Automated Retail Commerce (ARC) is an ecommerce automation company by Robert Miller. They offer done-for-you management for Amazon FBA and Walmart wholesaling business. Previously, they offered Shopify and Facebook Marketplace management. Working with ARC can reduce the risks of failing with a wholesaling business. It also allows you to be exposed to ecommerce and earn passive income. ARC also offers programs for brands looking to expand their market. They also have a funding program for stores looking for financing.
Automated Retail Commerce reviews are positive, with a 4.6/5 rating on Trustpilot. Clients praise the hands-off approach with the service, from setting up the store to monthly performance reports. The ARC team has also been praised for being knowledgeable and efficient. Criticism has pointed out the high starting and recurring costs. There is also a lack of success stories and proof of client results.
In this article, you will discover why ecommerce wholesalers fail. You will also learn all about the ARC offers and who are they for. I will also tell you all about Robert Miller and if the business model they promote is worth it.
Automated Retail Commerce Pros and Cons
Pros
ARC offers a chance to own an eCommerce business and a passive income stream.
Good 2-year performance guarantee.
An opportunity for investors residing outside of the USA to take advantage of all of the features offered on Facebook Shops.
Cons
ARC is the rebranded version of ScaleBold (same team, same strategies).
No price transparency. Expect plenty of hidden costs.
Lack of detailed success stories.
Price
Automated Retail Commerce costs a onetime set-up fee and biannual renewal fees. There is also a profit split. You also need credit to cover the costs of ads and products.
Refund
Automated Retail Commerce has a contractual performance guarantee if your store does not make a 100% return from net profits. ARC with wave its biannual renewal fee and not take its profit split share until your store makes back the initial investment.
Origin
Robert Miller's first full-service agency was ScaleBold. Robert appears to have rebranded at the beginning of 2022. But with the same team, that includes himself and four of his colleagues. (Who all took Tai Lopez's SMMA training).
Reputation
ARC has overwhelming positive reviews. Robert's previous agency, ScaleBold, has mixed reviews.
It feel scammed by ARC. Paid them crazy fee upfront. They outsourced operations overseas with no oversight. Both Walmart and Amazon got suspended, now I’m out of both the fee I paid and money paid for stranded inventory.
Crazy part is that they feel they’ve done their part. It’s your fault for signing up for a risky business.
It’s legit but it just takes too long before you start seeing actual profit for the such large amount that you invested in.
Why Do People Fail With Wholesaling?
People often fail with eCommerce wholesaling for several reasons. Lack of product research and market demand can lead to unsold items. According to a survey by eCommerceFuel, 48% of eCommerce wholesalers reported that inadequate market research was a primary reason for unsold inventory. Managing inventory and suppliers can also be challenging due to delays or quality issues. A case study by Supply Chain Management Review found that 30% of eCommerce businesses experienced significant delays due to supplier issues.
Fierce competition requires effective marketing to attract customers. A report by MarketingProfs states that 35% of eCommerce wholesalers fail because they do not invest enough in digital marketing strategies. Some underestimate costs like shipping, storage, and marketing, reducing profits. According to ShipBob, unexpected shipping and storage costs can reduce profit margins by up to 20%.
Lacking a solid business plan and not adapting to market changes can lead to failure. The Small Business Administration found that 60% of eCommerce businesses without a flexible business plan failed within the first two years. Successful wholesaling needs careful planning, constant market research, and efficient resource management.
These challenges are only the tip of the iceberg. ARC claims that they can minimize the risks and increase the chance of success. This is done by handing over all important tasks and management to experts. This way, you take the role of a passive capital partner.
What Are Automated Retail Commerce Services?
Amazon Seller Management
The ARC team will manage your Amazon store without you having to create content or spend money on ads. They will first set up your account with a good reputation. Then they verify your supply chain to fit into their special systems.
The team will complete the approvals needed for you to sell popular brands in your Amazon store. Then they will take care of all the details to help your store grow and keep good standing on Amazon.
Walmart Marketplace Management
The ARC team will manage your Walmart store without you having to create content or spend money on ads. They will get your store approved by gathering and submitting the right paperwork.
Once your store is up and running, they will build your account's reputation. This is done by listing products, fulfilling orders, and providing any needed documents. ARC also submits proofs to Walmart to show you can sell the popular brands we have access to. They will handle all the tasks to help your store grow and keep a good standing on Walmart.
ARC Brand Network
The Brand Network is a program that helps you distribute your products to ARC clients. ARC also supports third-party sellers. This maximizes your exposure and customer reach. ARC lists your products across their managed stores. They also make data-driven decisions to maximize success. ARC also supports third-party sellers. This maximizes your exposure and customer reach. ARC lists your products across their managed stores. They also make data-driven decisions to maximize success.
ARC will evaluate your brand based on various factors to determine eligibility. Once approved, you will join the program that serves over 240 sellers. ARC uses a diversified approach to inventory management. This ensures your products are sold through multiple channels. This enhances brand visibility and supports digital marketing campaigns by adding authorized sellers.
Financing Options
Financing options helps you find various solutions to fund your Amazon store. Either for funding your start-up costs or ongoing inventory needs. ARC will help you finance your start-up costs through their network of partners. They can connect you with partners and services like American Express for inventory financing. Interest rates and installment amounts may vary based on your credit and income.
ARC Affiliate Broker
This is an affiliate program where you earn a commission by referring clients to ARC services. You can earn up to $3,000 in commission from each referral. To become an affiliate, you need to first apply and be approved.
Who Is Automated Retail Commerce For?
Are Clients of Automated Retail Commerce Successful?
There are plenty of positive reviews for ARC but few success stories. ARC does not use customer success stories to promote their service. They do currently serve over 240 clients and are partners with over 110 brands. As I have found no complaints, we can say that ARC's services are somewhat effective.
Jose started his partnership with ARC with their Shopify management service. He made $12,000 net in 2 and a half months. However, this success didn't last long. The ARC team offered to create him an Amazon FBA store instead. Jose said that his sales have grown double every month with profit margins of 30%+.
While ARC is not accredited in BBB, they have 2 complaints. Both are regarding refund issues and have been resolved. It appears that ARC stands by their guarantee.
Is It Good to Invest With Automated Retail Commerce?
It's good to invest with Automated Retail Commerce. Since ARC is partnered with many brands, your products are at low wholesale prices. You also save time with the initial set-up and avoid starter mistakes. Instead of getting freelancers to set-up your store, ARC does it for you with their team of experts. Having the day-to-day management handles by the expert team helps avoid beginner mistakes. The biggest downsides are the lack of control and high starting costs. In the long-run, you will earn passive income with high profit margins.
As long as you have the capital to start and sustain, you can make a profit. As with any investment, there is a chance of failure. Having experts run your business can limit the risks and lower the chance of failure.
Who Is Robert Miller?
Robert Miller is a digital entrepreneur and a Tai Lopez SMMA training graduate. Robert worked for Grant Cardone as a strategist, where he handled marketing campaigns and automation. Robert claims that he increased lead generation by 30% through innovative marketing strategies. After his tenure with Cardone, he managed B2B and B2C clients with budgets of over $200,000. He has helped eCommerce brands, publicly traded companies, and entrepreneurs make money online.
Robert launched his first company, ScaleBold, in 2019. But it is no longer active, and he's now the founder/CEO of Automated Retail Commerce. ARC, which started with just three employees, has grown to a team of over 50 professionals. Robert has earned $35 million for his clients. One of his most significant achievements includes helping a local Austin-based startup. Within a year, he increased their monthly revenue from $50,000 to $500,000. Now he's offering to do the same for qualified investors. The goal? To develop 'digital assets with 'brand equity and intrinsic value' for their clients.
Robert lives in Austin, Texas. A California State University, Northridge graduate with a BA in Finance. Miller also attended Moorpark College, where he received diplomas in AAS. During his time at Moorpark College, he was actively involved in the Business Club. He also led several successful student-led projects, including a campus-wide financial literacy campaign.
Is Amazon Wholesaling Worth It?
Amazon wholesaling is worth it for those with the capital to start and sustain it. According to a survey by Jungle Scout, 65% of successful Amazon wholesalers started with an initial investment of $5,000 to $15,000. The main advantages with Amazon FBA is Amazon handles logistics and customer service. However, it requires significant initial investment, ongoing reinvestment, and dealing with supplier rejections. A report by Helium 10 states that 40% of new Amazon wholesalers face supplier rejections in their first year. This is often due to lack of established business history.
The competition is fierce, and margins are typically around 20%. According to a study by SellerApp, the average profit margin for Amazon wholesalers ranges from 15% to 25%. This depends on the product category. It's not a quick path to wealth, but can provide a good source of income in the long run.
Is Amazon Wholesaling Profitable?
If done right, Amazon wholesaling is profitable. Amazon wholesalers who reinvested their profits consistently over three years achieved a monthly profit of $5,000 to $10,000. The average profit margin is around 20%, but competition and fees can eat into profits. SellerApp revealed that Amazon's referral and fulfillment fees can reduce profit margins by up to 15%.
You need to do thorough research, negotiate good deals with suppliers. Also, make sure you avoid competing directly with Amazon. According to a report by Jungle Scout, 55% of successful Amazon wholesalers spend at least 10 hours per week on product research. Look for products with high margins and good sales volume. A case study by AMZScout found that products with a sales volume of at least 300 units per month and a profit margin of 25% or higher tend to perform best. It's crucial to invest time and money, as upfront costs are significant.
Why I Prefer Local Lead Generation Over Ecommerce
Years ago I tried Amazon FBA and Shopify dropshipping. While I was making profit, it was just not worth all the work. You need to be constantly researching products, dealing with suppliers and customers, and running marketing campaigns. Outsourcing work to freelancers or agencies will free up your time but will cost you. I wasn't comfortable with risks and giving away control of my business. So I decided to look for other business models and found local lead generation.
Local lead generation is a low-cost, low-risk business model that creates passive income. You earn predictable passive income by renting out your website to local businesses. By ranking your site on Google using SEO it will start to generate traffic. Local businesses will rent your site to benefit from the leads.
In ecommerce, you will be competing with hundreds or thousands of other sellers. In the case of Amazon FBA, you might even be competing against Amazon themselves. With local lead generation, you only need to outrank a handful of sites. There's no need to compete for price or run marketing campaigns. This keeps your profit margins high and operating costs low.
Scaling an ecommerce business means increasing your capital investment. This will cover more inventory, ads, outsourcing, and automation tools. Scaling a local lead generation business means repeating the rank and rent process. There is no limit to scale, and you don't need to increase your spending. This is why I prefer local lead generation as the business to create financial freedom.
Arc is a scam do not trust them at all. STAY FAR AWAYYYYYY from them. They are horrible people and business owners.
What was your experience like Robert?
Arc is a scam. Do not give them any money, they will steal your money and stop responding.Do not trust them they are worthless
The Automated Retail Commerce is a SCAM! Avoid them or you will lose your life's savings.
They asked for $50K for signing a contract that only harm you. There is no guarantee of the performance expect they will not charge you $2500 again in the next two years.
The company's age is less than one year despite the 7 years they claim.
As you also mentioned ARC is the rebranded version of ScaleBold (same team, same strategies).
In addition to the enormous upfront fee they charge you, they ask for a monthly fee to hire someone offshore from one of the freelance websites like Fivver and Upwork to handle the account for you.
Also, don't fall for their claim selling branded products with big profits. It is not true. You will barely make money.
Thanks so much sir you have just save me from this evil men out there.
Robert and Kendal are scammers. DO NOT GIVE THESE PEOPLE YOUR MONEY!!!! They took my money, did nothing for months, tried only 2 products that failed, made me pay for subscriptions they never used, and refused to honor their refund policy. RUN AWAY!!!
Well This person seems to be more determined to make aggressive sales, he does not believe in hard work also he appreciates only pretty Filipinos or may be any females, if they say sun sets from east then He will dance on her tune, They charge clients and then they fail to deliver. Not recommended at all.
This company will charge you 35k and then will not look into shipping and customer service, as there contract says nonrefundable and which means they made money already out of the contract. So guys beware they do not take care of the customers.
Hello Steve, I agree with you completely, I know how this backend works, they are more into making money and honestly honesty and hard work is never complimented rather bullshit workers are giving false report to remove hardworking people. So they have no merits, they make money and then leave people jeopardize