Q4 Gold Rush: Are You Ready?

It’s that time of year again – Q4 is coming fast, and if you sell on Amazon, you know this is when the magic happens! October through December can make up more than 50% of a seller’s annual profits. But only if you’re prepared.

With SellerAmp in your toolkit, you’re already better equipped than most to analyze deals, avoid bad buys, and streamline your workflow. But to truly thrive in Q4 2025, you need a solid strategy.

Here’s how:

1. Plan Early, Source Smart

By now, you’ve hopefully got a sourcing strategy already in motion. But if you’ve still got gaps, it’s not too late!

Focus on products that are:

Giftable products: Focus on categories like toys, board games, puzzles, beauty gift sets, holiday apparel, and tech gadgets. These items are naturally high-demand from November through December and appeal to a wide audience.
Proven sellers: Use SellerAmp’s sales rank data and Charts Panel to identify products that perform consistently year over year. Look for items that sold well in Q4 of previous years – especially those that climbed in price during peak demand.
In-demand but not oversaturated: Avoid products that have too many competing sellers. If 100 other people are selling the same toy with razor-thin margins, you’ll be caught in a race to the bottom. Instead, find those hidden gems where the data shows demand, but competition is manageable.

2. Cash Flow is King

You can’t buy inventory without cash! You’ll need cash flow to keep buying as things start flying off the shelves.

You should:

Set clear spending limits and profit targets: Before diving into Q4 buying, map out your capital and determine how much you’re willing to invest. Stick to a target ROI that fits your risk level. In Q4, many sellers aim for 25%–40% ROI on fast sellers.
Prioritize high ROI replenishable inventory: Find products that you can buy, sell, and buy again quickly. Consumables, seasonal snacks, or trending toys from major retailers (Target, Walmart, Tesco etc.) often fit this profile.
Avoid slow movers: If a product might sit in Amazon’s warehouse for 60+ days, rethink it. Long-term storage fees spike in Q4, and Amazon’s restock limits could tighten. Don’t tie up your capital in inventory that won’t move before Christmas!

Pro Tip: Use SellerAmp’s Profit Calculator and Ranks & Prices Panel to project how your profits shift when storage fees increase. Factor in December storage surcharges or oversize fees for bulkier items.

3. Prep Your Prep

Inventory that isn’t shipped in time doesn’t sell in time. Your supply chain needs to be fast, organized, and bulletproof!

Our tips:

Labeling and packing: Double-check Amazon’s FBA prep requirements for each item. Use poly bags, the correct labels, and correct barcodes to avoid delays. SellerAmp allows you to quickly check whether items are meltable, hazmat, or require specific prep types – just check the info on the Alerts Panel in SAS!
Using a prep center? Don’t wait until the last minute. Q4 is their busiest time. Ask about lead times now and book your prep slots early. If you haven’t yet partnered with a prep center, make your decision in August or early September – waiting until October could mean serious delays.
Ship early: For Black Friday/Cyber Monday, aim to have products in Amazon fulfillment centers by early November. For Christmas sales, try to send inventory by late October to avoid missing cut-offs due to Amazon warehouse backlogs.

Pro Tip: Add a calendar reminder for the last date Amazon recommends shipping inventory for each holiday milestone. Missing the Christmas cut-off by one day could mean losing a chunk of your monthly sales.

4. Max Out SellerAmp Features

SellerAmp SAS is packed with helpful features! Make use of all of them all to get the clearest picture.

Expanded tips:

Custom alerts: Set up alerts for deals that meet your ROI, sales rank, and category preferences. This saves you time by filtering out anything that doesn’t meet your buying criteria.
Buy Box analysis: Monitor who’s winning the Buy Box and at what price. If Amazon is holding it 90% of the time, it might be hard to compete. If FBA sellers are rotating through the Buy Box, it’s a more even playing field.

Pro Tip: If a deal looks “too good to be true,” use the SellerAmp integrations to check IP complaints, hazmat status, and historical price spikes. A lot of Q4 rookies lose money by skipping this step.

5. Get Aggressive With Replenishment

In Q4, momentum is everything. Products move faster than any other time of the year.

You should:

Set stock alerts: Use tools (or even browser extensions) to be notified when profitable items are restocked at your favorite retailers. Time is of the essence – good deals disappear in hours during peak season.
Forecast sales: Look at how fast an item is selling (via BSR and sales volume estimates) and how many other sellers are on the listing. Use this data to determine how many you need to reorder and when.
Go deep on proven winners: If an item is selling quickly with consistent Buy Box rotation, it’s safe to increase your buy quantity. Replenishing too conservatively can lead to missed revenue when items go out of stock mid-season.

6. Stay Nimble

Flexibility is your superpower in Q4. The market moves fast – so should you!

Our tips:

On-the-go sourcing: Use the SellerAmp mobile app when you’re in retail stores to evaluate products in real-time. Speed is everything during flash sales or clearance events.
Competitor tracking: Watch changes to pricing, number of sellers, and Buy Box behavior. If a listing becomes flooded, consider pivoting to a bundle or variation instead.
Stay connected: Join selling groups on social media or Discord to share leads, learn from experienced sellers, and spot emerging trends before they go mainstream. Check out our YouTube channel HERE for a ton of advice from arbitrage experts!

Pro Tip: When a product starts trending on TikTok or makes a top holiday list (like Amazon’s Top 100 Toys), jump on it fast. Use SellerAmp to verify the listing data, then act decisively if the numbers look strong.

7. Take Care of You, Too

Burnout is real. Q4 is intense, but your long-term success depends on sustainable habits.

Set yourself up for success:

Time blocking: Set specific times each day for sourcing, repricing, prepping, and order management. Avoid mid task-switching, which can drain focus and energy.
Automate repetitive tasks: Use things like repricers or Amazon’s auto-fulfill tools to reduce manual work. The more you automate, the more time you’ll have to focus on sourcing and strategy.
Celebrate progress: Q4 can feel like a blur. Take time to reflect on what’s working, what you’ve learned, and the milestones you’re hitting. Acknowledge the wins – big and small!

Final Thoughts

Q4 2025 is your moment! With a smart sourcing strategy, efficient prep, and the power of SellerAmp by your side, you’ve got everything you need to finish the year strong.

Let’s get to work!