Case Study: $53K per Month with Cat Wheel
How a Young Student Built a $50,000/Month Amazon FBA Business?
Launching a successful product on Amazon takes strategy, patience, and a deep
understanding of your market.
One of our clients, Erik, recently launched a high-ticket cat wheel for large cats, and his success story is an inspiring example of how identifying the right niche and selling high-ticket products can lead to impressive revenue and profits.
The Product: Large Cat Wheel
Erik’s product, a large cat exercise wheel, retails for $480 and was designed to meet the needs of large cat owners. Before launching, Erik noticed that most competitors were only selling cat wheels for small cats. He saw a clear gap in the market for owners of large cats, and he knew he had found a perfect niche. This insight set the stage for his Amazon success.
- Product Page: Large Cat Wheel on Amazon
Initial Launch Success
Erik’s initial product launch was nothing short of impressive. In the first two months, he sold out all of his units and generated $23,000 in revenue. His advertising cost of sales (ACoS) was just 20%, which is an excellent result for a first-time Amazon seller. Many new sellers struggle with high ACoS when launching a product, but Erik’s well-targeted niche and high-ticket product allowed him to maintain profitability early on.
After selling out, Erik was out of stock until February when he relaunched the product and generated $40,000 in revenue in a single month. Once again, he sold out quickly, proving that his product had significant demand.
Challenges Faced: Hijackers and Copycats
Erik's success didn’t come without challenges. Shortly after his launch, he faced issues with hijackers—unauthorized sellers attempting to sell counterfeit versions of his product. This is a common problem for successful Amazon sellers, especially in high-ticket categories. For a few months, Erik had to deal with these copycats, but through persistence and focus, he managed to remove them and regain control of his listings.
Current Success: $50K+ Per Month
Fast forward to today, Erik’s product is consistently making over $50,000 in monthly revenue. Despite having only 22 reviews, his product continues to perform well, largely thanks to his strong niche focus and high-ticket price point. His net profit hovers around 16% after accounting for all costs, including PPC and other Amazon fees.
The Power of High-Ticket Products
Erik’s success highlights the many benefits of selling high-ticket products on Amazon:
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Higher Profit Per Sale
One of the most significant advantages of selling high-ticket items is the profit per sale. With each sale of his $480 cat wheel, Erik is bringing in much higher profits compared to someone selling a $20 product. Even with Amazon fees and advertising costs, high-ticket products allow you to make more per transaction.
○ Real-Life Example: Selling a $500 product like Erik's cat wheel means that even after expenses, you can earn far more than selling low-priced items. This gives you more room to reinvest in your business and grow quickly.
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More Flexibility with Advertising
High-ticket products give you the ability to spend more on advertising while still remaining profitable. Because Erik had more margin to work with, he could afford to experiment with his ads and still maintain profitability.
○ Ad Costs Are Rising: With Amazon’s average cost-per-click (CPC) rising to $0.89 in 2024 (and higher in some categories), selling high-ticket products allows you to absorb these rising costs while still making significant profits.
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Less Inventory Stress
Selling high-ticket products means fewer sales but higher revenue per sale, which reduces the stress of managing a large inventory. Erik doesn’t need to worry about keeping thousands of units in stock to make significant revenue, which simplifies his inventory management.
Challenges of High-Ticket Products
While selling high-ticket items can be incredibly profitable, it’s not without its challenges:
- Higher Upfront Investment: Erik’s large cat wheels required a significant upfront investment in inventory, manufacturing, and logistics. High-ticket products often come with higher production costs, which can be a barrier to entry for some sellers.
- More Social Proof Required: Selling high-priced products often means that customers want more social proof before purchasing. Although Erik only has 22 reviews and great social media channels, he’s still working hard to gather more to build trust with potential buyers.
- Higher Risk of Loss: With higher-priced products, there’s more risk when it comes to issues like damaged inventory or returns. If a customer receives a damaged product, it’s more costly to replace or repair.
Erik’s Key to Success: Passion for the Product
One of the driving forces behind Erik’s success is his genuine passion for his product and niche. He loves animals, which gives him a unique perspective when designing and marketing the cat wheel. This passion translates into exceptional customer support and attention to product quality, which is evident from his positive reviews.