Every big seller he's talked to says the same thing: Amazon has actually gotten easier. But you're probably hearing the opposite on social media. So who's right?

Watch this next: https://youtu.be/X83l6GFho-4?si=oH8YpD_NH2keX90H

Jimmy Smith (@AskJimmySmith) has done $10M+ in online sales over 11 years on Amazon. He's run a software company (Replen Dashboard), built a community that's trained thousands of sellers, and just hosted a closed-door event with 75 sellers. Today he breaks down why 2026 might be the best time in a decade for Amazon sellers, the AI tools saving him $30K a year, why he shut down his software after 6 years, and the systems framework behind scaling from $30K to $100K per month.

Chapters:

00:00 - From Insurance Agent to $10M Amazon Seller

02:45 - Networking: The Most Important Skill Nobody Talks About

08:49 - Why He Shut Down Replen Dashboard After 6 Years

14:50 - Amazon API Changes: What It Means for Seller Tools

18:00 - "2026 Is the Best Time in a Decade for Amazon Sellers"

21:30 - Why Big Sellers Say It's Getting Easier (While New Sellers Struggle)

27:00 - The Rich Get Richer: Mentality of Successful vs. Stuck Sellers

30:00 - What's Actually Holding Intermediate Sellers Back

34:52 - The New Seller Playbook: Keepa, Net Fishing, and Rabbit Trailing

37:51 - The First SOP Every Seller Should Build

40:00 - "Being Hands-On Isn't Leadership, It's Being a Bottleneck"

42:01 - VA Mistakes: Why Your First Hire Probably Won't Source for You

46:42 - Pattern Recognition: What Separates Sellers Who Break Through

49:46 - AI for Amazon Sellers: Start Here (Practical, Not Hype)

55:02 - Using AI to Audit Your P&L and Restock Reports

01:00:08 - AI Agents: Are They Ready for Sourcing?

01:05:34 - Goals vs. Standards: Why Revenue Goals Are the Wrong Frame

01:08:17 - Three KPIs That Will Change Your Business This Week

01:10:34 - Lightning Round: Rolodex Contacts, Underrated Skills, and AI Tools

Follow Jimmy:

X/Twitter/YouTube/Instagram: @AskJimmySmith

Website: askjimmysmith.com

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X/Twitter: @cleartheshelf

Newsletter: https://cleartheshelf.com/newsletter

Follow Chris Racic:

X/Twitter: @ChrisRacic

Newsletter: https://oaleads247.com

Why 2026 Might Be the Best Time to Sell on Amazon