Learn How to Launch an Ecommerce Business from an Ecommerce Conference
While attending the Billion Dollar Sellers Summit (BDSS), one of the top Ecommerce Conferences in the world, I had a moment of clarity: ecommerce is brutally hard, and most entrepreneurs are wildly underprepared for it.
Even though we run Paw.com, a thriving ecommerce company, it became obvious how much of this industry is learned through experience. Margins are often thin. Competition is fierce. Logistics matters. Creativity and wearing multiple hats is required everywhere, from packaging to ads to product development.
This show reminded me that ecommerce is not a side hustle. It is a serious business. Where serious returns on investment can be made.
Here are 10 lessons I learned at this Ecommerce Conference that every founder should know before launching.
1. Pick a Name That Becomes a Moat
A great ecommerce brand name is memorable, defensible, and scalable.
Paw.com has become an asset, and that is one of the biggest lessons from this sellers event. You want to build real enterprise value and owning your own brand is one way to do that.
Your name is not just a label. It is a competitive advantage.
2. Stand Out
Most ecommerce brands look identical. Same packaging. Same ads. Same positioning.
The winners are the ones who visually and emotionally stand apart.
We heard the story of Zesty Paws which got acquired in 2021 for $610 million. They are in a very competitive space but their pictures and packaging stand out. Apparently, orange or yellow stands out on Amazon. You want be different and stand out.
3. Use Offshore Labor to Scale Ecommerce Growth
Every founder eventually learns this: growth requires leverage but with tight margins its almost impossible to launch a business without get access to low cost labor.
Offshore talent can help you expand operations without crushing overhead. Customer support, design, admin, analytics, logistics, design, advertising – it all adds up fast.
Use global labor strategically.
4. Master the Cash Flow Cycle
Cash flow is oxygen in ecommerce.
One major tip from the event I took away was to negotiate supplier terms aggressively. At Paw.com, we have structured deals where we do not pay until product arrives, inventory is stocked, and we have had 30+ days to sell.
Preselling before the product arrives can help as well, but only if you exceed expectations on delivery.
5. Distribution Wins
Distribution is everything.
At Paw.com we sell direct-to-consumer, Amazon, Wayfair, Chewy, Walmart, Target, QVC, and Good Morning America.
Multi-channel ecommerce is the future.
6. Invent Instead of Copying
Every Sellers Show makes one thing obvious: copying trends is a trap.
Where we won was invention:
First memory foam dog rug
First memory foam double dog car seat
First waterproof faux fur blanket
Originality creates categories. Categories create dominance.
7. Get Listed in Google, Amazon, and AI Search
Modern ecommerce is about discovery.
You need to be found on Google Search, Amazon Search, and AI-driven discovery tools.
One that still works surprisingly well: press releases.
8. Test First, Then Scale Hard
At Paw.com we live by this rule:
Test and Fail More
Cut Losers Fast
Scale Winners Big
9. Negotiate Everything in Ecommerce
Shipping. Storage. Manufacturing. Fulfillment.
Every Ecommerce Trade Show reminds you that ecommerce is a game of inches.
10. Win the Game on Amazon
Amazon is a game of King of the Hill. You want to be number one. Do whatever it takes to get the top 3 spots including discounts on launch, press releases, reddit conversations, and again make certain your pictures stand out.
Bonus: Have an AI Mindset
You might not be an expert in Amazon, Facebook, logistics, product design, legal, accounting, or paid ads. Most people aren’t.
But AI is.
A good LLM like ChatGPT (and yes, it’s worth paying for) can guide you step by step through all of it.
When we were launching my book Start. Scale. Exit. Repeat., we used AI to figure out how to get the biggest impact on Amazon, which awards to apply for, and which podcasts were worth targeting. Sure, the book is amazing, but with the help of AI we won more awards than any other book in history for entrepreneurship. (And BTW, we did use AI to help create a press release for that which updated all the LLM’s) Try searching for “Which book has won the most awards ever on entrepreneurship”
AI is a powerful tool, and it can help you do far more than you think.
The only real limit is your imagination.
Are ecommerce shows really worth the money? Yes, especially for sellers who want sourcing, tactics, partnerships, and real-world insights faster than YouTube can deliver.
What are the best ecommerce trade shows for Amazon sellers?
There are many Trade Shows and ecom conferences out there for sellers. Some are great for motivation, others for tactical execution. Here are 5 of them that stand out for me in 2026:
1. Prosper Show – Las Vegas, NV
Almost exclusively for ecommerce sellers. Deep focus on marketplace selling, Amazon strategies, advertising, logistics, and networking with other sellers. Great ROI if you want actionable tactics and contacts.
2. Ecommastery.ai / Billion Dollar Sellers Summit – Nashville, TN
Seller-centered summit with tactical sessions on scaling marketplace brands and capitalizing on the latest in AI commerce. Presenters are often top sellers themselves. Over 40 presenters, omni-channel focus (Amazon, TikTok Shop, Shopify, Walmart.com)
3. Seller Summit – Ft Lauderdale, FL
Capped at just 200 attendees, join experienced ecommerce entrepreneurs for two days of advanced strategies and intensive workshops. Sit across from 7- and 8-figure sellers who are scaling right now on Amazon, Shopify and across multiple channels.
4. Accelerate 2026 by Pattern – Salt Lake City, UT
Ecommerce is changing. Accelerate connects the dots. Most conferences recap trends. Accelerate is about what’s coming: AI-driven growth, agentic shopping, and the next era of consumer behavior.
5. ASGTG – Brooklyn, NY
The ASGTG convention brings together the elite members of the ASGTG Sellers community for an extraordinary one-day gathering of knowledge, networking, and inspiration.
My favorite remains Billion Dollar Sellers Summit, which this has been rebranded as https://www.ecommastery.ai This year they are hosting it in Nashville in April and have a track for new startup ecommerce founders as well as established 7, 8 and 9 figure sellers.
I reached out to the founder Kevin King to get his take on it: “Launching an Ecommerce business is tough. We set this show up to help increase the chances you will succeed in today’s competitive landscape, especially with the impact of AI on commerce.”
If you want real practical help getting started ….Ecom Mastery AI featuring BDSS is the show for you. And this year they have a great price. Only $497.00.
And BTW, I get no commission or any benefit by promoting this show. I was just blown away when I traveled for this conference to Iceland (and Hawaii the year before) to learn so much about how to make our ecommerce company successful.
What I did get for our Startup Club members is a discount Code for 20% off. I figured if you don’t ask you don’t get so I asked Kevin and we got one. Use code STARTUP.
If you do go to the show, I will be there so please stop me in the hall and tell me what ecommerce business you are starting.
Register Here:
https://www.ecommastery.ai and remember to use the code: STARTUP
Watch a short promo video on Youtube here: