So, it’s that time of year again… Holidays are coming to an end and entrepreneurship-focused New Year Resolutions are beginning to take shape. Whether you are an established online seller, or just looking to get started, there is no doubt that 202 will be another massive year for revenue generation through online retailing.
If you’ve been looking at starting a dropshipping business in Australia, you’ve probably come across a lot of the same old advice.
It goes something like this…
- Find a hot product/niche (in China)
- Source a cheap (Chinese) supplier
- Dropship products to your customers (from China)
That’s the generic dropshipping formula that people have been touting for the past decade. And don’t get me wrong, it does still work.
But it’s not the only way to run a dropshipping business in Australia.
More businesses are understanding the value of using local and domestic suppliers for dropshipping.
You might be thinking that there’s no way you can find dropship suppliers in Australia that are as cheap as those in China.
And while that might be the case, cheap isn’t always better. There are numerous benefits to using Australian dropship suppliers over Chinese ones.
How to start dropshipping in Australia
You’ve probably seen the success stories of Australian e-commerce entrepreneurs like Gretta van Riel and Jack Bloomfield and wondered if you can do the same.
Dropshipping is a simple, low-cost way to get started in e-commerce and has the potential to make a significant income.
What is dropshipping?
Dropshipping is an ecommerce business model or fulfilment method that allows you to sell physical products without buying or holding any stock of your own.
You just have to find a great product to sell and connect with a reliable supplier that offers dropshipping as a service.
You then list that product for sale on an online marketplace or your own online store and start making sales.
This is how dropshipping works…
- A customer purchases your product from your online store at retail price
- You place an order for that product with your supplier and pay wholesale price
- Your supplier packages and ships the product directly to your customer
You don’t have to buy bulk stock, pay for extra storage space, or deal with shipping, and your profit is the difference between the wholesale price and the retail price. Easy, right?
The benefits of using Australian dropshippers
Maybe you’re just getting started with your dropshipping business, or maybe you’ve already got one set up with suppliers in China.
Either way, you should seriously be thinking about using Australian dropship suppliers for your business.
Here are 5 benefits of using Australian dropshippers
- Faster Shipping
Customers today expect fast shipping. Ideally, they want to be able to click ‘buy’ and have the product the very next day. Using suppliers outside of Australia means this is impossible and it impacts on customer satisfaction.
If you use dropship suppliers in Australia, you can offer faster and (probably) cheaper shipping to your customers. This helps with sales and conversions and reduces abandoned shopping carts.
You can’t underestimate the power of offering your customers fast shipping options.
- Quality Control
Suppliers in China – fairly or unfairly – don’t have a reputation for high-quality goods. Suppliers and manufacturers in Australia are bound by tighter regulations and standards, so their products should be of a higher quality.
Quality is important because it also improves customer satisfaction and it can fuel your marketing. By offering “Australia Made” products, you’re telling your customers that they’re of a particular standard.
This can help to set your business apart from the ones that are using Chinese suppliers.
- Higher Retail Prices
And because the goods from Australian dropship suppliers are of a higher quality, you can charge higher retail prices. That means you can still retain the high profit margins typically associated with Chinese suppliers.
Customers are willing to pay more for Australian made for the intrinsic quality and trust that comes with that label.
- Easier Communication
Everything from the initial contact and negotiations to working out issues along the way becomes easier with Australian dropship suppliers. Nothing gets lost in translation and you can speak openly and honestly to secure the best deal for your business.
It’s also easier for you to visit the supplier in person and build a relationship that goes beyond email communication. Creating positive relationships with your suppliers is hugely important and it’s much easier to do if you’re using suppliers in your home country.
- Higher Sales
With all of the above benefits, you’re likely going to make more sales than you would working with a supplier outside of Australia. Passing those benefits on to your customers will result in higher conversion rates, which, at the end of the day, is more money in your pocket.
Top places to find Australian dropship suppliers
There are a variety of places to find reliable dropship suppliers in Australia. Here are some of the best ways to get started.
Simply searching “dropship suppliers Australia” on Google is a good way to find some of the best-known suppliers in your area. You can even narrow it down by searching by region, such as Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia. While the companies that show up as the top results on Google are likely to be reliable and popular, they may not have the best prices so it’s best to look around a bit and negotiate prices.
SaleHoo
Using a reliable supplier directory like SaleHoo is a great way to find suppliers you can trust in Australia. They vet every supplier in the directory to ensure they’re safe and reliable. You’ll get company information, contact details, and even scripts to use when communicating with suppliers. It’s the safest, simplest way to dropship.
Disclaimer: The suppliers you’ll see below are sourced directly from SaleHoo. It’s a small sample but you’ll find suppliers’ name and description for more than a dozen niches. If you like more in-depth analysis and wider selection of dropship suppliers I highly encourage you to check out their directory.
Trade Fairs
If you want to meet suppliers in person, head along to local trade fairs and see if any of the suppliers in your niche offer dropshipping. Trade fairs are a great way to build rapport with suppliers and start a business relationship on the right foot. You can find a list of upcoming trade fairs in Australia here.
Facebook Groups
Join Facebook groups related to dropshipping and e-commerce, particularly ones that are focussed on the Australian market. These online communities are full of people who are experienced in this area and they may be able to refer you to dropship suppliers in Australia. If you engage in conversation and contribute to the groups, you’re likely to get more help from those in the know.
What to look for in dropshippers from Australia
So you’ve found a few Australian Dropship Suppliers in your niche that you’re keen to work with. That’s great! But first, you want to do some research and make contact with each supplier to ensure they’re the right fit for your business. I recommend contacting 3-5 suppliers in Australia before deciding on who you want to work with. Here are a few things you should check before committing to a dropship supplier.
Check if it’s a legit dropshipper
A supplier might say they offer dropshipping services, but you want to make sure it’s legitimate. A legitimate dropshipper will have plenty of your product in stock and be able to handle order fulfillment and shipping. A good dropshipper will be able to go the extra mile, allowing you to provide custom packaging for your products. Ideally, you should talk to other people who have used the supplier for dropshipping to see if they’re up to standard. And make sure you communicate with the supplier clearly to set expectations from the beginning.
Shipping times
Customers expect fast shipping. Same-day and overnight delivery are the norm in our fast-paced world. You need to check if your chosen dropship supplier can provide a range of shipping options to satisfy your customers. If shipping times are a week or longer, you can probably assume they’re sourcing products from outside Australia, which defeats the purpose of sourcing from local suppliers.
Minimum orders
Some dropship suppliers have minimum order quantities (MOQs). This means they require you to order a specific number of products to use their services. You want to be careful that you don’t get locked into ordering and paying for 1000 units when you don’t know if you can sell them. The great thing about dropshipping is that you shouldn’t have to buy stock up front. It’s best to find a dropship supplier that will fulfill orders as they come in and doesn’t require you to buy in bulk.
Quality of products
Quality is king! If you’re touting the fact that you’re selling Australian-made products, you want to be sure they’re of a high quality. The best way to do this is to order samples before committing to a supplier. It’s also a good way to test how the supplier handles packaging and shipping. Check every tiny detail of the product to make sure you’re happy with the quality before deciding to use a supplier.
Top 13 dropshippers in Australia:
1.
Team Kicks a 100% Australian Company that is revolutionizing footwear using its own technique of colouring and assembly of its wool and cow suede products. Over the years, they have expanded their operations to the New Zealand market and own global licenses for the sale and distribution of Trolls Boots, All Blacks, Manchester City and Arsenal FC.
They ship internationally and they accept PayPal and major credit cards as safe payment methods
.
- No minimum orders
- 20% off retail price for dropshippers
- Free delivery for > 3 items purchase at once.
- Orders are packed for dispatch within 2 business days
2.
Deva Australia is a longstanding member of the Gifts & Homewares Association (AGHA) and they regularly exhibit at trade events. This is ideal for resellers who are simply starting out or on a tight budget. They do, however, have a flat freight charge of $16.50 (including GST) for wholesale orders within Australia. They accept Visa, MasterCard, EFT and PayPal as payment methods. They offer dropshipping as well.
- No minimum order requirement
- No additional dropship fee.
3.
Wilds Wood is an Australia based wholesaler and dropshipper of wooden watches. Their products are displayed on their website and can be readily accessed even without an account. Product description and specifications are available as well. You can use their pictures and descriptions to aid in your sale.
They can ship to your customers as well for no additional charge. You only pay for the product price itself and shipping fees, if any.
There is no online registration on their site for retailers. Feel free to reach out to them via email with a brief background of your business, where you intend to sell their merchandise, and your order requirements.
4.
This supplier is based in Australia manufacturing bespoke jewellery and home decors made from copper, resins, and precious stones. Every product is individually designed and handcrafted with high-quality materials and gemstones that are personally selected and brought from around the world.
Dropshippers can sell Resin Jewellery and Crystal Jewellery at a 20% discount, excluding postage costs. Products are made to order and subject to the availability of materials.
There is no minimum order requirement for dropshipping.
5.
This supplier established its business in 2009 with a manufacturing facility set in Thailand (Underwear Co, Ltd 1 Sukhumvit Soi 25, Sukhumvit Road, Level P Unit P01 Glas Haus, North Klongtoey, Wattana, Bangkok 10110 Thailand). They ship internationally and they accept PayPal and major credit cards as safe payment methods.
There is no minimum order requirement for dropshipping.
6.
Ozdingo is a family-owned online retail store based in Brisbane that offers both wholesale and dropshipping services. They started their business in 2014 and they accept PayPal and major credit cards as safe payment methods.
Among the products they carry are healthy foods, nutrition, supplements, dental hygiene, massagers, snoring solutions, essential oils supplies and accessories
As they stock only high-selling items, this guarantee a high-profit margin for sellers.
7.
Gem Candles started business in 2011, manufacturing and trading gem candles.
Their products are not ordinary candles as they are also a piece of jewelry. Some are massage candles and some are aromatic candles.
They ship internationally via TNT and they mainly accept PayPal as a safe payment method. Credit cards are also accepted.
They offer dropshipping within Australia only, $5 handling fee per order (not per item). Dropshipping prices are the same as wholesale.
No minimums for drop shipping.
8.
Smart Candles is based in Australia and they offer candles that are a very realistic alternative to real wax or naked flame lighting. No membership fees to get started.
They offer dropshipping, which you need to set up an account for.
9.
This supplier established its business in 2009 as a manufacturer of original Australian UGG boots and other sheepskin apparel, based in Sydney (Factory & Factory Outlet). They ship internationally and they accept major credit cards and PayPal as safe payment methods. FREE Australia wide shipping and FREE Worldwide shipping is available for all products made by this supplier. FREE shipping applies to initial order shipment.
Dropshipping service is available and a 20% commission is guaranteed to all approved dropshippers. Datafeed is available upon request.
There is no minimum order requirement for dropshipping.
10.
Disposable Camera Company is an Australia based company of wedding and party cameras. Their minimum order requirement is 8 cameras for wholesale orders.
You must have a registered account with them to place your orders as a retailer. ABN is also required from Australian retailers.
PayPal is their preferred payment method.
Dropshipping service is available upon request.
11.
Manufacturers of large soy ring candles, bath bombs, bath crumbles, & jewel scrubs with a surprise jewel inside with weekly bonus jewel offers. Each product comes with a randomly hidden jewel: a ring, earrings, pendant, necklace, or a bracelet. All jewels are all genuine 925 Sterling Silver Jewels. There do not use plated jewels so they are extremely high quality.
They offer a 14-day return/refund policy. Items accepted for return/refund should be unused, unopened and returned in original condition and packaging.
There is no minimum order requirement for dropshipping.
There is no minimum order requirement for dropshipping and there are no additional fees either aside for the product itself and shipping fees.
11.
This supplier is an Australian Owned company that began in 1995. Their products are designed to last a lifetime. By using the very best materials such as pure Australian wool, a durable oilskin fabric, strong leather handles and the toughest stitching to create an extensive range of products. They have received various awards for them, including the Reed Australian Gift Award in 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007 and recently the Best Father’s Day Range with our Golf products.
Products they offer:
- Thermal Bags
- Travel Purse
- Golf Bags
- Pet Supplies
- Product Care
- Corporate Gifts
- Clothing
13.
This supplier is an Australian-owned company focusing on essential oils and pieces of jewellery. They are extremely careful and picky about the products they choose and import to Australia in regards to the work ethics of their original manufacturer, their customer service and the quality of the products. Every single product gets quality checked in their warehouse in Melbourne before being shipped out to their customers. They ship internationally and they accept major credit cards and PayPal as safe payment methods.
There is no minimum order requirement to buy from this supplier.