If you're considering dropshipping products using Shopify, find out everything you need to know about how to do it successfully.
How to start dropshipping on Shopify
What products should you not dropship?
Best items to dropship on Shopify
What are the margins for dropshipping on Shopify?
Tips for dropshipping on Shopify
What payment processors can I use?
Dropshipping is when a merchant doesn’t keep any products in stock; instead they fulfill orders from a third party which are shipped directly to the customer. So the merchant acts as the middle-person without handling products directly. There are lots of Shopify merchants who dropship.
It is possible to start your dropshipping business while you’re still in full time work, before transitioning to working full-time on your dropshipping as revenue and profits reach the right level.
It’s important to be realistic - Shopify estimates that it’s possible to generate between $1,000 and $2,000 dollars per month, within a year, if you’re working between 10 and 15 hours a week building your dropshipping business.
Shopify has a short guide to getting started with dropshipping, including deciding on a business structure and how to organise your finances.
If you’re thinking of dropshipping on Shopify, there are some kinds of products that are worth avoiding. Here is a list to help you dodge some common pitfalls.
Bigger and heavier items will cost more to ship, might have more risk of breakage and could be more difficult to manage.
Apart from being illegal, your customers will realise, be disappointed, and never come back. It’s a lose-lose situation.
Items such as adult products, counterfeit products, weapons, tobacco, drug-related items, unregulated supplements. Check out the platform’s advertising policies before you make any decisions.
You don’t necessarily have to avoid these, just be aware of receiving returns due to sizing issues (especially if you are shipping internationally).
As a dropshipper, you are liable for any problems but be aware that you don’t see or handle the products, plus there is more to go wrong with electronics so the risk is higher. That said, it remains a popular niche but it’s something to be aware of.
Crash hats might break in an accident, leaving you liable. Make-up might result in an allergic reaction. What we’re saying is: think about any implications of the product you’re selling going wrong.
There are certain types of products that do well for dropshippers. Consider niche products but also keep an eye on trends that you might be able to capitalise on quickly. Here are some examples of products that have done well for dropshippers in recent times.
A perfect example of an item that has been trending in 2020 (along with hand sanitiser), buying these and then selling on at a profit to people keen to stock up has worked well for many dropshippers.
This might seem like a strange one but the logic here is that they are cheap and small, making them an easy option for you. They are also likely to be lost quite regularly, making them a potential repeat purchase for your customers.
Similar logic to the ear plugs: small, relatively cheap products that may require repeat purchases due to customers losing them.
You can buy model-specific cases or a ‘one size fits all’ waterproof case which works for everybody.
Shopify has a whole ecosystem of apps that are available for you to plug in to your store to enhance functionality and make life easier. There are lots of apps that are helpful to dropshippers which can save time and money. Here are a few examples.
This app increases your average order value by recommending additional products to customers on your store. It’s easy to set up and has both a free plan, and a paid version with enhanced features.
Looking to start a printed or embroidered t-shirt business? Or sell wall art or blankets from the comfort of your home? Printful is a print on demand dropshipping supplier, designed to support Shopify businesses and take care of fulfilment as and when orders come in.
Modalyst is an official partner of the AliExpress Booster Program for dropshipping.
This partnership allows Modalyst to connect Shopify stores directly to AliExpress suppliers and products for dropshipping. All product info and orders are synced through an API. This means that AliExpress Order IDs and Tracking is automatically synced with your account through the Modalyst API-connected official partnership.
This app has a list of suppliers around the world and features automated, real-time order processing to help save you time. The app has several price points depending on the range of products you want access to, from a free plan up to $99 per month.
As you won’t be buying your stock in bulk in advance, but rather purchasing a single unit from the supplier every time you make a sale on your store, prices will be higher for you.
The average margin you could expect is about 15%.
To increase your margins you can of course increase prices, or buy in bulk so the lower margins are offset by the higher volume.
It’s true that it is easy to dropship on Shopify. What that means is that there are hundreds of thousands of people doing it, so the competition is fierce. Here are some tips to help get you started. Doing all of these things right may give you the edge over your competitors.
1. Make sure your store looks great. Whether that’s by hiring an agency to help build it or by using a professional looking theme, you need to stand out from the other stores selling the same product.
2. Ensure your product descriptions are well-written.
3. Create a blog and post on it regularly.
4. Create a great About Us page to reinforce you are a real business with real people behind it.
5. Make use of good imagery.
6. Make sure you provide excellent customer service! Make it easy to buy products from your store and be easily contactable if customers need to get in touch.
7. Personalise your emails - this forms a part of your customer service experience and relationship-building.
8. Maintain an active social media presence. Help engage with and grow your audience.
Dropshipping can often be considered high-risk by payment processors, but Shopify Payments is often able to support dropshipping stores. Whether you’re eligible for Shopify Payments depends on the location of your business as well as the types of products you’re looking to sell. It’s important that you review both the Shopify Payments requirements here as well as the Shopify Payments Terms of Service before you get started.