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If you’re a beginner looking to kickstart your Amazon selling journey and need a clear, concise list of tools to set you on the path to success, you’re in the right place.
We advise that you start with the foundational tools in Tier 1. These are essential for getting started. We can’t imagine living without them. As you gain momentum and your business begins to grow, you can begin to consider more specialized tools in Tier 2 and Tier 3.
Now, let’s reveal and walk through the tools needed to launch your Amazon business.
(I will list all of the tools at the end for your convenience).
Tier 1: Fundamental Tools For Amazon Sellers
Keepa
In the world of tools for Amazon sellers, Keepa takes the cake. Starting your Amazon selling career without it seems unthinkable.
In essence, Keepa is a comprehensive tracking tool that provides a wealth of data right at your fingertips. It can:
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- Track the price history of every product on Amazon
- Monitor the number of sellers of any given listing
- Find products to sell
- Discover Amazon listings currently selling at a discount
Trying to conduct an Amazon business without Keepa is like a pilot flying with no instruments on a foggy day.
There’s a small learning curve to be able to interpret a Keepa graph. But once you get the hang of it, you’ve acquired the most important skill required to be a successful Amazon seller.
Here are the cliff notes: If the chart were an EKG, you would want to see a rapid and consistent heartbeat. If the line is moving up and down, this means the product sells on Amazon. The more often it moves, the more often it sells. Then, compare how often it sells with the price. You can easily see what people pay for the product and how that may have changed over time.
The bottom of the chart shows the historical sellers count. Good things to see: a seller count staying relatively stable or, even better, a seller count decreasing while the product price increases.
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Inventory Lab
Inventory Lab is a versatile tool for Amazon sellers, acting as a scanning software, listing software, and record-keeping software all in one. It simplifies managing your inventory, tracks your sales, and helps you list products quickly, all while managing your finances.
This tool does a lot of work for you, saving time and ensuring your business operates smoothly. It’s the second most used service for 99% of Amazon sellers (behind Keepa). Invest accordingly.
Shipping Supplies
Prepping and shipping are two of the main functions for us Amazon sellers. Having the proper supplies on hand makes these tasks run smoothly. Here are some key supplies we recommend.
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Thermal Printer
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Shipping Scale
While dimensions are often on the box, a tape measure can be used if needed. For precise shipping weight, crucial for accurate Amazon shipping charges, use a scale that can handle up to 50 pounds and accommodate a large box. Incorrect weights may slow you down because you’ll have to answer to Amazon for your error.
This scale is our favorite because it makes weighing large boxes easier with the corded attachment.
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Packing Tape
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Labels
The 1×2 labels are used for FNSKU labels, which we place on each item sent to Amazon. The larger 4×6 labels are for shipping our inventory to Amazon, and there’s great news about these labels – they can be obtained for free from UPS!
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Shipping Boxes
You’ll need to send your inventory to Amazon warehouses; thus, you will need a steady supply of boxes.
Again, the good news is that you don’t necessarily have to buy these boxes.
Sellers engaged in a lot of online arbitrage can reuse boxes from incoming shipments. Alternatively, you can ask grocery stores or similar types of stores for spare boxes.
If you prefer to purchase new ones, Walmart and Home Depot offer quality boxes at reasonable prices.
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Poly Bags
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Wireless USB Scanner
Imagine you have a pile of products ready to be listed: with a wireless scanner, you can swiftly scan barcodes without being tethered to a computer. This tool can quickly input product information, speeding up the listing and prepping process significantly, allowing you to handle larger volumes with ease.
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Scotty Peeler
A Scotty Peeler is a handy little tool for easily removing stickers and labels from your products.
If you buy clearance items, you’ll encounter your fair share of stickers. Scotty peelers can help take them right off.
Tip: for the more stubborn stickers, use a hair dryer and then some Goo Gone to eliminate the residue.
These peelers are incredibly affordable and are built to last forever. Both the metal and plastic versions come in handy, ensuring your products are pristine and presentable.
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Do Not Separate Stickers
They let the Amazon worker who receives the product know not to separate the items, ensuring a better likely outcome for the customer.
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Liquid Seals
Again, this is just an extra step to maximize the likelihood that everything from shipment to customer delivery goes as smoothly as possible.
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Tier 2: Nice to Have, But Non-Essential Tools
As your Amazon business begins to grow, you might start looking for ways to expand operations and increase efficiency. While not absolutely necessary, the tools in this tier can provide that extra boost, streamlining processes and potentially increasing your profits.
You’ve heard the saying, “You gotta spend money to make money.” It’s no different with your Amazon business.
Let’s take a look at some tools that, while not essential, can be nice to have in your toolkit.
Repricer
A repricer is a tool that automatically adjusts the prices of your products on Amazon, keeping you competitive and helping you win the Buy Box. It saves you time by automatically changing prices based on set rules or an algorithm rather than manually monitoring and adjusting.
Several options exist, including BQool, Aura, and Seller Snap, each with varying features and costs. We currently use Aura and are overall happy with their product.
The bottom line: Having a repricer is beneficial as it eliminates the need to constantly monitor price changes.
Product Research Extensions
RevSeller, ASINzen, and Seller Amp are powerful browser extensions that can significantly enhance your product research capabilities on Amazon. These are visually appealing tools that make the desktop experience of product research much more efficient.
These are not necessary (obviously) but are great accessories that make an Amazon seller’s life easier.
There’s no reason at all to have all three; one will do as they practically all perform the same functions. Seller Amp has a few additional features that some sellers might find appealing, but it also comes at a slightly higher monthly cost.
One more browser extension that worth looking into is IP Alert. This is a handy tool that will alert you when you come across a brand that is known for playing dirty in the Amazon space.
Tactical Arbitrage
Tactical Arbitrage is a powerful software program that helps sellers find products to sell quickly.
It searches online retailers and wholesalers, filtering results based on profitability, competition, and other factors. The tool allows bulk analysis of products, saving time compared to manual research. Additionally, it aids in optimizing pricing strategies by comparing with competitors and suggesting adjustments.
While there is a learning curve to getting the most out of it, the benefits of Tactical Arbitrage become apparent quickly. It is especially useful for scaling up and complementing other tools like Seller Amp by offering time-saving features.
Tier 3: Tools for the Growth Phase
At this point, your Amazon business is picking up steam. Now, you’ve got much more on your plate between logistics and juggling bigger inventories. This is where Tier 3 tools come in handy. They’ll keep your momentum going strong and take your business to the next level. They all involve the idea of outsourcing different areas of your business.
Prep Centers
The first area we outsourced as we grew our Amazon business was in the prepping and shipping department. A good prep center is life-changing!
A prep center takes on the responsibility of preparing your products to be sent to Amazon’s fulfillment centers. They check the quality of your products, label and box them, manage your inventory, and then forward your shipments.
We got lucky and found a good one. Give Edward and the folks over at Heroic Prep a shout if you are interested. They’ve been taking care of us for over two years now. They also reside in a sales tax-free state (New Hampshire), which means major savings for us Amazon sellers.
Hire Employees
Building a team for your Amazon business can significantly boost your efficiency and give you room to focus on scaling. Let’s talk about three types of hires you might consider: personal shoppers, in-house preppers, and virtual assistants.
Personal Shoppers: These are like treasure hunters who, for a fee, find and source products for you. They not only save you time but also bring expertise in spotting profitable items and staying competitive. Their knack for efficient product sourcing, tailored to your needs, keeps you a step ahead in the market.
In-house Preppers/Warehouse Staff: Offloading sourcing and prepping to a dedicated team is a game-changer. Personal preppers not only save you time but also add a layer of quality control. They ensure your products are prepped, packed, and shipped perfectly, minimizing returns and bolstering your reputation on Amazon. This is essentially your own prep center.
Virtual Assistants: These remote helpers can wear many hats – from conducting product research and managing inventory to handling customer service and even overseeing financial records. They’re a cost-effective solution to manage various aspects of your business, freeing you to focus on growth.
The Recommended Amazon Seller Tool List
Tier 1
Tier 2
Tier 3