Dropshipping - Is it worth doing?

[AndyJames2018]

As a web developer and e-commerce specialist, I'm thinkkng of looking into a side hustle of finding a dropshipper for a new website. Are there any success stories out there with your dropshipping business?
I'm able to create a fully functioning, professional looking e-commerce site.
Are any of them genuinely looking to offer a decent pricing structure to allow you to make a decent profit?
How do you find them?
Andy

 

[Nudge]

As a web developer and e-commerce specialist, I'm thinkkng of looking into a side hustle of finding a dropshipper for a new website. Are there any success stories out there with your dropshipping business?
I'm able to create a fully functioning, professional looking e-commerce site.
Are any of them genuinely looking to offer a decent pricing structure to allow you to make a decent profit?
How do you find them?
Andy

Having the ability to build a solid e-commerce site is already a huge advantage in the dropshipping game. There are definitely success stories out there, but a lot of it comes down to finding the right supplier, one that offers competitive pricing, reliable shipping, and quality products. Some people have had luck with platforms like AliExpress, Spocket, or SaleHoo, but the real goldmine is in private suppliers who aren’t oversaturated. Networking can help. Some of the best partnerships come from direct outreach rather than just signing up through a marketplace.

 

[fisicx]

Dropshipping works if you are really good at marketing. The website is incidental.

The difficult bit is sourcing products that aren't already being sold by everyone else or shipped from China.

You can probably make more money stacking shelves in the supermarket.

 

[AndyJames2018]

Thank you Nudge -
Great advise and very much appreciated.
I guess one issue would be to find a private supplier that can output theire datafeeds but I could help with that. Food for thought and I agree that I might have a better deal staying away from the 'platforms'.
Thank you
Andy

 

[AndyJames2018]

Dropshipping works if you are really good at marketing. The website is incidental.

The difficult bit is sourcing products that aren't already being sold by everyone else or shipped from China.

You can probably make more money stacking shelves in the supermarket.

Fair play

 

[AlanJ1]

I guess one issue would be to find a private supplier that can output theire datafeeds but I could help with that. Food for thought and I agree that I might have a better deal staying away from the 'platforms'.

This is your biggest problem, and then you would need to convince them to do all the work (ie pick, pack and dispatch) once you take the sale.
Most companies who are capable of doing the above, already do it themselves / have made the decision not too and stick with wholesale. But there are obviously gems out there if you can find them.

 

[fisicx]

I only know one person who does dropshipping - any they make very little money. Most of their spare time is spent doing marketing. Lots and lots of social media things, email lists, promotions and advertising. If they were paying themselves a wage they would be running at a loss.

Most of the dropshippers work with hundreds of people all wanting their piece of pie. Which is why it's a struggle as you are often selling the same things as everybody else.

Why not sell the perfect dropshipping theme - a shop in a box for the budding business.

You sort out the hosting, do the product feeds and set up the website for a monthly fee. Far more lucrative.

 

[AndyJames2018]

I only know one person who does dropshipping - any they make very little money. Most of their spare time is spent doing marketing. Lots and lots of social media things, email lists, promotions and advertising. If they were paying themselves a wage they would be running at a loss.

Most of the dropshippers work with hundreds of people all wanting their piece of pie. Which is why it's a struggle as you are often selling the same things as everybody else.

Why not sell the perfect dropshipping theme - a shop in a box for the budding business.

You sort out the hosting, do the product feeds and set up the website for a monthly fee. Far more lucrative.

Hmm it's an idea - I already do hosting

 

[Porky]

Just to add:
As someone that actually started a business doing drop shipping and direct sales i can confirm it's 100% about the product and then the marketing of same.

I have two threads here about the race to the bottom on pricing. I've seen various lines just trashed by retailers prepared to sell a similar item for imo non viable margins so picking your product lines can make or break you, then marketing of said products is the next thing.

As for websites and hosting it's kind of bottom of the pile on the priority list, of course I'm sure the OP could make some money selling webservices but there are so many out there now it's ridiculous, unless he can offer a package that nobody else can or something different he's competing against the likes of Wix and similar that offer off the shelf packages cheap as chips and with obscene marketing g budgets to ensure they are seen everywhere. Another tough market in itself to crack imo no doubt with it's own challenges, just different ones.

Good luck anyhow what ever you decide, whatever you do will be tough as we move into recession imo.

 

[PatrickStephen]

If you are looking to market the dropshipping adventure on places like X, be advised that X will add notes warning people of the dropshipping nature so reliability etc should be questioned/checked.