Top 5 this week

1. FTC reverses course, says it has resources to pursue Amazon deceptive practices case

“The FTC’s push against Amazon started strong under Lina Khan but slowed over time. With a new chair, the Prime membership case is moving forward, and other suits, like the antitrust and anti-competitive pricing cases, could follow. Sellers should be ready for potential changes in pricing, competition, and potentially even fees as the FTC ramps up enforcement.” ~Chelsea Cohen

2. Amazon Seller Updates: Rising Ad Placements, TV Tools, and Robotics Investment

“Paid placements are bubbling to the top and staying there, with 54% of the first 25 products shown in Amazon search now being paid results. That means organic rank is becoming even less important and smarter placements and budgeting for rising CPC are going to be a huge difference-maker if you want to get seen by new customers.” ~Shannon Curley

3. Amazon’s Patent Reveals How Alexa+ Will Transform Product Discovery

“Amazon’s new Alexa-driven product discovery patent could redefine search. If voice shopping becomes more intuitive, sellers may need to rethink SEO, ranking won’t just be about keywords but about how well products fit user intent. The big question: Will Amazon give brands visibility control, or will AI dictate results? Either way, adaptation is key” ~Vanessa Hung

4. Amazon Search Trends: Unveiling Market Opportunities for Sellers

“If you’ve heard the saying that ‘plants are the new pets and pets are the new kids,’ then it should come as no surprise that the pet supplies category absolutely skyrocketed in 2024 – as in, 38,466% growth, skyrocketed. Meal kits and outdoor patio supplies also saw a major boost, so I guess it’s fair to say we’re all staying at home with our pets instead of paying to go out. It’s like COVID all over again!” ~Shannon Curley

5. How Walmart Connect is growing the ‘connective tissue’ of retail media“Walmart Connect’s new display ad API signals a major push to compete with Amazon Ads. By giving brands more control over ad spend and targeting, Walmart is making its retail media network more attractive. Sellers should watch how this impacts CPCs. More competition could mean higher costs, but also better conversion rates if Walmart improves audience quality.” ~Vanessa Hung

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