Interested in selling products online, but don’t want to have to deal with storing and shipping each purchased item? Look no further—working with dropshipping suppliers is the solution.
Through the process of dropshipping, you have the opportunity to sell products on the internet without ever handling merchandise. Additionally, you’ll get a percentage of the profits for each transaction that you facilitate between a customer and the dropshipping supplier.
Understanding Dropshipping
Dropshipping is essentially the online equivalent of someone buying products at a low cost and reselling them for a higher price, with minimal effort. Put another way, the business model involves partnering with dropship suppliers who offer wholesale prices for items, which are then sold to customers at retail prices.
Consider a simple scenario where you’re promoting noise-canceling headphones. The cost from the supplier is $15 while you retail them on the internet for $20. For every purchase, you earn a profit of $5.
Finding the Right Dropshipping Suppliers
Were you aware that a whopping 84% of eCommerce merchants experience significant obstacles when it comes to finding a dropshipping supplier for their eCommerce website?
This statistic represents a large number of individuals, specifically online entrepreneurs who are known for their resourcefulness and ability to tackle challenges head-on.
Finding dropshipping suppliers for your dropshipping business idea is no walk in the park. First, many well-established dropshipping companies have a limited online presence, if any at all. In some cases, you have to look deep within the depths of Google Search results, making them extremely difficult to locate.
Second, there are certain dropshipping companies that masquerade as reputable suppliers but are actually poorly managed or even fraudulent.
The good news is that technological advancements have provided solutions to this problem.
And you don’t have to handle any of the merchandise! Once a purchase is made, the supplier will directly send the product from their warehouse to the buyer.
Read on to discover our recommended dropshipping options, selected based on their TrustPilot score and notable characteristics.
Best Dropshipping Suppliers
Achieving success as a dropshipper entails an initial investment of effort. One must actively reach out to various manufacturers to negotiate the terms of partnership.
There are two distinct ways to sell your items:
- Set up your own virtual shop
- Promote your products on an e-commerce platform
By listing your products on more platforms, you can reach a larger audience. For instance, consider your circle of friends and the number of individuals who only shop on Amazon or eBay.
Dropshipping suppliers typically allow you to offer their merchandise on various online marketplaces, although certain platforms streamline the process of listing and placing orders.
Here are seven of the best dropshipping suppliers to work with this year.
Worldwide Brands
Instead of following the model of other dropshipping directories that demand a monthly or yearly fee, Worldwide Brands simply requires a one-time payment for lifetime membership.
With access to over 8,000 suppliers, you can browse through a directory containing a vast selection of over 16 million products.
The Better Business Bureau has given Worldwide Brands an A+ rating globally.
Establishing a partnership with a trustworthy company can speak volumes when working with dropshipping companies located on the other side of the world that you may not have the opportunity to physically visit.
The vendors can be sorted by the traits listed below:
- Suppliers who use dropshipping
- Wholesalers who offer light bulk purchases
- Wholesalers who sell in large quantities
- Wholesalers who offer instant import options
- Merchants who offer liquidation deals
If you have the financial means, you may opt to venture into wholesaling as well. However, it is important to note that you could potentially need to lease warehouse facilities from the supplier. Therefore, it is advisable to select products with higher profit margins or a significant level of popularity.
SaleHoo
An effective method for discovering dropshipping suppliers is to search for products on various online marketplaces and reach out to the manufacturer directly. However, this approach can be time-consuming and may lead to encountering fraudulent suppliers.
The Market Research Labs offered by SaleHoo provide an even more beneficial motive for utilizing their services. A crucial factor in achieving a consistent profit through dropshipping is selecting popular and sought-after products.
The ever-changing nature of shopping trends can be challenging to keep up with, but utilizing SaleHoo‘s research can give you an advantage over your competitors.
For instance, someone who sells cassette tapes may not get as many sales as someone selling a portable Bluetooth speaker. Despite being able to dropship both products at present, it is important to constantly keep up with the latest trends and ideally stay ahead of them.
One of the benefits of SaleHoo is the community forum, where users can seek advice and share their experiences with others. Additionally, SaleHoo’s educational course is available for beginners who want to expand their knowledge on dropshipping.
Although SaleHoo is a comprehensive directory, it is necessary to utilize an e-commerce business platform such as Shopify or BigCommerce in order to easily list products and inform the supplier of any sales made online.
Alibaba
According to Alibaba, it could potentially hold the title of being the biggest virtual platform for locating suppliers for dropshipping. Additionally, customers also have the option to make direct purchases from Alibaba.
Due to the nature of dropshipping, the products being sold are typically manufactured overseas where the expenses of production are considerably reduced.
It is possible to locate suppliers based in the U.S. instead of waiting for a sold item to be shipped overseas before it reaches the buyer.
Using Alibaba, you have the option of searching for suppliers based on their region or choosing from a list of top suppliers, making it easier to find a supplier that meets your specific requirements.
To ensure that you provide the fastest delivery times for international suppliers, work with suppliers that provide “ePacket delivery” with a delivery timeframe of 30 days or less.
To stay competitive as a buyer, many global vendors currently provide this shipping choice.
If you are not a business entity, you have the option to purchase items from AliExpress, which is owned by the same individuals who own Alibaba. This platform also allows customers to make purchases.
Inventory Source
Inventory Source has the capability to connect with over 28 various online marketplaces. This platform allows you to collaborate with a wide range of 150 suppliers for a variety of product categories.
In addition, there are various automation tools available to help you efficiently establish pricing and shipping rates, as well as filter by product category to view your store’s inventory.
Inventory Source will promptly inform the supplier about a sale, eliminating the need for you to manually send an email or confirm the purchase. Additionally, they also take care of the shipping details on your behalf.
During your vacation, your dropshipping business can continue to operate smoothly even if you are unable to access the internet.
Megagoods
Megagoods is a company that focuses on the sale of electronic devices and gaming products. Fortunately, these categories have a wide range, making it easy for the average online shopper to find what they are looking for.
One possible approach is to engage in dropshipping, which involves selling a variety of products,.
Several products, ranging from popular items like flatscreen TVs and phone chargers to more everyday items such as dinnerware, also come with complimentary shipping. So there’s no need to consider this expense when calculating your total sales price.
Dropshipping beginners can find Megagoods to be a valuable resource, but it is recommended to consider partnering with well-known brands that prioritize product quality.
Doba
Doba offers a supplier directory and inventory management systems that can be utilized. You have the option to export product listings directly to your store and other online marketplaces where you conduct sales.
There are four plan options available with Doba, all of which provide access to the amenities listed below at no additional cost.
- Curated lists of product categories
- Weekly newsletters featuring deals
- Support provided via email
- Supplier performance evaluations
To be able to export your product listing to both Amazon and eBay, it is necessary to upgrade to either an Advanced or Pro plan. By doing so, you will also gain access to live chat support and the Elite Seller Report as added advantages.
The report provided on a monthly basis displays the leading 30 products for each category. By referring to past monthly reports, identify patterns and determine the products with sustained success.
Shopify
One of the top choices for dropshipping sellers is Shopify due to its comprehensive dropshipping platform. This platform offers a one-stop solution for various tasks such as:
- Collaborating with suppliers who offer dropshipping services
- Establishing an internet-based shop
- Displaying your products on popular e-commerce platforms such as Amazon and eBay
Get access to weekly dropshipping educational webinars and easily start selling on your online store with the help of Shopify’s Oberlo app. With Oberlo, you can add up to 500 products and make 50 sales for free every month.
One of the benefits of utilizing Shopify is the ability to conveniently monitor every shipment within your storefront, eliminating the need for the supplier to send shipping information via email that you then have to manually input into the shipping service’s website for tracking.
Additionally, if you have any physical or digital items available for sale, you also have the opportunity to sell them yourself.
To date, Shopify has assisted dropshipping entrepreneurs, such as yourself, in achieving over 85 million sales!
Begin your dropshipping journey today! Whether you are a novice in the world of ecommerce or an experienced dropshipper, being familiar with the various options available for dropshipping suppliers can greatly benefit your business. It allows you to source high-quality products at a minimal cost, ultimately boosting your profitability.
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