If you've just started a dropshipping store, you're probably searching for a supplier.
If so, you've come to the right place!
With dropshipping, a supplier is a huge part of your business, so it's crucial that you find and choose a good one when starting.
But how is this done, you ask?
In this article, we will give you five tips to not only find a good dropshipping supplier but also how to choose the best one for your business.
By the end of this article, you will be certain as to where you can start taking action.
Without further ado, let's get started!
5 Methods you can use to find a dropshipping supplier
Here are five methods you can use to find a dropshipping supplier for your online store!
1. Search for a dropshipping supplier on Google
Google is the biggest search engine, so it's no surprise that you can find some really good dropshipping suppliers with just a quick Google search.
To start, you can type in simple keywords such as:
- Dropshipping fulfillment
- Dropshipping services
- Wholesale dropshipper
- Dropshipping supplier
If you already have a product in mind that you'd like to sell, you can try targeting that product with keywords describing the product you're looking for.
Here are a few examples to get you started:
- Jewelry dropshipping supplier
- Pet dropshipping supplier
- Camping gear dropshipping supplier
- Homeware dropshipping supplier
- Clothing dropshipping supplier
But how else can you optimize a Google search to get the most out of it and find what you're looking for?
To find out, we must understand how Google search operators work.
Google search operators are unique sets of characters or commands that expand your search capabilities.
These 'search operators' or 'search parameters,' as they're sometimes referred to, work because they allow search engines to better understand what you're searching for, giving you more precise results.
Here are some of the search operators that you can use:
- inurl:
- allinurl:
- intext:
- allintext:
These are just a few examples of Google search operators that you can use to find a dropshipping supplier.
Here's an example of how using these search operations can increase the validity of your search:
As you may notice, when using things such as keywords and search operators, you can get the most out of your Google search.
However, if you're looking for private label products, try typing something like this into Google:
Private label + product keyword + no minimum + country
For instance, by typing something like "private label phone case no minimum USA" into Google, you get many results for suppliers that would be a great fit.
One thing to note when using one of these strategies is to keep your search as broad as possible.
Most traditional suppliers don't have the best SEO practices, so using all the keywords you can think of, such as 'supplier,' Wholesaler,' and 'dropshipping services,' will take your search to the next level.
What's great is that this is an ecommerce skill that you can use to search for other things too!
Cool, right?
2. Use your ecommerce platform's app store
Another easy way to find a dropshipping supplier is to use your ecommerce platform's app store.
If you're using a site such as Shopify or BigCommerce, there are apps from established dropshipping suppliers on these sites that you can then add to your ecommerce store and have your orders fulfilled.
For example, when searching for suppliers on Shopify, you get great results:
Suppliers such as Spocket and CJdropshipping can be great options for a dropshipping supplier.
If you're wondering which one would be better for your business, you can check out our CJdropshipping review and our Spocket review.
However, Shopify isn't the only site that this strategy to find a supplier works on.
BigCommerce also has an app store where you can find suppliers. Here's an example of the BigCommerce app store:
You may notice that there aren't as many options as the Shopify platform offers. However, there are still some great options to choose from here.
Just remember that not every platform has an app store and has supplier apps to choose from.
This doesn't mean that you can't find a supplier that integrates with your particular ecommerce platform, though!
Take WooCommerce as an example; WooCommerce is an open-source ecommerce software solution that connects and integrates into your WordPress site.
Because this app acts as more of an extension to your WordPress site, the capabilities of these apps are limited in their functions when compared to apps like Shopify.
For example, one of the downsides of WooCommerce is that it doesn’t offer an app store, so you won't easily find suppliers there.
However, there is a plethora of suppliers that will integrate with WooCommerce and platforms similar to WooCommerce. Platforms such as Printify, Dsers, Spocket, and more.
3. Use free lists of local dropshipping suppliers
Using free lists of local dropshipping suppliers can be an effective way to find a local supplier for your dropshipping business.
You can choose the best supplier based on the location of your target audience for the best possible shipping times, which will help give your dropshipping store a positive reputation.
If you're wondering what country would be the best country to target for your dropshipping business, be sure to check out our article to help you with that.
Below you will find the best local dropshipping suppliers for various different countries:
- Best Dropshipping Suppliers in Canada
- Best Dropshipping Suppliers in Europe
- Best Dropshipping Suppliers in Australia
- Best Dropshipping Suppliers in New Zealand
- Best Dropshipping Suppliers in the United States
- Best Dropshipping Suppliers in the United Kingdom
Additionally, you will find a review and a lot of information on each supplier to help you make a more informed decision when picking a supplier with this method.
4. Use a dropshipping supplier directory
A dropshipping supplier directory is an incredibly useful tool for those looking to find a specific dropshipping supplier and give their business a real competitive edge.
Dropshipping supplier directories are basically the middleman that connects you to a supplier.
They do this by providing you with a list of wholesalers, manufacturers, dropshippers, auctioneers, and other types of vendors that you can source and dropship products through.
One thing to ask the supplier when going through a dropshipping directory is how the supplier will connect and integrate with your store in order to fulfill the orders.
Some suppliers will integrate into your store through an app or an extension, and others will have you send the orders you receive manually.
Now let's talk about some supplier directories that we recommend you use.
If you plan to dropship mostly in the US, a good directory to check out is called Suppliersdata.
Suppliersdata has over 1,800 US-based dropshipping and wholesale suppliers, so you will find a supplier there that suits your needs.
The next and last supplier directory we recommend is called SaleHoo.
SaleHoo has 2.5 million products and over 8,000 suppliers that have gone through their vetting process to ensure you get the best experience possible.
5. Contacting manufacturers
Our last tip to help you find a dropshipping supplier would be to contact manufacturers on sites like AliExpress and Alibaba.
Start by searching for the product you'd like to sell. As mentioned, you can use Alibaba for dropshipping, where you'll mostly find genuine manufacturers instead of resellers.
Then, check out the seller on the site and contact them directly to inquire about their dropshipping services to find out if that's something they offer.
After you find a product with solid trends that looks good and you want to sell or source, you can begin to contact suppliers on Alibaba by heading to Alibaba’s site for dropshippers:
Search for a keyword related to your ideal product or category. You can then locate the particular product you are looking to dropship and contact the supplier.
You can then contact the supplier by clicking on their info card here and going to their shop:
Once at their shop, there should be a contact manufacturer button, as you see in the image below:
Start by sending them a message introducing yourself and your business and that you want to dropship some products from them.
Ask all important questions regarding dropshipping suppliers, including ones about minimum order quantities and shipping times, then negotiate the product price and other details to help you form a successful business relationship.
Lastly, you can order some sample products to make sure the quality is how you'd like it.
Boom! Just like that, you can use this method to find a dropshipping supplier for your business.
Great, right?
How do you choose the best dropshipping supplier?
To choose the best dropshipping supplier for your business, you have to look at the following components that make up a supplier experience.
- Location
- Fair pricing
- Helpful customer service
- Products
- Pricing
- Shipping & processing time
- Integration possibilities
- Customized packaging
All of these factors are going to have an impact on your experience with your dropshipping supplier.
You should take the time to research and contemplate each one to make sure that a potential supplier is the right fit for you.
For example, if you're going to be mainly targeting potential customers in the US, you're not going to want to have a supplier in the UK because shipping times would be far too long.
If you'd like to learn more about how to choose the best supplier for your dropshipping business, make sure to check out our article on that!
Taking action
Reading and absorbing information and knowledge is great (definitely if it’s free!), but do you know what’s even better?
Taking action!
So, to help you with taking action with what you have learned in this article, take a look at the bullet points:
- Find what products you want to sell. It's a good idea to find what products you want to sell before you begin to search for suppliers to fulfill your orders; this will help you find and recognize a supplier that fits your needs much more easily.
- Recognize a few potential suppliers. Take the strategies talked about in this article and find a few suppliers that you think would be a good fit for your dropshipping business.
- Inquire about their services. Once you've found a few potential suppliers, contact them to ask questions about their services; this will help you understand how the supplier operates and if they’re the right fit for your dropshipping business.
Conclusion
That's it!
Those are the five tips to help you start finding a dropshipping supplier. We hope you see that with the right information, it's not a super difficult task to find the right supplier for your dropshipping business.
Now, when you've found a potential dropshipping supplier that seems like a good fit, take the time to do your due diligence. Make sure they offer you everything you need to succeed.
Now you have the basics and some key tips; it's time to get out there and start selling!
Good luck!
Want to learn more about dropshipping?
Ready to move your dropshipping store to the next level? Check out the articles below:
