The Current State of Pricing and Tariffs on Amazon

In this edition of The Digital Deep Dive, I sat down with Scott Needham, Founder and CEO of SmartScout, to explore how global tariffs are impacting pricing strategies on Amazon. We dove into how brands are leveraging external data and new channels like TikTok Shop to navigate economic volatility.

Tariffs and Prices on Amazon With Scott Needham

Key Takeaways

• Tariffs are squeezing margins as prices aren't changing just yet - Only about 3% of Amazon products saw price increases, but changes are on the horizon as FIFO inventory gets to tariffed goods.

• During early tariff waves, brands turned to external market visibility to justify any changes - Scenario planning is the new ground hog day. :)

• Use external data for informed decision-making Relying solely on internal data can cause blind spots. Benchmarking your pricing against broader marketplace trends leads to smarter scenario planning

• TikTok Shop is a growing channel - With uncertainty, brands are looking for new/alternative platforms. Influencer-led storefronts and livestream commerce on TikTok are proving effective ways for brands to experiment amid pricing pressure.

A Snippet of the Conversation

My Moderator’s Perspective

Scott brought clarity to how brands should think through tariff-induced pricing changes. His emphasis on data intelligence and visibility is spot on. It was also fascinating to hear how creative brands are using TikTok Shop as a way to maintain momentum and reach new customers to diversify their Amazon business.

Want to Listen?

If you want to understand how tariffs are shaping ecommerce pricing and how leading brands are adapting, this episode is a good one!

Listen here: Tariffs and Prices on Amazon with Scott Needham

Things to Think About!

1. Benchmark your pricing using external market data

2. Track SKU-level price changes across your category

3. Prepare your pricing strategy with margin protection in mind

4. Test influencer or livestream campaigns on TikTok Shop

New Things Coming Up!

I talk with Darpan Saini from App0 on how D2C brands are using AI to drive personalization at scale!