Mesa Shop Owner Sells International Snacks via Live Streaming App

Amigos Market reaches national customers through Whatnot platform

Apr. 16, 2026 at 1:37am

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A high-end, photorealistic studio still-life photograph featuring a carefully arranged display of colorful international snacks and candies set against a clean, monochromatic background with dramatic lighting and deep shadows, conceptually representing the power of social media and live-streaming to connect local businesses with national audiences.A local Arizona shop owner's innovative use of live-streaming technology expands the reach of his international snack business to customers nationwide.Mesa Today

A Mesa, Arizona shop owner named Ahmad Ali is using the live-streaming app Whatnot to sell international candy and snacks to a nationwide customer base, after previously relying on local foot traffic. In the past five months, Ali has sold over $35,000 in snacks and sweets through the platform, which allows him to engage directly with consumers across the country.

Why it matters

This story highlights how small businesses are leveraging new social commerce platforms and live-streaming technology to expand their customer reach beyond their local community. As consumer shopping habits continue to evolve, innovative retailers are finding creative ways to connect with a national audience and drive sales through interactive, video-based experiences.

The details

After joining the Whatnot platform five months ago, Ahmad Ali, the owner of Amigos Market in Mesa, Arizona, has been live-streaming directly from his store to sell international candy and snacks to a nationwide customer base. This new strategy has allowed Ali's neighborhood shop, which previously relied on foot traffic, to reach a much larger audience and generate over $35,000 in sales of specialty food items.

  • Amigos Market joined the Whatnot live-streaming platform five months ago.
  • In the past five months, Ali has sold over $35,000 in snacks and candy through the platform.

The players

Ahmad Ali

The owner of Amigos Market, a shop in Mesa, Arizona that sells international snacks and candy.

Whatnot

An Arizona-based live-streaming platform that allows retailers to sell products directly to consumers through interactive video experiences.

Matt Nawrocki

A consumer who enjoys the thrill of live buying at local stores through the Whatnot platform.

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What they’re saying

“It's a good way to engage the local community. Sometimes, a shop like this one that I've never really heard about before, it gives you kind of an idea of like, what kind of things they have in store, and you know, they can really be engaging with showing off their new wares and new products that they may have available for sale.”

— Matt Nawrocki, Consumer

The takeaway

This story demonstrates how small businesses can leverage emerging live-streaming and social commerce platforms to expand their customer base and drive sales, even for specialty or niche products. By connecting directly with consumers through interactive video experiences, retailers like Amigos Market are finding new ways to thrive in an evolving retail landscape.