😱 My Wife Did WHAT!?!?!

This newsletter is proudly sponsored by:

What you’ll find in this week’s newsletter:

• 😱 My Wife Did WHAT!?!?! [True Story]

• 🗞️ Amazon News and Updates

• 😮 Prime Day Results Are In!

• 🔍  How to Find the Perfect 3PL [7 Tips]

• 🎙️ Advanced PPC Tactics [Upcoming Episode]

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• Innovative programs that help you scale 

• Walmart’s omnichannel advantage 

• Simple, cost-effective fulfillment 

And if you join now, you’ll save up to 50% on referral and fulfillment fees.* 

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🤦‍♂️ My Wife Almost Got Me Killed [My True Story]

From last week’s story, you know I was working with this New York club promoter in the 90’s - if you haven’t read it yet, you can check it out here.

I was basically this promoter’s right hand guy.

I'd go to shows, and do all the film work needed for the different media outlets.

This gig landed me a VIP membership over at the Palladium night club, which meant I got to rub shoulders with some really cool people in the 90s.

Someone I got to see several times there was Andy Warhol.

That was pretty cool.

My wife, Connie, was a registered nurse at the time, and she actually got to come with me to the club.

She helped with “medical assistance” for any attendees having a rough night.

If you don't know my wife, she is roughly 5'2 at most.

Anyway, one night, we were backstage getting ready for a show.

During this time, we needed someone to keep watch out front.

It was important that no one was trying to sneak in backstage.

We were all busy at the time… except my wife.

So an hour before the show, we gave her instructions to be the lookout for us, and that no one is allowed to come back stage.

Basically we wanted her to redirect people back to the main stage, no big deal.

She stood by the stage entrance, crossed her arms and was ready.

Sure enough, several minutes later, this big group of guys approached her.

They wanted to go backstage to see the promoter.

My wife following our instructions, denied them.

She said ”Nope, not unless you have tickets.”

She was adamant.

This group was not going to enter.

Not on her watch.

At this point, I started walking over, and that’s when my eyes widened.

I did my best to get to her but she was on the other side of the stage.

The leader of this group, had a smirk on his face and said to my wife, Connie, “Don't worry. I think he'll allow us to come back stage.”

And Connie said, “No, absolutely not.”

That’s when the promoter came sprinting out and said, “Connie! Connie! What the hell are you doing?!”

The promoter apologized to the man, over and over again.

Connie was confused.

Who was this guy?

Well, the man my wife was so adamantly denying into the club was the one and only, John Gotti AKA The Teflon Don.

Yep, the famous mob boss of the Gambino New York crime family.

Which at the time was in it’s peak of notoriety.

The Gambino family was America's most powerful crime syndicate at the time, and John was at the very top.

The promoter obviously let him in with no questions.

He gave them front row seats.

No questions asked.

We learned after that day, she’ll no longer be acting as a bouncer.

Of course, my wife did nothing wrong in that situation.

Really, it came down to bad leadership from myself.

I should’ve never put her in that position to start with.

This is something I think about often when I’m training employees.

“Am I utilizing this person’s skills to the best of their ability?”

“Are they using their strengths?”

“Is this the best possible fit for this employee?”

It’s something to think about.

Anyway, if you enjoyed this story, forward it to a friend.

Enjoy the rest of the newsletter.

— Norm

🗞️ AMAZON NEWS & UPDATES 🗞️

What’s happening in the world of Amazon today… 

• 🤮 Amazon Sold a Used Diaper. It Tanked a Mom-and-Pop Business - Read More

• 📈 Prime Day Sales Top $14 Billion, with More Products Sold Than Ever Before - Read More

• 🚢 America’s Freight Recession is Nearing its End… - Read More 

• 🧟 Returns of the ‘Amazombies’: Unwanted Packages Are a Retail Nightmare - Read More

• 📦 USPS Shared Customer Postal Addresses with Meta, LinkedIn and Snap - Read More

• 🌎 What's Next for CrowdStrike, Microsoft After Update Causes Outage? - Read More 

• 🧑‍⚖️  Amazon/Adept Deal Subject of FTC Inquiry - Read More

WHERE IN THE WORLD IS THE BEARD GUY?

Can you find Norm in the picture below? Scroll to the bottom of this newsletter to see the answer!

WHAT YOU MISSED LAST WEEK

👇 Highlights from last week’s Lunch With Norm podcast episode👇

FINDING THE PERFECT 3PL!

Watch the full episode here

7 Key Takeaways:

1. Choosing the Right 3PL:

   • Select a 3PL that has deep knowledge of e-commerce and Amazon's specific requirements. A 3PL should understand things like:

     • Proper labeling

     • Packaging

     • Shipping standards to avoid penalties

     • Operations and deadlines

2. Knowledge of Amazon Specific Requirements:

   • Your 3PL must be familiar with Amazon's guidelines. For example:

     • Knowing the correct size for FNSKU labels on supplement bottles to avoid relabeling fees, and understanding the restrictions on box sizes and packaging materials​.

3. Handling Returns and Quality Control:

   • A good 3PL should handle returns efficiently by checking the condition of returned items, ensuring all components are present, and determining if products can be resold.

4. Additional Services by 3PLs:

   • Look for 3PLs that offer additional services like kitting, bundling, and co-packing. These services can add value by creating unique product offerings.

5. Cost vs. Efficiency:

   • Don’t choose a 3PL based solely on cost. More expensive 3PLs might offer better efficiency, use apps and software for tracking, offer faster response times, and give superior customer service. Not always of course, but do your research.

6. Inspection and Compliance:

   • Ensure your 3PL is capable of thorough inspection and compliance checks, particularly when dealing with international shipments. This includes monitoring for issues like incorrect HTS codes that could lead to penalties and import restrictions.

7. Supporting Multi-Channel Fulfillment:

   • A capable 3PL should support multi-channel fulfillment, handling orders from various platforms like Amazon, Shopify, Walmart, and eBay. This integration is crucial for seamless operations across different sales channels​.

     🚨 HONU Worldwide just announced their opening of their latest Warehouse🚨 

     Receive a $250 credit to the new warehouse today! → Contact Afolabi at [email protected]

DON’T MISS THIS WEEK’S EPISODE!

You can watch all episodes on YouTube or on my Facebook page at 12 pm ET on Wednesday!

Guests and topics are subject to change*

Wednesday - What ACTUALLY Works on Amazon Today! Advanced PPC Tactics in 2024

About George Meressa:

George is the CEO and Founder of ClearAds. She has been in Digital advertising since 2009, working on a wide range of services including Google, Amazon, Bing, LinkedIn and Facebook pay per click platforms. He has worked with hundreds of advertisers across the world in numerous industries and sectors.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

1. How has the PPC landscape changed over the last few years?

2. What strategies are people implementing that have seen good success with PPC?

3. What tools would George recommend using to help management?

Join us us 12 pm ET on Wednesday! If you have a question for Jake, email me and I’ll make sure we ask it on Wednesday 😎

Watch LIVE 👉 Sign up here

MEMORY LANE

Here’s a pic of me in front of the Ferrari pit crew, at the Formula 1 race in Austin, Texas (2022)! This was Kevin King and I’s first ever Collective Minds Society event we put together.

I’m looking forward to our next trip in August in beautiful Banff!

🌎 UPCOMING EVENTS

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July 31 - New York - $188

Collective Minds Society Train Excursion

Aug 4 - 9 - Vancouver/Banff/Calgary - $5997

AMZ United

August 27 - New Jersey - $307

Amazon Accelerate

Sept 17 - 19 - Seattle - Now $499, Regularly $599

Innovate

Oct 29th - 30th - New York - Starting from $495

→ FULL CALENDAR ←

And that’s it, Beardos!

Let me know what you’d like me to feature in the newsletter by replying back to this email.

P.S. Make sure you don’t miss any updates by joining our community here.

See you next Monday!

- Norm

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