How to Source Dropshipping Products Fast & Build a Winning Store

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Finding reliable dropshipping products and suppliers is crucial to building a successful dropshipping store. Why? Without trustworthy products and suppliers, you risk hurting your store's reputation and losing money. One day, you might be celebrating a sale, and the next, you could receive a one-star review from an unhappy customer. Why? Because the product they ordered from you was out of stock, and you didn't have a reliable supplier to ship them a replacement. Instead, your customer received a generic item weeks after placing their order. The process of finding dropshipping products and suppliers can be overwhelming, especially if you're just getting started. In this article, we'll discuss how to find dropshipping products so that you can effortlessly find reliable, high-demand products and suppliers to create a profitable dropshipping store that scales quickly.

Shophunter's Shopify sales tracker can help you find products that align with your goals by identifying high-demand items to sell on your dropshipping store.

What is Product Sourcing for Dropshipping?

Product sourcing is acquiring products to sell. Today, most businesses source products online via B2B marketplaces, but you can also source products locally or at trade shows. Product sourcing is about finding amazing items that your customers will love from reliable suppliers who can deliver quality products and keep up with demand.

How to Choose Reliable Dropshipping Suppliers: Key Factors to Consider

In a dropshipping business, you don’t keep the products in stock. Instead, when a customer orders something from your online store, you pass the order to your supplier. Then, your supplier ships the product directly to your customer. It’s like being a matchmaker between your customers and the products they’re searching for, without ever having to stockpile or manage inventory yourself.

Finding the right suppliers is key. You want partners who not only have the cool products your customers are looking for but also understand the dropshipping game.

Building Strong Supplier Relationships for Long-Term Dropshipping Success

They must be reliable in timely shipping products, maintaining quality, and keeping you in the loop about inventory levels. In a nutshell, product sourcing for dropshipping is about building relationships with suppliers who can help you delight your customers. It’s about scouting for outstanding products and negotiating with suppliers to ensure quality and profitability. Ultimately, make sure your customers:

Receive what they ordered

Love what they get

Keep coming back for more

Why Product Sourcing Matters

Product sourcing directly impacts your business’s reputation, profitability, and ability to scale. Reliable suppliers help you maintain product quality, avoid stockouts and delays, and keep your customers happy.

Avoiding Common Supplier Pitfalls: How to Choose Reliable Partners for Sustainable Dropshipping Growth

On the other hand, if you choose a supplier with poor-quality products, your customers will receive unsatisfactory items, hurting your reputation and bottom line. Picking the wrong dropshipping partner can also stall your business’s growth. If they don’t have enough products to meet your customer’s demands or can’t ship orders on time, you’ll struggle to make sales.

Building a Scalable Product Sourcing Strategy for Long-Term Dropshipping Success

Instead of delighting your customers, you’ll create a poor experience that turns them away from your business for good. Developing a solid product sourcing strategy for your dropshipping business will help you avoid these issues. You’ll be able to maintain steady operations even as you scale and your sales increase.

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Crafting Your Unique Products

Creating your own products goes against the dropshipping concept, which is about not holding any inventory. But it offers several benefits. For starters, creating your products puts quality control in your hands. You can control how quickly orders get delivered to customers. Do you know the best part?

You don’t even have to produce anything if you don’t want to. That sounds contradictory, doesn’t it? Let’s explain. If you use print-on-demand platforms like Printify or Printful, you don’t need to make or store any products. You just need to design the product, and we will take care of the rest for you:

Production

Storage

Fulfillment

Even returns

Sourcing from Dropshipping Suppliers

Sourcing products from dropshipping suppliers is one of the easiest ways to source. You do not need to make an upfront investment in dropshipping. Your supplier takes care of everything from order fulfillment to product delivery.

How to Choose the Right Dropshipping Supplier and Integrate It with Your Shopify Store

How does Dropshipping work? Marketplaces like Alibaba, AliExpress and Amazon feature many dropshipping suppliers to choose from. Once you have selected a reliable supplier, you can easily add their products to your Shopify store. This will help you increase traffic to your site by promoting their products. When you place an order, your supplier is notified and starts preparing and shipping it to you.

There is no holding of inventory or middleman. Use dropshipping apps like dropshipping.com to source the best dropshipping products and connect to reliable suppliers. Plus, they let you automatically connect your store to the marketplace and automate the dropshipping process.

Weighing the Pros and Cons of Dropshipping: Low Investment vs. Fierce Competition and Low Margins

Pros of Dropshipping

No holding of inventory or upfront payment

Low investment risk

Easy to scale up: You can easily add products to your store without spending a fortune.

Cons of Dropshipping

It’s tough to stand out: Many stores sell the same products, making competition fierce. You need to work hard to succeed and keep customers interested in your store.

Low-profit margin: Margins are low as your supplier takes care of the bulky part of the dropshipping process.

Sourcing from Wholesalers

Unlike dropshipping, which requires no inventory and the supplier takes care of the order fulfillment and shipping. Buying from wholesalers involves:

Purchasing inventory in large quantities

Storing it

Handling order processing

Buying wholesale is a good product-sourcing strategy for people wanting to do the job quickly. This method is straightforward and easier to manage than other sourcing options like manufacturing. Buying in bulk has benefits like private labeling services. Your wholesale supplier can put your brand’s logo and business name on the merchandise.

Wholesale Business: Maximizing Profit Margins While Managing Investment Risks and Storage Needs

Pros of Wholesale

Supplying Low-cost per unit: The wholesaler wants you to buy more from them. So, the more units you buy, the cheaper the cost per unit.

High-profit margin: Since the prices of products are cheaper, you tend to profit more from product sales.

Cons of Wholesale

Supplying High-risk investment

Storage Facility: Since you buy in bulk, you’ll need a facility to store your product until you need it.

Sourcing From Manufacturers

Manufacturing is the most challenging of the three methods. It is perfect for people with new or unique ideas or who want to create a variation of an existing product. Product sourcing involves creating products from scratch, including designing and prototyping, unlike wholesale and dropshipping, which sell finished products.

Choosing Between Private Label and White Label Products: What’s Best for Your Business?

You must evaluate manufacturers and order test batches before choosing a supplier. Market evaluation is important as manufacturing requires the most upfront investment. You wouldn’t want to lose your investment by partnering with the wrong manufacturer.

With that being said, there are two types of products to source from a manufacturer:

Private label: The manufacturer creates products only for your business. You decide the design, product features, package it, and include your business label. This is ideal for creating unique products.

White label: You do not have full control of the products here. Manufacturers may produce the same products or make slight variations to sell to your competitors. White label is mostly used for producing generic products.

Balancing Control and Investment: Is Sourcing from Manufacturers Worth the Risk?

Pros of sourcing through Manufacturers

You have full control over branding and prices.

You can control the quality of your final product

Producing larger quantities results in lower costs per unit

High-profit margin

Cons of sourcing through Manufacturing

Buying products from manufacturers can be expensive because a fee must be paid before production starts. This fee covers the cost of making a certain number of products.

Time-consuming: Since many steps are involved from product design to finished products, it can take months to get them ready.

Finding Products at Trade Shows

Trade shows are events where businesses showcase their latest products and services. These events usually occur in convention centers in major cities and span several days. You can also find smaller, local trade shows with regional businesses. Attending trade shows offers an opportunity to experience products firsthand, network with business owners, and gain inspiration for new product ideas.

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4 Tips for Product Sourcing the Right Way

1. Market Research: Digging Deeper Into Customer Insights

Market research is the first crucial step in sourcing products the right way. It is gathering information about customers’ needs, preferences, buying behavior, competitors,and the market.

Analyzing the data to make informed business decisions about product development, marketing and targeting. This insight will help you choose products that are in demand and align with your customers' interests.

2. How Market Research Drives Effective Product Sourcing Strategies

Before you start product sourcing, you need to answer questions like:

What is the total addressable market (TAM), serviceable available market (SAM) and share of market (SOM)?

What are the latest trends impacting your market?

What kinds of goods are the most successful in the market?

What value of needs does your product fulfill?

Who are my direct and indirect competitors? etc

Answers to these questions will be the determinants in choosing the product sourcing strategy for your business.

Effective Methods for Gathering Market Research Insights

But how do you get market research answers and data for insights?

Survey: A survey is one of the primary methods used to gather information about a product, market and audience. It can be exploratory, descriptive or casual.

Government Reports and Trade Publications: These are some of the secondary methods of gathering insight and data.

3. Choose Quality Over Price: Prioritize What Matters

One secret of successful dropshippers is sourcing high-quality products. New dropshippers may want to go for cheaper, low-quality products. It may seem like the best deal buy may result in lots of returns, negative reviews and damage to your brand reputation.

Choose high-quality products for your dropshipping business. This will boost your store’s reputation. Plus, customers are willing to pay more for high-quality items that meet their expectations.

4. Find Reliable Suppliers: Build Strong Relationships

Suppliers play key roles in product sourcing. You need to work with trustworthy suppliers who can always deliver. Some dropshipping businesses fail because suppliers don’t fulfill their agreements and send faulty products to customers.

To prevent that, research and vet your potential suppliers properly. Judge them by their:

Product quality

Capacity

Lead time

Delivery time

Defects

Returns

Customer complaints

Reviews

Look for suppliers with a track record of reliability and effective communication. Connect to reliable dropshipping suppliers from dropshipping.com.

What are the best dropshipping suppliers?

1. AliExpress

AliExpress is an international supplier directory that connects dropshippers to thousands of suppliers. Most AliExpress suppliers are based in China and source products from the region.

Shipping locations

AliExpress suppliers ship to 220 countries, including the US. Packages sent with standard shipping can arrive in 15 to 45 business days, while premium shipping options have an estimated delivery time of seven to 15 business days.

Product selection

There are more than 100 million products on AliExpress, in categories such as:

Fashion

Toys

Consumer electronics

Skin care

Jewelry

Furniture

Automotive parts

Recommended for

E-commerce entrepreneurs who dropship with AliExpress are beginners and veteran. They use the platform for market research and to build relationships with suppliers.

2. DSers

DSers is a dropshipping app that connects online stores with AliExpress suppliers. Its Supplier Optimizer helps you compare suppliers by factors like wholesale prices and performance history. At the same time, automated features make it easy to add products to your store and quickly place multiple orders.

Shipping locations

Shipping locations and delivery times are consistent with those offered by AliExpress. This includes delivery to hundreds of countries with varying shipping durations.

Product selection

Through DSers, users can access AliExpress’s extensive product catalog with enhanced supplier information.

Recommended for:

DSers is recommended for ecommerce store owners who want an enhanced way to compare AliExpress dropshipping suppliers and efficiently process orders.

3. Worldwide Brands

Established in 1999, Worldwide Brands is one of the best-known supplier directories. It lists suppliers that meet strict guidelines, ensuring legitimate, quality wholesalers. Use Worldwide Brands to find new suppliers or brainstorm niche product ideas for your store.

Shipping locations

Worldwide Brands serves retailers around the world. Shipping costs and locations depend on individual dropshipping suppliers and wholesalers.

Product selection

The marketplace offers more than 16 million certified wholesale products in niches including:

Pet supplies

Jewelry and watches

Consumer electronics

Home décor

Apparel and more

Recommended for:

Worldwide Brands is ideal for customers wanting lifetime access to a quality wholesale supplier directory. It requires a one-time payment.

4. Zendrop

Zendrop is a dropshipping app for Shopify stores. It offers access to over a million products and features an auto-fulfillment tool. The supplier offers the option to bulk order inventory to its US warehouses, slashing shipping times to under five days.

Boosting Customer Experience and Sales with Zendrop Customization Features

Use Zendrop to customize your store’s offerings. Add branded packaging and inserts, or compile products into bundles and subscription boxes to increase your average order value. The free plan includes product access and support, while paid plans start at $49 per month for unlimited orders, express shipping, and customization features.

Shipping locations

Zendrop stores products in the US and China, with global shipping.

Product selection

Zendrop offers:

Automotive

Baby products

Clothing

Electronics

Beauty items

Home goods

Garden essentials

Pet products, and more popular categories.

Recommended for:

The supplier is for Shopify users aiming to dropship branded or customized products quickly from the US.

5. Modalyst

Modalyst is an automated dropshipping app for online stores. Among millions of products from global suppliers are name brands like: Calvin Klein and Dolce & Gabbana. Modalyst also offers a curated list of independent brands.

The app has an official API partnership with AliExpress, giving you access to millions of new products. Add them to your store with one click through the Google Chrome extension.

Shipping locations

Under the free plan, US suppliers ship domestic orders in five to eight days. UK dropshipping suppliers and Australian dropshippers are also available. Businesses can ship to more than 80 countries worldwide, excluding those in South America and Africa.

Product selection

Modalyst has general product categories with a focus on luxury and trendy brands (available on the Pro plan). It is also a part of the AliExpress Booster Program, which gives dropshippers access to an endless catalog of products.

Recommended for:

It is ideal for stores listing unique or high-ticket products and for stores selling branded products using the Modalyst Private Label Program.

6. Wholesale Central

Unlike some supplier directories, there’s no charge to search Wholesale Central for dropshipping options (because it charges suppliers a listing fee, instead). The website reviews and screens all suppliers to ensure they’re legitimate.

Shipping locations

Wholesale Central features US-based dropshipping suppliers. Shipping times vary by supplier.

Product selection

Over 60 dropshipping suppliers source products across popular categories, including apparel, beauty, and electronics.

Recommended for:

Use Wholesale Central to discover dropshipping suppliers, wholesale distributors, and manufacturers.

7. Spocket

Spocket lets sellers browse products from US and EU dropshipping suppliers. The app allows you to quickly add those products to your store and forward customer orders for smooth processing. The app automatically adjusts inventory levels, removing the risk of accepting orders for out-of-stock products.

Shipping locations

Spocket works with suppliers based in the US, Europe, Australia, and Brazil.

Product selection

It offers various product categories, including clothing, jewelry, beauty products, tech accessories, and pet products.

Recommended for:

Spocket is recommended for dropshippers who want to sell products from domestic suppliers to reduce delivery times.

8. Megagoods

Megagoods is a supplier focused on consumer electronics. It charges a $1.50 fee per order with no minimum purchase requirement, allowing for efficient dropshipping to your customers.

Shipping locations

Megagoods is based in California and ships throughout the US.

Product selection

It has a wide variety of consumer electronics, including:

Bluetooth accessories

Audio equipment

Televisions

Kitchen appliances

Office tools, and more.

Recommended for:

Megagoods is for businesses focusing on electronic equipment and wanting to ship within the US.

9. CJDropshipping

CJDropshipping is a supplier directory that offers products often at lower prices than on AliExpress, thanks to direct sourcing from 1688 and Taobao marketplaces.

Shipping locations

CJDropshipping uses US-based warehouses with same-day order processing. Shipping options include USPS, UPS, DHL, and FedEx—as well as its own carrier service, CJPacket, for expedited shipments from China.

Product selection

The 1668 and Taobao marketplaces are home to independent designers and small-business owners in China. Millions of product listings include hard-to-find items and even virtual products.

Recommended for:

CJDropshipping is for dropshippers searching for a single solution for shipping products to the US.

10. Wholesale2b

Wholesale2b offers real-time inventory automation, with orders and tracking updates sent directly to your store. With more than a million dropship-ready products in multiple niches, it’s easy to curate an impressive product line.

Shipping locations

Wholesale2b ships products throughout Canada and the US. Shipping times vary based on the product and supplier, but Wholesale2b provides a shipping time report that shows the average number of days each supplier takes to ship products.

Product selection

Wholesale2b offers apparel, kitchenware, toys, accessories, and more.

Recommended for:

It is for dropshippers who plan to sell in North America and want predictable shipping.

11. Doba

Doba integrates with more than 160 dropshipping suppliers, allowing sellers to place multiple orders on its centralized interface. Membership includes a Push-to-Marketplace tool that automates the process of listing items on eBay.

Doba’s centralized system is more convenient than some other dropshipping websites, and its $24.99 monthly fee makes it affordable. You can upgrade to a Business plan for $49.99 monthly or an Enterprise plan for $299.99 monthly.

Shipping locations

Doba ships globally. Rates depend on individual dropshipping wholesalers.

Product selection

There are more than two million products available across all categories.

Recommended for:

Doba is for those who value convenience and can find relevant products to sell from Doba suppliers.

12. SaleHoo

The SaleHoo supplier directory lists more than 8,000 dropshipping suppliers and wholesalers, catering to sellers who use eBay and Amazon dropshipping. Its $27 monthly price offers value and includes a 30-day money-back guarantee. The premium plan, available for $97 per month, allows you to run multiple accounts and stores.

Shipping locations

SaleHoo serves the US, UK, Australian, and New Zealand markets.

Product selection

Like DSers, SaleHoo’s inventory source is AliExpress. Find vetted dropshipping suppliers in various niches, then import products directly into your Shopify store.

Recommended for:

SaleHoo is for anyone who needs a directory and research tool for AliExpress that integrates seamlessly with Shopify (and is comfortable paying an annual membership).

13. Alibaba

Alibaba is a B2B marketplace that connects buyers and sellers. The platform is designed for buying in bulk from manufacturers and wholesale suppliers, but some suppliers also fulfill dropshipping orders.

Shipping locations

Alibaba dropshipping can take time, depending on where you live. You can expect to wait as much as six weeks for deliveries. To cut costs, you can choose to ship by freight or air. However, you should do your research and plan accordingly.

Product selection

Alibaba has more than 2.8 million suppliers and over 5,900 product categories.

Recommended for:

Alibaba is for retailers who use drop shipping alongside other product sourcing methods such as private label manufacturing.

14. AutoDS

AutoDS is a dropshipping platform that combines product sourcing, competitor analysis, and order fulfillment features. It’s designed for both beginners and experienced dropshippers who want to source new products for their stores.

Shipping locations

AutoDS partners with suppliers who have warehouses in multiple countries including the US, China, UK, and Australia. This global presence means sellers can ship to customers in most parts of the world.

Product selection

By working with suppliers like Amazon, eBay, and AliExpress, AutoDS provides access to a large catalog of over 500 million products. It also features an in-app marketplace where you can discover millions of popular products, updated daily.

Recommended for:

AutoDS is recommended for dropshippers looking for product sourcing tools and support, including real-time bestseller data.

Consider Multiple Suppliers: Diversify Your Network

Working with one supplier makes product sourcing easy, so do not rely solely on one supplier for your products. Having more than one supplier lowers the risk of supply chain issues and helps negotiate better prices and terms.

Embracing a multi-supplier approach offers businesses flexibility and safeguards them against potential stock shortages, delays and operational disruption. Build strong relationships with your suppliers. If you perceive that a supplier isn’t aligned with your interests, you should reassess the relationship. This could involve renegotiating contracts and investigating alternative avenues.

Test Samples: Validate Your Product Choices

Request test samples from your selected suppliers. This should be done before committing to large orders to avoid loss. This is crucial to evaluating the potential product's quality and delivery time. Compare their delivery status to the actual delivery time. This will give you more insight into who to choose over the other.

Test samples allow you to assess the product quality, shipping time, packaging and the overall customer experience. You should reconsider any supplier lacking in these areas.

Stay Flexible: Adapt To Change

Market trends and customer preferences can change rapidly. Adjust your product sourcing strategy to stay competitive and meet customer demand. Stay agile in business.

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This combination lets users spot trending products and successful marketing strategies early on. ShopHunter aims to streamline product research and reduce the risk of investing in low-performing items, whether you're:

A dropshipper

A Shopify store owner

Someone looking to enter the e-commerce space

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