Amazon Best Sellers Best Amazon Launchpad Gadgets

Amazon’s Launchpad program vs Seller Central (FBA)

Since introducing their “Launchpad” program in July 2015, Amazon has been contacting hardware startups and hot new brands with successful crowdfunding campaigns to get them onto this new program. And in May 2016, Amazon Launchpad started up in Europe, too.

It describes itself as, “Unique and unexpected products from today’s brightest startups”, with most products falling into 4 categories: Body, Food, Gadgets, and House.

There is a strong propensity toward hardware and consumer technology products - trending items like “the connected home”, and “wearable tech” are heavily represented.

As of May 2016, there are 2,163 products in the Launchpad program, which is a teeny, tiny amount compared with the estimated 400 million product listings on Amazon overall.

The Launchpad pitch sounds great to many companies who see the benefit in having their brand available to millions of customers via Amazon. But understandably, they want to know the pros and cons of the Launchpad program before committing.

Here we break down the difference between Amazon Launchpad versus Seller Central, the pros and cons of the program, and some things for brands to think about when making the decision - should we use the Amazon Launchpad program?

Amazon Launchpad Review

Marketing Benefits

The benefits of Amazon’s Launchpad program mostly center around additional marketing “juice” that they exclusively offer brands in this program. Your product(s) will get a lot more merchandising opportunities, the kind that other sellers have to pay for. These include:

Your brand/products might be featured in their email & social media campaigns Ability to create a free A+ page (otherwise known as Enhanced Marketing Content) for your product(s). This allows you to create product pages with more images, even product videos which can really help with conversion. This aquaponics tank is a great example of a product page with enhanced content. Placement in Amazon's Launchpad store, which has a dedicated section on Amazon. com Access to Amazon Marketing Services (AMS) via the Vendor Express platform. AMS allows you to access different types of ad placements including headline search ads and product page placement ads. Note that you’ll be paying for these ads out of pocket.

In the gallery above:

(1) The landing page of Amazon's Launchpad "store".

(2) An example of a Product Page Placement. On this page, the Advertiser (Gillette) has a an ad placement of their Venus razor product placed on the Lumo Lift product page.

Other Benefits

There’s no specific time restriction on the length of the program - if your products do well, you could retain your benefits for a long time.

A real-life Amazon representative. Usually only the top-tier Amazon Vendors get access to an Account Executive. But Launchpad vendors are treated specially and often have access to an actual human being at Amazon who can help with special requests and onboarding.

Move smoothly into the regular Vendor program, if that is the direction you want to take.

Assistance with launching in international marketplaces. This is a benefit that Amazon states, but it’s unclear specifically what help they offer in this area beyond what they provide non-Launchpad sellers.

Amazon covers the cost of freight from your facility (US) to Amazon’s warehouses. This is true of the Vendor Central & Vendor Express programs in general.

Here’s the rub: there’s an application process and not everyone gets in.

THE COST & FEES OF AMAZON LAUNCHPAD

As we know, everything comes at a price, and Amazon surely doesn’t offer this great program purely from the kindness of it’s heart.

What do you pay for the privilege of all these extras?

You pay for it in your wholesale margin. This is typically going to be a 50% discount on the retail price of your products. And Amazon will only be paying you in 60 day terms. While wholesale “terms” are common in the world of retail, it can be tricky for new startups to handle the cash flow double-whammy that comes with lower margin and taking longer to get paid.

Free units to validate demand for your product. Just like in the Vendor Express program, brands need to send free units to Amazon so that they can upload them and test the market for demand. Amazon says, “We request a limited number of free units as an investment in the program. We understand that your products cost money, so we want you to know we are using them to build your Amazon. com product detail page and evaluate customer demand.”

You will still have to “pay to play” when promoting your products with ads. And Amazon does expect for brands to bring their own traffic. They will only place Purchase Orders (POs) for products which have demonstrated good traction with customers, which leads to.

Lost control over inventory & ordering. Some brands have complained of Amazon’s purchasing algorithm not meeting demand to the point that their products are out of stock on Amazon for periods. Products which are not selling in high enough volume will not be re-ordered. When managing your own product listings, you can control inventory more closely.

Exclusivity. Amazon might require that you only sell your product on Amazon. com and your e-commerce store, which limits your ability to sell on other marketplaces and to brick & mortar retailers.

HOW TO CHOOSE BETWEEN AMAZON LAUNCHPAD AND DOING YOUR

OWN PRODUCT LAUNCH

The alternative is Seller Central or Vendor Central. The Seller Central program is where a brand sells direct to customers, with Amazon taking a percentage referral fee - usually 15%.

You have the option to have Amazon fulfill customer orders (FBA) or do fulfillment yourself. This option often results in a better profit margin for the brand, and the brand can set the selling price to the customer. Brands also have more control over their inventory levels and are able to change most details on their product page in real-time.

However, the Brand will be responsible for more customer service activities, and some marketing tools like embedded videos and brand pages are not available to use.

DECISION MAKING FACTORS

So, how to choose between Seller Central or Vendor Express/Central (the platform that Launchpad is run from)?

Take this quiz we created:

What is the average retail price of items in your core assortment? Your average product's retail price affects your potential margins on Amazon.

Are your margins wholesale-friendly? Does your brand already have a wholesale program, or would your profit margins support it? A standard wholesale discount is 50% of the retail price (RRP / MSRP).

How much control do you require over retail pricing? Some companies need more control over their pricing, to create a consistent experience for customers, and possibly also for wholesale relationships.

Are your operations wholesale-friendly? Selling to Amazon as a Vendor means that you'll need to fill large Purchase Orders (PO's) and have them sent to Amazon from a warehouse in the US.

How sensitive is your cash flow cycle? How frequently your company gets paid by customers can have a big impact on your company's cash flow. Vendors get paid in 60 or 90 day terms, whereas on Seller Central your payment is every 2 weeks.

What are your key marketing priorities? Is your company's primary focus on developing a brand, around preserving control over your product listings, or in keeping to a budget?

It’s possible to side-step the official Launchpad program and set your funded or bootstrapped product startup up on Amazon’s platform yourself. We created a free, 4-part video course that explains exactly how to launch your product on Amazon.

And if you decide to pursue the Launchpad program, we can still help! The services we offer Launchpad and Vendors on Amazon include:

Product listing copywriting, design, and management. Amazon Pay Per Click (PPC) Advertising campaign management, to help generate more sales and repeat Purchase Orders from Amazon. Help navigating the Vendor Express system & properly utilizing all the additional benefits Amazon provides to Launchpad brands.

Top 5 Best Things for Sale on Amazon Launchpad Right Now

Updated Jul 28, 2015 at 7:08pm

Today, Amazon officially launched a new program: Amazon Launchpad. This new venture is Amazon’s platform for cool startups. Using Launchpad, startups can market and distribute their cool gadgets and innovative products to millions of people. Launchpad is being pitched as startup-friendly, since it can help eliminate common startup stumbling blocks like lack of retail expertise and building of infrastructure from scratch.

There are lots of interesting products for sale. Many of the items are high tech, but there are also some home and personal care items that are noteworthy. Some products are definitely more exciting than others, but the cool gadgets are really cool. We’ve combed through countless listings on Amazon Launchpad to bring you five of the best things on sale right now. If you want to know why the web is buzzing about Amazon Launchpad, read on. These cool products exemplify the best things about this new Amazon venture. You can also peruse Amazon Launchpad here, and discover even more cool stuff.

1. ICE Orb Floating Bluetooth Speaker

We’ve written extensively about the best Bluetooth speakers, but this speaker takes things to the next level. This Bluetooth speaker not only plays your favorite music, but it also levitates in the air. The base also doubles as a charging dock, enhancing the functionality of this eye-catching gadget. With ten hours of battery life, this is a Bluetooth speaker worth splurging on. There’s nothing else on the market quite like it.

Buy the ICE Orb Floating Bluetooth Speaker here.

2. Rocketbook One

Not every high tech gadget on sale through Amazon Launchpad is expensive. The Rocketbook One looks like an ordinary notebook, but its actually an advanced tool for note-taking. Rocketbook is a paper notebook that connects to cloud services, like Dropbox, using your mobile device camera. You get the comfort of writing with a pen and paper, but the secure backups and digital collaboration opportunities that only come with digital notes. If you’re heading back to school in the fall, this is an item you definitely want to buy.

Buy the Rocketbook One here.

Read More From Heavy

Top 10 Best Back to School Sales on Amazon

3. Kinsa Smart Thermometer

Parents are sure to love this smart thermometer, which takes the guesswork out of monitoring a sick child. Kinsa makes it easier to get an accurate temperature reading, and gives you a nice big screen to work with via your smartphone. It automatically remembers your illness history, and helps you take action when symptoms are cause for concern. If you’ve ever been so sick at home that you couldn’t remember your last temperature, this gadget will appeal to you. This is a health care device that can be used by both kids and adults.

Buy the Kinsa Smart Thermometer here.

4. Bellabeat LEAF – Health Tracker/Smart Jewelry

If there’s one major criticism to be made about most fitness trackers, it’s that they can be a little…well…ugly. The majority of them are worn on the wrist, look like thick rubber bands, and feel a bit stiff or sticky when you work out while wearing them. If you’ve avoiding getting a fitness tracker because you don’t want that “rubber band” look on your arm, the Bellabeat LEAF might be the tracker you’ve been waiting for.

By tracking your breathing, sleep, activity and monthly cycles through the LEAF app, you are able to monitor your activity, and also enhance your emotional wellbeing. The LEAF can be worn as a necklace, bracelet, or clipped to a shirt. The focus on breathing exercises, in addition to fitness, makes this a nice wearable for women who frequently find themselves stressed out.

Buy the Bellabeat LEAF here.

5. FOBO Tire Plus

FOBO is easily one of the coolest products on Amazon Launchpad right now. This tire monitoring system is great for people who want to monitor their tire pressure in real time, but there’s a lot more going on here. Optimum tire pressure ensures optimal road holding and car performance, effective braking distance, longer tire tread life and better fuel efficiency.

The FOBO Tire Plus system monitors tire pressure and temperature, which is a nice feature to have as you embark on a summer road trip. You can also share that data, making it a nice device for parents to install in a teen driver’s car. In addition to these safety features, you also get a two-level theft deterrent locking system. If you want to feel more empowered and secure when you drive, this is a gadget worth investing in.

10 New Hot Releases Tech Gadgets from Amazon Launchpad

This fast pace world needs fast pace things that run on an unstoppable speed and comes with quality. We all know how Amazon has been serving the customers since ages, anything you wish for and anything you would like to buy are already being put up on Amazon to feed you hungry souls. What more anyone would want other than this?

Sitting at home and ordering the best stuff that we want just a click away. Adding things to cart and proceeding ahead to checkout has been a lot simpler on Amazon. Since technology is lashing out, it has no stopping and people too are so exasperated to get their hands on the latest stuff in the market whether it be the gadgets or the trendy stuff. But sorry is the fact that some sellers don’t come across in the search list to help the buyers and therefore their products don’t float on the surface and remain unnoticed.

Through Amazon Launchpad, life is becoming easier for all those sellers who have been thinking for a platform to get their goods, food, body, gadgets and devices noticed and immediately sold. Launchpad helps you expanding your business, accelerating the selling and showcasing your stuff. It offers a good trusted customer service to all the buyers, as amazon helps you grow and get bigger. There are millions of customers who are already waiting for you to put forward what you have, amazon provides you a channel in its marketplace where your story is told professionally and the parcels of your customers are delivered with ease and comfort.

So time to earn mighty in terms of customer trust all by using Amazon Launchpad. Start your business, showcase it now and get the best advantages that amazon offers for people like you. This is amazingly real and getting more proficient with time. I will be posting interesting stuff forever more regarding design and artworks, but you need to keep a check on us by subscribing us and get to see the regular design factory. Here we go!

10 New Hot Releases Tech Gadgets from Amazon Launchpad

1. TrackR bravo – Key Tracker, Phone Finder, Wallet Locator | Hot Tech Gadgets 2016

Now you can easily track and locate your car or motorbike key with TrackR. It can also find your phone if you logo your mobile phone all the time. It would also be handy for your purse and wallet. RackR is a two way ringing device if you forget your car key or phone it will notify you.

2. Bragi the Dash Truly Wireless smart earphones | Best Electronic Gadget

Bragi is one of the best Wireless smart earbuds in the market. It has 4 Gb of internal storage so you can load nearly 1000 songs. It also received if some wants to talk to you and give any feedback you are receiving while exercising. Bragi will accumulate the activities of your heart rate, steps, cadence, strokes, durationand much more.

3. Mevo – Live Event Camera for iOS devices with iOS 10 & 9 | Will be Top Tech Gadget 2017

Mevo is one of the latest and going to be the best gadget of 2017 as you can steam high quality live videos directly from the camera for your customers, fans or even family members. A must have gadget for 2016

4. Automatic AUT-350C Pro Gold 3G Connected Car Adapter | Must Have Tech Gadget 2016

Trust on God but lock your car but now you can track it too with automatic AUT Pro. Now you can Track the location Real Time regardless of who is driving your car. Works only in United States.

5. Sphero Force Band | Latest Tech Gadget 2016

Now you can give directions to your DroidTM toy through your gestures like push, pull and drive.

6. Portable Wireless Bluetooth Speaker MaxBass Technology | Best Bass Speaker Gadget

We all need an Indoor as well as out Bass Speakers works wirelessly with our bluetooth and we want it to be waterproof, Dustproof & Shockproof. Now the wait is over with TRAKK GO 20W which support advance bluetooth 4.0 and NFC functionality, it also has an AUX port promises 12 hours of continuous sound playing.

7. Autel Robotics X-Star Premium Drone with 4K Camera | Top Best Drone Gadget 2016

If you are looking for a live view in drone and handles it with your andoid or iphone here you go the best drone in the market provided by Autel which has 4K Ultra HD video camera with quick-release 3-axis gimbal stabilizer.

8. Touchscreen WiFi Router – Perfect WiFi For Your Whole Home | Best Gadget for SmartHome

If you have a home office or want to share files with your family members as well as playing games or watching movies “Starry Station ” has to be your first choice.

9. Avegant Glyph – Video Headset | Future Gadget 2017

Now you can Watch films, play games, and enjoy HD audio/video with Avegant Glyph 2 in one Video Headset. It can connect to any device e. g smartphone, drone, tablet or gaming device at 40,000 feet.

10. Arccos Golf GPS Shot Tracker | Latest Gadget of 2016

First fully-automatic GPS and shot-tracking system for Golf Lovers. All stats/analytics will be available on your smartphone.

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