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.

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#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. 

Los Angeles Superior Court

Principal Human Resources Analyst

Senior Human Resources Analyst

Amazon

-Investigate highly sensitive ER issues such as discrimination and sexual harassment claims.
-Influence site HR and operations leaders through strong communication around recommended outcomes. 
-Support facilities across the U.S. with ER investigations and created relationships with cross functional teams while working virtually.

HR Investigator

-Planned and attended Career Fairs, Information sessions, and Lunch and learns to source qualified candidates.
-Consistently sourced and sent InMail’s to over 1,000 candidates on LinkedIn Recruiter. 
-Consistently recruited potential candidates to fulfill open roles at an 80% success rate.

Interim University Recruiter

- Partnered with client groups to efficiently plan labor assumptions to project site attendance and attrition. 
- Tracked manager performance through talent review and implemented development strategies for employees.
- Supervised team of Senior HR Assistants and oversaw daily HR standard work and all special projects. 
- Supported employees with daily HR needs such as attendance, benefits, leave and accommodation, and compensation. 
- Re-engineered the Self-Service process by introducing the HR hub with A to Z kiosk improving Self-Service utilization by 4% in 2 months across the IXD West network.  
- Oversaw recruitment efforts  for the Senior HR Assistant and Process Assistant roles.
- Conducted ER investigations for site including but not limited to workplace violence, reasonable suspicion, and Suicidal Ideations. 
- Implemented an attrition survey along with a recognition plan that helped improve Part Time attrition by 47%.

Human Resources Business Partner

- Organized and executed Associate engagement events improving site employee engagement by 30%.
- Launched the Engagement Fun Committee using new social distancing guidelines. 
- Supported employees daily with time and attendance, investigations, and accommodations. 
- Converted over 900 seasonal employees to permanent employees in 6 months. 
- Managed and presented HR metrics on daily deep dives.
- Conducted COVID 19 contact tracing and tracked and reported on all of the sites COVID cases.

Senior Human Resource Assistant

- Area Manager for Outbound AFE1 Pack responsible for directing 80+ associates in the safe and efficient completion of their work, packing and processing inventory.
- Track metrics to identify areas of opportunity and implemented countermeasures to drive process improvements in productivity, quality, and safety.
- Developed two Process Guides and two Process Assistants to effectively run department in my absence.
- Developed a strong work culture, through daily coaching, performance feedback, and motivation among 80+ associates.
- Identified areas of opportunity within the water-spidering process in the department and took corrective action, to improve overall safety, quality, and productivity of the department.
- Mentored and developed multiple tier 1 associates resulting in improved shift productivity and several individual promotions.
- Onboarded and developed 1 external hire Area Manager.

Area Manager

- Adjust insurance claims
- Provide legendary customer service to insurance members
- Interpret policy and identify coverage
- Analyze claims and negotiate settlement
- Vice President of the Employee Engagement committee
- Provide legendary customer service to insurance members
- Analyze claims and negotiate settlement
- Vice President of the Employee Engagement committee

Claims Service Representative

JPMorgan Chase & Co.

- Demonstrable experience in training new employees and maintaining branch productivity
- As an ATM sole custodian I process the deposit settlements, maintain optimal cash levels for withdrawal.
- Processed quarterly Vault and ATM audits with a zero error rate.
- Executed customer transactions, including deposits, withdrawals, money orders and checks.
- Closely supports management in maintaining operational control. 
- Works with Banker Support in order to ensure effective account maintenance. 
- Coordinated daily cash reconciliation at a high-volume location.
- Experience and knowledge of Customer Service processes and best practice
- Experience of working in a high-pressure environment and working to meet tight deadlines
- Assists manager in up-keep of the weekly schedule

Bank Teller

I currently have experience working in Human Resources, Operations, and in the Insurance and banking industries. The professional experience that I have gathered, thus far, has allowed me to demonstrate strong leadership, critical thinking skills, personal integrity and high ethical standards.  I believe that hard work, determination, dedication and good decisions are the attributes required to be successful at any endeavor.  If given the opportunity, I intend to bring these qualities to work with me every day in order to be an asset to the growth of the company. 

I have received  my  Bachelors degree in Psychology, and I also have an AA in Psychology from West Los Angeles College. I am eager to apply my academic achievements to my career aspirations to establish a solid professional foundation for my future.

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