In this episode of The eCom Growth Show, Danan Coleman speaks with Ephraim Ausch, Chief Logistics Officer at Tactical Logistic Solutions, about one of the most overlooked drivers of profitability in eCom or eCommerce: logistics.

While many sellers focus on PPC, listings, and branding, Ephraim explains why fulfillment, inventory planning, and supply chain decisions often determine whether brands thrive, or lose money, during Prime events and Q4. Drawing from his experience as both a former Amazon seller and logistics expert, he shares practical strategies to help brands reduce fulfillment costs, avoid stockouts, and stay ahead of Amazon’s ever-changing logistics landscape.

Meet Ephraim: From Amazon Seller to Logistics Expert

Before leading Tactical Logistic Solutions, Ephraim Ausch spent nearly seven years building his own Amazon business selling seasonal gift baskets. After learning firsthand how poor logistics planning could derail an otherwise successful business, he transitioned into supply chain management.

Today, as Chief Logistics Officer at Tactical Logistic Solutions, Ephraim helps 7- and 8-figure brands optimize freight forwarding, customs clearance, Amazon FBA prep, SplitSmart™ distribution, and omnichannel fulfillment. His mission is simple: help sellers avoid the costly mistakes he experienced himself.

The Supply Chain Hasn’t Truly Recovered Since COVID

While many parts of Amazon selling have evolved, logistics continues to face constant uncertainty.

According to Ephraim:

Ocean freight rates remain highly volatile.
Fuel prices, global conflicts, and tariffs continue impacting costs.
Amazon’s receiving network still experiences bottlenecks during major selling seasons.
Forecasting logistics costs has become significantly more difficult than before COVID.

Big Takeaway: Logistics is no longer a fixed expense, it's a moving target that requires constant monitoring.

The Most Expensive Mistakes Happen Behind the Scenes

Many new sellers calculate manufacturing costs and shipping, but forget about everything else.

Ephraim explains that brands often overlook:

Import duties
Customs fees
Storage costs
Placement fees
Receiving delays
Inventory transfer costs

Those “hidden” expenses can completely erase planned profit margins.

Pro Tip: Profit isn't just made with better marketing. It's protected through smarter logistics planning.

Educate Yourself Before the Market Changes

One of Ephraim’s biggest pieces of advice is surprisingly simple:

Stay educated.

Ocean freight rates, tariffs, Amazon policies, and warehouse operations change constantly.

Instead of reacting after costs increase, successful brands:

Monitor freight pricing regularly.
Watch industry updates.
Review logistics costs before placing every purchase order.
Recalculate landed costs throughout the year.

Insight: Knowledge gives sellers control. Without it, you're simply reacting to Amazon and the market.

When Amazon AWD Makes Sense, and When It Doesn’t

Amazon Warehousing & Distribution (AWD) can be an excellent solution for some sellers, but not everyone.

Ephraim explains that AWD works well when:

Products move quickly.
Inventory turns within two to three months.
Sellers don’t require inspections or customization.

However, AWD may become more expensive when:

Inventory sits for several months.
Products are bulky.
Brands require quality inspections.
Customized packaging or kitting is needed.
Removal orders become necessary.

Key Insight: Don't assume Amazon is always the cheapest option. Run the numbers for your specific business.

Received Inventory Isn’t the Same as Prime-Eligible Inventory

Many sellers celebrate when Amazon marks inventory as “received.”

But Ephraim explains that’s only the beginning.

Before inventory becomes Prime eligible, it often enters FC Transfer, where Amazon redistributes inventory between fulfillment centers.

During busy seasons, that transfer can take days—or even weeks.

This delay can impact:

Sales velocity
Stock availability
Buy Box performance
Customer delivery times

Takeaway: Inventory that isn't Prime eligible isn't truly ready to sell.

How SplitSmart™ Helps Sellers Reduce Costs

Tactical Logistic Solutions developed SplitSmart™ to help brands avoid Amazon placement fees while speeding up inventory distribution.

Instead of relying solely on Amazon’s network, SplitSmart™:

Delivers inventory directly to multiple Amazon fulfillment centers.
Uses fixed pallet pricing.
Reduces placement fees.
Speeds up inventory availability.
Helps improve geographic inventory distribution.

For many brands, that means faster replenishment and lower fulfillment costs.

Why Paying Placement Fees Can Actually Hurt Sales

Amazon allows sellers to ship inventory to a single receiving facility by paying placement fees.

While convenient, Ephraim explains there can be hidden tradeoffs.

When inventory enters only one location:

Distribution across fulfillment centers takes longer.
Certain regions may never receive inventory quickly.
Competitors closer to customers may receive ranking advantages.

After analyzing multiple brands, Tactical found an average 4% increase in sales among sellers who used a five-way inventory split instead of paying placement fees, with some brands seeing gains as high as 7%.

Big Idea: Sometimes spending slightly more on smarter distribution creates significantly more revenue.

Always Keep a Fulfillment Backup Plan

One of the biggest mistakes sellers make is putting 100% of their inventory into Amazon’s system.

Instead, Ephraim recommends maintaining buffer inventory through:

Your own warehouse
A trusted 3PL
Tactical Logistic Solutions
Any secondary storage option

This safety stock protects against:

Lost inventory
Delayed check-ins
FC transfer bottlenecks
Unexpected demand spikes

Smart Move: Hope for smooth operations, but always prepare for disruption.

How to Prepare for Prime Events and Q4

As Q4 approaches, Ephraim recommends planning earlier than most sellers expect.

His advice includes:

Place purchase orders early.
Aim for inventory arrival during September.
Have products in the U.S. by early October whenever possible.
Review Amazon’s previous year’s receiving deadlines.
Build in at least one extra week of buffer time.
Don’t wait until Amazon’s published cutoff dates.

Even if Amazon publishes October deadlines, logistics delays and FC transfers can still impact availability.

Bottom Line: The brands that win Q4 are the ones planning months—not weeks—ahead.

Current Focus at Tactical Logistic Solutions

As fulfillment continues evolving, Tactical Logistic Solutions is expanding its capabilities to help brands stay ahead.

Current initiatives include:

Scaling SplitSmart™ across California, Texas, and New Jersey hubs.
Helping sellers reduce placement fees and FC transfer delays.
Supporting fulfillment across Amazon, Walmart, TikTok Shop, Shopify, and direct-to-consumer channels.
Building faster, more flexible replenishment systems for high-volume brands.
Expanding omnichannel fulfillment capabilities as more businesses diversify beyond Amazon.

Connect with Ephraim Ausch

Final Thoughts

Many sellers spend countless hours improving listings, optimizing ads, and refining creative assets, but logistics often determines whether those efforts translate into profit.

As Ephraim explains throughout this episode, fulfillment isn’t simply about moving products from one warehouse to another. It’s about controlling costs, protecting inventory, improving availability, and giving your business the flexibility to adapt when Amazon or global markets inevitably change.

The sellers who treat logistics as a competitive advantage, not just an operational necessity, will be far better positioned for Prime events, Q4, and long-term growth.

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

From Prime to Q4: The Fulfillment Strategies Smart Sellers Should Adopt Now