Dropshipping has gained significant popularity as a business model, particularly with the rise of platforms like Shopify. In 2023, finding the best dropshipping suppliers is crucial for the success of your Shopify dropshipping store. This article will explore key factors, strategies, and considerations for finding and working with the best dropshipping suppliers in 2023.
What are the key factors for a successful Shopify dropshipping store?
When establishing a successful Shopify dropshipping store, several key factors play a critical role. The first factor is choosing the right supplier. The supplier forms the backbone of the dropshipping business, and a reliable and efficient supplier can significantly impact the store’s success. Next, utilizing dropshipping automation is essential to streamline processes and maximize efficiency. This can include automating order fulfillment and inventory management. Finally, identifying a profitable niche is crucial for targeting the right audience and increasing the chances of success.
How to find the top Shopify dropshipping stores to learn from?
Learning from successful dropshipping stores can provide valuable insights and inspiration. Researching successful dropshipping store examples is an effective method to understand best practices and successful strategies. Additionally, utilizing dropshipping tools can help in identifying top-performing Shopify dropshipping stores. Exploring specific niches, such as clothing stores, can offer insights into successful models and trends within the industry.
What are the best strategies for finding dropshipping suppliers?
Finding reliable dropshipping suppliers is crucial for the success of a Shopify dropshipping store. Utilizing Shopify apps can simplify the process of finding and connecting with reputable suppliers. Additionally, focusing on high-quality products can lead to better customer satisfaction and repeat business. Exploring specific niches like home decor can provide opportunities to work with unique and in-demand products.
How to differentiate between the best dropshipping suppliers and fake ones?
Identifying genuine and reliable dropshipping suppliers is essential to avoid potential pitfalls. Researching the supplier’s business model can provide insights into their legitimacy and credibility. Identifying high-quality products offered by the supplier can also serve as an indicator of their authenticity. Furthermore, exploring top dropshipping companies and their reputations can help in identifying the best suppliers in the market.
What are the key considerations when starting a dropshipping business in 2023?
When starting a dropshipping business in 2023, several considerations can pave the way for success. Identifying the right niche for the online store is crucial to target the right audience and optimize marketing efforts. Utilizing top Shopify dropshipping stores as examples can provide valuable insights into successful strategies and trends. Understanding and implementing the best dropshipping practices can set the groundwork for a thriving dropshipping business in 2023.
The 10 Best Dropshipping Suppliers in 2023
1. AliExpress
AliExpress is an international wholesale and dropshipping site that connects ecommerce platforms to dropshipping providers and products. The majority of merchants selling through AliExpress are based in China and source their products from the region. It’s open to people around the world for free.
Locations and shipping information: AliExpress ships to 220 countries around the world, including the US. Packages sent with standard shipping can take between 15 and 45 business days to arrive. If you pay for premium shipping, the estimated delivery time is between seven and 15 business days.
Product types: There are more than 100 million products on AliExpress, in categories such as fashion, toys, consumer electronics, skin care products, jewelry, furniture, and even cars and motorcycles.
Recommended for: Both beginners and veteran dropshippers can use AliExpress to find trending products, do market research, build relationships with vendors, and order wholesale.
2. Alibaba
Alibaba is a B2B marketplace that connects buyers and sellers. The platform is more for wholesalers than single sellers, and facilitates transactions directly with manufacturers. Suppliers provide bulk items and can fulfill orders for your dropshipping store.
Locations and shipping information: Alibaba dropshipping can take time, depending on where you live. You can expect to wait as much as six weeks for deliveries. To cut back on costs, you can choose to ship by freight or air. However, you should do your research and plan accordingly.
Product types: Alibaba has more than 2.8 million suppliers and more than 5,900 categories.
Recommended for: Advanced dropshippers who prefer private label manufacturing and want to buy bulk goods at the distribution level to sell as consumer items.
3. SaleHoo
The SaleHoo supplier directory lists more than 8,000 wholesalers that offer dropshipping, and seems to cater heavily to merchants using eBay and Amazon dropshipping. Its $27 monthly price is one of the most compelling values among supplier directories and includes a 60-day money-back guarantee. You can also pay $97 per month for Premium, with multiple accounts and stores and one-click AliExpress integration.
Locations and shipping information: SaleHoo serves the US, UK, Australian, and New Zealand markets.
Product types: SaleHoo’s inventory source is AliExpress. You can find pre-vetted dropshipping providers from a variety of trending and profitable niches, then import items directly to your Shopify store.
Recommended for: If you’re comfortable paying an annual membership—or only need to use a directory and research tool temporarily—SaleHoo might be worth a look. You can get discounts by paying annually instead of monthly.
4. Worldwide Brands
Established in 1999, Worldwide Brands is one of the oldest and best-known supplier directories. It only includes suppliers that meet a set of guidelines, ensuring legitimate, quality wholesalers. You can use the vendor dropshipping directory to find wholesalers and to brainstorm niche ideas.
Location and shipping options: Worldwide Brands serves retailers around the world. The company is a supplier directory, so shipping costs and locations depend on the dropshipping wholesale supplier you find through the platform.
Product types: Though the directory is missing some vendors for dropshipping, it does include a large wholesale dropshippers list of legitimate options. There are over 16 million certified wholesale products to choose from, in niches like pet supplies, jewelry and watches, consumer electronics, home décor, apparel, and more.
Recommended for: If you want lifetime access to a quality wholesale supplier directory and are comfortable with a larger one-time payment, Worldwide Brands is a safe bet.
5. Doba
Instead of simply listing dropshipping vendors, Doba integrates with suppliers (hence why it only has 165 of them), allowing you to place orders with multiple warehouses using its centralized interface. Membership also includes a Push-to-Marketplace tool that automates the process of listing items on eBay.
Doba’s centralized system offers more convenience than the other dropshipping websites, and its $24.99 per month fee for the Start-up plan makes it an affordable option as well. You can also upgrade to Business for $49.99 per month or Enterprise for $299.99 per month. If you place a high value on convenience and can find the products you want among its suppliers, Doba’s interface may be worth a look.
Locations and shipping information: Ships globally; rates depend on individual dropshipping wholesalers and the prices you set.
Product types: Over two million products with decent profit margins.
Recommended for: If there are only a few key suppliers in your niche—reducing the number of parties you have to coordinate with—Doba may be the way to go.
6. Sunrise Wholesale
Sunrise Wholesale offers more than 10,000 dropshipping products and ships directly to your customers. In addition, Sunrise offers sales reporting tools, product data, inventory updates delivered via email, and automatic price adjustments to ensure your profit remains consistent, even when suppliers change their prices.
Location and shipping information: Sunrise Wholesale ships to customers in the US and Canada, with shipping times averaging at about one to two days.
Product types: Sunrise Wholesale offers a wide range of items, like bath products, candles, electronics, garden supplies, home décor, kitchen tools, toys and games, and jewelry and other accessories.
Recommended for: Merchants in the US and Canada looking for fast shipping times.
7. Wholesale Central
Unlike many other directories, there’s no charge to search Wholesale Central for vendor dropshipping options, because it charges suppliers a fee to be listed and displays ads on its site. It also says it reviews and screens all suppliers to ensure they’re legitimate and trustworthy.
Locations and shipping information: US-based vendors for dropshipping; shipping depends on which supplier you work with.
Product types: There are over 1,400 dropshippers on the wholesale dropshippers list, and more than 700,000 products.
Recommended for: It’s difficult to argue with free, and there’s no harm in browsing the listings at Wholesale Central, but you’ll need to be a bit more discerning. A number of the wholesalers that offer dropshipping appear to be retailers selling to the public at “wholesale” prices—not something a dropshipping supplier would do when offering real wholesale pricing. So while there are surely genuine wholesale opportunities listed, you may want to be a little more thorough with your due diligence.
8. Modalyst
Modalyst is an automated vendor dropshipping app for online stores. It’s known for offering products from brand names like Calvin Klein, Dolce & Gabbana, and more well-known brands that shoppers love. Modalyst also offers a curated list of independent and trendy brands for every target audience.
The platform has an official API partnership with AliExpress Dropshipping, giving you access to millions of new products you can add to your store with one click through a Google Chrome extension.
Location and shipping options: Modalyst is a great place to find the right supplier for your business, because it has its own marketplace of US suppliers and brands that can ship domestic orders in five to eight days under its free plan. 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 types: General, with a focus on luxury and trendy brands. Modalyst is also a part of the AliExpress Booster Program, which gives dropshippers access to an endless catalog of products.
Recommended for: Shopify users who want to add unique or high-ticket products to their stores. You can also sell products with your own branding using the Modalyst Private Label Program. If you choose the Pro plan, you can take advantage of all the premium brands and suppliers Modalyst has to offer.
9. Spocket
Spocket is a Shopify dropshipping app that allows users to quickly and easily import products from a number of dropshipping suppliers (including AliExpress) into their Shopify store. The Spocket app automatically pulls orders from your Shopify store for smooth order processing. It even adjusts your Shopify inventory levels automatically, so you can be sure products are in stock when your customers make a purchase.
Locations and shipping information: Spocket is located in Vancouver, Canada, and works with suppliers all over the world, including in the US, Europe, Australia, and Brazil.
Product types: Spocket offers a wide range of product categories, such as clothing, jewelry, beauty products, tech accessories, and pet products.
Recommended for: Spocket has a user-friendly interface and a frictionless purchase experience that’s great for first-time dropshippers looking to offer a variety of fashion and beauty products.
10. CJDropshipping
CJDropshipping is a marketplace and wholesale dropshippers list that enables retailers to scale their dropshipping business in an affordable way. You can easily import products into your Shopify store, normally at a price lower than on AliExpress, sourced directly from 1688 and Taobao marketplaces. It’s also a free Shopify app you can add to your store alongside other dropshipping apps.
Location and shipping options: CJDropshipping uses US-based warehouses to execute same-day processing for your store. It works with USPS, UPS, DHL, and FedEx. If you are shipping from China, it has its own shipping line called CJPacket, which can deliver products to the US in about eight days.
Product types: The 1668 and Taobao marketplaces are home to independent designers and small-business owners in China. There are hundreds of millions of listings you can access through CJDropshipping, and products range from mainstream items to hard-to-find items and even virtual products.
If a product doesn’t exist in the CJDropshipping app, you can put in a request and CJDropshipping will list it once it finds the best source.
Recommended for: Retailers who want a one-stop place for all things dropshipping, including product sourcing, order processing, order fulfillment, and quick shipping to the United States.
Start dropshipping today
Whether you’re a newer ecommerce business owner or a pro dropshipper, knowing your vendor dropshipping options can help source high-quality products at a low cost and increase profitability.
With the rise of global online sales and shipping efficiencies, it’s no longer a challenge to dropship online and get products to your customers fast.
Using this dropshipping guide to further improve your online business and create a path to financial freedom, you can live the life you’ve always wanted and make money online doing it.