Today, dropshipping is one of the most popular e-commerce business models for a reason: it allows you to start an online business without all the initial costs and hassles that come with managing your own inventory and shipping products. But, as with any business model, dropshipping does come with its challenges. In this blog post, we'll go over some of those challenges and how you can overcome them.
Finding a Supplier
Dropshipping has changed the way we do business; that doesn't meant it's perfect: in fact, one of the most common challenges dropshippers face is finding the right supplier for their products. Dropshipping can be difficult for businesses because they don't have control over their own inventory. So if a supplier runs out of stock or if there's an issue with one of your suppliers, it can cause problems for you as well. You can find tens of thousands of them online, but it's important that you find a great one. Otherwise, your business could be ruined from the start. Here's what you need to know to make sure you find the right one:
1. A Good Reputation
The internet is rife with stories of dropshippers who have been burned by their suppliers—either through dishonesty or through flat-out failure. And this isn't because dropshippers are necessarily gullible; it's because good dropshippping suppliers are hard to come by.
Make sure you can find reviews online about your potential supplier and that those reviews are positive. Ask around in your small business circles or on social media if anyone has had experience with them. Don't be afraid to dig a little deeper: ask for references and actual customers who are working with them now, even though they might not want to give them out. It's important that you do all the right upfront due-diligence to avoid a catastrophic partnership.
