I am looking for your opinion on dropshipping. For the last few years i have been thinking about setting up my own business. Obviously starting small so there is lower risk and then gradually over time building the business up. I havent got the capital in place at the moment so this is way dropshipping could be so appealing?
I know dropshipping is big in america but i am just wondering what is it like over here at the moment. I found what seems to be quite a good dropshipper which is 'ATSdistribution'. I have read a few good reviews on this and i am thinking it could be just one of the ways to start the ball rolling.
I would have my own website and also it would be probable i would be trading on Ebay.
If you are looking to get into Dropshipping, I would have a look at the forum dedicated to it, you will find loads of information on the various dropshippers and peoples views on them.
Dropshipping is a relatively easy business model to get into - but too many people look at it as a 'get rich quick' scheme - which just do not exist I'm afraid. Providing you put the effort in, and do your research - there is no reason why you cannot build a decent business out of it.
Dropshipping is a relatively easy business model to get into - but too many people look at it as a 'get rich quick' scheme - which just do not exist I'm afraid. Providing you put the effort in, and do your research - there is no reason why you cannot build a decent business out of it.
I agre with the first part of this statement, but I don't believe you can build a decent business out of it. Your aim should be to eventually hold stock as then you have more control over product costs as you can negotiate better terms and prices.
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Agreed Steve - you will eventually move the business forward on that basis, with your own stock (padded out with the dropshipped lines). Whilst I didn't say that, it would be a natural progression in this line of business.
Thanks for the replies so far. Yes i am hoping to eventually hold my own stock but to start i would use a dropshipper. This would be a part time venture whilst working full time you see. However, i would be willing to put in 110% in because i know you only get out of it what you put in!
Have anybody here ever used a dropshipper? or using one at present? I would be very interested in hearing your views and opinion on the whole idea!
I would be selling through my own website, however, would also consider Ebay to present the products to a larger audience.
Let me know any views or even if you just think of any issues that could arise.
Whilst I didn't say that, it would be a natural progression in this line of business.
Sorry Comspec, didn't want to cause offence. I just wanted to make it clear that whilst I believe dropshipping can be a decent start to a business it cannot produce a long term highly profitable business. Unfortunately there are a lot of people out there who think it can be a long term business plan, but they need to be put in the picture swiftly.
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I agree, hopefully it will be a phased approach starting small and then expanding with success. I know i am going to face a lot of overheads with very little capital available to me. However, hard work and effort would certainly pay the ways and make things alot easier.
Have you gone on an registered first so that you can view their prices and have you compared that with people selling the same products online or on ebay?
You have to pay ATS a £40 fee, and items are dropshipped at cost+postage+VAT, so you need a reasonable margin - which dropshipping is not great for - usually no more than 30% often not that much.
Dropshipping is ideal for testing the waters for a business, reducing the initial investment you have to find and creating a business presence and reputation/credit history. However most markets that dropshippers dip into are saturated, and ebayed to death.
If you have products in mind though then you still may be better looking wholesalers who will allow small orders, have reliable delivery - so you can afford not to hold stock and just run with carriage paid, proforma orders initially.
I will reply on this thread lol! I am looking into selling sporting goods. It was going to be welsh sporting goods but im guessing i shouldn't limit myself.
As i said on the other thread, i have very limited capital which is one of my concerns. But im not sure what sports dropshippers there are out there? I have just joined one shipping forum to try and have a look whats on offer.
whats you opnion on the sports market? The reason i was looking into welsh sporting goods is because i am based in Cardiff and publicity on match days etc would be a good attribute.
The sports market seems very good, I think with the right niche you could do very well, welsh sports sounds interesting, though it may possibly be too niche, presumably there is a limited to how many welsh rugby tops & welsh logo'd stuff people would buy? Though you do have a great nation and it's followers to target
Dropshippers for the sports side seem to be almost non existent looking on esources, however I think you would find wholesalers with zero or low minimum order quantities for instance http://www.crackedfinger.com -perhaps not an arena you were interested in as it's martial arts, there is http://www.marksalter.com/ who dropship F1 & footie stuff, though I'm not sure what they are like.
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