For small businesses looking to expand their reach, selling on Amazon can open the door to millions of potential customers. But building a successful business on the platform takes more than simply listing products. It requires understanding your customers, finding ways to stand out from competitors, and using the right tools to manage growth.

During Amazon Accelerate 2026, I had the opportunity to sit down with Craig Leslie of San Diego Coffee & Tea and The Bean Coffee Company to discuss how his company has used Amazon to grow its business and how emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, could change the way small businesses operate.

San Diego Coffee has been around since 1979, initially focusing primarily on wholesale operations. That changed in 2012 when the company acquired The Bean Coffee Company, an established Amazon seller.…