Jason Amada

Jason Amada is a Brand and Marketing Strategist who has made the transition into starting his own Amazon reselling business. He started his entrepreneurial endeavors at an early age selling goods at his local markets. Jason grew up in New York City and was molded by parents who came to this country with nothing, and he witnessed what hard work was all about. As a teenager, Jason worked with local community houses to help teach kids about business and how it can put you on a path to financial freedom. Jason always promised himself that he would work to achieve goals that gave him the independence he always desired. Prior to jumping into his Amazon business, Jason created his own website, which was designed to help consumers find the best trending products across the internet at an affordable price. This got him going on his journey to have one of the top Amazon stores on the platform.
Jason partners with wholesalers from all over the world to source products. He looks to bring difficult-to-find goods to the masses at a fair and reasonable price, typically lower than what major retailers charge. Jason works with personal and professional brands through marketing, networking, and social media channels to help bring awareness to his business.
Jason received his degree in Finance and Investments at Baruch College. After spending nearly two decades working in business and marketing, Jason knows what truly drives conversions sold-out launches and has had success marketing goods he is genuinely passionate about. According to Jason, it’s about how well you connect with the people you’re trying to do business with and communicating your message about the products you offer.

Where did the idea for your career come from?

From an early age, I wanted to go into business for myself. I used to buy and sell baseball cards as a kid, and that’s where my motivation to own my own business came from. I was clearing out old boxes a few years ago and found some items I thought would sell well on Amazon. I listed those items and turned a nice profit. From there, I decided to research how to start my own Amazon store and, after an extensive three-month process, was able to source my first products. This is how my journey began.

What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?

To be honest, there is no such thing as a typical day, as the only thing that I can be sure of is that most days will be a combination of excitement and frustration. I’m always responding to an endless stream of communications from customers emailing about items not arriving or that they received damaged in transit. I’m typically on the phone 2-3 hours a day with Amazon and suppliers working through issues. I usually run around and drop off packages from previous days’ orders in the morning. In this business, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with what to do next. That’s why the organization is key. I set aside my goals for the day in the morning and work my way through them. Of course, there are always hiccups, but that’s all in a day’s work.

How do you bring ideas to life?

I joined a few reselling groups where we discussed ideas and trends. For example, there was a time when a certain type of yoga pants was a hot item, so after deciding to go all-in on selling them, I was on the phone day and night with suppliers sourcing products at an affordable price for my customers. They turned out to be one of my best sellers ever on Amazon. I also go to major retailers like Walmart and hunt for inventory in their clearance section. You would be surprised what kind of profitable items you can find there. Ideas come from everywhere. You have to be on a constant lookout for them.

What’s one trend that excites you?

There is a current trend towards generic organic goods. I can sell the same product you get at your local markets for half the price and make twice the profit. Amazon is stringent on which brand names you can sell. For example, if you want to sell a name-brand cleaner, you have to become ungated, and the process is very arduous. Finding those trends is no easy task, but there are third-party tools out there that make it easier. One such tool is Helium 10.

What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?

By far, the most important habit or trait I have that makes me successful is stubbornness. That’s right, and this is what helps me fight through tough times and keeps me focused on my journey. I won’t take no for an answer, and I won’t quit until I get what needs to be done. Can that be a flaw? Absolutely, but it has helped me get to where I am today.

What advice would you give your younger self?

Focus on education and learning. I wish I had expanded my mind more to try and learn about other fields. I was too hyper-focused on what I was doing at a young age that I missed out on figuring out other paths in life that I might have wanted to pursue. Some may say it’s never too late, and they are correct. I’m now doing something that I genuinely enjoy, so it cannot be that bad.

Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.

Diversification is not the key. Everyone always says you have to diversify the things you do just in case one fails. I always say, why not focus on the one thing you do well until the well runs dry and maximize your returns while you can. Then if you need to change things up, do it.

As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?

Cut out distractions. Entrepreneurs who are bombarded with unnecessary tasks or have people in their lives who are negatively impacting you, it’s time to cut them out. This might sound harsh, but it’s difficult to focus when you have distractions outside your work environment. You always hear stories about successful individuals who never had much of a life outside of the office, but they were able to get to where they wanted to in their careers. It’s a trade-off, and you have to ask yourself what’s the most important thing to you.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?

Plain and simple customer service. One of the ways I retain and grow my business is by going above and beyond for my customers. I make sure to contact my customers after a sale to ensure they are satisfied with their purchases. I make sure if there are any issues, I take care of the problem immediately. The key to success and growth is being available to your customer base. This brings many referrals and increased revenue.

What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?

Early on in my reselling business, instead of focusing on one product and building up from there, I decided to purchase ten different items in bulk. Most of those items sat in inventory for months, and I couldn’t source new products until I was able to move the ones I already had. I was able to find a buyer who was willing to take my inventory at cost, which allowed me to find new products, but this time started slow. I learned slow and steady was the best path to success.

What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?

One idea I’ve had for a while but haven’t had the time to pursue is the Bamboo Charcoal air purifier bag. All-natural purification system for your home. I’ve done many hours of research and thought it would fill a need in the marketplace. If anyone has the time to pursue it, I think it has a lot of potentials.

What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?

Work is a 24 hour a day job, and I never make time for myself, so I finally decided to find the time to relax and book a spa day. It was a much-needed break to rejuvenate my mind.

What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive?

Google sheets are very important for ensuring my business inventory and sales numbers are organized. It’s a simple yet effective tool.

What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?

If you are just starting out on your Amazon reselling journey, I highly recommend How to Sell on Amazon for Beginners: Everything you need to sell on Amazon FBA. It’s by Money Making Publishing. It’s the first book I read on reselling.

What is your favorite quote?

“What goes up must come down.”

Key Learnings:

• Make sure you have a plan of action and a viable strategy to execute it.
• Adjusting to any situation will be the key to success.
• Create a system to grow your business organically; control what you can control.
• Clients are the most important part of your business; never forget that. Treat them the same way you would want to be treated.
• Take care of your body and mind by carving out time for yourself, simplifying your life, exercising, meditating so you are in the best condition to take care of your business and its customers.