Source Quality Suppliers | Modalyst https://www.modalyst.co 10M dropshipping products, US suppliers, Aliexpress Thu, 25 Aug 2022 18:41:41 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.5 https://www.modalyst.co/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/cropped-Modalyst-icon-transparent-1000px-2-32x32.png Source Quality Suppliers | Modalyst https://www.modalyst.co 32 32 The Quick Guide on How to Sell High Priced Dropship Products in 2022 https://www.modalyst.co/blog/tips-selling-high-ticket-products/ https://www.modalyst.co/blog/tips-selling-high-ticket-products/#respond Mon, 23 May 2022 13:12:00 +0000 https://mdlst2020prod.wpengine.com/blog/?p=4180 High ticket dropshipping seems like a dream, right? Thinking that you’ll only have to sell a few products a month to make a ton of money is a great situation to find yourself in, but it’s not as easy as it sounds. If you want to sell high-ticket items, you need to change your business […]

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High ticket dropshipping seems like a dream, right?

Thinking that you’ll only have to sell a few products a month to make a ton of money is a great situation to find yourself in, but it’s not as easy as it sounds.

If you want to sell high-ticket items, you need to change your business model entirely and position yourself much differently than you do with low-ticket dropshipping.

By the end of this article, you’ll understand the basics of high-ticket dropshipping, and you’ll know how to source amazing products so you can start making some money.

[lwptoc]

What is High Ticket Dropshipping?

Everyone has a different mindset on what labels a product as “high-ticket.”

Many people say that anything over $200 per unit is high ticket. There is no limit to what you can sell, and you can choose products that range from $200 up to $5,000.

Here’s an example. Phone cases are a popular dropshipping product, but they are incredibly low-ticket because the purchase price is low. On the flip side, a large camping tent is a high-ticket item because the purchase price is high.

You can probably already start to see the benefits of high-ticket dropshipping.

Why Choose a High Ticket Dropshipping Business Model?

Look at it this way.

High-ticket vs. low-ticket is the difference between Walmart and HomeGoods. Walmart sells everything, and their products are generally cheaper quality and less desirable. The main bonus of Walmart is they sell products at a much higher volume than HomeGoods, so they make up the difference.

While Walmart might make more money than HomeGoods because of its volume, it’s also much more work to manage high volume sales.

Let’s compare two completely equal stores that make the same amount of money.

An example

One store sells 200, five-dollar items per day. The other store sells ten, $100 items per day. Both stores make $1000 a day, but which store is harder to handle?

The 200 units per day, right?

The store would need more employees to manage the customers, more customer service reps, they’d have much higher returns, they’d have to order more frequently, and they’d likely have a much dirtier store because of the volume of people moving in and out.

Long story short, high-ticket dropshipping is a more sustainable business model.

High-Ticket Dropshipping vs. Low-Ticket Dropshipping

We’ve talked about it a little but let’s dive into more detail about the comparison between the two.

If we look at the previous example of two stores, let’s pull it into a dropshipping model now.

You have to fulfill orders online. Most dropshippers start out doing Aliexpress dropshipping. Think of how hard it would be to make $5000 a month from five-dollar products.

You would have to fulfill a lot of orders to get to that point, which would require a lot of work, and you might even need to hire someone to help you.

Not to mention returns and customer inquiries. It’s a lot of work to manage that many units in and out.

Now, imagine if you sold a $500 product, you would only need to sell ten units to make the same amount in a month. Do you think you could fulfill ten units a month by yourself?

I think we all know the answer to that question.

[bctt tweet=”Choosing high-ticket dropshipping allows you to live that “free” life you’ve always dreamed of. Instead of being glued to your computer continually fulfilling orders all day, you’ll have the time to travel, relax, spend time with family, and do whatever you want.” via=”no”]

Do yourself a favor and look towards high-ticket products.

Risks of High Ticket Dropshipping

You might be thinking, why doesn’t everyone deploy this model?

If it were so easy and profitable, everyone would do it, right?

The truth is, it might seem easier, but it’s much harder to sell high-ticket dropshipping products. The most successful dropshipping brands have incredible stores and top tier reputations, and you need to do the same.

When you’re selling an item that’s $500, there is a lot more thought that goes into each purchase. Your customers are simply going to swing by and pick up an $800 boat without first consulting their family, looking at their finances, and ensuring that you’re a legit store.

These factors mean you need to stay on top of your game at all times. You need to:

  • Have a professional-looking store
  • Ensure that everything is properly optimized
  • Send the best traffic to your offers
  • Deploy plenty of trust signals
  • Have some money to back you up in emergencies

These are only some of the things you need to think about when starting a high-ticket dropshipping store.

Things to Consider

First, if your store doesn’t scream, “high ticket” than your customers will never trust you. If they’re spending $500, they’ll expect live customer service, professional-looking logos and graphics, and plenty of testimonials or reviews.

Another point worth diving into in more detail is the financial backup. You never know what might happen and if you’re selling high-ticket items, you need to have some money for emergencies.

What happens if someone receives an item that is broken or defective, and they demand a refund? You might not have had to pay for the product upfront, but now you’ll have to front them the money until you can get your money back on the item you purchased.

If you’re dealing with Aliexpress, it can take quite a while to get your money back, and the customer won’t want to hear any excuses, they’ll want their money.

How to Source High Ticket Products

All dropshipping starts with sourcing your items. The best dropshipping brand names have excellent sourcing procedures, and they know exactly what they’re looking for when they scour for new products.

As a beginner, you might be tempted to go on Aliexpress and choose the first product that captures your attention. This strategy will leave you feeling disappointed and defeated. Here are a few ways to find amazingly popular high-ticket dropshipping products on Aliexpress.

Be picky

The first thing you want to do is get selective about what products you search. There are ways to filter your searches on Aliexpress by the supplier rating; you want to do that. You should only choose the best suppliers to dropship products.

Watch shipping times

Truthfully, shipping times are a little less relevant when dealing with high-ticket items because people expect them to take longer. I would understand why a supplier would not be able to ship a boat as fast as a cat watch; it makes sense.

That said, it doesn’t mean you can take two months to get the product to the customer. They’ll request a refund, and you’ll find yourself with a disgruntled customer right off the bat.

Epacket is the way to go when dropshipping on Aliexpress, this shipping method generally takes around two weeks, and most customers are willing to wait as long as you are transparent and honest about your shipping times upfront.

Research what’s selling

Here’s a great trick; head over to Facebook and in the search bar, type one of the following phrases:

  • 50% off
  • On sale
  • I can’t believe it
  • Get it now
  • Claim yours today

…or something similar to that. Once you do it a few times, you’ll find better examples to match what you’re looking for.

When you type those phrases into Facebook search, you’ll find a variety of ads that are running for a specific product. You can then gauge how popular the product is based on the amount of engagement.

If you see people commenting about how they love it, and it has a ton of shares; the chances are that might be a good product to choose.

How to Run a High Ticket Online Store

Another significant step to running a high-ticket business model is your store.

You can’t simply throw up the generic store templates and logos and expect people to spend $1,000 on your site. You need to have a real brand to build trust in the customers.

As I said, they will spend a lot more time thinking about this purchase because of how expensive it is; you don’t want to give them any reason to bounce from your store.

Here are some of the steps you want to take:

  • Get a professional logo
  • Purchase a premium template on your platform (Shopify, WooCommerce, etc.)
  • Use plenty of trust badges
  • Have a lot of testimonials or reviews
  • Show videos of the product in use
  • Offer live customer service

If you’ve ever researched dropshipping best practices, you’ll understand most of these criteria, but I want to focus heavily on the last one.

Customer service is the difference between sale and fail in high-ticket dropshipping. Make sure you respond immediately to inquiries and show your customers that you’re a professional.

Final Thoughts

By this point, you should see the benefits of high-ticket dropshipping. The business model requires the same amount of work but with more profit or way less work with the same profit.

It’s a win-win.

The primary challenge is that you can’t skimp on your preparations. You can’t expect to throw up a store and start making sales the same day. You need to make sure you’re store is perfect and that customers see you as a professional brand in the niche they are shopping.

If you can follow all the tips and tricks in this article, you’ll be on your way to more profits and more relaxing by the pool!

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How to Find the Best Dropshipping Suppliers https://www.modalyst.co/blog/find-dropshipping-suppliers-2019/ https://www.modalyst.co/blog/find-dropshipping-suppliers-2019/#respond Wed, 11 May 2022 20:10:00 +0000 https://mdlst2020prod.wpengine.com/blog/?p=4120 Finding the best dropshipping suppliers to work with is a daunting task when preparing to launch your online store. If you already read our post on the best dropshipping products to sell online, then you’re one step ahead of others.  The next step is to find a way to source those top-selling items. Enter drop […]

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Finding the best dropshipping suppliers to work with is a daunting task when preparing to launch your online store.

If you already read our post on the best dropshipping products to sell online, then you’re one step ahead of others. 

The next step is to find a way to source those top-selling items. Enter drop shippers.

Getting suppliers for dropshipping is one of the critical requirements of running a dropshipping business.

Suppliers package your products, do a quality check and ship the products you sell directly your customers.

Hence, they’re an important part of launching an ecommerce business with dropshipping.

That said, learning how to find reliable dropshipping companies takes some time and implementing what you learn can be tricky.

How do you know which drop ship wholesalers are reliable and would get your products to the customer on time?

We’ve listed a few tips below to help get you started!

How to Find Top Dropshipping Suppliers in 2020

Search the web for wholesale drop ship suppliers

Doing a search on Google is the best way to find everything that exists including drop shipping companies.

Conduct searches for the keywords “wholesale distributors” plus some keywords related to your niche or product.

Feel free to include brand names, product types and model numbers in some of these searches.

How to find wholesale distributors in Google search

Once Google presents you with a list of results, go through each URL and search for a phone number or email ID where you can get more details.

Join the conversation in social media groups with experienced dropshippers

There are several experienced drop shippers out there who are familiar with the A-Z of finding top drop ship suppliers.

What’s intriguing is that many of them are open to helping others succeed.

You can find many of these entrepreneurs in social media groups. Talking to them is an excellent way to know where you can find the best suppliers for your eCommerce business.

The following groups are highly recommended:

Once you start creating strong relationships with successful drop shippers, you’ll set the foundation to become one yourself.

So don’t hesitate to join groups, ask supplier-related questions, and build vital relationships.

Subscribe to a wholesale supplier directory

Directories are populated databases of wholesalers that store owners can research by product type or market.

They’re one of the best ways to find drop shipping suppliers because every listed company has to go through some type of screening to confirm their legitimacy.

And while a directory subscription may be expensive, the appeal is in the hours saved having to contact manufacturers one by one. Plus, many of these supplier directories are curated, which means the suppliers are mostly vetted for you. 

Some supplier directories to consider:

Take part in trade shows

Trade shows are ideal events for you to find wholesalers and product makers in the areas where you want to dropship.

They also offer a way for you to keep yourself updated with the latest methods and technologies being used in manufacturing.

According to Ecom Elites, it’s during trade shows that you can get some face time with dropshipping suppliers.

Therefore, it’s imperative for you to come prepared.

For example, preparation would help you better demonstrate what kind of packaging you’re looking for, where to place your branding, etc.

Trade Show News currently has the biggest directory of trade shows, and you can look for the type of event you’re interested in by country or by industry.  

dropshipping suppliers at trade shows

Choosing the right suppliers for your ecommerce store

You’re probably excited by the range of droship suppliers at your disposal.

However, there are just a few who’d be able to live up to your expectations.

Below are some tips to help you decide whether you should work with a vendor who dropships or look somewhere else.

Order samples

Once you’ve identified the dropshipping suppliers you wish to work with, order a few samples from them. 

When you order from them, make sure they offer you the wholesale pricing for the item. If they attempt to charge you more than the wholesale price, you should be wary.

This will enable you to verify their packaging, delivery times, quality of products, and more.

Be wary of ongoing fees

It’s recommended that you avoid suppliers who insist on ongoing or monthly fees to work with them.

Directories charge membership to access their database, but no independent supplier is known to partner for a fee.

Keep tabs on pre-order fee

Most dropshipping suppliers will ask you to pay a pre-order fee.

However, a few will also take advantage of the inexperienced dropshipper by quoting outrageous figures. This could be anywhere between $5 to $15.

Although the highs and lows rest on product margins, you should keep monitor and compare pre-order fees between your preferred suppliers.

Determine their production capacity

Some dropship wholesalers only manufacture items seasonally, which is a big red flag if you’re planning to dropship products all year round.

Get familiar with their returns policy

If you dream of becoming a successful drop shipper, you need to effectively deal with product returns.

So getting yourself familiar with the return policy of your supplier is a crucial aspect of narrowing down suppliers to partner with.

Ensure the policy doesn’t hang you to dry out by understanding the entire returns process.

It’s also a good idea to discuss this in detail with the supplier and have the policy documented. 

How to Find Top US Dropshippers with Modalyst

What is Modalyst?

Modalyst is a dropshipping app for e-commerce platforms that connects you with thousands of drop shipping suppliers.

With Modalyst you can access a huge variety of different products to sell online. From fashion, electronics, toys, beauty – Modalyst makes it easy for you to find products from dropshipping suppliers and instantly add them to your own online store.

Modalyst has a membership plan for beginners in which you can add products to your store for free. You can use the Modalyst Hobby plan and start dropshipping today.

How does Modalyst work?

Modalyst helps online stores automate dropshipping with Shopify, Wix, and BigCommerce platforms.

Our main focus is to present you with a vast list of suppliers from high-quality markets like the US, Canada, Australia, and Europe.

What’s fascinating about Modalyst is that many of our suppliers are in the United States. They also warehouse and ship their orders from the US.

Having US dropshipping suppliers is a big point of differentiation for Modalyst and can be for you too as you start your dropshipping business. 

Dropshipping Suppliers on Modalyst

The Benefits of Dropshipping with Modalyst Suppliers

Shipping Benefits

Shipping is one of the most important factors when deciding to purchase something online.

One of the key downsides of drop shippers in China is the long lead times and delivery windows. Depending on the Chinese manufacturer, it can sometimes take days or weeks for a customer to receive their package.

This alone can make customers dissatisfied with their buying experience. When a customer is dissatisfied, the customer is less likely to return to your store. Potentially losing a customer because of slow shipping options shouldn’t be a factor you’re willing to live with.

By contrast, working with American dropshippers offers the following benefits:

Fast Shipping & Delivery for Your Customers

Shipping within the USA typically takes between 1-3 business days. 

This means that your customer could purchase a product from your e-commerce store and have the order delivered the next day.

A satisfied customer is always your best marketing asset as it can lead to word of mouth advertising for your online shop. 

On Modalyst, we have dozens of suppliers who offer fast shipping and delivery to your customer within 3 business days, and many others, within 1 week. 

A Reliable Tracking System for Orders

Your customers will want to have visibility into the status of their orders, including shipping and tracking.

On Modalyst, we allow you to track your customers’ orders once they are shipped by the drop shipping supplier.

Our suppliers partner with a wide of range of shipping companies, including USPS, FedEx, UPS and DHL. 

A Variety of Shipping Options

US courier services like USPS offer a wide range of shipping options.

These options include next-day, second-day, or third-day delivery to your customers.

In some cases, these shipping providers can provide same-day delivery.

Generally, the faster the delivery, the higher the price. However, at Modalyst, we prenegotiated shipping prices with our dropshippers and set a ceiling of $5 per order for US deliveries.  

Product Benefits

Before we expound on the benefits USA-made products offer, it’s important to acknowledge the elephant in the room.

Products made in the United States and shipped by suppliers in the US are generally going to be more expensive than those made in China and shipped by Chinese suppliers. 

Why is this the case? Well, the input variables are very different depending on the location of the supplier.

For example, the relatively high cost of labor, materials, rent and other factors all factor into higher product costs in the United States. But those added costs come with product benefits that will allow you to charge your customers higher prices.

And as customers become more sensitive to fair trade and sustainability, they’re more than happy to pay a premium for American made items.

Let’s look at some of the product benefits of using US dropshipping suppliers:

Higher-Quality Products

US drop shippers have an established reputation for making high quality products.

The suppliers on Modalyst are no different. Through our vetting process, we find the best suppliers of high-quality products.

By contrast, the products manufactured in Asia do not have this reputation. When you source from China, the expectation of quality is usually much lower.

Why does the quality of products matter?

If you sell quality products, you’re more likely to draw the customer back to your online store.

Traditionally, consumers are looking for something of durable quality and precise craftsmanship. While the ticket price can be prohibitive for some consumers, others are willing to pay a premium for high quality products.

Charging your customers a premium for products can be a distinctive advantage for a small business. To learn more about how to sell high priced items, check out our guide on Selling High Priced Items.

American-Made Products 

When your products are made in the America, you are allowed to advertise them as “American-made.”

The American-made badge is a seal of approval. It’s also a competitive advantage for ecommerce stores who are dropshipping. It’s a powerful marketing tool that sets you apart from many other online shops, especially sellers on eBay and Amazon.

Like they are for high quality products, consumers are happy to pay more for American-made products.

Higher Retail Prices

Per the discussion above, you can slap a higher price tag on American-made products.

While you may pay a higher wholesale price to your supplier for American-made, you can almost always pass those costs onto your customer.

This allows you to extract your baseline profit margins or perhaps even higher margins depending on the category you sell. 

How to Find Suppliers for Dropshipping (in the USA) on Modalyst

Modalyst handpicks all the dropshippers on our platform, including the US drop shipping companies.

Today, the number of suppliers on Modalyst exceeds 1,000. While we have a global platform with vendors from all major corners of the globe, most of our suppliers are based in the United States.

US based dropshipping suppliers are especially important to our platform because they offer many unique benefits that Chinese wholesalers do not.

Modalyst suppliers and products are different from what you will find on Oberlo.

Our focus is not just on the location of the supplier, but also on the quality of the products and how fast orders ship to customers.

Modalyst believes that these attributes will keep your customers coming back for more.

You can also find plenty of niche products to sell online in the Modalyst marketplace. Access to these niche items means you don’t have to struggle for profits in a very saturated industry.

Other Modalyst features for dropshipping that will help you earn more:

  • It’s free to add 25 products to sell on your website
  • Product detail customization
  • You can set pricing and shipping rules to profit no matter what the wholesale pricing is
  • Shipping status updates
  • Order management
  • Shopify app for dropshipping, Wix app for dropshipping, and BigCommerce app for dropshipping
  • Inventory level notifications
  • Set-up services

 

Modalyst Pricing to Get Dropshippers in the USA

1. Hobby Plan – Free – Up to 25 products, 5% transaction fee

2. Start-Up Plan – $35/month – 250 product limit, 5% transaction fee

3. Pro Plan – $90/month – Unlimited product limit, 5% transaction fee

Sign up for Modalyst here.

Why You Should Dropship with US Dropshipping Suppliers

The conventional formula most online entrepreneurs use to find suppliers is as follows: find cheap products from Chinese drop shippers and sell the products for massive profits.

This formula still works today.

However, it’s becoming less effective and less profitable as more and more online shops use the same product sourcing strategy. 

While more Chinese products flood the market, the more competitive pricing becomes, making it more difficult to reap a profit on the sale of an item and separate your business from others.

This is not necessarily a bad thing, though.

Because of it, a market for USA dropshippers has been created. 

One way that you can differentiate your online shop is by working with suppliers who are based in the United States.

The best part is that you yourself don’t have to be located in the United States for this to be a viable strategy for dropshipping.

So long as you have a strong customer base in the USA and an e-commerce store, then using American dropshippers makes a lot of sense.

What to Look for in Dropshipping Suppliers in the USA

There are tens of thousands of wholesalers and manufacturers in the United States.

While partnering with dropshipping suppliers in the United States is compelling, you still have to do your due diligence.

A dropshipping company in the USA isn’t automatically qualified just because they are based in the United States. 

These dropshipping companies need to be vetted, just like any other supplier you want to work with.

You should follow the same process that you would when vetting any supplier. After all, your supplier is one of your most important business partners.

You want to choose the best one.

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Why Your Product Mix Matters for Dropshippers https://www.modalyst.co/blog/dropshipping-product-mix-important/ https://www.modalyst.co/blog/dropshipping-product-mix-important/#respond Tue, 28 Dec 2021 02:28:00 +0000 https://mdlst2020prod.wpengine.com/blog/?p=3297 When you start a dropshipping business, finding products from sites such as AliExpress may seem like the fastest way to launch your online store. While your speed to market may be only a few hours, you should remember that millions of other online stores have taken the same path. To win as a dropshipper, your […]

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When you start a dropshipping business, finding products from sites such as AliExpress may seem like the fastest way to launch your online store.

While your speed to market may be only a few hours, you should remember that millions of other online stores have taken the same path.

To win as a dropshipper, your product mix needs to be differentiated.

Differentiation is arguably the most important part of developing a strong, sustainable retail brand.

Although it may seem logical to offer as many products as possible, from sources such as AliExpress, to appeal to as many customers as possible, this is seldom the case.

On the flip side, having too small of a curated selection can narrow your customer funnel, causing you to fall short of meeting your customers’ needs, which can ultimately limit your profit potential with a dropship model.

The most successful dropshipping businesses devote research, testing, and analysis, after scouring sites such as AliExpress, Wish, and Shein to find reliable dropshippers and niche dropshipping items to sell.

The lesson here is that your product mix needs to be differentiated to hit the sweet spot with your customers.

The perfect product mix will carefully balance your resources and profitability while still catering to the specific needs of your market.

Once you’re confident in your strategy, it’s important to monitor and test it to make sure it stays relevant as the dropshipping landscape and your customers’ needs continue to evolve.

Let’s discuss some key reasons that your product mix is so important, along with some tips to develop and optimize yours.

Differentiating Your Brand as a Dropshipping Business

In addition to factors like customer service and experience, your dropshipping product mix is essentially your brand identity. It is, after all, why customers shop with you. In classic marketing theory that stems back to the 1940s, key business success is having a unique selling point or proposition (USP).

What’s different about your brand that customers can’t find elsewhere – a product or experience that makes them choose your store over your competitors and keeps them coming back for more?

For you particularly, this may manifest as a combination of products and their price points, as well as any special services or offerings.

One product-specific strategy is to offer niche products from independent dropshipping suppliers. Depending on your offerings and audience, you can benefit greatly from featuring products that aren’t widely distributed across millions of retailers on the web.

Take for example Syght Glasses, a company that made nearly $2,500 in 5 weeks by importing specialty gaming glasses from China. Or Hello Matcha, a dropshipping business that capitalized on the niche trend of matcha powder to make more than $900 in just 3 days!

Image credit: Shopify

Segmenting and Satisfying Your Customers as a Dropshipper

Ideally, you’ve already created buyer personas for your ideal customers.

Once you know who your customers are, think of a strategic product mix as a secret weapon for engaging them and keeping them happy. When your products are consistently fine-tuned to cater to a specific audience, you’re carving your space as a leader. Customer segmentation is a key for an effective business.

Knowing who you’re selling to and what makes them tick can create a powerful, streamlined business model.

Every decision you make – from dropshipper partnerships to dollars spent on advertising – are more likely to hit home and generate your desired sales and brand awareness goals.

This creates a positive feedback loop. Your ability to speak to your customers’ needs makes them happy.

Making them happy develops brand loyalty and secures them as long-term customers. Research shows over and over that retaining existing customers is much more profitable than constantly finding new ones. Harvard Business Review reports that acquiring a new customer can be as high as 25 times more expensive than keeping one, and a customer retention rate of just 5% can increase profits by an incredible 25% to 95%.

Maximizing Your Profits with Dropshipping Products

Enticing dropshipping products + a positive shopping experience = higher profits. A pretty straightforward formula, don’t you think?

Once you’ve made your initial decisions, it’s important to keep tracking and refining. This is what sets the best brands apart: they have their ears to the ground, always listening to their customers, examining their behaviors, and looking for ways to keep them engaged and excited.

One strategy for keeping your audience captivated is creating buzz around expanding your existing product line or offering a new product, which translates to residual revenue. Think of the frenzy over every new iPhone model that’s ever been released. To get some inspiration, drill down into your current performance metrics to see what your customers like the most, and experiment with adding new products that are likely to pique their interest.

Keep reading for some actionable tips on how to do this.

Apply the “Data Triangulation” Concept

You may be familiar with the Pareto principle, or the 80/20 rule, which says that 80% of your business will come from 20% of your customers. This also extends to products: 80% of your dropshipping sales will be for 20% of your product mix. When you crunch the numbers, this means 64% of your revenue will be your top customers buying your top dropship products.

Data triangulation is examining these factors to find the sweet spot. Who are your top customers, and which top products are they buying? How can you build off of this momentum – expanding your product line to capture more interest, offering added incentives like free shipping, promoting on different platforms or channels, or otherwise?

Image credit: Econsultancy

Of course, these exact numbers aren’t always the case, but it’s a time-tested and valuable guideline for understanding supply and demand.

Tips to Develop and Optimize Your Product Mix

Use Google Trends

Google Trends is an awesome free tool to see how often users search for a particular phrase on Google. This can help to test your predictions about how a new product might perform in your store (because let’s face it, intuition alone doesn’t always mean the highest success).

For example, take a look at the Google Trends results over the past 5 years for a “subscription box.”

While this trend experienced its highest growth during the 2014-2015 year, it’s still continuing to climb. If you look closer, you’ll see that subscription boxes spike from late November to mid-December every year, meaning they’re a popular holiday gift. This means that as a general rule, you might have more success breaking into this market during the holidays, provided you have a strong offering and competitive strategy to keep up with more established brands.

Within the main search of “subscription box” (or whatever else you choose), you can also drill-down based on:

  • Region, which can help global brands identify ripe target markets around the world
  • More than 25 categories. For this search, some of the most relevant might include Beauty & Fitness, Food & Drink, Games, Health, Sports, and Travel
  • Type of Google search, like web, Images, News, Shopping, or YouTube

If you’re interested in learning more, check out our article on Using Google Trends to Maximize Your Dropshipping Success. Shopify also has a great tutorial on how to use Google Trends to start and run a business.

Consider Niche Dropship Products

Niche products will naturally attract a relatively smaller audience segment than more popular products. While this may seem counter-intuitive, there are several key advantages that can make the strategy worthwhile. It can fulfill the goals we mentioned earlier: brand differentiation and customer segmentation and loyalty, all of which can lead to higher profits. It can also be more affordable, as niche products are often available at lower costs.

It can also give you a leg-up on your competitors. When you feature less available products, you’ll also get a boost in search engine optimization (SEO). Less competition means that Google and other search engines are more likely to display your store higher in search engine results pages (SERPS). Web studies show that nearly one-third of all SERP clicks go to the top 5 results.

See this chart showing search results for niche wedding dress results. As the product gets more specific, competition decreases – leaving ripe opportunity for brands that have great products and strong strategies to sell them.

Image credit: Ecomdash

Use Your Performance Data

Make sure you have analytics set up through one or more services like Google Analytics or through your ecommerce platform like Shopify, BigCommerce, or WooCommerce.

In Google Analytics, go to E-commerce > Product Performance to see clear-cut metrics.

Once inside, you’ll see side-by-side comparisons that include total revenue and each product’s percentage of total sales.

Image credit: MonsterInsights

When sizing up your best-sellers, there’s more to look at than just sales volume. Consider:

  • Products that have a high click-through rate (CTR), or ratio of clicks to impressions. For example, a product that’s displayed 1,000 times but gets 100 clicks has a lower CTR than a product that’s displayed 100 times and gets 50 clicks. Just because a product has more clicks doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a top-performer.
  • Products included in orders with the highest total revenue. Is there a group of products that always seem to make their way into your biggest orders? Tap into the products that appeal to your biggest spenders, then incentivize and build off them with new or niche products.

Time periods throughout the year where a product sells more, like the example above where subscription box searches spike just before the holidays.

Research, Strategize, Measure, Repeat

A well-sculpted product mix takes several considerations into account, like branding, audience, and competition. Top-performing stores do their research, track their performance, and tweak their strategy with changing markets and demands. If this seems like a daunting process, remember that there are a myriad of tools and platforms out there to help with this process.

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The Ultimate List of Dropshipping Suppliers in 2021 https://www.modalyst.co/blog/dropshipping-companies/ https://www.modalyst.co/blog/dropshipping-companies/#respond Tue, 18 Feb 2020 13:41:37 +0000 https://mdlst2020prod.wpengine.com/blog/?p=4632 When you decide to launch your own website, you must also decide on a business model. Most new entrepreneurs are drawn to success stories and business models in high demand. In 2021, one such business idea is setting up a dropshipping website. It doesn’t require a lot of money to get started. The hardest part […]

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When you decide to launch your own website, you must also decide on a business model. Most new entrepreneurs are drawn to success stories and business models in high demand.

In 2021, one such business idea is setting up a dropshipping website. It doesn’t require a lot of money to get started.

The hardest part is finding the top dropshipping companies to source from.

When you have your own website and run an ecommerce business, you’re always on the lookout for great drop shipping suppliers.

After all, the best way to make it as a new entrepreneur is to sell high-quality products from certified wholesale suppliers. And if you can find them, you’ll have struck gold.  Fortunately, we’re here to help.

You may be an established ecommerce entrepreneur, or you’re just looking to test the waters as an online seller.

It doesn’t matter. Our list will give you plenty of top suppliers and drop shipping services to evaluate.

It’s time to take a look at the ultimate list of the best drop shipping companies in 2021. [Drop shipping suppliers in USA and Europe included.]

Best Dropshipping Supplier Platforms in 2021

We’ll cover the individual suppliers in a bit, but first, we have to address the elephant in the room:

Wholesale supplier directories.

These directories are sometimes called the “middlemen” who connect resellers to list of suppliers and product categories. It’s no longer necessary to attend trade shows or conduct business through spreadsheets.

You log in, search the product lists and wholesalers offering the product categories you want to add to your shop, and get in touch with them.

Certain platforms even vet suppliers, so you don’t have to worry about their legitimacy or the authenticity of their dropship products.

Plus, when you use directories, you’ll get instant access to large collections of products. No matter what product ideas you have, all the categories you need are in one place.

Even if the suppliers don’t have the technological framework needed to sync their systems with yours, the platforms do.

From seeing the number of business days it takes to receive a drop ship product to automating the order process, these platforms help you do a lot in just a few clicks.

Modalyst

Modalyst website

If you want to run your online business on autopilot and connect with the quality suppliers, Modalyst is the perfect platform.

Modalyst pays attention to the quality of products. Modalyst also has the largest directory of the best drop shipping companies, including private label dropshippers and print-on-demand suppliers.

Every supplier you see in the marketplace is hand-picked, and there are plenty of niche vendors, including European and American suppliers, as well.

Modalyst & AliExpress
Modalyst also has a partnership with Aliexpress.com, connecting retailers directly to the best selling products on AliExpress and analytics through the AliExpress Dropshipping Center.

AliExpress with Modalyst

So long as you use Shopify, Wix, or BigCommerce, you can onboard new suppliers in a few seconds, and completely integrate your Modalyst account with your ecommerce store.

Forget about going to trade shows or spending days spent going back and forth through email to resolve your first order; you’ll find everything you need to know immediately.

Start with a free trial on the basic plan, and all you have to do is import your desired dropship products to your Modalyst account.

Modalyst also takes care of automation. After all, it was made with drop ship companies in mind. You can set pricing and shipping rules to increase your margins, and customize product details before adding them to your store.

Give Modalyst a whirl: it’s free to add and sell up to 25 products through your storefront!

AliExpress & Oberlo

Oberlo dropshipping platform

You can’t start a guide to selling online without AliExpress. It’s especially compelling for beginners.

With its millions of drop ship companies and billions of wholesale products in one place, all you need is time and a credit card to launch your dropship business.

Launched in 2010, AliExpress connects retailers with wholesale distributors all over the world. If you want to sell a product, you’ll find it on AliExpress. AliExpress has strong product images, detailed supplier information, and better pricing than most ecommerce catalogs.

Other than its vast selection of different suppliers and individual products to choose from, AliExpress best known for its very competitive pricing.

The majority of products listed on their supplier directory are made in China, which automatically reduces their production costs.

The easiest way for beginners to add these product types to your ecommerce website is through Oberlo.

Oberlo is an automation tool for Shopify stores. The Oberlo app helps Shopify merchants find legitimate wholesalers and the best Alibaba type products for their retail storefronts.

Additionally, getting started is completely free. But the merchant pays Shopify an ongoing fee to maintain their own store.

Doba

Doba is a great solution for finding the right suppliers, mainly because it was made with dropshippers in mind.

You usually have to ask suppliers whether they’re open to working with ecommerce retailers. With Doba, you only see the drop shipping wholesalers who are prepared for it.

Doba also has a handy feature that allows you to add products to your list, and integrate them with your eCommerce solution.

You’ll get inventory alerts if your suppliers’ item levels drop.

This way, you don’t have to do anything manually. From inventory management to fulfillment, the wholesale supplier manages the logistics and heavy lifting.  Meanwhile, you can run your drop shipping website on autopilot.

Spocket

If you plan on shipping within the EU or the US, Spocket is the dropship directory for you.

One of the main problems with sourcing from China is mainly the shipping times and the costs. If you’re connecting with legitimate wholesalers through Spocket, shipping and duties are not an issue.

Spocket is still growing, which allows them to pay more attention to the quality of suppliers and products.

If you need a product your competitors can’t source, you can probably find it on Spocket. 

Inventory Source

In 2021, we really fell for Inventory Source.

They take their job seriously. In fact, they’re offering an entire support network system for dropshippers, complete with automation.

Their core offer consists of three features: free supplier directory, US Direct sourcing, and automation.

They’ve been working since 2003, so it’s no surprise that they know exactly what both suppliers and dropshippers need.

Other platforms to check out include:

  • Salehoo
  • Worldwide brands
  • Dropship Direct
  • Wholesale Central
  • Sunrise Wholesale
  • National Dropshippers

Best Dropshipping Suppliers: Adult Novelties

Despite the taboo surrounding them, adult toys are still a great way to expand your store’s offer.

Additionally, customers are willing to purchase products at a significantly higher price point to assure they’re high-quality.

Adult novelties definitely provide great markup opportunities!

1. Adult Dropshop

If you sell adult products, Adult Dropshop is a great solution.

They combine IVD and ECN to curate a catalogue of over 100,000 products which are shipped as soon as you place an order. They’re extremely efficient, and their product catalogue is fantastic!

They’re a reseller’s dream. They say it themselves: “The heart of the ADS service is dropshipping.”

2. East Coast News

There’s nothing we love more than suppliers with a history of excellence.

East Coast News is one of them. They have over 35 years of experience in the adult market, and they have a 24-hour turnaround on most orders.

Additionally, they’re an exclusive distributor for plenty of top-selling products. If you order products from ECN, you can be sure that you won’t have a lot of competition.

East Coast News ship out of the US, with warehouses located around the country. In the majority of cases, your customers will receive their products in a few days.

3. Eldorado

Eldorado, an award-winning distributor specializing in adult toys, lingerie and novelties, is based in Colorado, and they’ve been offering amazing products since 2003.

They offer web-only specials, a quick order system, and much more. Working with them is incredibly easy, and your customers will love all the new products!

4. Honey’s Place

Honey’s Place is another US-based distributor of adult novelties.

They offer over 19,000 products from 170 manufacturers (including eco-friendly products and edibles), and their handling fee is significantly lower than other suppliers.

They’re also one of the rare suppliers with a soft spot for dropshippers. If you drop ship through them, you’ll get access to an automated order and inventory tracking system to simplify your work.

5. XTrader

XTrader is a service based in the United Kingdom, and they aggregate thousands of popular adult products including toys and lingerie. They also offer marketing and tech support, with many reviews stating that their service is top-notch.

Best Dropshipping Companies: Beauty and Cosmetics

The beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but you need to add great products to your store or your money will be in the wallet of your competition.

Fortunately, we’ve found some pretty amazing dropshipping companies that specialize in beauty and cosmetics!

6. Beautyjoint

If it’s makeup and your customers want it, Beautyjoint’s got it.

Beautyjoint is one of the largest suppliers of cosmetics based in the US. Their offer includes everything from Rimmel cosmetics to Korean skincare products, and much more.

They update their catalogues constantly, so you’ll always be one step ahead of your competitors. Their products also open up the opportunity of selling seasonal products such as Halloween-specific eyeshadow palettes.

7. Born Pretty

One of the best things about nail products is that they don’t require your customers to think about their purchases. They’re not expensive, but still give you great markup opportunities.

And when it comes to nail polish, stickers, and gel, you don’t have to look any further than Born Pretty.

They’re based in China, but have a US warehouse, which is perfect for your American customers. Additionally, Born Pretty doesn’t charge additional fees for dropshipping.

8. BTSWholesaler

BTSWholesaler is one of the best companies for European cosmetics drop shipping.

They distribute makeup, perfumes, hair products, and much more.

Additionally, they offer complete integration with their intranet, so you don’t have to worry about manually checking their stock levels.

With headquarters in both the United States and Europe, they’re a great solution for covering both markets while ensuring that your business is profitable and free of tax and duties annoyances.

9. Fragrance

If you want to stock up on perfumes, Fragrance is one of the best dropship businesses to help you do it.

They carry fragrances from established brands such as Calvin Klein, Dolce & Gabbana, and Davidoff. Fragrance also offer gift sets and travel sprays, which can be great products to spice up your travel-focused dropship store.

Fragrance also has a full-fledged dropshipping program, and they ship out of the US.

10. Nova Engel

Finally, Nova Engel is a dropshipping company based in Spain. They specialize in perfumes, as well as other beauty products.

For drop shippers, they offer complete integration with their internal dropshipping platform.

If you need help starting up your website, they’ll connect you to their external partners to help you get going.

Nova Engel supply some of the hottest European products such as: Desigual, Prada, and Agualavanda. However, keep in mind that they only ship within Europe, with no options for shipping internationally so far.

Best Dropshipping Companies: Clothing

While clothing is the original drop shipping niche, there are still plenty of ways to keep your store fresh and interesting.

It doesn’t matter if you ship internationally or within the US, sell male or female apparel (or maybe clothing for the most precious members of our families).

You’ll find something stunning in the following companies’ catalogues:

11. Acess

If you drop ship within the UK, Acess is a great company for accessories and handbags.

They sell some of the trendiest (while very affordable) accessories to make your customers more stylish. Bags toted by influencers, warm scarves to keep your customers warm during the coldest days, stunning accessories… Not even the sky is the limit with Acess!

Acess also frequently offer sales and discounts, allowing you to maximize your profit margin while selling trendy products.

12. Axami

If you want to sell exclusive products that Europeans love, check out Axami.

They’re manufacturers of some of the most opulent lingerie in the European market.

And since they’re based in Poland, they can be a great partner for expanding your customer base.

Their lingerie collections are inspired by European and Oriental motifs, with collections vividly named: Venetian Mirror and Charme de Provence.

13. Brandsdistribution

If you’re looking to “stock up” on male and female apparel from renowned title brands such as Nike, Prada, and Michael Kors, Brandsdistribution is a great supplier.

In addition to having a formal dropshipping program and being based in Italy, Brandsdistribution also has a gated catalogue.

Your competition won’t know what you’re stocking up on, so you’re automatically improving your chances of earning more revenue and attracting a more exclusive clientele.

In order to access their catalogue as a dropshipper, you’ll have to opt for one of their monthly subscription plans. However, you won’t just be able to order amazing clothing; you’ll also have great tech support, with all the API and eCommerce platform integrations.

Stock updates are sent every 4 minutes, so you can run your business on autopilot.

14. BrandsGateway

European merchants, rejoice! BrandsGateway is a wholesale supplier based in Sweden, and their product directory is incredible.

BrandsGateway offer clothing from renowned brands such as Dolce & Gabbana, Galliano, and Versace.

They’re the number one European marketplace for luxury brands, and their prices are phenomenal.

You’ll find plenty of markup opportunities just browsing the directory.

They also offer full dropshipping support. You’ll have to sign up for one of their plans, but you’ll have full access to all the products you need to take your dropshipping business to the next level.

15. Buy2Bee

If you want to sell exclusive luxury products and establish your brand on the market, Buy2Bee is a great drop shipper.

Based in Italy, they offer clothing and accessories from renowned brands such as Bottega Veneta, Chloe, Dsquared2, and many more.

You’ll bring a dash of the timeless Italian style to your store if you decide to incorporate their products into your standard offer.

Their catalogue is only viewable once you register with them. Your competition has no way of knowing what you’ll offer next, and we love Buy2Bee for it!

16. CollectiveFab

CollectiveFab is one of the best drop ship companies that offer full support for your store, automation included.

When you select your favorite pieces, you’ll be able to import them directly to your store. Inventory is automatically updated every four hours so you don’t have to worry about running out of stock.

CollectiveFab’s clothing is primarily inspired by boho trends, so if you want to attract new customers to your store, they’re a superb choice.

17. Clothes2Order

Clothes2order supplier

If you need professional or sporty clothing, you’ll find it on Clothes2Order.

This dropshipping supplier is based in the UK, and they offer some of the best sportswear, workwear, and teamwear you’ll find in Europe. If you or your clients want to customize clothing, you absolutely can.

All in all, Clothes2Order are a great choice for dropship stores that specialize in providing workwear and active wear.

And if your customers are in Europe, you’ll reach them easily with Clothes2Order.

18. CC Wholesale Clothing

CC Wholesale Clothing, working out of LA, is a great supplier if you attract an audience interested in trendy plus-size clothing.

Everyone who’s not a size 0 knows how hard it is to find clothing that fits and looks great.

If you stock your online store with CC Wholesale Clothing’s products, you’ll be solving a really pressing market need.

With their vast array of products, ranging from shoes and lingerie to accessories and regular apparel, they’re easily one of the most interesting dropshipping companies in 2020.

Additionally, CC Wholesale don’t charge a per order fee. It’s perfect for dropshipping!

19. Clothing Showroom

Are your customers looking for chic, versatile clothing? You’ll find it on Clothing Showroom.

This dropship supplier, based in LA, offers female apparel, plus size clothing, as well as special collections under the Lyss Loo label.

Their minimalist aesthetic comes at affordable prices (you can find beautiful maxi skirts at $8/piece), and it’ll help you attract more customers while also increasing your profit margin.

20. Matterhorn

If you want to get more customers by adding European-style clothes to your store, it’s time to check out Matterhorn.

They’re one of the best drop shipping companies in Europe.

Not only do they offer a variety of styles, but they also distribute Europe’s top brands such as Marko, MOE, and Lenitif. This means you’ll get access to brands your competitors haven’t even considered, giving you a competitive advantage.

Matterhorn also updates their catalogue every day; you can expect around 100 arrivals daily, giving you the chance to freshen up your store whenever you feel like it.

Even if you ship to customers in the US, you don’t have to worry. Matterhorn offers international shipping.

21. My Online Fashion Store

My Online Fashion Store is one of the leading female apparel dropshipping suppliers in the United States, and they’ve got plenty of products your customers are going to love.

They’ve primarily made their site with dropshippers in mind. It’s no surprise that their dropship program is one of the most flexible there are.

They offer integrations with all the major eCommerce platforms, including BigCommerce and WooCommerce, as well as access to their live inventory data.

If you’re only starting your business, My Online Fashion Store also offers a turnkey website solution.

My Online Fashion Store’s shipping fees start at $3.75 for one item, with the fee decreasing the more your customers order. For example, if your customers order 10 or more products, the shipping fee is $8.75.

There is also the option of customizing the packaging and ensuring that the shipment matches your brand.

22. Nordstrom

Nordstrom are beloved for their vast array of styles, and now they’re looking to expand their customer base with a dropshipping program.

In addition to choosing from Nordstrom’s product catalogue, you’ll also be able to use their Dsco integration.

Once you connect your store’s systems with Nordstrom’s solution, you’ll know exactly what’s in stock, and where the goods your customers ordered are.

If you want your store to become affiliated with style and pampering that Nordstrom represents, it’s time to sign up and choose the clothing your customers will love.

23. Trendsgal

Trendsgal is a global clothing drop shipping supplier with some of the lowest prices you can get.

In fact, they’re so sure of their pricing that they offer a best price guarantee.

You’ll find clothing for everyone in their catalogue: men, women, and even kids.

They frequently run sales, and have a $0.99 zone.

In general, their clothes are great markup opportunities as you’ll love the low wholesale prices, and your customers will love paying more for cute clothes.

Trendsgal also has a dropshipping program. You’ll receive timely alerts if the retail price of an item changes or if the merchandise goes out of stock.

Best Dropshipping Companies: Children and Toys

If your customers are stylish, they are going to want their tykes to be stylish, too. Similarly, kids’ toys are always in demand.

Who can say no to their kid’s baby blues?

Here are the drop ship companies that can help you improve your store offer and attract even more customers:

24. Bambini Infant Wear

Bambini Infant Wear isn’t just a drop ship company. They are also the manufacturers of some of the cutest clothes for kids.

They’re based out of Orange County, California, and they’ve been in business for 27 years now, making them one of the most reliable dropshipping suppliers.

Bambini also has a dropshipping program with no minimum order quantity and wholesale prices through and through.

There are no additional per-order fees; you and your customers only have to pay for the shipping.

25. Eleganter Australia

If you want to reach Australian customers with some of the most creative toys around, Eleganter Australia is a great choice!

This company has been steadily producing educational and entertaining toys for over 20 years, and they know how to offer something for everyone.

They have toys for infants, as well as toys for kids older than 8. All of this makes them a great one-stop shop if you want to stock up on cool toys.

Additionally, all the toys are tested for safety, and Eleganter mainly use natural materials to ensure that kiddos have safe fun!

26. Hibba Toys

Want to give your customers a royal toy experience? Look no further than Hibba Toys.

Not only are their beautiful, traditional toys loved by kids all over the United Kingdom, but they’ve also supplied a toy box for Prince George’s christening.

Hibba Toys offer ride-on toys, rockers and role-play toys, as well as other entertaining gifts for your favorite family members.

While they don’t have a formal drop shipping program, their toys are extremely high-quality and provide excellent markup opportunities for your English customers.

27. Hidey-Boo

If you want to expand your offer by including toys, Hidey-Boo is a great choice!

This supplier directory sells in the UK and the US, and they offer very cute plushies.

While their catalogue isn’t as vast as some other companies’ catalogues, their toys are high-quality and they offer plenty of customization and embroidery options to make your store stand out.

The folks at Hidey-Boo approach dropshipping and wholesaling from a boutique standpoint. They’re willing to help you adapt their products to your customers’ particular needs, proving themselves to be a great business partner.

28. Kidsdistribution

Kidsdistribution is a drop shipping website based in Europe, and they offer some of the cutest clothes in the ecommerce market!

You’ll be able to expand your offer by choosing kids’ outfits from some of the most popular brands such as John Galliano, Americanino, and Petit Bateau.

There’s something for everyone, and parents who want their kids to be as stylish as they are will love shopping the newest collections.

Kidsdistribution also have a special drop ship program.

You’ll have to subscribe to access their catalogue and ensure it’s synced with your online store. But the more you sell, the less you’ll have to pay for the subscription. If your monthly turnover is over €1,500, you won’t have to pay for access at all!

29. Pout in Pink

If you want to stock up on adorable baby and kids clothes, Pout in Pink is a great choice. Prices start at $4, and you’ll hardly find something more expensive than $20, which gives you a great markup opportunity.

Pout in Pink only charge $2 for dropshipping orders, which is great news. Their designs are so cute and stylish (while being affordable for you as the dropshipper) that you’ll be hard pressed to find a better kids’ clothing supplier.

All PiP orders ship out of Arizona.

30. Tigris Wholesale

Tigris Wholesale is known as the most notable kids’ toys dropship directory in the United Kingdom.

With warehouses in the UK, you can reach plenty of European customers by sourcing your products from Tigris.

They offer everything from sports toys (such as ride on cars) to musical instruments.

There’s plenty to pick from, and the wholesale pricing ensures you’ll have a great profit margin selling Tigris toys to people across Europe.

Best Dropshipping Companies: Electronics

Electronics are one of the most popular products to sell online.

The competition you might face will be stiff, but you’ll be able to reach millions of customers if you sell products from the best electronics dropshipping suppliers in 2020.

31. Albany Distributing

Albany is a great partner for store owners who want to sell some of the most popular name brands.

Albany Distributing allows you to source smartphones and consumer electronics from trusted name brands such as HP and Samsung.

They offer over 40,000 products in their catalogue, and they’re drop ship-ready. They don’t charge any handling or drop shipping fees, either.

You’ll be able to process orders through their intranet and integrate it with your store, ensuring that you don’t have to manually enter customer orders.

Finally, Albany Distributing is a first-level wholesaler. They get their products directly from manufacturers.

32. ASI Partner

If you want to offer high-quality electronics to your customers, ASI Partner is a great supplier.

They have long-standing tradition of working with some of the best companies in the market. If you choose them as your supplier you won’t have to worry about the quality of your products. Additionally, they’re based in California.

They offer products such as: retail goods (VR cameras, drones, and wearables), Intel gaming gear, notebooks, servers and processors, as well as video surveillance tech.

Becoming an ASI partner is the best way for your store to get more credibility and retain high-value customers.

33. Aulola

If you’re looking for an electronics supplier who can connect you with European customers, Aulola is your partner.

This UK-based company supplies numerous stores with consumer electronics.

From smart watches to consoles, you’ll certainly find something for your customers in their catalogue. They update their website with new arrivals often, and you can even look forward to discounts and sales.

Joining Aulola Dropshipping Program is completely free. However, they don’t seem to have a syncing solution, which makes them more suitable for eBay and Amazon dropshipping than direct eCommerce store dropshipping.

However, they make up for the technological challenges with their wide variety of products.

34. Birddog Lighting

Birddog is a great US-based supplier for seasonal goods!

People love buying holiday lights to decorate their homes at Christmas time. If you pair up with Birddog, you’ll be able to provide your customers with the lighting they need during the most special time of the year.

In addition to holiday lights and décor, Birddog also offer LED strip lights, neon lights, and LED bulbs and fixtures. They’re a great partner for attracting customers who need better (or cooler) lighting solutions.

Birddog Lighting’s products are some of the best in the market, so make sure you get in touch with them regarding your wholesale/dropshipping account.

35. Cost Tag

Selling consumer electronics is a great way to make your dropshipping business even more profitable. And when it comes to suppliers you can lean on, Cost Tag is the best of the best.

They’ve been in business since 2009, and their US locations allow them to get their products to your customers ASAP.

When it comes to their catalogue, Cost Tag has a great collection of products: audio and video, digital imaging, security systems, car audio, computers and tablets, appliances, musical instruments, and even games and toys.

Choose from a variety of high-quality manufacturers, and improve your store’s offer with Cost Tag!

36. CWR Marine Wholesale

If you’ve ever talked to anyone who owns a boat, you know how passionate they are about maintaining it. And if you work in the B2B space, you’re probably aware that marine tech is the most important thing to people behind the helm.

Fortunately, CWR Wholesale offer phenomenal marine tech solutions.

From satnav to plumbing and ventilation, they have everything you need to attract new customers to your store.

CWR also encourage dropshipping. Their model was created with dropshipping in mind, and once you join their program, you’ll have access to over 18,000 products in their catalogue.

They work with hundreds of manufacturers other electronics dropshipping suppliers don’t, so you’ll gain competitive advantage.

37. D&H

D&H is the trusted partner of numerous stores who serve different technological needs: consumer electronics, business and vertical solutions, higher education, and much more.

As a company with tradition of working with the best manufacturers, D&H ships their products out of the United States. Your customers’ next favorite purchase will be with them in just a few days!

They also offer premier-level customization, so becoming their partner is a great choice for improving your offer!

38. Hypercel

Branch out into the mobile accessories market and get fantastic markup opportunities by sourcing your products from Hypercel.

This dropshipping company based in California offers everything from power banks to headphones. You’ll find everything you need to keep your customers happy, and their phones running.

39. Kiko Wireless

Kiko Wholesale Group is one of the best dropshipping companies in the consumer electronics sector. They offer everything from accessories and peripherals to products from name brands such as Apple and Samsung.

However, their most popular products are smartphone accessories. You’ll find some of the best camera glass protectors and earphones in the market. This gives you a great markup opportunity.

Kiko Wireless products are amazing, and your customers are definitely going to love them as soon as you add them to your store!

40. Laptop Plaza

If you want to offer high-performance laptops to your existing and new customers alike, look no further than Laptop Plaza.

Laptop Plaza have been in business for over 20 years, and they foster relationships with leading manufacturers such as: Apple, Toshiba, Lenovo, and many others. While they are based out of Miami, they ship worldwide, and even offer dropshipping solutions.

You can choose between new and factory-refurbished laptops, depending on the needs of your customers.

Best Dropshipping Companies: Furniture and Home Decor

Furniture and home décor may not seem like intuitive dropshipping product choices, but the market for them is constantly expanding.

According to Furniture Today, companies in the furniture and home décor verticals are seeing incredible growth in online sales.

So why not use some of the following drop shipping companies to expand your offer?

41. Artisan

If your customers want to buy handmade furniture with tradition, this supplier based in Bosnia and Herzegovina is a great choice.

The folks at Artisan keep their woodworking roots in mind while designing the furniture. The final result are some of the most beautiful pieces in the world.

Artisan is a great choice for stores serving an exclusive clientele.

If you partner with Artisan, you’ll be able to provide products your competition doesn’t have. And in turn, you’ll get plenty of recurring business from people who want to furnish their home only with the best pieces.

42. Ashley Furniture

If you’re looking for reliable US-based furniture suppliers, you’ll love Ashley Furniture.

This company has experience in pleasing different clients’ needs, offering everything from rugs and lamps to kitchen sets and mattresses. Their products are affordable and they have a price match guarantee.

When you join their Trade Program (a dropshipping program), you’ll get access to high-quality furniture at wholesale prices. They have an impressive assortment of products spanning across styles from rustic to minimalist.

43. Fast Furnishings

If your customers are in the market for stylish and affordable furniture, you should partner with Fast Furnishings.

This drop-shipping company offers plenty of products in their catalogue; from room-specific furniture to accents and lighting fixtures.

You can even mix and match, playing with seasonality, and stock your online store with patio furniture when June rolls around.

You can get started drop shipping FF products for free. If you want to sync your store systems with theirs, you’ll have to subscribe to their Pro plan. However, FF offer free shipping and 10% off their online prices even with the free plan.

44. Geko Products

If you want to improve your store offer while reaching customers in Europe, the UK-based Geko Products is one of the best companies you could work with.

Geko offer plenty of home décor and home improvement products, including planters, vanity cases, and artificial plants. As the perfect mix of stylish and useful, Geko products are an excellent choice if your customers take pride in their living space.

They also have a formal dropshipping program. They have a dedicated dropship portal, and the annual membership is £30.

45. Koehler Home Décor

Koehler is one of the best home décor dropshipping suppliers. They offer a variety of products your customers can customize their homes with; from starburst mirrors to tabletop fountains.

When it comes to dropshipping, Koehler are Amazon FBA and dropshipping-friendly. And since they’re based in Oregon, you won’t have any problems reaching your American customers.

Their wholesale prices come with a significant discount, and they require no minimum order quantity. Dropshipping Koehler Home Décor products is a great way to improve your store offer while generating extra revenue!

46. Theo & Joe

If you want to dropship in Australia and your clients enjoy high-end furniture finds, Theo & Joe will be the perfect partners.

This furniture dropshipping company offers furniture, home décor, lighting and textiles inspired by opulent aesthetics. Come May, you’ll also find rattan furniture your customers will love!

If you run an online store catering to an exclusive clientele, you’ll love working with Theo & Joe. While their furniture is not cheap, their items provide excellent markup opportunities.

47. VIG Furniture

VIG Furniture is the best possible supplier for stores whose clients can’t get enough of European furniture design.

Their furniture is recognized for its sleek design, as well as VIG Furniture’s competitive pricing. You’ll be able to get great profit margins on furniture that has left many shoppers speechless!

Additionally, VIG Furniture have a great dropshipping program. With warehouses across the United States, your customers will receive their orders in no time.

Best Dropshipping Companies: Jewelry

Everyone loves shiny stuff! The following dropshipping suppliers offer some of the most stylish jewelry and watches in the market. Your customers are going to love them, so why not add them to your store?

48. Danforth Pewter

If you run an online store selling jewelry and unique gifts, Danforth is a great supplier to source your products from.

The folks at Danforth mainly work with pewter, crafting beautiful designs your customers will be able to choose for themselves or for the special people in their lives. You’ll find traditional jewelry and sets, as well as holiday ornaments and lighting accents.

Danforth Pewter are based in Vermont, so you’ll reach your American customers easily and quickly.

49. Gold N Diamonds

For the clients who love all the luxury money can buy, get in touch with Gold N Diamonds.

Gold N Diamonds was founded in 1995 and they are based in the United States. However, they ship internationally and strive to provide their clients and partners with beautiful jewelry at affordable prices.

They carry traditional jewelry, as well as wedding jewelry.

In order to participate in their dropship program, you’ll have to pay a $299 monthly subscription fee. However, it’s more than worth it if you want to attract a high-end clientele to your store.

50. Richard Cannon Jewelry

For sleek and beautiful diamonds and gold, look no further than Richard Cannon Jewelry.

This experienced wholesaler has been in business since 1999, when they opened the doors in the New York diamond district. Since then, they’ve been producing fine jewelry, as well as wholesaling other companies’ designs.

Richard Cannon Jewelry have a special dropship program.

The monthly fee is $29.99, making them one of the most affordable jewelry suppliers in the US.

Best Dropshipping Companies: Outdoor and Fitness Gear

There’s nothing people like going out in the nature.

However, in order to have a great time, you need the gear to do it. And when winter rolls around, your customers will go back to gyms.

Why not add all the products they’ll need to your store and generate even more revenue?

51. Alanic

If your customers are interested in stylish active wear, you’ll love working with Alanic.

This US-based dropshipping company offers fitness apparel for both men and women. They’ve also been active in the fitness community, so they’re well recognized on a global scale. Selling their products could help you establish yourself in the niche.

52. Arett

If your customers like poking around their gardens, expanding your offer to include garden tools, wearables and other gardening supplies is a great way to generate even more revenue from your store.

And when it comes to gardening, no supplier is better than Arett.

Based in the United States, they are reliable, offer plenty of products, and ensure that you have a smooth dropshipping experience.

53. Farris Brothers

If your customers love hunting, fishing, or sailing, you’ll find everything you need for your store at Farris Brothers’.

These wholesalers have been helping customers have the time of their lives outdoors since 1946.

They have experience, and they’re ready to help you provide only the best products to your customers.

Based in the U.S., you’ll have no problem reaching American customers when you source your products from Farris Brothers.

54. Fitness Zone

If your customers want to work out, it’s time you’ve provided them with the equipment they need!

Fortunately, Fitness Zone can help.

They have a variety of products you can drop ship; from fitness machines to saunas. They’re also a great choice if you work with B2B clients equipping their gyms and spas.

Fitness Zone operate out of Alabama, so they’re a great fit for your US-based customers.

Best Dropshipping Companies: Tools, Kitchenware, and Arts & Crafts Supplies

Finally, tools may not be glamorous, but plenty of customers are turning to online stores to find high-quality products at affordable prices.

55. Drop Ship Tools

Drop Ship Tools, based in Southern California, are one of the best suppliers for tools and similar products.

If your customers are working on home improvement projects, you’ll find plenty of products on Drop Ship Tools to complement your existing offer.

56. General International

If your customers are looking for woodworking and metalworking tools, General International is the right supplier to start working with.

This US-based manufacturer offers plenty of professional products; from saws to grinders and drill presses.

57. Fiskars

There’s no one like Fiskars to help you dropship high-quality gardening and yardcare products across the US. In additional to typical tools, Fiskars also offer kitchenware, arts & crafts supplies, and a lot more.

Since Fiskars has gone global, they are open to European dropshipping, as well as dropshipping within the US.

It’s best to check with them regarding their terms.

However, offering Fiskars products is a great way to reach new audiences and make sure that your store is right what it should be: your customers’ favorite place for new finds.

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Holiday Tips Part 2 : What Product Selection Sells Best During Holiday Season? https://www.modalyst.co/blog/holiday-tips-part-2-product-selection-sells-best-holiday-season/ https://www.modalyst.co/blog/holiday-tips-part-2-product-selection-sells-best-holiday-season/#respond Thu, 14 Dec 2017 21:53:50 +0000 https://mdlst2020prod.wpengine.com/blog/?p=3351 Christmas is fast approaching, and many retailers are already on the countdown to final product assortment. As a well-organized ecommerce merchant, you’re also looking to jump on the assortment planning bandwagon.

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This is Part 2 of our series on Holiday Tips. To start from the beginning, read our first article here.

Christmas is fast approaching, and many retailers are already on the countdown to final product assortment. As a well-organized e-commerce merchant, you’re also looking to jump on the assortment planning bandwagon. However, the challenge for most retailers lies in determining what products to select for their holiday e-commerce assortments.

Essentially, product selection is at the core of holiday selling success or failure. Those who get it wrong often face the following consequences:

  • Deadstock: Items that don’t move are a direct cost to your business.
  • Lost opportunity: By having the wrong item in your holiday product mix, you lose the opportunity to move your company forward.
  • Additional workload: With the wrong product stocked, you have delayed getting the right one and created extra work for yourself and your team.

So how do you ensure your product selection is well-suited for the holiday season? Here are some helpful tips:

Pay Close Attention to Amazon & eBay

Start studying the product selection of Amazon and eBay to get an idea of what product mix does best during the holidays. We’ve found, time and again, that the hot selling products for the big guys will also be the hot selling products for smaller e-commerce stores.

For instance, if you open up Amazon, you’ll see holiday specific sections on the homepage. At this time of writing, here’s what the homepage looks like:

 

Clicking on one of the icons under explore “Explore Holiday” will take you to the relevant webpage for that product or deal category. For instance, if you click on Holiday Toy List and view the top 100 toys, here’s what you get to see:

 

 

 

See What Products Won Last Year’s Holiday Season

Why look at last year’s holiday winners in 2017? Well, there’s a good chance that a major portion of holiday shoppers weren’t able to get their hands on last year’s hot sellers due to budget constraints and they don’t want to miss out this time around. Therefore, including last year’s holiday best sellers in your product selection could bring you a plethora of benefits.

The easiest way to find last year’s winners is by conducting a search on Google. Try the following search strings:

  • Holiday products
  • 2016 holiday products
  • Holiday hot sellers
  • 2016 holiday hot sellers
  • Amazon hot sellers 2016
  • Best sellers holidays 2016
  • Christmas best sellers
  • Christmas best sellers 2016

Each of these strings will present you with an informative list of last year’s hot sellers. For instance, if you search “2016 holiday products,” you see the following:

 

A lot of results reveal what holiday shoppers were splurging the cash on in 2016. For instance, one of the results showcases a list of products that sold well on Amazon.

 

That’s a lot of items from different categories to add for your product selection.

Research Pinterest & Instagram

Pinterest has its own search engine, while Instagram is big on hashtags. You can use these functions to discover and select new products.

On Pinterest, try search strings similar to the ones recommended in the previous section. For instance, if you search “holiday products,” you get to see the pins posted by other retail outlets.

Most of these pins are about holiday items. You can even check the original source (website) to see if there’s a supplier you could get in touch with.

In addition, you can search Pinterest boards for product selection ideas. A board is where people curate ideas on the theme of the board.

For holiday product selection, board contributors will likely post about products that people have or could have a knack for.

It’s worth mentioning that most products displayed on Pinterest are DIY. However, you can still find suppliers for such products on sites like Wish.com. There’s also the option of private label (where you make the product yourself), but sourcing seems more viable if you’re short on time.

On Instagram, you can leverage hashtags. Enter hashtags in the search bar to find and select products. Hashtags like #holidaypresents #holidaygifts and #christmaspresents should give you a wide range of results.

Of course, select items that meet your core customers’ needs so that your product selection generates revenue during holidays as well as post holidays.

Use Google Trends to Vet Products

Doing demand-related research helps you go deep into the viability of items, as well as explore if there’s a demand for items that sold well over the summer.

Google Trends is a tool you could use to see how frequently your potential product selection has been searched for in a specific period of item, ideally from October to December. This will let you know whether people are looking forward to seeing it retail or if it is on its way out.

For instance, if you are considering a trendy fitness accessory for your product selection, you could compare consumer interest in Apple Watch series 3 and Garmin Fenix 5X.

 

Based on this comparison, Apple Watch series 3 is trending much more highly than Garmin Fenix 5x and has had experienced major spikes in the past few weeks, especially around Black Friday and Cyber Monday. As a result, this would be the right product selection for your holiday season assortment.

If you have an account with Google Adwords, you can also leverage Google’s Keyword Planner tool to analyze products’ current and predicted demand using keyword research.

Narrow Down Your Options

At this point you might have a few product selection ideas. It’s a best practice to run these ideas through a standard set of guidelines that top retailers use to narrow down their assortment. While these guidelines aren’t strict, they go a long way in minimizing business risk.

See if the products are:

  • Easy to ship
  • Lightweight
  • Small in dimensions
  • Seasonal
  • In a stable or growing market

The general perspective is that the best product selection should have some moving parts, fit in the smallest of boxes, and sell for $200-$1000 with a profit margin of at least 30-40%.

Other than that, check if the product can be sourced easily. The final seal of approval requires the product to be easily available to source. Make a list of the products you’re planning to sell, and check their availability with local vendors.

In addition, check if the items could be dropshipped if you want to avoid storage and shipping hassles. Modalyst, for instance, allows merchants to sell millions of products without the financial risk of buying inventory upfront.

 

 

 

You can choose to source directly from Wish.com with their new Chrome Extension or from their vetted marketplace of independent brands. Their Shopify / BigCommerce app allows for one-click sourcing so within minutes (and no cost!) you can have a fantastic assortment of holiday items up on your store.

Final Thoughts

Evolving consumer preferences combined with the dominance of big players like Alibaba and Amazon have forced merchants to evolve. Smart ones are driving more sales and enhancing customer loyalty with a wider product mix using dropshipping. However, it’s crucial to not just expand your assortment, but expand it intelligently. Use the tips mentioned above to get your holiday product selection spot on and enjoy a season of festivities… and high profits.

 

 

 

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Dropshipping Supplier Spotlight : Le Chic https://www.modalyst.co/blog/supplier-spotlight-le-chic/ https://www.modalyst.co/blog/supplier-spotlight-le-chic/#respond Tue, 11 Jul 2017 13:34:16 +0000 https://mdlst2020prod.wpengine.com/blog/?p=3235 Joanna Stangreciak is the designer of Le Chic, an international fashion brand. Le Chic joined Modalyst in April of 2013 and has been one of our most successful brands. Before starting Le Chic, Joanna worked at a fashion accessories company in Los Angeles doing product development and sales for the junior retailer market. She then […]

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Joanna Stangreciak is the designer of Le Chic, an international fashion brand. Le Chic joined Modalyst in April of 2013 and has been one of our most successful brands.

Before starting Le Chic, Joanna worked at a fashion accessories company in Los Angeles doing product development and sales for the junior retailer market. She then branched out into designing her own swimwear label.

According to Joanna, the inspiration behind Le Chic was the 2008 recession:

“It was a horrible economy at the time and women were spending less on extravagant, impractical pieces of fashion and investing in classic, versatile styles that compliment the majority of what was in their closets.”

She started her brand with the intention of creating chic accessories that were also affordable and timeless.

Business Practices

Joanna originally began selling her pieces directly to her end-customers. Over the years, however, she has begun focusing on selling her label to brick-and-mortar retailers through Modalyst. Besides Modalyst, Le Chic is featured on Wanelo, Keep, Loehmann’s, Filene’s Basement, and Walmart.

Modalyst is a curated b2b marketplace connecting suppliers and retailers. It is our goal to match our retailers with brands that will be a good fit for them.

Joanna states:

“When looking for an e-commerce retailer to work with, I always looks at their reputation and reliability. These are two key factors that will ultimately affect my reputation as well. In order to build long-lasting, effective, and fruitful business relationships, I believe it is important for both parties to maintain open lines of communication and understanding.”

 

Joanna is the first to admit that she was not initially a fan of dropshipping. It has proven itself valuable over time, however, as it allowed her to forge relationships with new customers and make her products more available and accessible to a wider audience.

“Dropshipping has become a thing of the present and future–as seen more frequently with Amazon, Jet Blue, and Bed Bath & Beyond–and we all have to keep up with what is trending for the future!”

Check out Le Chic on Modalyst and email team@modalyst.co if you’re interested in being the next supplier in the spotlight!

 

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How to Source Unique Products from Independent Suppliers https://www.modalyst.co/blog/source-unique-products-independent-brands/ https://www.modalyst.co/blog/source-unique-products-independent-brands/#respond Wed, 20 Jul 2016 15:07:21 +0000 https://mdlst2020prod.wpengine.com/blog/?p=2877 How to Source Unique Products from Independent Suppliers In part 1 of our series on our guide to starting a drop shipping business, we evaluated the different e-commerce platforms available including Shopify, WooCommerce, and BigCommerce. Start from the beginning here: Choosing the Best eCommerce Platform for You After choosing a platform, the search to find […]

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How to Source Unique Products from Independent Suppliers

In part 1 of our series on our guide to starting a drop shipping business, we evaluated the different e-commerce platforms available including Shopify, WooCommerce, and BigCommerce.

Start from the beginning here: Choosing the Best eCommerce Platform for You

After choosing a platform, the search to find unique products that represent your individual brand begins.

This also comes with its own set of challenges:

What legal qualifications must you meet before you start?

Where can you source the right brands for your store?

How do you convince these brands to dropship for you?

We help you answer these questions so you can start your dropshipping business right away!

What legal qualifications must you meet before you start?

In order to begin dropshipping, you need to be set up with all the necessary legal documents so brands are comfortable working with your store.

This means becoming legally incorporated, having an EIN number, a Tax ID number and a former purchase order.

While smaller suppliers may not request this information, once you progress to more widely distributed brands this will help secure your legitimacy and help build successful relationships.

Where can you source unique products for your online store?

You can find independent suppliers that work for your brand in a variety of different ways.

You can search for them on Google, but this would involve extensive search efforts to find brands that suit your needs and are willing to dropship rather than sell wholesale.

You can also find which brands are dropshipping through your competitors.

But this may not be the best option as you are trying to build your own online business with unique drop ship products.

You can attend trade-shows, however, these are tedious and time-consuming.

Finding suppliers who are willing to dropship rather than sell wholesale makes the process even more difficult.

This is where certain online tools like Modalyst may come in handy.

Source Unique Products

These tools integrate with eCommerce platforms like Shopify, BigCommerce, and WooCommerce allowing you to connect with and manage buyers on a singular platform.

By integrating with shopping cart platforms, you are able to source products in one click from suppliers ready to dropship.

This platform integration also allows for automatic inventory syncing so you don’t have to worry about your customers buying items from suppliers that are out of stock.

You can pick and choose from a range of edgy and unique suppliers that work best for your retail brand, and be assured that they are not scams because they are all vetted beforehand by the tool.

How do you convince these independent suppliers to dropship for you?

If you are finding independent brands through the other three routes, you should first make sure you have all your legal documents in order.

Then, understand that without any prior knowledge, most brands will need to understand how becoming a dropshipping supplier for you will benefit their business.

You should also make sure you are convinced of your own personal brand, so as to appear professional and convince them as to why the items they sell would enhance the inventory of your store.

If you decide to go with using tools like Modalyst, the process becomes much easier.

Since independent suppliers are already aware of what dropshipping is and are willing to do it, all you have to do is make sure your online store looks good and professional and reflects the values of your brand.

Then you can simply request to stock a certain supplier’s products with a single-click, and if necessary, you can communicate with each other through messaging platforms made available through the platform.

Now that you have a better idea of how to choose the right e-commerce platform for you, and how to source products from independent suppliers you are one step closer to starting an online store.

Stay tuned next week, where we will help you create your very own business plan, helping you create a sustainable long term plan to keep your costs down and profits up!

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How to Find and Select New Drop Shipping Brands https://www.modalyst.co/blog/carrying-new-brands/ https://www.modalyst.co/blog/carrying-new-brands/#respond Wed, 06 Jan 2016 19:21:38 +0000 http://blog.modalyst.co/?p=2014 Ivan Gilkes co-founded In Support Of, a retail boutique in the meatpacking district of NYC.  Here are a few of the questions / answers I thought we would share with you. Can you share a story of one of the brands you carry and how you came to discover them? What are the best resources […]

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Ivan Gilkes co-founded In Support Of, a retail boutique in the meatpacking district of NYC.  Here are a few of the questions / answers I thought we would share with you.

Can you share a story of one of the brands you carry and how you came to discover them? What are the best resources for you to find new brands?

I think one of my favorite stories is how we found the brand Calle del Mar by Aza Ziegler. I was browsing Tumblr and I came across the designer’s thesis collection from Pratt. We did some further research and then reached out to the brand directly. Aza had such a unique voice and clear view of her brand and I think that’s why we ended up taking a chance on it. It was so fun and unlike anything we had seen before but also done in a really wearble way. We continue to carry the brand in store.

In terms of finding new brands, we do a lot of research through different channels. I’m always looking for brands, even when I’m not looking, so we use different resources from personal resources such as my own Instagram or Tumblr once again to fantastic professional resources like and including Modalyst. Word of mouth is also a designer’s best friend because if a brand comes recommended it’s more likely that we will take note.

When do you start scouting for brands? Is it all year round? How early to you start your market search?

The amount of time I, and all of us at In Support Of, spend scouting is sort of ridiculous. In terms of starting market search, having a showroom and a store, forces us to make sure we are aware of what’s in the market from the huge designer brands to the young independent brands. We have to look at all avenues of selling so we can know what our best options for in the store are and also what our own showroom designers are up against in the marketplace. For that reason I’d say my market research is nonstop.

You began as a showroom and more recently decide to open a retail location. I imagine one of the reasons was to sell the brands you rep? But was there another component you thought was missing for the brands? 

Yes, Tanya and I started In Support Of as an extension of our showroom: we wanted a retail location to sell the brands we represent because we felt that the market wasn’t taking a chance on younger brands and then further we wanted to contextualize our own brands amongst others that we felt rounded out a vision we were trying to build.

For the brands in our showroom, the feedback from retailers is so important. The customers are your brand’s biggest resource. And if you don’t have direct sales that means your retailers’ feedback is your number one tool to making your collection as strong as it could possibly be. This knowledge has been invaluable for our showroom designers that we sell at our store.

Can you provide specific advice on dos and don’ts when meeting with buyers? Do you see a lot of common mistakes that prevent you from wanting to distribute their products?

Have all of your materials ready. Have samples prepared, a clear and concise line sheet, and a well-shot look book or brand book – this makes it easier for me to look at your brand efficiently. If you do have a following for your brand – make sure to scream out to the world that you’re at that retailer. If they see you making sales on their behalf they’ll be eternally grateful and 9 times out of 10 – in my opinion – continue to have your brand represented.

Another mistake is when a brand will approach me without knowing their pricing and the type of stores they should sit in. Before starting a collection a designer should have an idea of who their target customer is, where this customer shops, and realistically what they can afford. They should know what other brands their customer buys into and what they like to do with their time (in and out of their work lives. Once these questions are answered they’ll be able to approach retailers with focus.

How do you differentiate yourself from the other retailers? Is there a particular marketing strategy that has worked well for you? 

I think we differ from other retailers in that we’re able to offer a concise vision of who we are and are able to pinpoint our customers. There are fantastic stores out there that do the same and at the end of the day each store has a valid point of view. For us we value wearability in combination with interesting stories. We want our customer to know what the designer was thinking or how they design when they purchase a piece from us.

Consumers are demanding and expect new product offerings all the time How do you compete with that? As a follow up, do you feel pressure to offer something in addition to just the product, for example an “experience”?

We try to freshen our offering up as often as possible. However it’s impossible to keep up with the Zaras, Top Shops and J.Crews (even though our prices sometimes cross-over). In order to compete with this customer service is the best thing we have to offer alongside exclusivity. Generally if someone buys an item at In Support Of, it’ll be one of 10-15 in the world. We see our customers and us as part of a community of individuals striving to be unique. In addition to the fact that we’re selling clothing and accessories, we’re also selling membership to the community we are building at In Support Of.

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