In the early days of Amazon’s seller program, DL Byron received an unusual request: Would he send some products into Amazon’s warehouses just to “see where they go?” It was 2006, and Amazon was developing what would become Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), a service that would transform how small businesses reach customers nationwide.
For Byron, this invitation came at a pivotal moment. His invention, Clip-n-Seal—born years earlier from a bag of stale chips—had already proven itself with customers across the country. After 26 prototypes, he had perfected this innovative bag closure device, and demand was growing. But managing inventory and shipping from his Seattle base was becoming increasingly complex. The possibility of having Amazon handle these logistics promised to solve one of his biggest challenges as a growing small business.
“It felt like I was part of something massive,” Byron said. “We were building business history together.”
Byron’s journey with Amazon had begun in 2000, when the company first invited independent sellers into its store. “It was like a startup back then; exciting and so much happening,” Byron recalled of those early days. Amazon’s seller interface was simple and basic, but Byron saw the potential. His early adoption of Amazon’s emerging tools and programs allowed him to witness firsthand how the company’s investments in logistics and technology helped level the playing field for small businesses.
Today, more than 60% of sales in Amazon’s store come from independent sellers like Byron—most of which are small and medium-sized businesses. From their manufacturing facility in Yakima, Washington, Clip-n-Seal‘s applications extend far beyond Byron’s original vision. Crime scene investigators use it to seal evidence bags, and NASA commissioned a custom 41-inch “Mondo” version for space missions. Yet, each product that goes through FBA still passes through Byron’s hands, maintaining the quality that has earned Clip-n-Seal a perfect 5-star rating in Amazon’s store.
Looking ahead, Byron continues to innovate, developing new products that combine Clip-n-Seal technology with reusable silicone bags. After more than 20 years of selling in Amazon’s store, he plans to launch these products there first.
“The opportunity is still there,” Byron said. “If you’re bringing real innovation and value, Amazon gives you the infrastructure to succeed.”