Selling on Amazon For Dummies

Introduction

Not so long ago, if you wanted to be a retailer, you had to build a store, buy products from wholesalers to stock the shelves, mark up their prices, and sell them to whatever customers happened to show up and wander through the aisles. Amazon has changed all that. Nowadays, you can become a retailer without having to step foot out of your home or even rise from your recliner. Equipped with no more than a decent computer and an Internet connection, you can source products from China (and other countries), list them for sale on Amazon, and sit back and collect your money as shoppers across the country and perhaps around the world buy your products.

Well, maybe that’s a little oversimplified and too hopeful an image of what selling on Amazon really involves, but conceptually it is that simple. Anyone can do it. Unfortunately, the fact that anyone can do it is why it has become so challenging. Millions of people have flocked to Amazon, creating what can best be described as a 21st century gold rush. As of this writing, Amazon has more than 2.5 million active sellers seeking their fortune as ecommerce retailers, and they’re all competing against one another and often against big-box stores and big brands, including Amazon. To succeed as a seller on Amazon, you really need to know what you’re doing and be committed to success.

About This Book

Welcome to Selling on Amazon For Dummies, your definitive guide to making money on Amazon. Here we lead you step-by-step through ...