendo paused pre-orders in April but forged ahead with launch plans by stockpiling inventory.

Now comes the hard part: sustaining supply during peak season while navigating the expiration of temporary tariff reprieves. The company aims to move 15 million units globally by early 2026, but faces logistical and cost constraints as tariff windows tighten and shipment volumes decline. Nintendo’s unique hardware model and dedicated fanbase give it some buffer—but rising landed costs and fragmented supply chains still pose a threat.

Takeaway
Nintendo weathered the launch storm, but sustaining momentum through holiday season amid shifting tariffs and rising costs will test its supply chain resilience. Its distinct console identity and loyal fanbase may soften the blow—but long-term success hinges on strategic inventory and production moves in an unpredictable trade landscape.


Flexport’s U.S. Tariff & Import Duty Calculator turns any 10-digit HTS code into instant, accurate duty estimates—including MFN, Section 301/232 surcharges, and free-trade program savings like USMCA.

Compare rates across countries, model steel/aluminium content, and adjust for entry dates—all using official U.S. data, updated within days.

No sign-up, no fluff—just fast, reliable numbers to power your landed cost, sourcing, and “what-if” tariff planning. Try it free today.

 Key Highlights

  • Precise Duty Breakdown: View MFN, Section 301/232 surcharges, and SPI flags in seconds.

  • FTA Ready: Instantly identify opportunities under USMCA, DR-CAFTA, KRFTA, and others.

  • Side-by-Side Country Comparison: Model cost scenarios when sourcing from different countries.

  • Steel/Aluminum Content Adjustments: Automatic Section 232 surcharge calculations.

  • Date-Aware Rates: Entry date and loading time synced with official regulations.

  • No Sign-up or Paywall: Full transparency, no friction.

 Takeaways

  • Save time and reduce compliance errors by automating tariff lookups.

  • Identify potential duty savings through trade agreements or alternate sourcing.

  • Gain clarity when quoting landed costs or modeling future trade scenarios.

  • Empower your team with data directly from the U.S. government—no guesswork, no spin.

Brandon Young is an eight-figure seller on Amazon, the co-founder of one of the top tools out there—Datadive—and also a good friend. The reason I’d like to spotlight him is not only because he talks the talk, he walks the walk.

Brandon also runs The Inner Circle, one of the most successful Amazon seller training programs. Alongside his lovely wife Jennifer, they operate their own eight-figure Amazon business, which I believe is in the toy niche. They’ve also joined our Seven-Figure Seller Japan Tour Mastermind twice!

Brandon is one of the sharpest minds in e-commerce—especially when it comes to analytics, data analysis, and using AI.

He’s led multiple online trainings for the Seven-Figure Seller Summit. I remember one in particular where he created product development mock-ups on the fly using Amazon and Mid journey. One attendee even said, “It was like watching Picasso paint.”

If you haven’t heard, Brandon also runs the Camp E-Comm Conference at the beginning of the year—an amazing opportunity to surround yourself with like-minded entrepreneurs and e-commerce sellers.

Want to learn more or follow along?
📌 Follow Brandon on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/byoungsfl/
 📌 Check out Datadive—one of my favorite product research tools. It goes beyond research:
→ It does listing analysis
→ Helps you find keyword gaps your competitors are missing
→ And includes AI-powered listing tools

Amazon is stepping up to fill the rural delivery gap with a $4B investment aimed at expanding Same-Day and Next-Day delivery to over 4,000 smaller towns and rural areas by year’s end. Using AI to stock local inventory and predict regional preferences, Amazon is transforming its rural infrastructure to meet growing demand—just as USPS scales back service standards.

Early results show rural customers are buying more frequently and stocking up on essentials like paper towels, diapers, and coffee pods—many of which now qualify for same-day delivery.

 Key Highlights

  • $4B investment to triple Amazon's rural delivery network by 2026

  • Over 1,000 towns already live, with 3,000+ more to follow this year

  • Same-Day/Next-Day speeds now in reach for millions outside metro areas

  • AI-driven stocking based on local preferences (e.g. wild bird food in Iowa)

  • Rural delivery stations now serve as hybrid hubs for local fulfillment

  • Each new delivery station brings an estimated 170 jobs

 Takeaways

Amazon is rapidly turning rural delivery into a strategic advantage, filling a growing gap left by USPS service cuts. For merchants, this means faster access to customers in thousands of smaller markets—and higher demand for essentials. With AI-curated local stocking and expanded fulfillment capabilities, rural Prime buyers are becoming a bigger part of the eCommerce growth story.

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📌 In Case You Missed It


📩 Want to be Featured in the 80/20 of Ecom Newsletter?

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

🎯 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