Have you ever heard of dropshipping? Do you know how this business works? And how to dropship if you are living in South Africa?
Let’s find out!
Dropshipping is…
Dropshipping is an online business model where you act as an intermediary between a supplier and a buyer. That means you don’t have to manufacture (or buy), store, and ship products – it’s the seller’s responsibility! All you need to do is create a website, fill it with the information about the seller’s products, and promote these items online. When somebody places an order in your store, you simply redirect the details to the supplier – and keep the difference between the initial price and your price as your profit. It’s one of the most affordable ways to launch your own online business, that’s why it is gaining popularity in the world.
In South Africa dropshipping is a quite new ecommerce model. That’s why you can see the abundance of free market segments to occupy. Of course, dropshipping in South Africa has its own specifics – mostly, because of its remote geographic location. The delivery might take a long time and require high shipping fees (that’s why it’s better to find a local supplier!). Also, major payment gateways that are commonly used in the global ecommerce practice, are not available in South Africa. But these issues don’t stop a lot of dropshippers from starting this business and being successful in it!
We’ve prepared the information below to help you open an online store with a clear understanding how to dropship in South Africa to the domestic buyer. Below, you’ll find a 5-steps instruction on how to start dropshipping business.
How to start dropshipping in South Africa
So, you figured out what dropshipping is. You know how it works and you’re ready to begin! Ok, what’s the plan?
1. Do a research
To make a good start in business, you should know your target audience (their preferences, the amount of money they’re ready to spend on your products, the most trusted informational channels for promotion, etc). And, obviously, you must learn the laws of your buyers’ country of residence – taxes, customs’ policy, ban on some product import, and other bureaucratic things.
2. Select a niche
Select a niche that is competitive. Such products have high demand and can bring high profits. Still, make sure that you’ll be able to stand out from the competition thanks to a memorable brand image and a winning product range.
Also, it should be something you are interested in!
3. Look for supplier
In the end of the article you will find the best dropshipping suppliers in South Africa. But if you want to discover them on your own, it’s necessary to take the following ideas into account.
Your supplier must be trustworthy and flexible. So, when you come across sellers that seem promising to you, communicate with them, research their track record and don’t rush!
4. Make an online store or buy a ready one
Tech-savvy entrepreneurs can rely on plenty of user-friendly plugins and platforms to assemble fully functional dropshipping stores. As an alternative, it’s also possible to hire an expert team who would create a store from scratch according to your preferences, or even buy an already functioning ecommerce store. In any case, it’s vital to launch advertising on social networks (Facebook and Instagram) and promote your business by means of emails, content marketing and SEO. Don’t ignore promotion: it’s the only way to drive customers to your newly launched store!
5. Analyze statistics
In order to know how effective your steps for promotion and improvement are, you always need to track data and metrics. For these purposes, you can use Google Analytics. It’s a free service with all necessary tools for online business.
Dropshipping in South Africa is a new market trend which grows continuously. Those dropshippers who have already opened online stores have gained some experience that they share willingly together with their success stories. The market is full of opportunities because of its novelty. Don’t be afraid to experiment, search and explore! South Africa is a profitable territory for starting such business.
