▶ Video account attention cross-border navigation It is learned that according to foreign media reports, Amazon's operating environment is becoming increasingly complicated under the siege of factors such as the Russia-Ukraine war, persistent supply chain bottlenecks and inflation .
The end of U.S. stimulus and turmoil in Europe could weigh on revenue, while soaring oil prices have led to higher costs and are expected to hit revenue by $4 billion in the first half of this year. Sellers pay for the decline in performance. Amazon has increased its revenue by raising Prime prices and charging FBA sellers fuel surcharges, but sellers' profits have been hit as a result. Farewell to the magical 2021, Amazon has set a series of challenges for sellers since the beginning of 2022. Some sellers have risen to the challenge and the situation is good, but some sellers have been repeatedly frustrated and fell into a trough. With the performance becoming increasingly unstable, developing a side business seems to have become the choice of many Amazon sellers. Single income anxiety: What side business is suitable for developing with Amazon operations? Since the beginning of this year, Amazon's recruitment market seems to have been cold, with fewer positions and shrinking salaries becoming a trend. More and more cross-border companies are cutting jobs and streamlining their structures. The reason is that after the cross-border e-commerce boom has subsided, the money-making power is no longer as strong as it was in the past two years. Nowadays, many Amazon operations are besieged by performance bottlenecks. Unstable commissions and low basic salaries seem to have become the norm for many Amazon operations. Under this circumstance, starting a side business may be a bright spot. An Amazon operation revealed that he entered the industry in 2018. The company expanded from less than 50 people to 5,000 people at its peak in 2021. The operation also completed the transformation from an Amazon rookie to a supervisor. ▲ The picture comes from Zhiwubuyan However, since the second half of last year, the company's performance has been declining. In half a year, almost half of the sales staff were laid off, and there are only more than 100 people left. The salary was guaranteed for one year, and it was even reduced at the beginning of the year. There is no commission at all. “Is working alone really the end of operations?” The operator expressed confusion. Now that performance is sluggish and free time has increased, what are some promising side jobs for Amazon operators? “A person who can’t run a service provider business is not a good entrepreneurial mentor.” "I use my own resources to run a service provider part-time, the investment is not large, and now my income exceeds that of my main job." "I've been there too. I went from being a rookie to a supervisor. The company slowly shrank from more than 100 people to more than 50. Then I left, but I could never make up my mind to go it alone." How to develop a side business based on your experience in Amazon operations? Sellers have suggestions: 1. Operate as an agent: The income is relatively stable, you are good at it and the risk is low. 2. Part-time service providers: Benefits and risks coexist, and sufficient resource support is required. 3. Open your own store and run it in your free time. 4. Change career: product development, Amazon promotion, and e-commerce operations on other platforms. The ups and downs of performance and the out-of-reach commissions, coupled with the pressure of layoffs that could be triggered at any time, have led to more and more operations choosing to develop side businesses to avoid the risks hidden in a single unstable income. In the process, some people's side businesses have been very successful, and even became homepages at one point. Others have found it difficult to balance the relationship between their main and side businesses, and their original Amazon operations have even been affected. In fact, every industry will experience ups and downs, and the Amazon track has passed the bonus period, and its ability to attract money is not as enthusiastic as it was at its peak, and it has become a bit "indistinguishable from other industries." Some sellers are experiencing less and less money in their cards, which inevitably makes them feel uneasy. Working alone faces challenges, changing careers lacks experience, and developing a side business also has risks. How should we make a decision? "First, make a plan that is as detailed and controllable as possible, and then try new areas. Whether you hit a pit or take off, try to keep it within your control." said an Amazon operator. “The river ahead is dangerous”: should we turn around in time or be a lone brave man? It is learned that according to the latest research from Marketplace Pulse, more than 2,000 new sellers have joined Amazon's more than 20 global market platforms every day since 2016, and this number has remained almost unchanged in more than five years. Although voices such as "It's becoming increasingly difficult to do business on Amazon" are becoming more and more loud, a large number of sellers are still pouring in. One seller said that in a post he came across by chance, a service provider advised a young man not to give his best years to Amazon. "Even the service provider doesn't advise people to do Amazon, it seems that they are really moved." The reply of a seller in the comments was even more ridiculous. Upon closer inspection, he discovered that this was a post from 2018. The seller was filled with emotion: It was like rowing a boat for many years and suddenly saw a sign by the river that read "The river ahead is dangerous, you are advised to turn around as soon as possible - 2018" . After years of hard work and witnessing countless people entering and exiting the market, the seller inevitably felt a little confused about where to go. "Although it is getting harder every year, it is too early to say that we can't do it," the seller said firmly. Today, more and more people think that it is becoming increasingly difficult to do business on Amazon, but why are there so many "lonely brave men" rushing to enter this industry? What is the charm of this platform? Sellers have different opinions on this. "Maybe it's because most Chinese are philanthropists and can't bear to see Americans suffer." "What kind of 'charm' is this? It's just a way to get some change." “Is there a possibility that there is no other choice? "If I have to talk about the charm, I can think of it as today's efforts will be reflected in the orders tomorrow. There don't seem to be many industries like this except e-commerce." Under the trend of 20-year epidemic dividends and high exchange rates, the myth of Amazon's sudden wealth seems to be overwhelming, setting off a wave of follow-up trends. However, at the beginning of 2021, the accounts were blocked and the shipping costs were hit one after another. Then the spiraling price war made it impossible to make profits. The mid-year review was like waking up from a dream. It was quite absurd to tear off the mask of Amazon's sudden wealth and face its hideous face of losses. Therefore, the voices of pessimism grew stronger while those of the other grew weaker. In the early wild growth stage of 2015 and 2016, various regulatory policies were relatively less stringent, and countless sellers easily tasted the sweetness of huge profits. However, as risk control is tightened, any violation of the rules may lead to the closure of the store. "The current Amazon is more inclined to refined operations, focusing on supply chain and overall operations. Of course, many people find it a bit difficult." Some people believe that it is not only difficult for speculators to make money on Amazon, but it is even easy to lose money. However, for sellers who are down-to-earth in making products, operating step by step, and are determined to make Chinese brands go abroad and into the world, it is still full of hope and charm. Under the epidemic, all industries are in decline. Compared with other industries, the winter is also cold. In the eyes of some sellers, the bonus period of cross-border e-commerce has passed, and the increase in sellers far exceeds the increase in the market. Amazon, like Taobao, needs to continue to invest, accumulate and settle slowly to see returns from "lying down and counting money" to fierce competition. Although sellers entering the market today can no longer catch the trend, Amazon is not yet a sunset industry. By following the laws of market development and having similar survival advantages, they may be able to usher in the next opportunity for an explosion. |
