[ BDSN ] 💰The hidden Texas trade zone saving importers millions in tariffs

💰 UNLOCKING the YOUTUBE MONEY MACHINE

At last week’s BDSS Elevate 360 event in Iceland, renowned YouTube strategist and Mr. Beast’s partner Derral Eves revealed how Amazon sellers can harness YouTube to dramatically boost their brand visibility, community growth, and revenue.

Eves, responsible for generating 93 billion video views and driving massive sales through platforms like YouTube and TikTok, highlighted a few critical strategies and actionable steps sellers can immediately implement.

1. Focus on One Viewer (Your Ideal Customer): According to Eves, success on YouTube begins by deeply understanding the psychology of your ideal viewer. He emphasized focusing beyond mere demographics to psychographics—what motivates your viewer, their fears, frustrations, goals, and daily habits.

2. Build Community, Not Just Transactions: Instead of transactional funnels, build funnels around a sense of belonging and community. Eves illustrated this through successful campaigns like Squatty Potty and Mr. Beast’s Feastables, which generated millions organically by fostering passionate communities.

Step-by-Step Actionable Tactics:

Tactic 1: Craft Videos that Align with Viewer Psychographics

• Step 1: Clearly define your ideal viewer. Go beyond age or location; understand their daily routines, their emotional triggers, and their deepest motivations.

• Step 2: Create content that speaks directly to those motivations and routines. Example: Dr. Stan Ekberg grew to millions of subscribers by creating detailed nutritional content tailored precisely to viewer interests, generating millions annually in product subscriptions.

• Step 3: Use relevant trends from pop culture to connect deeper emotionally, ensuring content is timely and resonant.

Tactic 2: Develop a Product Fit for Your Audience

• Step 1: Identify products your viewers deeply care about and match your expertise or passion.

• Step 2: Showcase these products organically in your videos, demonstrating authentic usage and value.

• Step 3: Integrate a live video component or product launch event on YouTube to create urgency and excitement. Example: Dr. Ekberg successfully launched a supplement line via live streaming, generating over $690,000 in subscriptions in just 12 hours.

Avoid These Common Mistakes:

• Never drive external traffic directly to YouTube: Instead, leverage YouTube’s internal discovery mechanisms.

• Avoid repurposed content: Create original videos tailored specifically for YouTube viewers to foster better engagement.

• Don't rely heavily on paid ads initially: Organic growth fosters deeper viewer loyalty and stronger community bonds.

Eves underscored the power of focusing on psychological connection and community building. By adopting these tactics, Amazon sellers can transform YouTube from just another channel into a powerful engine of brand growth and sustained revenue.

WATCH the FULL PRESENTATION (+ 36 more from Iceland):

🕹️ 288 PAGES of AI TOOLS and HACKS

The guys over at Selling on the Beach recently shared two valuable repositories from two of the best newsletters for e-commerce sellers (besides BDSN of course).

These are must clicks link below:

1. Every single AI tool that Dream 100 member Ritu Java has ever recommended (74 pages) in her AI for Ecommerce Newsletter

2. Every hack that Dream 100 member Jon Derkits wrote (214 pages) for an entire year in his Best@Amazon Newsletter

🇨🇳 CHINESE SELLERS - THE SCOOP ON WHAT’S UP

Stay in tune with what most marketplace sellers consider their #1 competitor - the Chinese Seller.

🗜️ ILLEGAL TRANSSHIPPING CAN MAKE YOU RICH

What’s Happening: According to Adam Lee of law firm Harris Sliwoski, to dodge U.S. tariffs and duties, especially on Chinese goods, some companies illegally “transship” products through other countries like Taiwan or Vietnam, falsely labeling them as made there. This violates U.S. trade laws and customs regulations.

Why It Matters: These schemes create unfair advantages, letting some importers sell products cheaper by avoiding high duties — sometimes over 1,000% (like in the case of Chinese mattresses). Legit competitors lose out.

💰 How Reporting This Can Make You Rich

1. Moiety Statute (19 USC 1619):

   • Report customs fraud, get up to 25% of the government’s recovery, capped at $250K.

2. False Claims Act (31 USC 3729):

   • Anyone (including competitors or insiders) can file a “qui tam” lawsuit under the FCA.

   • If the government intervenes, whistleblowers (a.k.a. “relators”) earn 15–25% of recovered damages.

   • If the whistleblower pursues the case alone, they can get 25–30% of the recovery.

   • Penalties include triple damages and up to $11K per false claim.

🧨 Real Examples:

• Univar USA settled for over $60 million.

• A young clerk in Seattle made millions reporting transshipping fraud.

📌 How to make money:

If you know a company dodging tariffs by lying about product origin, you can:

• Help stop illegal trade

• Level the playing field

• Potentially earn a life-changing payout

Illegal transshipping is a crime — but exposing it can be a goldmine.

The United States has plenty of effective legal hammers already in place to crush illegal transshipments to the United States, including the Moiety Statute and the False Claims Act.

If you know about and are bothered by companies illegally transshipping products to the United States you should turn that to your financial advantage.

📛  EVER HEARD of the FREE TRADE ZONES in TEXAS?

The Dallas-Forth Worth area in Texas has multiple Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZs), which are designated areas offering benefits like duty-free or deferred payment on goods processed at plants engaged in international trade.

Read all about US Foreign Trade Zones

FTZs are overseen by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The DFW Airport holds the grant of authority for FTZ No. 39, which offers nearly 2,200 acres of cost savings storage.

This can help lower the cost of engaging in international trade. The DFW FTZ is managed by DFW International Airport (DFW) and provides access to facilities including a business park and cargo distribution centers. 

How DFW FTZ Helps with Tariffs:

• Deferral, Reduction, or Elimination of Duties:

  By utilizing the DFW FTZ, businesses can potentially defer, reduce, or even eliminate the need to pay U.S. Customs duties and tariffs on imported goods.

• Flexibility with Imported Merchandise:

  The FTZ allows businesses to hold imported merchandise for an indefinite period, assemble, process, or relabel it, and even transfer it to another FTZ or export it without immediate duty payment. 

• Streamlined Processes:

  FTZs can streamline the import process, potentially reducing time and costs associated with customs clearance. 

How to Benefit from DFW FTZ:

• Apply for FTZ Status:

  Businesses can apply to be designated as an FTZ user, allowing them to operate within the designated zone. 

• Pre-designated Sites:

  The DFW FTZ has both on-airport and off-airport pre-designated landsites available for use. 

• Consider Alternative Site Framework:

  The Alternative Site Framework (ASF) provides a streamlined process for FTZ grantees to expand their operations within their service area. 

• Texas's FTZs:

  Texas has a large number of FTZs, including DFW FTZ, and is considered a leader in this area.

✌🏼 See you again Monday …

The answer to today’s STUMP BEZOS is
30% of sellers never make a single sale