New Feature: Create Bulk Amazon Listings Using Your Own Templates
Amazon has rolled out a major update to its ‘List Your Products’ page, making it easier for sellers to create bulk listings using custom templates. Previously, bulk listings were restricted to Amazon’s standard templates, such as the listing loader or custom template. Now, you can upload inventory spreadsheets you already maintain or files from other Amazon marketplaces.
How It Works:
- Upload Your Own Template: Submit an Excel or TSV spreadsheet that fits your internal catalog or external Amazon file.
- AI Transformation: Amazon’s AI technology automatically converts your data into draft listings compatible with their format.
- Review and Submit: Review the draft listings, make necessary adjustments, and finalize the listings.
Why It’s a Game-Changer for Sellers:
- Time Savings: No need to reformat data to match Amazon’s standard templates.
- Seamless Cross-Market Integration: Easily reuse data from other Amazon stores.
- Greater Flexibility: Maintain consistency by using existing inventory management files.
Action Step: If you’re managing large product catalogs or multi-store operations, this update can drastically reduce manual work. Visit the List Your Products page to get started.
Amazon Vine Update: Upgrade to a Higher Enrollment Tier Within 30 Days
Amazon is introducing more flexibility to its Vine program, allowing sellers to upgrade their enrollment tier within the first 30 days by adding more units for the same ASIN. This means brands can quickly adjust their strategy if they see early traction or want to boost visibility further.
Key Details of the Update:
- Upgrade Flexibility: Within the first 30 days of enrollment, you can switch to a higher tier and enroll more units of an ASIN.
- No Downgrades Allowed: Once enrollment starts, you cannot downgrade to a lower tier.
- Enrollment Duration: The process concludes after 90 days or when all units are reviewed, but you have the full 30-day window to upgrade.
Why This Matters for Sellers:
- Scalable Review Strategy: Start with a smaller batch of units, gauge the impact, and scale up if needed.
- Boost Conversion Early: Reviews drive 90% of purchase decisions. If you see positive engagement early, you can capitalize on it by enrolling more units.
- Higher Quality Reviews: Vine reviews tend to have higher word count, images, and videos, helping new or slow-moving products gain customer trust faster.
The Benefits of Amazon Vine Enrollment:
- Up to 30 High-Quality Reviews: Drive traffic and conversion by building product credibility early.
- 30% Potential Sales Lift: An internal Amazon study (2019-2020) found that Vine reviews correlated with a 30% increase in sales.
- Insightful Customer Feedback: Use reviews to refine your product or packaging based on honest feedback.
Action Step: If you have products enrolled in Vine and see early traction, consider upgrading to a higher tier within 30 days to maximize exposure. Visit the Amazon Vine section in Seller Central to manage your enrollment.
Automatic Minimum Thresholds for Order Handling Capacity Coming February 24, 2025
Amazon will implement automatic minimum thresholds for order handling capacity (OHC) starting February 24, 2025. This update helps ensure that sellers have accurate handling limits based on their actual performance, reducing late shipment risks and improving customer experience.
How It Works:
- Automatic Threshold Setting: Amazon will set a conservative minimum order handling capacity based on your average daily orders over the past 30 days.
- Weekly Updates: The system will recalculate the minimum threshold weekly to reflect any changes in your order volume.
- Adjustments: If your set capacity is below the minimum threshold, it will automatically increase. Sellers can still set higher limits manually if needed.
Key Benefits for Sellers:
- More Accurate Delivery Dates: Handling times will align with your actual capacity, leading to more accurate customer delivery promises.
- Reduced Late Shipment Risk: The automated adjustments help you avoid taking on more orders than you can handle.
- Enhanced Customer Experience: By setting realistic fulfillment expectations, you can maintain customer satisfaction and prevent delays.
Limitations:
- Applicable Shipping Options: OHC applies to Standard and Free Economy shipping but does not apply to Seller Fulfilled Prime or Premium Shipping orders.
- No Impact from Vacation Mode: The system will account for time off if you enable Vacation Mode.
For details on how to modify your order handling capacity, visit Amazon’s help page: Modify Order Handling Capacity.
Walmart Baby Days Event: February 12 Start Date
Walmart’s semi-annual Baby Days event kicks off on February 12, featuring baby products like cribs, gear, and essentials. Sellers are encouraged to set promotional pricing with a minimum 15% discount to boost visibility. Using Walmart Fulfillment Services (WFS) during this event can drive growth, with sellers seeing an average 50% increase in GMV for items featuring the “Fulfilled by Walmart” and “2-day shipping” tags.
Amazon’s Advertising Business Grows 18% in Q4 2024, Surpassing $14 Billion
Amazon’s ad revenue saw an 18% year-over-year surge in Q4 2024, driven by higher demand for Sponsored Products, Brands, and Display Ads. As Amazon’s ads target high-intent shoppers within its marketplace, sellers benefit from increased visibility, conversion rates, and access to retail-driven insights. The ad growth also suggests higher competition, making it essential for sellers to optimize bidding strategies and ad creatives. With ongoing innovation in ad tech, Amazon’s dominance in digital advertising is expected to give sellers more tools for growth and discovery.
Amazon’s Same-Day and Next-Day Deliveries Surpass 9 Billion Worldwide
Amazon delivered over 9 billion items globally in 2024 through same-day and next-day services, fueled by expanded fulfillment centers and logistics investments exceeding $90 billion.
Key Takeaways for Sellers:
- Enhanced Visibility for Fast-Shipping Items: Products with Prime-eligible same-day or next-day delivery are more likely to win the Featured Offer and boost conversions.
- Increased Competition: As Walmart grows its same-day delivery network, sellers should monitor pricing and shipping speed competitiveness.
- Fulfillment Strategy: Using Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) or other Amazon-supported fulfillment solutions will be critical to capitalize on faster delivery tags.
China Tariff Exposure: How Amazon and Other eCommerce Giants Are Impacted
Morgan Stanley’s latest report reveals that Amazon’s first-party (1P) merchandise has the highest exposure to China-based costs, with 25% of its cost of goods sold (COGS) tied to Chinese imports. Companies like Revolve (22%) and eBay (11%) follow closely behind. Conversely, brands like Figs and Etsy face minimal exposure due to limited Chinese supply reliance.
Key Implications for Sellers:
- Amazon 1P Impact: Potential tariff increases could affect pricing and profit margins for sellers using Amazon’s 1P model.
- Supply Chain Strategy: Sellers should explore diversifying suppliers to mitigate future risks.
- Rising Costs: Companies with high exposure risk price adjustments as tariffs remain volatile.
Keep up with the latest Amazon and Walmart news updates and subscribe to our BellaVix newsletter 👇👇👇