It has never been easier to start an online business than it is now. Anyone with $20 may start an online store thanks to the expansion of Amazon, eBay, Shopify, and other online shopping platforms.
However, if you’re just getting started, you might not have a lot of money or a large house or warehouse to keep your goods. Furthermore, deciding what to sell can be difficult. Dropshipping suppliers and dropshipping supplier directories can help with this.
Several eCommerce website success stories about selling online through wholesale dropshipping can be found, but what is it all about?
How dropshipping business works?
Price arbitrage, often known as dropshipping or drop shipping, is a fancy word for finding low-cost products and selling them at a higher price. You don’t need cash or storage spdroace if you run a dropshipping firm. All you have to do now is set up your shop, list your products, and concentrate on marketing and sales.
You must first locate and procure a product from a supplier at a low wholesale price. Then you list the product for a higher retail price on your website.
You accept your customers’ orders and send them to your supplier when they purchase the goods. Thus, your items are sent straight to your consumers by the supplier, and you keep the difference between what you paid for the product and what you sold it for.
The advantages of drop shipping include:
- It’s simple to open a store.
- You don’t need to be concerned about inventory.
- You, as the seller, are at low risk.
- You have access to millions of things to sell.
- A dropshipping business can be run from any location on the planet.
Finding the correct product and provider is the most challenging element of becoming a new dropshipper. You must identify a product that people want and assure that your provider will deliver exactly what you advertise to your customer.
This is critical because you want to ensure that your product arrives in good shape, fulfills all of the customer’s specifications, is dispatched fast, and will not be returned.
Top providers will even include marketing materials from your firm to make it appear as if you sent the product yourself! Working with shady providers can damage your company’s reputation or cost you money, so make sure you choose the correct source or service before you begin.
We’ve examined 16 of the most popular directories and search platforms to help you get started on the right foot.
Why directories?
Because they verify and evaluate their vendors to ensure you only get the best in terms of product quality, pricing, and legality. For cents on the dollar, you can avoid fraud.
What is a Dropshipping Directory?
A dropshipping directory is essentially a massive list of wholesalers, suppliers, other dropshippers, auctioneers, and other types of persons who sell goods and services.
These sellers pay money to have their business listed on the boards of these dropshipping websites and to have more visibility so that you, the dropshipper, can find them.
All of the sites we looked at fit into one of two categories:
- Directory of dropshippers (as mentioned above)
- Web platforms with a backend inventory system and an integrated supplier directory
The problem with traditional dropship websites is that you must go through them yourself and contact the providers. In addition, you must also obtain and manage your website’s backend inventory and product descriptions. To put it another way…
It can be time-consuming. Dropshipping platforms/services like SaleHoo, Doba, and Dropship Direct are other sorts of a site we looked at.
These are online businesses that provide a database of verified and authenticated products that you can browse and integrate into your store with only a few clicks.
What exactly does that imply?
Using software that interfaces with your selling platform, all product data, including names, descriptions, features, and images, is “pushed” to your site.
Because of this interface, the service can handle all backend management and provide updates regularly.
The critical distinction between a conventional directory and a service/platform is that the latter usually requires a yearly or monthly payment.
However, in most circumstances, the time saved more than compensates for the costs.
Take a look at 7 of the best dropshipping supplier directories you can use to start your dropshipping business today once you’ve identified a strong product idea to dropship:
Why you should choose a US dropship directory?
You want to make your products “made in America” and have quick shipping times. You will need to find a reliable supplier or wholesaler from the US.
We’ve compiled a list of top dropshipping companies in the USA to help you get your online business off the ground faster. They are grouped into the following categories.
- Apparel and Accessories
- Beauty & Health
- Pet Supplies
- Home & Garden
- Electronics
- There are many products to choose from
Let’s first look at the main reasons you should choose to live locally.
Dropshipping from overseas is a great option for merchants due to their low prices. However, there are risks such as poor product quality and complicated refund processes. If you want to run your dropshipping business with more confidence, go local. Here are seven reasons to choose American dropshipping suppliers.
“Made in America”
This will allow you to market your products as “Made In the USA” and increase your customers’ trust. People believe American products are better quality. They also believe that “buying American” promotes the US economy and creates jobs.
Margins higher
According to this survey, about two-thirds of American shoppers are willing to pay more for products made in the US. You can sell more products and earn more by selling at higher margins.
Supply chains that are shorter
Your products will travel less distance if they are local. Dropshipping foodstuffs such as dog treats or fragile items is easier because your products will arrive more safely.
Shipping Fast
For products to arrive from AliExpress and other overseas suppliers, it can take up to 4 weeks. Dropshipping companies in the US can help you deliver your products within 1-8 days.
Service to customers easily
It is much easier to reach your suppliers if you are in the same time zone or nearer. It is possible to solve problems quickly without losing customers.
Easier returns
It’s easier to manage returns if customers are unhappy with your products because everything happens locally.
Be prepared for the unexpected
You are less likely to run out if something unexpected happens (e.g. a major pandemic). You will ship from different warehouses throughout the US.
Best DropShipping Companies
SaleHoo.com
SaleHoo, founded in 2005 in New Zealand, is an online directory of dropship manufacturers and suppliers. So what distinguishes us as one of the most significant drop shipping businesses? We have one of the world’s largest collections of dropshipping wholesale items. We individually verify every supplier on our site to ensure that every product in each of our 75 categories is genuine and legal.
Clothing and fashion accessories, electronics, furniture, office supplies, cell phones, and more are among the categories we offer. And we have over 1.6 million products in our directory, acquired from almost 8000+ vetted suppliers.
You’ll be able to find any product your niche requires quickly with this kind of selection. Our platform even provides features to help you identify reputable suppliers who accept small or no-order quantities.
We have such faith in our suppliers that we offer a complete warranty on their wholesale products in the event of a defect or a scam. This is a rare guarantee offered by a company.
Furthermore, we provide you with access to our Market Research Labs. This in-depth product discovery tool allows you to assess with a high degree of certainty whether your product ideas will sell on platforms such as eBay and Amazon, among others.
A yearly USD 67 subscription is required to access SaleHoo’s directory (a lifetime access cost of $127 is also available). We provide a 60-day money-back guarantee if you don’t think it’s a suitable fit.
Not only that but there’s more! SaleHoo Dropship, a dropshipping platform that works seamlessly with Shopify, is now available. It’s ideal for quickly locating popular AliExpress products from reputable vendors and importing them into your store.
We provide two plans with a variety of features and excellent customer service.
The Basic Plan is suitable for 1-2 persons and allows you to import 500 products from a single user account. The monthly cost is $27, or you can save 20% by paying annually.
The Premium Plan is designed for teams and allows you to import an infinite number of products and automate three drop shipping sites. The monthly fee is $97, or you may save 20% by paying annually.
Finally, we offer an education platform with in-depth courses on Amazon and Shopify dropshipping and a bonus course on how to operate a successful online business. There is a one-time fee of $47 for each course.
We also offer 24-hour live chat and email assistance, as well as a wealth of advice on how to start a dropshipping business. It’s a fantastic resource that you should look into.
Pros
- 1.6 million goods from 8000+ verified suppliers are listed in this detailed directory.
- Market Research Labs allows you to look through an extensive product catalog and determine how well a product will sell before deciding.
- Excellent client service.
- There are numerous free resources available to assist you in learning how to expand your dropshipping business.
- Integration of products with Shopify storefronts
Cons
- There is a one-time cost of $67.
- A greater emphasis on small businesses.
Alibaba/AliExpress
If you’re a rookie, Alibaba, the eBay for discovering wholesale suppliers in Asia, is not an easy platform to use. The majority of the listings are from manufacturers rather than suppliers, which means they usually don’t have a website, don’t speak English, require wire transfers rather than credit cards. There’s no assurance you’ll get the things you want.
AliExpress, on the other hand, is Alibaba’s sibling retail website. It enables Chinese “stores” to sell the manufacturers’ items to buyers all over the world. It’s like Amazon in China, but everything is sold at wholesale prices, and goods take 2-3 weeks to arrive at your doorstep.
The fantastic thing about AliExpress is that you can make secure transactions by using credit cards or AliPay. Furthermore, its rating and review system provides you with valuable information about the seller, allowing you to make an informed decision about which goods to purchase.
It’s similar to looking on Amazon when it comes to finding things on AliExpress: You won’t find out much about what’s new and popular. There is no way to know which products are appropriate for your niche without using a search engine. You must do this task on your own.
AliExpress is fantastic because it is entirely free. There are no upfront expenditures or monthly fees to join AliExpress, unlike some of the other best dropshipping providers we’ve highlighted here.
Surprisingly, AliExpress customer service is quite decent. We’ve called the business multiple times concerning payment and shipping concerns, and it offers 24-hour support.
While it can’t always provide in-depth information about specific problems (customer service personnel say it’ll take a day or five days to correct with no timeframe), the site does finally resolve issues.
Working with AliExpress has the most significant advantage of allowing you to leverage the SaleHoo Dropship integration with your Shopify business. This streamlines your sales process and eliminates the need to submit orders to your vendors manually.
The disadvantage of AliExpress is that shipment to the United States takes at least two weeks and can take up to a month in other world areas.
This can be a deterrent to many sales, and it may drive visitors away from your store to a site like Amazon, where customers can spend a little more and have the item in a day or two.
You also won’t bundle numerous products if they’re acquired from distinct vendors because you’re dealing with individual sellers. Some clients may not appreciate receiving one package one week and two more the following week.
When you’re setting up your website, be sure to include all of this shipping information. Overall, AliExpress is an excellent place to start for newcomers.
There are no upfront expenses, buyer protection, and a rating system that makes finding a reliable source simple. You must, however, cope with communication issues, fluctuating delivery charges, and the possibility of fraudulent orders.
Pros
- Starting up is inexpensive.
- Third-party applications like SaleHoo Dropship, Oberlo, and Shopify Apps make it simple to connect to Shopify.
- It features an extensive product range and various vendors.
Cons
- The quality of a supplier can be variable.
- In rare situations, shipping times can take up to a month.
- You’re dealing with third-party resellers rather than the manufacturer.
Worldwide Brands
Worldwide Brands, launched in 1999 by eBay Powerseller Chris Malta, is the “grandfather” of wholesale supplier directories.
Each of its 8000+ suppliers has been verified and approved, just as SaleHoo. It accomplishes this by meeting companies at trade exhibitions, touring their factories, and verifying that the products on offer are genuine.
The largest stumbling block for WWB is the USD 299 one-time lifetime membership price.
While this may end up costing less in the long run than other premium services like Doba and SaleHoo, for many people, the upfront cost will be too much to overcome.
However, WWB offers a complete directory from which you may search for products from a constantly updated list of certified vendors.
A query will provide information on the supplier, including the firm name, website, complete address, phone number, and all other payment and ordering information you’ll need to place your order.
The problem for dropshippers, also known as Light Bulk Friendly on WWB, is that low or no-minimum order pricing might be unprofitable unless you buy in bulk. On eBay or Amazon, you might not be able to get a significant enough discount to make a lot of money.
One feature that wholesale dropshippers may find irritating is that WWB tries to upsell you on every other service except the directory. It deals with companies like Quickbooks and Sell-Niches.com, who pay WWB a commission if you use their services.
While promoting affiliate sales may be a helpful marketing strategy, the $300 upfront charge should provide subscribers with additional access to quality content that is not affiliated.
WWB offers some assistance to its members, but it’s nothing you couldn’t get elsewhere on the internet – things like how to locate a niche, how to choose the correct supplier, how to set up your legal business, and so on.
If you want more, you’ll have to invest in one of the company’s high-priced upsell goods. Overall, WWB is better suited to those who place large orders and have extensive eCommerce knowledge. It’s not a good spot for newcomers, and you’d be better off checking out one of the other options.
Pros
- It includes a comprehensive listing of 1.8 million products.
- It was built for people who run wholesale and dropshipping businesses by an eBay top seller.
- You’ll have easy access to supplier information and products, allowing you to get the most out of your dropshipping experience.
Cons
- Small businesses can’t afford it right away because of the $299 one-time price.
- To secure inexpensive costs on items, some suppliers impose hefty minimum orders.
- Affiliate marketing and upsell offers might get grating after a while.
CJdropshipping
CJ Dropshipping is a Chinese company that provides a one-stop-shop for dropshipping. They find things, process orders, and send them out. They also provide photography and videography services. Print-on-demand and white-labeling services are also available.
They have more than 200,000 product listings and warehouses in China, the United States, Thailand, Germany, and Indonesia. The mentioned products are frequently cheaper than what you’ll find on AliExpress, and they can also help you find things. They also conduct quality tests to ensure that your products are of high quality.
CJdropshipping does not charge a setup or monthly fee. However, if the products you’re looking for aren’t available in local warehouses, you’ll have to pay processing, warehousing, and shipping fees.
They offer their shipping method, CJ packet, which is an alternative to ePacket and can deliver in as little as four days in some cases. CJPacket can deliver packages to the United States in as little as eight days.
Finally, they have an app that works with most eCommerce platforms, making it ideal for newcomers.
Pros
- Orders can be combined to save money on delivery.
- It has a CJ packet, which allows for quick shipment.
- Most eCommerce platforms are supported.
- Access to an agent and 24/7 customer support
Cons
- Their website can be challenging to navigate.
- Fees for storing, processing, and shipment may apply.
TheWholesaler.co.uk
TheWholesaler.co.uk is the largest UK-based wholesale directory, and anyone looking for dropshipping wholesalers in the UK can use it for free.
The directory is organized into subcategories and is quite vast. However, because it is merely a listing board for wholesale enterprises, the site’s functionality is limited.
You won’t locate individual products; instead, you’ll be given information about several companies before being linked to their websites to view their merchandise and contact information.
The benefit of TheWholesaler.co.uk is that all of the companies listed are situated in the United Kingdom. A few of them will even provide a wholesale supply of Disney-licensed products.
If you live in the United Kingdom, you should check it out. Check out some of the other possibilities listed here if you’re not from the UK.
Pros
- This may be the world’s largest database of UK-based suppliers.
- It has access to commodities that have been granted a license (like Disney).
Cons
- Its customer service is woefully inadequate.
- Because it is difficult to engage with suppliers, its eCommerce systems necessitate a lot of Googling and calling.
eSources
Another wholesale directory established in the United Kingdom is eSources.co.uk.
It’s one of the largest platforms for UK wholesale distributors, suppliers, and other products, with over 390,000 different domestic wholesale listings and over 170,000 dropshippers.
The TradePass company verification system is one of the features of the resource. If the TradePass emblem appears next to a firm’s name, it implies that the company has been authenticated and validated by eSources.co.uk and that the company’s owners and workers are who they claim they are.
You must first create an account to view the company listings. Signing up is free if you intend to purchase stuff. The subscription cost is £20 per month, £50 for six months, or £75 for a year if you wish to contact firms directly and obtain access to eSources.co.uk’s database.
If you’re based in the United Kingdom, eSources.co.uk will appeal to you because of its extensive database and domestic access to items.
Pros
- The TradePass badge can be provided to companies that have been validated.
- It has a lot to offer dropshippers in the United Kingdom.
Cons
- Some buyers must pay a membership fee.
- The website is quite old and wordy, so it will take some effort to navigate it.
How to Spot Fake Wholesale Drop Shippers
When looking for wholesale dropshippers, one of the most severe difficulties is fraud. Several dropshipping companies are only interested in taking your money.
As a result, they could sell defective goods or perhaps refuse to ship anything at all.
Supplier directories can assist you in avoiding these phoney dropshippers, giving you peace of mind. Check out our complete guide to recognizing bogus dropshippers for more information.
Finding and Choosing a Good Wholesale Supplier
Just because directories make finding a reputable provider easier doesn’t imply they’re the only option.
Furthermore, locating a source is only half of the struggle. What should you do if you’ve found five excellent providers but aren’t sure which one to pick?
We created a comprehensive guide to assist you in locating dropship suppliers (with or without a directory) and selecting them based on pricing, product quality, and other factors.
Choosing a reputable dropshipping provider is a crucial step for your business, and you want to get it right! So, we’ve given a few basic suggestions for selecting the ideal supplier for your company below.
- Check for experience (2+ years in the game is ideal).
- Have a friendly customer service team.
- There are no exorbitant pre-order fees.
- Provide quick shipment.
- Have high-quality goods
- Technology has been invested in.
Difference Between Wholesale and Dropshipping
Purchasing products in bulk from producers and keeping them is known as wholesale. After then, it’s a matter of linking shops with products. Because wholesalers buy in volume, manufacturers give them lower per-unit pricing.
Dropshipping does not necessitate the storage of any merchandise. Instead, you submit your clients’ orders to a manufacturer or distributor, who subsequently delivers the item to them.
Dropshipping Vendors vs. Dropshipping Wholesalers
It’s crucial to know the difference so you can choose the right items for your company.Dropshipping Wholesalers buy things in large quantities and then resell them to retailers or dropshippers (usually). They almost always have their webpage. This means you may get things from them for a low cost. If there is a minimum order quantity, it is usually far lower than dealing with the manufacturer directly.
Dropshipping vendors are similar to dropshipping sellers, except that they usually sell a limited number of products and don’t have their website. They frequently promote their items using dropshipping platforms, and their products are usually of more excellent quality than those sold by wholesalers. If you’re seeking unique things to offer, a drop shipping vendor is an excellent option.
Conclusion
The most challenging aspect of dropshipping is locating high-quality products and dependable suppliers. If you want to start an online store, the easiest, quickest, and safest approach to find suppliers is to use a dropshipping directory.
You’re likely to find one that’s a good fit for you among the top 7 supplier directories on this list.
