| So many ways exist for locating reliable companies to | | | | craftsman hand made jewellery, etc. Generally |
| fulfill orders to your customers, alongside a lot of | | | | speaking, providers of one off and exclusive items, |
| rogue and bogus dropshippers. Most important of all, | | | | such as rare antiques and collectibles do not fall within |
| it isn't just dropshipping companies that actually | | | | the scope of dropshipping. We are seeking suppliers |
| dropship products to other firms' customers. | | | | of regular best selling, high profit margin, repeat |
| Dropshipping describes a business process, not an | | | | product lines. |
| actual business format. | | | | * The best, and virtually all personally approached |
| So you will find retailers and catalogue owners, | | | | dropshipping partners, offer their graphics and sales |
| wholesalers, craft workers, even offline auction | | | | materials for others to use to promote the suppliers' |
| companies, eBay sellers, and countless other business | | | | products. Chances are their pictures and sales |
| owners more than keen to fulfill orders direct to your | | | | materials have been created by professional |
| customers. | | | | photographers and writers and way exceed the |
| In many cases, all you have to do is ask. Surprisingly | | | | quality of whatever you or I might create. |
| few suppliers currently know how the dropshipping | | | | * Sadly, this is also where countless conmen operate, |
| process works. Those who do know probably have | | | | people who say they are dropshipping companies and |
| numerous selling partners already; those who don't | | | | charge you a fee to access their sites as well as to |
| know about dropshipping are the ones you should | | | | use their 'copyright' graphics and sales materials. |
| approach first. Find them and you have potentially an | | | | When you pay and access the site, you'll find a |
| exclusive dropshipping arrangement with no | | | | handful of awful products, over priced, with poor |
| competition on eBay or elsewhere. | | | | graphics and marketing materials, and goods that are |
| These are companies that buy stock in huge volume, | | | | way out of date or end-of-line, perhaps someone |
| usually from manufacturers or major wholesalers, | | | | else's unsaleable cast-offs. I have joined quite a few |
| who then offer to dropship for resellers. Some very | | | | and been very disappointed. |
| good companies exist, alongside many more | | | | * Most specialist dropshipping companies have their |
| disreputable and frankly fraudulent sellers. There is | | | | own online dropship operating system, confirming |
| good and bad in all, and a few tips will help you find | | | | both parties' responsibilities and typically with their |
| reliable operators: | | | | own customised Internet or offline dropshipping order |
| * The best companies to approach do not ask a | | | | process. |
| membership fee to access their goods. There are | | | | * Some are formal, others very much the opposite, |
| one or two good ones that do ask a fee, but | | | | and I have some who I just telephone, tell them I |
| generally it is to stave off curiosity seekers and | | | | have an order, give customer details, and they send |
| people who flit between business opportunities | | | | the product direct to my customers and invoice me |
| without ever really starting any. | | | | later. |
| * Look for companies offering a large range of | | | | * You must make a careful note of user names and |
| products, meaning you only need one partner | | | | passwords for online dropshippers' sites and maintain |
| company to satisfy all your product needs. I work | | | | up-to-date contact information, product details, and |
| with several companies offering wide ranging | | | | so on. |
| products primarily in niche markets like pet products, | | | | Remember, the best deals are exclusive deals, and |
| pewter pins, Masonic jewellery. The opposite of this | | | | careful records are even more essential for these |
| 'large range of products rule' is highly specialised and | | | | arrangements and, because you have probably |
| seasonal products such as cut diamonds and artificial | | | | sourced these people through your own hard work, |
| Christmas Trees, or manufacturers of high quality, | | | | you may be unable to find them again through |
| high priced items with niche and limited demand, such | | | | traditional search engine procedures. |
| as designer teddy bears, hand painted pottery, | | | | |