You are a seller product manager at Amazon (assume that it's a pure marketplace). You have to activate churned sellers (i.e., sellers who have stopped using seller producte e.g., catalogues, inventory, etc). How would you go about it? (Note: You have budget constraints to consider.)

Certainly, I understand the task at hand. I'll provide a detailed, strategic answer to the product growth problem you've presented, demonstrating deep product thinking, leadership, and growth strategies. I'll use a first-person perspective as if I'm directly addressing the interviewer. Let's begin.

Thank you for presenting this interesting challenge. To ensure I fully understand the scope and context, I'd like to ask a few clarifying questions before diving into the solution.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions

• Based on the scenario described, I assume we're focusing on the US market for Amazon's marketplace. Is this correct, or should we consider a global perspective?

Why it matters: This impacts the scale of the problem and potential cultural factors influencing seller behavior. Expected answer: Focus on the US market. Impact on approach: Would tailor strategies to US seller demographics and market conditions.

• You mentioned budget constraints. Can you provide a rough idea of the budget range we're working with? For instance, is it closer to $100,000 or $1 million?

Why it matters: This will help prioritize strategies and determine the feasibility of different approaches. Expected answer: Budget is around $500,000. Impact on approach: Would focus on cost-effective, scalable solutions rather than large-scale marketing campaigns.

• Do we have data on the average time period after which sellers typically churn? For example, is it after 3 months, 6 months, or a year?

Why it matters: This information helps identify critical intervention points and tailor our reactivation strategies. Expected answer: Most sellers churn after 6-9 months of inactivity. Impact on approach: Would design interventions focused on the 4-5 month mark to prevent churn.

• Are there any specific product categories where seller churn is particularly high?

Why it matters: This could reveal category-specific issues or opportunities for targeted interventions. Expected answer: Electronics and fashion categories have higher churn rates. Impact on approach: Would prioritize these categories for initial reactivation efforts and develop category-specific strategies.

• Do we have access to data on why sellers are churning? For example, competition, low sales, or difficulty in using the platform?

Why it matters: Understanding the root causes of churn is crucial for developing effective reactivation strategies. Expected answer: We have some survey data, but it's not comprehensive. Impact on approach: Would include gathering more detailed churn reasons as part of the strategy.

Now, let me outline my approach to reactivating churned sellers on Amazon's marketplace.