He Bought a Business—Then Grew Amazon Sales 80% in 20 Minutes
In this episode of the Harvest Growth Podcast, Jon LaClare sits down with David Hewlett, CEO of SmartLabels, to explore why acquiring an existing business can sometimes be a faster, less risky path to success than starting one from scratch.
After launching several businesses of his own, David realized how much time and money entrepreneurs can spend before discovering whether genuine product-market fit exists. That experience led him to acquire SmartLabels, a QR-code inventory management system that already had customers, revenue, and proven demand—but also plenty of untapped growth potential.
David explains how he discovered that SmartLabels was advertising with only 15 Amazon keywords, many of which were branded terms. By spending just 20 minutes expanding the company’s keyword targeting, he increased Amazon sales by 80%. He also shares how he continued scaling through new products, international expansion, direct-to-consumer sales, commercial printing, and unconventional marketing channels.
The conversation also explores why entrepreneurs need scheduled time to step away from daily operations and evaluate their businesses like outside investors. David reveals how using SmartLabels himself uncovered customer friction and inspired new AI-assisted features that make cataloging, valuing, and eventually selling stored belongings easier.
In today’s episode of the Harvest Growth Podcast, we’ll cover:
Why buying an existing business can reduce the risks of entrepreneurship
How to identify overlooked growth opportunities before an acquisition
The 20-minute Amazon keyword change that increased sales by 80%
The difference between being a product founder and a business operator
How David scaled production to keep up with growing demand
Why testing unconventional audiences can reveal profitable marketing channels
How weekly “white space thinking” leads to better strategic decisions
Why founders and marketers should become active users of their own products
How customer feedback and market research can validate new products before development
Why selling a product before building it can save time, money, and frustration
You can listen to the full interview wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Or, click to watch the full video interview here!
If you’re considering starting a business, acquiring an established brand, or finding new ways to scale an existing product, this episode offers practical lessons on product validation, Amazon marketing, business acquisition, and sustainable growth.
Want to learn more about David and SmartLabels? Visit QRSmartLabels.com or search for SmartLabels on Amazon. You can also discover David’s build-your-own scavenger hunt game at QRHunter.com.
Do you have a brand you’d like to launch or scale?
Visit HarvestGrowth.com to book a free consultation and learn how our team has helped generate over $2 billion in product sales.
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