The Upside Podcast
eCommerce Growth Insights - Check out The Upside podcast, where we explore eCommerce strategies, Amazon optimisation, and growth tactics with industry leaders. Watch the trailer on YouTube and dive into episodes packed with actionable insights for any stage of your online business.
Amazon Won't Cheapen Your Brand. Hiding From It Will | Upside #103
Amazon Clinic returns for episode three, answering real seller questions on premium branding, testing quietly under a different storefront, where Amazon's cut actually comes from, staffing the account, exit planning, and diagnosing a failed FBA attempt.
Amazon Drone Delivery in the UK? | Upside News
This week: Amazon's Prime Air drones go live in the UK, CPI climbs to 2.9% ahead of a squeezed Q4, and AWD finally launches in the UK and EU, with a look at whether it's worth the fee structure and lock in.
30 Minutes of AI Knowledge Your Competitors Don't Have | Upside #102
A practical framework for setting up AI so you're not starting from scratch every time you switch platforms. This episode covers the four things every business needs: agents, context files, connectors and skills, and how to build them without the jargon.
£100K Amazon Scam? (Costly Launch Mistakes to Avoid) | Upside #101
Round two of the real questions and mistakes we see from brands starting on Amazon, from a £100k agency quote that made no sense to the two spreadsheets that actually tell you your margin.
Shein Is Collapsing, Whatnot Just Hit $20 Billion | Upside News
Whatnot passes 1 billion orders and hits a $20B valuation. Shein's IPO value keeps sliding. What both mean for Amazon sellers, and why UK sellers are caught in a de minimis gap of their own.
Ask your CEO ANYTHING | Upside #100
We handed our own team the mic at our Cambridge retreat and let them ask us anything, no script. Real answers on failure, cash flow, and giving up control after five years of building This Way Up.
AI Shopping Agents vs Amazon's $80 Billion Ad Machine | Upside News
A court ruling just revealed what Amazon's most afraid of, and TikTok Shop made FBA fulfilment for TikTok orders official. Here's what both mean for sellers this week.
TikTok Shop vs Amazon: Where Should Your Brand Focus in 2026? | Upside #99
TikTok Shop hit $64B in GMV last year, so is it time to ditch Amazon? We break down what each platform is actually good for, and why the real question isn't which one to pick.
9 Lessons Every Founder Needs to Hear | Upside #98
James Sudcliffe, founder of The Founding Network, joins the pod to talk about why founders become the bottleneck in their own business, why most shouldn't raise money, and how the right conversation can save you six months of mistakes. Watch the full episode.
New US Tariffs Are Here: Will Your Business Survive? | Upside #97
New US tariffs, a postal duty shake-up, and Amazon's new AI labelling rules all landed this week, and costs are heading up again. Leon and Al break down what it means for sellers, from pricier US shipping to the Red Sea escalation pushing oil past $100 a barrel. Watch the full episode for the details.
We Ranked The Best and Worst World Cup Marketing | Upside #96
From Levi's turning a FIFA logo ban into a viral moment to Budweiser losing $112 million in Qatar, this episode of The Good, Bad, The Ugly breaks down the smartest and most costly marketing moves of the World Cup.
We Audited 30+ 6-Figure DTC Accounts: Here's What's Broken and How to Fix It | Upside #95
New co-host, same sharp e-commerce talk. Al and Leon cover a surprisingly strong June, the EU's new per-parcel customs fee hitting Temu, Shein and small sellers, and what Amazon's deal with Anthropic could mean for seller payouts. Then: real TACoS numbers to budget for, and the recurring mistakes still costing Amazon sellers money. Watch the full episode on YouTube.
Most Agencies Don't Want you to know this... | Upside #94
This episode looks at why so many founders have bad agency experiences and what is usually going wrong underneath. Ali and Zamir talk through broken incentives, generic processes, red flags to watch for, and the questions worth asking before you bring in outside help.
The Amazon cash trap with Sameed Naviwala| Upside #93
In this episode, Ali and Zamir sit down with Samir to talk about what it really takes to keep building on Amazon when fees rise, cash gets tighter, and the market keeps shifting. They get into cash flow, profit vs growth, staying lean, holding rank, and why resilience matters just as much as product quality.
Why Smart Brands Look Beyond the Dashboard | Upside #92
Amazon is not exactly lying to you, but the data is rarely telling the full story. In this episode, Ali and Zamir unpack why great decisions do not come from dashboards alone, and how weather, competitors, timing, and market context can completely change what the numbers seem to say.
How to Stop Sounding Painfully Corporate (With Rob D. Willis) | Upside #91
If your message sounds clear in your head but still is not landing, this episode is worth your time. Rob D. Willis breaks down why most founders get storytelling wrong, how to create real tension in your message, and what it takes to connect with an audience online.
Amazon destroying your D2C? | Upside #90
This episode looks at the real difference between selling on Amazon and selling through your own website. Ali and Zamir unpack customer ownership, confidence, marketplaces, and why your brand is still your most valuable asset.
How Bayer Builds Trust in an AI World | Upside #89
In a world full of noise, ads, and AI-generated content, trust matters more than ever. This episode explores how Bayer approaches credibility, storytelling, and human-first content, with practical lessons any brand can take into digital marketing.
Shivali Patel Reveals What Data Most Amazon Sellers Ignore
Shivali joins the podcast to share practical advice for Amazon sellers on what data to watch, which tools actually matter, and how to approach product research, optimisation, and Prime Day with a clearer strategy.
Amazon’s Next Big Problem
Amazon is moving on from Rufus, but the bigger issue is what comes next. In this episode, Ali and Zamir look at Amazon’s AI direction, why sellers should ignore the hype, and the growing cash flow risk brands may need to plan for now.

