Websites referenced: <\/p>\n\n\n\n
TimeCamp: https:\/\/app.timecamp.com\/helper\/download<\/a> I have had plenty of time interuptions in my lifetime. Lately, it seems it’s gotten worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Recently, the Covid pandemic threw our Amazon business for a loop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In March, 2020, Amazon began restricting FBA Inbound shipments to “essential products” only.<\/p>\n\n\n\n None of ours were on the essential list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What to do?<\/p>\n\n\n\n We quickly noticed that several of our product families began to sell like Christmas from our lingering FBA stock. It sees that mass-containment made our products more desirable!<\/p>\n\n\n\n We had plenty on the shelf here, but we couldn’t replenish to Amazon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We could see our sales quickly grinding to a halt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Successful businesses adapt to changing circumstances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We have had experience fulfilling our orders when we sold on eBay, and a few now and then on Amazon. We would give FBM a try with our remaining inventory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We did an “Add another condition” through the Seller Central, Manage Inventory, Edit button. We didn’t do an edit, but the option is one of the choices that button enables.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We also created a new Shipping Template under our Settings, Shipping Preferences. We disabled Free Shipping, and went with by weight calculation for all methods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We added “-FBM” at the end of our newly created FBM SKU.<\/p>\n\n\n\n BAM!<\/p>\n\n\n\n We started selling many of or best sellers FBM for a 20-30% premium PLUS Shipping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The result?<\/p>\n\n\n\n April was the best month we’ve had in 2 years. Not just the best April, but the best Month, including 2 Decembers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, shipping every day – dozens and dozens of orders – from our house. We got to know our local Postmaster as we scheduled daily pickups or delivered to their back dock if I forgot to schedule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We mis-guessed on shipping supplies needed. Luckily, www.Uline.com<\/a> has a nearby facility with next day delivery as standard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then, our vendors ran out of these best sellers. We had to scramble to find replacements. Some just sold out. (Even now, 2 months later, they still haven’t caught up.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Madness I tell you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What does this have to do with keeping track of time? <\/p>\n\n\n\n Well, we shaped our Amazon business around a pert-time effort of 8-10 hours each per week. This FBM was making it 8-10 hours each Per Day!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not much time for growing the garden or mowing the lawn — but we managed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But, I recently took on an engagement as a Coach for Jim Cockrum’s Amazon Coaching. (https:\/\/www.jimcockrumcoaching.com\/<\/a>) This consists of scheduled meetings and ad-hoc consultations… Almost like real work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n The coaching team uses BaseCamp to manage our various students, and Calendly for scheduling coaching sessions. I get paid a flat rate for regular coaching, and a time-spent-rate for consultations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To track these “Reactive Coaching” sessions, I am using Time Camp to track my students and the time I spend with them. (https:\/\/app.timecamp.com\/helper\/download<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Time Camp bills itself as a collaborative Project Management tool. It is. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I track my students as sub-tasks of my Coaching Project. The Timer feature lets me track how much time I spend with each so I can get paid for my time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I have had to dust off my organizational skills. Being retired has let me have some lapse in discipline <\/p>\n\n\n\n I guess no more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Every day, plan your day. Plan your outcomes. Track your time doing various tasks so you can better plan in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Use the Tools. Make the Money. Be the Success.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Jim Cockrum Coaching: https:\/\/www.jimcockrumcoaching.com\/<\/a>
Uline Shipping Supplies: http:\/\/www.uline.com<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n