Dropshipping is a business model where you sell products without having to carry any inventory. When a store owner receives an order from a customer, they simply contact the supplier, who will then ship the products directly to the customer’s doorsteps. Dropshipping apps like Oberlo let you add products from various suppliers to your store.
Find a Dropshipping Supplier
Dropshipping is a business model in which ecommerce entrepreneurs sell products without having to carry any inventory. When a store owner receives an order from a customer, they simply contact the supplier, who will then ship the products directly to the customer’s doorsteps. Dropshipping apps like Oberlo let you list products from various suppliers to fuel your shop’s product catalog.
Finding a dropshipping supplier can be the most challenging part of starting a dropshipping business. You need to find a supplier that is reliable, has great products, and will provide good customer service. Once you’ve found a few potential suppliers, it’s important to vet them before committing to working with them.
There are a few ways to find dropshipping suppliers:
Use a Dropshipping Directory
Dropshipping directories are marketplaces where dropshipping suppliers and ecommerce entrepreneurs can find each other. These directories list suppliers that have been vetted by the marketplace so you can be sure that you’re working with reputable businesses.
Some popular dropshipping directories include:
Oberlo Verified Suppliers
Oberlo Verified is a directory of dropshipping suppliers that have been vetted by the Oberlo team. All of the suppliers in Oberlo Verified are located in China and offer products that are suitable for dropshipping.
To access Oberlo Verified, simply sign up for an Oberlo account. Once you’re logged in, click on the “Suppliers” tab and then select “Oberlo Verified Suppliers.”
AliExpress Dropshipping
AliExpress Dropshipping is a directory of AliExpress suppliers that offer products that are suitable for dropshipping. To access AliExpress Dropshipping, simply sign up for an Oberlo account. Once you’re logged in, click on the “Suppliers” tab and then select “AliExpress Dropshipping.”
SaleHoo Suppliers
SaleHoo is a directory of dropshipping suppliers that offers a wide variety of products. To access SaleHoo, you’ll need to sign up for a paid membership. Once you’re logged in, click on the “Suppliers” tab and then select “SaleHoo Suppliers.”
Worldwide Brands
Worldwide Brands is a directory of dropshipping suppliers that offers a wide variety of products. To access Worldwide Brands, you’ll need to sign up for a paid membership. Once you’re logged in, click on the “Suppliers” tab and then select “Worldwide Brands.”
Use a Supplier Sourcing Platform
Supplier sourcing platforms are marketplaces where you can find products from verified suppliers. With most supplier sourcing platforms, all of the suppliers have been vetted by the platform so you can be sure that you’re working with reliable businesses.
Some popular supplier sourcing platforms include:
Oberlo Supply
Oberlo Supply is a marketplace where you can find products from verified suppliers. All of the suppliers in Oberlo Supply are located in China and offer products that are suitable for dropshipping.
To access Oberlo Supply, simply sign up for an Oberlo account. Once you’re logged in, click on the “Suppliers” tab and then select “Oberlo Supply”.
AliExpress Dropshipping
AliExpress Dropshipping is a marketplace where you can find products from AliExpress suppliers that offer dropshipping. To access AliExpress Dropshipping, simply sign up for an Oberlo account. Once you’re logged in, click on the “Suppliers” tab and then select “AliExpress Dropshipping”.
Alibaba Suppliers
Alibaba is a marketplace where you can find products from verified suppliers. All of the suppliers on Alibaba are located in China and offer products that are suitable for dropshipping.
To access Alibaba, simply sign up for an Oberlo account. Once you’re logged in, click on the “Suppliers” tab and then select “Alibaba Suppliers”.
Made-in-China.com
Made-in-China.com is a marketplace where you can find products from verified suppliers. All of the suppliers on Made-in-China.com are located in China and offer products that are suitable for dropshipping.
To access Made-in-China.com, simply sign up for an Oberlo account. Once you’re logged in, click on the “Suppliers” tab and then select “Made-in-China.com”.
How to Contact Suppliers
Once you’ve found a supplier that you’d like to work with, it’s time to contact them. The best way to contact a supplier is by email.
When you’re emailing suppliers, it’s important to be professional. Start by introducing yourself and your business. Then, explain that you’re looking for a supplier that can dropship the products that you’re interested in. Finally, ask if they offer dropshipping and if they would be willing to work with you.
It’s also a good idea to include your website URL in the email so that the supplier can take a look at your business.
Here’s an example of an email that you could send to a supplier:
Hi,
My name is _____, and I’m the owner of _____. _____ is a website that sells _____.
I’m interested in carrying your products on my website, and I was wondering if you offer dropshipping. If so, I would be very interested in working with you.
Could you please let me know if you offer dropshipping and if you would be interested in working with me?
Thank you,
_____
After you send the email, it’s a good idea to follow up with the supplier after a few days. If you don’t hear back from them, you can try contacting them again or moving on to another supplier.
Add Products to Your Online Store
Now that you’ve found a supplier and established a relationship with them, it’s time to start adding products to your online store.
When you’re adding products to your store, it’s important to remember that your goal is to provide value to your customers. So, make sure that you only add products that you would be proud to sell. In addition, take the time to write quality product descriptions and upload professional photos.
If you’re not sure how to write a great product description, check out our guide on how to write product descriptions that sell.
Once you’ve added products to your store, it’s time to start promoting them. The best way to promote your products is by using social media, email marketing, and paid advertising.
Promoting Your Products with Social Media
Social media is a great way to promote your products because it’s free and it allows you to reach a large audience.
When you’re promoting your products on social media, it’s important to post high-quality photos and videos. In addition, make sure that your posts are interesting and informative.
If you’re not sure how to get started, check out our guide on how to use social media for business.
Promoting Your Products with Email Marketing
Email marketing is a great way to promote your products because it allows you to reach a large audience, and it’s relatively inexpensive.
When you’re promoting your products with email marketing, it’s important to create quality email newsletters. In addition, make sure that you segment your email list so that you can send personalized emails to your customers.
If you’re not sure how to get started, check out our guide on how to create an email marketing campaign.
Process Orders and Ship Products
Once you start making sales, it’s time to process the orders and ship the products.
When you’re processing orders, it’s important to be efficient so that you can get the products shipped out as quickly as possible. In addition, make sure that you keep your customers updated on the status of their orders.
If you’re not sure how to process orders, check out our guide on how to process orders and ship products.
Handle Customer Service and Returns
Finally, it’s important to handle customer service and returns.
When you’re handling customer service, it’s important to be responsive and professional. In addition, make sure that you do everything you can to resolve the issue.
If you’re unsure how to handle customer service, check out our guide on handling customer service and returns.
Conclusion
In this article, we’ve covered how dropshipping works. Dropshipping is a great way to start an online business because it’s easy to set up and doesn’t require much money. If you’re thinking about starting a dropshipping business, we recommend that you take the time to find a niche and a supplier that you’re passionate about. In addition, make sure that you create quality product descriptions and take the time to promote your products.