Here’s what we have inside this week’s newsletter:

• A free SmartScout masterclass​

• Interview with Brandon Vaughan (highest-level entrepreneur I've had on the pod)

• How Amazon beat earnings despite tariff fears

• IRS ramps up e-commerce enforcement

---

Your Free SmartScout Shortcut

I just created a SmartScout masterclass that’s completely free.

What you’ll learn:

• The three-step brand criteria

• How to use storefront stalking to ethically steal other sellers' leads

• The specific filters that separate profitable subcategories from time wasters

The course walks you through beginner to advanced strategies, with real examples and knowledge checks to test your understanding.

Click Here For The Free Course

---

Insights On Business, AI, and Hiring

My latest podcast guest has an impressive track record.

Brandon Vaughan has coached over 20,000 entrepreneurs and owns 10 successful companies.

His latest venture uses AI to find, recruit, and hire top talent for business owners.

Key insights from our conversation:

• Why most entrepreneurs fail at hiring (and how AI fixes it)

• How he built a franchise business to 32 locations

• How he built systems that let him step back from day-to-day operations

Click Here For The Full Interview

---

Amazon Beats Earnings Despite Tariff Drama

Amazon reported Q2 earnings that beat Wall Street expectations.

• Revenue: $167.7 billion (13% growth)

• Earnings per share = $1.68 ($1.33 expected)

Even with tariff uncertainty, CEO Andy Jassy said the company hasn’t seen less demand or major price increases so far this year.

My take: Amazon’s showing it can handle uncertainty better than the market expected. For sellers, this shows consumer demand is still strong.

---

IRS Targets E-Commerce Sellers in 2025

The IRS is ramping up enforcement on online sellers this year.

According to tax resolution firm Clear Start Tax, self-employed e-commerce vendors are at risk if they haven’t been keeping accurate records.

Sellers using PayPal, Stripe, or Venmo for business purposes may be flagged if their tax filings don’t align with payment processor data.

My take: This is a wake up call for every Amazon seller who’s been sloppy with bookkeeping. The days of treating e-commerce as a side hustle are over. Get your records straight now, or the IRS will do it for you, and it won't be pretty.

Thanks for reading, be back next week!

-Corey

PS: Be sure to check out the free SmartScout masterclass if you’re serious about finding profitable brand direct accounts.