Category: Blog

If you are an eCommerce seller who sells from a non-EU country to the EU, or ships orders from non-EU country to EU, it is likely that you would have heard about the new EU VAT rules and the IOSS system that took effect from July 1st 2021.

With a considerable amount of dropshipper clients targeting the EU, HyperSKU has been working with relevant parties to provide a cost-effective and compliant fulfillment solution to meet all needs. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered about everything in this blog; read on!

In this article, we will discuss the following topics:

• What is meant by IOSS and OSS?
• Do I need IOSS if selling on Amazon, eBay, Shopify, and WooCommerce?
• How to ship to the EU without an IOSS number?
• What to do if I don’t have IOSS number?
• Can I send DDU? and are there any risks of DDU?
• Can I send DDP? and how much does DDP cost?

What is the IOSS?

IOSS (Import One Stop Shop) is a new system to efficiently process the import, fasten custom clearance and unify taxation. From July 1st, 2021, the 22-euro threshold is voided, and all B2C parcels imported outside the EU are subject to import VAT.

If you are an online seller who sells to the EU and hires suppliers outside the EU, no matter where you are, your orders are subject to import VAT and the IOSS regulations.

This includes selling on Shopify, Amazon, eBay, WooCommerce, and other eCommerce platforms.

What is the OSS?

OSS (one-stop-shop) is the portal that simplifies sales VAT within the EU. From July 1st, 2021, all B2C parcels shipped from one country to another within the European Union are subject to sales VAT and OSS systems. The distance-selling threshold is withdrawn and the seller may register a single OSS account to file their pan-EU selling.

If you are an eCommerce entrepreneur (on Shopify, Amazon, eBay, etc.) located in EU, and sell within the EU, your orders are subject to sales VAT and the OSS systems.

VAT values for EU countries:

We have also provided the VAT values for all the EU countries down below (in alphabetical order), the least VAT value being charged by Luxemburg at 17% and the maximum VAT value charged by Hungary at 27%.

• Austria 20%
• Belgium 21%
• Bulgaria 20%
• Croatia 25%
• Cyprus 19%
• Czech Republic 21%
• Denmark 25%
• Estonia 20%
• Finland 24%
• France 20%
• Germany 19%
• Greece 24%
• Hungary 27%
• Ireland 23%
• Italy 22%
• Lithuania 21%
• Latvia 21%
• Luxemburg 17%
• Malta 18%
• Netherlands 21%
• Poland 23%
• Portugal 23%
• Romania 19%
• Slovakia 20%
• Slovenia 22%
• Spain 21%
• Sweden 25%

Selling into EU as an eCommerce entrepreneur:

 1. Selling on a Marketplace

If you are an online entrepreneur and sell on a marketplace platform such as Amazon and eBay, follow their instructions carefully. Take Amazon for example, if you are MFN (Merchant Fulfilled Network) seller fulfilling from a non-EU country, Amazon will collect the import VAT and pay to tax authority. The seller needs to make sure the price is VAT-included, and provide IOSS number to the logistics carrier, which can be found in their Amazon Seller Central.

2. Selling Via Your Own Shop

If you sell on your own store on an eCommerce platform, such as Shopify, WooCommerce, CommerceHQ, etc, then there are two possibilities:

You have an IOSS number:

If you are registered to the IOSS platform and already have an IOSS number registration number, you will need to provide your IOSS number to the shipping carrier; this way, your parcels in the EU will be delivered without applying any additional cost. Your parcels will pass custom clearance fast and your customers don’t need to pay additional cost either.

In some platform such as Shopify, you can fill in your IOSS number in the settings, so you can set up the accurate VAT rates for each country, for example, 20% for France, 21% for Spain, and 22% for Italy.

 You don’t have an IOSS number:

If you do not have an IOSS number, you can still deliver products to the EU – in theory, legit shipping carriers can provide DDU (no IOSS) and DDP (shipping carrier’s IOSS) shipping according to your preference. Read on to find out how.

Can I send Delivered Duty Unpaid (DDU)? Are there any risks of DDU?

Some sellers consider sending DDU, so they do not have to think about IOSS. You could send DDU via postal service, but it comes with many risks:

1. Your customers have to pay for VAT when the parcel arrives at customs. This is an unexpected fee, and your customer may refuse the parcel and dispute the order, and then you would have to refund the customer. This would also leave a negative impression in front of the customer and cause high dispute rate.
2. Even if the customer accepts to pay for the VAT, the entire process will still be much slower since the total shipping time for DDU is 14 to 30 days.

DDU can lead to a terrible customer experience and could sabotage your store.

Can I send Deliver Duty Paid (DDP)?

 Yes, you can send DDP, and in fact, it is a better option than DDU due to the following reasons:

• The customs clearance is faster. The entire shipping process from a non-EU country to the EU takes about 7 to 12 days, which is way faster than DDU.
• Your customers would not be disturbed, and you can offer them the same high-quality services as before.

How much does DDP cost?

The shipping fee of DDP is the same as before, but you do need to take the VAT import tax into consideration. (You can check the VAT values for EU countries mentioned earlier in the article.) It’s worth knowing that from January 1st, 2022, sellers can ultilize France tax authority’s deferment scheme to ease their cash flow pressure.

Sending DDP requires an IOSS number. If you are in the EU, you can register IOSS easily, but if you are not in the EU, you will need an intermediary or a negotiator to register IOSS on your behalf.

However, if you do not want to register IOSS at all, we got you covered. HyperSKU can take care of it. We will use our 3PL’s IOSS number that would help you in sending DDP, with just a percentage of handling fees. Contact our team for details!

Latest articles you might be interested in:

• Discover Top 20 Dropshipping Suppliers for Your Online Business
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Dropshipping is a popular ecommerce business option, but managing the payments for your dropshipping business can be tricky.

 

For example, it’s always important to use a payment gateway that you can trust to keep your, and your customers’, personal details private and to run transactions securely. It’s also best to choose one that’s familiar to your target market so that your customers will feel safe and be more willing to trust your business with their payment details.

 

But arranging payments for dropshipping brings its own unique challenges as some payment providers are not built for the specific needs of dropshippers.

 

The Challenges of Managing a Dropshipping Businesses

For starters, dropshipping businesses are known for generating a higher than average amount of chargebacks. As a result, dropshipping could be could be classified at the more “high-risk” end of the ecommerce industry.

 

Secondly, when you’re dropshipping, you don’t have any control over inventory, packaging, or fulfilment. You can’t order more stock when you see levels running low, and unless your supplier keeps you well informed, you won’t know about delays or last-minute cancelations to shipments.

 

You also can’t make sure that the packaging is of a standard you’d want for your customers or includes hand-written notes to increase customer satisfaction. All of this makes it more likely that something could go wrong to disappoint your customer and trigger a chargeback request.

 

As a result, some payment providers refuse outright to work with dropshipping businesses. Others won’t necessarily reject your dropshipping business but they will ask more questions about it. You might be able to open an account, depending on your business location, the type of products you want to sell, and your previous business history, but it’s not as straightforward as setting up payment processing for any other ecommerce business.

 

Choosing the Right Payments Partner is Crucial

Finding the right payment processing partner is important for every business owner, but it’s crucial for dropshippers. Profit margins in the dropshipping vertical are notoriously low, because without unique products and little control over customer experience, price is one of the few ways that dropshipping businesses compete.

 

On top of that, you can’t benefit from bulk discounts, because every dropshipping transaction is individual, so dropshippers really need to keep their expenses down, and that means cutting transaction fees as much as possible. As you want to keep your supplier happy so they’ll give you the best possible prices, you also won’t be able to pass on those wretched banking fees.

 

While every ecommerce business can be cross-border, it’s particularly likely for dropshipping because you have little contact with either suppliers or customers. Many dropshippers use overseas suppliers, frequently in China, and/or ship to customers in other locations where there’s a high demand for items that are low-cost in your area.

 

As a result, dropshippers need robust currency support that can handle transactions in multiple currencies. Once again, you want to keep currency conversion fees as low as possible, but you also need banking that can process transactions in foreign currencies quickly, so you don’t end up facing cash flow issues.

 

The Benefits of Using a Global Payment Service

The good news is that there are payment services out there that understand the needs and operational model of dropshipping and can help ensure everything works more smoothly for your business.

 

By using international receiving accounts to receive payments directly in USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, AUD, CAD, or any other major currency, you can connect with local payment processors that your cross-border customers already know and trust, because many trusted local payment providers won’t process foreign currency payments. This helps you to scale your business in the new region.

 

Having received your funds in a currency that suits your customers, you can then use them to pay suppliers, logistics partners, or tax requirements. For example, if you’re running a dropshipping company from the Philippines and serving customers in Europe, you’ll need to pay local VAT. Converting money from your home business bank account into EUR can take days if you use a bank transfer or money remittance, plus you’ll have to pay high fees and accept poor bank exchange rates.

 

Using a payment service that lets you hold revenue from EU customers in EUR and then pay your VAT when its due, without any fees, hassle, or losing money to exchange rates, can be a major stress remover for your business and make your whole payments operation much smoother. You could do the same for your overseas suppliers, too. By using an online payment service the transfer happens almost immediately, so they get their money faster and at a better rate to you too.

 

Of course, one overriding concern for every cross-border business, dropshipping or not, is the security of your payments. You have a lot of money that’s moving between your overseas customers, your local logistics partners, and potentially multiple different suppliers, and you can’t afford for payments to go astray or for anyone to steal your financial details. For this reason, it’s important to use a payment service that is highly secure, regulated and licensed, and compliant with international banking standards.

 

Payoneer Helps Dropshipping Businesses to Scale and Thrive

Finding a helpful and trustworthy payment solution can make all the difference to the success of your dropshipping business, which is why Payoneer’s payment service was built with dropshippers in mind. With Payoneer’s fast, hassle-free, and low-cost service, you can feel secure enough to keep expanding into new geographies and markets without worrying about your banking.

 

Learn more about how to easily manage your cross-border payments

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Entrepreneurs were traditionally required to purchase products in bulk at wholesale prices. Great if a product sells! But if a product does not sell, they are left with a box of unsold inventory.

 

Over some time, entrepreneurs disliked the prospect of having a box of unsold products, which made dropshipping an appealing alternative.

 

Why is this so? You purchase products from suppliers on an individual basis. So, if a customer orders a product from your store, you request that product – and only that product – from the supplier, who will handle the rest: manufacturing, picking, packaging, and shipping your product.

 

So you not only save money, but you also save a lot of time.

 

Is Etsy.Com Good For Dropshipping?

If you want to make money online, Etsy dropshipping could be a good option.

 

On Etsy, nearly 45.7 million buyers had purchased items. Not only is Etsy a simple marketplace for getting started with online selling, but dropshipping on Etsy makes things even more straightforward.

 

Etsy used to be a marketplace for only handmade items. However, you can still sell handmade items on the platform since it has evolved to support dropshipping. This, combined with digital product capabilities, allowed for a much larger number of sellers to use the forum.

 

Though dropshipping is not explicitly mentioned in Etsy’s seller policy, it does fall into the category of items that can sell on the platform.

 

Handmade items on Etsy must be made and designed by the seller. This means that to dropship, you must create your product.

 

For example, if you want to sell a cup, you must create a quote or graphic that will go on it. You can’t just sell a pre-made cup. That is considered reselling, which is not permitted. As you can see, dropshipping on Etsy is a breeze.

 

But don’t just take our word for it. Here’s a look at the advantages and disadvantages of dropshipping on Etsy.

 

Advantages of Etsy for dropshipping

1. Conscious consumers

If you decide to open a storefront on Etsy, you will be able to sell directly to Etsy users. Since its inception, the platform has fostered a distinct community of makers and consumers who value craftsmanship, human-centric shopping, and individuality.

 

If you join a platform with such broad core values, your customers will likely share those values and not amplify a loyal customer base.

2. Make your product base stand out

As dropshipping becomes more common in eCommerce, it becomes increasingly difficult for business owners to stock items that stand out in a crowd. Etsy allows you to store your virtual shelves with unique objects that you would neither produce nor sell in any other circumstance.

 3. Etsy is the land of the niches

If you want to operate your dropshipping business in a specific area of the eCommerce world, Etsy is the place to be. In Etsy’s world, the wedding gifts, home goods, clothing, and baby product industries are thriving.

 

Even better, people are aware that Etsy is a premier destination for buying niche goods, so both makers and customers flock to the platform whenever they have or require custom items. Etsy has put in the time and effort to build a reputation for unusual and specialty items, so you don’t have to.

4. High-profit margins

Many of the items on the market are priced above market value. On the other hand, sellers benefit from an established community with a proven track record of paying those prices. Here, you can charge a high fee and still sell many products while maintaining a profit margin of 40% or higher.

5. Transparency

Etsy’s policies require you to disclose your location as well as the place of your production. There’s no way to hide the fact that you don’t make your products.

 

Etsy’s quiet, consistent success can be attributed to its level of honesty and transparency. Customers can rest easy, knowing that their purchases have been approved by a larger platform with specific ethical standards when they use Etsy.

 

Before you get too excited, Etsy has some drawbacks to consider.

 

Disadvantages Of Etsy For Dropshipping

1. More fees than you realize

Like any other large online retail platform, you’ll have to pay some hefty fees for listing and selling on Etsy. Firstly, the $0.20 listing fee and listings are valid for four months. It may not appear to be much, but it can significantly reduce profit margins.

 

Second, they charge a 5% processing fee for each product sold. Keep in mind that neither of these prices includes shipping. Etsy has also created and released a slew of seller-specific tools and resources, such as ad fees, pattern fees, and in-person fees.

2. Intense guidelines

Etsy is a highly regulated marketplace. It has a long and dense code of conduct, but here’s the gist of it.

 

Reselling handmade products are not permitted, where you’re welcome to dropship vintage items or craft supplies. As previously stated, you must disclose to Etsy the location of your manufacturer and some details about the manufacturing process. However, not all of your business and logistical information will be made public. Etsy is very clear about what it is looking for.

3. Community policy

Etsy enjoys policing users, which is beneficial because it keeps operations fair, uniform, and running smoothly. However, it also implies that you must be aware of their policies. Otherwise, you risk incurring a slew of fees and penalties.

 

Dropshipping on Etsy is ultimately much more scrutinized than dropshipping through your e-store or other platforms. While Etsy’s readymade customer base, high-profit margins, and creative freedom are all appealing, consider what you’re willing to give up to get access to it.

4. Economic sanctions and trade restrictions

Etsy is a global marketplace, and it is headquartered in the United States. This means that Etsy abides by government and economic sanctions; they limit account usage in some geographic regions and prohibit goods originating in sanctioned areas.

 

Be aware that selling on Etsy entails some red tape beyond your control and may impact your sales and profit margins.

5. Tedious listing process

The process of listing products on Etsy is quite exhausting. Because the marketplace focuses on handmade goods and small businesses, there is an infinite number of product variations. Etsy has also created requirements for product listings that provide consumers with as much information and consistency as possible. However, it can be taxing on shop owners who are trying to earn a difference.

The Verdict

If you’re looking for an easy way to make money online, you can consider dropshipping on Etsy. It’s a simple way to start a product business without dealing with inventory, production, or shipping.

 

Though, Etsy expects more creativity on your part. It is tailor-made for this cultural and economic moment, with growing concerns about sustainability, shopping locally, and making goods by hand. Consider your brand’s and business’s goals carefully, and make sure you’re ready to take a more active role in its operation.

 

Dropshipping businesses are simple to set up on various eCommerce platforms, and you can source products from anywhere in the online marketplace. So, if Etsy isn’t for you, that’s fine; there are plenty of other eCommerce solutions available.

Latest articles you might be interested in:

• Discover Top 20 Dropshipping Suppliers for Your Online Business
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Dropshipping model has been prevalent; however, shipping goods from China to the United States has become increasingly costly since shipping cost has increased on significant level, making it more competitive especially for new comers.

 

Believe it or not, there is a demand for expensive imported high-quality American goods, just as we do for imported Chinese goods. This demand has increased since retailers from North America and Europe tend to offer more cutting-edge products.

 

The term “Reverse Dropshipping” is most commonly used to describe the shipment of high-quality USA-made items into China. However, it can apply to any high-quality goods manufactured in Western countries and shipped to countries known for exporting.

 

Reverse Dropshipping – China As A Dropshipping Market

China is the most populous country in the world, with a population of 1.4 billion people!

 

Not only is this figure astounding, but China is also one of the most technologically advanced countries. As a result of this technological zeal and the Chinese love of online shopping, the country has surpassed the United States to become the world’s largest online shopping market in 2019.

 

The country now accounts for more than 44% of all global e-commerce. However, China is a very different market than many others due to the popular technologies that they use or do not use. Because Google is blocked in China, you must concentrate your marketing efforts on popular Chinese search engines such as Baidu and Taobao.

 

So, before you begin dropshipping in China, you must ensure that you can support the customers you acquire, but this market thrives with many positive developments.

Hot Products In The Chinese Market

With a 300 million-strong middle class growing rapidly, there are plenty of opportunities to sell products to Chinese customers. Here are the hot products that are currently popular among Chinese customers:

1. Technology

Chinese consumers import many foreign technology and electronics, making this a substantial segment of the Chinese eCommerce market. Apple is one of the top ten most popular brands among Chinese millennials, and many of its competitors are also popular. They are at the forefront of new technologies, including wearable technology, so these products tend to sell well.

2. Fashion

Foreign fashion brands are top-rated in China, especially among younger consumers. Non-Chinese fashion brands are becoming more popular among Chinese millennials. It is becoming more common to see international brands marketing their products on Chinese social media, and these foreign fashion brands are becoming increasingly popular among young people.

3. Food

Foreign food products sell well in China, and eCommerce is an excellent platform for selling them. Formula powder, diet supplies, chocolates and candies from international brands are trendy among young people.

4. Beauty

Beauty eCommerce is an excellent way to break into the Chinese millennial and Gen-Z markets. Young Chinese women are flocking to foreign beauty brands. Korean products, or K-beauty, account for a sizable portion of the market, and luxury beauty brands are also popular. Other international and non-luxury brands, on the other hand, are still making good money selling into China via eCommerce.

5. Health supplements

Foreign health supplements are generally prevalent in China. Vitamins and dietary supplements are commonplace, and young Chinese people take them very seriously. After increasing direct sales to China, the Australian vitamin brand Blackmores recently doubled their full-year profits to a staggering $100 million, and this trend will undoubtedly continue for other foreign shopper brands.

6. Homeware

Homewares are especially popular among this young Chinese consumer base. Foreign furniture and decorative items are currently in high demand among younger Chinese buyers. This means that selling high-end home accessories in China can be a harrowing experience.

Exporting To China Isn’t Always Easy

Millennials in China are driving the eCommerce market, and foreign products are big business. These are the most popular products, focusing on quality, luxury brands, technology, and aesthetics.

 

How To Make It Work?

While the risks of exporting to China are undeniably high, the potential rewards may be as well. Exporters should identify and cultivate opportunities while developing a risk-mitigation strategy.

 

Chinese officials strive to promise economic reforms that will give foreign investors greater market access and protection. Still, these announcements are met with skepticism due to a lack of details and timelines. Investors also point to inconsistencies in regulations, rising labor costs, licensing and registration issues, a shortage of qualified employees, insufficient intellectual property protections, and a lack of transparency.

 

Conclusion

As China continues to develop by exporting goods to other countries, the demand for imported goods is only going to increase. So, according to you, if the benefits of exporting to China outweigh the drawbacks, there is no harm in jumping into reverse dropshipping. Well, well, well! You do not necessarily have to do it alone. Local allies or the right suppliers can help you.

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Dropshipping looks to be a thriving business at the moment. With a company like DHgate, your dropshipping business will grow far beyond your wildest dreams.

 

DHgate is an excellent commerce site from which you can source products for your dropshipping business. It is simple to use and does not necessitate any technical knowledge.

 

You can even get it on your phone by downloading the DHgate dropshipping app. It provides a seamless experience when placing an order, tracking your items, or resolving disputes. Aside from all of these benefits, you will have access to DHgate live chat once you sign up.

 

Is DHgate A Good Platform For Dropshippers?

DHgate is well-known all over the world. DHgate has over 10 million products for sale and approximately 1 million registered sellers.

 

It is a B2B (Business to Business) website dedicated to bringing together different product categories and connecting them with buyers. When you buy through DHgate, you are purchasing from one of these registered sellers, though DHgate handles the transaction.

 

DHgate has the highest overall customer satisfaction rating. They have a flash deals section that shows how much time each daily deal has left. To protect buyers, they provide a refund.

 

DHgate is entirely legal, and you can start your dropshipping business right away. This company works similarly to eBay in that it connects buyers and sellers of various types of products. Even though it is a legal company, some shady sellers are displaying their products. The methods listed below are some of the safest ways to deal with suppliers.

 

• Avoid branded products because the vast majority of them are counterfeit. Instead, keep an eye out for OEM products.
• Never choose the option of paying a supplier outside of the site. It will provide you with additional security for the payment option.
• Must pay particular attention to handle shipping details.

 

DHgate offers a diverse range of product categories, including:

 

Clothing, Automobiles, and Motorcycles, Bags, Luggage & Accessories, Cameras & Photo, Cell Phones & Accessories, Computers & Networking, Electronics, Food & Beverage, Health & Beauty, Home & Garden, Shoes & Accessories, Sports & Outdoors, Toys & Gifts, Jewelry & Watches, Wedding, Party & Events, and many more!

 

Before deciding to dropship a specific product, make sure you’ve read the reviews that other buyers have left about it. If it is lacking, there is a good chance that the product will not be as advertised.

 

If you follow all of these suggestions, you will successfully use this website to dropship in a brief period.

 

Advantages Of DHgate For Dropshipping

• DHgate’s prices are meager – and even lower if you buy in bulk. There are also coupons for larger orders.
• Active sellers list over 10 million products – their selection is unrivaled.
• Suppliers ship to locations all over the world.
• DHgate has lower prices than similar sites (such as Ali Express) because it is less well-known and less saturated.
• Many suppliers provide free shipping, even on single units. However, keep in mind that this will be standard delivery, which is slow, but you can usually track it or upgrade to faster shipping for about $5-25.
• DHgate does not charge a joining or membership fee.
• DHgate provides a refund if a product is not as described or does not arrive, as they do not pay sellers until the item is received.
• Every seller is rated based on their product quality, shipping time, delivery options, and customer service – so you can see if they are trustworthy before purchasing.
• Sellers deal with both individuals and businesses, trading in bulk and single units.
• DHgate’s reliability outperforms that of similar sites. Most sellers provide high-quality goods because they would lose money if they did not.
• Many trendy items are available at meager prices. It’s simple to find ‘on trend’ merchandise to sell for a low price.
• Many eBay and Amazon sellers use it – you’ll frequently see items from DHgate resold at a high-profit margin on these sites.

 

Disadvantages Of DHgate For Dropshipping

DHgate is not without flaws. The following are some of the disadvantages of using DHgate for dropshipping:

• It is well-known for its fake “branded” products and replicas.
• The quality of the product and the shipping experience can differ from one seller to the next.
• Most sellers are based in China; shipping to the United States, Canada, Europe, and other countries takes a long time.
• Suppliers are not certified, as in paid directories, but their ratings allow you to make an informed decision.

 

The Verdict

DHgate is an excellent place to find low-cost Chinese goods. Despite the low prices, it is a legitimate site and a great source of wholesale goods and extremely low-cost one-time purchases.

 

There are millions of products in various niches, and tools are available to assist you in separating the suitable suppliers from the bad.

 

Reviews on the DHgate site are much more detailed – allow you to quickly determine a seller’s dependability, the quality of their products, and the speed with which they ship. Also, DHgate has the lowest prices, especially if you buy in bulk – for which more significant discount coupons are also available.

 

Most importantly, there are no minimum order quantities, so you can purchase single units if you prefer.

 

Conclusion

DHgate is an excellent dropshipping company as long as you are willing to experiment to find the best suppliers for you. Although there are a few scam cases on the internet, you can avoid them by testing more thoroughly. After all, DHgate is a large marketplace where you can find good products.

Latest articles you might be interested in:

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Online marketplaces are significant these days for both buyers and sellers.

 

Lazada is Southeast Asia’s leading and most powerful eCommerce marketplace. It is an online store that assists sellers in gaining exposure for their products. These marketplaces benefit from an expanded variety of products without introducing any new inventory because these online stores act as a bridge between sellers and buyers.

 

Becoming a seller on Lazada is simple, and it takes less than 10 minutes to sign up, which is faster than grabbing lunch. Best of all, it’s free to sell on Lazada, you only pay a small commission when someone buys your products, so it’s a win-win situation.

 

Is Lazada A Good Platform For Dropshippers?

 

Lazada is the largest eCommerce website, has over 27,000 registered sellers. If you are in South East Asia and want to showcase and sell your products online, Lazada could be a good option. Lazada receives over 16.08 million visitors per month, a large audience to market any product, and earns the trust of both buyers and sellers.

 

It also teaches sellers how to set up their shops and increase their sales with the help of Lazada University. One of the most significant advantages of selling products on Lazada is that you do not have to pay for leads or advertising upfront.

 

Yes, selling on Lazada is free. You only pay when you begin selling an item, and that is it; there is no other cost. There are no fixed fees, listing fees, or additional hidden charges on Lazada.

 

We can say that these online marketplaces have advantages and can help you grow your business as a seller. However, we must weigh both advantages and disadvantages of selling on Lazada.

 

Advantages Of Lazada For Dropshipping

1. Increase Sales From a High Traffic Channel

The scale of their online presence is the main advantage of selling on Lazada. As previously stated, only Lazada Malaysia attracts approximately 16 million visitors per month.

 

A massive online audience to market your products to. You will never be able to attract this many customers if you open your store. So, when you choose to sell on any of these marketplaces, you get a ready-made audience.

2. Acquire New Customers

Customers who visit Lazada for the first time are unlikely to search for your specific store. However, they may be looking for a product that you have listed in your store. Once you’ve gained a customer through these massive online retailers, you can turn that customer into a buyer by providing excellent service and fulfillment.

3. Shipping and Logistics

Lazada has a robust online presence as one of the top eCommerce stores. They have strong and powerful Logistics and shipping terms, so you get the benefit of Fast and reliable shipping with the help of this marketplace.

4. One-Click Product Upload

With the Bulk product uploading feature on Lazada, you can upload products quickly and easily. Simply select all of the products and upload them all at once.

5. Effortless Inventory Management

Get rid of the need to update your inventory now and then constantly. You can set up easy synchronization between your online store and list with Lazada integration.

Disadvantages Of Lazada For Dropshipping

1. Marketplace Fee

Setting up a shop on Lazada has the potential to increase and supercharge your online sales, but it does come with some limitations in the form of a Marketplace commission fee. You must be well-versed and have a good understanding of your profit margin limits as well as any fees you may be paying for these marketplaces provide in selling your products.

2. Limited Control

Marketplaces exist not only to help your business but also to grow your business. As a result, they make sure their customers’ attention is focused on the products rather than the sellers.

 

This could be a game-changer for a lot of sellers.  They restrict a lot of things to ensure there is no direct communication between the buyer and seller. Aside from that, you have little control over how your store appears on these marketplaces.

3. Heavy Competition And Prices Wars

According to a source, Lazada claims to have over 155,000 local and international sellers, as well as over 3,000 brands reaching out.

 

Say, for example, for the keyword “Gucci handbags,” you’ll notice that there are nearly 1836 items in Lazada that match that exact keyword.

 

Suppose that 10% of this number represents the number of stores selling “Gucci handbags,” you will be competing with approximately 183 other sellers. That’s a lot of competition for a small niche like “handbags.”

 

The Verdict

You can begin to consider the benefits and drawbacks of using a marketplace for your business; however, it is crucial to understand the marketplace that is best suited to your needs.

 

It would be enticing to “Join Immediately.” However, as previously stated, these marketplaces have their processes and limitations. So it’s up to you to decide whether or not you want to participate.

 

Anyways, keep in mind that simply selling on your eCommerce store does not preclude you from selling on any of these marketplaces. You can sell to benefit. The most important factor is customer trust. Simply make a wise decision and see how it goes.

 

Conclusion

Lazada is the most popular marketplace in Southeast Asian countries. The ability to sell across borders makes it very appealing to foreign sellers looking to establish a presence in new markets.

 

And if you’re someone who is looking to scale his business or boost its efficiency, this is the place to be.

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It’s essential to be aware of shipping restrictions when selling products online — even if you technically never come into contact with the product. You’d end up with refunding customers and losing fortune if you dropship some products that’s not allowed shipping. Here’s what you need to know about dropshipping hazardous materials:

 

What Defines Hazardous Materials?

Unlikely products you wouldn’t initially think of as dangerous could be considered HAZMAT. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has established nine categories of hazardous materials and they are:

 

Class 1: Explosives

This involves any products that could cause an adverse chemical reaction resulting in the package detonating.

Examples:  dynamite, ammunition, and gun powder.

Dropshippers should strictly avoid dropshipping any explosives.

 

Class 2: Gasses

This involves flammable gasses, non-flammable and nontoxic gasses and toxic gases.

Examples: products come with compressed gases, including hair sprays and lighters with refills

Dropshippers should strictly avoid dropshipping any gasses.

 

Class 3: Flammable and Combustible Liquids:

It covers all liquids that could be considered flammable.

Examples: perfumes, nail polish, lighter refills, and oil-based paints

Some products under this criteria are eligible for dropshipping, and you need to make sure to work with reliable shipping carriers.

 

Class 4: Flammable Solids

It refers to solids that considered self-reactive and flammable.

Examples: coal, oil, and sodium batteries

Some products under this criteria are eligible for dropshipping, and you need to make sure to work with reliable shipping carriers.

 

Class 5: Oxidizing Substances and Organic Peroxides

You’ve likely seen the sign that depicts an ‘O’ on fire — that sign was explicitly designed for this category.

Dropshippers should strictly avoid dropshipping any products under this category.

 

Class 6: Toxic Substances and Infectious Substances

This class covers toxic substances and infectious substances.

It is pretty obvious that dropshippers should strictly avoid dropshipping any products under this category.

 

Class 7: Radioactive Materials

It covers any materials that give off ionizing radiation above a certain threshold.

It is pretty obvious that dropshippers should strictly avoid dropshipping any products under this category.

 

Class 8: Corrosive Substances

A corrosive substance is harmful when coming into contact with human skin.

Examples: wet batteries, mercury thermometers.

Dropshippers should strictly avoid dropshipping any products under this category.

 

Class 9: Miscellaneous Hazardous Materials

The final HAZMAT classification is miscellaneous hazardous materials. Some Examples: lithium-ion batteries, dry ice.

Some products under this criteria are eligible for dropshipping, and you need to make sure to work with reliable shipping carriers.

 

If you’re worried that you may not know whether you’re directly or indirectly shipping hazardous materials, check out the FAA’s Commonly Shipped Undeclared Hazardous Materials.

 

What products are considered HAZMAT while doing dropshipping?

In dropshipping world, majority of orders are shipped straight from China to customers worldwide, and due to the nature of international shipping, the range of prohibited products are even wider than HAZMAT. So apart from the prohibited classes mentioned above, here are some more that you need to pay attention to. Shipping carriers usually refer to them as ‘sensitive products’ – some of them are eligible for dropshipping shipping (B2C international shipping), while some of them are not.

 

Products that are categorized as ‘sensitive’ in the eCommerce industry include:

Liquid products

Many skincare and cosmetics products fall in this type. For example, toner, cream, facial masks, makeup remover, sunscreen, nail polish, and so on.

With dropshipping, you can only ship liquid products less than 100 Ml (3.38 ounces).

 

Powder products

This refers to many cosmetics products from mascara, eye shadow palette, lipstick, soap, highlighter and bronzer, and do son.

 

Electronics with batteries

This refers to any appliance that comes with built-in batteries or simply battery-required. Usually, shipping carriers ship products with 100Wh battery limit. Power banks are prohibited from B2C international shipping.

 

 

How to Dropship Products with Liquid, Powder, and Electronics with Batteries

You must follow strict rules and regulations when dropshipping hazardous materials.

• Pay attention if you dropship cosmetics, skincare, personal care, art supplies or electronics.
• Don’t ship liquid over 100 Ml (3.38 ounces)
• Don’t ship any products contains alcohol or flammable
• The shipping time is usually longer than shipping ‘normal goods’. In general, it takes longer than 2 weeks

 

Not many international carriers accept parcels containing hazardous materials, so you’ll need to contact some of the few companies that do. It’s important to note that you should contact them before dropshipping these products, to confirm the shipping eligibility, shipping time and shipping cost.

 

 

Don’t Let the Lengthy Process Stop You

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to dropship a product that is considered a hazardous material. If you wish to sell essential oils, facial masks, or battery-required equipment — there’s a market of customers out there who need these products to be shipped to them.

 

Choosing to dropship HAZMAT may take some extra time and energy to set up before you begin to sell. Most dropshipping suppliers are in China, so it’s essential to consider the shipping process in its entirety from China to your customers’ countries.

 

It could be slightly more challenging to find an international shipping carrier who accepts hazardous products to ship. Here’s the good news: a few Chinese logistics companies specialize in shipping hazardous materials, such as liquid and battery products.

 

Dropshipping is a lucrative business, but you may find yourself doing a little more legwork if you choose to dropship hazardous materials. If you’re looking to get first-hand access direct to Chinese suppliers and the infrastructure of China’s well-developed reliable global delivery system, you should check out our services. Happy dropshipping!

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After you’ve decided to leap into the world of dropshipping, you must make the critical decision of determining which dropshipping supplier you’d like to conduct business with. The dropshipping supplier that you choose will significantly impact your business operations as they will be the sole handlers of your products. The United States and China are two of the most popular countries that boast incredible dropshipping suppliers. Here are the main differences between China-based dropshipping vs. US-based dropshipping:

 

Product Differentiation

When comparing the products between the United States and China, products made in China are generally of lower quality. High-quality products are not the primary focus of China-based dropshipping vendors; their main priorities are to sustain a facility that can mass-produce various products for a low cost.

 

If you’re looking for new products just entering the market, China-based dropshipping is a great way to offer versatile products that people want to get their hands on.

 

US-based dropshipping vendors tend to focus more on creating quality products, mainly because there are standards that the federal government sets for production facilities. If you’re looking to build a cult following based on a few high-ticket and high-quality products — US-based dropshipping might be for you.

 

Shipping Times

It’s no surprise that a product being shipped from overseas will take longer to reach the customer than a product that is shipped domestically. In the age of Amazon Prime two-day shipping, it’s quite hard to convince customers to buy a product from your business if it means that they’ll need to wait longer.

 

Consumers are more impatient with shipping times nowadays. If you choose to work with a China-based drop shipping company, your customers will need to wait approximately 7-14 days for their products to arrive. If you choose to go the China-based dropshipping route, we recommend that you’re upfront and honest with your customers about the ETA of their order. Most customers will understand that you get what you pay for. If your customers feel that they got a good deal from your store, the product is unique enough to worth the wait, and you hire a foreign supplier to cut down the price — they will likely be okay with an extended wait period.

 

It’s important to note that China-based shipping allows customers access to full mile tracking, so they are informed every step of the way throughout the shipping process.

 

If you choose US-based dropshipping, shipping will be much more convenient for US customers. US customers would gravitate towards your business as the wait time would likely be a few days at most. There are various shipping options available for those who reside in the United States.

 

A popular way to combine the benefits of China-based dropshipping and US-based dropshipping is to import inventory from China to US, and fulfill orders from a US-based fulfillment center.

 

The Return Process

It’s critical to remember that some customers will want to return products for a refund. The return process with Chinese dropship vendors may be more complicated than with vendors in the United States. The price of shipping the product back to China might cost more than the product itself.

 

You could always opt not to offer returns at all — so you wouldn’t have to deal with returns anyways. While customers often find comfort in having the ability to return the products they ordered if something goes wrong, you could lose potential customers by not offering returns. A common practice is to offer customer refund and have them keep the product.

 

United States’ vendors would make the return process much more manageable. Customers expect a relatively easy return process, and US-based dropshipping makes meeting your customers’ standards easier in reference to returns. It’s worth knowing that fulfillment center will charge you handing and inspection fees to accept returned products.

 

The Difference in Overall Costs

It’s no secret that products made in China cost less. The main reason that China-based dropshipping is so popular is because people who choose this route make a substantial profit. You can mark up the prices while still making your customers feel like they got a good deal.

 

The main disadvantage of US-based dropshipping is that the products cost is much more than those made in China. The products end up costing more because the production process costs more.

 

Upfront Costs

Starting a business can be pretty costly. If you don’t have much capital to start your company, you may want to lean towards China-based dropshipping because it’s significantly cheaper to get off the ground. US-based dropshipping involves a bit more startup capital.

 

Inventory

When you start dropshipping, you’ll realize the importance of finding a great dropshipping vendor who keeps the items you sell in your store stocked. If the supplier suddenly runs out of the product you’re selling, it could negatively impact your business and your customers’ perception of your brand.

 

China-based dropshipping vendors are great at keeping their inventory high. You’ll also find that vendors in China offer endless amounts of products that you can choose to add to your store.

 

US-based dropshipping vendors may not have the selection of inventory that you’re looking for. One of the main benefits of dropshipping is that you can add and drop products from your store instantaneously, without any monetary losses. Vendors in the United States don’t have the same massive inventory as their Chinese counterparts. Your customers could become frustrated if they fall in love with a product you sell — but it’s never in stock.

 

However, as mentioned, you can combine the advantages of the two business models by shipping a stock of products from China to US, and fulfill orders from there. Dropshippers go for this option when they have scaled up a winning products, or just to ensure speedy delivery during Black Friday and Chinese New Year.

 

It’s necessary to weigh out the pros and cons of each option to decide which is the right fit for you. Whether you choose to go with China-based dropshipping or US-based dropshipping, your choice to embark on an entrepreneurial path will likely be a lucrative one.

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Many dropshipping entrepreneurs are looking to start or scale a dropshipping business and might be wondering if it’s worth drop shipping to Singapore.

With its excellent infrastructure, schools, and healthcare system, it might be next on your dropshipping hit list and reach a 6-figure income!

In this article, we will look at whether it’s worth expanding your empire to Singapore with its strong economy and vibrant culture.

There’s a current online shopping boom in Singapore. With an initial investment of $1000 and the right tactics carefully executed, dropshipping is profitable. A supportive government, reliable and fast shipping, and Internet usage from 80% of the population, plus growing social media use are other reasons it’s worth dropshipping to Singapore.

 

So with the quick answer nailed, let’s start by discovering some of the chief reasons to start dropshipping into one of Southeast Asia’s top cities.

Why should I dropship in Singapore?

The choice of global markets can depend on many factors for dropshippers.

Such as:

• Demand in a country for the products within your preferred niche
• The purchasing power of the population
• Internet penetration
• Availability of easy, quick, and reliable shipment.

With the eCommerce market in Singapore predicted to be worth $5.4 billion by 2025, that’s surely a good enough reason to start dropshipping to Singapore. Right? Let’s find out more

Why should I do dropshipping to Singapore?

When eCommerce store owners are wondering if it’s worth drop shipping to Singapore, let’s discover some of the most important reasons.

We are often asked if it’s profitable to dropship there, so let’s discover what we think as dropshipping experts.

• Online shopping boom With a reported population of nearly 6 million, this diamond-shaped south East Asian island is enjoying an online shopping boom. With YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram as the top socials, there is real scope for profitable dropshipping to Singapore. According to a recent study. Shoppers in Singapore eCommerce spent an average of more than US$1,000 each on online purchases of consumer goods in 2018, significantly more than the global average of US$634.
• Singapore internet penetration According to recent survey indicators, About 80 percent of Singaporeans use the internet every day, and the online market is growing steadily. In fact, the e-commerce industry in Singapore is expected to be worth US$5.4 billion by 2025. Ecommerce user penetration is now at 69.6%, with Statista predicting it to rise to 73.2% by 2023. In another recent study, 70% of Singapore consumers are active on social media.
• High cost of living: As the cost of everyday commodities in Singapore is well known to be high, this gives a distinct advantage to those who run their business via a dropshipping model. A dropshipping store will have more attractive competitive prices as compared with local Singapore retailers. So anyone with a Shopify or other type of eCommerce store stands to make a profit by offering items more cheaply shipped from China.
• Supportive Government: You might also want to note that Singapore has one of the most supportive governments in the world which provide business with incentive schemes and grants. Nothing restricts you from breaking geographical boundaries and launching your dropshipping business on a global front.

“A dropshipping store will have more attractive competitive prices

as compared with local Singapore retailers.”

Payments

eCommerce and Shopify store owners need to know the types of payment systems available to their prospective customers in Singapore.

It’s crucial before expanding your enterprise into other countries that you understand their payment systems.

There are a wealth of accepted payments in Singapore for dropshippers, but credit card is definitely dominant.

These are of course in addition to usual payment methods such as bank transfer and PayPal.

So as every dropshipper knows, fast and reliable shipping is a major factor in the success of your eCommerce store. Read on to discover more about the kinds of shipping times and reliability of Singapore shipping.

“global payment gateways such as credit card and PayPal are available in Singapore”

Shipping

From its relatively new inception back in 1965, when it became independent, Singapore lacked the most basic of infrastructure and paid its workers a low income. This along with limited natural resources, outside investment, and jobs meant that Singapore was not on anyone’s marketing list!

However, only a few decades later, Singapore has become one of Southeast Asia’s richest nations, which is largely due to its high-performing logistics hub.

With its trade value hitting the heights of 3.5 times its GDP according to studies, Singapore’s shipping now takes on the rest of the world.

Shipping from China to Singapore is fast and stable and it usually takes less than 8 days to deliver.

So for those who want to know if it’s worth dropshipping to Singapore and if it’s profitable, let’s take a look at the importance of language for consumers living in Singapore.

Languages for Singapore dropshipping

Most online stores which include any kind of dropshipping, Shopify or eCommerce store will use the English language which is one of the official languages in Singapore.

However to make sure you capture a wider audience, make sure your website includes the Chinese language too.

Every dropshipper is looking for winning products to sell with a good profit margin. What about the kinds of niches your prospective customers in Singapore will be most interested in.

“to make sure you capture a wider audience, make

sure your website includes the Chinese language too.”

Popular niches

As we discovered previously Singapore consumers are avid online buyers. They have some favorite products which could lead to a profitable dropshipping business in Singapore.

As with many countries where dropshipping is popular, fashion is high on their shopping hit list.

Homeware relating to all areas of the home and the kitchen could also be winning products for Singapore dropshipping entrepreneurs.

As with many other Asian countries and worldwide outdoor pursuits are a great product area to find profitable dropshipping products.

Paddle boarding, kayaking, hiking, and even skydiving are popular outdoor activities.

• Fashion clothes
• Home and kitchen
• Home décor
• Outdoor activities

“As with many other Asian countries and worldwide outdoor pursuits

are a great product area to find profitable dropshipping products.”

eCommerce marketplaces

According to one of the studies mentioned previously in the article by Statista, in the second quarter of 2020, Shopee was the most visited eCommerce website in Singapore with approximately 10.88 million monthly web visits.

Shopee is closely followed in the popularity stakes by the Singapore-based eCommerce provider Lazada who received a huge 8.5 million visits and Qoo10 with 7.5 million visits.

• Qoo10
• Lazada
• Shopee
• Zolora

“Shopee was the most visited eCommerce website in Singapore”

And finally…

So there are some great reasons to expand or start your new dropshipping venture into Singapore.

By choosing the winning products, preparing a great social media ad campaign, and working with the best, reliable suppliers you have every chance of success in Singapore!

Don’t forget to find out more and visit our website to partner your store with dropshipping experts.

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If you’re interested in online business, you’ve probably heard the term “dropshipping.” But what is it exactly, and how does it work?

Dropshipping is a retail fulfillment method in which a store does not keep stock of the products it sells. Instead, the store sells a product through the dropshipping model, in which the item is purchased from a third party and shipped directly to the customer. As a result, the seller is no longer required to handle the product now.

The main difference between dropshipping and traditional retail is that the seller does not stock or own inventory. Instead, the seller obtains merchandise from a third party-usually a wholesaler or manufacturer-as needed to fulfill orders.

Explaining The Business Model Of Dropshipping

Dropshipping is a type of business in which you sell products made by another company without ever holding those products. You accept orders from interested customers, which you then forward to your wholesaler or manufacturer.

Once the order has been received and processed, you will be paid for referring the customer to the drop-shipper. Alternatively, you receive payment for the order first and then pay your supplier to ship the product to your customer.

This business model can be used with anything from t-shirts to mugs and more oversized items like electronic devices or even furniture. Anything you see manufactured by a specific type of company can be shipped directly to your customers, with you acting as a sort of middleman or referral agent.

Operating a business of this type requires very little initial investment and can be run from your kitchen table in your spare time.

Dropshipping is not the same as Amazon Fulfillment (FBA). You never have to pay for the products in advance with drop-shipping, so your financial risk is almost nullified.

The Logistics Behind Ecommerce

Managing logistics is the most challenging task for any eCommerce company, especially in countries with high populations. With the advancements in eCommerce, even the logistics industry sees innovation and implements new technologies to meet such high demands.

Online buyers can now track their shipments from when it leaves the factory or warehouse until it arrives at the consignee’s address. Delivering loads becomes even more difficult during weather disturbances such as the rainy season, and heavy floods, as many bridges get damaged. IT infrastructure management is undeniably an essential part of eCommerce businesses, and they might also gather support from IT service providers like BedrockIT. IT support and services become crucial in order to maintain the communications systems and networks that are part of eCommerce operations.

Back in the early days of the eCommerce industry, retailers managed to obtain goods from either manufacturers or distributors. And, now that there are many online shopping stores, the intermediaries no longer exist, resulting in deals being done directly between the supplier and end-user.

In this direct selling process, Clearing and forwarding agents, distributors, dealers, and retailers play no role. With these middlemen gone, eCommerce shipping has evolved into a highly specialized service, with most of it managed by eCommerce companies themselves.

Inventory management, warehousing, packaging, labeling, billing, shipping, payment collection, return, and exchange are processes that fall under logistics. All of this adds up to a demanding task that necessitates a surefire strategy to complete.

Aside from these, logistics entails a thorough understanding of territories, roads and road conditions, regulations governing the movement of goods, and transportation laws. The primary goal of establishing a logistics unit is to deliver consignments much more quickly, safely, and accurately.

Traffic Sources In Online Marketing

The Web Traffic Sources metric determines which traffic sources are directing visitors to your website and compares them.

Although your website may receive traffic from campaigns such as banner ads or paid search, the three primary traffic sources are direct, referral, and search. Consider analyzing the number of goal completions from each traffic source in addition to measuring the number of visitors from each traffic source.

Each source of traffic can be analyzed to provide more detailed information about your web traffic. Search traffic, for example, can be broken down into categories such as social referrals, blog mentions, and service listings; referral traffic can be broken down into categories such as social referrals, blog mentions, and service listings.

Furthermore, each source is a barometer of the health of your website. A high volume of referral traffic, for example, indicates that your brand or website is frequently discussed by third-party websites or on social media sites. Add the Web Traffic Sources metric to your SEO performance dashboard to gain a more in-depth understanding of your marketing efforts.

Key Terms

• Direct traffic: It refers to visitors who arrive at your site by typing your URL into their browser or via an undefined channel.
• Referral traffic: It is defined as visitors who arrive at your site after clicking on a link on another website.
• Organic search traffic: It refers to visitors who find your website by typing a keyword into a search engine (Google, Bing, or Yahoo) and then clicking on your listing.
• Campaign traffic: It refers to visitors who arrive at your website through the campaign or clicking on a link with specific tracking parameters.

Should You Get Into Dropshipping?

Dropshipping isn’t an ideal or a stress-free way to build a successful online business. As we all know, starting a business always requires a lot of hard work. The model has some distinct advantages, but it also has several inherent complexities that must be addressed.

The good news is that with careful planning and consideration, most of these obstacles can be overcome, and you will be able to build a thriving, lucrative dropshipping business.

Final Thought

That’s it for dropshipping. It is, without a doubt, an exciting business model. Dropshipping can be an excellent option for many people already in the online business world or looking to get started.

So, wherever you’re in your dropshipping journey, happy dropshipping!

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Dropshipping is a retail venture which is booming according to recent studies. Many might be wondering if you can dropship using a USA warehouse – and if so, then how!

 

We will get started first with what dropshipping with USA suppliers is, so you can start your preparation and get involved!

 

Then we can take a look at whether dropshipping from the USA is better than shipping from China, how to dropship from the USA, and when it’s the right time to scale your business into the USA.

 

Dropshipping with USA warehouses means ordering products from China initially but then ship them directly to warehouses based in the USA. This is in contrast to the more usual method of dropshipping products straight from manufacturers in China and other southeast Asian countries.

 

When we discover that the eCommerce market was worth a staggering 4.28 trillion dollars worldwide in 2019, there will be many entrepreneurs who want to get started straight away!

 

So that we can see how it might be profitable to use USA warehouses for your dropshipping, Shopify or any other type of ECommerce store, we will investigate whether there are any benefits.

 

We will start with the benefits and advantages of using warehouses in the USA, before looking at how that compares to more traditional methods, such as drop-shipping directly from Chinese warehouses.

The advantages of dropshipping with USA warehouses

As you may or may not know, Dropshipping is an order fulfillment method that does not require a business to keep products in stock. Instead, the store sells the product and passes on the sales order to a third-party supplier, who then ships the order to the customer.

 

So using the dropshipping method you might be keen to find out how dropshipping from the USA to your customers compares with the more traditional methods of dropshipping from China.

 

Warehouses in China

In general, products are shipped directly from warehouses in the countries where the products are manufactured. These countries are often Asian, such as China.

 

The downside of china warehouses is that shipping can often take 7-12 days even with express shipping, and might take longer during holiday seasons.

 

“The downside of china warehouses is that shipping can often take a number

of days, sometimes even weeks to reach your customers in the USA.”

 

Faster delivery to USA customers dropshipping from the USA

So it doesn’t need you to do much in the way of research to work out that using a warehouse in the country where your customers live will mean much faster delivery for them!

 

Shipping issues can often be one of the main criteria that cause no end of problems for dropshippers.

 

With the likes of Amazon offering virtually immediate delivery, customer expectations, especially in more developed countries such as the USA, have increased.

 

Dropshipping from USA warehouses will give your American customers a much more streamlined service. This will include not only faster shipping times, but a speedier delivery too.

 

You will be looking at delivery of around 2-4 days in general. This will help keep your customer service hat out of the picture, as shipping issues such as delayed or missing products can often be the chief cause of customer complaints.

 

“Dropshipping from USA warehouses will give your American

customers a much more streamlined service.”

A sustainable business model

Having USA warehouses can help you to grow your dropshipping business, with a much more stable and sustainable business model.

 

The USA has one of the most stable economies and infrastructure in the world which will bode well for anyone doing business in the USA. Although according to research many do see China as equivalent in its power base. But results still show that the USA clinches the title as the world’s largest economy, with a forecast for nominal GDP of USD 25.3 trillion in 2024.

Loyal customers

Returning customers are the icing on the cake for dropshippers thinking about using USA warehouses.

 

Customers with the advantages of purchasing from USA dropshippers are very likely to continue to buy from you and have loyalty to your brand and

 

This is mainly because of the faster shipping we mentioned earlier.

 

With warehouses in the same country as your USA customers ensure a much smoother transaction. This will most likely result in less customer service such as lengthy shipping or the worst-case scenario, a disappearing order.

 

So let’s compare this with sourcing and delivering direct from China to see how it compares

 

• More product choice: As China is the manufacturing capital of the world, there will most likely be a much wider selection of products to choose from than using USA warehouses.
• Cheaper products: China is well known for its inexpensive mass production, which is likely to mean that products sourced and shipped directly from China will be significantly cheaper than dropshipping from USA warehouses.
• Customization: Reliable Chinese suppliers will be able to offer customized services. This could include unique private-label goods and include shipping packaging, thank-you notes, and other types of customization.

 

“China is well known for its inexpensive mass production”

 

Ok so we’ve looked at some of the pros and cons of dropshipping direct from the USA, so you can choose which will best for your Shopify, or any other type of ECommerce store.

 

So if you have decided to use the USA to fulfill dropshipping orders, you might be wondering if there’s a right time to begin the process.

 

When should you consider dropshipping with a USA warehouse?

Knowing the exact time to scale your business is important for any budding dropshipping tycoon! Especially those who are wondering if it’s worth using USA warehouses.

Chinese New Year

One of the best times to utilize warehouses in the states is when the Chinese New Year celebrations take place. At this time many if not most Chinese manufacturing and other businesses shut their doors for a whole month.

 

So by making sure you have this period covered by using USA warehouses for dropshipping, you will keep ahead of the competition and ensure your customers are getting a good service.

Winning products

Finding winning products can be difficult for fledgling dropshippers. Scaling your business before you have secured some products which are selling well is not recommended.

 

Instead, we suggest that you wait until you have sold at least 50 or more products over 30-day period before you begin to scale up and use USA warehouses for dropshipping.

 

Ok, so we now know the benefits and the best time to start using warehouses in the USA for dropshipping. But how do you do it?

 

How do I dropship with a USA warehouse?

It’s a simple 3-point step:

1. Place the inventory order and make any necessary customization
2. Ship the inventory to USA warehouse with air or ocean shipping
3. Fulfill orders with the inventory

 

And here’s another 3 expert tips for getting the best out of dropshipping with USA warehouses.

3 expert tips for USA warehouse dropshipping

1. Make sure you plan months ahead
2. Manage cash flow well
3. Work with a reliable supplier

 

And to finish on….

So that’s hopefully given you everything you need to know before dropshipping from USA warehouses!

 

Working with a reliable supplier is paramount to getting your dropshipping venture taking off using warehouses based in the states. Here at HyperSKU, we can:

• Be your supplier
• Handle all order fulfillment
• Ship with express shipping

 

And more importantly, improve efficiency with just one integrated system.

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• Discover Top 20 Dropshipping Suppliers for Your Online Business
• 5 Steps to Master Shopify Dropshipping for Profitable Business

With the world of eCommerce set to soar to $563,388 million by 2025, it’s not surprising that many of us are hoping to hit some dizzy heights with dropshipping, Shopify, or other eCommerce stores.

In order to beat the competition and set your store apart from others, you might be wondering how to not only brand your store but customize it.

Giving your dropshipping store packaging customization alongside a memorable brand could see you set for a 6-figure income.

Let’s find out how to give your store the unique qualities which will keep your customers coming back for more.

How do I customize and brand a dropshipping store? Get in touch with reliable dropshipping agents who will be able to brand your store and offer customization. Build your brand by offering customized products, thank-you cards, unique shipping packaging, along with product packaging and inserts.

So with the brief answer covered, let’s delve a little deeper and start by discovering why you should brand your store, then look into how important it is to customize your customer experience.

Why should I brand my dropshipping store?

Giving your dropshipping customers a unique experience is an important way to make sure they return to your store. There are many ways to brand and customize your store both offline with bespoke packaging and online with a standard out website.

With a new online retail explosion happening due to many factors, not least of all, the recent global pandemic, it’s more important than ever to make sure your dropshipping, eCommerce, or Shopify store has something different to offer your customers.

A brand isn’t just to be considered as an ‘add-on’ it should be carefully considered and budgeted for.

• Memorable: If done correctly branding can define your store in a sea of competition and help it to become memorable.
• More sales: by connecting to your customer’s ethos, beliefs, and lifestyle you can increase customers purchases
• Loyal following: With so many other dropshipping looking to compete for customers, brand building can help to set your store high on the priority list of your existing customers
• Brand differentiation: By offering your customers a customized unique, powerful and compelling brand your dropshipping store will stand out in a crowd of other eCommerce offerings.

“If done correctly branding can define your store in a sea of competition and help it to become memorable.”

So now we’ve seen some of the crucial reasons why you should brand your dropshipping store, what about customization? Is it worth dropshipping with custom packaging, for example?

Read on to find out how customization can ensure more sales and a loyal customer base.

Why should I customize my dropshipping store?

Finding the best package customization for dropshipping could be the difference between the success or failure of your dropshipping enterprise.

With figures estimated for global dropshipping to reach USD 557.9 billion by 2025, it’s easy to see that your brand needs a competitive edge.

“The best package customization for dropshipping could be the difference between the success or failure of your dropshipping enterprise.”

But what exactly is it? Read on to find out.

How to customize dropshipping store

So now we can see how important it is to get your branding right and also offer your customers a unique experience.

Custom packaging can give them an instant connection to your store and helps them to build up a picture as to how you fit with their lifestyle.

Adding thoughtful extras like thank you cards and other inserts will help to build a relationship with customers. Both returning and existing customers or anyone buying from your dropshipping, Shopify or eCommerce store.

It completes your brand story and customization helps your customer to understand you want to go an extra mile in providing them with a unique product and service.

“Adding thoughtful extras like thank you cards and other inserts will help to build a relationship with customers”

Custom packaging

Custom packaging is boxing that is specifically tailored to your company and the product your company is making and shipping

Packaging can be customized for both shipping and the final packaging of your product.

It can include:

• Printing logos on the boxes of both shipping and internal packages
• Customer thank-you cards
• Any other kind of packaging inserts

So let’s move on to branding and why every drop shipper should make sure they keep ahead of the competition with a unique story, product, and packaging.

Branding your dropshipping store

Before you even choose a winning product to sell, the most important thing to do is make sure you have a great business name and logo.

A stand out business name and logo

With so much competition from other dropshippers, it’s crucial to have a memorable, unique, and attractive business name and logo.

Even if you feel like that’s a creative idea you might struggle with, there’s loads of online help including free logo name generators and templates such as Canva and Fiverr where you can engage professionals for a fairly low outlay.

A great website

With so many templates available for building websites, it’s not only web developers who are now able to turn out a professional-looking site.

Shopify gives its store owners a wealth of attractive templates to choose from and customize.

Having a great-looking website will help to give potential customers an awesome first impression.

Along with additional factors such as great customer service, quality, and of course price, a winning website will give your dropshipping store a competitive edge.

Customer communication

If you don’t spend the time advertising your brand with email, and social media campaigns you could get left behind in the race for your next customer.

Investing in ads and other forms of social media advertising strategies will ensure your winning products are right in front of your potential customers.

The pros and cons of branding dropshipping store

Ok so we’ve seen a number of reasons how and why to brand and customize your dropshipping store, but as with everything, there are always pros and cons. Some of the important pros are listed below.

Pros of dropshipping branding

• Higher margins
• Create a loyal customer base
• Ensure returning customers
• Have a unique offering to set you aside from competitors

But what about any downsides?

Cons of branding dropshipping stores

Although we know it’s a great strategy for building a client base and getting ahead of the game, it does require upfront costs to customize your brand.

Obviously using free resources such as web templates etc can help to keep those costs to a minimum.

Products that have bespoke packaging do come at a price, but like every kind of business, you have to weigh up the returns of your investment.

Building it into your budget plan is also a way of managing costs. So it could be you put money aside over a period of weeks or months to account for the extra costs.

It can be a risky strategy too if you haven’t prepared thoroughly. This can include testing out new products thoroughly and knowing when to scale.

More dropshipping help…

So we hope you’ve got everything you need now to take your dropshipping store to new heights with a unique brand!

Here at HyperSKU, we can help with turning your dropshipping store into one where customers will return time after time.

We can assist with making the leap from drop shipper to brand owner, with our package and insert customization.

Find out more on how to grow your eCommerce brand with our extensive resources.

Latest articles you might be interested in:

• Discover Top 20 Dropshipping Suppliers for Your Online Business
• 5 Steps to Master Shopify Dropshipping for Profitable Business

With global marketplaces on the rise and a wealth of dropshippers looking to see which countries are profitable, it’s not surprising many eCommerce entrepreneurs are wondering if it’s worth dropshipping in Southeast Asia.

 

Let’s start first with the brief take-away so you can get started on your business strategy.

 

Asian countries such as Indonesia, Vietnam, and The Philippines have a huge untapped dropshipping market. Although the economy may show signs of Instability, low risk and more simple eCommerce business models such as dropshipping can tap into the projected high volume of projected consumer spending. 

 

Ok so with the takeaway nailed, we’ll start with an overview of the commercial landscape in SE Asia, so you are more easily able to get prepared for your dropshipping global domination!

eCommerce landscape in Southeast Asia

According to recent studies by experts, eCommerce figures for Indonesia alone are set to skyrocket towards 84 billion USD by 2025.

 

This clearly shows that the eCommerce landscape in southeast Asia is growing fast.

Let’s look at two of the main reasons it’s worth dropshipping in Southeast Asia:

 

• Growing middle class: One of the crucial reasons for the increase in revenue expected from southeastern Asian countries is the growing middle class.

 

• Increase in internet usage: Another of the chief reasons Southeast Asia’s eCommerce industry looks set to boom is due to the growing number of its population using the internet.

 

• Young demographic: A growing young savvy shopper is emerging from Southeast Asia with crucial buying power

 

“According to recent studies by experts, eCommerce figures for Indonesia

alone are set to skyrocket towards 84 billion USD by 2025.”

Sustained growth in Southeast Asia

According to Businesswire, B2C business rapidly grew during the recent global pandemic and is expected to sustain that growth.

 

This clearly means starting or expanding dropshipping in Southeast Asia could be a lucrative move for Shopify or other eCommerce store owners.

Countries in Southeast Asia worth dropshipping to

Southeast Asia is made up of 11 countries.

 

The top 6 who lead the way in terms of eCommerce are:

 

• Indonesia
• Thailand
• Malaysia
• Singapore
• The Philippines
• Vietnam

 

With commercial experts predicting that online retail sales are set to grow annually by a whopping 44.4 percent, the countries of Southeast Asia are worth including in your next dropshipping marketing plan.

Indonesia, Vietnam, and The Philippines

Indonesia, Vietnam, and The Philippines have a huge untapped eCommerce market.

It’s worth noting that these three up-and-coming Southeast Asian countries have a population twice the size of the US. For this reason, they are becoming a growing attraction for dropshippers.

 

Although that’s a positive outlook, there may be some downsides to consider when dropshipping to Southeast Asia.

 

“Indonesia, Vietnam, and The Philippines have

a huge untapped eCommerce market.”

What are the cons of dropshipping in Southeast Asia?

Although the overall political condition of most of the Asian countries is becoming more positive, there are few economic risks identified by retail experts.

 

The economic slowdown and uncertainty in international trade have most certainly added to these risks. Although the above could be seen as negative, it may work well for dropshippers, Shopify, and other eCommerce store owners.

 

This is because, with the low-level risk of dropshipping and its simple business model, it is probably one of the most favored forms of business to take into Southeast Asia.

 

So what kind of products are popular in such dropshipping lucrative countries such as Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia?

 

Read on to discover more.

Popular niches

It can be tricky to find winning products and the right niche for your customer base. For example items popular in the USA might not work with a different audience.

 

So it’s worth taking the time to research the kind of products that are currently selling well in Southeast Asia.

 

As for most countries where dropshipping is popular, women’s fashion dominates the field. It’s worth also noting that many Southeast Asian countries are social shoppers and click the buy button regularly via social media channels, such as Facebook.

• Women’s Fashion clothes
• Fashion accessories
• Cosmetics
• Kitchen
• Electronic accessories
• Outdoor

Payments

To keep consumers happy during all stages of their buyer journey, merchants must provide the payment methods that locals use most frequently

 

Whereas a good portion of many countries that are ideal dropshipping locations use PayPal and other popular payment methods such as stripe, Southeast Asia are fans of a simple online bank transfer, or cash on delivery.

 

However, the population of Southeast Asia is quickly grabbing hold of technological advancements and using them more to purchase online services and products.

 

Credit, debit cards, bank transfers and cash on delivery are currently the most popular payment methods.

Shipping

Slow shipping times can make or break for any fledgling or scaling dropshippers.

Except for Singapore, the shipping in other regions is slower and less stable.

Popular eCommerce platforms

Knowing which platforms are used in Southeast Asia is a dropshippers gateway to sales. Knowing exactly where your customers are and the kind of platforms they are familiar with can help your dropshipping business make the transition to Southeast Asia.

 

Let’s start by looking first at one of Southeast Asia’s most popular shopping platforms, Shopee.

 

• Shopee: Shopee is one of the leading mobile e-commerce platforms in Southeast Asia. As of 2017, there were more than 180 million products from over a staggering four million entrepreneurs. Shopee started as a consumer-to-consumer or C2C but has developed into both a C2C and B2C (business-to-consumer) business model.
• Lazada: is a marketplace owned by Alibaba Group that operates in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. It offers products in various categories ranging from consumer electronics to household goods and fashion. It’s also the most followed online platform on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
• Shopline: Founded in 2013 and accepted into the Silicon Valley-based 500 Startups accelerator in 2014. In 2017, Shopline has become the first E-commerce platform that partnered with Google in Greater China
• Shopify: Shopify is a popular storefront platform that has merchants globally in 175 countries, including Singapore and Hong Kong. Shopify handles everything from marketing through to payments. It is one of the most popular eCommerce platforms on the planet, with almost 20 percent market share.

 

So now we’ve discovered the reasons to get started straight away on dropshipping to Southeast Asia, you might be wondering if there’s any other important info you need to know?

 

Read on to discover more.

Google and Southeast Asia dropshipping

it is crucial for dropshipping to have good visibility on Google.

 

Southeast Asian consumers have a high level of trust in search engines as a source of information.

 

Google is one of the main starting points for Southeast Asian product research. So many Southeast Asian consumers will look to Google for confirmation of the right product choice.

 

This means that merchants should put tremendous effort into their SEM (search engine marketing).

 

Dropshippers should also focus on SEO and paid search practices to guarantee success.

 

“Southeast Asian consumers have a high level of trust in

search engines as a source of information.”

Local language content

Finally, to be highly successful when marketing to the region, merchants should create content in the local language, for example Bahasa for Indonesia and Malay for Malaysia.

 

This type of marketing resonates better and is highly effective and important to Southeast Asian consumers.

And to finish on…

Here at HyperSKU, we hope you have the complete lowdown on why your next dropshipping venture should include a lucrative Southeast Asian market.

 

Explore our website to find everything you need to begin or scale your journey into dropshipping.

 

Don’t forget to check out our blog for lots more helpful articles.

Latest articles you might be interested in:

• Discover Top 20 Dropshipping Suppliers for Your Online Business
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Knowing how to scale a winning dropshipping product can be one of a dropshippers make or break times. Choosing and promoting products wisely in such a competitive dropshipping marketplace could set you on the road to a six-figure income.

 

But where do you start? In this article, we will give all our industry know-how and secret sauce to help you choose successful products, scale, and beat the competition.

 

How to scale a winning dropshipping product. To scale a winning dropship product, make sure you thoroughly test your products, including by increasing budget and creating a lookalike audience. Aim for at least 3 for ROAS. Check your VA’s are well prepared and that you use a supplier with enough stock.

 

Now we’ve had the brief answer, let’s delve a bit deeper and start with the most important phase of choosing and scaling winning products, which is the test phase.

1. Test phase

Testing products is probably one of the most important activities if you run a dropshipping business, Shopify, or any other type of eCommerce store.

 

Without thorough product testing, you could find yourself severely out of pocket by putting your efforts, not to mention your budget, into poor-selling items.

 

Although one of the attractions of dropshipping is its limited layout in terms of upfront cash, you could find yourself out of the race if you miss out on the crucial testing phase.

 

It’s a 3 point plan to success.

• Test different products
• Test audience
• Test creatives

Facebook campaigns

One of the most successful methods of effectively testing dropshipping products is by using a Facebook Campaign with A/B test.

 

Create at least 3-10 $5 ad sets, depending on your budget.

 

You will probably only have to wait one day or so until you see 1000 impressions to find out which one is a winner with your target audience.

 

We will look into testing audiences a little later on in this article in more depth.

 

“Without thorough product testing, you could

find yourself severely out of pocket”

2. Conditions for scaling a product

There are some importing criteria to make sure you have in place before you are ready to scale your product.

 

• At least one of the ad sets is performing well
• The desired CPA is achieved
• The product has passed the initial test phase and is getting orders continuously

Ad set

Making sure you put enough budget into each ad set to see a return is important.

 

The money you invest in advertising is usually easily understood by making it proportional to the cost of the product (or products).

 

As a general rule of thumb, you need to give at least 50-100 USD budget per day to test a product and associated Ad creatives.

Cost per action

CPA stands for Cost per action which is a digital advertising payment model that allows charging an advertiser only for an action taken by a prospective customer.

 

That action can vary depending on the advertiser and could be anything from a newsletter sign-up to a link click or sale.

The initial testing phase completed

When you have successfully come to the end of your winning dropshipping product phase, that does not only test the product but also the audience, you are ready to roll.

 

“your ad spends should be somewhere between 18 and 25 times the price of

the sale price of your product, depending on your budget.”

3. How to scale

Knowing when and how to scale is crucial to make sure you are keeping a tight rein on your budget.

 

Below are our 5 hot tips to make sure you have everything in place to make the most profit and succeed with new products.

 

• ROAS looks healthy (at least 3)
• Put budget into the best-performed ad set
• Utilize lookalike audience
• Make sure your VA is well prepared
• Make sure your supplier has sufficient stock

 

Now let’s delve a little deeper.

ROAS

Once you have thoroughly tested your great new product and you are seeing good signs of it taking off, you are ready to scale!

 

Ok, so where do you start? Firstly take a drilled down to look into your marketing metrics. This is specifically ROAS which stands for

Return On Advertising Spend. This a metric that measures the success of any digital advertising campaign.

 

It helps anyone who wants to know how to scale a dropshipping business to evaluate which marketing efforts are bringing the best results. It also shows where improvements can be made in future marketing campaigns.

Best performing ad sets

Once you are satisfied you have 3, then it’s time to put your efforts and your budget behind the ad set that performed the best.

Utilize a lookalike audience

A lookalike audience is a great way to reach those potential customers who are likely to be interested in your products because they are similar to your current best customers.

Facebook lookalike audience

Facebook’s powerful segmentation tool sorts users into those with similar demographics and interests of your existing followers.

 

It’s easy to create and use them, which makes them effective in finding users with a high sale conversion rate.

Using email lists

Facebook can use email lists you have already uploaded.

 

For example, you have an email list of around 10,000 people. Facebook will then go on to match those customers to Facebook users who are similar in interests and attributes.

Prepare Virtual Assistants (VA’s)

No matter how well your new products have done in terms of trial advertising success, making sure your VA’s are up to speed with product lines and launches is crucial.

 

Your VA will need to know details on cost, shipping times and also have access to all the product details in order to successfully take and process orders.

Ensure stock with suppliers

Making sure before you scale that you have a reliable and reputable dropshipping supplier on board is critical to the success of your scaling process.

 

It’s crucial that your suppliers have enough stock and can grow your product line with you.

 

It could cause unlimited customer service issues if you can’t service the orders successfully, which could seriously harm your brand.

4. End of the Incremental phase

Once you’ve reached the conclusion of your testing phase, there will be a couple of options depending on the success of the campaign.

 

If it’s done well, then consider replicating the ad set with a new geo/language group or if see a performance decline, consider the following:

 

• Change price: a lower product price might convert better (get you more sales).
• Consider different offers such as ‘bogof’ or ‘buy this product get one for half price
• Duplicate your ads into another geo

And to finish on…

So there you have it! Everything you need to know to get started straight away and all the information you need on how to scale a winning dropshipping product!

 

Don’t forget to check out our blog section for more information on how to get the best out of your dropshipping venture, tons of industry information for beginners and experienced shippers alike plus everything you need to build your empire!

Latest articles you might be interested in:

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When it comes to scaling a dropshipping business, it’s often difficult to know when and how. Surprisingly, this makes it a difficult time for dropshippers.

 

Are you finding yourself working around the clock more and more? or maybe finding you are struggling to balance your advertising time with dealing with orders, or perhaps you’ve got a great idea for a white label product. It could also be you’re seeing the competition streak ahead.

 

Whatever the reasons, when and more importantly how to scale a dropshipping business is an important consideration for those looking to make 6 figures or more dropshipping.

 

In this article, we will explore some of the ways you can scale your business and succeed in a competitive dropshipping marketplace.

 

When and how do you scale dropshipping business? Carefully Consider cash flow. Express shipping is crucial to scaling. Build a team with VA’s. Adequately test new products by advertising and check suppliers have sufficient stock.

 

So with the short answer covered, let’s delve a little more deeply into this important topic for dropshippers, Shopify, and eCommerce retailers and start by looking at some important things to consider.

 

Let’s begin by looking at one of the most important elements of dropshipping, or indeed scaling any Shopify or ECommerce business, which is when to scale.

 

How to scale dropshipping business

As with any other form of business, there are many important things to consider when asking the question of how to scale a dropshipping business.

 

Take a look at our 5-point checklist list below to get started.

• Planning
• Funding
• Correct systems
• Technology
• Partners

1. Planning

Making sure you plan thoroughly is crucial to the success of your dropshipping business. By planning, this means every area of your business should be water-tight.

Make sure your supplier has enough stock

This is probably one of the first areas you need to plan in first before starting a scaling process.

 

Finding out too late in the day that your supplier can’t grow with you is the hard way and not recommended!

 

Make sure you contact your supplier and find out order limits and whether they have the capacity to supply when demand grows.

Test advertising and products fully

It’s no good simply putting a finger in the air and guessing which products might do well.

 

A fully planned ad campaign will enable you to test the demand before you commit to any new products.

 

Test the products yourself if possible so you have an idea as to any issues your customers may come up against and make sure you choose quality products from a reputable supplier.

2. Funding

Considering how you are going to fund your upscaling venture is paramount to the success of your business, especially if you are looking to make 6 figures!

 

Make sure you have a written finance plan of how you will fund the growth.

Cash flow and fund release

If you use PayPal make sure you let them know you are intending to grow or otherwise any large-scale transaction that isn’t usual for your account could be flagged up and crucial cash flow will be frozen.

 

This is one way to help you more fully consider all Important cash flow and fund release.

3. Correct systems

Having the correct symptoms in place could be the difference as to whether your dropshipping business wins or fails.

Use virtual assistant

We are asked many times how to scale a dropshipping business and one of the best ways to free up your time to concentrate on the development and executive side of your business is to outsource the fundamental tasks of customer service and order fulfillment.

 

Building a team of VA’s around you to take care of the laborious and find consuming day-to-day order taking can be farmed out to others and enable you to make those all-important business decisions.

 

This is important to realize as some of the most successful dropshippers could be taking up to 400 orders a day, just with a team less than 5.

Express shipping

Slow shipping times is now a subject close to everyone’s heart when buying online.

 

Companies such as Amazon have raised the bar in terms of almost immediate deliveries and means that those wanting to know how to scale a dropshipping business should offer the quickest shipping possible.

 

Some of the best dropshipping partners can offer a 7-day turnaround from order to delivery from right across the globe. So it makes those who are sourcing products from China are able to compete with the super fast delivery times from the online retail giants.

4. Technology

It can be overwhelming when researching the best software to scale your dropshipping business.

 

Every type of software comes with promises and claims of how it can help you scale your dropshipping business with a never-ending list of features.

 

To make sure you have covered all bases, here are our top tips on how to scale your dropshipping business and the features to look for.

 

• Product search and import
• Listing management tools
• Automated order and fulfillment
• Inventory info
• Pricing automation
• Shipment tracking
• Reporting

5. Partners

Finding partners that can grow with you as we mentioned earlier, is crucial to the success of your dropshipping venture.

 

Finding a quality partner who is reputable and puts the customer first is important to build a reputation and limit returns and unhappy customers.

 

This alone can kill dropshipping businesses if not addressed.

 

Work with experienced shipping agents and partners who will ensure your customers get a quality product and the best service.

And to finish on…

We hope this article has given you the lowdown on scaling your dropshipping business, what to look for in the best dropshipping partners, and also when it might be an idea to begin the scaling process.

 

Here at HyperSKU, we take care of all the back-end processes so you can fully concentrate on building a successful business. Sign up for free to find out more.

Latest articles you might be interested in:

• Discover Top 20 Dropshipping Suppliers for Your Online Business
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Many business owners and dropshippers have heard news that Apple iOS 14 has negative affect eCommerce.

 

Many dropshipping entrepreneurs including Shopify store owners might be wondering whether the iOS14 update has the power to affect the success of dropshipping businesses, along with potentially the whole of the eCommerce industry.

 

This article will investigate what the new update has in store for those just starting their dropshipping business and seasoned dropshippers alike.

 

Will the iOS14 update affect dropshipping? The iOS 14 update will limit dropshippers using Facebook tools and benefits, such as lookalike audiences, and segmentation. It also limits anyone who uses web conversions for optimization and reporting for sales purposes. Permissions will now be required as eCommerce customers will need to opt-in.

 

So with the short answer in mind, let’s start by investigating what the iOS 14 update is and so we can more easily understand its impact on the dropshipping world.

1.What is the iOS 14 update

The new Apple iOS14 update is hailed as giving more privacy to its users. In June 2020 introduced the latest version of its iOS operating system, iOS 14, which went on to be released on September 16. According to newspaper reports, this new update was hailed as a major and controversial update.

 

Let’s have a look first at how it impacts the everyday iPhone user.

 

Along with new emojis including face masks and a new range of age options, Apple has introduced a raft of new features designed to make our lives easier along with its key theme of stricter privacy for users.

 

Here are some of its key features for the home user:

 

• Better maps and environmentally friendly ways to travel
• Electric vehicle routing
• New translation mode
• A new look Siri
• People identification at your home via photos and video
• Unlock and start your car with iPhone

 

Alongside the extra features which make iPhone using more seamless with daily activities, there are product improvements including:

 

• New tools for tracking objects with “AirTags”
• Additional support for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X controller
• New voices for Siri
• updates to the Music app

 

So although the home user will likely see a smoother ride and improvements, the new update regarding app tracking is seen by some as a barrier to advertisers, such as dropshippers and other eCommerce entrepreneurs.

 

Read on to find out more.

App tracking transparency ATT

In a nutshell, this feature will automatically opt Apple device users out of ad tracking.

 

• Apple updated developers with the April 26 deadline after its “Spring Loaded”
• Companies will no longer be able to use the ID for Advertisers (IDFA) unless specific permission is granted either through a pop-up notification or in settings.
• Developers will be required to submit App Privacy Labels with any app update stating clearly the tracking an app performs.

2. How does iOS 14 impact Facebook advertising

So for those looking to iOS 14 update dropship, there will be new rules and regulations to contend with surrounding Facebook ads.

 

In June, Apple announced iOS 14 updates that, among other changes, require apps to ask users for permission to collect and share data using Apple’s device identifier. Companies like Facebook have publicly protested this new feature, stating that it could affect advertising for small businesses and impact revenue.

 

Leaders at Facebook felt so strongly about the feature that they were compelled to take out full-page newspaper ads and started a public media campaign against Apple’s decision.

 

“those who optimize, target, and report on any type of web conversion

or use business tools would be directly affected by the update.”

 

What does Facebook say?

Facebook announced how the iOS 14 change will affect those who use their tools for sales conversions such as the Facebook pixel.

 

They pointed out that any businesses including those who optimize, target, and report on any type of web conversion or use business tools would be directly affected by the update.

 

Businesses that advertise mobile apps and those that optimize, target, and report on web conversion events from any of our business tools will be affected.

 

They went on to explain…

 

“Apple’s policy will prohibit certain data collection and sharing unless people

opt into tracking on iOS 14 devices via the prompt.

 As more people, opt-out of tracking on iOS 14 devices, ad personalization,

and performance reporting will be limited for both app and web conversion events.”

 3. How does it impact dropshipping

Any business that relies heavily on paid digital advertising may find themselves struggling to reach their niche audiences with app-specific campaigns.

 

Lookalike audiences are one of the chief ways that dropshippers trial new products and scale those that are winning. The new iOS 14 update sees apps will be required to ask users for permission to collect and share data via an App Tracking Transparency (known more commonly as ATT) pop-up prompt.

 

By opting out, users can completely block their data from being shared with the apps they use.

 

This will essentially limit:

• All personalized advertising
• Retargeting
• Segmentation
• Lookalike audiences
• Exclusion targeting.

 

Facebook ads are also a prime form of acquiring and retaining new business.

 

Dropshipping with the new iOS 14 update will place challenges before eCommerce store owners. So how can dropshippers work with this new update and what can they do to lessen its impact?

 

“Any business that relies heavily on paid digital advertising

may find themselves struggling to reach their niche

audiences with app-specific campaigns.”

 

4. Tips for dropshippers to deal with iOS 14 update

Facebook has offered some clear advice on how dropshippers can prepare for the impact of iOS 14 by initially updating Facebook’s SDK for iOS 14 version 8.1 to help personalize ads delivered to iOS 14 users.

 

They state that this way dropshippers, Shopify, and other eCommerce store owners will continue to receive app conversion events reporting.

 

You will be able to update by going directly to your Events Manager and will need to be an app admin to do so.

 

Facebook’s SDK for iOS 14 version 8.1 currently supports Apple’s SKAdNetwork API and will enable users to continue measuring for app install ads.

 

They also advise that if you don’t have the latest version of our SDK installed, you may want to install it.

 

So what else can a dropshipper do to help mitigate the challenges of iOS 14?

 

• Verify your domain to allow you to make use of Google reports and other analytics
• Monitor data and change attribute pattern
• Get in direct contact with consumers
• build your own community/ email list
• Invest in other marketing channels, such as Influencer marketing and SEO targeted blogs

 

“You will be able to update by going directly to your Events Manager

and will need to be an app admin to do so.”

And finally…

So although the prognosis looks poor, with the right tools in place, directly reaching out to consumers via influencer marketing and other forms of SEO, it’s possible to ride the iOS14 wave.

 

Dropshippers and other ECommerce store owners may just need to make some tweaks to their campaigns in order to carry on building a successful store by reaching out directly to customers and crucially increasing SEO. For more information, register with us at HyperSKU and we’ll be happy to assist.

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Anyone starting out on a dropshipping venture knows how important it is to select the right niche.

 

With a wealth of items from electronics and fashion through to power tools and drones, the right product can either make or break your dropshipping store, Shopify, or other eCommerce stores.

 

Many dropshippers understand that a niche that has low competition and high search dropshipping products volume can be a winner, but what about skincare devices?

 

Let’s find out if products such as massagers, mini home saunas, or even magnetic face masks could set your dropshipping store on the road to success.

 

Should I dropship skincare devices? Niche stores can be more competitive than general stores. But benefits include high demand for skin care products and a large selection of high ticket, high margin items. Skincare devices also work well as private label products, leading to bespoke branding, a repeat fan base, and greater profits.

 

So now we’ve got the definitive answer and you can get started right away, so we can understand a little more about whether skincare devices make good dropshipping products, let’s start with a bit of background on what actually is a skincare device?

 

What is a skincare device?

With many looking for “salon-quality” experiences at home, the demand for facial devices and the kinds that are now available has risen dramatically. According to experts, the global beauty devices market represents a $74B+ opportunity.

 

This is due to not only the salon experience but also due to the consumers’ awareness of hormonal imbalances on the skin, the treatment of minor skin disorders, an upward push of skincare across the whole of the beauty sector, and the lifestyle changes Covid-19 has brought.

 

So let’s take a look at some skincare devices you might like to dropship.

 

• Hair removal devices
• Face trainer kits
• Dermascrape ultrasonic skincare
• Tissular rejuvenators
• Anti-aging LED devices
• Anti-aging massage devices

 

“According to experts, the global beauty devices market represents a $74B+ opportunity.”

 

What are the advantages of selling skincare devices?

So by deciding to concentrate on one particular product area, such as skincare devices, it allows you some advantages over those who decide to operate a more generalized store (one which sells from multiple niches such as homeware, gadgets, fashion, etc).

 

Then let’s go on to discover the potential for skincare devices specifically.

 

Along with offering higher margins, high demand in the marketplace, and also opportunities for upsell, Let’s take a look at some of those advantages.

 

• Easier management In comparison with a general store, a niche store is a much less resource-consuming venture. The thing is, you are not building a mega eCommerce empire in this case: you are creating a much smaller business that can be flexibly improved and conveniently run in a long-term perspective.

 

• High demands Due to Covid-19, people tend to spend more time at home more which creates natural environment for home skincare. The need for home skincare devices has surged – the sales of Nuface has tripled since the pandemic.

 

• Perfect for upscale One of the best advantages is that you can always work and grow your business at your own pace with dropshipping. For skincare devices, you can start with 1 or 2 products and expand to full product line, or bundle relevant products together.

 

• Easier branding: Skincare devices are a perfect product to use as a private label. This has the obvious advantage of limited investment required in order to start an own line of skincare devices for example. Using skincare device private labels in your dropshipping store will help to develop and market products of a higher quality. It allows you to have the capability to demand better prices in the market.

 

How do I sell more skincare devices?

So once you’ve decided to sell winning skincare device dropshipping products in your Shopify or other eCommerce stores, how do you make sure you reach more customers, blow away your competition and find the best skincare dropshipping suppliers?

 

See our tips for success below.

1. Promote your brand: By keeping your prices competitive, along with an attractive engaging brand story, you will provide the hook to encourage your followers to buy. This includes offering your potential customers unique private label skincare products

 

2.Write clear descriptions: According to Shopify, When writing product descriptions it’s important not to just describe the product. This is your opportunity to directly target your audience with your brand story. It is definitely the case for skincare devices. A good way of tackling a winning description is to imagine you are having a conversation with your buyer, answering the questions you know they might have. Of course, it’s important to list the features, but it’s also important to address how they will benefit and in a nutshell, what’s in it for them. Compelling descriptions will win customers from your competitors.

 

3. Work with qualified suppliers: Finding a reputable and expert dropshipping supplier can be a minefield, so make sure you research thoroughly the benefits of each supplier. The best dropshipping agents offer a one-stop service to help you find winning products at the best price. They will also take care of order fulfillment, including picking, packing, and arrange shipment. They will also give advice on products and save your time to focus on marketing. They will be able to help your dropshipping business and be able to assist with high-volume orders and the quality of each product.

 

And finally…

We hope that’s given you some information on a growing niche, one which may help you to make a success out of your fledgling or existing dropshipping enterprise!

 

If you are looking to add a profitable white label aspect to their business, At HyperSKU, our experienced team knows everything there is to know about how to create a winning brand in the competitive dropshipping market.

 

Contact one of our expert team, who are ready and waiting to help you upgrade your customer experience and build brand awareness so that your business stands out from the crowd.

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• Discover Top 20 Dropshipping Suppliers for Your Online Business
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Shipping is one of the fundamentals that can either make or break your dropshipping enterprise.

 

Especially if you’re dipping your toe into the world of dropshipping, making sure you service your customers to keep up with your competitors can be a minefield.

 

Anyone who is new to dropshipping needs to make sure they are offering express shipping. ePacket is one of the major players in shipping but there are alternatives, so many might be looking into the differences between them and their dynamic new competitors such as YunExpress.

 

In this article, we will look at what YunExpress and ePacket are, along with who offers the best solution.

 

YunExpress vs ePacket: Both offer delivery from China to international destinations. ePacket’s delivery is usually 20 to 30 days, YunExpress delivers a parcel to your customer in over 44 countries much more quickly, between 3 and 10 days. YunExpress offers a DDP service for eCommerce and Shopify stores with reliable tracking system.

 

Now we’ve seen the quick brief so you can get started straight away with organizing the best and fastest deliveries for your eCommerce store, let’s first start with an overview of ePacket.

 

What is ePacket?

ePacket is an international shipping service for faster delivery of Chinese based parcels to their partner countries.

 

These packages, however, can take between 20 and 30 days (or even longer) to reach the destination but can be tracked through the provided tracking code. However, the tracking only provides milestone tracking from the point that parcel has cleared customs, making the experience less friendly.

 

However, it’s important to understand that ePacket delivery time and period can be delayed and take much longer depending on:

 

• The route to the destination
• Custom delays
• Unscheduled holidays

 

It usually takes half of the time to reach the destination country, where the parcel is pending custom clearance and waiting to be sorted and routed to the nearest postal office.

 

ePacket shipping is one of the cheapest and flexible options to get delivery of packages from China.

 

“it’s important to understand that ePacket delivery time and

 period can be delayed and take much longer”

 

What is YunExpress/ Yuntu?

YunExpress is a leading eCommerce shipping solution provider. They handle deliveries from China to US, Canada, Europe, Australia and the other way around.

 

YunExpress offers its users a dedicated DDP shipping solution for eCommerce which lets online sellers deliver to their customers generally between 3 to 10 business days for major destinations such as the US, UK, Germany, France, etc.

 

YunExpress offers a full solution to dropshippers and handles everything from picking up products from your warehouse to the last mile delivery.

 

One of its prime advantages is that it offers DDP customs clearance at hubs in 11 countries, which means that any seller, such as an eCommerce or Shopify store, has completed any duty responsibility and goods are cleared for import.

 

Each parcel is custom cleared upfront, under the direct supervision of local YunExpress clearance experts, ensuring the parcel is DDP (delivered, duty paid) instead of DDU (delivered, duty unpaid).

 

“YunExpress offers its users a dedicated DDP shipping solution for eCommerce which lets online sellers deliver to their customers generally between 3 to 10 business days”

 

So now we have an overview of YunExpress, let’s look at some of its main benefits and why it could form part of your dropshipping and eCommerce store delivery solutions.

 

Benefits of YunExpress

• One of the best cross-border B2C and eCommerce shipping carrier
• Works with notable last-mile carriers
• Fast shipping to Europe and North America
• Recognized by many industry leaders such as Amazon, eBay, and Wish

 

We’ve also discussed what ePacket has to offer and some of its main benefits, is there a reason why dropshippers should turn to YunExpress rather than using ePacket? Let’s find out.

 

“YunExpress offers its users a dedicated DDP shipping solution for eCommerce which lets online sellers deliver to their customers generally between 3 to 10 business days”

 

Why should dropshippers stop using ePacket?

So are there are any negative aspects of ePacket?

 

• Product Criteria: As ePacket has strict criteria for each parcel to quality ship, it might be more difficult to deliver to your eCommerce or Shopify stores. ePacket only accepts parcels below 2KG
• No second delivery attempt USPS can affect the charges of ePacket and also doesn’t allow a second delivery attempt when first delivery fails.
• Slow shipping: It usually takes 20-30 days or even longer for ePacket to deliver, and customers already lost patience and start to complain.
• No reliable tracking: ePacket doesn’t provide full tracking, which means your customer doesn’t know where exactly what-they-paid-for are.

 

What’s eCommerce express shipping and why you should use it

• ECommerce express shopping offers delivered duty paid (DDP) instead of delivered duty unpaid (DDU) and a much better experience for customers
• Fast shipping, often as fast as 5 days
• A whole trackable experience.

YunExpress is one of the best eCommerce express shipping out there in the market.

So how do you choose YunExpress over ePacket for your dropshipping needs? Let’s discover more below.

 

• Registering a YunExpress account can be difficult for new and small-scale sellers, as YunExpress works with enterprise-level companies.
• YunExpress refuses to pick up parcels if the quantity is too small. Better to work with an expert Chinese agent who owns a warehouse near YunExpress, so they can take your orders.
• If you want the benefits of YunExpress then work with strategic partners such as HyperSKU.

 

And to finish on…

We hope this article has given you some great Reasons to use YunExpress and benefit from their ultra-fast shipping time, rather than the time taken for ePacket.

 

Make sure your new or existing dropshipping enterprise benefits from a duty paid delivery, which saves busy entrepreneurs crucial time, much quicker shipping times, and see an increase in important profit margins, make sure you work with an expert and a reliable dropshipping agent such as HyperSKU.

 

Find out more here.

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So you’ve chosen your niche, started your dropshipping business, and are making some good sales, possibly over 20 a day! But what about if you are still busy with your day job, families, and other pulls on your time and are looking to streamline the process a little?

 

There are many ways to automate your dropshipping venture to free up your time and make sure your customers are getting a seamless outstanding service to keep your competitors at bay.

 

In this article we are going to look at some of the ways in which good inventory management can handle orders easily, add to your service and make more profit.

 

Why do I need inventory management? If you take 20 or more orders a day, expert inventory management can streamline and speed up the dropshipping process. Synching ordering from customers, tracking, and inventory levels, will service and fulfill orders efficiently without manual errors, so you can give customers real-time information.

 

Ok, so we have the mini takeaway in place. So that you can understand a little bit more about why you need inventory management to help take the strain out of running your dropshipping business, let’s first start by exploring what great inventory management is.

 

What is inventory management?

In a nutshell and in its simplest terms, Inventory management refers to the strategies and some of the ways dropshippers fulfill orders.

 

This can include many processes, such as:

 

• Instructing your supplier to fulfill orders,
• Syncing orders
• Tracking information such as delivery tracking
• Fully managing the inventory level
• Faster processing

 

One of the crucial elements of managing dropship inventory is the process of syncing your supplier’s inventory data to your online store via a product data feed.

 

A product data feed can come in many formats, but it’s simpler to think of it as a spreadsheet, that provides the necessary product information you need to work with a dropship supplier.

 

Ok, so that’s what inventory management is, so let’s discover a little more about the benefits.

 

“One of the crucial elements of managing dropship inventory is the process of syncing

your supplier’s inventory data to your online store via a product data feed.”

 

Benefits of inventory management

Some of the crucial benefits of either instructing a dropshipping agent to fully manage your inventory and by using labor and time-saving software are:

Providing an efficient and fully automated process

With integrated API, you don’t need to work with processes such as FTP, excel or any manual workflows

 

API Is fast and helps you to completely avoid any manual mistakes.

 

Many of the best dropshipping agents such as HyperSKU are seamlessly integrated with Shopify and WooCommerce which enables even more streamlined processes such as order fulfilling, expert help with product selection, and much more to help you manage your inventory like a pro!

 

“API Is fast and helps you to completely avoid any manual mistakes.”

 

Faster processing

Faster processing is another major benefit when are looking for inventory management for your dropshipping store.

 

Generally, with some of the best dropshipping agencies and software, you will only be waiting a maximum of 1-3 days until you receive a tracking number after your customer places an order.

 

Using inventory management from a quality dropshipping supplier could see many aspects of your business speed up considerably such as:

 

• Paying for orders
• Buying products
• Products arriving at the warehouse
• Pick-and-pack
• Sending out the product
• Generating tracking numbers

 

If you also use stock inventory, you can even get a tracking number on the same day the order is placed.

 

Minimal cash flow

By automating your dropshipping processes. Such as inventory management, one of the undeniable truths is that it will help you keep your own money safe in your pocket, and save unit cost when buying in bulk.

 

Efficiency

In order to be able to reap the benefits of dropshipping rather than selling regular inventory held ‘in stock’, it’s crucial that dropshipping eCommerce stores such as Shopify and others maximize efficiency when it comes to handling inventory.

 

Depending on your niche, you may have chosen multiple suppliers in order to sell a range of product types and/or brands, which could cause costs to rise

 

If a customer makes an order for products that come from three different suppliers, you will have to pay three times the shipping cost, as you are unlikely to feasibly pass such a large shipping cost onto a customer who has the option of going elsewhere.

 

So by choosing to go with a trusted dropshipping supplier and inventory management, you will be able to mitigate those costs.

 

Visibility

Inventory visibility is a fundamental part of a successful dropshipping business.

 

The ability to satisfy your customer’s needs is crucially reliant on their purchases items being transported to them from a third-party, which could be a manufacturer or wholesaler.

 

It is vital that you are aware of how much stock your suppliers have available, so you can:

 

• Let your customer know a realistic delivery time
• Know when the product is shipped
• Have information on where each order is
• Be notified of any problems as soon as they occur.

 

Real-time inventory view

Another major advantage of Inventory management software and instructing an expert dropshipping company will allow you to view your entire inventory in real-time.

 

So now we’ve found out how to automate your inventory and either using software or a reliable dropshipping company to handle the business end of your orders, let’s find out whether it pays to hold your own stock.

 

Do I need to stock inventory when doing dropshipping?

Although It sounds contradictory for dropshippers to stock inventory, when compared with the whole idea of dropshipping which means you don’t have to hold stock as perhaps other kinds of eCommerce stores, it can be an extra arm to your business that has definite benefits.

 

When you are just starting out, one of the attractions of dropshipping for many is the lack of upfront costs you would get involved in when running a traditional type of store, either online or a brick-and-mortar kind.

 

However, once your business has built, let’s say, to 20 or more orders, to make sure you can fully service your customers and don’t have stock issues, it’s a winning practice to actively hold a certain level of stock.

 

By holding stock not only will you not get caught out if your customers order more product than your supplier has, but you will also quicken up the whole buying cycle, from order to delivery, and take advantage of lower unit costs by buying in bulk.

 

When your supplier tells you that a product is out of stock, there’s normally a process you might not be aware of going on.

 

Factories generally plan their daily production well in advance and of course, so unless you order in large quantities, it’s likely they won’t plan for your supply, as the bigger your order, the higher priority and lower price you will be ordered.

 

With a good dropshipping agent, you should be able to place an order for around 50 units which is the MOQ or minimum order quantity, and still be a priority customer, rather than on Alibaba for instance where the crucial level is 500 units for MOQ.

 

And to finish on…

We hope you’ve now got lots of good reasons to choose inventory management with a quality and reputable dropshipping supplier!

 

If your business is growing, we want to grow with you and help you to have an ECommerce store your customers will keep coming back to time after time, streamline the whole process with our friendly and knowledgeable staff.

 

Get started today and fully automate your store with your one-stop dropshipping agency!

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With much of the globe now open for business and the ease at which just with one click you can be anywhere, many entrepreneurs, eCommerce entrepreneurs, and Shopify store owners are expanding their operations into many different countries.

 

But what about the other side of the world? Many dropshippers might be wondering if the sunny continent of Australia can help to catapult their dropshipping store to success.

 

Let’s start with the quick-fire answer first, so you can get started straight away planning your Dropshipping marketing plans!

 

Is dropshipping in Australia profitable? Australia is a profitable market for dropshippers, Shopify, and other eCommerce store owners. With a population of over 25 million, and with forecasts estimating 25 million Australian internet users by 2025, along with increased social media use by many Australians.

 

So in order for us to understand a little more clearly whether it’s a good business decision to either expand or begin to grow your empire in Australia, let’s first look at some reasons why you should include it in your latest marketing campaigns.

 

Why should I dropship in Australia?

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, it seems many Australians have expendable income in their pockets.

 

With a population of over 25 million earning on average over $1700, it looks like they can afford your unique brand!

 

But what about online sales in Australia? How has that been impacted by the recent pandemic?

 

“According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, it seems many

Australians have expendable income in their pockets.”

 

More Australians are shopping online

Online sales have become increasingly popular during the coronavirus pandemic, as Australian consumers reached out to online shopping as a way of complying with regulations introduced to encourage social distancing

 

With the current restrictions placed on the operation of physical retail stores, both Australian businesses and consumers turned ever increasingly to online retailing.

 

It’s also worth thinking, that many eCommerce store owners and other retailers have quickly adapted their sales channels during the current world health crisis and there’s a good chance the figures may have been sales channels under-reported since April 2020.

 

“With the current restrictions placed on the operation of physical retail stores, both Australian businesses and consumers turned ever increasingly to online retailing.”

 

Australians internet usage

It’s worth noting too that with the number of Australians regularly using the internet, forecast to exceed 21.5 million by 2025, starting to dropship in Australia or expanding your business into antipodean territories will ensure you get a cut of these lucrative projected profits.

 

It’s encouraging too, that experts predict that Australian usage of mobile internet will likely continue to increase as Australians look for more online options for entertainment, shopping, and banking.

 

It’s also worth considering that Australian social media usage is climbing, so it makes this a perfect start to your social media marketing strategies to build your dropshipping brand, Shopify store or other eCommerce stores.

Australian social media usage

• Facebook:19 million
• WhatsApp: 36 million
• Instagram: 96 million

 

“Australian usage of mobile internet will likely continue to increase as Australians

look for more online options for entertainment, shopping, and banking.”

 

As an Australian, no dropshipping language barriers.

As an Australian, you can either drop ship to fellow Australians by way of dropshipping to Australia or drop ship to other regions outside Australia.

 

As native English speakers, Australian sellers have the natural advantages of more simple communication without any language barriers.

 

So now we’ve seen some benefits of dropshipping from and in Australia, let’s find out if there are any legalities you need to adhere to for your dropshipping enterprise.

 

Dropshipping in Australia is more lucrative than a wholesale retail business

As it’s simple to drop ship goods to anywhere in the world, from the U.S right through to Europe, without the expense and hit to your profits as with shipping internationally.

 

Dropshipping is a more profitable model in Australia than operating wholesale retail ventures; as you can:

 

• Keep costs low
• Ship internationally
• Enjoy greater profits

 

Ok, so as an Australian entrepreneur you might be wondering if it’s legal to dropship. Let’s find out.

 

Finding suppliers and stock

Looking for high quality and winning products for your dropshipping venture is crucial to your ECommerce or Shopify stores success.

 

However, although we’ve seen it’s profitable to expand your business within Australia, it might be that finding good, well-priced reliable dropshipping suppliers in Australia could be a little limited.

 

Shipping and fulfilling orders from Australia, halfway across the globe, might also be costly too if your business is based in the US or Europe.

 

Alternatively, you can look for suppliers in the US or China for wider selections.

 

And finally…

So now you’ve got the complete lowdown on some great benefits of dropshipping too or from Australia and also discovered that it’s perfectly legal to do so, you might be looking for reliable and quality dropshipping suppliers from China.

 

With the benefits of our professional team, many years as ECommerce experts, HyperSKU can be your supplier, advisor, and provider of a one-stop

dropshipping solution for your scalable eCommerce business.

 

We can help you to:

 

• Source directly from top Chinese manufacturer
• Ship around the globe within 7 calendar days
• Sync automatically with seamless integration

 

Drop by our website and check out our easy to start your dropshipping journey.

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HyperSKU Vs Fulfillman

 Dropshipping is fantastic when it comes to somebody wanting to do business within the online world. Throw in automated dropshipping? And well, it allows you to never have to worry about inventory management again. HyperSKU is one of the best AliExpress alternatives out there that allows you to do this, but like every business out there, they also have some solid competitors, like Fulfillman for example.

 

In this article, we’re going to check out the differences between both of these AliExpress alternatives – HyperSKU vs Fulfillman, and help you to make a solid decision when it comes to choosing your dropshipping supplier.

 

First up, the similarities between both dropshipping suppliers. Let’s get started.

 

The Similarities

In the ever-evolving digital world, dropshipping has quickly become one of the most popular ways to start an online business, and has helped so many people gain the ultimate financial freedom they have been searching for. But attractive as it may sound, the true, underlying key to becoming a successful dropshipper is using the right resources, aka, the right dropshipping supplier and business partner.

 

To start our HyperSKU vs Fulfillman comparison, we need to initially look at the similarities between them both.

 

First of all, both dropshipping suppliers have offices in China. Although there are many AliExpress alternatives that help to fulfill orders from China to overseas countries, the efficiency and price from both of these dropshippers make them great AliExpress alternatives.

 

They also are both integrated within the Shopify platform. However, many struggle with Fulfillman when it comes to this aspect. HyperSKU on the other hand make it so easy to connect to your Shopify store, browse and upload multiple products, place orders within minutes, and save yourself a bunch of time.

 

Next up, the full comparison! Let’s move on and find out what exactly sets both of these dropshipping suppliers apart.

 

 

HyperSKU VS Fulfillman – The Comparison

HyperSKU Vs Fulfillman: Sign-Up Requirements

Fulfillman: If you’re looking to become a dropshipper with Fulfillman, you must meet a minimum requirement of 100 monthly orders. For those just getting started, this can be a huge pain point. This doesn’t lie as just a pain point for beginners, but also for those experienced sellers looking to test new products. It can push dropshippers away as they will be forced to order smaller amounts elsewhere, complicating the whole process.

 

HyperSKU: HyperSKU have no minimum order requirements. They are flexible with both experienced sellers, and beginners. So, if you’re at the beginning of your journey, you’ll be able to benefit from the opportunity to scale your success. If you begin to increase the sales within your dropshipping business, HyperSKU will be able to get you a bigger discount from its loyal connections through factories.

 

HyperSKU Vs Fulfillman: Price

Fulfillman: Although Fulfillman is packed with many amazing features to help you scale your business, to use the Fulfillman dropshipping service, you’re forced to pay a continuous monthly fee to benefit from their offerings.

 

HyperSKU: HyperSKU on the other hand, brings an innovative approach to dropshipping payment structures. This incredible AliExpress alternative developed by eCommerce veterans aims to help dropshippers eliminate pricing pain points that may stop them from making a profit. With HyperSKU, it’s free to sign up, there is no monthly fee, and they provide sellers with a bunch of great services.

 

HyperSKU Vs Fulfillman: Product Listing

Fulfillman: Fulfillman is not fully integrated with Shopify; for example there’s no import/listing feature. Shopify is such a big platform that sellers and buyers across the world use on a day-to-day basis. This means that as a dropshipper, if you’re unable to integrate your business with such a powerful platform, you’ll miss out on easy and valuable sales.

 

HyperSKU: As we mentioned at the beginning of this article, with HyperSKU, dropshippers are able to import products directly from HyperSKU to Shopify with a click of a button.

 

HyperSKU Vs Fulfillman: Shipping Efficiency

Fulfillman: Fulfillman shipping takes 10-20 days when products are shipped to the U.S, and 15-30 days to other countries. The long shipping speeds from Fulfillman can be a pain for dropshippers as customers will have to wait extended periods of time for their delivery. With shipping longer than 3 weeks, it could put Facebook Ads account at risk.

 

HyperSKU: Let’s face it, people LOVE fast delivery. And it’s just one of the many reasons why HyperSKU is taking over as one of the top dropshipping suppliers in the e-commerce world. With the goal of simplifying each process, HyperSKU drives customers in with their 5-8 day standard shipping options.

 

HyperSKU Vs Fulfillman: Customer Support

Fulfillman: If you need help when it comes to finding a product, placing an order, or dealing with any issues, Fulfillman has a solid customer support system in place to assist you with any issues.

 

HyperSKU: Extremely similar to Fulfillman, HyperSKU’s customer support is available  to help out when it comes to finding products, answering questions, helping you get set up, and aims to provide every single dropshipper with an incredible user experience on the platform. Another big reason as to why they’re an amazing AliExpress alternative.

 

HyperSKU Vs Fulfillman: Automated Dropshipping

Fulfillman: Although Fulfillman offer many great features, full dropshipping automation is not one of them.

 

HyperSKU: The automated dropshipping service that HyperSKU provides is what sets them apart. It can be stressful for dropshippers to manage every single thing. So many ecommerce sellers aim to have something less arduous, and this is exactly what HyperSKU offers. They handle absolutely everything, so all you have to do is focus on your marketing.

 

HyperSKU Vs Fulfillman: Services Other Than Dropshipping

Fulfillman: Fulfillman doesn’t just focus on dropshipping, but they also offer a bunch of other FBA-related services like freight forwarding.

 

HyperSKU: Restaurants that only offer one type of food item usually have a queue of people piling out of their door. You may begin to wonder to yourself, ‘’why are they so busy if they only offer one item on the menu?’’ Well, that’s because they are absolutely amazing at that one thing, they specialize in it, and it’s probably the best version of that food item you have ever had or will ever have.

 

Although this analogy may seem a bit strange, it isn’t if you compare it to what HyperSKU does with dropshipping. Sure, HyperSKU may not offer any other FBA-related service, but they are masters in their trade, and when a company focuses on one thing and perfects it, the results are immense.

 

So, Who’s Your New Dropshipping Supplier?

 At the end of the day, it all really depends on what you, as an ecommerce seller, values. If you’re looking for something more than dropshipping, then Fulfillman will be your go-to with their FBA-related services. However, if you’re looking for flexibility, customization, low fee’s and the freedom to focus on what really matters, then HyperSKU is the one and only AliExpress alternative for you.

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June 23, 2016, was a very important day in the United Kingdom. It was the day that sent some into a celebration, some into a panic, and some into complete shock. It was the day that part of the UK voted to leave the European Union in the Brexit vote referendum.

The vote had a global impact, and continues to grow as more news gets released around the subject each day. But why exactly is it so significant?

Well, that’s simply due to the fact that the UK is seen as an eCommerce powerhouse within the EU. In fact, online shoppers in the UK lead the EU in ecommerce usage and purchasing goods online, with a whopping 86% of internet users partaking in online shopping on the daily.

In this article, we’re going to discuss the Brexit impact on eCommerce, and how you can fully prepare your business.

Without further ado, let’s get started.

 

What Is Brexit?

‘Brexit’ is the name given to the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union. It is a combination of ‘Britain’ and ‘exit’.

On 23 June 2016, the UK held a referendum on its membership in the EU. The question that faced voters around the UK was: ‘Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union?’ 51.89% of voters voted to leave the EU.

Almost 5 years on, the transition period reached full completion on the 1st January 2021 and full change came into effect, meaning that the UK has now officially left the EU, and many ecommerce businesses are now trying to stay compliant with the new and ever-changing rules.

 

Marketplace Seller Brexit Requirements

Marketplace seller Brexit requirements mean that those trading in the UK could face a triple tsunami of customs obligations and VAT charges following the UK’s departure from the EU VAT regime from 1st January 2021. It all arises from the end of the Brexit impact on ecommerce, and HMRC’s new rules on imports and cross-border marketplace VAT liabilities.

If sellers fail to understand the new 2021 rules for the marketplace seller Brexit requirements, it will, unfortunately, mean that they could face:

• Major import tax costs and fines;
• Goods held-up at ports; and
• Upset customers.

 

Marketplace Seller Brexit Requirements Checklist for EU Sellers Trading in the UK

Basically, selling from EU to UK will apply the same rule as selling to UK from the rest of the world. EU sellers need to collect import VAT for orders below 135 GBP, and need to collect both import duty and import VAT for orders above 135 GBP.

• Register for VAT where it is applicable and make sure you understand the new rules for paying import VAT on parcels you send to UK buyers.
• Check the new customs procedures with your country’s customs authority, for example, what customs procedures will be required for bringing goods from the UK to the EU, etc. Consult local tax authority or tax expert if necessary.
• Update relevant information to the seller center of your marketplace, such as Amazon, eBay or Shopify. Make sure you’ve registered EORI and tax ID, and file tax report in time.

 

UK eCommerce Sellers Trading With the EU Checklist

If you’re a UK eCommerce seller and have been selling on marketplaces, you’ve probably already made sales to countries all over the world with which the UK has no trade agreements at all. This is because the lack of a trade agreement doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t buy and sell, it simply means that you may be at a disadvantage compared to a seller who is local in the destination country by import tariffs.

But here’s the good news: according to the UK-EU agreement, trades between the UK and the EU that meet the rules of origin will be customs duty-free. Though the details is still unclear, there’s a chance that UK sellers still enjoy price advantage selling to EU, compared to sellers located in rest of the world.

With that being said, let’s take a look at this actionable checklist for UK eCommerce sellers trading with the EU:

• Revise your shipment model. As new customs requirements can cause heavy delays, act in advance. Provide your carriers with complete and accurate data for customs clearance. Make sure your shipping platform is set up to handle customs data. Offer multiple delivery options and stay transparent about potentially longer shipping times.
• Consider delivering part of your inventory directly to fulfillment centers around Europe. Set up warehouses closer to customers: if you ship a big amount of products to one particular destination, consider investing in facilities there.
• Revise & update your policies to reflect the Brexit changes as soon as details are finalized.
• Keep your customers in the loop about their deliveries and the changes they can expect.
• Explore new markets: after Brexit, seek business opportunities outside the EU, for example on marketplaces in the USA or emerging markets.

 

Brexit Impact on eCommerce – Tips and Suggestions

 Logistics

 A priority of yours should now be to contact your courier/postage company and ask them the question about deliveries into/outside of Europe or the UK. They should be able to answer your question clearly as a plan should already be set out to deal with the sending and receiving of packages.

Suppliers

 If you’re an ecommerce seller trading in the UK, you’ll probably have suppliers scattered all over mainland Europe, as well as the UK itself. Make sure that you follow the marketplace seller Brexit requirements so you don’t run into any problems. After all, the last thing you want is to run into red tape you haven’t experienced before when you go to order your next batch of products.

Similar to communicating with your courier company, make sure you also call your suppliers and ask about how the changes in shipping products have affected them. If you’re able to, consider ordering your shipments earlier to ensure that business is not interrupted.

Customers

 The engine that keeps the Ecommerce seller train running. Ensure that you continue to communicate with your customers and keep them up to date on the happenings. As you have now sourced valuable information from your courier and your supplier, you should be able to have a better idea of the Brexit impact on ecommerce. Look at posting banners on your website, add to your email footers, and even update your online listings if need be.

 

Be Ready To Adapt

“It is not the strongest species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the ones most responsive to change.” – Leon C. Megginson

The very same quote can be used for eCommerce sellers trading in the UK. Over the years, many have used this quote from Megginson when he paraphrased Darwin in ‘’The Origin of Species’’.

At the end of the day, you’re either driving the bulldozer, or you’re about to be bulldozed. When you’re unfortunately presented with a situation that you can’t control, but can impact your business, you just need to make sure you’re ready to act quickly and accordingly.

 

Conclusion: Keep Calm and Carry On

Brexit’s impact on ecommerce and ecommerce sellers trading in the UK and outside of the UK continues to change day by day, as the full departure is still causing some confusion to many out there.

However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t stay positive, keep calm, and carry on doing what you do best. As we just said, make sure that you’re ready to adapt and create the best plan of action. Keep tabs on the news, be proactive, and base your business around the Brexit future.

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The retail landscape is changing rapidly and along with it come new challenges but also opportunities to start a new income stream.

According to experts Statista, the outlook for physical retailers is that they are facing ‘mass extinction’ in the future due to unprecedented global changes. Online shopping is booming as consumers in their drives are making the shift to online shopping.

These up-and-coming new areas of retail are looking to replace the quickly becoming redundant high street and many entrepreneurs are taking their next steps into the world of eCommerce stores, Shopify, and dropshipping.

So who is the best partner to work with for your Shopify store and what can Modalyst and HyperSKU offer eCommerce enterprise?

Before we head off into the details, let’s start with the mini answer so you can find out straight away!

Which is best? Modalyst or HyperSKU? Both Modalyst and HyperSKU have the tools to successfully dropship. However, HyperSKU is designed to source, fulfill and actively scale your business. With Shopify customer reviews of 4.9, HyperSKU also offers each store owner a dedicated agent for seamless communication.

Ok, so now we’ve got the real answer, let’s start by giving an overview of these two heavyweights of dropshipping that can offer your new ECommerce, Shopify, or any other kind of online retail store.

Both Modalyst and HyperSKU have the tools to help your dropshipping business grow.

What is Modalyst?

Modalyst is an app that connects store owners with products owned by many different suppliers.

Everything a store owner needs from product sourcing to payments is managed through the Modalyst platform.

When a shopper purchases from your store, you will receive a notification. Following this, you confirm and pay the seller directly on Modalyst. At that point, the supplier will prepare the item for shipment and then ship the product to your customer.

As with most dropshipping apps, you do not have to purchase anything or pay upfront to list their products on your store.

Ok, so that’s a little background on Modalyst. But are there any alternatives to Modalyst? Let’s find out.

What is HyperSKU?

HyperSKU is a dropshipping platform designed to scale your business. Dropshipping veterans HyperSKU, have created a platform for Shopify store owners.

HyperSKU will source, fulfill orders and handle shipping. HyperSKU integrates with Shopify and is designed to provide a total solution to store owners using the dropshipping model and will even source products for you which aren’t in their database. Sellers don’t have to deal with suppliers and HyperSKU will be the single point of contact.

Ok so that’s the official line from each of these important dropshipping partners, but what about customers who are on the front lines using both these products. Can they help us to decide whether Modalyst or HyperSKU is best?

Read on to find out.

HyperSKU customer reviews

• HyperSKU seems to tick many boxes for those who have tried and tested it according to shopify reviews.
• With an overall excellent 4.9 rating, HyperSKU customers are extremely happy with the service they get.
• Some especially cite HyperSKUs ‘work ethic’, quick and efficient shipping, and helpful sourcing process while others state how cool it is that with HyperSKU you can work directly from an excel worksheet.
• No hidden shipping times and other nasties, found from some of the competition was also remarked on by Shopify’s reviewers already using HyperSKU

The Shopify customer reviews are pretty much outstanding and one even comment:

“The app looks beautiful, user friendly, and excellent customer services who are also very responsive.”

Modalyst customer reviews

• According to Shopify customers, Modalyst rates a positive 4.6, slightly lagging behind HyperSKUs impressive 4.9.
• Some customers comment on the professionalism of the app and also an attractive selection of items.
• Great attention to customer service issues and many reviewers comment on ease of use from a Modalyst.
• Others cite a basic UI design, but good functionality.

Ok, so that’s what real users are saying! It seems that as we covered earlier, both of these hot dropshipping apps are able to offer you all the tools you need to operate a successful Shopify or other kinds of eCommerce store, but it seems that HyperSKU has pipped Modalyst to the post in terms of customer reviews.

So let’s find out about integration and which other platforms both Modalyst and HyperSKU work seamlessly with.

“According to Shopify customers, Modalyst rates a positive 4.6, slightly lagging behind HyperSKUs impressive 4.9.”

 

Integration

Modalyst

• Shopify
• Wix
• BigCommerce

HyperSKU

• Shopify
• WooCommerce
• API

So how do Modalyst and  HyperSKU rate against each other as dropshipping sourcing and suppliers?

Sourcing and suppliers

Modalyst

Dropshippers choosing Modalyst will find a combination of both USA suppliers and AliExpress sellers.

Obviously, there might be issues with shipping given the very slow shipping times from AliExpress combined with little customer service, sometimes hidden shipping times and in some cases, customers never receiving goods which can be experienced by dropshippers when using AliExpress.

HyperSKU

HyperSKU is specialized in connecting sellers with Chinese manufacturers.

This gives a much wider selection of good quality products that come with HyperSKU’s seal of approval, which is more flexible with a broader selection. HyperSKU also takes full control of the shipping which provides a much faster shipping experience than that of AliExpress.

Pricing

Pricing is often an important consideration, both for fledgling dropshipping business or even more established ones. Profit is the difference between success and failure.

Modalyst

Overall it’s fair to say that Modalyst’s free plan is quite limited, with a high transaction fee if you do more business.

Modalyst allows you to fulfill up to 25 orders in a Hobby plan for free.

After that Modalyst pricing structure includes 2 paid plans:

• Startup – $35/month (billed monthly)
• Pro – $90/month (billed monthly)

Both Hobby and Startup plans allow only limited access to suppliers and Pro plan subscribers have access to premium suppliers.

With all plans, Modalyst collects a 5% transaction fee on each sale.

However, each supplier available through Modalyst agrees to price their products at 60% MSRP, which is an abbreviation for the manufacturer’s suggested retail price, which means that you can sell products in your Shopify store at a reasonable market price allowing for a profit margin for you.

“With all plans, Modalyst collects a 5% transaction fee on each sale.”

 

HyperSKU

Quite simply every feature is free and available to all levels of users. Signing up for a HyperSKU account is free, and no credit card is required. Once registered, HyperSKU user will gain access to all features and services provided by HyperSKU.

 

Order fulfillment

Modalyst

USA suppliers are available on Modalyst. They promise 7-day delivery. Products from AliExpress are sent by AliExpress sellers with ePacket.

HyperSKU

Sends all parcels from their warehouses in China at the moment of purchase.

Anyone who has had experience with dropshipping knows the losses that can incur due to late delivery time and customers becoming upset.

HyperSKU provides express deliveries that take place in 7-12 days from China to the United States.

So we can more easily find out whether HyperSKU is a contender as an alternative to Modalyst, let’s take a look at what processing services they both offer Shopify store owners.

“HyperSKU provides express deliveries that take place in a maximum of 7 days from China to the United States.”

Processing

Modalyst

Suppliers on Modalyst will fulfill the orders, Modalyst doesn’t handle them directly.

HyperSKU

This is as opposed to HyperSKU who processes all orders in its own warehouses.

This means they have their finger on the pulse of all your customers’ transactions and understand the sourcing, packing, and picking process.

And to finish on…

We hope we have given you some help in deciding whether Modalyst or HyperSKU will be the best dedicated dropshipping partner for your Shopify, or another eCommerce store.

Both companies have benefits to create a successful dropshipping business, and we hope this article has answered all of your questions whether you already run a successful or a fledgling Shopify store.

Don’t forget to drop by to find out exactly why Shopify’s customers rate us so highly and enjoy Low cost and faster shipping with HyperSKU’s fully automated system, private labels, affordable pricing, and premium quality products!

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The New EU VAT Policy – Everything You Need to Know

Ecommerce is on the rise, and it’s taking over. Every single day, more and more companies make the switch to go fully digital and be a part of the online world as technology continues to impact us all.

 

It’s how we buy our goods, it’s how we find information, and it’s how we communicate with one another. But it’s also how we maintain long-distance relationships whether it’s through business or with loved ones. This has especially been proven time and time again throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

With this in mind, it’s essential to discuss the new EU VAT policy for eCommerce which would have come into effect on January 1st, 2021. However, due to the covid-19 pandemic, this date has been pushed back, and basically thrown a spanner in the works. For this reason, the European Commission has therefore decided to postpone the implementation until July 1, 2021, but it remains to be seen whether that will actually be the final date.

 

So, what exactly is EU VAT? What is the new EU VAT policy? And why are these new rules being introduced? Read on to find out the answers to these important questions, as we discuss all of this and more.

 

What is EU VAT?

VAT or value-added tax in the European Union can be difficult to get your head around. Add Brexit into the mix and things can start to become seriously complex. EU VAT applies to all goods and services that are bought and sold for use or consumption within the EU. Anything sold outside the EU will typically be exempt from EU VAT. It’s important to understand that imports into the EU are subject to EU VAT in order to keep the system fair for EU producers.

 

EU VAT is calculated based on the sale of an item or service. The taxable person is entitled to then deduct all the tax already paid at the preceding stage, to prevent double taxation. Registered VAT traders are given a number which they need to show when creating and invoices.

 

This cost is generally borne by the end consumer but regularly collected by the seller. Under the current EU VAT rules, suppliers or sellers may be required to register in various member states in order to collect EU VAT at several rates on their services or sales.

 

So, What’s Changed With the New EU VAT Policy?

The new rules are going to transform how companies do business within the European Union, so it’s important to understand them ahead of time and prepare yourself.

 

Essentially, the EU tax rules for B2C eCommerce sellers (and the marketplaces they utilize), are going to undergo a three-part overhaul that includes the following changes:

 

• First, there is going to be a new EU VAT Mini One-Stop-Shop, or MOSS. This is great as it will simplify processes for EU businesses when dealing with physical goods.
• The second change that will occur is that there will be an end to the VAT exemption for ‘’low-value imports’’ for anything less than €150 as there will be a new Import One-Stop-Shop (IOSS) return system.
• Third, online marketplaces must collect and pay VAT on behalf of their sellers. Specifically, the European Commission says exactly this – ‘’Businesses operating electronic interfaces such as marketplaces or platforms will, in certain situations, be deemed for VAT purposes to be the supplier of goods sold to customers in the EU by companies using the marketplace or platform. Consequently, they will have to collect and pay the VAT on these sales.’’

 

Why Is There a New EU VAT Policy?

There are many reasons for the new EU VAT policy, however, the main comes down to two reasons: modernization, and justice.

 

Change doesn’t necessarily have to be a bad thing. In fact, the new EU VAT policy aims to make tax compliance easier for eCommerce sellers and businesses everywhere. It aims to encourage fair cross-border trade within the region and to clamp down on VAT fraud.

 

The European Union loses huge amounts of cash every single year due to the fact that online sales from eCommerce sellers slip through the tax system. In fact, this is proven in the 2019 VAT Gap Report that estimated around a whopping €137.5 billion were missed in 2017 alone. When you think about this, you can see why a change is definitely required.

 

Whilst the New EU VAT policy is there to stop fraud from eCommerce sellers, it also exists to try to make the process smooth, fair, and simple for eCommerce sellers within and outside the EU. By combating EU VAT fraud, the new changes are also going to facilitate cross-border trade and international eCommerce, and ensure fair competition for EU businesses.

 

Who Is Affected by the New EU VAT Policy?

For non-EU members importing and exporting goods from or to EU countries, things are going to seem strange at first. As a business, you’ll need to factor in the new EU VAT rules in relation to your pricing strategy. Failing to do so could leave you at a loss when trading with an EU country. There are also changes to trade documents and import/export regulations that you’ll need to be aware of so that you can continue to operate without legal consequences.

 

Impacts and Main Changes On Cross-Border Ecommerce

The flag-ship reform will enable some sellers to report all their pan-EU sales via a single VAT return instead of having to deal with multiple VAT registrations across the EU. This simplified process aims to boost cross-border trade and reduce compliance regulations.

 

Business can expect the following changes:

• The threshold amount per EU country is now going to be set at 10,000 EUR for all countries as a sum amount.
•  The import VAT on goods below 22 Euros will be adjusted to zero. That means for all orders VAT will need to be paid. (For import duties this remains still only applicable for over 150 EUR).
• Platforms and marketplaces will become responsible for the VAT payment. Basically, the VAT is then kept upon the sale and then no longer import VAT will need to be paid in the country where the consumer lives.

 

Our Prediction

For dropshippers with goods coming out of the EU (the UK included), such as China or the UK, they can do the following;

• For shipments, up to the value of 150 Euros, the supplier can use the import One Stop Shop, i-OSS. Rather than import EU VAT, the supplier will pay the VAT in one EU country making the process more streamlined.
• For custom officers, logistic and postal companies that cannot use this i-OSS system, they will have to estimate the shipment value and collect the VAT from the consumer.
• Will expect to see an increase in EU warehouses and a significant drop in direct shipping.

However, we do see uncertainties and undefined details:

 

Uncertainties

As the new EU VAT rules are approaching, there are still many uncertainties relating to the EU and eCommerce. How will supplies and logistics adapt to the changes and will this prove a beneficial move? How will integration and the new system work and will there be a need for further investment, time, and resources? What will be the declare value, sales value or cost value?

 

These questions will all be answered in due time. For now, however, you should make sure your business is ready to welcome and adapt to all of the upcoming changes.

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With recent stats from the US Department of Labour describing a considerable fall in many types of employment including retail, it’s true to say the landscape of retail business as we know it is changing rapidly.

 

Many entrepreneurs are discovering that with the huge swaths of online shoppers visiting websites daily right across the globe, it could be a perfect time to start a dropshipping or eCommerce store.

 

Whether you are already running a successful enterprise with daily orders, or even if you are just testing the water with a fledgling Shopify or other eCommerce stores, there is a wealth of tools and help available.

 

Anyone with a new store needs to know about the giant of dropshipping, Oberlo. But is there an alternative to Oberlo, if so, what are the benefits and which one is right for you?

 

Let’s take a look at the quick takeaway first, so you can decide quickly and get a head start on your store!

 

Oberlo vs HyperSKU. Which is best? Although both of these dropshipping heavyweights will be able to help you more easily manage your dropshipping store, Oberlo is more of an efficient tool to help you streamline order fulfillment, whereas HyperSKU is an online dropshipping supplier that connects sellers with real suppliers and offers express shipping solutions.

 

Ok so now we’ve nailed the brief, we can start to delve a bit deeper into these two heavyweight dropshipping businesses and take a look at the background of both businesses so you can more easily decide which is best for you.

What is Oberlo?

Oberlo is a Shopify-owned tool which has a starter plan which is cost-free. Oberlo is an app that allows you to integrate and import products from AliExpress (an online retail service based in China) directly into your Shopify store and to ship straight to your customers without the need for an inventory or your business holding stock.

 

So what are the benefits of using Oberlo? Let’s discover more below.

Benefits of Oberlo

• Easily add products from AliExpress
• Product inventory is updated automatically
• Automated pricing
• Fulfill and track orders automatically
• Track your sales
• Multiple user accounts

 

So let’s now take a look at how HyperSKU compares and if it is a viable Oberlo alternative.

What is HyperSKU?

HyperSKU is a solution designed by eCommerce veterans that integrates extensive resources and cutting-edge technologies to build successful dropshipping stores.

 

HyperSKU takes away the need for the historic ineffective methods of traditional dropshipping sellers and suppliers, including lengthy shipping times that are common with other resources such as AliExpress.

 

HyperSKU’s agents have direct access to Chinese suppliers, along with important connections within the infrastructure of China’s well-developed reliable global delivery system.

 

Also, HyperSKU can help improve your sales performance and decrease your costs and help you to build a successful dropshipping business.

 

So now we know what one of Oberlo’s alternatives, HyperSKU actually is, let’s take a look at some of the main benefits so you can more easily decide on the winner between Oberlo vs HyperSKU!

Benefits of HyperSKU

• Fewer rivals As Oberlo is one of the most well-known resources for dropshipping it could be difficult to compete with other eCommerce stores as many are offering the same products at similar prices. By using a HyperSKU you will be able to offer a different range of quality products and also be able to compete much better with your shipping times. This can be the ‘make or break’ of a dropshipping store.

 

• More choice: Those that use Oberlo will be tied to using AliExpress. By using HyperSKU you have a wealth of different top-selling quality products available to add uniqueness to your ECommerce store.

 

• Connect easily with your store: HyperSKU allows dropshipping entrepreneurs to browse and instantly add products to your Shopify or other eCommerce stores

 

• Fewer price changes: When using Oberlo and other platforms there can often be unwelcome surprises in the form of price changes or products becoming frequently ‘out of stock’. HyperSKU prides itself on a ‘dynamic’ supplier database which is updated continually.

 

So now we’ve seen some of the benefits of using Oberlo and also HyperSKU, an alternative to Oberlo, let’s take a look at some of the main differences between both platforms and discover a little more about how they operate, so you can find a better Oberlo alternative.

Main differences between Oberlo and HyperSKU

• Both can provide dropshippers with an automated experience for order fulfillment
• Oberlo is more of an efficiency tool that streamlines the listing and order fulfillment process between Shopify and AliExpress
• HyperSKU is a dropshipping supplier with an online system, that connects sellers with real suppliers and offers much quicker express shipping solutions.

 

So which one is easier to use? Let’s get into that next.

Ease of use

As Oberlo is integrated with Shopify only, it can mean that if your eCommerce store is with another platform, you won’t be able to use Oberlo as a resource.

 

HyperSKU on the other hand is integrated with both Shopify and WooCommerce.  So for those who may have a number of stores across platforms or prefer WooCommerce to Shopify, HyperSKU offers the best use.

 

HyperSKU also has API integration available if seller has built self-coding store and would like efficient work flow.

 

Pricing

As we mentioned earlier, Oberlo has a free version that is available with limited features. Their three pricing tariffs are outlined below:

 

• Explorer – Free
• Grad – $7.90 per month
• Boss – $29.90 per month

 

With the limitations of the free version, in order to compete with those more experienced dropshippers or those will successful businesses upgrading to a paid version is probably necessary.

 

HyperSKU has no subscription fees and is free to sign up. Sourcing of top-selling and quality products is offered to HyperSKU’s customers free of charge.

 

HyperSKU adds a margin to its product and shipping services; Unlike Oberlo, where you would have to pay if you chose to upgrade whether or not you make any sales.

 

Products and sourcing

Oberlo cannot be used to either source or customize products. You can just sell what’s available on AliExpress, which could be out of dated.

 

HyperSKU on the other hand has all the resources available for you to create really unique offerings to your customers, by offering private label products, alongside sourcing top selling products for your ECommerce or Shopify store.

Order processing

When using Oberlo, sellers can place orders to multiple AliExpress sellers at one time. However sellers need to reach out and contact each seller individually if there’s issue, which can be a lengthy and time-consuming process. Not to mention confusing alongside language barriers.

 

Oberlo also does not manufacture or have their own warehouses, but simply acts as a shop front for a collection of sellers.

 

HyperSKU will be the single point of contact for all your store items, making communication simplified, and more importantly, time and cost-saving. HyperSKU also picks and pack products in their own warehouse.

Shipping

Oberlo uses AliExpress which ships via either ePacket or AliExpress Standard Shipping.

 

Both of which are super slow. Shipping to your customers can take as long as 30 days on average and even longer during peak season.

 

Also, there’s much anecdotal evidence that many parcels take months, or seemingly never actually get delivered!

 

HyperSKU uses an express shipping solution provided by YunExpress.

 

This service designed to make your dropshipping deliveries more competitive takes around 10 days and is 100% trackable.

Customer service

Using Oberlo as a resource for your dropshipping business can also lead to issues with your customers as they aren’t able to help with order problems.

 

Being able to respond immediately to your customers is one of the crucial requirements if your Shopify or ECommerce store is to compete with rivals and grow your business.

 

HyperSKU will be able to help you and your customers with any difficulties and you can guarantee they will provide refunds where necessary, while also offering a reshipment service for any orders which haven’t arrived.

And finally…

So we hope we’ve given you the lowdown on Oberlo and one of its heavyweight alternatives, HyperSKU!

 

Making sure you can offer your customers reasonable shipping times, especially with the speed of Amazon deliveries to contend with, alongside real-time customer service to smooth over any delivery difficulties is essential for anyone in the dropshipping marketplace.

 

Make sure you use the drop shipping resources available wisely and watch your business empire grow!

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As global online sales are seeing huge surges due to world events, it’s not surprising that many new and seasoned eCommerce and Shopify store owners are looking to expand their offerings in Europe and beyond.

 

With European countries experiencing a strong and stable economy and a growing population of some 747,849,422 million at the time of writing, based on the latest United Nations estimates, there is a huge potential sales funnel for dropshippers.

 

But what about the Netherlands? Is it profitable to start dropshipping business in Netherlands (and to Netherlands)?

 

Is it profitable to dropship in the Netherlands? Dropshipping to the Netherlands can be very profitable for Shopify and other ECommerce dropshipping stores. The Netherlands’ internet usage is growing, along with increased purchasing power, and the fact that the Netherlands a logistic hub of Europe means it can be viable for dropshippers.

 

Ok so now that’s the quick summary about whether dropshipping in Netherlands is a strategic marketing move for your eCommerce or Shopify store.

 

So that we can understand a little more easily why it might be profitable to dropship in the Netherlands, let’s start by exploring why they might figure highly in your next commercial plan.

 

Internet use in the Netherlands

When we look at the population who are currently using the internet in the Netherlands, and a few projections, it’s pretty clear to see it’s a viable place to sell your winning products to.

 

In 2020, practically everyone in the Netherlands was using the internet in some shape or form with a whopping 94.16 percent discovered by Statista’s research. This amounts to over 16 million people.

 

Going forwards into the next four years, we’re seeing a growth forecast of another 0.8 million joining the ranks of online users by 2025.

 

“When we look at the population who are currently using the internet in the Netherlands,

and a few projections, it’s pretty clear to see it’s a viable place to sell your winning products to”

 

Netherlands Commercial hub for dropshipping

The Netherlands is the logistics hub of Europe, making shipping from China to the Netherlands convenient and affordable. Strategically located at essentially Europe’s front door, the Netherlands’ world-class logistics hubs facilitate trade and transport for markets right across the Globe.

 

the Port of Rotterdam, is Europe’s largest port and the world’s 8th largest, while Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, is a major European cargo and passenger hub. Both are supported by world-class logistics service providers and boast an extensive road and rail network.

 

Netherlands Population and culture for dropshippers

The culture and demographic in the Netherlands are ideal for your dropshipping venture.

 

With a mainly aging and established population, this brings with it a strong purchasing power.  But what retail values does this Dutch-speaking nation have? Let’s find out.

 

• Quality: Customers from the Netherlands look for a good price, but also the quality is important to your Netherlands customers

 

• Clear communication: Along with most other nations and countries, the population of the Netherlands prefers clear and direct communication. Making sure your customer service in terms of response time and a realistic narrative will make sure you have returning Dutch customers

 

• Fast delivery and free shipping: This will include such requirements as express shipping, so make sure you choose dropshipping agents who can guarantee the shortest shipping times, rather than choosing slower ones such as ePacket.

 

 

What kind of products are popular in the Netherlands?

According to experts, there are few things to keep in mind if you are thinking of dropshipping in the Netherlands.

 

Products should be not only practical but also environmentally aware and promote a healthy lifestyle.

 

The latter is currently seeking an upsurge as those consuming sugary drinks, meat, and other dairy products are falling. Healthier food items such as fruit and vegetables are seeing a spike in popularity.

 

Advertisements broadcast to promote respect for the environment with products that are good for the planet have influenced behaviors.

 

It goes without saying that when promoting products and dropshipping to the Netherlands, you need to provide environmentally friendly and high-quality goods.

 

Here are some of the most popular categories that this environmentally aware country would be keen to buy from your eCommerce or Shopify store:

 

• Travel related
• Electronics
• Clothing
• Sports, especially bicycle-related

 

“Products should be not only practical but also environmentally

aware and promote a healthy lifestyle”

 

Language

In the Netherlands, Dutch is spoken most commonly nationwide.

 

Along with many other European countries that are good for dropshipping such as Germany, the Dutch prefer a localized service with websites in their own language, although it’s also worth noting that your potential dropshipping customers who live in the Netherlands, have excellent proficiency of English.

 

Ok so now you’ve seen that adding the health-conscious and environmentally responsible Netherlands to your dropshipping store plan, let’s find out a little more about the business details such as registering a company and the kind of payments accepted. Read on to find out.

 

Ok, so you can get started right away dropshipping to the Netherlands, follow the simple steps below to start reaping the benefits of dropshipping to this lucrative nation.

 

• Register a company: If you are a foreign legal entity that does not have a permanent establishment in the Netherlands, you do not have to register with the Commercial Register. However, if your business involves VAT, you will have to register with the Dutch Tax and Customs Administration.

 

• Payment gateway: iDEAL, an online bank transfer system, is one of the main methods and the number one online payment method in The Netherlands. Other than iDEAL, MasterCard, VISA, PayPal and pay later methods as Klarna and AfterPay are also commonly used. Apple Pay is also currently gaining popularity, along with the usual credit and debit cards (mostly maestro)

 

• Find a reliable and experienced supplier: Dropshippers should work with suppliers or agents map Lo that can provide quality products and express shipping.

 

And finally…

With many European destinations such as the Netherlands experiencing a strong economy and a population who know a great product when they see one, they will also expect a high standard of service from your eCommerce or dropshipping store.

 

By making sure you concentrate on quality products, offer them a store in their own language winning products based on quality and environmental sustainability, you’ll be able to add the Netherlands to your dropshipping success story.

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With major impacts on business such as pandemics and the high street under increasing pressure to continue trading, many are looking to move their retail business online or even protect themselves against the uncertainty of the job market by starting a dropshipping store.

According to recent research by grandviewresearch.com, dropshipping revenue is said to grow to a whopping $577.9 billion by 2025. So how do fledgling eCommerce stores hope to compete?

Today we’re going to explore one of the most important ways you can stand head and shoulders above the crowd and ensure your store is getting a slice of the action!

Many dropshipping entrepreneurs are wondering how they can grow a successful store and whether branding a dropshipping store will help them.

So let’s look at the brief definitive takeaway first so you can get started building an empire!

Why should you brand your dropshipping store? Branding your dropshipping, eCommerce, or Shopify store is crucial to attracting target customers in your niche, building a reputation, encouraging multiple purchases, awareness of your store, charging higher prices, saving you money and time, whilst ensuring you get ahead of the completion.

Ok so with that in mind, let’s start to explore why you should be working on a great brand to get ahead of the competition. We’ll begin with some of the advantages. So you can see more clearly why branding your dropshipping store is important.

Advantages of branded eCommerce store

Branding your Shopify or eCommerce store is possibly one of the most important ways of growing a successful dropshipping business.

But what is a brand? In a nutshell, it’s a direct reflection of you, what you sell, and your offering as a whole.

“Branding your Shopify or eCommerce store is possibly one of the most important ways of growing a successful dropshipping business.”

First impressions count

Branding is no doubt the first impression your audience has of your business and it’s also the way your products and store stand out among the competition in your niche.

Another important element of a brand is that it helps your audience and customers understand what to expect as soon as they encounter your website.

Branding is not just a logo

Branding brings a wealth of advantages to your eCommerce store. Branding is not only your mission statement and your voice… but also your marketing materials, packaging, and website. It’s the main reason people will choose you over others with similar offerings.

It’s crucial to remember when you are trying to build a successful dropshipping store or if you’re just about to launch, that branding is not just a logo.

For smaller businesses especially, branding is crucial to attract and retain loyal customers.

Let’s look at some other advantages of branding and why you should brand your dropshipping store.

• Get ahead of the fierce competition
• Build awareness of your store
• Create the right environment to grow customer loyalty
• Higher evaluation when selling the store
• Credibility in your niche
• Better branding means you can charge higher prices
• Leads to returning customers and referrals
• Branding will save you money and time

“Branding is not only your mission statement and your voice but also your marketing materials, packaging, and website.”

What happens if you don’t brand your eCommerce store?

There are a number of people who might start a dropshipping store believing it’s the easy route to quick cash. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case.

Like any other enterprise, it’s important to be on top of your game and make sure you stand out from the incredible number of competitors you will most certainly encounter.

Without a discernible brand, your store will simply get lost in a sea of competitors who do have a robust, engaging identity. Without a brand, your store will simply not be sustainable.

If you go down the line of simply setting up some products in a store, forgetting it, and expecting a return, then you’ll be setting yourself up for a fall, not to mention possible financial loss.

“Without a discernible brand, your store will simply get lost in a sea of competitors who do have a robust, engaging identity.”

What does it mean to brand your dropshipping store?

According to The Malhotra (2012), branding is defined as:

“process of utilizing marketing strategies to enhance their products or service’s image so that it is more readily recollected by the customer”.

This literally nails why it’s so important for your fledgling eCommerce or dropshipping store.

Put simply, It’s all about how your customers perceive your products and store which in turn, makes them more likely to shop with you.

Remember, branding isn’t just about putting logos on the product, it’s an all-level marketing strategy that needs careful thought.

Take a look at what branding is below, these factors remain at the core of good branding.

• Advertising
• Customer service
• Promotional merchandise
• Reputation
• Logo

So how do you start to brand your dropshipping store? Let’s find out.

How do I brand my dropshipping store?

Online presence

Although branding isn’t entirely about your business name and a logo, it’s of course a necessity to get one!  There are lots of free online tools that can help you find the perfect one for your business story.

Before you decide on a name, make sure you do suitable research so you aren’t stepping on anyone else’s toes and make sure you avoid IP infringements.

Then go ahead with searching for:

• Store domain
• Store logo
• Email
• Facebook page

Packaging and other prints

To give a little extra to your customers and real personal touch, don’t forget to add Inserts, thank-you cards or branded free giveaways, which can be samples of your product.

By building a stellar relationship with your customers adding thoughtful extras, it will help you to build trust and also ensure returning customers.

Product

There are many ways you can physically brand your products, right from engraving your logo on the product through to adding a personalized label tag. By doing so, you can build a customized offering for your customers.

Even if you starting out on your dropshipping venture and aren’t quite ready to budget for real-time branding of your products, then at least make sure your storefront and any listings are branded with your fonts, logos, and color schemes.

5 dropshipping branding tips

• Start as soon as you can before launching your store and build your brand strategy into the whole launch plan, alongside daily marketing.
• Although light colors might look stylish on your website, it can be difficult to make stand out on printed products and packaging. Make sure any color combinations which will be used on packaging work well with ‘Magenta Yellow Black.’ or more commonly known as CMYK which are the four main colors used in printing. As opposed to Red Green Blue or ‘RGB’ which is used for creating images on your computer screen,
• Make sure you steer clear of over-complicated designs as these can be difficult when printing and embedding your logo.
• Ensure you work with suppliers who are able to customize your products and packaging. Make sure you research those suppliers thoroughly as the minimum order quantity or ‘MOQ’ can vary considerably.
• When building your brand it’s important to also partner with a supplier who is able to provide you with sample products to build that all-important customer engagement.

And finally…

So now you can see why it’s paramount to your Shopify store or dropping shipping venture to have a clear brand identity, we hope we have helped you get started! Need more help? Why not contact us now to get started!

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Most people know to make sure they have a robust social media strategy for your brand new …or existing dropshipping, eCommerce, or Shopify store, but what about the newest kid on the block, TikTok?

 

TikTok has had much hype recently, with nurses dancing during the pandemic going viral across the globe, but is it the right place to make sure your newly engaged customers will discover your winning products?

 

In this article, we will find out the real answers to help you plan your social media strategy and make sure you’re the go-to store!

 

First, let’s do the brief takeaway so you can find out straight away whether dropshippers can do dropshipping on TikTok.

 

Can dropshippers use TikTok for marketing? Using TikTok, dropshippers can utilize influencers to spread the word of their brand to a target audience, create a channel to showcase their business by uploading relevant videos, and also the ‘pay to advertise’ option. Dropshippers can add a storefront, with filters and videos to promote products.

 

So now we’ve got the brief takeaway covered with the short answer, so we can better understand if we can do dropshipping on TikTok and if so, how. Let’s dig in.

 

What is TikTok?

According to an article in The New York Times,

 

“TikTok is rewriting the world”

 

So what exactly is it, and why is it becoming so popular?

TikTok is a video-sharing social media app owned by tech company ByteDance.

 

Their platform is essentially an outlet for mobile content. It allows users to create, edit, and share short-form video clips, where users can add filters to a soundtrack of the latest music trends.

 

According to its own advertising, they describe themselves as the ‘leading destination for short-form mobile video. Our mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy.’

 

TikTok now is over 500 million users strong …so that might be one good reason to add it into your marketing plan along with the added joy and creativity!

 

Just as Snapchat took the world by storm and now has more users than Twitter and changed the course of its industry, TikTok is not far behind.

 

So how can you harness the power of TikTok for your dropshipping business and is it any good for marketing your business? Let’s find out.

 

‘leading destination for short-form mobile video.

Our mission is to inspire creativity and bring joy.’

 

Is TikTok good for marketing my business?

Knowing that TikTok users downloaded the app more than 660 million times in 2018 alone, with a further 188 million downloads during the first half of 2019 according to Statista.com, eCommerce and Shopify store owners would do well to take notice!

 

Using TikTok for dropshipping business is actually much simpler than you might think.

 

There are currently three main ways that brands can use TikTok to promote their products to potential customers:

 

• Encourage influencers to send out your content to your target audience
• Create a profile for your brand and upload videos that showcase your business
• Pay to advertise with TikTok’s new campaign options

 

Compared to oversaturated platforms like Facebook and Instagram, although the audience is currently the younger Gen Z’s and Alphas, it’s worth remembering that Facebook initially started as a platform for students!

 

“Create a channel for your brand and upload

videos that showcase your business”

 

What kind of dropshippers is TikTok marketing suitable for?

If you are simply hoping to ‘set and forget’ your store then maybe TokTok isn’t for you, as it does require time, effort, and a specific plan, along with of course good quality video footage.

 

So to maximize your return on TikTok, it is really important you put aside the time to create first-rate visuals, so make sure you think about the time required before you add this platform to your marketing bag of tricks.

 

Posting the best high-resolution and thoughtfully planned scripted videos possible increases the chance of your videos being seen.

 

That being said, it is suitable for both advanced dropshippers and beginners.

 

“Dropshippers who are really able to deliver

quality content will benefit the most.”

 

How can I use TikTok for dropshipping marketing?

Now we understand a little better what TikTok is and whether it would be a great addition to your social media marketing strategy, whether you’re a complete novice or even more experienced. We’ll now look into exactly how to use it, to get the most out of it.

 

Paid ads

The TikTok paid ads are a fairly new advancement in their offerings. There’s much speculation that currently, their advertising system isn’t quite yet mature enough to support dropshippers’ needs at the moment, but as with other platforms such as Facebook, we predict it won’t be long until that’s resolved.

 

According to TikTok’s website, users can benefit from:

 

• 5-60 second, full-screen vertical video with sound-on
• Optimize for traffic and conversion objectives; app installs and in-app events
• Precise targeting options including interest, event-based behaviors, custom, and lookalike audiences
• Range of billing options, CPM, CPC, CPV, and CPC

 

Organic traffic and livestreams

Dropshippers can put a storefront link in their profile and market themselves along with adding Livestreams to encourage more meaningful relationships with their fans.

 

This extra time is really helpful to connect more deeply with your target audience. Because usually, the regular video content is only between 15 and 60 seconds.

 

Influencer marketing

As with any other form of marketing media such as Instagram influencers, influencers can help you to reach more followers and convert those engaged viewers into sales.

 

Ok so now we’ve got some ideas in place, you might be wondering next how you get your new TikTok profile up and running ready to capture the imagination and get the crowds flocking to your dropshipping store!

 

Let’s find out.

 

How to build a TikTok profile for your dropshipping store

TikTok offers both a Pro account and a personal account.

 

A TikTok Pro account enables you to see statistics on your posts and overall account performance.

 

The account is primarily designed for businesses who want to improve the performances of posts or get to know more about their followers on TikTok, but it can be also used by anyone who is just curious.

 

When registering a business account, users can choose a creator account (Which actively pays video makers for their work) or a business account.

 

Carry on reading below to find out how you can get all the information you need to choose the best TikTok account for dropshippers and anyone with an ECommerce or Shopify store.

 

And finally…

We hope this article has answered all of your questions as to how to get TikTok working to engage customers and encourage them to visit your dropshipping store!

 

We know if you are just starting out on your dropshipping journey or even if you are a seasoned drop shipper making a good income, there’s always so much to do!

 

We’ve done all the leg work for you and put together a helpful free guide on how to get the best out of TikTok. Click the link above to get started today!

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So you’re just starting up your brand new dropshipping venture, planning your storefront, building your social pages, finding some awesome trending products, and researching best practices.

 

It’s all going great. right? Well, it might be if you make sure you are going about things the best way to keep your customers happy and see your profits soar!

 

However, the dropshipping world is crammed with experts and those who seem to know what’s best for you. But do they have your best interests at heart or are they just spinning ugly truths, myths, and complete downright lies?

 

So before we delve deeper into our best hints and tips on the best way to dropship and dispel a few of those rumors, let’s hit the short answer first.

 

What are some of the most common dropshipping myths? Common myths about dropshipping include “a store is quick to set up” and a most well-known myth “very little upfront cost”. Other myths include “a winning product you will automatically make money quickly”, and “AliExpress dropshipping is a one-stop answer to successful eCommerce profits”.

 

Ok, so now we’ve got a few of the ugly truths out of the way, let’s first start by myth-busting how your important sales funnel team, social media influencers have to say about the simplicity of seeing up your ECommerce store.

Ugly truth about setting up your store

So this might be one of the main reasons you started your dropshipping business in the first place. Right?

 

You’ve read everywhere online from the glamorous influencers how you can set your store up in an evening, sit back with a beer, and do nothing.

 

Let’s find out if this is the truth or an ugly dropshipping lie.

Myth: it’s easy and quick to set up a dropshipping store

There is far more work involved in setting up a store than these shiny influencers might lead you to believe.

 

Although when you look at other businesses then it can, of course, be a quicker way to build a successful online ECommerce store, than literally building one out of bricks and mortar.

 

However, you have your work cut out in terms of:

 

• Niche: Choosing a niche (possibly where most of your time will go initially)

 

• Theme: Deciding on your store’s theme (modern and vibrant, cool, and vintage, etc.) along with details such as the font that will best appeal to your target market.

 

• Images: Even choosing images can be time-consuming, whether you create your own photoshoot or if you decide to go with stock images.

 

• Terms and conditions: Reading through terms, regulations, and policies can also add a hefty time drain.

 

• Supplier: Finding a supplier is going to be a really important part of the dropshipping store set up process. Making sure you have a supplier who offers express delivery, quality goods, and is reliable is crucial.

 

• Email: Researching an email system will also potentially add hours to your set up.

 

• Apps and tools: Discovering tools and apps which will set you apart from your competitors in the kinds of service you offer, including the best discount tools so you can always offer great marketing campaigns to encourage your customers to spend at your store.

 

• Advertising: Choosing campaigns such as those offered by the socials such as Facebook and Pinterest aren’t cheap when you are first setting out, let alone the time-consuming process required to sift through the offerings and trial them. Google Ads will also set you back between $1 and $2 per click.

 

So as you can see from the above, setting up a dropshipping store isn’t as simple as influencers say.

 

The ugly truth: it’s time-consuming and advertisement costs a bunch

Myth: little upfront cost

As we’ve already mentioned above, Google ads can really eat into your marketing budget.

 

Although Facebook ads are one of the most major traffic sources, it too is climbing in cost and year on year getting more expensive. and it’s getting more and more expensive.

 

Those who decide to dropship thinking of it as a fast route to cash, without much investment will realize that without a great marketing strategy, it can be very difficult to almost impossible to get good returns.

 

It’s a fairly common story for Dropshippers to pour money into split testing products to only receive clicks, no purchases which only benefit Google ads.

 

The ugly truth: you just can’t spend little and

expect to hit a sales boom

Myth: If you find a winning product, you’ll get rich quick!

Although this sounds like an obvious win/win, the reality is that finding a niche no one else is on, is not an everyday dropshipping occurrence!

 

It can take lots of trial and error before you land on a great product, but you can bet your bottom dollar you won’t be the only one to have discovered it!

 

Not only that, the real truth is that dropshipping is an industry that has very low margins, so you need to sell a great number of products before you start to see the dollars roll in.

 

Ugly Truth: highly competitive, low margin

 

Myth: AliExpress order fulfilling is easy

So it seems that everywhere you turn, someone is mentioning AliExpress and dropshipping in the same breath. Probably consistently enough for you to think it really is the only option and you’ll become a dropshipping champion overnight!

 

However, the real truth of the matter is that the deathly slow shipping of ePacket can ruin all your blood, sweat, and tears building trust with customers and more importantly, stands to completely sabotage your hard-won account rating.

 

Added to the fact that the holiday season is an utter nightmare when it comes to your best-selling items. During this period they can be difficult or even worse, impossible to get hold of.

 

The ugly truth: 90% Dropship with AliExpress died

due to little control of the supply chain.

Myth: you can travel the world while the store runs itself.

This might be one of the main reasons you decided to start your dropshipping venture. Those wonderful starry-eyed stories you’ve read of an idyllic laptop lifestyle.

 

Who needs the expense and hassle of running a bricks-and-mortar shop when you can drop ship your business from a laptop and discover yourself in Indonesia!

 

However, in order to keep your business profitable, it will need significant input from you. It’s just not sustainable to leave your brand building and marketing at the airport!

 

The ugly truth: Brand and sustainable business

 

Ok so now we’ve got those dropshipping ugly truths, myths, and downright lies busted, let’s look at some of our best tips for getting a successful store off the ground.

 

The right way to do dropshipping

Ok so now we’ve given you the real lowdown on all the usual dropshipping suspects, keep reading for our best tips!

1. Specialize and niche down! So rather than hitting every single product and creating a mishmash of various departmental areas in your store, try to concentrate on a few specific products that best showcase your brand.

 

2. Choose a niche you understand. It goes without saying, your customer service won’t be of any use to your customers if you have no idea about your own product areas or even how they work. Keep authoritative and make sure you have at least a passing interest in your products and make sure you are up to date with as much product knowledge as possible.

 

3. Don’t just jump into hot niches. These are more than likely going to be saturated and one more dropshipper to the party isn’t going to grow your business. instead, go for a niche you really understand, so you can market about its uniqueness.

 

4. Work with reliable suppliers. It doesn’t take an expert to convince you to make sure you always choose a reputable supplier that offers quality products, express delivery, and crucially, an automated system

 

5. Go for the long-term. Don’t just set up for a quick hit as this is likely to backfire, leaving you at a place where you may have wasted both your time and money. Set up a workflow with VAs and suppliers, continue to create a brand that has a unique story, and make sure you keep building and enhancing brand awareness.

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