Amazon FBA Prime Day: What you need to do now to prep your inventory

Amazon Prime Day is basically the Black Friday of July—and if you sell through Amazon FBA, the clock is already ticking.

Amazon sellers, including independent sellers and third-party sellers, are key participants in this massive event. This isn’t the time to scramble; it’s the time to strategize. Your inventory needs to be prepped, packed, and compliant yesterday if you want to stay competitive when the Prime Day rush hits.

This year, Amazon Prime Day is scheduled for July 8 - 11, a whopping four days of sales instead of the usual two. Prime Day 2024 was a record-breaking year's event, and with Prime Big Deal Days following shortly after in the fall, these major sales events offer recurring opportunities for Amazon sellers to boost their sales and visibility. So, yes, the clock is very much ticking.

Key takeaways

Let’s break it down so you don’t break a sweat. To succeed during the 2025 Prime Day event, you need to:

• Plan ahead by knowing Amazon's Prime Day inbound cutoff dates.
• Conduct inventory planning by double-checking FBA packaging and labeling requirements.
• Forecast and meet customer demand by planning inventory counts and monitoring FBA capacity limits.
• Optimize your listings for maximum visibility.
• Create Prime-exclusive discounts and deals.

5 Tips to prepare for Amazon Prime Day 2025

1. Know Amazon’s inbound cutoff dates

First things first: Amazon is strict with its Prime Day check-in deadlines. If your inventory doesn’t hit fulfillment centers on time, it doesn’t sell.

Key tip: Check Seller Central for the official inbound shipping cutoff for Prime Day 2025. Typically, it lands 2-3 weeks before the sale. Build your lead time backward from there—and add buffer days for labeling, packaging, and unexpected delays (because you know they’re coming). Consider using minimal shipment splits to optimize delivery speed and costs. Make sure your products are Prime badge-ready by having inventory arrive at Amazon's fulfillment centers on time.

2. Double-check FBA packaging and labeling requirements

Amazon FBA is not the place to freestyle. Get their packaging and labeling rules wrong, and your inventory could get stranded in fulfillment limbo.

Product and inventory requirements

Barcodes: Every product requires a scannable barcode (manufacturer or Amazon FNSKU) for tracking. 

Condition: Products listed as "new" must be in brand-new, unused condition.

Restrictions: Be aware of FBA product restrictions, such as those related to specific product types (e.g., hazardous materials). 

Inventory management: Utilize inventory management technology to track and manage inventory effectively. 

Packaging and shipping requirements

Packaging: Products must be packaged securely to prevent damage during transit. This includes using rigid boxes, cushioning, and appropriate packing materials. 

Size and weight limits: Boxes must adhere to Amazon's size and weight limitations, which vary depending on product type. 

Labeling: Each box needs an Amazon FBA Box ID label and carrier labels. 

Pallet labeling: If shipping by pallet, follow Amazon's specific pallet labeling requirements. 

Shipping plan: Create a shipping plan to efficiently ship products to Amazon fulfillment centers. 

Miscellaneous requirements

Amazon Seller account: You need an active Amazon seller account to participate in FBA. 

Compliance: Stay updated on changes in Amazon's policies and regulations. 

Fees: Understand and manage FBA fees, which include fulfillment, storage, and potentially other related costs. 

Explore the full list of requirements before shipping your FBA inventory to Amazon fulfillment centers.

Don’t have time for that level of micromanagement? That’s where Saltbox steps in. Our logistics team can handle FBA prep—from labeling to box builds—so your inventory arrives at Amazon exactly how they like it.

Want to win $1,000 while you prep?

We’re running a Prime Day contest for Amazon sellers! Submit a short video of your FBA or FBM prep process and you could win Visa gift cards + other perks.

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3. Forecast demand like your Prime Day depends on it (because it does)

You can’t afford stock-outs during Prime Day. FBA sellers must carefully balance inventory to avoid both stock-outs and excess inventory, ensuring they have sufficient inventory to meet demand without incurring unnecessary storage fees. But overstocking? Also risky. Amazon can (and will) penalize you with long-term storage fees.

Use your past sales data and current trends to:

• Estimate order volume for each SKU
• Identify best-sellers that need priority placement
• Flag slow movers and adjust ads or bundles

Pro tip: Use a flexible workspace like Saltbox to stage overflow inventory near your FBA shipments, so you can restock quickly during Prime Day if sales drastically spike.

4. Optimize your Amazon listings for maximum visibility

Prime Day is a high-stakes sales event, and your product listings need to be in top shape to stand out to Amazon Prime members. Start by weaving Prime-exclusive discounts and Prime member coupons into your offers—these incentives are magnets for shoppers looking for the best deals. Make sure your product titles, bullet points, and descriptions are packed with relevant keywords that Prime customers are searching for.

Don’t stop at the basics: upgrade your product detail pages with Amazon’s A+ Content to showcase high-quality images, videos, and detailed product information. This not only builds trust but also helps your listings convert more visitors into buyers. The more informative and visually appealing your product details page is, the more likely you are to increase sales during Prime Day.

Checklist for listing optimization:

• Use targeted keywords in titles, bullet points, and descriptions
• Highlight prime exclusive discounts and prime member coupons
• Add high-resolution images and lifestyle shots
• Enhance product pages with A+ Content for a premium look
• Keep all information accurate and up to date

By optimizing your Amazon listings now, you’ll boost your visibility, drive more traffic, and set yourself up for a surge in sales when Prime Day arrives.

5. Create irresistible Prime Day deals

To truly capture the attention of customers during Prime Day, your deals need to be both compelling and strategic. Take advantage of Amazon’s promotional tools by offering Prime-exclusive best deals, Prime-exclusive lightning deals, and Prime-exclusive price discounts. These special offers are featured prominently on the deals page, making it easier for Prime members to find your products.

Use Seller Central to submit your Prime Day deals and price discounts early—Amazon reviews and approves deals ahead of the event, so planning ahead is crucial. Consider a mix of discounts, bundle offers, and buy-one-get-one-free promotions to appeal to different types of shoppers. The goal is to create deals that not only drive traffic to your product pages but also convert Prime Day browsers into buyers.

Tips for Prime Day deals success:

• Submit Prime-exclusive Lightning Deals and Best Deals well before the event
• Offer deep price discounts to stand out among the Best Deals and Lightning offers
• Use Bundle Deals to increase average order value
• Monitor your deals’ performance in Seller Central and adjust as needed

By crafting irresistible Prime Day deals, you’ll attract more customers, increase sales, and make the most of the heightened demand.

Bonus tips to stay competitive during Prime Day (and beyond)

Attract new customers and build lasting loyalty

Prime Day isn’t just about a short-term sales spike—it’s a golden opportunity to attract first-time purchasers and turn them into loyal customers. To do this, focus on delivering deep discounts and Prime-exclusive offers that entice first-time buyers. Make sure your customer service is top-notch, and use Sponsored Products to boost your visibility and reach shoppers who are actively searching for Prime Day deals.

Don’t forget to leverage email marketing to re-engage past buyers and alert them to your Prime Day deals. Highlight your best offers and encourage them to visit your brand page. Consider launching loyalty programs, such as Subscribe & Save, to encourage repeat purchases and build long-term relationships.

Strategies to build loyalty and attract new customers:

• Offer deep discounts and Prime-exclusive deals to draw in new shoppers
• Use sponsored products to drive traffic to your product pages
• Send targeted email marketing campaigns to potential customers
• Provide excellent customer service to encourage positive reviews and repeat business
• Introduce loyalty incentives to keep customers coming back

By focusing on both attracting first-time purchasers and nurturing loyalty, you’ll not only increase sales during Prime Day but also lay the groundwork for sustained growth with customers long after the event ends.

Don’t go it alone. Seriously.

Trying to DIY FBA prep while juggling running all other aspects of your business? Recipe for burnout.

Saltbox offers:

• Flexible warehouse suites in 11 major metros
• FBA prep support, from labeling to bundling
• Loading docks and receiving services
• Expert staff who know Amazon’s playbook

Let us handle the logistics, so you can focus on what actually grows your business.

Ready to crush Prime Day?

You’ve got products. You’ve got demand. Now you just need a logistics partner who won’t flake. Saltbox is here to help you prep, ship, and crush your Prime Day goals.

Download our Prime Day Readiness Checklist or talk to our team and see how Saltbox can help you prep your FBA inventory for Prime Day.