Amazon private label product research - a checklist before you spend anything

The product decides most of the outcome

With private label on Amazon, good listings and good ads can make a decent product succeed. They rarely rescue a bad choice. The product you pick sets your margins, your competition and how hard every later step will be.

So the most valuable work happens before you contact a supplier. Here is the checklist we run every idea through.

1. Is there steady demand?

Look for products people search for all year, not just for one season. Check how many sellers on the first page are getting consistent sales, not only the top one or two. If one listing takes nearly all the sales, the market is harder than it looks.

2. Can a new seller actually compete?

Look at the review counts on page one. If every listing has thousands of reviews, a new brand will struggle to be seen. You want a market where some listings on the first page have modest review counts and still sell.

You are not looking for the biggest market. You are looking for one where a new, better listing can get a fair share.

3. Does the maths work after every fee?

This is where most ideas fail. Work out:

• The product cost from the supplier
• Shipping to the Amazon warehouse
• Amazon's referral fee and fulfilment fee
• Storage costs
• A realistic advertising cost per sale, especially at launch
• Returns and damaged units

What is left is your real margin. If it is thin before advertising, it will disappear once you start paying for ads.

4. Can you make it better?

Read the one, two and three-star reviews of the top sellers. They tell you exactly what customers wish was different: it breaks, it is too small, the instructions are confusing, the packaging arrives damaged. If you can fix a common complaint, you have a reason for customers to choose you.

5. Is it simple to make and ship?

Early on, avoid products that are fragile, oversized, heavy, electronic, or that need special certifications. Each one adds cost, risk and paperwork. Small, light, durable products are easier to start with.

6. Are there restrictions or legal risks?

Some categories need approval before you can sell. Some products need safety testing or certification. And some designs are protected by patents or trademarks. Check before you order, not after.

7. Can it become a brand?

The best private label products lead to a second and third product for the same customer. A yoga mat leads to blocks, straps and bags. A single, unrelated product is harder to grow into a business.

Then, and only then, talk to suppliers

Once a product passes the checklist, request samples from several suppliers, compare quality honestly, and order a small first batch. Use the launch to learn before you scale.

How we help

Our Amazon work starts with exactly this research, then moves to branding, listings, A+ content and the launch campaign. See our Amazon store service or the Amazon packages on our pricing page.