GB Media is more than just an Amazon agency; it’s a testament to George’s belief in providing high-quality services with transparent and fair pricing. Having witnessed firsthand the rapid evolution of Amazon advertising, particularly Sponsored Products, George built an agency focused on delivering tangible results without exorbitant fees.
Initially offering a full suite of services, GB Media evolved to focus on the critical areas of advertising management and design. Recognizing the power of offshore talent, George built a team in India, leveraging their deep experience in Amazon Ads (including one team member who managed these campaigns during George’s time at Amazon). This strategic approach allows GB Media to offer experienced professionals at a more accessible price point, passing those savings directly to their clients.
Beyond agency services, GB Media has also ventured into creating resources for sellers, most notably the Amazon Design Kit. This initiative reflects George’s passion for building and problem-solving, aiming to empower sellers with tools to enhance their listings and overall brand presence on Amazon.
Key Insights: From Amazon Insider to Agency Innovator
Our conversation with George was packed with valuable insights, drawing from his unique journey and his current work with GB Media and the Amazon Design Kit. Here are some key takeaways:
- Insider Perspective on Amazon’s Growth: George’s early roles at Amazon provided him with a front-row seat to the platform’s significant expansions, including FBA adoption, the launch of Seller Fulfilled Prime, the introduction of Amazon Business, and the initial rollout of Sponsored Products. This historical context informs his understanding of the current Amazon landscape.
- The Evolution of Amazon Advertising: He recounted his initial experience pitching Sponsored Products without fully understanding them, highlighting the rapid evolution and increasing sophistication of Amazon Ads – a field his agency now expertly navigates.
- Frustration with Traditional Sales Compensation: George shared his motivation for leaving Amazon, driven in part by a compensation structure that didn’t always align with high performance, a sentiment echoed by many ambitious individuals.
- The Entrepreneurial Leap: His transition from a traditional job to launching his own consulting business and eventually GB Media showcases the power of recognizing one’s expertise and the potential for independent success.
- The Value of Offshore Talent: George openly discussed his strategic decision to build his team in India, emphasizing the quality of talent and the ability to offer competitive pricing without compromising service quality. He highlighted the importance of experience, noting that his team brings years of Amazon Ads expertise.
- A Philosophy of Fair Pricing: Both George and Danan strongly agreed on the importance of fair pricing in the e-commerce service industry. George emphasized his commitment to providing excellent service and ensuring his team is well-compensated while offering clients reasonable fees.
- The “Pinterest of Amazon Design”: This analogy, coined by Danan, perfectly encapsulates the Amazon Design Kit’s core function: a vast, searchable library of design inspiration from across Amazon listings.
- The Power of a Design System for Amazon: George introduced the concept of a design system – a framework of consistent design decisions – and its potential to revolutionize how Amazon sellers create and manage their visual content. This approach, common in web design, is surprisingly underutilized on Amazon.
- Efficiency and Consistency in Design: Implementing a design system using tools like Figma allows brands to maintain brand consistency across numerous listings and product variations, significantly reducing design time and effort, especially when making updates or running tests.
- Offer Trumps Design (on Amazon): While design is important, George shared compelling anecdotes illustrating that a strong offer and competitive pricing can often outweigh visually stunning but less compelling listings, particularly within the Amazon marketplace.
- The Amazon Design Kit in Action: George provided a glimpse into the functionality of the Amazon Design Kit, showcasing its ability to save design inspiration directly from Amazon, categorize it, add comments, and access a growing library of customizable templates for various listing elements.
- Empowering Brands with Design Systems: George discussed his vision of consulting with brands to build their own internal design systems, training their teams to be more efficient and self-sufficient in creating high-quality Amazon visual content.
The Services and Software Discussed
Throughout the episode, we touched upon several key services and software:
- GB Media: George’s agency offers expert management of Amazon advertising campaigns and professional design services for product listings, storefronts, and more.
- Amazon Design Kit (amzdesignkit.com): This innovative tool functions as a searchable library of Amazon design inspiration and provides customizable templates for A+ Content, infographics, video ads, and other visual elements. It also includes a Chrome extension for easy saving of designs while browsing Amazon.
- Figma: A collaborative web-based design tool that George utilizes to build and manage design systems and create the templates within the Amazon Design Kit. It offers both free and paid options.
Conclusion: Embracing Efficiency and Inspiration for Amazon Growth
George Reed’s journey from an Amazon insider to a successful agency founder and the creator of the Amazon Design Kit offers a compelling narrative for e-commerce sellers. His emphasis on fair pricing, leveraging experienced talent, and embracing innovative solutions like design systems provides valuable lessons for anyone looking to thrive on the Amazon marketplace. The Amazon Design Kit, in particular, presents a unique opportunity for brands and agencies to streamline their design processes, gain inspiration, and ultimately enhance their listings for greater conversion and growth.
How to Contact the Guest
If you’re interested in learning more about GB Media’s advertising and design services or want to explore the potential of the Amazon Design Kit, you can reach out to George directly via email at [email protected]. You can also explore the Amazon Design Kit and its features at amzdesignkit.com.