Starting an online business can be a bit complicated in the beginning. Starting from economic aspects, going through the process of creating an online store, the reality is that it can be a demanding process.
However, there are certain methods such as dropshipping that can help us through suppliers to make the process smoother, so that we are motivated to start our business.
In this article, we will talk a little bit about dropshipping, particularly about how to find a dropshipping supplier, and what makes a supplier good.
What makes a good supplier?
Finding a dropshipping provider can be complicated, especially when you are just starting out in this world. The choice of this supplier is important, because if it fails, the responsibility for that failure to the customer will be ours.
That is why we will now show a series of considerations that we must bear in mind when choosing a good dropshipping provider:
1) It offers relatively low prices
Dropshipping companies charge a certain percentage for orders placed by our customers. However, many of these wholesalers take advantage of these situations and charge exorbitant prices for their services.
A good way to know if prices are adequate is to calculate the profit obtained from what these suppliers ask for. If even with those high prices the profit is adequate, then we keep with them, if not, we look for another.
2) Offers high-quality products
One of the reasons for finding a good dropshipping supplier is the need to find quality products. Let us remember that if something fails, the blame will fall more on us than on the supplier.
Finding an efficient, compliant dropshipping provider that sells top quality products will cause customer satisfaction to be higher, therefore, we will have more recommendations for parts of them, fewer returns and higher profits in the future.
3) Fast shipping
Fast shipping is a key factor if we are to enter this world. Finding a dropshipping supplier, who delivers in periods of less than 24 hours, a maximum 48, positions us at the top of the market in terms of efficiency.
Competitive advantages of this kind make a huge difference when it comes to being chosen by a person. A good way to know how true is the compliance of the times established by the suppliers, is to make a previous purchase to them.
4) Pleasant customer service
One problem that is very much present in terms of dropshipping is the availability and good service of the suppliers' sales representatives.
As a "partner" company, to which we will be constantly communicating to request shipment of products, we will require sales representatives who are available to us and can clarify all the doubts and problems that we have mostly.
How to find a supplier for dropshipping?
As we have already seen, by finding a dropshipping provider we can achieve a number of important benefits in our online business. Now, how do you find a supplier for dropshipping?
Answering this question is vital, since many times mistakes are made in this search for suppliers that can be a bit expensive. Below are a number of options to follow if we want to find a dropshipping provider:
1) Contact the manufacturers
One way to find suppliers for dropshipping is by contacting the manufacturers of the products we want to sell. Requesting the list of companies to which the factories sell these products allows us to establish contacts with them, and also guarantees the legitimacy and quality of these.
2) Research using search engines
Search engines such as Google are always a good start for locating suppliers, however you have to know how to use them very well. Searches performed by this method should always be preliminary, i.e. we locate the supplier and then investigate them in more detail.
The use of words such as "supplier" or "distributor", in addition to other keywords such as the brand name of the product I want to sell or the specific name of the product, make the search easier.
It is important to emphasize that we cannot judge at first glance at the pages that host information about suppliers. Many of them tend to be not very attractive pages. However, they turn out to be truly efficient.
3) Attendance at trade fairs
Attending trade fairs not only helps to establish links with other companies or acquire knowledge about advertising, marketing, products or the market in general, it also allows you to find suppliers for dropshipping accredited by other companies in many cases.
4) Use of directories
The use of directories can be a good option if we want to search for authentic and reputable suppliers. There are companies in charge of making "lists" of dropshippers using a certain selection process, thus ensuring that each of these suppliers present in it turn out to be scammers or a scam.
Although perhaps not the most cost-effective option, it is a consequence of the expense involved and the ease with which suppliers can be found in other ways. If we want to play it safe and not take risks, besides saving time in such searches, there is no doubt that directories are very viable options.
5) Use of social networks
How do you find a dropshipping provider? Well, social networks and their wide world are a perfect option for such a search.
Through the groups that are created in these media, we can find hundreds of suppliers that will facilitate our work in the company online, sometimes having a huge variety of these, in addition to better prices.
Even, creating our own company profile, we can not only contact them, but they can contact us through the different publications we do to promote to the public what we sell.
6) Order the competition
Sometimes, because of the small market for our products, finding suppliers for dropshipping can be very difficult. That's why we can rely on the competition.
If we know of a competitor who uses dropshipping, we can place an order with their store. When we receive the package, we have to check on the labels where we will get the return address, and that is where we will get the supplier.
Undoubtedly, the method of dropshipping, if well applied, can bring formidable benefits to our online store. Especially in the beginning, where the difficulties are greater.
Business growth, improved revenue and reputation are just some of the things we will achieve by finding a quality dropshipping provider.
So, you know how to find a dropshipping supplier? Don't wait any longer! Get to work, success is guaranteed.
