Our Amazon specialist, Ashley Cooke, explains why you should consider becoming an Amazon seller in 2020. From the boom in eCommerce during COVID-19 to Amazon's loyal customer base, find out more.

Why You Should Become an Amazon Seller in 2020

COVID-19 has undoubtedly been the focus of discussion in 2020, because it affects us in so many ways. Although many businesses have taken a substantial hit this year, with record job losses and closing of stores, online retail is booming. According to new ONS data, online sales as a proportion of all retailing reached a record high of 22.3% in the UK in March, demonstrating a huge shift to eCommerce as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

One major online retailer experiencing the benefits of this shift is Amazon. According to Forbes, they have seen consumer spending increase by 35%. The US site revenue rose 26% YoY to $75.5 billion in the three months since March – by far the highest record for what is usually Amazon’s slowest period of the year.

Amazon was already growing in large numbers prior to the pandemic, and these numbers have been accelerated in the last few months. More than 50% of these impressive figures are as a result of third-party sellers, according to data from qz.com. Amazon considers sellers to be a vital part of their operations, which is why you should consider becoming an Amazon seller in 2020.

eCommerce Shows No Signs of Slowing

With social distancing currently at the forefront of everyone’s minds, large numbers of people are now choosing to shop online to get what they need. As a result, eCommerce is now becoming the norm, and this shift shows no signs of slowing down. Amazon is a platform that sells just about anything, so whatever your business offers, it’s likely to be on Amazon. This provides you with the chance to tap into their huge customer base by creating quality listings and utilising advertising to maximise your reach.

During this pandemic I have found it incredibly frustrating going to brick and mortar stores to find something I need. I have to queue up outside for up to half an hour in poor weather conditions just to get into the store, only to find a limited product range that doesn’t cater for my needs. As a result, I have bought most items from Amazon over the past three months. What’s more is that with Amazon Prime, I have been able to take advantage of same day and next day delivery. I’m sure many people will feel the same way when visiting physical stores, and will have made the shift to Amazon as a result.

A Loyal Customer Base

According to Tinuiti, 52% of users are willing to shop a brand they are unfamiliar with on Amazon, with 75% of shoppers using Amazon to discover new products. With the introduction of Prime, Amazon has been able to reach more customers than ever before. The ability to offer free same day and one day delivery has revolutionised the eCommerce landscape, alongside the other benefits that having a Prime membership provides. RBC recently carried out a survey of 2000 US Amazon users which found that the average Amazon Prime customer spent $538 a year on the site. The takeaway point is that if you sell your products through Amazon, your business will be associated with a brand that customers know – and more importantly, trust.

A Range of Tools

One of the main advantages of selling on Amazon is that they do so much to ensure sellers get the most out of their platform. New sellers can benefit from access to a dedicated account manager to ensure that the setup process goes smoothly, and they are always on hand to answer your queries. By using tools such as A+ content (which essentially acts as a branded extension of your product page), Amazon can also be treated as part of your website.

Brand registered sellers can also create a custom multipage storefront with a URL that can be designed to be just like your website – only it is hosted by Amazon. There is also a section titled “apps”, which allows you to explore a wide range of tools that can improve selling on the platform. A few examples include price checking, competitor analysis and advertising.

So, now you’ve heard all of these points and can see how they might help your business in the current economic climate, make sure you consider Amazon as part of your eCommerce goals in 2020. Remember that if a seller achieves success, then so does Amazon.

If you want to find out more about how our Amazon services can help to achieve your business goals, get in touch with our experts today.