The dropshipping market is saturated with products and suppliers to choose from, and we’re here to help you make the right decision.
Good job! You know all there is to know about the dropshipping process; the pros, the cons, and even how to choose your niche. Now that the theoretical aspect is out of the way, it's time to get down to business. And by business, we mean choosing products, dropshipping suppliers, and building that stunning eCommerce website! Let's begin by exploring the most popular dropshipping store option out there - Oberlo and Shopify!
Alternatives to AliExpress Dropshipping
SaleHoo
A members-only database with over 8000 suppliers. The choice of suppliers may be limited compared to AliExpress dropshipping. Still, SaleHoo boasts of higher reliability in this field, plus a wider product catalog - the platform sources over 25 million products! The platform is intuitive, works with trusted dropshipping suppliers, and provides excellent dropshipping customer service. Plus, the yearly membership fee is only $67, you get a 60-day free trial period, and the platform scores an average of 9.6/10 on Trustpilot.
Spocket
This platform offers a more comprehensive selection of suppliers to do business with, giving you access to over 20,000 suppliers from all across the globe. A significant benefit is that you don't have to limit yourself to strictly China-based suppliers, as you would do with Oberlo and AliExpress, making it easier for you to engage in local dropshipping by finding wholesalers from the US and EU. Spocket even offers integrations with FedEx and other shipping options. The downside is that it is a bit pricey, costing $99 per month for unlimited products. If you are starting out, consider their free basic plan, which allows you to import up to 25 different products and receive unlimited orders.
Doba
A valid competitor to Oberlo and AliExpress, Doba offers over 2 million products and is considered to be one of the most comprehensive dropshipping platforms on the web. Likewise, the dropshipping process is very well-organized - from start to finish. Doba is designed to make dropshipping as easy as possible and even allows you to manage lists for bulk imports into your store. Doba may offer fewer supplier options than AliExpress dropshipping but makes up for it in other benefits. Plus, you get a 14-day free trial and can sign up for a membership with a $29 monthly fee.
There are a myriad of other options to choose from if you are planning on starting a dropshipping business. Shopify alone offers several dropshipping apps and integrations, so you don't have to limit yourself to only Oberlo as an integration and AliExpress as a platform. Moreover, there are other ways to dropship that can add a personal touch to your business, including print-on-demand dropshipping. And since we provide these services at Ucraft, let's take a look at the POD model in more detail.
Print-on-Demand Dropshipping: Ucraft x Printful
Another alternative to classic dropshipping is print-on-demand. At Ucraft, we offer an integration with Printful - one of the best print-on-demand retail fulfillment services. POD is a form of dropshipping, but it differs from the standard model in the sense that you work with a specific fulfillment center (in this case, Printful) to design custom goods, which the center then manufactures and sends to your customers when an order is placed. Sounds confusing? Let's look at this option in more detail.
Say you already have some designs that you would like to see printed on various products. With a print-on-demand dropshipping solution, you upload your designs to the chosen POD platform and select the items you want the design to be printed on (e.g., t-shirts, hoodies, beanies, mugs, etc.), and the company takes care of the rest. As soon as an order is placed through your online store, they will print your designs onto said items, package them under your own brand and send them to your customers. Let's see how Printful works, step by step:
1. Go to Printful, select a product category, and choose a product (e.g., Men's clothing > hoodies);
2. Customize the default design by uploading your own graphics and adjusting the placement on the item via Printful's drag-and-drop tool;
3. Set the main mockup image, and fill in the product description and title;
4. Choose your markup price, and Printful will automatically configure the product prices;
5. Submit the Printful products to your Ucraft online store;
6. When an order is placed, Printful will manufacture and ship the product to your customer.
POD is essentially a form of dropshipping. However, a dropshipping business model implies selling a wide variety of products, often from several dropshipping suppliers. With POD, you work with a print-on-demand dropshipping company to design, manufacture and print your items. In terms of shipping, POD works precisely the same as dropshipping - a customer places an order on your website while the supplier manufactures, packages, and ships the product.
There are several benefits to selling Printful products as a print-on-demand fulfillment solution. First of all, it allows you to get started for free, meaning that you only pay for the product once you have designed it, uploaded it to your online store, and a customer has placed an order. Although the solution doesn't offer the same extensive variety of products as the classic dropshipping model, Printful products still come in a reasonably wide range: starting from clothes for all genders and ages to homeware and design pieces such as wall art. This is ideal for dropshipping beginners who are not immediately looking to sell niche products or do not wish to set up a general store. Not to mention that their customer support is exceptional.
It's safe to say that our guide's theoretical part is over, and it's time to delve into the practical aspects of setting up a successful dropshipping store. And for that, you are going to need a memorable brand.