Jon Derkits

BEST@AMAZON NEWSLETTER --> https://bestatamazon.ck.page/

QUICK CHAT --> https://tidycal.com/jonderkits/quick-chat
AMAZON COACHING & ADVISORY --> https://tidycal.com/jonderkits/amazon-coaching-and-advisory

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Hi, I'm Jon and I'm a builder. 

Over the course of my 15-year career in management consulting and technology companies, I've built teams, I've built processes, I've built products, and I've built businesses (the 10-figure kind). I'm at my best when I'm in a role with scope and significance, and my superpower is consistency.

Some things I'm GOOD at include dealing with ambiguity and making good decisions in fast-paced, uncertain environments. Some things I'm *GREAT* at include obsessing over customers and developing my people.

Follow me here on LinkedIn if you want to hear my thoughts on Amazon, building great teams, or the current state of Chicago sports.

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CLIFTON STRENGTHS
Harmony, Achiever, Learner, Positivity, Ideation

DOMAIN KNOWLEDGE
eCommerce, Marketplaces/Platforms, Valuation 

FUNCTIONAL SKILLS
Business Performance Measurement, Category Management, Data Analytics, Digital Marketing, Financial Statement Analysis, Lean Six Sigma, P&L Ownership, Strategic Planning, Team Leadership, Written Communication

TECHNICAL SKILLS
Amazon Seller Central, Bloomberg, Capital IQ, Microsoft Office, SQL, Tableau

Chief Commercial Officer (CCO)

How I'd fix LinkedIn

1) Add a Copilot button
2) When posts include multiple images, make them swipable carousels (like Instagram); not whatever this garbage UX is called
3) Make it easier to search your own activity history (posts, comments, etc)
4) Reduce AI slop by 50% in 2026, and then by another 50% in 2027. Suppress reach of AI posts and comments.
5) Reduce reach of "comment X for Y" engagement bait posts
6) Implement a Creator Revenue Sharing program, similar to X
7) Create different feed views. One for 1st connections only; one for 1st through 3rd connections (or whatever the feed algo is now); and one for "interests" as defined by the user.
8) Turn LinkedIn into a platform where experts can monetize their expertise more directly -- i.e., build an "intro.co" platform within LinkedIn
9) Fix InMail. At minimum, give me more filing/organizing options than "Focused" and "Other".
10) Get rid of the dumb games feature. If LinkedIn is really meant to be a space for professionals, don't muddy the brand by maintaining this little corner of the platform that is all about juicing user engagement metrics.

Buying & Building eCommerce Agencies | Ex-Amazon

Me, walking away from an otherwise smart LinkedIn post polluted with AI replies

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TWO (RELATED) PREDICTIONS for 2026 👇 

1) AI content will become indistinguishable from human-made content

2) Because of #1, consumers will crave truly authentic human outputs (the pendulum probably won't swing this direction until 2027 or later)

Tell me in the comments why I'm wrong about this 🫠

Lest you feel like you can relax now that Q4 is over, I'll remind you that consumers are sitting on BILLIONS in gift cards from various retailers, just itching to spend them. 

Amazon ALONE reports >$5 billion in unused gift card liabilities on its balance sheet each year.

Amazon hasn't yet filed its FYE Dec 31, 2025 annual report yet, but here's the gift card balances sitting on its balance sheet for the past 3 years:

Dec 31, 2024: $5.6 billion
Dec 31, 2023: $5.3 billion
Dec 31, 2022: $5.4 billion

To put this in perspective, if Amazon were a bank, this amount of "deposits" would put it in the Top 10% of largest banks in the country.

#amazon
#amazonfba
#amazonsellers

This is Amazon's 4th attempt at Making Retail Great Again.

Over the past decade, Amazon has tried (and mostly failed) with:

-Amazon Books (bookstores, duh)
-Amazon 4-Star (gift-focused outlet)
-Amazon Go (automated grab-and-go stores)
-Amazon Fresh (mainstream grocery)

I'll go on the record here:

👉  I don't think Amazon will succeed with the big box format.

I think the only shot that Amazon has at winning in physical retail is to copy the Costco warehouse club format, and create an exclusive bulk buying experience for its Prime members.

***
#amazon
#ecommerce
#retail

The big news from CES 2026 that *no one* is talking about...

👉  Amazon is pivoting from a "hardware-first" strategy to an "AI-services-first" model

And the cornerstone of this pivot is the launch of Alexa.com, which brings the generative AI-powered Alexa+ directly to people's browsers.

Here's why this matters:

1) For the first time, users do not need an Echo speaker to enter the Alexa ecosystem. 

By launching a web-based chat interface at Alexa.com, Amazon is moving into direct, side-by-side competition with ChatGPT and Google Gemini.

2) Amazon's differentiator isn't just "smarter" conversation; it's the ability to execute workflows (particularly shopping-related workflows). 

Alexa+ is being positioned as a "personal chief of staff".

3) This will further fuel the Amazon Prime flywheel.

Alexa+ will cost $19.99/month as a standalone subscription. BUT: It is included for free with an Amazon Prime membership.

At roughly $240/year for the standalone AI vs. the $139/year Prime membership, Prime becomes an even more obvious value proposition for heavy AI users.

#ces2026
#amazon
#amazonalexa

Amazon's big announcement at CES is that it is pivoting from a "hardware-first" strategy to an "AI-services-first" model. 

Zelevate 

As Portfolio Manager at Zelevate, I manage a diverse range of Amazon brands, from startups to 7-figure sellers. I combine data-driven insights and end-to-end Amazon strategy to drive growth and profitability for each brand.


Key Responsibilities:

1/ Seller & Vendor Central Management >> Lead strategies for catalog optimization, PPC performance, and content, enhancing brand visibility and conversions across Seller Central and Vendor Central accounts.

2/ Vendor Central Expertise >> Manage purchase orders, negotiate cost structures, and design promotional strategies to scale vendor growth and improve margins.

3/ Full-Funnel Optimization >> Implement top-to-bottom Amazon strategies, driving awareness and conversions with a cohesive approach across the entire customer journey.

4/ Performance Optimization >> Use advanced data analysis and machine learning to continuously refine PPC strategies, reducing ACoS and maximizing ROI.

5/ Client Collaboration >> Lead weekly calls with clients to review performance, share insights, and discuss future strategies and POAs for ongoing growth.

Portfolio Manager

At Zelevate, I manage a diverse portfolio of Amazon brands, from new launches to established seven-figure sellers. I lead A to Z brand management, optimizing everything from catalog and PPC to content, driving growth and profitability.

Key Responsibilities:

1/ Amazon Seller & Vendor Central >> Oversee and optimize product listings, PPC campaigns, and content across multiple categories, ensuring brands perform at their best.

2/ Vendor Central Expertise >> Manage vendor relationships, handling POs, cost negotiations, and promotional strategies to drive scale and profitability.

3/ Data-Driven Optimization >> Apply proven strategies to improve sales, reduce ACOS, and increase ROI by refining catalog structure and content.

Amazon Brand Manager

Upwork

Amazon PPC & FBA Expert

Sevenstar Marketing

As an Amazon PPC Team Leader, I'm leading the team of 4 PPC Managers overviewing all the PPC and SEO operations, contributing to the growth and success of the multi-seven-figure brand that has a presence in overall EU markets.

🔷 Scaled a Brand from Annual 6-figures to 7-figures revenue, 200% GROWTH!
🔷 Drove 100% YOY (Year Over Year) growth in 2023 compared to 2022
🔷 Crafting Advanced PPC Strategies for Scaling products
🔷 Scaled a Brand from 5-Figures MRR to 6-Figures MRR in Just 30 Days!
🔷 Drove 100% YOY (Year Over Year) growth in 2024 compared to 2023
🔷 Revamped the Brand's identity be redesigning Product's images, EBC, Brand Story and Storefront.
🔷 Overviewing and Leading PPC for Multi-Seven figure Brand selling across all European and Canada markets.

PPC Team Lead

As an Amazon PPC Manager, I've had the privilege of working in dynamic and competitive e-commerce environments, contributing to the growth and success of several brands.

🔷Creating Advanced PPC Strategies
🔷Creating New Campaigns for Increased Visibility
🔷Handling Day-to-Day PPC Operations
🔷Optimizing Campaigns for Improved Performance
🔷Managing PPC for Multi 7 Brand across various European marketplaces like Germany, Spain and UK
🔷PPC Bulk Optimization Using Bulk Sheets

Throughout my time as an Amazon PPC Manager, I never stopped striving for greatness. I engaged myself in the complex world of Amazon PPC, developing cutting-edge tactics and overseeing campaigns for clients of all sizes.

Amazon PPC Manager

Vines Commerce

As an Amazon PPC Manager, I've had the privilege of working in dynamic and competitive e-commerce environments, contributing to the growth and success of several brands.

🔷Handling Day-to-Day PPC Operations
🔷Creating Advanced PPC Strategies
🔷Creating New Campaigns for Increased Visibility
🔷Optimizing Campaigns for Improved Performance
🔷Managing PPC for 6, 7, and 8-Figure Brands
🔷PPC Bulk Optimization Using Bulk Sheets

My tenure as an Amazon PPC Manager was marked by a relentless pursuit of excellence. From crafting innovative strategies to managing campaigns for brands of all sizes, I immersed myself in the intricate world of Amazon PPC.

Amazon PPC Specialist

Kiddimoto

🔶 Managed 6-figure Kid Sports Brand's PPC in Europe and US
🔶Created PPC Strategies for products to scale 
🔶Managed day-to-day PPC operations
🔶Created and optimized campaigns for better results
🔶Managed Stock Inventory 
🔶Created and optimized Listings to improve SEO
🔶Conducted deep competitor analysis

Drove 100%+ YOY Growth for Multi 7 figure Brand for 2 years in a row 📈 | Scaling Amazon Brands to the Moon 🚀 | 💰$8M+ Generated Across 20+ Brands on Amazon | Wanna Scale YOUR BRAND❓ >> DM Now!!

𝑳𝒆𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒍 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒏 𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒕 . . .👀

𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝟕𝟓% 𝐎𝐟 𝐂𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐍𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟐𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐦𝐚𝐳𝐨𝐧 ⚠️

Shocking Right? 😱

Are you 𝙎𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙜𝙜𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙎𝙖𝙡𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙣 𝘼𝙢𝙖𝙯𝙤𝙣?

Let's Fix That! 🔥

Here is how ....👇
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Look no further! I'm your trusted Amazon PPC Expert, and I'm here to help you conquer the marketplace.


𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐞?

𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞'𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭 𝐒𝐚𝐮𝐜𝐞 🌟

1️⃣ 𝗞𝗲𝘆𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱 & 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗚𝘂𝗿𝘂
Think of me as your Amazon Sherlock Holmes. I dig deep to uncover high-converting keywords and market trends that your competitors might overlook.

2️⃣ 𝗦𝗘𝗢 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘀
I optimize your Amazon listings with precision. From titles to bullet points, I ensure your product shines in search results, attracting organic and paid traffic alike.

3️⃣ 𝗣𝗣𝗖 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗪𝗵𝗶𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗿
I'm not just about creating PPC campaigns; I'm about crafting strategies that win. I audit your existing campaigns, identify hidden opportunities, and revamp them for maximum ROI. My obsession? Your profitability.

4️⃣ 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝗚𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘀𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸
I don't do guesswork. I deploy advanced PPC strategies tailored to your unique business needs. Expect smarter bidding, A/B testing, and data-driven decisions that take your brand to new heights.

5️⃣ 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘀𝘁
My mission is simple—boost your sales. I optimize your ad spend, improve click-through rates, and optimize conversions. Brace yourself for consistent, exponential growth.

6️⃣ 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮-𝗗𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘀
I eat data for breakfast. My analytics skills turn numbers into insights, and insights into action. You'll always know where every advertising dollar is going and why.


🔒 𝟭𝟬𝟬% 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗳𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗚𝘂𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗲
Your satisfaction is non-negotiable. I'm not happy unless you are. It's that simple.

🤝 𝗟𝗲𝘁'𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁
Your success is my obsession. Let's chat about your goals, challenges, and how I can be your secret weapon for Amazon domination.

Let's make your brand the next Amazon success story!


📩 Don't hesitate to get in touch because Your competitors won't wait, so why should you?

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Jon Derkits

Abdullah R. ⚕️

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