How to Start an Amazon Business: Jasim’s Story

When most people think of starting an Amazon business, they imagine needing tens of thousands of dollars, deep industry knowledge, or insider connections. But for Jasim, an 8-figure Amazon seller, the journey began with something far simpler: a box of free textbooks from a college library.

Within days of listing those books, sales trickled in. That small experiment grew into a multimillion-dollar operation spanning multiple categories, warehouses across the U.S., and a dedicated team in the States and abroad. In this guide, we’ll walk through Jasim’s story, the strategies behind his growth, and the lessons he shares with new sellers.

Starting Small: From Free Books to a Business

Back in 2017, while studying accounting in Minnesota, Jasim and a friend stumbled on free textbooks at a college library. Skeptical at first, he changed his mind when the first sales came through.

Curiosity turned into research, thrift stores, Goodwill, YouTube tutorials, and soon he was sourcing books strategically. The textbook hustle evolved into structured online arbitrage and later branched into electronics, apparel, and more.

Turning Patterns Into Profits

One early breakthrough: seasonal textbook price swings. Prices dip mid-semester and spike before a new term. Jasim bought low, held, then sold into demand, creating a repeatable profit loop.

He even wrote a book on textbook arbitrage. While he later diversified, the principle holds: watch market cycles, books, shoes, even sprinkler systems.

Scaling Up: Warehouses, Teams, and Systems

Six years later, the one-book experiment became an operation with multiple U.S. warehouses and a 40–50 person team across the U.S. and Jordan.

Amazon is risky, competitive, and unpredictable. What worked for Jasim:

• Building relationships: thrift stores and suppliers for consistent sourcing.
• Outsourcing strategically: delegating to family and trusted team members.
• Investing in software tools: e.g., BQool Repricer to compete in fast-moving categories.

Margins evolved too. Early textbook flips hit 400–500% ROI. At scale, the target shifted to 20–25% ROI, trading higher volume and cash flow for lower margins.

Smart Sourcing Strategies

Sourcing sits at the heart of Jasim’s success. Core approaches:

1. Build Relationships: Partner with thrift stores or donors directly to cut out middlemen and raise margins.
2. Think Seasonally: Buy when demand is low (e.g., sprinklers in winter), sell in peak season.
3. Leverage Amazon Itself: Source discounted products from Amazon or major retailers and resell profitably.

His team also runs a private leads list, sharing profitable OA deals with members via Telegram.

The Role of Repricing Software

As the catalog expanded into shoes and electronics, manual repricing couldn’t keep up. Enter BQool, which updates prices every few minutes to stay competitive for the Buy Box.

Recent features like conditional repricing are clutch: rules based on inventory age and sell-through, price aggressively on older stock and hold margins on fresh units. Result: higher Buy Box win rate, more sales, and hours saved each week.

Lessons Learned: Jasim’s Top 3 Tips

1. Seek Help & Keep Learning: Use free resources, communities, and paid courses if it fits your budget.
2. Be Patient: Cash cycles and sell-through vary; setbacks happen.
3. Specialize First: Master one category or model before expanding.

Challenges of Running a Global Team

With operations in the U.S. and Jordan, there are pros and cons:

• Challenges: Time zones and slower comms can delay work.
• Advantages: Cultural alignment, strong talent, and meaningful opportunities for the team.

Importantly, the overseas team isn’t just “virtual assistants.” They’re skilled professionals critical to execution.

Beyond Amazon: Diversifying Into New Ventures

Amazon remains the core, but Jasim’s family has branched into car rentals and real estate, adding stability and new growth paths.

Still, Amazon has been life-changing and remains his main business passion.

Conclusion

Jasim’s journey shows how big things grow from humble starts. From free textbooks to an 8-figure Amazon brand with a global team, the playbook is clear:

• Don’t overthink the start, test low-risk products.
• Build systems, relationships, and patience as you grow.
• Use tools like BQool to stay competitive in a fast-moving marketplace.