There are 26 million eCommerce retailers worldwide many of which are eCommerce dropshipping sites.
Learning how to start a dropshipping business, like any other venture, isn’t easy. Nevertheless, it’s a great first step into the world of entrepreneurship.
To help you start with e-commerce dropshipping, I’ll walk you through what eCommerce dropshipping is and how it works.
What is eCommerce dropshipping?
eCommerce dropshipping is a business model where you partner with a dropshipper who owns products in bulk. You create an online store and sell those products online without holding the stock. You only promote them, and the dropshipper fulfills your orders.
The growing number of dropshipping sellers and droppers indicates the success of this business strategy. According to a 3dcart survey, dropshipping accounts for 23% of all online purchases, generating $85.1 billion.
With a dropshipping company model, you can concentrate entirely on selling and not worry about maintaining inventory in response to fluctuating product demand.
How does the dropshipping model work?
Here is how the dropshipping model works:
Step 1: You partner with a reliable dropshipper
Step 2: Set up an online store and list the products available with the dropshipper
Step 3: Promote the products online to generate sales.
Step 4: When a customer purchases, send the order details to the dropshipper
Step 5: Dropshipper picks, packs and ships the ordered products to the customer directly.
What is dropshipping in eCommerce?
You can dropship while running an eCommerce business. You partner with a dropshipping supplier like Qikink. You sell the products available with your dropshipping partner on your website. When you receive an order, your dropshipper will fulfill the order on behalf of your store.
With eCommerce dropshipping, you are free from holding any inventory and managing shipping hassles. However, selecting a reliable and trustworthy dropshipping company is the key to the success of your eCommerce dropshipping business.
What is the difference between dropshipping and eCommerce?
When you have an online business and handle every stage of the selling process yourself, from the website to delivery and aftercare, you engage in eCommerce.
Dropshipping is when you have a website but do not sell the products directly but get them shipped from your supplier to your consumer, and you handle all customer support.
Now that you understand the basic differences between eCommerce and dropshipping let’s look at how you can choose the best strategy for you.
Know the sample price for all products before you sell
Dropshipping and eCommerce - Business Impacts
Dropshipping and eCommerce are two separate business models. They each have a different impact on the success of your eCommerce site.
Dropshipping | eCommerce | |
Investment | Dropshipping requires no initial investment because it does not require inventory or a warehouse. | Purchasing and storing the products require a huge investment. |
Profit margins | Your profit margins will decrease when you buy things from a dropshipping source – a middleman. Your supply chain may also be more expensive because you may need to pay for fulfillment services. | Your profit margins will be substantial if you acquire things at wholesale prices. You can also save money on packaging and shipping. |
Ease of business | Dropshipping makes doing business simple. You can save money on initial product prices, storage, and packing. | eCommerce is complicated since you must obtain, store, and package things. You may require the services of an experienced personnel. |
Branding | You have little influence over the quality of products the dropshipper acquires on your behalf. You will be unable to offer custom products or employ distinctive branding. | You have complete control over the product you sell via eCommerce. You can sell your products and brand them. It contributes to the development of a strong brand. |
Risk | Dropshipping is risk-free because you don’t have any inventory to hold. | If your products do not sell your losses will be greater. |
Why should you choose the dropshipping model?
Here are some instances in which you should consider dropshipping.
- You are a beginner who wishes to create a store soon.
- You want to keep initial costs as low as possible.
- You sell things that don’t require branding.
- You wish to reduce the risks associated with unsold inventories.
- You are a newbie to marketing.
- Dropshipping is your passive source of income.
Conclusion
The dropshipping model works by partnering with a reliable dropshipper, setting up an online store, promoting products online, sending order details to the dropshipper, and having the dropshipper pick, pack, and ship the ordered products to the customer directly. This model lets you focus on selling without managing inventory and shipping hassles.
Dropshipping is a good choice for beginners, those looking to keep initial costs low, sellers selling non-branded items, newbies to marketing, and those seeking a passive source of income.
Qikink is India’s largest dropshipping company in India. It offers a wide product range for dropshipping. Sign up and start your dropshipping business while Qikink helps fulfill your orders.
Read more
- Ultimate Guide On How To Start A Dropshipping – Print On Demand Business
- How To Sell Products Online Without A Website
- Your Ultimate Guide to Shopify Dropshipping: Building a Profitable Online Store with Minimal Risk
- Top 10 Dropshipping Products In 2023 To Sell Online
- Best Dropshipping Suppliers To Boost Your e-Commerce Success
Frequently Asked Questions
How does eCommerce dropshipping contribute to business growth and elevation?
Dropshipping allows businesses to update inventory more quickly, simply, and affordably because it eliminates the limits of physical inventory and its costs. The zero risk of inventory hassles makes eCommerce dropshipping a profitable business.
What are the key benefits that eCommerce businesses can gain from implementing dropshipping?
The key benefits that eCommerce businesses can gain from implementing dropshipping is
- Zero inventory
- No shipping hassles
- No packaging material required
- No minimum order quantity
- Fast fulfillment of orders
How can dropshipping be seamlessly integrated into an existing online store?
You can look for reliable dropshipping suppliers and list their products on your existing online store. Once you receive a customer order, the order details are fetched by the dropshipping supplier and fulfilled.
Are there specific product categories that thrive particularly well with eCommerce dropshipping?
Some product categories that thrive in eCommerce dropshipping are
- Men’s clothing
- Women’s clothing
- Kid’s clothing
- Phone accessories
- Office supplies
- Tools
- Home decor
- Wall art posters
Can you share strategies for enhancing brand identity and customer experience through dropshipping?
Establish a strong dropshipping brand with a memorable logo, consistent branding, professional product photography, and exceptional customer service to build trust and loyalty in the competitive market.
With over 6+ years of experience in the industry, Ayushi excels in building strong customer relationships and guiding clients toward growth as a Brand Partnership Manager. She enjoys sharing her experience in her content.