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One of the many benefits of the evolution of e-commerce is that now we can sell products without maintaining an inventory. This method of selling things online without keeping stock is called dropshipping. One of the many aspects you need to set up to do this business properly is picking the right dropshipping suppliers.
Determining dropshipping suppliers that suit your business ideally is crucial to ensure your products’ quality is always consistent, delivered on time, and priced appropriately, among many others. However, choosing suppliers is easier said than done.
In this article, we will show you how you can find the best suppliers for your dropshipping business along with brief explanations on some of the best dropshipping suppliers. Without further ado, let’s begin.
There are many benefits to dropshipping over typical retail models — making it grow in popularity. The seller purchases stock from wholesalers and manufacturers as needed and fulfill orders through a third-party delivery service.
Learn More: How To Start A Successful Dropshipping Business In 2022
However, finding a reliable and trustworthy supplier among all the available options can be challenging. Thankfully, many dropshipping supplier directories can help you with that. A dropshipping supplier directory is a database of suppliers sorted by market, niche, product and includes some screening processes to ensure legitimate suppliers.
Before we get into the details of those, however, let us look at a few ways how you can find a dropshipping supplier.
If you want to get a variety of products for your online store quickly, finding wholesalers is the best way to do so. The first step is contacting manufacturers and asking for wholesale distributors’ contact information. The strategy will allow you to source products quickly and get started with a niche market.
To help you get a better idea of what it takes to be the perfect wholesaler for your business, you first need to gain a deeper understanding of your industry’s supply chain. There are many different types of wholesalers, including:
What’s more, besides contacting wholesalers directly, there are several other ways to find the right dropshipping supplier for you and we’ve outlined some of the best methods to do it. Scroll down to get the lowdown on each of them!
You should start by asking a manufacturer because you can either get lower prices than you usually would or a list of recommended distributors to begin your search. Whichever you eventually get will only benefit your business.
This is especially true if you sell branded products; it’s always better to go straight to the manufacturer. However, they may market to you based on the minimum order requirements. We say this because the fewer people you deal with, the less cost. This allows it to be more competitive in the dropshipping business.
Finding a product's suppliers can be overwhelming, but it pays off in the long run. There are a lot of wholesale distributors, and you should contact each one to know the minimum order requirements and wholesale unit prices.
Communicate your honest intentions and be as straightforward as possible. Be sure to keep emails concise and friendly, and consider picking up the phone to reach out. It can't hurt to call those you've contacted via email, even if you’re just starting.
Selling your merchandise on eBay is a difficult start for small retailers, but it's an easy way to make some cash. If you're low on capital and don't mind the risk, wholesale on eBay might be the answer for your company. The issue with this site is that it typically targets retail consumers. Be aware that the options you will find here are not suitable for many businesses.
So the next time you need something, you can start your research with some Google search terms. As you get deeper into your research, you'll probably get more specific about the products you're seeking.
Conduct Google searches using the keywords “wholesale” or “distributor” plus some keywords from your products or niche. Try product names, model numbers, and brand names. When you find a wholesale supplier you like, you will need to contact the retailer to find out more or apply for a wholesale account.
The best way to do this is by using the "contact us" link, an email address, or a phone number. If you still cannot find the contact details, do a WHOIS search and find the website's contact information.
If you want to find wholesale suppliers, it'll take some networking with your industry insiders until you gradually become one of them. You can join industry groups, forums, and professional networks. Other than that, you can also participate in LinkedIn, online forums, industry newsletters, and other professional networks to start building your network.
Start with Alibaba, the biggest of all B2B marketplaces. Other noteworthy sites include Global Sources, Buyer Zone, EC21, EC Plaza, and Busy Trade.
Get all of the trade magazines that you can find. When you read them, you will know that every advertiser is a business trying to reach out to your company. The most significant advantage of subscribing to trade magazines is that they won't cost you much to get and will provide you with many leads.
Connect with any advertiser who sells your products or has similar products for sale. Plus, sign up for email updates from manufacturers and distributors who want to reach out to you.
Going to trade shows is a fantastic way to meet with manufacturers and wholesale distributors in person. You can avoid all the noise of inaccurate information by attending trade shows.
Our directory for trade shows, tsnn.com, has all the latest events — search for a show by industry, date, city or country, and event name.
The perfect supply chain is an evolution that starts with trial and error. When you first start, your primary concern is finding a wholesaler that gives you the ability to ship your product at a profit.
Remember, you don't need the best price from your first supplier — just a wholesaler who will help you send your product. Once you've done that, you can focus on improving your bottom line by trying other wholesale suppliers.
If you already know the product or niche you want to sell, you should be able to figure out where to buy it. While a membership directory can be an excellent place to brainstorm ideas for a new product, they're not always necessary.
Below are several dropshipping suppliers and companies we have highlighted for you to help you select which dropshipping supplier is right for you.
AliExpress is an online marketplace that allows you to buy and sell products. Whenever the Alibaba wholesale service comes out with a new product, you can find it on AliExpress.
One of the most convenient features of AliExpress is that you can order individual items, as opposed to dedicated inventory.
The convenience of using AlExpress goes even further. You can shop for goods without any language barrier. Plus, AliExpress handles all tracking and notifications.
There are also automation tools to help your e-commerce site, like Magento Commerce, automate your order fulfillment.
One disadvantage of using AliExpress is that the location of most vendors is in China — making shipping prices high and wait times long. However, the ePacket option makes this affordable, so you can get your items if you want to wait a few weeks.
So, overall, AliExpress is a convenient, affordable, and easy-to-use platform for dropshipping suppliers to test out new products.
The tradeoff is slower shipping times. If you’re a dropshipping business that needs prompt and transparent shipping to reduce customer service issues, then AliExpress may not be the best for you.
SaleHoo is a wholesale and dropshipping directory that provides buyers with dropshipping suppliers from around the world. They are based in New Zealand but are available to customers worldwide.
They provide a directory of potential suppliers for both dropshipping and traditional wholesale. The website also offers a reasonable yearly subscription plan for users.
SaleHoo is different because it does not allow retail orders like other sites. Instead, it's more formal and requires direct communication with suppliers.
The process can be a little more difficult because you have to build relationships and create networks and communication links with other online stores.
SaleHoo has an extensive directory of suppliers worldwide, but it may be better for dropshippers that have some experience in a particular industry or product.
Doba provides a customer-friendly platform for sourcing, ordering, and managing inventory.
They are based in the U.S. and have live customer service available for brands who need help for their customer service.
Doba manages all of the operations and manufacturing and integrates well with eCommerce platforms and marketplaces, making it easy to sell products online.
When a large brand has custom demands for its suppliers, it can be difficult. The service tiers can get expensive, as well as they range from $29-$249 per month.
Now, even remote factories have access to the big brands, thanks to virtual services that are affordable and easy to set up.
Lastly, Doba is a platform that manages the sourcing, fulfillment, and integration needs that allow anyone to be a dropshipper.
You can use their service to work with a wholesale supplier or not, and their pricing can be expensive for high-tier plans.
Megagoods distributes electronics. They own and operate a warehouse in California, making them an excellent option for US-based buyers.
The company costs only $14.99 per month and is perfect for dropshippers selling electronics domestically, as you don’t have to worry about international shipping times.
Megagoods focuses on consumer electronics, so the product offering is a bit more limited. They also lack research tools or integrations.
However, the company only has a limited number of products, and it doesn’t have integrations with any eCommerce platforms.
To make buying from the company as easy as possible, you'll have to build a fulfillment process from scratch.
Worldwide Brands is a company based in Florida. In addition to providing a directory of verified dropshippers, large and small volume wholesalers, and importers, the company offers a simple way to find vetted suppliers.
Worldwide brands also provide training material geared towards finding the right supplier and running an online business.
If you're a US business, you can reach them in Florida for a little more hands-on customer service.
While this dropshipping service is primarily a directory, we’ll still need to work with suppliers and develop relationships on our own.
The subscription price of $299 may be a hard pill to swallow for some companies who would like to test out the service before paying.
Worldwide Brands has vetted suppliers around the world for your business. The process is interactive and easy, but it is not free of charge.
But before you commit, know that without your refinement, the upfront cost is high.
If you’re not already selling wholesale or drop shipping, you don’t know what you’re missing. Wholesale Central is the industry’s leading supplier directory with over 25 years of experience.
Hundreds of suppliers that are vetted and approved by Wholesale Central are just waiting for your orders. Not only that, the directory is free to use for buyers.
Wholesale Central is primarily an online directory, so you must do any relationships, communications, or purchasing directly with the supplier.
Most suppliers do not drop-ship, but you can explore your options with them.
Wholesale Central is a complete marketplace for buyers and sellers alike. It's easy-to-use, accessible, and provides listings of wholesale suppliers worldwide.
It also offers dropshipping suppliers and can connect you with suppliers specializing in that service.
CDS is the first and best dropshipping vendor in India. It’s fully automated and easy to use. It connects with thousands of products and ships globally. Sign-up is free, and it's a great way for Indian dropshippers to get started.
Wholesale2B is a drop shipping service that lets customers research and integrate products with their e-commerce platform, all from the convenience of their own homes.
The US-based company has one goal: to make the dropshipping process as automated as possible.
This way, they hope to minimize any need for communication with suppliers or logistics providers.
With Wholesale2B, customers can research items, integrate them with their e-commerce platform, and manage the rest.
Providing wholesale dropshipping services, this company offers a technology-driven solution for dropshipping businesses.
Wholesale2B may offer all the features you need, but it does come at a price. It's free to browse their site, but you'll need to pay monthly for every service.
If you want to dropship on multiple platforms, you will be paying separately for each service. Customer service is only available during business hours, and there are limited channels.
Wholesale2B offers a dropshipping platform that makes getting started selling on eCommerce platforms easy and inexpensive.
However, their subscription fees can add up quickly, depending on the service you’re using. For example, there is a slightly higher monthly price if you’re using their other services like analytics.
Sunrise Wholesale is the perfect solution for the US and Canada-based customers who need a dropshipping service.
The company has been around for about 20 years and has various e-commerce platform integrations.
Sunrise Wholesale also makes it easy to ship to customers locally. This dropship supplier also offers a limited product selection and ships to customers in under a week.
Unlike some other international suppliers, they have a month-to-month fee of $49, making it easier for retailers to use their service.
There are a few limitations to their service, however. While they keep it simple by managing all of their inventory internally, this means they also offer a limited selection of items, typically from 15,000 to 30,000 products.
In addition, their monthly subscription fee is $49.
Sunrise Wholesale is an excellent solution for those looking to quickly and affordably sell products internationally.
This dropshipper may be a good option for you if you're only looking to ship products to the U.S. and Canada, as they do not carry many product offerings and cannot send them anywhere else.
National Dropshippers is a service based in New Hampshire that facilitates the dropshipping of products.
They provide fast shipping and affordable membership plans, plus a catalog for browsing and flexible plans to suit your requirements as a seller.
Furthermore, they also have reasonable membership plans for your operational needs.
National Dropshippers offers fewer products to sell than other dropshipping services, but they provide the ability to export these products to your eCommerce platform for easier management.
This means that ongoing maintenance is more manual than other dropshipping services.
National Dropshippers is very careful about the products they offer but can still ship items within 24 hours. They have a network of domestic suppliers, which helps them provide speedy shipping.
However, they lack automation capabilities and integration with other e-commerce platforms.
Inventory Source offers a flexible platform for managing the dropshipping process from start to finish.
The company syncs products from various supplier networks, lets users place orders, and keeps inventory records.
This company strives to offer a flexible platform that all retailers can use based in the US.
Inventory Source is powerful because you can use their curated lists of dropshipping suppliers and create and manage your own.
That means the software doesn’t limit your operations over time since you can keep expanding without moving to a new provider.
This contains a list of the best dropshipping supplier directories and products. Inventory Source charges for every supplier sellers add to their account.
Basic Plan includes one supplier integration for $99 per month, but Plus Plan allows two integrations for $125 per month.
Inventory Source is a flexible software that can help automate your dropshipping process.
Dropshipping automation software can help manage the entire process and connect to dropshipping suppliers.
However, if you want to buy from multiple dropship suppliers, this software may not be for you.
Pet Stores USA is the leading supplier in the pet industry. They offer all the top brands and best pet products for an unbeatable low price, with 2,500 different items.
They don't show their products at retail, so that they won't compete with your retail partner. Dropshipping and e-commerce businesses benefit from the customer service and account representatives that Ship Station provides.
They have 1000s of customers and can help with everything from ordering to tracking numbers and order updates. Every dropshipping partner has an account representative to build a relationship with.
Their customers span from small dropshippers to giant e-commerce businesses.
US Direct delivers products from the best US dropshipping suppliers, including Honest Green, Williams Trading, and more.
They offer more than 200,000 quality goods in multiple categories, including sporting supplies and household goods.
Sagebrook Home is a US-based wholesaler of home decor products ranging from lightning and home textiles to wall decor and furniture.
They have one of the freshest, newest catalogs in the industry, with over 10,000 items to choose from.
One of the best things is providing the best packaging for the clients. But, it offers its services only in the continental US.
Another requirement is to have a fully functioning website that features home decor products and accessories when they dropship your products.
GreenDropShip offers your customers many natural and organic products, such as beauty and body care, food and beverages, vitamins and supplements, and even health and wellness.
They ship out products from three locations in the US: Los Angeles, Dallas Fort-Worth, and Pennsylvania.
GreenDropShip offers a variety of features that will help you succeed. You'll save money, have access to the latest products, be able to use Amazon FBA services, and won't need to place large orders.
Alpha Imports is a wholesale supplier of jewelry and gemstones. They’ve been in the business for a long time and have developed a process that makes it easy for brands to get involved with dropshipping.
Instead of going through an intermediary, Alpha Imports buy from the source, which allows them to offer low prices for luxury jewelry.
Alpha Imports offers quality products with the Alpha Seal with their Direct Source bulk-buying model.
This seal guarantees the lowest prices on the market with an easy-to-use dropshipping process.
Modalyst is the only drop shipping platform with automation. It is a go-to destination for fast-shipping dropship products from various price points and categories.
This platform helps connect online stores directly to millions of products and suppliers, including Made-in-America brands, international luxury labels, and handmade, unique designers.
Modalyst is the best dropshipping platform for US clients because it offers products in 3 days.
This is perfect for start-ups looking to market fast and for established businesses testing demand for a new category.
To find dropshipping suppliers, visit vetted directories like Oberlo, get recommendations from your colleagues, or look at your favorite brand's suppliers, among others.
The best dropshipping suppliers are AliExpress, SaleHoo, Doba, CDS, and Worldwide Brands. Take a look at this post to see more options.
AliExpress and its unorthodox infrastructure support the dropshipping model more than most marketplaces. Websites like Etsy, eBay, and Amazon are more geared towards conventional eCommerce practices.
Dropshipping is a part of eCommerce in that you sell items online; only the difference is, you don't keep the inventory. You need to take the orders, send them to your suppliers, and your suppliers will ship them to your customer.
While you don't necessarily need to have a business license to dropship, we think you should have one eventually. This is so that it will be easier for you if someone presses charges and considers you illegal somehow.
We hope that our list has helped make it easier for you to source wholesale products with genuine wholesale pricing when you’ve reached this point.
So, if you want to grow your dropshipping business and sell online, you must create videos to advertise your wholesale and dropshipping platform. Use our Ad maker to create videos to help you find suppliers and customers. You can also use our designer eCommerce templates to create content for any product you want!
You can easily create videos at the snap of a finger and customize them accordingly by adding music, text, and animation to make them more attractive. Go ahead and get started today!
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