Amazon Seller Conference 2020 Mid West Ecom with Travis Barritt Podcast #30

spk_0:   0:00
Every year, thousands of Amazon sellers attend a conference to keep up with the best practices and network. Today, we'll talk about how you should strategize your attendance and why it should still be on your radar in 2020. Despite Cove it 19. We'll also have a promo code for our listeners to get a discount off of a conference. My name is Stephen Pope, and I'm the My Amazon guy podcast. All right, so I'm now joined by Travis Barrett, who is the director of marketing for Midwest E. Com Conference. He's joining by phone today. Hey, Travis,

spk_1:   0:35
they even Are you

spk_0:   0:37
doing good? I I can imagine. Right now you probably have a pretty tough job. You've got a conference coming up in the middle of July and Kobe 19. How are you holding up right now?

spk_1:   0:48
Yes, it's a very, very good question with Kobe, 19 has kind of put a wrench in most things. We actually just spoke to the conference venue. We're still on pace for the event to happen live in person at the Event Center in Minneapolis. But in the event that it does not happen, we just took a poll on our Facebook group Monday, and some people would prefer to be online incentive postponing it if the virus is still going on.

spk_0:   1:15
So you've got you've got a contingency plan. It sounds like. And so if you got two choices right, she could go online, maybe use some zoom sessions or postpone it a couple of months. So that is that basically, what you guys were looking at?

spk_1:   1:29
Bet it's cracked. They were case scenario. We just postpone it till I don't know of it. A time frame currently yet, but it would probably be somewhere between August and October, I would say safely if it is postponed. But as of right now, where we're going full place to be online or July

spk_0:   1:47
got it. So so the name of the conference again for my listeners Midwest E Com conference, and it's scheduled for the 17th and 18th of July in Minneapolis, Minnesota. So, uh, Travis, anything else we should mention on the Cove in 19 front Before we start talking about your conference,

spk_1:   2:06
I'm speaking, and so people stay safe and get healthy, and that's what the time is for. Personally. I wish they they shut down a little earlier. So I'm back. What would maximize the time of being the conference being in jeopardy? But I think full heartedly that we're gonna have the conference and in person. It's gonna be fine. I'm hoping the end of May begin in June. That's what I'm I'm fingers crosses. What about before? But I just hope people get healthy and we can put the armpit done

spk_0:   2:38
perfect. Well, if any of you guys air going to attend the conference and you're kind of wondering whether the green lights still ago ah, where can they go? Travis To keep up to date with that information,

spk_1:   2:49
they can go to AA www Midwest e com dot com. They can also go to our Facebook group for the conference. It's, uh, facebook dot com Courtside groups uh, storage. Last Midwest E com or you just search made was EECOM conference on Facebook. It'll pop right up.

spk_0:   3:05
Perfect. Okay, great. So let's let's start talking about your conference in and what you guys have done then passed and why it's a unique conference. So first question for you, how long has the Midwest E. Com conference been around?

spk_1:   3:18
So the Midwest EECOM conferences that around for this to be our seventh year were one of the course conferences and e commerce, I would say in the United States. But in the Midwest, um, I have helped to other conferences. Three. Actually, three other companies get started. Since then. The other conferences have been around for 56 years. I'm kind of the mentors. People have gone to toe, learn things from our conferences, got started. I I personally to event in most of the vent name. But it was really bad. So I came back to I Love Wisconsin, the conference held in Minneapolis. Like I said, but I came back and I was like, I couldn't do a decent job I didn't know much about. Commerce isn't like that. I understand. Amazon seller. Uhm what We came back. We can put something together. For the first year, we charged $99. We lost money of the treaty event with the night before beating, Agreed, Um, basically, that included the WiFi and the food and the cage and everything, just like now. But it is just is just a stepping stone and the learning curve of what we could do with not knowing as much, but just just just doing it and putting it out there. We share everything on social media, where the miles alumni returning attendees, returning sponsors. It's just very good conference to go to I personally, many conferences where you're you go to a conference and you don't make a certain dollar amount. So they talking differently. I first remember that I have no people who have been to that also, Um, and that's not what happened at our conference. People talk to people are $1,000,000 sellers, just like your best friend by the conference. Everybody networks. There's really nothing. People hide. Some people have their brand, and that doesn't happen at Jessica.

spk_0:   5:08
So so that's interesting. You know, it's it's really hard to get an event or a conference off the ground. For sure he lost money. Um, how has your conference grown over the years?

spk_1:   5:18
Consistently, it's going about 15 I would say 15 to 20% each year attendance as well as most of the sponsorships that were always there. All since they found other butter event for 5 to 7 years, most of the sponsorships have been with us. Each year. Retention sponsor is really good without the sponsors and the Yankees. Obviously, we want to put this event on. We we do get back a lot. We give a lot of pleasure. Artists think Last year we get way iPad pros and just so very different. Prices related thatyou Commerce on Amazon Com Line's going

spk_0:   5:53
So whenever I go to a conference, I have value the networking really hard core. I think that that's probably my thought. Everything.

spk_1:   6:03
Yeah, I'm glad you brought that up fly by personally value that I'm working the most. That's probably the biggest reason I like doing because the 94 is our sponsor being greedy. So let it be on Thursday, um, and then our company's Friday Saturday. But we network were Thursday night after I person set up in the sponsor set up, we know worked. There's a night we have dinner talk, I asked You think most people learn when did not learn? Most people liketo open up and talk a little bit more when people are drinking a little bit?

spk_0:   6:33
Sure,

spk_1:   6:34
everybody drink. But honestly speaking, most people are more open. Some people I have seen it. Some people answer in the conference setting they don't want to ask the question. They don't want to raise their hand. They don't want to be the odd person out, but that again. It doesn't really happen in our conference, either. But there's some people that still don't ask questions. They don't raise your hand or they don't contribute, um, in a conference setting that just such a So they are. But we network each night after the event to so Friday instead of what we do about we have dinner. Sometimes we go to the Mall of America. We have to go downtown. Wherever we have reserve. We generally go. Some people go. Their whole groups of 56 people generally have a least. I would safely say between 50 and 60 people and one venue, and other people just kind of help around from there. But that working is the biggest part II get from the event as well.

spk_0:   7:25
And in terms of speakers, who's kind of your spotlight this time

spk_1:   7:32
I should of Hong Kong with Amazon two days ago. They're gonna be possibly speaking. I'm sponsoring. They're gonna be doing speaking panel again. We don't know if it's gonna be in person yet. or or over the Internet, but they're gonna be classically coming. Um, we got live from you. Come on, June. She's really good. We can't Simpson. She's a travel for newer. We got mad Lovell from, well, insurance. He really, really good this year. We got Lance Stockman from one ASIO dot com and then we got lives. Admit, Eddington utility. What? Just one dine tonight. Maybe a couple of people that aren't listening. Event said I gotta finish updating it. We got some people looking at people from Amazon and get Richard from Sogo. But let me get Casey Paris, which he does a lot of E day. He's big youtuber. He does a lot of drifting on that kind of stuff,

spk_0:   8:32
right? So you got a pretty diversified portfolio of speakers, so that sounds like there's gonna be a lot of good topics. Um, and then we

spk_1:   8:39
get some. They didn't mention we got a person that they do. CBT, like one of the industry

spk_0:   8:43
leaders, can

spk_1:   8:44
be the right now just selling normal product. You sell DVD or get into into that. Also, let me have a couple of motivational speakers. I would just got reached out to, but William hung from their cattle. More people going from

spk_0:   8:57
the bank.

spk_1:   8:59
But she's gonna be I'm talking to him tomorrow, actually. And he's going to possibly be a motivational speaker this year. So people on the website for that, Yes, that would be a good one. That should be updated by the end of the week. If he's on board,

spk_0:   9:17
Sure. So And I know you're gonna have a lot of different topics that are covered is there may be a topic or two that you think outside of Cove it because that's on everybody's mind. But outside of that disruption, what do you think it's gonna be? One of the biggest talking points on people's minds attended your conference this year.

spk_1:   9:35
Um, personally for me, like in the conference, I would think probably the suspensions and all the changes that they're doing on the back in the Amazon, whether it be vendor central or Cellar Central and then also the big one would be other cellular platforms, such as diversifying and not keeping all your eggs in one basket. But such a walmart jet dot com magenta Oh, chop it by your own your own website in the multi channel Goldman as well.

spk_0:   10:06
So I I do see an increase in suspensions. Um, we've and we've also seen lots of changes in the catalog. Like parentage is being broken by Amazon detail Page Changi's Go ahead,

spk_1:   10:20
Just say yes. So I was just recently suspended for of I p complaint for the thing I had on authentic product. I probably got seven second plan of actions and I got it relocated. But

spk_0:   10:32
how long were you doing for, If I can ask,

spk_1:   10:35
I was down for fighting estimate among the time and probably 2 2.5 3 months. I would say,

spk_0:   10:40
Ouch. That's a long time. She's

spk_1:   10:44
so it was basically like right after Christmas, pretty much a couple years back, I would have been suspended twice. Now. Well, for similar similar problems, the one problem was a merchant or kill item. I'm sorry. It was, uh, and a happy Adam thought they weren't sending item fast enough. And they're sending attractive but weren't putting item. They're marking a ship, but they weren't shipping it, so I got that one. That one was easily fixed this recent most recent one I was approved to sell on the brand in 2015. I have the e mails from the company. They hired a new person to do their their management to their brand management and all that and this person I knew. I knew they did, because this person looking at Lincoln Page so I could see where they worked and I could see what they did. And not even a couple days later, I had a test by in this customer, but their name on it, a company. And a couple days later, I was suspended for selling an item that was they claimed faking it. I don't know what nonsense did, but I had a fight that and prove that they were just trying to keep off the brand. So I did that successfully room enough reason I got reinstated. Probably be in the march.

spk_0:   11:55
That's a really challenging problem to be in. And, uh, it's definitely talkie dog out there in the world. Um, so does that. Did that situation change Any of your Amazon strategy? Just curious.

spk_1:   12:09
Um, no. I mean, I know a couple of Amazon. So, like Amazon lawyers, um, I reached l told you we should've said he should reach up earlier. I didn't I didn't hire them at all. I basically did book the plan of actions and that he had a couple from previously. Then I didn't know what people. I got suspended. It really changed my outlook on Amazon other than you can get this better. Amazon. You go to bed one night, and the next one you could be suspended. I've come to realize that, like the first time I have to spend it, I was already eat with my family. And after she may even on my phone, um, I could eat any more like it was that, you know, they pour it all government. But

spk_0:   12:48
it's like your entire business in one basket, which, which would make sense, Why you're pushing for the diversification outside of Amazon. Um And and we do that there's

spk_1:   12:57
many a platform that people can sell on these days. There's not just Amazon. I still think Emerson is really good. People go there. I personally over the shop I cook on appreciating only the time I'm eligible. Um, I will, but able to jump on other platforms like I mentioned walmart Jet Magenta. There's 1000 different classrooms you can sell on. You can sell locally and Facebook or Craigslist. You can sell it. You can go anywhere you want to get top dollar anywhere. But you could still make money re selling products online in today's market

spk_0:   13:33
because we

spk_1:   13:33
get a finite my platform.

spk_0:   13:35
When you say reselling, you're talking about arbitrage or are you talking about, Oh, Sale?

spk_1:   13:39
But I call Bull you wholesale private label are a away, even like I think probably will. Product I. You have more, um, leverage on the Amazon of your box. Didn't you do other people's parts? Obviously, you're doing all right, but you could still get your own peel product, even if you got a branded and brand registered and all that suspended on Amazon, and it could be what you could buy $50,000 with the product. 70 Amazon. You could be suspended. It's great if

spk_0:   14:10
anything could happen. There's no doubt about it. Amazon, of course, has become more of a robot. It's algorithm based and um, yeah, unless

spk_1:   14:20
you're getting past their body. Unless you like your plan of action unless it meets three or five pain points. That talking points that they their records and their e mail and like you get back to them exactly what they want you to say. You have time, you don't even get a real person. Is that you do that? Gary Cohn is not even looked at and turn back on. So you did. Until you do that, I have learned that the hard way.

spk_0:   14:43
It's it's really difficult. Um, I've dealt with suspensions on accounts to It's probably not my favorite thing to deal with, because there's such a high stakes and one small mistake on Ah, on how you respond to it could mean permanent suspension. Correct. And so it's so. I mean, I'm just saying I don't

spk_1:   15:02
remember that formality, but being my count was supposed to be like a like a like a death account where it doesn't come back from. Basically you get most recently sold, you get two times to plan of action is to stand where they actually read it. The brought reason. But then after that, they don't. So I mean, I said that seven times, and finally I just said the Amazon like, can you just actually look at this? And finally I got a email back, like three weeks later, saying that they looked at it and then I resubmitted, they said to Ripley's Resubmit the Planet Action. They gave me three or four or five different points to talk about my plan in action. I did that and then finally great reinstated. But I sent it to him least 70 times before the 1st 2 times that I got no response between three and like six or seven, their business mind at all.

spk_0:   15:51
We've seen similar experiences on other accounts, and the ones that we have the most successful, typically is getting it right that first or second time and then getting back online within 48 hours. They're really critical to get right. So So if you're listening to this and you ever reach an account suspension, do not go. It alone would be my advice. Travis, what are your thoughts? Go it alone or hire an expert?

spk_1:   16:15
No, I personally wouldn't go it alone. I would recommend to do different lawyers. Um, one would be C J for me at Emma's until the lawyer. The other would be Chris McCabe. The two I would would go to those two a personal cell phone numbers for and I could talk about a friendly basis again. Most people like on my conference, they would agree because they met them there. Personable people. Um, my bias. Either way. Either way for either one of them. A dozen who I would recommend.

spk_0:   16:46
Good. Good, you know? All right, so it's let's turn topics back to the conference. Um, So you started. They mentioned some unique things about the conference and and how you tried to set it apart from other ones. Can you give some more detail on that? And what can people expect if they attend your conference?

spk_1:   17:03
So we have you, Ted Interconference, If you haven't 100 past. Thank you. First off of the conference would be glorious without you guys, you and And this is a communist sponsoring the attendees. So what makes her conference different is it's basically pay one price. Our conference is set up like most events throughout the year. We have our conference turned on from right after the events right after July. It was August time. You bit turned on. August to December is one price December to April 1 price and then april to July, You get a discount if you comment after the event. Also, um, we do have half of tickets, right? Right after the event, with people buying before they leave. So amazing that test is apart from other conferences. Again, we already talked to touch something that working peace with more personal you make friends of the event. The event comes with its catered. We have a light breakfast in the morning. Sometimes it's pastries, sometimes of donuts and muffins comes with water coffee. All the good stuff ever do is in the morning. And then we had of networking breaks. And then we also have fully catered lunch. And then we again. I mentioned this before we go network each night. Afterwards, we have the prize drawings. It's a good event for all seller levels, and even if you're not a seller, it's a good event to just calm. If you want to say you're selling on eBay right now, when you want to sell on Amazon, it's a good event to get started. It's a good event if you're just a brand that is selling their own through their own website. Maybe this song on chapel fire, even space book or locally or they have their own storefront. It's a good event, just common network, even the convention. Before we have the $1,000,000 seller to come to that. Honestly, they come. They learned some stuff that they were a lot, but they learn something and they take away the friendships and then working the other events and what they don't have. But it's more personal speaking anybody. That's kind. Irvine has always said good things. We got people, that Is that all you have made us known and unknown seller. We could have done this without community event, which I very much appreciate in value.

spk_0:   19:11
So and I understand you have a promo quote for my listeners. T get a discount. When they attend,

spk_1:   19:18
We do. It is, ah, you save $50 if you use my Amazon guy.

spk_0:   19:23
Well, perfect. That's a great promo code name. So we'll repeat that 50 bucks off, uh, the conference. If you attend AA and you book it ahead of time and that is the promo code. My Amazon guy, No Spaces

spk_1:   19:35
North, waited altogether.

spk_0:   19:36
Perfect. So if you want to attend the Midwest E com conference, be sure to use that. My Amazon guy promo code special for our listeners on Lee. All right, so last question for you, Travis. Ah, and and you'd mention this in our pre discussion, you just published a book. So you're not only running this conference, but you. You're up to some other stuff. Let's let's tease a little bit on that road brief.

spk_1:   20:02
Yes. I'm juggling the conference during this virus. I'm not still sending chip into Amazon. Well, either. Right now, we're not because of the whole break. Most recently, but I also publish a book through Amazon March by Amazon. Katie P. I do t shirts and book. We do. The book itself is related to anybody that plays poker. Well, I know a couple of people in this industry that play poker and their brand owners were There s e o their e commerce people, and they it's pretty cool. Um, the book It's so basically just talks about where to play online poker. United States. Right now it's legal in certain spots. Um, I'm working on a sports sports betting book that's coming out probably next couple of months, since I have done more downtime, the normal right now. But

spk_0:   20:48
the book

spk_1:   20:48
itself is pretty good at it. You can get it. You can look at it for free on they believe it. Uh, if you just search, uh, poker, the poker book 2020 or Travis Barrett, Fokker books that have come upon Amazon.

spk_0:   21:02
I'll put a link in our description of our of our podcast today so people can find it.

spk_1:   21:08
Okay, Sounds good. Basically, the book itself is anywhere to play poker online. You get it for free on Kindle. Who would read the first time picking page for free son Audible yet? But the paperback book that I believe it's like 99.

spk_0:   21:25
Well, perfect. Well, Travis, I appreciate you joining today, and, Ah, EECOM, Mid Western Conference is definitely one that will be on my radar, and I definitely recommend it to others as well. Um, so that's coming up again in the middle of July. And be sure to use that my Amazon guy promo code if you decide to register. So, Travis, thanks again for joining us.

spk_1:   21:48
Thanks, Steve. Appreciate it.

spk_0:   21:50
All right, guys. So I'm the founder of my Amazon guy. My name is Stephen Pope. We're a full service agency doing everything from S E O P, P. C. A. Plus content design and more so any, uh, any of listeners that air coming from Travis's network? Be sure to check us out at Miami's on guy dot com. That is the Miami's on guy show and my way. Hope you enjoyed her podcast. Feel free to subscribe, to share it with two or three people. Appreciate you guys.