Clear the Shelf with Chris & Chris

35% of Elizabeth's Amazon sales come from listings she created from scratch. She buys $20 items at TJ Maxx and sells them for $85 on Amazon. And she's never had more than 5-6 sellers on any listing she's built. Most have 2-3. Often it's just her.Elizabeth Thompson has been selling on Amazon for 20 years. She specializes in something most RA and OA sellers never even try: creating Amazon listings from scratch for products she sources through arbitrage. Today she walks through the entire process step by step, from brand approval to GTIN exemptions to using Amazon's AI tools to build a complete listing in 10 minutes.Chapters:00:00 - What If the Product Doesn't Have an Amazon Listing?02:10 - 20 Years on Amazon: From eBay to FBA04:27 - 35% of Sales From Listings She Created08:05 - Amazon Consulting: What She Teaches Other Sellers10:36 - When to Create a Listing vs. When to Walk Away14:00 - The First Sale: Testing Demand With Just One Unit16:09 - The GS1 Mistake That Ghost Listed 400 ASINs19:08 - The Math of Listing Creation22:03 - How to Actually Create a Listing From Scratch (Step by Step)26:00 - Brand Approval vs. Selling Approval (They're Different)31:00 - GTIN Exemptions: When There's No UPC37:26 - 10-Minute Listings41:00 - Using AI Create Amazon-Ready Photos in Seconds44:46 - Photo Rules: What Amazon Does and Doesn't Allow48:48 - Risk Tolerance53:00 - Bundles, Multi-Packs, and What to Avoid01:00:37 - Creating 30-50 Listings a Week: Is There a Limit?01:05:37 - Lightning Round: First Listing, Best Tools, and Best AdviceFollow Elizabeth:Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThompsonMomCalendly Link: https://calendly.com/liz-iggysincFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/975965942459911/GO DEEPER WITH OAC+Want the full Keepa Academy training used by 7 and 8-figure sellers? It's included with OAC+, our private community of 200+ Amazon sellers.OAC+ includes:- Full Keepa Academy course- Sourcing courses and SOPs- Amazon to Amazon flip leads- Live coaching and Q&A- Suspension supportJoin OAC+: https://www.oachallenge.com/plusCONNECT WITH USTwitter: https://www.x.com/cleartheshelfWebsite: https://www.cleartheshelf.comTwitter: https://www.x.com/ChrisRacicWebsite: https://www.oaleads247.com

He made $25,000 hustling skee-ball at arcades. Then he started Amazon FBA as a college freshman, dropped out after one year, and hit $1.1 million in a single month doing online arbitrage. He's 21 years old.Gavin (@GavinFBA) started selling on Amazon in September 2023 with $500 in first-month revenue. Two years later, he's running a seven-figure Amazon OA business, stacking margin with discounted gift cards and credit card cashback ($60K in a single month), and refusing to pay himself a dollar. This episode breaks down his entire playbook: how he sources, how he funds massive buys, why he goes deep instead of wide, and the Q4 house he rented with two friends that changed everything.Chapters:00:00 - The Ski Ball Hustle: $25K From Arcade Arbitrage02:00 - From Popeye's Chicken Sandwiches to StockX Shoe Flips10:11 - First Amazon Sale: $14 in His Girlfriend's Dorm15:33 - $800K in Sales as a College Freshman and Baseball Player19:58 - Dropping Out of College: The Conversation With Mom and Dad24:05 - Three Friends, One Discord, All Crossed Six Figures in Profit28:00 - The Q4 House in Florida That Unlocked a New Niche30:45 - Going Deep: Tracking Sales Cycles and Controlling the Market34:16 - The August P&L Breakdown: What $240K in Revenue Actually Nets38:38 - Funding $100K in Two Days by Calling Friends42:14 - $60K in Cash Back: The Full Margin Stacking System46:31 - $250K on One Brand: The Biggest Bet He's Made50:06 - Team of Three: VA, Prep Center, and Grandma57:17 - "I Drive a 2003 Acura TL and I Refuse to Pay Myself"01:02:17 - "The Most Technical People Sell the Least"01:06:04 - Lightning Round: Biggest L, Best Investment, and What's NextFollow Gavin:Instagram: @GavinFBATwitter/X: @GavinFBAGO DEEPER WITH OAC+Want the full Keepa Academy training used by 7 and 8-figure sellers? It's included with OAC+, our private community of 200+ Amazon sellers.OAC+ includes:- Full Keepa Academy course- Sourcing courses and SOPs- Amazon to Amazon flip leads- Live coaching and Q&A- Suspension supportJoin OAC+: https://www.oachallenge.com/plusCONNECT WITH USTwitter: https://www.x.com/cleartheshelfWebsite: https://www.cleartheshelf.comTwitter: https://www.x.com/ChrisRacicWebsite: https://www.oaleads247.com

He was doing $1.7M a year on Amazon wholesale. Then a counterfeit complaint got his account suspended for 180 days. Instead of folding, he pivoted to live selling on Whatnot and did $350K in under 10 months.Kip Roland (https://x.com/kip_roland) is one of the early movers in live selling on Whatnot and TikTok live auctions. He built nearly 37,000 followers, runs 3-5 hour live shows 6 days a week selling liquidation clothing at $1 starting bids, and is already top 15 in live generated revenue on TikTok after just two weeks on the platform. Today we're breaking down what live selling actually looks like as a business, how the economics compare to Amazon FBA, and whether this is something Amazon sellers should be paying attention to.TIMESTAMPS:00:00 - Meet Kip Roland: From Amazon Wholesale to Live Selling02:14 - The Origin Story: Flipping Sneakers to Product Manager to Full-Time Seller09:45 - The Amazon Suspension That Changed Everything14:11 - "It Was Like Being Fired" (With a Newborn at Home)19:11 - What Is Whatnot and Why Should Amazon Sellers Care?24:16 - First Shows Were Brutal: Building an Audience From Zero27:07 - Selling 60 Items Per Hour: The Proof of Concept Moment29:01 - The Psychology of Live Auctions (Sacrificial Lambs and FOMO)33:01 - Why He Switched From Kitchen Appliances to Women's Clothing40:29 - How the First 10 Minutes of a Live Show Actually Works44:49 - Dollar Auctions: How Often Do You Sell at a Loss?53:34 - Closing in on 40K Followers: How Whatnot Helps Sellers Grow59:01 - TikTok Live Auctions: "This Is Whatnot Circa 2023"01:06:00 - Why Live Selling Projections Are in the Trillions01:11:38 - The Business Behind the Camera: Organization and Hiring01:16:42 - "Liquidation Ruins Retail Forever" (Sourcing for Whatnot)01:26:06 - Whatnot Academy: Sourcing, Selling, and Scaling Live01:30:56 - Lightning Round: Would You Still Be on Whatnot Without the Suspension?GO DEEPER WITH OAC+Want the full Keepa Academy training used by 7 and 8-figure sellers? It's included with OAC+, our private community of 200+ Amazon sellers.OAC+ includes:- Full Keepa Academy course- Sourcing courses and SOPs- Amazon to Amazon flip leads- Live coaching and Q&A- Suspension supportJoin OAC+: https://www.oachallenge.com/plusOA CHALLENGE LIVE - MARCH 2026Join us for our next live cohort where we build your Amazon business together over 14 days.Learn more: https://www.oachallenge.comCONNECT WITH USTwitter: https://www.x.com/cleartheshelfWebsite: https://www.cleartheshelf.comTwitter: https://www.x.com/ChrisRacicWebsite: https://www.oaleads247.com

He crossed $10M in Amazon sales in 2025. Almost entirely online arbitrage. Just sourcing, scaling, and staying in stock.Stephen Reinhard (https://www.instagram.com/stephendoesbusiness/) started flipping Nike cleats at Ross in middle school for $20. By college, he was running a $75K/month retail arbitrage operation and flying home once a month just to shop. Today, he runs a lean OA business doing $3M+ in a single month with 12-15% net margins and a team of 7-8 VAs.In this episode, we break down how he treats online arbitrage like wholesale, why he thinks most Amazon AI tools are a waste of time, the $150K gift card mistake that almost slipped through, and the Q4 story where he raised $1M on friends' credit cards to keep scaling.TIMESTAMPS:00:00 - Intro00:35 - Meet Stephen Reinhard: $10M Amazon Seller02:33 - From $20 Cleats at Ross to $10M on Amazon06:06 - Why He Treats Online Arbitrage Like Wholesale09:20 - The Numbers: $3M+ in a Single Month11:46 - $464K in Sales from $6,700 in Ads (PPC Breakdown)13:42 - "OA Is a Video Game. I Just Get Dollars."15:48 - Buying Out Entire Websites to Block Competition18:26 - Do You Always Stay in Stock on Winners?21:36 - How He Lost $150K in Unreconciled Gift Cards24:44 - Building a VA Team That Runs Without You27:15 - The VA Who Begged to Learn and Became His Right Hand31:23 - How Many People Does It Take to Run $10M?35:46 - Why Most Amazon AI Tools Are a Waste of Time37:56 - Protecting Margins at Scale Behind Hard-Gated Brands40:46 - He Raised $1M on Friends' Credit Cards in Q444:35 - Lightning Round: Real Estate, Mentors, and What's NextGO DEEPER WITH OAC+Want the full Keepa Academy training used by 7 and 8-figure sellers? It's included with OAC+, our private community of 200+ Amazon sellers.OAC+ includes:- Full Keepa Academy course- Sourcing courses and SOPs- Amazon to Amazon flip leads- Live coaching and Q&A- Suspension supportJoin OAC+: https://www.oachallenge.com/plusOA CHALLENGE LIVE - MARCH 2026Join us for our next live cohort where we build your Amazon business together over 14 days.Learn more: https://www.oachallenge.comCONNECT WITH USTwitter: https://www.x.com/cleartheshelfWebsite: https://www.cleartheshelf.comTwitter: https://www.x.com/ChrisRacicWebsite: https://www.oaleads247.com

He closed 2025 at $844K in Amazon sales on roughly 10 hours a week. Then used those profits to buy a bulldozer, start a land clearing business, and quit his 20-year tech career. This is the full story.Justin Zsimovan (@flippin4gold) joins Clear the Shelf to break down exactly how he built a high-margin Amazon FBA business while working full-time, why he believes retail arbitrage is underrated, and what 20 years in enterprise AI taught him about where this industry is really headed.⏱️ TIMESTAMPS00:00 — Intro: From IT Security to Amazon FBA02:52 — Why Amazon? The Exit Plan from Tech06:37 — Failed Side Hustles Before Amazon Clicked08:10 — How His Wife Runs Most of the Amazon Business11:32 — $844K Revenue Breakdown: RA vs. OA Split13:53 — Zero RA Competition: The Small Town Advantage16:33 — "RA Isn't Scalable" — Why That's Wrong19:00 — The Lead Delay Strategy: Let Stores Hold Your Inventory20:02 — Hiring a VA Too Early (And Why She's Now Irreplaceable)22:53 — Manufacturing Margin: Gift Cards, Credit Cards, and Stacking Points28:29 — Using Grok to Model $10K → $100K/Month Growth31:19 — Amazon as a Launchpad, Not the End Goal34:48 — What's Actually Hard About Starting a "Real" Business39:33 — The Land Clearing Business: From LLC to $90K Bids44:12 — How to Pick a Business AI Can't Disrupt49:15 — The Scott Adams Ideation Framework53:29 — AI Doomer Perspective: Why He Left Tech55:37 — 99.9% of AI Tools on Amazon Twitter Are Junk58:00 — Data: What Sellers Should Record Starting Today01:01:09 — Use Case Engineering: Don't Boil the Ocean01:07:00 — How to Evaluate AI Tools (Open Claw, Claude Desktop)01:10:10 — AI Threatens OA More Than RA01:19:06 — Balancing a W2, Amazon, and a New Business01:21:44 — Managing Risk: The "Worst Case Is Bankruptcy" Mindset01:24:47 — The Escape Sequence: X → Amazon → Land Clearing → Freedom01:28:08 — Lightning Round: Start With Less Money Than More01:29:29 — Book Rec: "Cold Calling Sucks (And That's Why It Works)"01:32:55 — Quote of the Week: Walt Disney on Action Over Analysis🔗 FOLLOW JZ- X/Twitter: @flippin4goldGO DEEPER WITH OAC+Want the full Keepa Academy training used by 7 and 8-figure sellers? It's included with OAC+, our private community of 200+ Amazon sellers.OAC+ includes:- Full Keepa Academy course- Sourcing courses and SOPs- Amazon to Amazon flip leads- Live coaching and Q&A- Suspension supportJoin OAC+: https://www.oachallenge.com/plusOA CHALLENGE LIVE - MARCH 2026Join us for our next live cohort where we build your Amazon business together over 14 days.Learn more: https://www.oachallenge.comCONNECT WITH USTwitter: https://www.x.com/cleartheshelfWebsite: https://www.cleartheshelf.comTwitter: https://www.x.com/ChrisRacicWebsite: https://www.oaleads247.com

Is 2026 the best time to sell on Amazon? Is AI repricing the future of selling on Amazon? In this episode of the Clear the Shelf Podcast, we sit down with Dillon Carter, co-founder of the Aura Repricer to break down exactly how AI repricing works in 2026 — including the game theory engine behind Maven, Aura's AI-powered repricing tool.Grab an Aura Free Trial here: https://www.cleartheshelf.com/repricerDillon explains how Maven profiles competitor behavior in real time, calculates optimal pricing above the buy box, and helps Amazon FBA sellers improve margins without sacrificing sales velocity. We also cover why 2025 was a turning point for operational efficiency on Amazon, how sellers should think about cash flow cycles instead of profit-per-unit, and why the best Amazon sellers in 2026 are running companies instead of side hustles.If you're an Amazon FBA seller doing online arbitrage, retail arbitrage, or wholesale, this episode is packed with actionable strategies to improve your repricing, sourcing, and overall business operations. We also dive deep into how AI tools like Claude, Poke, and browser-based agents are already changing how sellers source products, analyze data, and make decisions.🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES:—————————————————🔁 Try Aura Repricer: https://www.cleartheshelf.com/repricer🎙️ Clear the Shelf Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4O00RWj2hg&list=PLPJ1CITeRS1F1w-T7ZZT7QnKQ027nHVht📩 Join the OAC+ Community: https://www.oachallenge.com/plus🐦 Follow Dillon on X/Twitter: https://x.com/Dillon_Carter📰 Subscribe to the CTS Newsletter: https://www.cleartheshelf.com/newsletter⏰ TIMESTAMPS:—————————————————0:00 — Intro & Dillon Carter's Background14:20 — How Maven's AI Repricing Actually Works (Game Theory Explained)28:40 — Regional Buy Boxes & Average Profit vs. Profit-Per-Sale45:30 — Operational Efficiency: Amazon's New Standard for Sellers56:40 — Aura's Starter Plan & Cash Flow Cycles for New Sellers70:00 — AI Tools Sellers Can Use RIGHT NOW (Claude, Co-Work, Agents)85:30 — The Future of AI Sourcing & Will VAs Be Replaced?101:30 — Cutting Through AI Hype & Power Consolidation110:45 — Worst Amazon Strategy: Switching Business Models118:20 — First Principles Thinking & SP-API Developer Fees128:45 — Rapid Fire: Best Tools, Habits, Books & Advice

Retail arbitrage on Amazon has allowed Kim and Perry Coghlan to sell over 8 figures in a single year selling shoes and clothing They manage a team of about 20 people across two cities while raising 13 kids. In this deep-dive interview, they reveal the exact systems, processes, and management philosophies that make it all work.CONNECT WITH KIM AND PERRY– Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@EcomToolbox– Free Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ecomtoolbox– Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ecomtoolbox1– Skool: https://www.skool.com/ecomtoolbox/about?ref=4adcf73740e949279874c4793504807c– Twitter: https://x.com/Pcoghlan, https://x.com/kimcoghlan4, https://x.com/ecom_toolboxRECOMMENDED TOOLS– SellerAmp SAS (14-day free trial): https://www.selleramp.com/oachallengeUse code OAC50 to save 50% off your first month.– Keepa Academy: https://www.oachallenge.com/keepa-academy– Boxem (14-day free trial): https://www.oachallenge.com/boxemTIMESTAMPS0:00 - Introduction and episode overview2:15 - Kim and Perry's business overview (10 years, 8 figures, 20 employees)4:30 - Shifting focus from top line revenue to bottom line profit6:00 - Why employees wanted data and metrics8:00 - Ecom Toolbox community and podcast launch11:00 - Helping intermediate sellers scale sustainably12:00 - The retail arbitrage renaissance14:30 - Know your numbers: why financial foundations matter first16:30 - Top metrics every Amazon seller should track17:30 - Velocity and cash flow management20:00 - Tracking stale inventory and learning from bad buys23:00 - The business scorecard explained (EOS framework)26:00 - Scorecard metrics: sales, spend, inventory value, margin28:00 - Returns tracking and seasonal variations31:00 - Finding the right tempo for tracking your numbers33:00 - Using AI in their Amazon business36:00 - Lean operations and spaghetti mapping explained39:00 - Real examples of process improvement41:00 - Bringing in a lean consultant for company-wide training43:00 - The eight wastes and eliminating extra processing44:00 - Mindset shift: accepting your process is wrong47:00 - Being the boss you never had49:00 - Elon Musk, staying in the weeds, and the Gemba51:00 - Book recommendations (Walter Isaacson, Ron Chernow)52:00 - Building systems through crisis response, not planning55:00 - Complete hiring process and personality testing59:00 - Phone screening, core values introduction, and filtering1:01:00 - Shopper training program overview1:04:00 - Warehouse training before field work1:07:00 - What makes a shopper field-ready1:09:00 - Compensation structure: item count vs percentage of spend1:11:00 - Bonus structure and incentivizing profitable behavior1:12:30 - Buying criteria for shoes and clothing (minimums, ROI)1:15:00 - Subcategories to avoid (dress shoes, small sizes)1:16:00 - Repricing strategy: buy box anchoring, not ROI-based1:18:00 - The rodeo jeans revelation: market doesn't care what you paid1:19:00 - Aging inventory repricing (30-day and 90-day rules)1:22:00 - Using ScanPower Mobile for pricing decisions1:23:30 - Holding inventory strategy and merchant fulfilled hack1:26:00 - Supplier profitability report as backbone of shopper metrics1:28:00 - Cross-collaboration and company averages1:30:00 - Honey holes and competitive bonuses1:31:00 - The four core values (TACO framework)1:34:00 - Quarterly conversations and the people analyzer1:36:00 - Embedding core values through repetition1:37:00 - Importance of outside perspectives and continuous learning1:39:00 - How lean and EOS clicked for them1:40:00 - EOS as the administrative equivalent of lean1:43:00 - Ecom Toolbox elevator pitch and who it's for1:44:00 - Where to find Kim and Perry1:45:30 - Time travel question: advice to their younger selves1:48:00 - Setting boundaries and not letting the business consume you1:48:30 - Recent impactful learning (Musk biography, learning to play)

Amazon FBA Account Health: What Sellers Get Wrong (IP Complaints, CSM Reviews, Inauthentic)➕ Join OAC+ - The premier community for Amazon sellers looking to grow their business and become better business owners: https://www.oachallenge.com/plus🔥 Grab a 14-day FREE Trial to SellerAmp (Profit calculator, sales estimator, and sourcing tool): https://www.selleramp.com/oachallenge📦 Want to speed up listing, shipping, and analytics? Check out Boxem free for 14 days: https://www.oachallenge.com/boxem💳 See our most recommended Credit Cards: https://cleartheshelf.com/creditcardYour Amazon account is ONE violation away from permanent deactivation. Joy Williams from Seller Basics reveals the account health mistakes costing sellers their businesses and exactly how to protect yourself.🔗 Seller Basics: https://sellerbasics.com📱 Join the Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sellerbasics2.0 (free for all sellers)FOLLOW US: 🐦 Twitter (Chris Grant): https://twitter.com/cleartheshelf 🐦 Twitter (Chris Racic): https://twitter.com/ChrisRacic00:00 - Introduction: Why Account Health Matters More Than Sales08:15 - The #1 Mistake: Ignoring Your Account Health Dashboard15:42 - Section 3 Reviews: Required Documents & Video Call Prep24:30 - Supplier Red Flags (Avoid Scams)35:18 - Gray Market Goods42:50 - IP Complaints & Counterfeit Claims: Fight or Let It Drop?53:25 - Brand Registry Abuse: When Brands Weaponize Violations1:02:40 - Documentation Framework: Invoices, Receipts & Proof1:14:35 - Q4 Survival Guide: ODR & Merchant Fulfilled Disasters1:23:10 - Close vs. Delete Listings: The Critical Difference1:31:45 - Appeal Strategies: What Works (And What Gets You Banned)1:42:20 - Voice of Customer: The Most Underutilized Tool1:48:55 - Final Advice: Prevention Over Emergency Room Visits

In this discussion, Taylor Thomas, founder of Arbitrage Card and discount gift card expert, reveals how Amazon FBA sellers can instantly boost their margins by 5-7% through gift card arbitrage. He shares insights on avoiding costly balance mistakes, leveraging 0% APR business cards for cash flow, and stacking rewards for maximum benefits. Taylor also introduces tools for automated balance checking and discusses the best strategies for timing discounts while managing inventory. His tips are essential for optimizing profits in e-commerce.

Learn how Ryan makes $2M a year with online arbitrage on Amazon in just 20 hours per week.➕ Join OAC+ - The premier community for Amazon sellers looking to grow their business and become better business owners: https://www.oachallenge.com/plus🔥 Grab a 14-day FREE Trial to SellerAmp (Profit calculator, sales estimator, and sourcing tool): https://www.selleramp.com/oachallenge📦 Want to speed up listing, shipping, and analytics? Check out Boxem free for 14 days: https://www.oachallenge.com/boxemRyan shares his complete transition from retail arbitrage to online arbitrage, revealing his replenishment-heavy strategy (85% of business), prep center setup, and the systems that gave him his life back. Learn how he manages $150K in inventory, uses lead lists effectively, and maintains 20% minimum ROI while prioritizing velocity over margins.Perfect for intermediate to advanced Amazon FBA sellers ready to scale their online arbitrage business systematically.CONNECT WITH RYAN: X: @ArbitrageLife | Instagram: @RyanKimuraFBA--------------------RESOURCES FOR YOU: 🧰 https://www.ClearTheShelf.com (The Blog) 🧰 Keepa Academy - https://www.oachallenge.com/keepa-academy 🧰 OA Challenge - https://www.OAChallenge.com 🧰 Repricer Challenge (Free) - https://cleartheshelf.com/repricer-challenge 🧰 RabbitTrailChallenge (Free) - https://cleartheshelf.com/rabbit-trail-challenge 🧰 revROI Chrome Extension (Free) - https://cleartheshelf.com/revroi-extension 🧰 Goal Tracking Spreadsheet (Free) - https://cleartheshelf.com/goal-tracking SOFTWARE & SERVICES I USE & RECOMMEND: ✅ IP Alert (Code YT30 to Save $30) - https://entreresource.com/ip-alert-2/ ✅ AURA Repricer (Code CTS to Save 20% Off Your First 3 Months) - https://goaura.com/cts ✅ OA Buddy (Code CLEARTHESHELF Saves $20): https://cleartheshelf.com/OA-Buddy FOLLOW US: 🐦 Twitter (Chris Grant): https://twitter.com/cleartheshelf 🐦 Twitter (Chris Racic): https://twitter.com/ChrisRacic--------------------[00:00] Introduction: Meet Ryan Kimura [02:37] From Restaurant Owner to Amazon FBA Seller [06:44] The Transition: Retail Arbitrage to Online Arbitrage [14:28] Lead Lists Strategy[24:26] Building a Replenishment-Heavy Business [42:48] Credit Card Rotation Strategy for Cash Flow [49:08] Cash Flow Management[56:39] Scaling Advice