He closed 2025 at $844K in Amazon sales on roughly 10 hours a week. Then used those profits to buy a bulldozer, start a land clearing business, and quit his 20-year tech career. This is the full story.Justin Zsimovan (@flippin4gold) joins Clear the Shelf to break down exactly how he built a high-margin Amazon FBA business while working full-time, why he believes retail arbitrage is underrated, and what 20 years in enterprise AI taught him about where this industry is really headed.⏱️ TIMESTAMPS00:00 — Intro: From IT Security to Amazon FBA02:52 — Why Amazon? The Exit Plan from Tech06:37 — Failed Side Hustles Before Amazon Clicked08:10 — How His Wife Runs Most of the Amazon Business11:32 — $844K Revenue Breakdown: RA vs. OA Split13:53 — Zero RA Competition: The Small Town Advantage16:33 — "RA Isn't Scalable" — Why That's Wrong19:00 — The Lead Delay Strategy: Let Stores Hold Your Inventory20:02 — Hiring a VA Too Early (And Why She's Now Irreplaceable)22:53 — Manufacturing Margin: Gift Cards, Credit Cards, and Stacking Points28:29 — Using Grok to Model $10K → $100K/Month Growth31:19 — Amazon as a Launchpad, Not the End Goal34:48 — What's Actually Hard About Starting a "Real" Business39:33 — The Land Clearing Business: From LLC to $90K Bids44:12 — How to Pick a Business AI Can't Disrupt49:15 — The Scott Adams Ideation Framework53:29 — AI Doomer Perspective: Why He Left Tech55:37 — 99.9% of AI Tools on Amazon Twitter Are Junk58:00 — Data: What Sellers Should Record Starting Today01:01:09 — Use Case Engineering: Don't Boil the Ocean01:07:00 — How to Evaluate AI Tools (Open Claw, Claude Desktop)01:10:10 — AI Threatens OA More Than RA01:19:06 — Balancing a W2, Amazon, and a New Business01:21:44 — Managing Risk: The "Worst Case Is Bankruptcy" Mindset01:24:47 — The Escape Sequence: X → Amazon → Land Clearing → Freedom01:28:08 — Lightning Round: Start With Less Money Than More01:29:29 — Book Rec: "Cold Calling Sucks (And That's Why It Works)"01:32:55 — Quote of the Week: Walt Disney on Action Over Analysis🔗 FOLLOW JZ- X/Twitter: @flippin4goldGO DEEPER WITH OAC+Want the full Keepa Academy training used by 7 and 8-figure sellers? It's included with OAC+, our private community of 200+ Amazon sellers.OAC+ includes:- Full Keepa Academy course- Sourcing courses and SOPs- Amazon to Amazon flip leads- Live coaching and Q&A- Suspension supportJoin OAC+: https://www.oachallenge.com/plusOA CHALLENGE LIVE - MARCH 2026Join us for our next live cohort where we build your Amazon business together over 14 days.Learn more: https://www.oachallenge.comCONNECT WITH USTwitter: https://www.x.com/cleartheshelfWebsite: https://www.cleartheshelf.comTwitter: https://www.x.com/ChrisRacicWebsite: https://www.oaleads247.com

Is 2026 the best time to sell on Amazon? Is AI repricing the future of selling on Amazon? In this episode of the Clear the Shelf Podcast, we sit down with Dillon Carter, co-founder of the Aura Repricer to break down exactly how AI repricing works in 2026 — including the game theory engine behind Maven, Aura's AI-powered repricing tool.Grab an Aura Free Trial here: https://www.cleartheshelf.com/repricerDillon explains how Maven profiles competitor behavior in real time, calculates optimal pricing above the buy box, and helps Amazon FBA sellers improve margins without sacrificing sales velocity. We also cover why 2025 was a turning point for operational efficiency on Amazon, how sellers should think about cash flow cycles instead of profit-per-unit, and why the best Amazon sellers in 2026 are running companies instead of side hustles.If you're an Amazon FBA seller doing online arbitrage, retail arbitrage, or wholesale, this episode is packed with actionable strategies to improve your repricing, sourcing, and overall business operations. We also dive deep into how AI tools like Claude, Poke, and browser-based agents are already changing how sellers source products, analyze data, and make decisions.🔗 LINKS & RESOURCES:—————————————————🔁 Try Aura Repricer: https://www.cleartheshelf.com/repricer🎙️ Clear the Shelf Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4O00RWj2hg&list=PLPJ1CITeRS1F1w-T7ZZT7QnKQ027nHVht📩 Join the OAC+ Community: https://www.oachallenge.com/plus🐦 Follow Dillon on X/Twitter: https://x.com/Dillon_Carter📰 Subscribe to the CTS Newsletter: https://www.cleartheshelf.com/newsletter⏰ TIMESTAMPS:—————————————————0:00 — Intro & Dillon Carter's Background14:20 — How Maven's AI Repricing Actually Works (Game Theory Explained)28:40 — Regional Buy Boxes & Average Profit vs. Profit-Per-Sale45:30 — Operational Efficiency: Amazon's New Standard for Sellers56:40 — Aura's Starter Plan & Cash Flow Cycles for New Sellers70:00 — AI Tools Sellers Can Use RIGHT NOW (Claude, Co-Work, Agents)85:30 — The Future of AI Sourcing & Will VAs Be Replaced?101:30 — Cutting Through AI Hype & Power Consolidation110:45 — Worst Amazon Strategy: Switching Business Models118:20 — First Principles Thinking & SP-API Developer Fees128:45 — Rapid Fire: Best Tools, Habits, Books & Advice

Retail arbitrage on Amazon has allowed Kim and Perry Coghlan to sell over 8 figures in a single year selling shoes and clothing They manage a team of about 20 people across two cities while raising 13 kids. In this deep-dive interview, they reveal the exact systems, processes, and management philosophies that make it all work.CONNECT WITH KIM AND PERRY

– Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@EcomToolbox

– Free Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ecomtoolbox

– Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ecomtoolbox1

– Skool: https://www.skool.com/ecomtoolbox/about?ref=4adcf73740e949279874c4793504807c

– Twitter: https://x.com/Pcoghlan, https://x.com/kimcoghlan4, https://x.com/ecom_toolbox

RECOMMENDED TOOLS

– SellerAmp SAS (14-day free trial): https://www.selleramp.com/oachallenge

Use code OAC50 to save 50% off your first month.

– Keepa Academy: https://www.oachallenge.com/keepa-academy

– Boxem (14-day free trial): https://www.oachallenge.com/boxemTIMESTAMPS

0:00 - Introduction and episode overview

2:15 - Kim and Perry's business overview (10 years, 8 figures, 20 employees)

4:30 - Shifting focus from top line revenue to bottom line profit

6:00 - Why employees wanted data and metrics

8:00 - Ecom Toolbox community and podcast launch

11:00 - Helping intermediate sellers scale sustainably

12:00 - The retail arbitrage renaissance

14:30 - Know your numbers: why financial foundations matter first

16:30 - Top metrics every Amazon seller should track

17:30 - Velocity and cash flow management

20:00 - Tracking stale inventory and learning from bad buys

23:00 - The business scorecard explained (EOS framework)

26:00 - Scorecard metrics: sales, spend, inventory value, margin

28:00 - Returns tracking and seasonal variations

31:00 - Finding the right tempo for tracking your numbers

33:00 - Using AI in their Amazon business

36:00 - Lean operations and spaghetti mapping explained

39:00 - Real examples of process improvement

41:00 - Bringing in a lean consultant for company-wide training

43:00 - The eight wastes and eliminating extra processing

44:00 - Mindset shift: accepting your process is wrong

47:00 - Being the boss you never had

49:00 - Elon Musk, staying in the weeds, and the Gemba

51:00 - Book recommendations (Walter Isaacson, Ron Chernow)

52:00 - Building systems through crisis response, not planning

55:00 - Complete hiring process and personality testing

59:00 - Phone screening, core values introduction, and filtering

1:01:00 - Shopper training program overview

1:04:00 - Warehouse training before field work

1:07:00 - What makes a shopper field-ready

1:09:00 - Compensation structure: item count vs percentage of spend

1:11:00 - Bonus structure and incentivizing profitable behavior

1:12:30 - Buying criteria for shoes and clothing (minimums, ROI)

1:15:00 - Subcategories to avoid (dress shoes, small sizes)

1:16:00 - Repricing strategy: buy box anchoring, not ROI-based

1:18:00 - The rodeo jeans revelation: market doesn't care what you paid

1:19:00 - Aging inventory repricing (30-day and 90-day rules)

1:22:00 - Using ScanPower Mobile for pricing decisions

1:23:30 - Holding inventory strategy and merchant fulfilled hack

1:26:00 - Supplier profitability report as backbone of shopper metrics

1:28:00 - Cross-collaboration and company averages

1:30:00 - Honey holes and competitive bonuses

1:31:00 - The four core values (TACO framework)

1:34:00 - Quarterly conversations and the people analyzer

1:36:00 - Embedding core values through repetition

1:37:00 - Importance of outside perspectives and continuous learning

1:39:00 - How lean and EOS clicked for them

1:40:00 - EOS as the administrative equivalent of lean

1:43:00 - Ecom Toolbox elevator pitch and who it's for

1:44:00 - Where to find Kim and Perry

1:45:30 - Time travel question: advice to their younger selves

1:48:00 - Setting boundaries and not letting the business consume you

1:48:30 - Recent impactful learning (Musk biography, learning to play)

Amazon FBA Account Health: What Sellers Get Wrong (IP Complaints, CSM Reviews, Inauthentic)➕ Join OAC+ - The premier community for Amazon sellers looking to grow their business and become better business owners: https://www.oachallenge.com/plus🔥 Grab a 14-day FREE Trial to SellerAmp (Profit calculator, sales estimator, and sourcing tool): https://www.selleramp.com/oachallenge📦 Want to speed up listing, shipping, and analytics? Check out Boxem free for 14 days: https://www.oachallenge.com/boxem💳 See our most recommended Credit Cards: https://cleartheshelf.com/creditcardYour Amazon account is ONE violation away from permanent deactivation. Joy Williams from Seller Basics reveals the account health mistakes costing sellers their businesses and exactly how to protect yourself.🔗 Seller Basics: https://sellerbasics.com📱 Join the Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sellerbasics2.0 (free for all sellers)FOLLOW US: 🐦 Twitter (Chris Grant): https://twitter.com/cleartheshelf 🐦 Twitter (Chris Racic): https://twitter.com/ChrisRacic00:00 - Introduction: Why Account Health Matters More Than Sales08:15 - The #1 Mistake: Ignoring Your Account Health Dashboard15:42 - Section 3 Reviews: Required Documents & Video Call Prep24:30 - Supplier Red Flags (Avoid Scams)35:18 - Gray Market Goods42:50 - IP Complaints & Counterfeit Claims: Fight or Let It Drop?53:25 - Brand Registry Abuse: When Brands Weaponize Violations1:02:40 - Documentation Framework: Invoices, Receipts & Proof1:14:35 - Q4 Survival Guide: ODR & Merchant Fulfilled Disasters1:23:10 - Close vs. Delete Listings: The Critical Difference1:31:45 - Appeal Strategies: What Works (And What Gets You Banned)1:42:20 - Voice of Customer: The Most Underutilized Tool1:48:55 - Final Advice: Prevention Over Emergency Room Visits

How Amazon FBA sellers are adding 5-7% to their margins instantly using discount gift cards. Plus the credit card strategies that unlock $100K+ in 0% APR capital.➕ Join OAC+ - The premier community for Amazon sellers looking to grow their business and become better business owners: https://www.oachallenge.com/plus🔥 Grab a 14-day FREE Trial to SellerAmp (Profit calculator, sales estimator, and sourcing tool): https://www.selleramp.com/oachallenge📦 Want to speed up listing, shipping, and analytics? Check out Boxem free for 14 days: https://www.oachallenge.com/boxem💳 See our most recommended Credit Cards: https://cleartheshelf.com/creditcardTaylor Thomas from Arbitrage Card shares the exact systems top sellers use to maximize profits through gift card arbitrage, avoid the $3,000+ balance mistakes most sellers make, and leverage business credit cards for massive travel rewards and cash flow advantages.Check out Arbitrage Card here: https://arbitragecard.com/FOLLOW US: 🐦 Twitter (Chris Grant): https://twitter.com/cleartheshelf 🐦 Twitter (Chris Racic): https://twitter.com/ChrisRacic--------------------TIMESTAMPS0:00 - Introduction: Gift Cards & Credit Card Strategies for Amazon FBA8:45 - How Discount Gift Cards Add 5-7% to Your Margins Instantly15:32 - Gift Card 101: Overcoming Complexity and Managing Balances23:12 - The $3,000 Mistake: Hidden Gift Card Balances Hurt Your Profit31:45 - Advanced Gift Card Strategy: Custom Amounts & Chrome Extension47:30 - Credit Card Hacking: How I Got $142K in 0% APR Capital1:02:15 - The Incognito Method: 200K Point Bonuses on Amex Cards1:18:45 - Credit Limit Reallocation Strategy Explained1:28:30 - Travel Hacking for Amazon Sellers: Maximizing Point Redemptions1:42:18 - Stacking Discounts: The 5-Layer Profit System1:48:50 - Common Credit Card Mistakes That Destroy Your Score1:54:35 - Best Zero Percent APR Cards for Amazon Sellers2:03:40 - Final Recommendations & Where to Learn More

Learn how Ryan makes $2M a year with online arbitrage on Amazon in just 20 hours per week.

➕ Join OAC+ - The premier community for Amazon sellers looking to grow their business and become better business owners: https://www.oachallenge.com/plus

🔥 Grab a 14-day FREE Trial to SellerAmp (Profit calculator, sales estimator, and sourcing tool): https://www.selleramp.com/oachallenge

📦 Want to speed up listing, shipping, and analytics? Check out Boxem free for 14 days: https://www.oachallenge.com/boxem

Ryan shares his complete transition from retail arbitrage to online arbitrage, revealing his replenishment-heavy strategy (85% of business), prep center setup, and the systems that gave him his life back. Learn how he manages $150K in inventory, uses lead lists effectively, and maintains 20% minimum ROI while prioritizing velocity over margins.

Perfect for intermediate to advanced Amazon FBA sellers ready to scale their online arbitrage business systematically.

CONNECT WITH RYAN:

X: @ArbitrageLife | Instagram: @RyanKimuraFBA

--------------------

RESOURCES FOR YOU:

🧰 https://www.ClearTheShelf.com (The Blog)

🧰 Keepa Academy - https://www.oachallenge.com/keepa-academy

🧰 OA Challenge - https://www.OAChallenge.com

🧰 Repricer Challenge (Free) - https://cleartheshelf.com/repricer-challenge

🧰 RabbitTrailChallenge (Free) - https://cleartheshelf.com/rabbit-trail-challenge

🧰 revROI Chrome Extension (Free) - https://cleartheshelf.com/revroi-extension

🧰 Goal Tracking Spreadsheet (Free) - https://cleartheshelf.com/goal-tracking

SOFTWARE & SERVICES I USE & RECOMMEND:

✅ IP Alert (Code YT30 to Save $30) - https://entreresource.com/ip-alert-2/

✅ AURA Repricer (Code CTS to Save 20% Off Your First 3 Months) - https://goaura.com/cts

✅ OA Buddy (Code CLEARTHESHELF Saves $20): https://cleartheshelf.com/OA-Buddy

FOLLOW US:

🐦 Twitter (Chris Grant): https://twitter.com/cleartheshelf

🐦 Twitter (Chris Racic): https://twitter.com/ChrisRacic

--------------------

[00:00] Introduction: Meet Ryan Kimura

[02:37] From Restaurant Owner to Amazon FBA Seller

[06:44] The Transition: Retail Arbitrage to Online Arbitrage

[14:28] Lead Lists Strategy

[24:26] Building a Replenishment-Heavy Business

[42:48] Credit Card Rotation Strategy for Cash Flow

[49:08] Cash Flow Management

[56:39] Scaling Advice

Learn how Saul is able to find over $50,000 a month in profitable Amazon to Amazon Flips.

♻️ Learn More About Amazon to Amazon Flips Here - https://www.oachallenge.com/az-az-flips-challenge/

➕ Join OAC+ - The premier community for Amazon sellers looking to grow their business and become better business owners: https://www.oachallenge.com/plus🔥 Grab a 14-day FREE Trial to SellerAmp (Profit calculator, sales estimator, and sourcing tool): https://www.selleramp.com/oachallenge📦 Want to speed up listing, shipping, and analytics? Check out Boxem free for 14 days: https://www.oachallenge.com/boxem

Learn the exact strategies, tools, and mindset shifts needed to scale your Amazon FBA business through Amazon to Amazon arbitrage. Saul breaks down everything from sourcing methods to account safety, margin expectations, and advanced techniques like debundling.Whether you're doing online arbitrage, retail arbitrage, or looking to add a new income stream to your Amazon business, this episode reveals actionable strategies you can implement immediately.--------------------RESOURCES FOR YOU: 🧰 https://www.ClearTheShelf.com (The Blog) 🧰 Keepa Academy - https://www.oachallenge.com/keepa-academy 🧰 OA Challenge - https://www.OAChallenge.com 🧰 Repricer Challenge (Free) - https://cleartheshelf.com/repricer-challenge 🧰 RabbitTrailChallenge (Free) - https://cleartheshelf.com/rabbit-trail-challenge 🧰 revROI Chrome Extension (Free) - https://cleartheshelf.com/revroi-extension 🧰 Goal Tracking Spreadsheet (Free) - https://cleartheshelf.com/goal-tracking SOFTWARE & SERVICES I USE & RECOMMEND: ✅ IP Alert (Code YT30 to Save $30) - https://entreresource.com/ip-alert-2/ ✅ AURA Repricer (Code CTS to Save 20% Off Your First 3 Months) - https://goaura.com/cts ✅ RevSeller (Code PRO20 to Save $20) - https://www.revseller.com/32851/258.html ✅ OA Buddy (Code CLEARTHESHELF Saves $20): https://cleartheshelf.com/OA-Buddy FOLLOW US: 🐦 Twitter (Chris Grant): https://twitter.com/cleartheshelf 🐦 Twitter (Chris Racic): https://twitter.com/ChrisRacic--------------------[00:00] Introduction to Amazon to Amazon Flips [05:26] 500K+ Monthly Flip Opportunities Revealed [14:36] Profit Margins and Scaling Strategies [25:46] The Anatomy of Perfect Amazon Flips [38:30] Why OA sellers struggle with A2A[46:17] Debundling: Turn $10 Into $70+ Profit [1:06:55] Account Safety and Risk Management [1:22:41] 3:1 Risk Ratio System Explained

The Ultimate Guide to Brand Direct Wholesale on Amazon with Caj Robinson

🔥 Grab a 14-day FREE Trial to SellerAmp (Profit calculator, sales estimator, and sourcing tool): https://www.selleramp.com/oachallenge

📦 Want to speed up listing, shipping, and analytics? Check out Boxem free for 14 days: https://www.oachallenge.com/boxem

➕ Join OAC+. The premier community for Amazon sellers looking to grow their business and become better business owners: https://www.oachallenge.com/plus

Learn the secrets to mastering brand direct wholesale, securing exclusive partnerships, and optimizing your Amazon listings from Caj Robinson.

Whether you're an online arbitrage expert or just starting in retail arbitrage, this episode is packed with actionable insights to add another dimension to your Amazon business.

Learn how to pitch brands, manage relationships, and enjoy long-term success on Amazon.

Find Caj on Twitter here: https://x.com/CajuaRobinson

----------

RESOURCES FOR YOU:

🧰 https://www.ClearTheShelf.com (The Blog)

🧰 Keepa Academy - https://www.oachallenge.com/keepa-academy

🧰 OA Challenge - https://www.OAChallenge.com

🧰 Repricer Challenge (Free) - https://cleartheshelf.com/repricer-challenge

🧰 RabbitTrailChallenge (Free) - https://cleartheshelf.com/rabbit-trail-challenge

🧰 revROI Chrome Extension (Free) - https://cleartheshelf.com/revroi-extension

🧰 Goal Tracking Spreadsheet (Free) - https://cleartheshelf.com/goal-tracking

SOFTWARE & SERVICES I USE & RECOMMEND:

✅ IP Alert (Code YT30 to Save $30) - https://entreresource.com/ip-alert-2/

✅ AURA Repricer (Code CTS to Save 20% Off Your First 3 Months) - https://goaura.com/cts

✅ OA Buddy (Code CLEARTHESHELF Saves $20): https://cleartheshelf.com/OA-Buddy

FOLLOW US:

🐦 Twitter (Chris Grant): https://twitter.com/cleartheshelf

🐦 Twitter (Chris Racic): https://twitter.com/ChrisRacic

----------

Chapters:

00:46 - Meet Caj Robinson

01:14 - Brand Direct Wholesale Explained

03:40 - Caj's journey from private label to brand direct wholesale

06:22 - Why Kaj prefers working with brands over online arbitrage

07:15 - Wholesale vs. Brand Direct

09:13 - Common myths about brand direct wholesale

10:36 - First Steps to Landing an Account

12:13 - Cold Calling Tips

14:41 - Building Trust with Brands

16:44 - Price Control Challenges

20:05 - The Exclusivity Solution

21:45 - Value Propositions for Brands

25:18 - Timing for Brand Direct Conversations

27:21 - Executing After Landing a Brand

29:14 - Helping Brands with Brand Registry

31:30 - Outreach Strategies

34:07 - Overcoming Rejection

37:04 - Discussing Margins

39:00 - PPC Strategies

42:33 - Assessing Brands

47:33 - Learning from Mistakes

52:57 - Future of Brand Direct

56:19 - Lightning Round