In this Internet age, a wholesale dropship business is the ideal way to start an online venture. It is a very simple, convenient and successful way of doing business because considerations like production, sales and storage of the goods are not a concern. Moreover, there is no need for establishing and maintaining an office or warehouse. The needs of the customers and marketing and promotion are the only things you need to worry about. Yet, the key to success in this kind of business is finding the right wholesale dropship suppliers that are genuinely interested in finding new resale partners, and not merely taking your money for hyped promises.

Finding a Good Dropship Supplier

The easy way is to spend a few dollars and get a dropshipping list that contains hundreds of company names, addresses and telephone numbers. But such lists are often outdated with out-of-service telephone numbers. Choose a list that you have been recommended by a business partner or that is endorsed by people you trust.

Wholesale Forum

You can ask about a specific drop shipper on Wholesale Forum to obtain in depth research about the drop shipper, as well as opinions from other Wholesale Forum members. Or you can submit a query about a specific type of drop shipper for assistance in finding your ideal drop ship sources.

Directories

Wholesale dropship directories are also a good starting point, however there are very few wholesale dropship directories around that are good and worth paying for. WorldWideBrands and eSources offer a vast selection of verified drop shippers that can save you weeks of painstaking research. All these directories update their resources daily and provide current lists of good and reliable dropshipping companies.

Libraries

The local library is also a good place to visit because the librarian might be able to provide details about the people who can give information on manufacturers and wholesalers who are in the dropshipping business. The libraries also have books with lists regarding different products and their manufacturers. Useful information can also be obtained from relevant industry magazines.

Small-Scale Manufacturers

Starting a drop-shipping resale business would need some legwork, particularly for contacting small scale manufacturers who might not have any objection to working with a reseller. Some of them might not even have heard of the drop-shipping fulfillment model, but the concept can be explained to them and an effort can be made to make them interested in it. All the manufacturers who are contacted might not be interested in such an arrangement, but even if just one good supplier agrees, the rewards will be well worth it. Basically, decide the types of products that you wish to deal in and then find out the manufacturers of those products.

Distributors

The ideal situation is when a manufacturer agrees to a dropshipping arrangement. If this does not happen, the other alternative would be to locate the distributor of the product. Distributors normally carry a large inventory of the products and they distribute these products to smaller companies. Distributors can be identified through reputable directories, or directly from the manufacturers, who have an interest in promoting their authorized distributors in an effort to increase their own production. Many wholesale distributors will be willing to accept a drop shipping arrangement with you, provided you present yourself professionally, and demonstrate that you have a clear business plan in mind. Your per unit cost may be higher compared to wholesale orders, but as your relationship with the drop ship distributor matures, you will be able to obtain more favorable pricing.

Trade Magazines

It is a good idea to scan trade magazines relating to your chosen industry and products that you are interested in. These publications carry advertisements of manufacturers and distributors. Such listing are often found on the back of the magazines. Since the ads are paid for by the manufacturers and distributors, there is less likelihood of the contacts and current addresses being wrong. You can find a list of trade magazines related to your industry by running a search on Yahoo! and Google. Another great source for names of products, brand names, and companies is the Thomas Register, which is absolutely free. It takes time to find what is needed, and all the companies might not be willing to accept a dropshipping arrangement. However, it is a great resource that can be tapped into to your advantage.

Essential Attributes to Look for in a Good Wholesale Drop Shipper

Having short-listed a few trade suppliers using the above methods, it would be necessary to sift through them and find the best one that will be able to supply you with the best goods at the lowest price on a drop shipping bases, and as per the required delivery schedule. The following tips will help you in the selection process.

1) The wholesale supplier should be able to supply different types of goods at heavily discounted rates. In order to make money in this business, get both generic and brand name products from the suppliers at great discounts. Getting the cheapest deals on the best wholesale products is the best way of competing with other resellers.

2) The trade supplier must be able to offer the best price, service, quality and speed in delivering materials. The supplier should have a secure payment method and should be willing to ship anywhere in the world.

3) The dropshipper should be able to cater for small home businesses and be able to meet all business needs, whether or not the ordered quantity is one or a few thousands. The dropshipper should also be willing to ship directly to the ultimate buyers with your details on the packaging, as well as accept returns, process replacements, update you on stock levels, offer prompt replies to your queries, and possibly offer customer support.

4) The wholesale drop ship supplier should be willing to provide a sample of the product that the reseller intends to sell. This is needed to ensure that the product is of a good quality. You may also want to place test orders with your drop shipper, pretending to be a final buyer, to verify that the wholesaler will ship exactly the same quality of merchandise that you received when you ordered your sample.

5) A reseller must stay up to date on the wholesale supplier and distributor industry. Having adequate knowledge about the changes that are taking place in the buying market will enable the reseller to stay ahead of competitors. In order to prove his reliability and trustworthiness to his customers, the reseller must have a legitimate wholesale dropshippers’ directory for being able to satisfy all business needs.

The success of a reseller depends largely on the selection of a good wholesale distributor and product supplier who can meet all selling needs. In order that the reseller can build up his reputation by giving good customer service to his clients, the wholesale dropshippers and suppliers should also be able to provide similar service to the reseller. Finding such a dropshipper will mean that the reseller will have to do thorough research based on the guidelines above.

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