Retailers! Grip your Shipping with Dropshipping

As a uniform retailer, you work with multiple manufacturers and suppliers to have a variety of products displayed in your online store. If you are one of them or have a great vision to be one but don’t want to get stuck in the process of maintaining huge inventories and executing them. All you want is to run your online uniform store focusing on customer engagement and presentation while supply and distribution happen behind the scenes. 

Inventory management is a massive task that necessitates extensive record-keeping and monitoring. Add to that the overhead costs associated with inventory storage.  

Dropshipping takes care of all of the above for you. Instead, you open an online store where your customers can view your products. To entice buyers, you market and advertise to them. If they are persuaded, they will place an order. That is the only time you will place an order with your supplier. 

Pretty interesting huh? Let’s know more about it. 

This article will guide you through everything you need to know about dropshipping so that you can better understand it. 

What is Dropshipping? 

In simple terms, dropshipping is a type of order fulfillment method for an online store where a retailer instead of warehousing inventory purchases products from third-party suppliers/manufacturers as customers places an order. The products are then shipped directly from the supplier’s end to the final customer. In short, the supplier handles all the inventory storage and fulfillment of orders you take from your storefront.  

Who is a Dropshipper? 

A dropshipper is a supplier who manages the inventory of a retail merchant and ships orders to the retailer’s customer. The retailer is mainly responsible for gaining customers to increase traffic to his store and process orders, while a dropshipper acts like a middleman in the entire process. 

Now that you know the nitty-gritty of drop shipping, let’s know how it works, what is the process, and why you should opt for this method to make your online uniform store fly. 

How does it work? 

Here’s a step-by-step overview of the entire uniform dropshipping process. 

The entire model can be broken into 3 steps: 

Step 1:

The uniform manufacturer manufactures uniforms and stores them in his warehouse:
Let's say Manufacturer A makes scrub uniforms. After the uniforms are off the production line, they are stored in a warehouse. 

Step 2:

Retailer reaches out to manufacturer:
A retailer like you searches for scrub uniform manufacturers whose scrub uniforms you want in your online store. The retailer and manufacturer then agree to work together. 

Step 3:

Customer places an order on the retailer’s website:
A customer orders scrub uniforms from your online store, and you receive the order and pass it on to the manufacturer. The manufacturer delivers it to your customer with an invoice under your company’s name. 

This is the overall picture of what uniform dropshipping looks like.  

How do Retailers benefit from Dropshipping?

Dropshipping is appealing to merchants who want to expand their product catalog in a low-risk manner. It's also an excellent choice for retailers looking to save money by eliminating the need to store inventory and fulfill orders themselves. 

Other advantages of starting a dropshipping business include: 

1. Low capital and overhead 
   Retailers are not required to purchase products until a sale is made, which means merchants are not required to invest in a large amount of inventory upfront. This eliminates the need for a warehouse, as well as packing and shipping supplies.
2. Flexibility
   Because the majority of recurring expenses for dropshipping businesses are digital, retailers only need to set up an e-commerce storefront. Retailers can manage and run their entire operation from any location with an internet connection.
3. Dropshipping is easier to manage
   Everything is manageable because there is no need to make large commitments such as hiring staff or renting warehouse space. Once you've found suppliers and set everything up, you're primarily in charge of managing your online storefront.
4. Saves time
   One integration connects your dropshipping software to dozens of platforms. It saves months of costly development work.  

Things to look out for when choosing a Dropship Supplier

This is true in most industries, but it is especially true in dropshipping: finding quality suppliers is critical to your success. The simplest way to get started is to consider how you can strike a deal with a local supplier that will eventually allow you to sell their products to a larger audience via your online store. 

1. Examine online reviews and sites. Keep an eye out for any negative feedback or opinions about your suppliers. 
2. Be wary of ongoing fees. Suppliers who demand ongoing fees just to be considered for work may be a scam. 
3. When dealing with small order sizes, do your math. This is something you might come across with larger suppliers. 
4. How frequently does your dropshipper update inventory? 
5. Choose a supplier that can offer flexible shipping options and is willing to scale along with you when your business starts getting more orders. 

You now understand what drop shipping is and how to be successful with your Dropshipping journey.

To summarise: 

1. It all starts with identifying and validating a relatively untapped niche. 
2. Next, find suppliers who will be dependable and helpful in your dropshipping journey. 
3. Determine how you will add value through the products you will offer. 
4. Integrate your website with the supplier’s inventory and connect all the dots.