On this page, you will find everything related to COVID-19, eCommerce, and Amazon that we have researched and created, as well as curated external content we think you should know about. This link roundup ist continuously updated with the following categories:
Sellics Thursday Live – Weekly Talks With Thought Leaders
Every Thursday, Sellics CEO Franz Jordan or CMO Thomas Ropel sit down with another industry thought leader to discuss the challenges and strategies we all face in this extraordinary time. Watch now to gain important insights that you can instantly apply to your Amazon business.
Ep. 15: Advanced PPC | 16 July 2020
Thomas Ropel, CMO of Sellics, and Gregg Manias, VP of Performance Media at Acronym, will cover some of the most popular advanced Amazon PPC Tactics – you will hear about portfolio strategies, the right balance between auto and manual campaigns, and Sponsored Display strategies.
Ep. 14: Targeting | 16 July 2020
Sellics CMO Thomas Ropel is joined by Destaney Wishon of Better AMS to show you how to run your Amazon Product Targeting Campaigns in an effective way.
Ep. 13: Display Ads | 19 June 2020
CEO of Sellics, Franz Jordan is joined by Amazon Advertising Expert, Sprigley Allan of Prime Guidance. Together they cover some of the newest and most exciting Amazon advertising tools and tactics, including Sponsored Brand Videos, Amazon Posts, and Sponsored Display.
Ep. 12: Reduce Waste | 18 June 2020
According to our data of over $500,000,000 in ad spend, 1 in 4 advertising dollars on Amazon is wasted on non-converting keywords and campaigns. Advertising expert Zi Lin Liang and CMO of Sellics Thomas Ropel discuss exactly how to avoid wasting ad spend on Amazon.
Ep. 11: 2020 Strategy | 28 May 2020
Sellics CMO Thomas Ropel is joined by Mudit Jaju of Wavemaker to discuss how to craft a successful Amazon selling strategy with the multi-channel eCommerce environment in mind. Watch to get real-world examples from fellow sellers and tangible tips that can be implemented today.
Ep. 10: Amazon & Google | 28 May 2020
Amazon expert and VP of Strategy & Advertising at Amify Brian MacDonald joins our CEO Franz Jordan to discuss using Google and Amazon together to create a winning advertising strategy.
Ep. 9: Search and DSP | 28 May 2020
Amazon advertising expert and founder of Beekeeper Marketing Lynn Graham joins our CEO Franz Jordan to detail the most powerful advertising duo: Search (Amazon Sponsored Products and Sponsored Brands) and Amazon DSP.
Ep. 8: Top Ad Strategies | 14 May 2020
How can you adjust your Amazon Advertising strategy to increase sales and decrease ACoS during a crisis? Join Sellics CMO Thomas Ropel and our PPC expert Zi Lin Liang for our most popular episode yet!
Ep. 7: Sellics Advertising | 7 May 2020
Advertising is complicated enough. We’re here to fix that. Introducing, Sellics Advertising! Join Sellics CMO Thomas Ropel and 3 special guests to meet the newest member of the Sellics family which is sure to change the way you sell on Amazon.
Ep. 6: Live Case Study | 30 April 2020
Drawing from his own experience as a successful seller, Sellics expert Yasser Sakan discusses his biggest challenges in Q1 and offers a hands-on approach to navigate the current crisis.
Ep. 5: The New Normal | 23 April 2020
Peter Kearns, Amazon brand expert and VP of Business Development for 180Commerce, sits down with Franz to look into the future: How will the new normal roll out for inventory, advertising, and branding strategy?
Ep. 4: AMZ Advertising | 16 April 2020
During this week’s episode, advertising expert Stefan Jordev of Bobsled Marketing joins Franz to discuss the question you’ve undoubtedly asked yourself: should you continue advertising on Amazon during the coronavirus crisis?
Ep. 3: Vendors & Hybrids | 9 April 2020
In this Episode, Franz teams up with Carina McLeod, the Founder and CEO of Vendor Society and eCommerce Nurse, to discuss the current challenges Vendors and brands using the hybrid model (Seller + Vendor) face.
Ep. 2: Supply Chains | 2 April 2020
Jérôme de Guigné (Founder & Managing Director of E-Comas) and Franz tackle perhaps the most pertinent question Amazon brands ask in 2020: What can I do to safeguard my supply?
Ep. 1: Business Impact | 26 March 2020
Chris Mole (Founder of Molzi) and Franz kick off the weekly Thursday Live Talks with a discussion about the impact the COVID-19 crisis has on Amazon businesses.
Surveys, Reports & Analyses
How is the Amazon community responding to the Coronavirus crisis? Which products are winning right now? What can we learn from the experiences of others? We’re all in this together – stay educated, stay successful, stay healthy.
- Amazon Advertising Trends & Techniques During the Coronavirus Crisis
The conditions surrounding the coronavirus pandemic have left some brands confused about how best to move forward with their Amazon ads. Here are the latest PPC performance trends and comprehensive guidelines for running a thriving ad campaign in this unusual time.
- Consumer Shopping Trends During the Coronavirus Crisis: Challenges and eCommerce Opportunities for Amazon Sellers
In our last analysis, we looked at three key markets (USA, Germany, Italy) to answer: what effect is the global pandemic having on consumer shopping behavior? Here’s the update.
- Top & Flop 50 Products on Amazon.com: Shopping Trends During the Coronavirus Crisis
What are U.S. shoppers buying on Amazon since the COVID-19 pandemic hit? Download our analysis for meaningful insights at a glance. - Analysis: Top Selling Products Amid the Coronavirus Crisis – How Demand Is Shifting
Which products are skyrocketing, which ones face a steep decline? How will this change as the crisis evolves? Find it out in our latest analysis. - Sellics Survey: Brands Assess the Impact of the Coronavirus Crisis
As the effects of the COVID‑19 pandemic continue, how is everyone responding? Discover what other brands & agencies are doing.
Coronavirus News: Amazon / eCommerce
The latest top stories around COVID-19 and how the pandemic affects Amazon, eCommerce, and the people who live and work in this realm.
16 August 2020 | Amazon Offers Fashion Brands A Lifeline In A Market Disrupted By The COVID Pandemic
Through deal days and partnerships, Amazon offers a growth opportunity for fashion brands amid the closing of brick and mortar shops.
9 July 2020 | Amazon’s Worldwide Sales Will Rise 20.2% This Year as Reliance on E-commerce Grows
Amazon’s global sales expected to exceed pre-COVID estimates by 12 billion in 2020.
2 July 2020 | Amazon Delays Prime Day Until October Due to Coronavirus
Tentatively slated for October 5th, “Christmas in July” will take place in the fall this year.
30 June 2020 | Covid-19: Coronavirus Pandemic Speeds Up Growth in B2B eCommerce
According to a recent report, 46% of B2B purchases now take place online – representing growth for the eCommerce market during the crisis.
17 June 2020 | With Prime Day Postponed, Amazon’s ‘Big Style Sale’ Should Give Fashion Brands A Lifeline
The event is expected to boost sales for brands not seeing an increase in demand as a result of the global pandemic. Prime Day will take place in late summer or fall.
10 June 2020 | US Ecommerce Sales Will Surge 18% To $709.78 Billion In 2020
Expected to reach an all-time high this year, this year’s forecast for online spending is up – taking up a larger portion of overall retail sales.
4 June 2020 | The Acceleration Of eCommerce During The Pandemic
Stay-at-home orders evidently a boon to eCommerce as the market share is expected to double by year-end.
12 May 2020 | How The Coronavirus Pandemic Affects Sales on Amazon
Sellics CEO Franz Jordan explains the impact that a surge in demand has had on Amazon Advertising. In short, overall it has been strong.
12 May 2020 | Amazon Recovers From Essentials-Only
In early April, Amazon pulled back on deals promotions and prioritized fulfillment for essentials. Now, having caught up to demand, Amazon is returning to business as usual.
5 May 2020 | Chinese Sellers on Amazon Losing Ground
The number of top sellers based in China has decreased by 6% in Amazon’s top global markets – a trend which has decreased for the first time.
30 April 2020 | Ad Spending Surged for Amazon in Q1 as Shoppers Stocked Up
Agencies reported client spending increased between 24 and 67% on Sponsored Product Ads in Q1 of this year, bolstered by the surge in demand brought on by COVID-19.
23 April 2020 | Amazon donates £250,000 to Book Trade Charity
Amazon tried to keep it low key, but the bookshops fund finally revealed its benefactor: Amazon still works closely with brick-and-mortar booksellers.
23 April 2020 | Amazon funds Covid-19 plasma therapy study
The FDA approved Columbia’s approach to studying plasma from recovered Covid-19 patients. Amazon supports the research with $2.5 million.
23 April 2020 | FBA Sellers Are Running Out of Stock
Less than 80% of the top Amazon sellers offer Prime shipping for more than half of their assortment, the first significant drop in Prime assortment by the top sellers in years.
18 April 2020 | Hot or Not: Amazon Uses Thermal Cameras to Check for Fever
Amazon has installed thermal cameras in some of its operational facilities to facilitate the process of screening workers for fever.
17 April 2020 |Deliveroo could go bust, Amazon ready to invest
Amazon’s investment in the food delivery service Deliveroo was put on hold in December 2019 “amid concerns it would limit competition in the takeaway and ultra-fast grocery delivery markets”. This changed now that the coronavirus crisis threatens Deliveroo to exit the market.
17 April 2020 | Despite Restrictions: FBA Sellers Rely on Amazon
Amazon’s move to prioritize essential items caused FBA sellers to look for alternative warehousing providers — but not for competing marketplaces.
16 April 2020 | Amazon Wants Customers to Buy Less
To focus operations and consumer spending on essentials and high-demand items, Amazon has removed its deals page including Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and Prime Day. The frequently-bought-together list for each product has disappeared and brands can no longer submit coupons.
14 April 2020 | Amazon Drastically Reduces Commissions for Affiliates
While stocks are looking good and hiring is healthy, Amazon is also resorting to cost-cutting measures – or was the decision planned long ago? In some categories, the share that affiliate partners now receive per referred purchase plummets by more than half.
13 April 2020 | Court Orders Amazon France to Deliver Only Essential Orders
At the other end of the restriction rollercoaster (see below), a court in France has ordered Amazon to deliver only food, hygiene, and medical products in the country. The ruling gives Amazon 24h to comply — or else face a fine of €1 million per day.
Update on 15 April: Amazon has responded by closing its fulfillment centers in France for at least 5 working days.
13 April 2020 | Amazon Allows Sellers to Ship Non-Essential Items
After prioritizing only essential product categories in March, Amazon has allowed some non-essential products into its warehouses. The products will be limited by quantity to allow Amazon to continue prioritizing essential products and protecting employees, but some sellers already report being “unblocked”.
13 April 2020 | 75,000 Additional Job Openings at Amazon
In March, Amazon prominently announced it would hire 100,000 new employees and increase wages. The goal was reached, so now they are filling 75,000 more positions and spending $ 500 million on pay increase.
9 April 2020 | Amazon to Build COVID-19 Testing Lab for Workforce
Amazon plans to test its frontline employees for COVID-19 to protect its warehouse workers and delivery drivers in the face of scarce testing opportunities in the U.S. Amazon acknowledges the difficulty of setting up such a sophisticated clinical laboratory in a short time — will they pull it off?
8 April 2020 | ‘Amazon Shipping’ Service on Pause
Amazon’s answer to FedEx and UPS, ‘Amazon Shipping’ will be put on pause starting in June, allowing the company to focus on the delivery of its own orders.
3 April 2020 | Prime Day Delayed
Preparations for Prime Day selling will grind to a halt for many, as the shopping event is delayed for a so-far-unspecified period.
2 April 2020 | N95 Masks For Hospitals and Governments Only
Faced with shortages of basic medical gear, N95 masks and other medical PPE sold on Amazon will be distributed to qualifying hospitals and governments only for the time being.
1 April 2020 | The Futile Search for Toilet Paper
Amazon is doing all it can to keep up with skyrocketing demand for certain products, but many are still quickly sold out. Despite no or low stock, search stats show what consumers are looking for – and not finding.
1 April 2020 | Amazon.in Operations on Pause: Now Back On?
On March 26th, Amazon announced that all deliveries in the Indian marketplace were put on pause. Since then, Amazon has re-instated deliveries in an increasing number of cities.
31 March 2020 | (Some) FBA Storage Fees Waived
Amazon fortifies its commitment to its selling partners during the COVID-19 pandemic by waiving two weeks of sellers’ inventory storage fees for products stored in certain markets.
29 March 2020 | COVID-19 a Stress Test on Supply Chain
As China’s economic output increases weekly, other parts of the world begin confronting increasingly significant disruptions, coping with sudden shifts in both supply and demand.
27 March 2020 | ‘Essentials’ Definition Broadened in Key Markets
As a follow up to the March 17th announcement that Amazon would prioritize the fulfillment of ‘essential’ items, Amazon has now announced that this list will be broadened and that sellers can check their eligibility using a new tool.
26 March 2020 | #BuildforCOVID19 Global Online Hackathon
Calling all developers! Partnering with the WHO and scientists at the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, this hackathon invites you to contribute your talents to build both local and global solutions for the new challenges brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.
25 March 2020 | Amazon Upping Their Grocery Game
By increasing in-store safety, limiting purchase quantities of high-demand items, increasing pay and delivery capacity, Amazon attempts to keep up with rising demand for pick-up and online ordering.
25 March 2020 | Some still see supply delays
For some, supply continues to be a concern, as half of sellers and vendors surveyed by Sellics report an increase in shipping times.
23 March 2020 | Tech Company Volunteers Build COVID-19 Tracking App
A group of thirty volunteers from Amazon, Apple, and Alphabet built a website called covidnearyou.org to track the spread of the pandemic in the US in real-time by using symptoms to bridge the testing gap.
23 March 2020 | Test kits and well wishes, courtesy of Amazon
Amazon will participate in test kit delivery in Seattle, and Jeff Bezos sends a personal note.
21 March 2020 | Essentials only for hardest-hit countries
As an extreme measure to keep up with demand, Amazon will limit shipping to essential items in marketplaces hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic: Italy and France.
20 March 2020 | Amazon kicks out corona-scammers
In their haste to purchase high demand products, Amazon consumers are being duped by opportunistic sellers. In response, Amazon is cracking down on price-gouging by pulling over a half-million offers and 3,900 sellers from the site.
17 March 2020 | FBA in USA now limited
Amazon announced that until April 5th, it would prioritize ‘household staples and medical supplies’ in the US by accepting only these items for stocking up in FBA warehouses.
12 March 2020 | Could social distancing be a boon to the eCommerce industry?
Thought leaders speculate that the coronavirus pandemic could push eCommerce ten years into the future. A report by Sellics does suggest that social distancing measures might increase the demand for products on Amazon. It will, however, follow distinctly different trends across categories: A third of sellers and vendors already see a drop in demand for their products.
12 March 2020 | Could social distancing be a boon to the eCommerce industry?
Thought leaders speculate that the coronavirus pandemic could push eCommerce ten years into the future. A report by Sellics does suggest that social distancing measures might increase the demand for products on Amazon. It will, however, follow distinctly different trends across categories: A third of sellers and vendors already see a drop in demand for their products.
We are here for you.
We know the situation continues to be unpredictable and disconcerting. That’s why we will continue to provide you with the best information we can gather — to make sure you don’t miss out, keep checking in and sign up for our weekly COVID-19 newsletter.
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