MerchantSpring Marketplace Masters

Amazon Vendor | Canada First: The 2P / Account-as-a-Service Model for Brands Entering Amazon North America

Is Canada the smartest—and most overlooked—gateway into North America for Amazon brands? In this episode of Marketplace Masters, Paul Sonneveld [https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulsonneveld/] is joined by Sebastien Masson [https://www.linkedin.com/in/s%C3%A9bastien-masson-amazon-guru/], Founder of Account as a Service (AAAS), explored why Canada offers a compelling opportunity for brands expanding internationally. They discussed the advantages of lower competition, cheaper Amazon CPCs, stronger review generation, and how a 2P/Account as a Service model can simplify market entry while reducing operational complexity.  Topics Covered: *  Why Amazon Canada is an attractive expansion market  *  Canada vs. US: competition, profitability, and CPCs  *  1P vs. 2P vs. 3P explained  *  How the Account as a Service (AAAS) model works  *  Managing bilingual requirements and Canadian compliance  *  Building momentum before expanding into the US  *  Common mistakes brands make when entering Canada

Amazon Vendor | Direct Fulfillment as a Strategic Lever: When Amazon Vendors Should Use It (and When They Shouldn’t)

In this episode of Marketplace Masters, Paul Sonneveld [https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulsonneveld/] sits down with Jason Linscheid [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonlinscheid/], Founder of The Vendorist and former Amazon Senior Vendor Manager, to explore the strategic role of Amazon Direct Fulfillment for enterprise vendors.   Topics Covered: *  Amazon Direct Fulfillment vs. traditional Vendor Central fulfillment  *  How to evaluate DF at the ASIN level  *  Profitability, cash flow, and working capital implications  *  Direct Fulfillment’s role in Annual Vendor Negotiations (AVN)  *  Hybrid fulfillment strategies for Amazon vendors  *  Common DF misconceptions and operational considerations Together, they discuss when Direct Fulfillment makes sense, how Amazon evaluates DF programs, the impact on working capital and customer experience, and why leading brands are increasingly adopting hybrid fulfillment strategies.

Agency Best Practice | The AWD vs 3PL Debate: A Decision Framework for Amazon Brands and Agencies

In this episode of Marketplace Masters, Paul Sonneveld [https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulsonneveld/] sits down with Ephraim Ausch [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ephraim-ausch/], Chief Logistics Officer at Tactical Logistics Solutions, to unpack one of the biggest fulfillment debates facing Amazon sellers in 2026: Amazon Warehousing & Distribution (AWD) vs. third-party logistics providers (3PLs). With Amazon introducing new logistics surcharges, rising transportation costs, and changing regional pricing structures, brands are being forced to re-evaluate their fulfillment strategy. Ephraim shares practical insights on when AWD makes financial sense, when a 3PL remains the better option, and why many eight- and nine-figure sellers are adopting hybrid fulfillment models instead of going all-in on Amazon.

Amazon Vendor | B2B Sales on Amazon: Why Mid-Market Manufacturers Can’t Afford to Ignore the Channel

Amazon Business is now generating more than $80 billion in annual B2B revenue — and yet many manufacturers still don’t have a clear Amazon B2B strategy. In this episode of Marketplace Masters, Paul Sonneveld [https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulsonneveld/] speaks with Brian Beck [https://www.linkedin.com/in/ecommerceexpertbeck/], one of the world’s leading B2B eCommerce experts and author of Billion Dollar B2B eCommerce, about how Amazon Business is reshaping B2B distribution and what mid-market manufacturers need to understand before entering the channel. They explore why B2B buyers are increasingly turning to Amazon, how Amazon Business differs from traditional Amazon selling, and the operational, pricing, and channel strategy considerations manufacturers must address to succeed. Key topics include: *  What Amazon Business is and how it works  *  Amazon's B2B strategy for manufacturers  *  1P vs 3P selling models for B2B brands  *  Managing channel conflict with distributors and sales teams  *  Amazon Business pricing, RFQs, and bulk buying tools  *  B2B product content and catalogue strategy on Amazon  *  Why Amazon is becoming a critical B2B procurement platform  *  Common mistakes manufacturers make when entering Amazon Business  If you’re a manufacturer, B2B brand, distributor, or Amazon agency looking to understand the future of B2B commerce on Amazon, this episode provides practical insights into one of the fastest-growing segments in eCommerce.

Agency Best Practice | South Africa Marketplace Playbook: Amazon Growth, Takealot Reality, and Enterprise Execution

Is South Africa the next major eCommerce growth market for Amazon brands? In this episode of Marketplace Masters, Paul Sonneveld [https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulsonneveld/] speaks with Maon Seidel [https://www.linkedin.com/in/maonseidel/], Founder & CEO of eCommerce Counsel, about the rapid evolution of South Africa’s eCommerce landscape and what enterprise brands need to know to succeed on Amazon South Africa and Takealot. They explore the strategic differences between Amazon and Takealot, operational challenges facing large brands, and why inventory management, marketplace infrastructure, and execution discipline are critical for long-term growth. Key topics include: *  Amazon South Africa vs Takealot marketplace strategy  *  Enterprise eCommerce growth opportunities in South Africa  *  Common operational mistakes brands make on marketplaces  *  Inventory forecasting and supply chain management for Amazon  *  How global brands can expand into South Africa  *  Marketplace advertising, content, and Amazon Vendor strategy  *  The future of eCommerce growth in Africa  If you're an Amazon brand, marketplace agency, or global manufacturer exploring emerging eCommerce markets, this episode provides practical insights into one of the fastest-growing digital retail opportunities globally.