Ways your Amazon business can power through the pandemic
By: Sanam Hakam, Guest writer
Forward-thinking entrepreneurs can add real value to people’s lives and will be monumental to the way this economy moves forward, both during and post-coronavirus.
Since the global outbreak of COVID-19, the economy has taken a significant downturn. Although experts were raising some red flags earlier in 2019, COVID-19 has shocked the system with unforeseen problems. Recessions are a part of the churning economic cycle – a devastating time with years of recovery to follow.
Even now, business owners are finding themselves bracing for more potential economic ‘unknowns.’ The prudent entrepreneur should make sure that they are prepared and properly positioned for any impact that this pandemic might have on their Amazon business.
How can you recession-proof your business?
First of all, let me start off by saying that no product or business is 100% recession-proof since there are so many moving pieces that can impact the health of your business. However, I’ll be sharing time-tested (and Great Recession of 2007-2009-tested) strategies to help you plan for and safeguard your business.
Protect your Supply Chain
It’s no secret that the outbreak has affected global supply chains, especially manufacturing that takes place in China. Communicate with your suppliers! Your suppliers should have an idea of how this might affect you. Talk to them and see how you can work together to mitigate the disruptions. You can also discuss what products are more crucial to your business and should be placed on priority. In this way, if there is a delay, you are at least equipped with your best sellers. In tandem to this, look for alternative suppliers. You should understand that your suppliers may hit more road blocks that are unforeseen right now.
Diversify Your Selection
Broadening your line-up may be the key to surviving during this global health crisis. If you are still not selling items in some of the recession-proof and COVID-19 trending categories, now is the time to look into it. Also, be sure to review your inventory management. See if there is anything you can do to lower inventory expenses without sacrificing the quality of your products. Ask yourself is there a drop-shipping alternative that will work for you so you can eliminate shipping and warehousing costs?
Communicate with your Customers
Make sure you let your customers know what is happening and what your plans are for the coming days, weeks, or months. Practice transparency by publicly addressing common customer frustrations like delivery delays, stock outs, and share internal sanitation procedures.
When this is all over, business owners who continued to connect and engage their buyers will come out in a better position than those who decided to stop, drop, and hide when business got tough.
Maximize Digital Channels
Use social media to communicate, educate, and understand your customers’ needs and challenges during these unprecedented times. Ensure that good information about who you are and your brand is still out there and attracting some followers. If your brand is well presented, when “normalcy” returns, you’ll be able to get the ball rolling with your business.
What thrives during recessions?
While a lot of businesses across major industries struggle during times of recession, there are a handful of business that are sustainable during these times.
Investopedia lists the top 10 companies that did well during the last Great Recession of 2008.
| Company Name (Ticker) | 1-Year Total Return | Industry |
| Dollar Tree Inc. (DLTR) | 60.8% | Discount Stores |
| Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc. (VRTX) | 30.8% | Biotechnology |
| H&R Block Inc. (HRB) | 25.8% | Personal Services |
| Amgen Inc. (AMGN) | 24.3% | Drug Manufacturers-General |
| Old Dominion Freight Lines Inc. (ODFL) | 23.2% | Trucking |
| Walmart Inc. (WMT) | 20.0% | Discount Stores |
| Edwards Lifesciences Corp. (EW) | 19.5% | Medical Devices |
| Ross Stores Inc. (ROST) | 17.6% | Apparel Retail |
| Alaska Air Group Inc. (ALK) | 17.0% | Airlines |
| Hasbro Inc. (HAS) | 16.8% | Leisure |
Source: YCharts
Key Takeaways:
- Even when times get tough, and consumers are earning less, they need basic, staple products like food and household supplies. To save money, people turn to cheaper alternatives – hence, the discount stores do well. And the Walmarts of the world make the cut as an affordable alternative.
- Recession or not, you need healthcare. Especially amidst COVID-19, this recession is more in need for healthcare and medical supplies than any other economic downturn. Who could’ve guessed that we’d be hit by a global pandemic the same time the economy was projected to spiral downward?!
- The trucking or airline success in the 2008 recession is not so relevant now. In these weird times, even travel and freight is taking a hit.
Product Tips:
- List discounted essential items, preferably those with a longer shelf life – such as canned goods, dried fruit, kid-friendly snacks, and pet foods.
- Sell health-related goods such as saline solutions, toilet paper, baby wipes, towels, gloves, masks, sanitizers, cleaning supplies, and first aid kids. With the current pandemic, don’t be lured into driving up costs for these in-demand goods – Amazon has slapped many with price gouging suspensions.
- Offer affordable entertainment and learning opportunities. At-home learning items like jigsaw puzzles and board games have been top sellers on Amazon in the last month. More kids are learning and gaming at home.
- DIY, gardening, gaming, home gym equipment, arts & crafts = everything that people can do while they are at home. That being said, when you list products in these categories you’ll be catering to the new “COVID-19 at-home trends” and may be able to power through this pandemic and hard economic time.
Ways to Power Through This Recession
Although, you may feel the urge to huddle up and ride out this economic storm, it’s prime time to take some action, make some changes to your Amazon product line, and let the sales slowly follow.
If you need help streamlining your Amazon business and want to intelligently manage your inventory and restock in these times, the SellerMobile team is available to guide you through the process. It’s more important than ever, to manage your cash flow, prevent over-purchasing, and plan around your suppliers’ new lead times!
Special thanks from Riverbend Consulting to SellerMobile Marketing Director Sanam Hakam for being our guest writer.
About SellerMobile
SellerMobile is an advanced cloud-based software solution, created to help Amazon merchants gain a more competitive edge in the marketplace. They offer a full suite of mobile and web-based tools and analytics. Their tools include: automated pricing; inventory and order management; analytics and reporting; buyer/seller messaging; feedback and reviews and more.
Consultant Kayleigh Cockerill, relentlessly fights for clients with suspended Amazon accounts. With a degree is in Criminology and Criminal Justice, Kayleigh is inquisitive, process-oriented and pays close attention to detail. When she isn’t being a superhero to Amazon sellers, she enjoys crafting, reading, baking, taking voice lessons or participating in races and obstacle courses.
Lesley is co-founder and co-owner of Riverbend Consulting, where she oversees the firm’s client services team. She leverages two decades as a small business consultant to advise clients on profitability and operational performance. Lesley has been an Amazon seller for almost a decade.
It will bring it to the attention of the direct manager (or advisor, they will refer to themselves as a member of the ‘Amazon Leadership Team’) who will hopefully be more knowledgeable and retain the case until it is resolved.