Book review: Selling on Amazon 1P vendor and 3P seller

📖 This article is featured in illuminem’s Curated Booklist: the influential books shaping the world sustainability debate

Title: Selling on Amazon 1P Vendor and 3P Seller
Author: Giovanni Papini
Publisher: Self-published
Publication: September 2025
Sustainability topics: Sustainable finance, sustainable business, environmental sustainability, corporate social responsibility, social responsibility

Drawing on over a decade of experience managing e-commerce for FMCG brands across EMEA and the US, Papini positions himself as a practical guide for anyone looking to succeed on Amazon without compromising ethical or environmental standards. The book combines clear operational advice with a broader perspective on responsible business, showing that profitability and sustainability are not mutually exclusive. 

Amazon is the world’s most competitive and influential digital marketplace. Every day, thousands of brands vie for attention, and even small mistakes can be costly. Giovanni Papini opens his guide, Selling on Amazon 1P Vendor and 3P Seller, with a simple yet urgent point: thriving here requires more than operational knowledge; it demands foresight, strategy, and a commitment to building sustainable practices into every decision. 

Navigating a complex marketplace

Papini carefully explains a major confusion in the Amazon marketplace: the differences between Vendor Central (1P) and Seller Central (3P), mapping out the advantages, hidden costs, and strategic considerations of each. Readers are guided through inventory planning, pricing strategies, and promotional dynamics – Prime Day, deal events, and algorithmic pricing – without losing sight of the bigger picture: how these operational decisions impact long-term growth, margins, and brand sustainability. 

Turning operational choices into responsible practices

Where many e-commerce guides stop at “how-to,” Papini shows how to embed sustainability into every step. Smart inventory planning and eco-conscious packaging are presented as ways to reduce costs, minimize waste, and build consumer trust. Transparent sourcing and data-driven advertising strategies are framed as competitive advantages, proving that ethical business practices can reinforce, rather than hinder, commercial success. 

A guide for responsible growth

The book emphasises planning: preparing for market shifts, technological disruption, and AI-driven commerce. Papini shows that brands that plan ahead, invest in resilient operations, and integrate ethical standards are better positioned to thrive under pressure. He ties these lessons to sustainable finance and investment, making the guide relevant to investors, operational teams, and decision-makers alike. 

At its core, Selling on Amazon 1P Vendor and 3P Seller is about balancing ambition with responsibility. Papini makes the case that growth doesn’t have to come at the planet’s expense. By embedding sustainability into strategy, operations, and supply chains, businesses can scale profitability while reducing environmental impact. It’s a guide to responsible e-commerce that is actionable, concrete, and immediately relevant. 

Conclusion: Essential reading for the modern marketplace

This book is a framework for thinking strategically, ethically, and sustainably about digital commerce. Entrepreneurs, investors, e-commerce leaders, and brand managers will find in Papini a clear, practical, and forward-looking roadmap for succeeding on Amazon while aligning operation switch environmental and social responsibility.

Selling on Amazon 1P Vendor and 3P Seller demonstrates that economic performance and sustainability reinforce each other. Success in today’s digital market place requires both.

This review is part of illuminem’s Curated Booklist: the influential books shaping the sustainability debate. illuminem Voices is a democratic space presenting exclusive insights from the world’s largest network of sustainability thought leaders. Their views expressed do not necessarily represent those of illuminem.