You're ready to make your first order with your supplier and get your first sale on Amazon.

But before you launch, there's groundwork you have to set up.

And if you skip these steps, you'll find yourself facing costly setbacks or an overwhelming

amount of trial and error on the road ahead.

Let's talk about how you can nail down that first sale with strategies that work five years

later after I recorded this original

episode. I'll share my updated process for choosing suppliers, ordering samples, getting feedback,

and validating your product. We're going into practical step-by-step instructions you can use

to start strong. But before we even talk samples, there's something essential you should consider.

Building a team or finding a partner. Back in episode four in early 2020, I talked about working

with my wife and friends on Remi and Rue, our pet brand. Having a team reduces stress,

splits costs, and adds more ideas to the mix. In my case, working with partners allowed us to grow faster

while managing the ups and downs of running a business. For example, during times when I couldn't

fully commit, like after the birth of our first child, our partners could step in and keep things

running smoothly. So think about who you might trust to join forces with you. This could be a friend,

family member, or even a trusted colleague, someone who can share the startup costs and contribute their skills, all while sharing in the risks and rewards.

It doesn't mean giving up control.

It just means multiplying your resources.

Now let's talk about choosing manufacturers or suppliers. In 2020, I suggested

you look for three solid manufacturers to get a good balance of price and quality. This strategy

is still important but with a few small nuances. First, go to olibaba.com and search for your product.

Find manufacturers that meet your standards.

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