Episode Number:

55

December 15, 2025

In this episode of The eCom Growth Show, host Danan Coleman sits down with longtime friend and eCommerce operator Eric Young of Bullseye Sellers to unpack what it really takes to scale modern brands in 2025. From Amazon’s early Wild West days to TikTok’s explosive rise as a top-of-funnel powerhouse, Eric shares hard-earned lessons from nearly a decade in the game.

Meet Eric Young: From Computer Nerd to eCommerce Operator

Eric Young didn’t start in ecommerce — he started as a self-described computer nerd. After a decade in IT, networking, and web development, Eric transitioned into Amazon around 2016, where his analytical mindset and problem-solving skills quickly stood out. Over time, Eric:

  • Launched and scaled an Amazon brand to seven figures within 18 months
  • Expanded a catalog to 18 products through crowdfunding
  • Successfully exited the brand in 2020

Today, Eric is a key leader at Bullseye Sellers, where he’s helped manage and scale hundreds of ecommerce brands across Amazon and TikTok.

Amazon Then vs. Amazon Now

Eric pulls no punches when comparing Amazon’s early days to today’s landscape.

Back then:

  • Viral launches, incentivized reviews, and ranking tricks ruled
  • Competition was low and first-mover advantage was real
  • You could grow fast with minimal sophistication

Today:

  • Amazon is more competitive, regulated, and data-driven
  • Growth requires treating your brand like a real business
  • Amazon remains 70–95% of revenue for most brands — still the place to be
Key Insight: Amazon isn’t dead. It’s matured. And brands that fail to evolve get left behind.

Community Is the Real Competitive Advantage

One of the biggest shifts Eric highlights is the evolution of community.

  • Early Amazon sellers were secretive and siloed
  • Today’s growth happens through masterminds, events, and shared data
  • Smaller trusted groups often outperform massive public communities
Takeaway: The fastest way to spot trends and survive platform changes is through people, not platforms.

Why Amazon Is Now Bottom-of-Funnel

Post-COVID, Amazon’s explosive growth pulled years of demand forward, forcing brands to rethink acquisition. Eric explains:

  • Amazon is no longer where discovery starts
  • Brands now compete on conversion, not just visibility
  • True winners build demand before shoppers reach Amazon
Translation: If you’re only running Amazon ads, you’re already late.

TikTok: The New Gold Rush

Eric’s latest obsession? TikTok. After spotting early signals at industry events, Eric dove headfirst into TikTok strategy. Fast forward a year:

  • Over $1M/month in TikTok-driven revenue across managed accounts
  • Rapid growth reminiscent of early Amazon days
  • Massive halo effect that spills into Amazon sales

Why it works:

  • One video can generate millions of impressions
  • TikTok excels at top-of-funnel demand creation
  • Brands win by storytelling, not ROAS obsession
Big Shift: TikTok creates awareness. Amazon captures intent.

Omnichannel Is No Longer Optional

Eric and Danan agree — eCommerce today mirrors SEO from 15 years ago. To win, brands must:

  • Be present wherever customers search and scroll
  • Maintain consistent messaging across platforms
  • Sell on Amazon, TikTok, Shopify, Walmart, and emerging marketplaces
Pro Tip: If you want to know where to sell, ask your customers — or ask AI.

The Future of eCommerce: Faster, Global, and Everywhere

Looking ahead, Eric predicts

  • More marketplaces launching rapidly
  • Faster adoption driven by commercial AI
  • Easier global expansion for small brands

Today, a single operator with Wi-Fi can build a global brand — something unheard of just a decade ago. Eric’s Advice:

  • Be early
  • Be consistent
  • Have the courage to test before everyone else.

Giving Back Through Bullseye Sellers & eCom Marketing Lab

After exiting his brand, Eric joined Bullseye Sellers and helped grow it into a multi-team operation managing hundreds of brands. What drives him most:

  • Taking brands from $0 to $100k–$300k/month
  • Building systems that scale sustainably
  • Sharing knowledge with the next generation

That mission led to his podcast and YouTube channel, eCom Marketing Lab, where Eric interviews operators and service providers shaping the ecommerce ecosystem.

Connect With Eric Young

Final Thoughts

Modern eCommerce isn’t about finding one winning platform — it’s about orchestrating them all. Amazon converts. TikTok creates demand. Community surfaces trends. And execution turns chaos into scale.

Eric Young’s journey proves one thing: growth favors the operators willing to adapt, test early, and show up everywhere their customers are.

Stay tuned for more episodes of The eCom Growth Show, where strategy meets execution and modern sellers level up.