The pandemic’s been tough on everyone, crippling economies and leaving the world in disarray. However. It’s also forced mass pivots, mass adaptation, leading to more mass opportunity.
One of the ones who’s actually been able to keep his business afloat is Andrew Loucks—AKA the Manimal (what an epic name, just for the record)—who runs a seven-figure dropshipping store on Amazon.
Obviously, as people stayed in the house, online shopping (i.e. Amazon!) has gone up. In fact, Amazon recently became the first company to be valued at over $2 trillion dollars.
Yes, we know what you’re thinking…
Amazon dropshipping is one of those scammy get-rich-quick setups those YouTube hucksters peddle in their ads, doing little else but syphon cash from eager wantrepreneurs.
In reality, however (and you know we don’t interview pretenders ‘round these here parts!), there’s always a reality from which these dreamy plots are concocted.
And one of the real ones is the Manimal who legitimately teaches people how to dropship on Amazon. He also is a bodybuilding BEAST and has a super strong Instagram following.
So we had a chat with him about how to get that set up.
To people who don’t know you, what do you do and what are your biggest accomplishments?
I am a seven-figure Amazon seller in the e-commerce business. I started my own Amazon Dropshipping business a year and a half ago and have done over $1.2M sales on my seller account. My store does over $150k sales per month. Now, I mentor and teach other people how to set up their own six or seven-figure Amazon dropshipping stores.
This pandemic has seen lots of chaos in the public markets. Did you invest during the pandemic—and if so, where?
I have been consistently investing into getting more funding for my Amazon store, the stock market, and researching real estate to reinvest some of my profit from Amazon dropshipping.
How has it affected business? Tell us a bit about Manimal and MegaFit Meals!
The great things about selling on Amazon is that it’s a market that will continue to get sales no matter what the economic conditions are. When the pandemic hit, I wasn’t worried about keeping my job, or worrying about getting a paycheck to pay the bills. I had my Amazon store running 24/7 getting sales, and direct deposits coming in every two weeks.
Love that. Passive income all day.
Exactly. My profit margins and store sales actually increased during the pandemic. People were ordering even more products online that usual!
People are shopping from home. Unlike physical retail where people have to manage a store, I assume it’s easier to run a digital store?
One of the biggest benefits about my Amazon store is that it doesn’t require any of my time to run or manage. I have it automated, which means everything is managed for me.
Explain.
A team handles all the product research, listings, shipping, returns and even the customer service. I did months of research before getting into the business, which gave me the knowledge to not only set up my own store, but to help others set up their own as well.
How does it work this dropshipping thing?
Throughout the past year and a half in the e-commerce business, I have gained a lot of experience. Mostly through trial and error, but also through my own successes and failures. I am continuing to learn more every day as I’m helping new sellers get started with stores of their own. Just shoot me a message on Instagram and I will show you how my store works, what profit margins to expect, and what you’ll need to get started with your own.
There are tons of parallel correlations between health and wealth, especially from a discipline standpoint. Do you find your athletic background gives you an advantage in life, business and so on?
Health is wealth! But yes, absolutely. Being healthy and having a routine will teach you how to develop the dedication and drive you’ll need to become successful with anything. Taking care of your body is just as important as taking care of your mind. Keeping both sharp will take you far in life. Having the discipline to stick to a workout and meal routine for months or even years, has given me the dedicated mindset that I have today.
I always say that pro sports, fitness and military are the best preparers for business success. Just because of the commitment and discipline both require.
If you are willing to put in the time to build and change your body’s appearance, then you can do anything. Fitness has given me a platform on social media to share my business ventures with others. Not only am I able to share my workout routines, meal prepping, and other fitness tips, but I’m also able to help others make a living and start their own businesses.
Switching gears slightly to fitness. What are some basic pointers you give people that come to you asking how to get in shape?
Make sure to get your nutrition right. That’s the most important factor with any fitness training program. Depending on your goals, your training and diet will vary. Lift heavy, train often, and get your protein in.
We now live in a digital world, increasingly virtual, especially because of the pandemic. Do you use social media assets professionally?
Yes, I use my Instagram and Facebook pages. Mainly my Instagram, which is where I post most of my fitness and business-related content.
What’s next for your industry? Will we return to normal or has that ship sailed?
I keep hearing phrases like “the new normal”, but honestly it’s hard to tell where the economy will go from here. However, in my industry, I’m not worried. The good news about investing into the Amazon dropshipping business model is that it’s continuing to grow. That’s one of the main reasons why I invested in this business and recommend it to others.
Love that. I think now more than ever it’s important to have recession-proof business models.
Right. Even if the economy continues to stay on the same path it has been on for the past five months, that has only increased my store’s sales and profit margins for my business. I’m all for reopening society and all the businesses. But when we’re talking about investing money, I know I would rather invest into a business model that will succeed in all economic conditions, even during a global pandemic.
I’m a real estate guy. Residential is cool but office, hospitality and retail asset classes are suffering. And you’re gonna see a bloodbath here that won’t end anytime soon.
Unlike traditional retail with bricks and mortar stores, e-commerce businesses aren’t confined to walk-in person traffic. People are always buying things on Amazon, regardless of what’s going on in the world. This business has been one of the best investments I have made so far.
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