Tropical Trivia🌴
E-commerce makes up less then 20% of all retail sales worldwide. True or False?
Scroll to the bottom to see the answer!
What’s Going On at the Beach?
Recently, we’ve been teaching our boys about running the entrepreneurial spirit! Since Marsha and I sell things online, we thought: why not show them how it’s done? They’re already learning lots of useful real-world stuff which is way different from their schoolwork. We’ve also been watching a great TV show called “The Profit” which helps them understand common business terms like margins and profits. Get em’ started young I always say! Next week we’ll look into having them operate heavy machinery!
A lot better set up then my first listing…
The big news this week is that the boys started selling LEGO on Shopify! They had a great time taking pictures of their new LEGO Star Wars trading cards. They each had their own way of setting up the photos, which was really fun to see. We even opened some card packs to get better photos – we call that “research.” 😉 It was awesome to see them so excited about figuring out the best way to show off the cards with the right background, lights, and editing. Next up, we’re going to figure out how to price everything and get it all listed in our store.
Hey! Today’s Value: so good, it’s almost illegal. Enjoy the loot!
  • 100% FREE Amazon Optimization Masterlist
  • How to use disarming language with strangers 
  • Ignoring the basics will cost you BIG
  • Surfing is super easy (other then the crocodiles)
  • Why being curious is the ultimate travel hack
The 2023 Amazon Optimization Masterlist 
is Here!
The Masterlist is here! Packed full of 20-pages of all the knowledge you need to have a profitable and successful Amazon business.
Optimize your listings, your account, and your product with this exclusive cheat sheet!
The best part? We’re giving it away totally free.
The only thing we ask is if you find this Newsletter valuable…
Would you be willing to share it with one (1) friend or colleague? 
It would mean the world to us.
HOW DO I GET IT?
Just reply to this e-mail letting us know that you referred somebody
(if you actually referred somebody 😉)  and we’ll send it right over.
credit: midjourney / after wedding decorated palm trees at the beach
The 1% Zone 👊Actionable Amazon Tips
Have you read James Clear’s Atomic Habits? Little things add up.
Here’s something you can to TODAY to improve your business:
Check Your Product Dimensions
This one is simple. REALLY simple. AND YET, so many sellers miss it. They miss the basics.  Even experienced sellers! 
Make sure your product dimensions are correct. The best part? It can be applied to any type of seller (PL/WS/OA/RA).
When you don’t check as often enough as you should, you lose money. Oh, and then this guy laughs at you:
I love lazy sellers!
Why should we check our dimensions regularly? 
Amazon and other sellers CAN and DO change the dimensions on your product. When they do, your fulfilment fees go up, and you make less per unit. No good.
I don’t want to check all of them all the time.
Good. Me either. Instead use a tool like Helium 10, Sellerise, or Sellerboard to monitor your listings for any changes. When your dimensions change (and they will), change them back.
It doesn’t matter if you don’t control the listing. If you have inventory in stock, and you see that the dimensions are wrong, open a case. The keyword to use is in the case is “cubiscan.” Then, enter the ASIN and Amazon will re-measure it for you in a few days. They’ll also reimburse you for any overcharged fees.
I bet I could make my product smaller. Could I pay less in fees?
 
Yup. Sometimes even changing your product to be a fraction of an inch smaller can result in big savings. Check out this client of ours who saved $123K per year by reducing his packaging thickness from 1.1″ to 0.75.” For. Real.
The big CUT-OFFS for fee tiers are the following: 0.75″ on the shortest side of your product and 18″ on the longest side.
  • Can you make your product slightly smaller on the shortest side to meet a 0.75″ thickness? If so, you qualify for Small Standard. (if your product is 1lb or less)
  • Can you make your product slightly shorter on the longest side to make it less then 18″ in length? If so, you’ll stay out of the Oversize Category. (if your product is 20lb or less)
Detailed Amazon FBA fee tier articles here and here.
It’s rare that you get a peek into the tactics and strategies employed by the elite. After all, the elite *remain* elite by closely guarding their secrets. But that’s no longer the case!
In Best@Amazon, Jon Derkits, a former Amazon marketplace leader and current 8-figure seller reveals the secret tactics and strategies employed by the Top 1% of Amazon sellers. Subscribe today and learn what it takes to be a Top 1% seller.
(Oh, ALSO – Jon is doing an AMA… TODAY, Monday, November 27th in the Selling from the Beach Facebook Group. Check it out!)
2/ Traveler’s Toolkit ✈️The Latest Travel Hacks
Flights, hotels, packing and everything in between.
Why Being Curious is Cool
Embracing a learner’s mindset while traveling is an incredibly beneficial approach. It opens the door to authentic experiences and deeper understanding of different cultures and places. When you travel with the willingness to learn and admit what you don’t know, you naturally become more observant and receptive to new
information. Time to channel Anthony Bourdain!
  • Investigate Local Foods: When you don’t know much about the local dishes and ask locals about it, they can show you some amazing eats. Hands down, the best thing I’ve ever eaten (to this day) was from a vendor selling Ceviche from a cooler on the back of his motorcycle. It. Was. Unbelivable.
  • Discover Local Traditions: Stepping into a new place with an open mind turns you into an explorer, eager to unravel the mysteries of a different culture. Asking locals why they do what they do, “Why do you stop work at 2PM?” can lead to some insightful realizations. Ask questions to get a glimpse into a world you wouldn’t otherwise see.
  • Uncover Hidden Gems: A great question for a local:  “What’s a cool place that only you guys know about?” I guarantee you’ll find something that isn’t in the guidebooks or on Google.
I even do this when I’m not traveling. Need to fill out a form or go do something new? Tell the person you’re engaging with you don’t know what you’re doing. Ask questions. Be honest. It is incredibly disarming and they’ll warm up to you right away. You won’t be a number anymore – and will be able to get more done. 
3/ The Local Lowdown🌴
Things You Didn’t Know About Paradise
The good, the bad, the f***ing great.
Want to learn to surf? It’s easy! (kinda…)
Okay, Tamarindo is pretty damn nice.
When you visit Costa Rica (have you booked your trip yet?), you might want to try surfing, as it’s an extremely popular activity here. There are lots of great beaches along the Pacific coast that offer good surfing all year. One place near us, Tamarindo, is always full of surfers. You might even spot Robert August there, the famous surfer from the 1966 documentary “The Endless Summer,” who makes custom surfboards. Tamarindo is a well-known surfing spot, but it can get really crowded, especially with new surfers who might not know much about surfing safety. 🤕
Just a short distance from Tamarindo is Playa Grande, a quieter beach that’s still awesome for beginners. You can get there in just a few minutes by car, or by a short boat ride across the estuary. There are many instructors at Playa Grande who can teach you how to surf, so it’s definitely worth checking out.
Hmm, they look friendly…
If you’re going from Tamarindo to Playa Grande, you might think about swimming across the estuary, but it’s not a great idea because of the strong currents and the crocodiles, which can get a bit… bitey. It’s much safer and only costs $4 to take a water taxi. Plus it’s very hard to surf without legs.
4/ SFTB Community❓
Stuff You May Have Missed
Value-packed community posts.
5/ The Sand in my Swimming Trunks🤬
(What I’m Pissed About Lately)
Amazon’s “polls.” While I know what I’d say… I can’t imagine the data from these is all that useful (or friendly!).
Or perhaps they’re just coming up with a monster list of people who will not enjoy the next ban wave. 🤣
Hey – Wanna hang out? Check us out on Facebook.
Hungry for More? 
“In a world of distractions, single-tasking is a superpower.”
Speak Up! Questions from the Community
No questions this edition. Want to have your question answered in the newsletter? Send us an email at info@sellingfrom.co
It’s over? Aw 🙁  
How was today’s newsletter? Love it? Hate it?
Do you just want to be in Tamarindo on a surf board?
Let us know.
—
All the best,
Max & Rob