Dropshipping

 Defining Dropshipping

Dropshipping is a retail fulfillment method where a store doesn’t keep the products it sells in stock. Instead, when a store sells a product using the dropshipping model, it purchases the item from a third party and has it shipped directly to the customer. As a result, the seller doesn’t have to handle the product directly.

The biggest difference between dropshipping and the standard retail model is that the selling merchant doesn’t stock or own inventory. Instead, the seller purchases inventory as needed from a third party—usually a wholesaler or manufacturer—to fulfill orders.

 

 Get video training https://www.shopify.com/courses/dropship?id=6579248a72

How Does Dropshipping Work?

The most convenient way to sell online

Dropshipping involves selling products through your online store, which are then fulfilled directly by the supplier. No need for packing, shipping, or maintaining inventory — just simple, hands-off sales. Here's how 3dcart makes dropshipping easier than ever.

The customer places their order in your online store

Your customer shops as normal, placing items in their cart on your 3dcart store. Payment is processed as usual.

Your store forwards the order to a third-party supplier

The customer's order information is passed to your supplier for fulfillment. You pay the item's wholesale price, and keep your markup and profits.

The supplier ships the order to the customer

Orders are shipped with your own store's name, address, and logo on the packing slip and invoice — the customer never knows you're a dropshipper.

 

Your store informs the customer that their order has been shipped

The customer receives an email from your online store to let them know their order is on the way. The notification comes from you, not your supplier.

The 15 best dropshipping companies, suppliers, databases, and tools

• Modalyst — Best Wix plugin and directory
• Oberlo — Best Shopify plugin and directory
• SaleHoo — Members-only database of 8,000+ suppliers
• Spoket —A Shopify database with good reviews
• Wholesale2B — Versatile supplier and dropshipping hub
• Inventory Source — Timesaving dropshipping automation tool
• Worldwide Brands — Budget-friendly database
• Dropified — Popular Shopify app for AliExpress
• AliExpress — China-based dropshipper with great user reviews
• DHgate — 1M+ products, but check user reviews
• Doba — 2M+ products with so-so profit margins 
• Wholesale Central — Best free dropshipping directory
• Sunrise Wholesale Merchandise — Some of the best dropshipping speeds
• Megagoods — US-based dropshipping supplier
• Dropship News — Extensive online directory

How to start a dropshipping business: 9 steps to a profitable dropshipping business plan

1. Commit to starting a dropshipping business
2. Choose a dropshipping business idea
3. Do competitive research
4. Choose a dropshipping supplier
5. Build your ecommerce store
6. Decide on a business structure
7. Get your finances in order
8. Market your dropshipping store
9. Analyze and improve your offering