Over the past two years, dozens of heavily-funded investment firms have formed with a singular purpose: Buying small companies that sell through Amazon.

In many ways, these so-called aggregators operate as mini private-equity firms. They quickly buy out popular mom-and-pop Amazon sellers, and then attempt to use their e-commerce expertise in marketing and logistics to drive additional revenue and profits across a wide range of brands.

There are now about 40 of these aggregators — with names like Perch, Thrasio and Cap Hill Brands — operating across the e-commerce landscape. And, in some cases, these buyers of Amazon sellers have hundreds of millions of dollars in the bank.

But is this a good business? On this episode of Day 2, our podcast about everything Amazon, we are venturing into a fascinating new corner of the e-commerce universe. Our guest is Ruben Amar, a former private equity investor at TA Associates who now leads Forum Brands, a 6th-month-old aggregator of Amazon sellers that’s already acquired a handful of businesses.

We're joined by our Day 2 podcast collaborator Jason Boyce, the founder of Avenue7Media, co-author of The Amazon Jungle and a former third-party seller on Amazon.

Over the past two years, dozens of heavily-funded investment firms have formed with a singular purpose: Buying small companies that sell through Amazon.
In many ways, these so-called aggregators operate as mini private-equity firms. They quickly buy out popular mom-and-pop Amazon sellers, and then attempt to use their e-commerce expertise in marketing and logistics to drive additional revenue and profits across a wide range of brands.
There are now about 40 of these aggregators &mdash; with names like Perch, Thrasio and Cap Hill Brands &mdash; operating across the e-commerce landscape. And, in some cases, these buyers of Amazon sellers have hundreds of millions of dollars in the bank.
But is this a good business? On this episode of Day 2, our podcast about everything Amazon, we are venturing into a fascinating new corner of the e-commerce universe. Our guest is Ruben Amar, a former private equity investor at TA Associates who now leads<a href="https://www.forumbrands.com/"> Forum Brands</a>, a 6th-month-old aggregator of Amazon sellers that&rsquo;s already acquired a handful of businesses.
We're joined by our Day 2 podcast collaborator Jason Boyce, the founder of <a href="https://avenue7media.com/">Avenue7Media</a>, co-author of <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Amazon-Jungle-Survival-Commerce-Marketplace/dp/1631952803">The Amazon Jungle</a> and a former third-party seller on Amazon.

Amazon built an empire obsessing about its customers. Where does that leave its partners, competitors, communities, workers, and the world? Coming soon from GeekWire: Day 2, a new podcast about Amazon and the future of everything else. In collaboration with Jason Boyce of Avenue7Media, author of "The Amazon Jungle."

Amazon built an empire obsessing about its customers. Where does that leave its partners, competitors, communities, workers, and the world? Coming soon from GeekWire: Day 2, a new podcast about Amazon and the future of everything else. In collaboration with Jason Boyce of Avenue7Media, author of "The Amazon Jungle."

Day 2: Everything Amazon

Amazon built an empire obsessing about its customers. Where does that leave its partners, competitors, communities, workers and the world? Coming soon from GeekWire: Day 2, a new podcast about Amazon and the future of everything else. In collaboration with Jason Boyce of Avenue7Media, author of "The Amazon Jungle."

Amazon built an empire obsessing about its customers. Where does that leave its partners, competitors, communities, workers and the world? Coming soon from GeekWire: Day 2, a new podcast about Amazon and the future of everything else. In collaboration with Jason Boyce of Avenue7Media, author of "The Amazon Jungle."

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