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💰 AGGREGATOR CRASH: HOW SMART SELLERS WIN

Amazon and e-commerce aggregators have faced significant shifts recently, and sellers need to understand these market dynamics clearly.

Empire Flippers marketplace data paints a telling picture: the average revenue for online stores sold has dramatically declined—from $61,000 in 2020 to just $27,500 in 2023. This steep 55% drop reflects broader trends affecting the entire e-commerce space.

This downturn aligns with broader industry insights. According to Marketplace Pulse, traditional Amazon aggregators are currently struggling, primarily due to rising interest rates and a retreat of investors from risky ventures.

Investors now prioritize stable, predictable yields rather than growth potential alone. This risk aversion means fewer buyers and, consequently, lower valuations for Amazon-centric businesses.

Conversely, software aggregators are thriving. These companies focus on SaaS solutions and technology platforms that support Amazon and e-commerce sellers, benefiting from subscription revenue models and lower operational risks.

Quiet Light’s 2025 Amazon FBA report corroborates these findings, noting it’s unquestionably a buyer’s market now. With higher interest rates and a cautious investor mindset, sellers face tougher negotiations and reduced valuations.

However, there are specific strategies Amazon sellers can employ to maximize their business value despite these challenging conditions:

1. Diversify Channels: Businesses relying solely on Amazon are less attractive now. Consider branching into Shopify, Walmart, or niche marketplaces to lower perceived risk.

2. Build Recurring Revenue Streams: Buyers place a premium on predictable revenue. Subscription services or consumable products can significantly enhance your valuation.

3. Leverage Technology and Software: Optimize operations using SaaS solutions favored by thriving software aggregators to reduce overhead and boost efficiency.

4. Improve Financial Clarity: Buyers are cautious. Clear, transparent, and professionally managed financials help mitigate perceived risks, boosting buyer confidence and valuations.

5. Enhance Branding: Strong, defensible branding with unique product differentiation makes your business less vulnerable and more appealing to buyers.

Ultimately, sellers need to weigh the current lower valuations against their potential to grow further. For buyers, though, this climate presents unique opportunities to acquire robust businesses at attractive valuations.

👀 5 THINGS WALMART’S NEW CHATBOT MAKES CLEAR

Andrew Bell has been watching Walmart chase Amazon in the AI space for 5 years. He says “Walmart’s new Shopping Assistant is a step … but it’s not the step.”

Here’s what he says NOT to say if you’re serious about e-commerce:


❌ “It’s just another chatbot.”
↳ That says: I’m ignoring where search is headed.
 ✅ Action: Study how AI is changing search behavior. If you’re not visible in conversational results, you’re invisible.

❌ “I’ll optimize later.”
↳ That says: I’m okay being skipped over today.
 ✅ Action: Optimize now for product-related Q&A. If you don’t answer, Walmart defaults to customer reviews or says nothing at all.

❌ “Walmart doesn’t matter—Amazon wins.”
↳ That says: I’m missing the long game.
 ✅ Action: Use every AI rollout as an SEO opportunity. Walmart is using semantic space—just not effectively yet.

❌ “Let’s wait for it to mature.”
↳ That says: I’ll let my competitors test and win first.
 ✅ Action: Be first. Even basic systems can surface your product if you’re answering real questions.

❌ “The results are irrelevant.”
↳ That says: I’m ignoring discoverability.
 ✅ Action: Train Walmart’s model with your product metadata, Q&A, and titles. Help it help you.

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📖  SUMMARY of GOOGLE’s 9-HOUR AI PROMPT COURSE

The average AI prompt is just 7 words. That’s not good.

Prompt Engineering can make or break the results you get using AI tools.

Whether you sell handmade crafts or run a large online store, AI tools can give you a major advantage by helping you brainstorm product descriptions, marketing campaigns, and more.

Below is a condensed guide of the core principles from Google’s “Prompting Essentials” course—complete with tips, examples, and advanced techniques that will save you time and boost your e-commerce success.

1. The Five-Step Prompting Framework

Task, Context, References, Evaluate, and Iterate:

1. Task: Clearly state your goal. For example, “Create a concise and catchy product description for a new line of eco-friendly tote bags.”

2. Context: Add details to help the AI understand your brand, target audience, or any unique selling points—like your brand voice or your customers’ preferences.

3. References: Provide examples (past marketing emails, product descriptions, or brand guidelines) so the AI can model its output on what’s worked before.

4. Evaluate: Look over the AI’s output. Does it match your brand style? Does it need more detail?

5. Iterate: Tweak your prompt to refine the results. This is an ongoing process—keep revising until you’re satisfied.

2. Four Ways to Improve Prompt Iterations

Even with a solid prompt, sometimes the output still isn’t quite right. Try these tactics:

1. Revisit the Framework: Add more detail or references. Did you give the AI enough information about your typical brand voice or key features?

2. Split Up Your Prompt: Break long prompts into step-by-step instructions. Instead of one huge prompt, feed the AI smaller chunks like, “First, analyze these product specs. Then, create a description under 100 words that appeals to eco-conscious shoppers.”

3. Try Different Phrasing (or an analogous task): If direct marketing copy falls flat, ask for a “mini story” about how your tote bag solves a pain point for busy moms or traveling students. Creative angles can spark more engaging results.

4. Introduce Constraints: Narrow down the style, length, or tone. For example, “Use no more than three sentences” or “Address the buyer directly in a friendly, conversational tone.”

3. Multimodal Prompting for E-commerce

Beyond text, many AI models can accept inputs like images or audio. For instance:

• Product Shots: Upload photos of your product and say, “Generate five bullet-point captions highlighting these images’ features and benefits for social media.”

• Branding Elements: Feed the AI your logo or color palette and tell it, “Create a social media post that visually coordinates with this brand look.”

The framework remains the same—just specify what type of input or output you want.

4. Advanced Prompting Techniques

A. Prompt Chaining

Break down a complex goal (e.g., planning a six-week marketing campaign) into smaller tasks. For instance:

1. “Generate a short brand story for our new eco-tote line.”

2. “Combine that story with a promotional tagline that’s under 10 words.”

3. “Create a six-week social media campaign plan using that tagline.”

B. Chain of Thought Prompting

Ask the AI to explain its step-by-step reasoning. For example, “Propose three tagline options for these tote bags and explain the reasoning behind each option.” This helps you see how the AI arrived at its suggestions, so you can guide it more effectively.

C. Tree of Thought Prompting

Explore multiple branches simultaneously. “Give me three distinctly different angles for a social media ad—funny, sentimental, and bold. Explain each angle’s pros and cons for a Gen Z audience.”

5. Creating AI Agents for Specialized Tasks

You can design “agents” that act like domain experts—particularly useful for e-commerce operations:

1. Agent Sim (Simulation Agent)

   • Persona: “Act as a knowledgeable e-commerce consultant with expertise in Shopify stores.”

   • Task: “Simulate a live coaching session to help me optimize my store’s product pages.”

   • Context: Provide store performance metrics or design references.

   • Stop Role: “When I say ‘Done optimizing,’ summarize all key recommendations.”

2. Agent X (Expert Feedback)

   • Persona: “You are a top-performing e-commerce marketer for fashion brands.”

   • Task: “I’ll pitch you my new product line. Ask follow-up questions and critique my ideas.”

   • Context: Provide brand story, competitor examples, etc.

   • Stop Role: “When I say ‘No more edits,’ give final feedback.”

6. Final Check and Retention

Just like the Google course recommends, do a quick review to lock in what you’ve learned:

1. Five-Step Framework: Task → Context → References → Evaluate → Iterate.

2. Iteration Methods: More detail, short sentences, different angles, constraints.

3. Advanced Techniques: Prompt chaining, chain of thought, tree of thought.

4. AI Agents: Detailed personas, clear context, and a stop phrase.

✌🏼 Have a great weekend.

See you again on Monday at MDS Inspire.

The answer to today’s STUMP BEZOS is
The UK marketplace grew by 12.7% last year