Turning a Downward-Trending Amazon FBA Store into a 5x Revenue Powerhouse: The David Holmes Story

David Holmes never planned for a skateboarding passion in college to morph into multiple six-figure online business exits. But a knack for digital opportunity and a strong execution focus shaped his journey from a dorm room website owner to an FBA business revamp mastermind and agency founder.

From College Student to Online Business Builder

While attending Virginia Tech in the mid-2010s, David Holmes built a skateboarding content site out of hobbyist curiosity. This first side hustle really started to pick up when hoverboards boomed — grabbing the top Google spot for “best hoverboards” practically overnight. Two months, $13,000 in affiliate revenue, all during full-time coursework. That was enough to permanently shift David’s perspective on what’s possible online.

Tasting Initial Success — and Getting Serious

Chasing the momentum, David launched further projects: flipping content sites, jumping into Amazon Merch, then exiting that first Merch business for a healthy profit in 2019. Instead of relaxing, he started searching for new physical product opportunities because FBA brands were selling for high multiples. But, he hit a big wall — no real experience with manufacturing or product sourcing.

Buying Rather Than Building: The FBA Gamble

Rather than fumble through the hard startup slog, David bought an Amazon FBA business already running, snagging a deal on Flippa for $50,000 in early 2020. The business sat in the skateboarding category — right up David’s alley — but metrics were trending in the wrong direction. Having been in touch with the original owner through his skateboarding site, he had useful context and trusted his skills to identify hidden potential.

Diagnosing the Problems: Sinking Revenue and Patchy Reviews

The FBA business had just one core product, diversified with eight SKUs, but sales were decreasing, and the average Amazon rating rested at a concerning 3.2/5. Advertising costs, mostly handled through poorly planned PPC campaigns, drained profit and failed to drive strong sales. COGS were too high. David immediately set out to slice unnecessary spend and reverse slipping revenue.

The Strategies: Slashing Costs, Revamping Ads, Upping Quality

• Reviewed every line on the supply sheet and found a new manufacturer, slicing costs of goods by 45% nearly overnight.
• Elevated product quality, which soon lifted the Amazon rating up to 4.0/5.
• Paired a new PPC ad plan with better creative. Instead of running scattershot ads, he rebuilt the campaigns, increased spend but even more so improved ROAS, which in turn fed a self-reinforcing sales loop.

David’s prior experience with organic search and Amazon gave him the confidence to act fast. He cleaned up product copy, improved SEO, and focused heavily on driving conversion by narrowing the product’s positioning.

Scaling Up: Revenue Grows 5x in Two Years

With lower costs and better ads, sales grew by 5x from 2020 through 2022, while profit margins thickened. That rating bump made a huge difference, boosting conversion rates and organic keyword ranking. By late 2022, Amazon FBA businesses were in hot demand, and with metrics peaking, David listed and sold the business for a six-figure sum via Quiet Light Brokerage.

Key Moves that Drove the Win

• Sourced production to a more reliable, cost-effective manufacturer.
• Overhauled PPC, introducing campaign structures and bid management techniques designed for high ROAS.
• Actively managed reviews and post-purchase follow-up to drive up star ratings.
• Timing the exit to match peak FBA demand allowed for maximum exit value.

New Chapter: Helping Others Scale FBA with Red View Ventures

After his successful exit, David foundedRed View Ventures—a specialized FBA and DTC Amazon management agency. The firm combines tactical ad operations, product optimization, and conversion-focused copywriting. David and team are blunt: their goal isn’t just more sales, but real profit. They work with sellers from launch to scale to exit, often managing entire Amazon accounts from setup onwards.

Red View Ventures’ approach leans on PPC, leveraging the higher ROAS available on Amazon compared to paid channels like Facebook and Google. They support both start-ups and seasoned FBA brands, providing full-spectrum services: keyword research, SEO copywriting, listing optimization, and hands-on account management. Under David’s leadership, the firm’s helped clients supercharge their earnings for their own exits or long-term runs.

Advice from David: Stack Skills, Move Fast, and Don’t Overcomplicate

Success didn’t require a fancy MBA — just a willingness to fix what’s broken, cut the fluff, and use every tool available. David’s story is all about compounding skills. His early move into content, pivot to Merch, then FBA, built a skill stack that transferred directly to his ultimate win. He stresses: find a niche you understand, seize opportunities, and don’t hang out just hoping trends turn. If something is working, double down. If it’s not, change it—quickly.

Want Help? Connect with Red View Ventures

Whether you’re already selling on Amazon or prepping to launch a DTC brand, Red View Ventures might be worth a look. See if they can help plug revenue leaks or ignite new growth on your own Amazon journey.