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. 

Working with PEs, VCs, CEOs, and CFOs on building and scaling teams 🎯

Hire. Build. Scale. Soar. 

Christian | Wife | Mother | Ibanker Alum | Start-Up Alum | Connecter of People

With a background in investment banking, executive search, and as an operational leader at a successful Chicago start-up, I've always been drawn to one thing, people. People matter and the right people can make all the difference. Now, as a trusted partner in search, I work with scaling organizations to make critical hires. The candidates I work with are experienced leaders, team players, and builders. Finding the right match allows companies and individuals to grow faster together than they could apart. 

I've placed 500+ candidates from Senior to C-suite. 
I've worked with 100+ companies on securing top talent from a start-ups 4th hire to fortune 100.
We generally fill roles within 60 days (from kick-off to start date).

Are you part of the lattice?

Kelly Hansen

I’ve never disliked Zoom meetings more than I did last week.

My eyes were red and puffy from crying, but it’s Zoom, so they couldn’t tell.
Our sweet dog’s breathing was labored in the background, but it’s Zoom, so they couldn’t tell.
I showed up anyway. I did my job. Because I needed to keep a piece of my life moving when so much felt stalled, and they couldn’t tell.

That’s the strange thing about work these days. We can be present and quietly breaking at the same time. Grief and exhaustion stay muted while the meeting moves on.

On Thursday, we said goodbye to a dog who loved us unconditionally from the moment she met us nearly 11 years ago. The joy, the jumps, the kisses, they were worth the goodbye. And while we miss her so much more than words, we feel immense gratitude for having loved her, and being so deeply loved by her.

We never really know what someone is carrying into a conversation, especially on Zoom. Lead with patience. Assume good intent. And give grace. 

Be kind out there everyone, and if you are a pet owner, share an extra treat with yours today.

Loving you forever and always, Piper 🤍

Executive Search | Working Parent | Faith & Work

With nearly 5,000 new followers since January 2025, it's probably time for a quick reintroduction!

Investment Banking --> Executive Search --> Start-up Exec --> The Lattice Group 

I care deeply about my family, faith, and helping companies find the right finance talent quickly and thoughtfully so teams get stronger, not just bigger.

I write about faith&work, recruiting, private equity, and the realities of being a working parent. I don’t post many pictures, but here’s one for the new year.

At The Lattice Group , we focus on Finance, Accounting, and M&A hires for private equity and venture firms and their portfolio companies across the country.

I end most posts, with "Are you part of the lattice?" because whether we realize it or not, we're all connected and none of us build anything meaningful alone 💗

Earlier this week, I shared the news of our dog’s passing and the difficulty of grieving in a virtual world. And today I want to celebrate the other side, the beauty of human connection. 

In the wake of our loss, neighbors, friends from our kids’ school, friends from church, and friends I’ve known for 20+ years showed up. With flowers and food. With books, messages, artwork, and gentle check-ins. Our family felt seen. And we felt deeply loved.

In a world that often feels fast, and transactional, I was reminded that one of the most human things we can do is to acknowledge circumstances and offer comfort. I also reminded me that villages are built slowly through years of showing up for one another. And we have a might village here in Chicago (and on LinkedIn!) and for that, I am grateful 💗   

And they are all part of the lattice. Are you?

taplio

The Battle

Jon Derkits

Kelly Hansen

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taplio

The Battle

Jon Derkits

Kelly Hansen

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Jon Derkits's LinkedIn Performance

Performance ScoreKelly Hansen's LinkedIn Performance

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Performance ScoreJon Derkits's LinkedIn Performance