If you come across an idea you are half-way there. But if you don’t do anything with your ideas nothing will happen, ever.
Even if it’s a really great idea, zero action means nothing will happen. One times zero is still zero.
Get your ideas out
Bring them out and do something with it! Pull out your notebook, dust off your notepad, find your notes. Then test them, try something out, talk to people, simulate stuff.
At some point I came across this new business model “Amazon FBA” (Fulfillment by Amazon). It sounded like the ideal way to get into e-commerce – which I always wanted to do.
What is Amazon FBA?
The Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) business model continues to grow in popularity. Fundamentally, it’s the same as a traditional e-commerce business. But, instead of your having to fulfill orders one by one, Amazon stores your products for you and even picks, packs and ships them out to customers.
The FBA process explained
This makes it a lot easier for you to build your business without having to worry about the logistics of warehouses, packaging materials, couriers and so on. With private labeling, you also have the opportunity to build your own brand and website, thereby increasing the value of your business. (This is a summary from Entrepreneur.com)
How I started
I looked into all forms of information: blog posts, videos, facebook groups. I even attended lokal events via Meetup and even a professional event with several hundred attendees.
There is a lot of good information out there: guides, tutorials. But also expensive courses and self-proclaimed gurus. Be aware of anyone trying to sell you an expensive training or info-package.
My first product on Amazon
First thing to do is market research: What is a product that people want but not yet sold on Amazon? Answer: very few items are NOT available on Amazon.
Therefore the question usually is: What product can I sell that people will buy from me? And often the answer is to get a product and put your own label on it (your own brand) or add value (eg. a new feature). Or something else that makes it stand out.
I came across the travel-category. I thought it’s a good enough niche where I can get some products out and sell it under my unique brand.
And here it is – my revolutionary luggage belt!
Just wrap it around your luggage and it stays save…
Also, thanks to the rather unique design, it will be very easy to identify.
Within a couple of weeks I found the product idea and did some research. The travel-niche seemed like a good idea.
Then I sourced it from China (find manufacturer, get samples, finalise design) and placed an order for 500 units.
I was excited when the packages arrived. I checked all units by hand, fixed some smaller issues and forwarded it to the Amazon warehouse.
My first product was also my last one
But I stopped Amazon FBA after releasing my first product. Why?
It’s an interesting business model. I met people that are successful and some earning lots of money. Amazons systems are fairly sophisticated and they got better. There are lots of external tools for the FBA-seller available as well.
I had a process of all the steps and worked through them from beginning to end. There is a good network and community of other sellers that help you along the way.
But I didn’t like it.
I didn’t like the fact that anyone can come along and offer the same product for less. A race to the bottom.
I didn’t like the fact that you would need new products all the time. Just selling one product is not enough. You need to find new products or a new niche – and get something to the market.
I didn’t like the fact that you are at the mercy of Amazon. It’s their market place, they have complete control. What’s worse, you do the market testing for them by releasing new products. And if your product is successful, Amazon might release a similar one itself. Then, out of a sudden, your bestseller doesn’t sell that well anymore.
But ultimately I didn’t like to put more (relatively) useless products into the world. If you know me, you know I care for the environment. And I just didn’t want to take part in a system that’s all about producing more stuff.
This is not a guide or review on Amazon FBA
I am not trying to tell you everything about this business model. This is not a guide on how to do it or how a review. I honestly think it still is an interesting business model. It’s really good if you are a retail or rather a product guy.
Where I grew up it was all about avoiding mistakes and failures. Everything and everyone seem to have told you: “Plan ahead, don’t do something stupid. Don’t make a mistake, it will look bad on you.”
Later in life I came across the mentality of making mistakes, plenty of mistakes, the more the better. Best known as Silicon Valley’s “Fail Fast” mantra: Fail, move forward and fail again. Learn from it. One of my favourite saying for a while was “It’s only a mistake if you don’t learn from it”. I believed in it.
Mistakes and failures – could it be a good thing?
But does everything need to be a mistake? I think I like the approach of experiments better. Do lots of experiments, small ones and big ones: Test which website converts better. Test what works better in a business pitch. Test out where you like living. Try things in a controlled way.
Do experiments instead of mistakes
First of all, it does not sound as negative as failing or making a mistake.
Secondly, it’s controlled. You are in control and any outcome is a good one because it’s an answer.
We’re in a restaurant waiting for our lunch. The space has a nice front with lots of windows, from ground to the ceiling. It lets in a lot of daylight. I notice a member of staff cleaning the front doors made from glass, also reaching from floor almost to the ceiling. He stretches to reach as high as he can but he doesn’t make it all the way to the top. Even with sponge and window wiper there is at least ten percent left uncleaned at top. What customers can see from inside the restaurant is a front door that is 90% squeaky clean and 10% not-so-see-through. That’s the door all guests enter and leave through.
What shall I think about that as a customer, what impression does it leave on me and others?
The member of staff did not notice?
He might have noticed but decided to ignore it?
Did no one teach him how to clean it properly?
Did no other member of staff noticed it either?
Someone noticed and didn’t care to tell him or do something about it?
Do they have a ladder?
They have a ladder and don’t care enough to use it?
Now, how does it reflect on the rest of the team and the restaurant itself? Do they clean the dishes the same way as they clean the windows, not caring about the 10% left dirty? How about the kitchen, do they clean that only 90% too?
But it’s so easy to fix
Use the right equipment.
Learn how to use it or train someone.
Do things properly or it will come back to haunt you
