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Drop shipping can be a convenient and cost-effective way to expand your eCommerce business, but it can be challenging to decide what drop shipping company to collaborate with. Some companies are small and hard to find on Google, while other more well-known companies charge an annual fee.
When choosing the best drop-shipping company for you, you’ll need to consider your niche, expectations and budget. Remember to always research a company before entering into a partnership with them. Here are a few tips on how to find your perfect match.Â
Get Custom Size Cardboard Boxes to Fit Your Exact NeedsBut first, here are three things you should know and think about:
- Consider niche, budget and platform.
- Choose between Wix and Shopify.
- Top companies include Oberlo, Modalyst and Wholesale2B.
What Is Drop Shipping?
Drop shipping in eCommerce, a booming new sector of the global economy, has become increasingly more important. Instead of only selling products you make, drop shipping allows you to expand your product line without increasing your production requirements.
A Styrofoam Box Is Perfect for Temperature Controlled PackagingAfter entering an agreement with a drop-shipping company, you’ll offer their products on your website. However, you won’t need to produce or ship the products. When a customer purchases one of their products from your website, the drop-shipping company will package and dispatch it directly to the customer.Â
Although the process seems relatively straightforward, each drop-shipping company has different requirements and costs. If you are working with a wholesale retailer, you may not want the customer to know the product is coming from them rather than directly from you. You’ll want to include blind drop shipping in your negotiations, meaning the drop-shipping company will use a special shipping label to make it appear you shipped the product yourself.
Depending on the drop-shipping company, you may be able to specify the shipping containers. Some products may require custom size cardboard boxes or a temperature-controlled styrofoam box. Be sure to be upfront about your shipping requirements when starting a new relationship with a drop-shipping company.
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Setting Up Your Company
Before choosing a drop shipping company, you’ll need to first set up an account with Wix or Shopify. It can be beneficial to look through potential drop-shipping companies first because some only operate on one platform.Â
After choosing a platform, set up your store and choose a drop-shipping company to get started.
Top Drop-Shipping Companies
The best drop-shipping company for you depends on several factors, including your niche and costs. However, these drop-shipping companies have good reputations and work with either Wix or Shopify.Â
If you use Shopify, Oberlo is one of the best options available. There’s a free trial, after which you can choose between a basic $30 per month plan and a premium $80 per month plan. With the free trial, you’re limited to 50 sales per month, but the basic plan bumps that up to 500. It also allows for order fulfillment monitoring and shipment tracking, both essential to providing a smooth customer experience.
Oberlo has a wide variety of products. Unless you’re in a particular niche, you’ll likely find options. It also allows the creation of secondary accounts for assistants and co-owners. Last, Oberlo allows you to communicate directly with the seller so you can create long-lasting relationships.Â
If you’ve chosen Wix, you can do no better than Modalyst. This drop-shipping company is fully synced with Wix, making it easy to set up your shop and connect with sellers. The starter plan is free but has a 25 product sale limit. To upgrade, pay either $35 or $90 per month, depending on how much product you’re selling.
Modalyst’s app allows for easy, direct communication with sellers, meaning you won’t need to wait for a middleman if there’s a problem with an order. You’ll have access to over 100 million products and the AliExpress Dropshipping Center.
Modalyst also lets you control your label and box design. You can add your brand to every product you sell, even if it’s through Modalyst.
If you want to cut costs by working with a wholesaler, Wholesale2B is a great option. They have over one million products available for drop shipping and offer plans ranging from $29.99 to $49.99 per month. If you just want access to the products and don’t want to use their services, choose the DIY plan for only $67 a year.
In addition to their products, Wholesale2B lets you resell products on many platforms, including eBay, Shopify and Amazon. You can either handle it yourself or pay them a 3 percent handlers’ fee.
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What Is the Best Drop-Shipping Company to Use?
The best drop-shipping company for you depends on which platform you use, your niche and your requirements. Both Modalyst and Oberlo are fantastic general drop-shipping companies with a wide variety of products, highly rated customer service and easy-to-use interfaces.
However, if you are focused on a specific demographic, you may need to look into other drop-shipping companies. You’ll also want to consider any legal requirements if your products are restricted in certain countries or considered hazardous materials.
Regardless of the drop-shipping company you choose, you’ll want to ensure your brand is present at every stage of the way. At Air Sea Containers, we can help you find the perfect packaging and shipping labels for your products.Â