Upside

In this episode of Upside, Ali and Zamir look ahead to what the next phase of selling on Amazon could really look like, and why the rules are quietly changing. From shifts in organic visibility to the growing role of artificial intelligence, they unpack the strategic adjustments sellers will need to make as the marketplace evolves. What’s Covered in This Episode Ali and Zamir begin by discussing h...

In this episode of Upside, Ali and Zamir break down what really needs to happen before you launch a product. Rather than jumping straight into ideas and suppliers, they focus on the fundamentals that separate successful launches from expensive mistakes, starting with identifying the real problem your product is meant to solve. What’s Covered in This Episode Ali and Zamir begin by introducing the c...

In this episode of Upside, Ali and Zamir look back at the rise and fall of Argos, once the UK’s go-to everything store, and ask how a retail giant lost ground to Amazon. From its catalogue-era dominance to its struggle to adapt in the age of fast fulfilment and customer obsession, they unpack what went wrong and what modern brands can learn from it. What’s Covered in This Episode Ali and Zamir sta...

In this episode of Upside, Ali, Zamir, Will, and Leon wrap up the year by reflecting on Q4 performance and laying the groundwork for what comes next. With October, November, and December data now available, the team explain why planning for the next Q4 starts immediately, while also sharing lessons from 2025 and practical advice for building stronger brands in 2026. What’s Covered in This Episode...

In this episode of Upside, Ali and Zamir unpack the mounting economic pressures facing UK businesses, from the long-term cost of Brexit to shifting marketplace dynamics and a disappointing government budget. They explore how these forces intersect and why small businesses continue to feel overlooked in an increasingly complex economic environment. What’s Covered in This Episode Ali and Zamir begin...

In this episode of Upside, Ali and Zamir break down the real mechanics of advertising on Amazon and explain why great ads do far more than drive paid traffic. They unpack how Amazon’s advertising ecosystem works, why bidding alone will never guarantee visibility, and how successful campaigns can directly improve your organic search performance on the platform. What’s Covered in This Episode Ali an...

In this episode of Upside, Ali, Zamir and Leon tackle one of the most common and costly mistakes in e-commerce: sending traffic to a listing that cannot convert. They break down why optimisation must come before advertising and explain how understanding customer psychology is the true foundation of every high-performing product listing. What’s Covered in This Episode The trio begin by stressing th...

In this episode of Upside, Ali and Zamir dive into the rise of what they call AI slop, the wave of low value, low effort content now flooding the internet. They explore how unregulated AI proliferation is reshaping the digital landscape and why the rapid spread of meaningless output poses a risk to businesses, consumers and society as a whole. What’s Covered in This Episode Ali and Zamir open the...

In this episode of Upside, Ali and Zamir pull no punches as they dissect Amazon’s new AI content creation tool, and their verdict is not flattering. Despite Amazon’s immense resources, the duo find themselves questioning how such a major player could release a product that falls so far short of expectations. What’s Covered in This Episode Ali and Zamir break down their experience testing Amazon’s...

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/amazon-rapid-sales-growth-faster-resolutions-bigger-margins-tickets-1968010438198?aff=oddtdtcreator In this episode of Upside, Ali & Zamir sit down with Sameed Naviwala, CEO of Bumble Towels, to unpack how he built an eight-figure e-commerce brand from nothing. From starting with zero capital to becoming a recognised name in online retail, Sameed’s story offers a...

In this episode of Upside, Ali & Zamir explore the accelerating rise of artificial intelligence and what it means for business, creativity, and society at large. From the launch of OpenAI’s Sora 2 to Google’s Nanobanana , the duo unpack the astonishing speed of progress in AI and the growing concern that regulation may not be keeping pace. What’s Covered in This Episode The discussion opens wi...

In this episode of Upside, Ali & Zamir break down a packed week in e-commerce — from billion-dollar fines to shifting seller fees and evolving platform policies. The conversation opens with the Federal Trade Commission’s record $2.5 billion fine against Amazon over deceptive Prime membership practices, before branching into global tax changes, rising operational costs, and the latest platform...

In this episode of Upside, Ali & Zamir are joined by Danu Abeysuriya to unpack the recent Amazon Web Services (AWS) outage that sent ripples through the digital world. The incident disrupted everything from Seller Central logins to Amazon’s own checkout processes, shining a spotlight on just how dependent global infrastructure has become on a single provider. Together, they explore what really...

In this episode of Upside, Ali & Zamir tackle the most important stretch of the e-commerce calendar, Q4. With consumer intent at its highest and sales potential peaking, the duo unpack why this period can make or break a brand’s year. They explore how up to 60% of annual revenue can come from these 13 weeks and share practical advice on how to prepare, prioritise, and profit when competition i...

In this episode of Upside, Ali & Zamir dive into Amazon’s second Prime Day of the year, an event that sparks more debate than excitement.  Is it a genuine opportunity for shoppers and sellers, or a manufactured moment designed to inflate demand ahead of the holidays? The duo unpacks the origins of October Prime Day, born in the pandemic, the psychology behind early gift-buying, and the blurred...

In this episode of Upside , Ali & Zamir sit down with Will Plant , Creative Manager at This Way Up, to unpack why design is the most underrated growth lever on Amazon and beyond. From the main image that wins the click to A+ modules that tell your story, Will shares a practical playbook for turning creative into conversions. What’s Covered in This Episode Design isn’t decoration—it’s performan...

In this episode of Upside , Ali & Zamir dissect a viral video claiming Amazon “rigs the game” with its private label products. The video has millions of views, but is it telling the full story, or just sensational clickbait? The guys unpack what’s true, what’s misleading, and what every brand owner needs to know before drawing the wrong conclusion. What’s Covered in This Episode The viral vide...

In this episode of Upside , Ali & Zamir run a spicy thought experiment: what if a US retail behemoth—say, Walmart—launched a UK marketplace? From physical stores and fulfillment networks to seller experience and ad budgets, they map out how a serious Amazon competitor could reshape the landscape—and why brands should prep now, not later. What’s Covered in This Episode For years, Amazon has bee...

In this episode of Upside , Ali & Zamir sit down with Nirali and Jag, the husband-and-wife founders of Superfoodio , to uncover how a six-month backpacking trip across South America turned into one of the UK’s most exciting food brand journeys. From emergency snacks in Argentina to landing in 650 Tesco stores , their story is a lesson in vision, resilience, and saying “yes” to opportunity. Wha...

In this episode of Upside , Ali & Zamir dive into one of the biggest shake-ups in digital marketing history: Google’s default switch to AI search results in the UK . With organic clicks already down by more than 50%, brands that have long relied on SEO are suddenly facing a new reality—and the guys break down what this means for e-commerce sellers right now. What’s Covered in This Episode For...

In this episode of Upside , Ali & Zamir break down a massive change that could blindside thousands of UK and EU sellers shipping into the US: the end of the $800 de minimis exemption . Starting August 29th, shipments into the US from the UK and beyond will no longer qualify for duty-free entry, meaning brands could suddenly face hefty taxes and fees per parcel . What’s Covered in This Episode...

In this episode of Upside , Ali & Zamir step out of the usual B2C spotlight and into the fast-growing world of B2B e-commerce. They explore how platforms like FAIRE.com and Ankor Store are shaking up wholesale, giving independent brands and retailers an easier, faster, and more profitable way to do business. From explaining how these platforms work, to sharing real-world experience from their...

In this episode of Upside , Ali & Zamir dive into the latest Amazon policy change that has sellers everywhere bracing for impact. Starting August 4th , Amazon will allow customers to leave star ratings for seller feedback without any written comment -a shift that could tank seller feedback scores overnight. From the moment they read the email live on air (shoutout to Matthias for the tip!), th...

In this episode of Upside , Ali & Zamir blend personal stories with global business lessons as they broadcast from their brand‑new studio (big thanks to Leon’s tech magic!). Fresh from a trip to South Africa , they share the emotional experience of reconnecting with their roots - including Zamir’s reflections on his father’s journey as an early ANC member in exile. Between Springbok rugby, vib...

In this episode of Upside, Ali & Zamir cut through the noise of flashy online advertisements and YouTube gurus promising instant Amazon riches. We take a hard look at the reality behind retail arbitrage and reselling schemes that flood social media with promises of easy money and luxury lifestyles. Discover why reselling established brands often leads to razor-thin margins and zero brand equit...