This week’s lineup is all about leverage.
How small teams, smart timing, and the right strategy can punch way above their weight.
We’ve got:
💡 A four-person team that built a mid-eight-figure brand
🇨🇳 A tariff update every importer should know
🛍️ A BFCM playbook to win before the chaos hits
Let’s get into it.
CATEGORY
Four people. Mid-eight figures.
That’s not a typo.
A four-person team built one of the fastest-growing CPG brands in America—without a massive staff, big investors, or corporate infrastructure.
How’d they pull it off?
By mastering one thing every founder overlooks: leverage.
This story breaks down how they used a lean team, smart partnerships, and sharp execution to punch way above their weight.
GLOBAL TRADE
Tariffs. Sourcing. Margin risk.
If you import from China and sell on Shopify, this just became a live issue.
Office of the United States Trade Representative has extended key China tariff exclusions — but only until November 29, 2025.
That gives you a window of relief, not a guarantee.
Now’s the time to:
Audit every SKU heading from China
Re-classify HTS codes before things change
Build two scenarios: “exclusions expire” vs “exclusions renew again”
Because when the tariffs snap back, your landed cost model, pricing, and margins will need to catch up fast.
AMAZON
Most Amazon sellers panic in November.
Ad costs skyrocket. Rankings freeze. Profits vanish.
But two brands found a cheat code.
Instead of fighting in the Q4 chaos, they ranked before it started.
One baby brand jumped 10× in a week.
Lenny & Larry’s? 11× growth.
All without touching their ad budgets.
Their secret weapon wasn’t better PPC.
It was a platform called Stack Influence and it flips Amazon growth on its head.
This story breaks down how verified influencer purchases can out-rank paid ads, and why the smartest sellers are done playing defense this holiday season.
BFCM
Most brands lose Black Friday before it even starts.
They wait until November, crank up ad spend, and hope discounts save them.
That’s not how the winners play.
The smartest Shopify brands build momentum now — stacking early offers, warming up VIP lists, and turning loyal buyers into their secret weapon.
This breakdown covers exactly how to do it (without burning margin or sanity).
Your Guide to Win This Year
