Have you decided to start a dropshipping business but don’t know where to start? Well, a good first step is to find a supplier. Without a supplier, or sometimes multiple suppliers, you wouldn’t have a business!
However, it may not be as easy as it sounds. It can often be a chore to find the right supplier for your business. There are several key factors to consider when selecting your suppliers to ensure your customers get the best service and quality products. Read on to learn how you can find the perfect dropshipping supplier.
IMAGE: UNSPLASH
What Is Dropshipping?
First, let’s start with the basics of dropshipping. A dropshipping business differs from a normal retail business in that they fulfill orders by purchasing their products from a third party as needed. They don’t keep their products stocked themselves.
This can be a great way for aspiring entrepreneurs to get their business idea off the ground, as it requires little investment compared to businesses that stock and produce their own products. Dropshipping can teach you a lot about how to select and market the highest-demand products.
How To Find A Supplier
Finding the right dropshipping supplier for your business can sometimes be a bit tricky. There is a vast selection to choose from offering any kind of product you can think of. Because many suppliers do not interact directly with customers, they can also be hard to contact and communicate with.
Fortunately for you, we know of a few different ways you can find and contact a potential supplier.
Use A Search Engine
This may seem obvious, but an easy way to pull up a list of suppliers is to do a quick google search. A large selection of suppliers will likely populate from your search, but it may be hard to determine which ones can be trusted with your business. Suppliers often do not invest much in online marketing or social media, so you may have to do some digging to find more detailed information on their services and track record.
Direct Contact
The easiest method of finding a supplier may be to simply contact them directly. To do this, you can either sign up for a supplier directory, which will contain the contact information for numerous suppliers or track down the manufacturer of a specific product. The first option will be a bit easier, as going through a manufacturer will require some persistence. Most manufacturers are not known for their responsiveness.
Find A Trade Show
A great place to find potential suppliers is a trade show. Trade shows are the perfect avenue for suppliers to get their products seen by people like you who may need their products, so there will definitely be a lot of them in attendance. This is a particularly good option because you’ll be able to see and interact directly with the product they offer, so you can decide if it’s right for you before making a commitment to any one supplier.
How To Choose A Supplier
So you’ve done the legwork to find a supplier, or maybe a whole lot of them, but now you’re unsure which one to choose. They may all seem reliable and easy to work with but choosing one over all the others can be difficult.
When making such a crucial decision, it’s important to keep a few factors in mind. These are factors that will determine which of these suppliers is the best for you to work with.
Industry Experience
One of the first things to look for in a potential supplier is their track record. How many years of experience do they have with their product? Have they just started out, or do they have multiple years of experience under their belt? While a new supplier can oftentimes be trustworthy and efficient, a supplier with years of experience and great feedback is usually the safer option. They will have had time to smooth out their process and set up an efficient method of production.
Additionally, they will more than likely have experienced staff for you to call on when you have questions or concerns with their product. They should be experts in their particular product so that when customers have questions or disputes about pricing or other factors, you have someone to turn to for help.
Quality Over Quantity
It may be easy to get caught up on how much of a product can be produced by a certain supplier, but this is not necessarily all you should consider. Many suppliers may boast high production rates, but if their products aren’t of high quality, it may not matter.
Generally speaking, customers want high quality. Whatever they’re buying, they want it to last. If possible, look for a supplier with a track record of high production paired with high quality. If it comes down to a choice between the two, it’s a better idea to err on the side of quality, rather than quantity. Even if it means investing a bit more money on your end, it will pay off in the long run.
Pricing And Shipping
Another major factor to consider is per-order pricing and shipping speed. It’s important to find a supplier who can offer you products at a per-order price that is agreeable to your business. Balancing fees and quality can be tricky, but it’s important to find a balance between the two.
Shipping speed, on the other hand, is a must when it comes to dropshipping. Customers want their products delivered in a timely manner, or at the very least, delivered by the predicted delivery date. It will quickly become a huge hassle if your supplier loses a shipment or takes longer shipping a product than was promised.
Make The Right Choice
Taking into account the information outlined above, we’re confident you’ll be equipped to find and select the right supplier for your burgeoning dropshipping enterprise. Dropshipping is still a lucrative business and a particularly good way to get started as an entrepreneur.
We believe with patience and the right suppliers, you’ll see your business truly reach new heights!
If you are interested in even more business-related articles and information from us here at Bit Rebels, then we have a lot to choose from.
COMMENTS