In this episode of Selling on Giants, host Will Haire sits down with Liz Downing, Partnership Director at the Ecom Cooperative, to explore the power of networking and community in the eCommerce space. Liz shares insights into how sellers and service providers can leverage Amazon communities and eCommerce networks to drive growth and success.
Key takeaways:
Networking for Growth and Community Building
- Liz Downing, the partnership director at the Ecom Cooperative, discusses the importance of networking within the eCommerce space, emphasizing collaboration between sellers and service providers.
- The Ecom Cooperative serves as a hub for sellers and brand owners to access resources, participate in discussions, and engage in networking through platforms like WhatsApp and in-person events.
- The organization was founded during COVID to provide greater networking opportunities, especially in the absence of traditional conferences. Founders like David Deon and others initiated the idea after connecting with sellers over dinners.
- The primary goal of the Ecom Cooperative is to give back to the seller community, offering benefits like webinars and access to vetted service providers who can help solve problems faced by sellers.
Benefits for Sellers
- Sellers who join the Ecom Cooperative can participate in webinars that provide valuable knowledge, often accompanied by giveaways.
- The community shares content from partners that give tips on profitability, advertising, and other aspects of running an eCommerce business.
- One of the biggest advantages is personalized assistance; when sellers encounter challenges, the Cooperative can recommend suitable service providers based on their needs.
- The organization carefully vets its partners, ensuring that sellers receive quality support and guidance tailored to their specific pain points.
Success Stories
- The Ecom Cooperative has successfully helped brands resolve issues related to account suspension and international expansion through swift connections to responsive service providers.
- Quick resolutions are highlighted, as sellers are able to communicate their issues directly to recommended service providers, which streamlines the problem-solving process.
- The Cooperative’s support can be particularly beneficial during trade shows, where new service providers are constantly emerging, further complicating the landscape for sellers.
Collaboration Between Service Providers and Sellers
- The service provider community also benefits from the Ecom Cooperative by gaining access to a large network of sellers and brand owners.
- When selecting partner organizations for co-marketing, service providers should consider their ideal customer profiles (ICPs), ideological alignment, and the balance between content value and lead generation.
- The Ecom Cooperative assists service providers in navigating these partnerships, acting as a fractional marketing arm to help them connect with potential customers.
Community Engagement and Shared Knowledge
- Liz emphasizes the growth of community sharing among sellers, contrasting it with past practices where information was closely guarded.
- Popular sessions at conferences like Prosper show that sellers crave interaction, peer-to-peer learning, and open communication regarding challenges and solutions.
- The cooperative spirit nurtured by the Ecom Cooperative fosters a supportive environment where both service providers and sellers benefit, enhancing the overall growth ecosystem in the eCommerce space.
- Liz expresses gratitude for being part of an industry that values entrepreneurship and the success of businesses, highlighting the sense of community that exists among its members.
Or listen to the previous episodes on the different platforms:
Connect with Tyler Gregg:
- LinkedIn – Personal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizdowning/
- Website: https://theecomcooperative.com/