Day in the Life - AMZ Prep/Luminous

Behind the scenes of Luminous x AMZ Prep — from office tours and energy drinks to honest convos and founder chemistry

What happens when two high-growth founders, lifelong friends, and logistics obsessives spend a day together? A little chaos, a lot of insights — and somehow, a push-up competition.

This is a behind-the-scenes look at a day in the life with Jared Ward, Founder & CEO of Luminous, and Blair Forrest, Founder & CMO of AMZ Prep.

First Time Visit in Luminous HQ, Utah

Blair made his first in-person visit to the Luminous office in Utah, and he didn’t waste time getting acclimated.

“I’m impressed. I love the mountains, I love the energy drinks… and the Oscar? It’s pretty badass.”

After a quick tour, including a stop in the podcast studio, Blair and Jared started prepping for Luminous’ very first event in Utah — a curated meetup of brand operators, founders, and growth leaders.

From Dorm Room to 10M+ Items a Month: AMZ Prep's Story

While sipping on a (lukewarm but powerful) energy drink, Blair broke down how AMZ Prep got started:

• Founded out of a dorm room in Toronto
  
  
• Initially created to solve his own fulfillment needs
  
  
• Grew from a shed behind someone else’s warehouse in 2019…
  
  
• …to 20+ facilities and 10 million+ square feet of logistics capacity
  
  

Today, AMZ Prep is a powerhouse — prepping and labeling 10–12 million items per month for Amazon FBA across Canada, the U.S., and internationally.

“We work with 30% of the top 100 Amazon sellers. We’re in the room with some of the biggest brands. We might not win all of them today, but we will.”

Podcasting, Real Talk, and Growth Operator Chemistry

Jared and Blair weren’t just talking strategy — they were showing it. From planning a podcast session with Fabricio Miranda of Flieber, to chatting on camera, it was a full day of authentic storytelling, founder war stories, and sharp takes.

“This is my first event. Blair’s done a hundred. I’m a little nervous — but I think it’s going to be really good.”

Blair added what he’s learned from running events:

“These smaller, more intimate events? You get the best convos. Real talk. It’s where you build relationships.”

Founder Alignment in Action

Luminous and AMZ Prep are both building next-gen infrastructure for modern commerce — from smart supply chains to automated fulfillment.

So it’s no surprise the synergy was real:

“You guys are doing some really cool stuff,” Blair said.

“We’re growing like you guys. We're excited to be a part of it.”

Event Recap: Real Operators, Real Conversations

Later that day, the team hosted Kiln, a private event in Salt Lake City, gathering a select group of DTC brands, growth operators, and logistics leaders.

“We learned a lot. This is just the first of many,” Blair said.

“These are the ones where you really get to know someone.”

The Push-Up Challenge We Didn’t See Coming

Of course, no founder day is complete without an impromptu Sally Up push-up challenge. (Seriously.)

Jared, Blair, and the team gave it their best shot. There were sore chests, a few laughs — and one clear winner.

Final Thoughts: Business Gets Built in Moments Like These

This wasn’t just a content shoot or a marketing play. It was two founders with aligned missions, sharing the kind of conversations that don’t make it into case studies — but do drive real partnerships.

Whether it’s building smarter PO workflows or redefining Amazon prep, Luminous and AMZ Prep are building for scale, with clarity and conviction.

So, what can your business grab from their playbook? Here are the direct hits:

1. Find the Gap, Fill the Gap: AMZ Prep started by solving a real problem Blair himself faced. What’s missing in your market?
2. Think Big, Scale Smart: From a shed to 10 million square feet – that’s vision plus smart execution. Plan for growth!
3. Aim High: That "biggest and baddest" attitude? It drives innovation and makes you a leader. Don't be afraid to aim for the top.
4. Network with Purpose: Don’t just collect cards. Seek out events and people where you can "talk shop" and build real relationships.
5. It’s Still About People: Even with huge numbers and big goals, the day wrapped with a surprise guest and a "Sally Up" push-up challenge. Strong relationships fuel strong businesses.

Want to Connect With Luminous? See how we’re helping brands scale operations without the chaos - book a demo today!