Small group workshops to help you learn, optimize, and grow.
.svg){kind=logo}
So you’ve just started a business, had a good idea for a product (or you've had one going for a little while), and are looking for a bigger audience to sell to.
The internet’s largest marketplace seems like a good place to go, but a few years ago setting up a selling business on Amazon was a bit trickier for a new startup, and you would get thrown in the deep end with the biggest players.
That changed significantly with the start of Amazon Launchpad, an initiative set up specifically to help startups get their products to market. What began as an invitation-only partnership with venture capital firms and startup accelerators ended up being a great win-win: new companies find an audience for relatively unknown products and gain exposure, while Amazon keeps its product base fresh with new offerings.
If there is one downside to Launchpad relative to the rest of Amazon, however, is awareness - many people don’t know what Launchpad is or that it even exists. A definite upside for shoppers is that you know on Launchpad you will avoid the mountain of counterfeit or low-quality goods that can be found on the rest of Amazon.
Nowadays, most small or medium-sized companies are able to apply to join Launchpad for a modest fee, making it an attractive option for any business trying to make its mark. You will have to be the owner of the product brand for it to be eligible.
Generally speaking, Amazon will assess each application on a case-by-case basis against their criteria. They will be looking for innovative brands across any product category. It must have a unique selling point and an appealing brand story, with a view to grow on a global scale.
If you are already selling on Amazon you can still apply and get onto Launchpad, provided you check all the necessary boxes. To start off with, you will need to make a commitment of one full year, but after that, you can stay on the program for longer, subject to giving Amazon 30 days’ notice if you do choose to leave.
Amazon will charge an incremental referral fee of 5% for companies on Launchpad, as well as the standard category referral fees on each item sold.
If you’re on Launchpad, you have access to a number of tools not available once you outgrow it and have to go off on your own.
Amazon makes available a suite of services that include:
You will have access to video and customized brand content to reach more customers, as well as free translation services if you are active in other geographies. You will also receive support from Amazon to create and improve your advertising strategy.
Amazon provides you with the option to access its major promotional events and free deals. You will also be able to join its invitation-only PR and marketing initiatives.
You will get a placement on the New Releases section and on the Launchpad page. Yes, it is true that other Launchpad items will also get similar placements, but relative to other products on the site - for whom it is a difficult and time-intensive job to get that kind of placement - it’s a great start and should not be underestimated.
Beyond just how to get noticed, Amazon will also provide an onboarding manager that will help identify areas of opportunity for growth in your business. This can include improving your product detail pages and optimizing facets of your offering. The onboarding team will help get your products listed and to fulfillment centers, ready to be shipped off. You will also get access to online training, webinars, face-to-face workshops, networking sessions, and more.
In addition to these, just because your product is on Launchpad does not mean that it will be fenced off from the rest of Amazon. They will be available through the search page and can compete for PPC and the buy box just like any other product.
One of the problems faced by many companies that launch a new product, even an innovative one, is that it may launch with a bang, and then interest may taper off as people lose interest - great innovators are not necessarily great marketers. Having access to a platform like Amazon’s, with the support that it offers, can go a long way to keep your product fresh and in people’s minds.
Threecolts is a comprehensive suite of advanced ecommerce software solutions. We're designed to empower retail vendors and marketplace sellers on Amazon, Walmart, and beyond. Our tools optimize every aspect of ecommerce operations to ensure maximum profitability.
For sellers aiming to earn through reselling, Tactical Arbitrage helps you find hidden deals 5X faster. ScoutIQ provides instant insights for scoring in stores. DataSpark helps you get your next bestseller on Walmart Marketplace across over 14 million products in its database.
If you want to sell globally without storing, shipping, or risking money on inventory, SellerRunning simplifies cross-border dropshipping. We let you manage and expand your ecommerce business across multiple Amazon marketplaces seamlessly.
Managing products across leading ecommerce channels has never been easier either. ExportYourStore ensures hassle-free cross-listing and product syncing. Meanwhile, Hemi integrates over 100 ecommerce platforms, handling everything from inventory to logistics.
For efficient financial operations, FeedbackWhiz Profits offers a robust ecommerce accounting solution. We give you total control over your finances. You can track earnings and spending and visualize financial data without much effort.
You can also enhance your customer service with ChannelReply. Centralize marketplace communications through order data alongside support tickets from major marketplaces. Meanwhile, Onsite Support combines AI tools and custom-built help centers to amp up your support capacity. With these two, you can ensure that your customer service team can do more with less work.
Simplify Amazon operations with InventoryLab. It's an all-in-one solution that enhances everything from sourcing to logistics to accounting. We make inventory management and business workflows as streamlined as possible, so you won’t have to think about it.
Protect your profits with our advanced recovery solutions. DimeTyd Amazon helps 1P vendors recover lost revenues from overbilling and inventory discrepancies. DimeTyd Walmart simplifies the process of disputing unacknowledged shipments and organizing deductions. DimeTyd Sellers offers comprehensive monitoring and dispute resolution for Amazon FBA.
Automate your pricing strategies with SmartRepricer. We'll help you stay competitive by adjusting prices automatically based on custom rules. You can make sure that you always win the Buy Box with just a few clicks.
Finally, safeguard your online reputation with our reviews and alerts solutions. FeedbackWhiz Emails lets you handle Amazon review requests with personalized feedback campaigns. CR Feedback offers cost-effective feedback gathering for eBay and Amazon review requests. FeedbackWhiz Alerts keeps you informed with timely notifications on reviews, threats to your listings, and other important events.
