What happens when Amazon pulls the rug out from under your most profitable brand? Most sellers panic. Jeff Storch built a plan and scaled to $25M a year.
In this no-fluff episode of the Clear the Shelf podcast, Jeff returns to talk about brand gating, sourcing like a machine, scaling smart, and turning Amazon returns into pure profit.
Whether you're a beginner just cracking into online arbitrage or a seasoned seller juggling OA, RA, and wholesale—this is the tactical roadmap you didn’t know you needed.
Here’s what you’ll learn:
• The real reason behind Amazon's wave of brand restrictions (and how to protect your inventory)
• Why single-brand reliance is a death sentence for Amazon sellers
• How Jeff runs a full-blown returns department that monetizes "unsellable" products
• What it actually takes to build a $25M/year arbitrage business (hint: reps and systems)
• The diversification playbook Jeff used to survive Nike shutdowns, supplier limits, and the Adidas-gate saga
• Why returns, eBay, and even brick-and-mortar stores matter more than you think
• The #1 hiring mistake most sellers make when scaling
If you're serious about Amazon FBA especially online arbitrage, retail arbitrage, or wholesale sourcing this episode is your unfair advantage.
Like what you heard? Smash that like button, subscribe for more tactical Amazon seller content, and join our email list at https://www.cleartheshelf.com/newsletter] for exclusive resources.
Drop your biggest takeaway in the comments—we read every one.

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RESOURCES FOR YOU:
🧰 https://www.ClearTheShelf.com (The Blog)
🧰 Keepa Academy - https://www.oachallenge.com/keepa-academy
🧰 OA Challenge - https://www.OAChallenge.com
🧰 Repricer Challenge (Free) - https://cleartheshelf.com/repricer-challenge
🧰 RabbitTrailChallenge (Free) - https://cleartheshelf.com/rabbit-trail-challenge
🧰 revROI Chrome Extension (Free) - https://cleartheshelf.com/revroi-extension
🧰 Goal Tracking Spreadsheet (Free) - https://cleartheshelf.com/goal-tracking
SOFTWARE & SERVICES I USE & RECOMMEND:
✅ IP Alert (Code YT30 to Save $30) - https://entreresource.com/ip-alert-2/
✅ Seller365 - https://oachallenge.com/seller-365
✅ AURA Repricer (Code CTS to Save 20% Off Your First 3 Months) - https://goaura.com/cts
✅ RevSeller (Code PRO20 to Save $20) - https://www.revseller.com/32851/258.html
✅ OA Buddy (Code CLEARTHESHELF Saves $20): https://cleartheshelf.com/OA-Buddy
FOLLOW US:
🐦 Twitter (Chris Grant): https://twitter.com/cleartheshelf
🐦 Twitter (Chris Racic): https://twitter.com/ChrisRacic

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00:00 - Intro & Jeff’s Return to the Podcast

04:27 - Jeff’s Take on Brand Gating & Amazon Policy Shifts

16:20 - The Nike, Adidas, and Coach Gating Fallout

26:45 - Why Diversification Is Non-Negotiable

35:40 - Building a Returns Machine: eBay, Retail Stores, and More

45:49 - How to Train and Hire a Great Sourcing Team

56:35 - Mistakes New Arbitrage Sellers Make

1:04:57 - Jeff’s Personal Sourcing Strategy & Metrics

1:13:10 - Managing Burnout and Designing a Lifestyle Business

1:20:23 - Real Estate & Diversification Outside Amazon

1:30:12 - Final Advice for Scaling to $50K+ Months

Most Amazon sellers hustle hard to build cash flow. Very few know what to do next.

Nick Huber calls it The Hamster Wheel: running faster, working harder... but not actually building lasting wealth.

In today’s episode of The Clear the Shelf Podcast, Chris Grant and Chris Racic sit down with Nick Huber. An entrepreneur, author of The Sweaty Startup, and expert at turning boring businesses into million-dollar empires.

We break down:

• How to reinvest your Amazon profits smartly (even if you’re still scrappy)

• Why “boring” businesses are your secret weapon for long-term success

• How Nick would grow wealth if he were starting over with $50K–$200K a year from Amazon

• The “10 Minute Drill” Nick uses to vet every new business idea

• Why self-funding your growth changes everything (and how to balance risk)

• How to build leverage — systems, people, and partnerships — without losing control

• Personal brand building tips to attract deal flow and talent (even if you’re introverted)

If you’ve ever felt trapped — like you're grinding but not getting closer to true financial freedom — this episode is a must-watch.

Because reinvesting wisely beats hustling forever.

👉 Grab a copy of Nick’s book, The Sweaty Startup: How to Get Rich Doing Boring Things and don't forget to COMMENT on the video. Chris is giving away 10 FREE copies to random commenters!

The Sweaty Startup on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4iGGeoL

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Want to learn more about what Nick does? Find out below:

• www.sweatystartup.com

• www.nickhuber.com

• www.sweatystartupbook.com

• www.somewhere.com

• www.boltstorage.com

• www.recostseg.com

• www.adrhino.com

• www.spidexx.com

• www.boldseo.com

• www.webrun.com

• www.titanrisk.com

• www.recruitjet.com

• www.hubermethod.com

• www.x.com/sweatystartup

• www.instagram.com/sweatystartup

• www.linkedin.com/in/sweatystartup

• www.youtube.com/sweatystartup

• www.tiktok.com/sweatystartup

• www.threads.net/@sweatystartup.com

• https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-nick-huber-show/id1576120606

• https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sweaty-startup/id1445260221

• Link to buy the book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4iGGeoL

• Link to buy the book in the UK: https://bit.ly/422njPW

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Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro to the Clear the Shelf Podcast and Nick Huber’s Background

02:10 – Why Amazon Sellers Should Listen: Turning Cashflow into Wealth

04:25 – How Nick Got Started: Humble Beginnings with a Moving Company

08:30 – Overcoming Doubters and Internal Criticism as an Entrepreneur

13:45 – The Power of Getting Small Wins Early in Your Business Journey

18:10 – Why the Best Opportunities Are “Sweaty” and Boring

22:50 – The Mindset Shift: From Hustler to Long-Term Business Owner

28:15 – When and How to Reinvest Your Amazon Profits the Smart Way

32:30 – Why Cashflow Businesses are Step One, Not the Destination

37:05 – Lessons From Growing Storage Squad to 10,000+ Customers

41:20 – Biggest Mistakes Amazon Sellers Make Trying to Scale

46:10 – How to Spot Overlooked Opportunities in Boring Industries

50:30 – The Ten Minute Drill: How Nick Evaluates New Business Ideas

54:45 – Building a Personal Brand to Attract Deal Flow and Talent

59:10 – Lightning Round: Best $1,000 Investment, Favorite Business Book

1:03:40 – Closing Thoughts + Free Book Giveaway: The Sweaty Startup

These are the 17 things we wish someone told us sooner.In this episode of Clear the Shelf, we’re sharing 17 tips that will make you a better Amazon seller—whether you’re flipping retail arbitrage finds, sniping online deals, or building wholesale systems.No fluff. Just hard-earned lessons, quick wins, and next-level strategies like:A sourcing tip that will instantly increase your ROIOne Keepa trick you probably aren't usingWhat most sellers get wrong about "replenishables"How to avoid common mistakes in Q4And much more…Whether you’re scaling up or just starting out, these 17 tips could save you time, money, and a few gray hairs.-------------------- RESOURCES FOR YOU: 🧰 https://www.ClearTheShelf.com (The Blog) 🧰 Keepa Academy - https://www.oachallenge.com/keepa-academy 🧰 OA Challenge - https://www.OAChallenge.com 🧰 Repricer Challenge (Free) - https://cleartheshelf.com/repricer-challenge 🧰 RabbitTrailChallenge (Free) - https://cleartheshelf.com/rabbit-trail-challenge 🧰 revROI Chrome Extension (Free) - https://cleartheshelf.com/revroi-extension 🧰 Goal Tracking Spreadsheet (Free) - https://cleartheshelf.com/goal-tracking SOFTWARE & SERVICES I USE & RECOMMEND: ✅ IP Alert (Code YT30 to Save $30) - https://entreresource.com/ip-alert-2/ ✅ Seller365 - https://oachallenge.com/seller-365✅ AURA Repricer (Code CTS to Save 20% Off Your First 3 Months) - https://goaura.com/cts ✅ RevSeller (Code PRO20 to Save $20) - https://www.revseller.com/32851/258.html ✅ OA Buddy (Code CLEARTHESHELF Saves $20): https://cleartheshelf.com/OA-Buddy FOLLOW US: 🐦 Twitter (Chris Grant): https://twitter.com/cleartheshelf 🐦 Twitter (Chris Racic): https://twitter.com/ChrisRacic --------------------