Dropshipping Business Ideas & Steps to Start a Successful One
– Dropshipping Business Ideas –
If you’re on the fence about starting your online business, we mean to help you go through that uncertainty. If you’ve ever heard or come across dropshipping and would love to take that business line, we’ve got you.
In this article, you’ll learn how to start a dropshipping business and business ideas of profitable items to sell.
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What Is a Dropshipping Business?
Dropshipping is a business model which you can use to run your store without ever holding any inventory.
Once you’ve made a sale, your supplier will ship your products directly to your consumer from their warehouse.
You’ll never have to worry about your products being stored, packaged, or shipped again.
Dropshipping is a three-step business strategy in which your client places an order, the order is transmitted directly to the dropshipping supplier, and the dropshipping supplier ships it to your customer.
You only have to worry about marketing and getting the sale because the dropshipping supplier has their own warehouse. The rest is handled by the dropshipping supplier.
How Does the Dropshipping Business Model Work?
Dropshipping is an order fulfillment method that lets store owners sell directly to consumers without stocking any inventory.
When a customer purchases a product from a dropshipping store, a third-party supplier ships it directly to them.
The customer pays the retail price you set, you pay the suppliers’ wholesale price, and the rest is profit. You never have to handle products or invest in inventory.
In order to sell the best dropshipping products, you just need to register an account with a supplier.
Two common ways to find a supplier for your dropshipping store are:
- Through a supplier database, like Dropship Direct, Alibaba, or AliExpress.
- Using an integrated supplier directory in your store’s backend, like Oberlo.
The easiest dropshipping process for Shopify stores is through Oberlo. You can source millions of products from the Oberlo marketplace through AliExpress and import them directly to your store with the click of a button.
In the dropshipping business model, you are responsible for creating a website and your own brand, as well as choosing and marketing the products you want to sell.
Your business is also responsible for shipping costs and establishing prices that result in a good profit margin.
Key Players in the Dropshipping Business Model?
There are three key players in the dropshipping business model: the manufacturer, the retailer (you) and the customer.
The manufacturer’s role in a dropshipping business model includes creating products, carrying inventory, shipping products to customers on behalf of the retailer, replacing defective products, and restocking them.
They sell products to the retailer at wholesale prices assuming the risk of unsold inventory.
In the dropshipping business model, the retailer (you), sell the manufacturer’s products on your website under your own brand.
Advantages of the Dropshipping Business
- You don’t have to worry about having a physical stock of products before you can sell something to your customers.
- The supplier is responsible for the products in his own stores and will take care of shipping or supplying the customers in your own name.
- Customers don’t have to know you are a middle man
- It’s relatively quick and easy to start.
- Great opportunity to make passive income
- You can start from home.
- It’s easy to scale up when your customer base increases.
Most Profitable Dropshipping Business Ideas
These are some of the most profitable items to consider if you need dropshipping business ideas.
1. Gaming Headset
This is one of the most successful dropshipping business ideas. The video gaming market is huge! It is expected to be worth over 200 billion U.S. dollars by 2023. And a gaming necessity includes a good headset.
If you take a look at Google Trends you will see gaming headsets have been in demand for the last year. Perhaps getting into the gaming niche could be a good option!
2. Bluetooth Speaker
This is one of the most successful dropshipping business ideas. Big brands like UE and Beats helped to make Bluetooth speakers cool and pretty much every electronics company has joined the party.
You might think Bluetooth speakers would be a saturated market by now – and you may be right – but there are still opportunities to find untapped corners of this niche.
A recent study found the portable speaker market is expected to experience a compound annual growth rate of 29% between 2020-2024.
3. Smart Watches
Similar to fitness trackers, smart watches have been finding their stride in recent years. Picked up by early adopters, smart watches are now strapped around the wrists of technology stragglers.
The rise of wearable technology is likely to see smart watches become more a part of our lives. Worldwide wearables sales are predicted to grow by an average of 20% each year over the next five years.
It means that smart watches aren’t going anywhere soon and if you’re thinking about getting into an electronics-related niche, smart watches might a good option.
4. Wooden Watches
If you’re looking for startup business ideas in the fashion accessories market, wooden watches are worth exploring. Wooden watches have become markedly more popular in the last three years.
They are the antithesis of smartwatches, tapping into the eco-friendly, non-toxic, natural product movement. The global watch market is predicted to grow by more than 4% between 2021-2025.
And while it is a crowded market dominated by big name brands, there are still opportunities to capitalize on the popularity of wooden watches, especially with some crafty branding and marketing.
5. Muslin Blankets
Also known as swaddle blankets, muslin blankets have skyrocketed in popularity over recent years. Muslin is a lightweight, finely-woven, breathable cotton fabric.
If you’re looking for the best baby products to sell online, you should seriously consider adding muslin blankets to your store.
There are plenty of ways to differentiate yourself by stocking a variety of patterns, styles, sizes, and materials. As long as we keep having babies, there will always be high demand for baby products.
6. Teeth Whitening Kit
This is one of the most successful dropshipping business ideas. The high cost of professional dental treatment and the rise of personal care products has seen increased interest in teeth whitening kits.
Something happened in 2015 that saw these dental kits take-off and they’ve continued to ride a wave of popularity. Everyone has teeth, so you can be sure there will be steady demand.
Research predicts the global teeth whitening products market to reach $7.4 billion by 2024. And there is growing consumer preference for over-the-counter products in countries such as Germany, France, UK, India and China.
7. Hair Growth Serum
Dropshipping hair products is a great idea for a number of reasons. Firstly, the fact that the global haircare market is expected to reach USD 211.1 billion by 2025 (this may be reason enough to think about entering!).
But also because hair products are an everyday need. Think shampoos, hair color, brushes, etc.
There is a wide variety of products to choose from and you also have the opportunity to build recurring customers. One specific item you could sell is hair growth serum.
Hair loss is a big source of insecurity amongst men in particular. And as you can see from Google Trends the interest in hair growth serum is booming, so tapping into this market could be beneficial.
8. USB Charging Dock
This is one of the most successful dropshipping business ideas. Interest in USB charging docks has fluctuated over time but remains high. USB charging docks allows you to charge multiple USB devices via one power outlet.
They have become a necessary household hack to keep those smartphones, tablets, watches etc charged. If you want a slice of a $37.89 billion market by 2025, then USB charging docks could be a winner.
9. Baby Carrier
Even though babies have needed carrying since forever, for some reason interest in baby carriers has been on the rise. You can get all sorts of carriers, but the most popular are baby slings, wraps and soft-structured carriers.
Their popularity can be linked to the “attachment parenting” trend. This dropshipping niche presents many options for aspiring entrepreneurs.
10. Smoothie Blender
If you haven’t heard the hype around smoothie blenders, you’ve been living under a rock. These home appliances are part of the health food craze that has people blending kale, spinach and chia seeds into a breakfast beverage.
While there are some big brands like Magic Bullet and Nutri Ninja that seem to dominate this market, there are plenty of opportunities to make money from blenders online.
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11. Organic Tea
This is one of the most successful dropshipping business ideas. Organic tea is hip with health-conscious consumers. Interest in tea has increased gradually over the years and many online sellers are capitalizing on it.
This is because there are so many varieties of tea and potential for trendy branding and marketing.
Varieties such as matcha, chaga, and turmeric teas are a few options, and you can always create your own blends. Plus, the organic tea market is predicted to grow by more than 16% between 2020 and 2027.
So, it might be worth thinking about entering this market!
12. Bluetooth Headphones
This is one of the most successful dropshipping business ideas. With Apple ditching the headphone jack from the latest iPhone, Bluetooth headphones (and earphones) have become a big deal.
It is hugely appealing to no longer have to deal with tangled headphone cords, or have them getting in the way at the gym. Consumers expect wireless products these days, so demand is strong.
The headphone and earphone market is expected to exceed $25 billion by 2025 and Bluetooth technology is fueling that growth.
13. Seamless Underwear
What do celebrities wear on the red carpet underneath their elaborate, expensive dresses? Seamless underwear, apparently! It’s not only super comfortable, but it also prevents “panty lines” created by seams.
Aside from a huge spike in interest in 2009, seamless underwear has become increasingly popular. If you’re looking for dropshipping ideas in the womenswear or underwear markets, you’ll definitely want to invest in seamless garments.
14. Security Cameras
This is one of the most successful dropshipping business ideas. The global home security market is expected to grow by 8% by 2025 and DIY security systems are expected to grow the most during this period.
For whatever reason, people are investing heavily in DIY home security. Tapping into this demand could be a great online business idea for aspiring entrepreneurs.
15. Anti-aging Cream
If you’re looking for one of the best trending products this could be it! Everyone ages, and (almost) everyone cares about how they look.
The global anti-aging market is worth 58.5 billion US dollars and is expected to grow by 7%between 2021- 2026! It’s huge. Google Trends data for anti-aging cream shows that interest has been increasing steadily.
If you’re looking for business ideas in the personal care market and you want guaranteed demand, anti-aging cream is for you.
16. Beard Oil
A market that barely existed in 2013 is now a major player in 2021. Beards are cool again thanks to hipsters and lumbersexuals. And with that has come a surge in beard care products, particularly beard oil.
The global beard oil market is set to grow by over 3% during 2022-2027. While a lot of brands have latched onto this trend already, you may have success if you can brand and market a beard oil product creatively.
17. Yoga Mat
This is one of the most successful dropshipping business ideas. The same consumers that wear wooden watches, use smoothie blenders, and drink organic tea are probably doing yoga.
It’s the epitome of new age, Eastern, health-conscious practices that have taken over the Western world.
Sure, there are a lot of online business already selling yoga mats, but if you can find a way to make yours stand out, there’s money to be made. The yoga mat market is expected to grow by 8% between 2021-2026.
18. Yoga Leggings
If yoga mats are too niche for you, yoga leggings might be a better business idea. Yoga leggings are worn for yoga, but can also be used at the gym, jogging, walking the dog, or grabbing a quick coffee at a cafe.
The activewear trend has created a booming market. You could look at getting a private label product started with your own brand and designs if you want your business to really stand out online.
19. Wall Decal or Stickers
Yes, stickers! They have been a stable trend and steadily growing in popularity. Especially in the home and decor niche with people decorating their lounge and bedroom walls.
There are many stickers to choose from including home related stickers, bumper stickers, or vinyl stickers to name a few. The great thing about selling stickers is you can tie them in with another niche like home and decor, kids’ toys, or become a sticker guru. Up to you!
20. Face Roller
Face rollers are a trendy new health and beauty product made from crystals. They are becoming incredibly popular on social media and with beauty bloggers and influencers.
What’s so great about them you ask? Well, they are supposed to offer awesome skin benefits such as increasing blood circulation, tightening skin plus cooling inflammation to name a few.
Looking at Google Trends and taking into account the social media following for this product, you might like to add these items to your health and beauty store!
21. Facial Mask
Facial masks have long been a popular wellness dropshipping item, but with new trends emerging every few months, there’s always potential to make money by staying ahead of the curve.
A quick search of the #facemask hashtag on Instagram shows hundreds of thousands of people experimenting with different formulas, from charcoal to gold, caffeine, and clay. Celebrities and Instagram influencers are fueling this trend.
22. Waterproof Bag
Interest in waterproof bags, also known as dry bags, has been slowly increasing over time. They are typically made from synthetic materials and coated with waterproofing, used to protect digital devices, clothing, and other items during water-based activities.
Their popularity may be linked to backpacking and outdoor sports, such as hiking, kayaking, sailing etc.
They could also be marketed to families for days at the beach or by the swimming pool. If your startup idea is outdoors related, waterproof bags would be a good fit.
23. Insulated Bottle
This is one of the most successful dropshipping business ideas. The reusable water bottle market is set to grow by over 4% from 2021-2028 and is worth over 61.74 billion.
If your business idea can tap into a small share of the total market, you could be away laughing. Insulated bottles keep liquid cold or hot, they help to rid the world of single-use plastic bottles, and they look cool.
24. Electric Massager
Massagers have experienced a gradual rise in popularity, suggesting steady market demand. Online sellers are having success with handheld electric massagers.
Consumers are becoming more conscious of self-care and electric massagers can help with chronic pain relief and injury rehabilitation. The global electric massager market is expected to grow by about 6% a year till 2024.
25. Matcha
Matcha is powdered green tea leaves, which is typically mixed with hot water. Its popularity is linked to the health food trend that has seen increased demand for organic tea.
There are said to be many health benefits of matcha, including boosting metabolism, detoxifying the body, and enhancing mood and concentration. Matcha is a great entry or addition to an eCommerce business that sells health products.
26. Sports Bra
This is one of the most successful dropshipping business ideas. The sports bra is the new t-shirt, according to this Time article, and they’re giving the lingerie market a run for its money.
Celebrities such as Selena Gomez, Bella Hadid, and the Kardashians have been promoting sports bras a high-fashion favorite.
They are no longer simply workout wear for the gym and have been adapted to cater to women’s multi-dimensional lifestyles.
The hype around sports bras has seen major brands flood the market. However, if you’re looking to get into dropshipping lingerie or a killer new business idea, there are plenty of opportunities to tap into the skyrocketing popularity of sports bras.
27. Anti-dandruff Shampoo
Environmental and dietary factors are leading to more people experiencing dandruff and searching for shampoo treatments online. The global anti-dandruff shampoo market is set to grow by over 3% during 2020-2025.
28. Phone Cases
The phone accessory market is a hot niche to tap into. Just think about the number of people in the world that have a phone. The market is huge with many winning products!
It’s kind of a big deal and forecast to grow to 74.43 billion U.S. dollars by 2026 (in the USA).
Most people with a phone buy one or more accessories to go with it and phone cases are no exception. Plus there are a variety of cases you could put on your store from wallets, life-proof, protective, or aesthetic to name a few!
29. Smartphone Tripod
Phone tripod searches have been growing over the past few years. This could be due to the rise in smartphone photography and everyone wanting to get that Instagram worthy shot!
But they are also handy to have in the office for hands-free business calls. Whatever the reason, phone tripods are popular and could be worth adding to your phone accessory store!
30. Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is one of the darlings of the natural products industry. Known for its antiseptic properties, it is one of the most popular essential oils money can buy.
It’s also said to help with acne, bacterial and fungal infections, head lice, and psoriasis. Not to mention its uses as a natural deodorant, insect repellant, and laundry freshener.
If you can find a way to carve out a corner of the tea tree oil market with your new online business, you’d be onto a good thing.
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31. Tote Bags
Tote bags have become an essential fashion item for women. They’ve been steadily increasing in popularity.
This is partly because they are a form of self-expression, more environmentally friendly than plastic bags, and more ethical than leather.
Most tote bags are made of sturdy cloth or canvas material, but the styles and designs are limitless.
32. LED Lamp
This is one of the most successful dropshipping business ideas. Starting an online business that promotes energy efficiency is a good move in today’s conscious consumer environment.
LED lamps and lights are exactly that. They make consumers feel good by conserving energy at home while also saving them money on power bills.
LED lamps also come in a range of designs, including some pretty cool 3D optical illusion lamps. The LED lighting market is predicted to experience a compound annual growth rate of 13%, which is huge by any standard. It’s a growing market ripe for the right eCommerce business idea.
33. Sunglasses
Sunglasses are not exactly trending upwards on Google Trends. But it’s clear that they experience seasonal spikes.
The reason sunglasses are a great dropshipping niche that will make you money is that they’re cheap to make and highly versatile.
If you can be ahead of the curve with sunglasses fashion you can cash in before others catch on. Sunglasses are also a great option for private labeling, which adds instant value to your product.
34. Men’s Grooming Products
The trend around men’s grooming paints an interesting picture. This market experiences massive peaks just ahead of Christmas each year and then dies off majorly. But don’t be put off by seasonal business ideas.
This trend goes to show that there’s a lot of money to be made from men’s grooming products every Christmas and with the right marketing to the right people, you could have serious success with this business idea.
Think body wash, deodorant, shaving kits, cologne – all things that men need that make great Christmas gifts.
35. Calligraphy Pens
Calligraphy is experiencing a revival. The ancient art of lettering is popular again, believed to be linked to the rise of adult coloring-in and mindfulness craft activities.
Some boutique companies are turning to calligraphy for their branding and signage and the artform is even gaining a following on Instagram and Pinterest.
The hype has led to a steady increase in search queries, which makes this a great dropshipping niche for an arts and crafts online store.
36. Eyelash Extensions
Kim Kardashian and Youtube beauty tutorials have had a major influence on the popularity of eyelash extensions. The false eyelash market is huge and set to reach 1.8 billion by 2024!
People used to have to go to salons to get eyelash extensions, but now you can do it yourself at home. While this is a saturated market, a motivated online seller with a strong business idea can still have success with eyelash extensions.
37. Artificial Flowers
This is one of the most successful dropshipping business ideas. Fake flowers are becoming increasingly popular at weddings for brides (and grooms) who want to save money. They’re also decorative around the home and office.
Even Vogue magazine says “it’s time to reconsider fake flowers”. The main benefits of fake flowers are that they don’t wilt and die and they’re easy to ship and transport.
If you’re looking to get into the wedding market, artificial flowers could be your first step down the aisle.
38. Kids’ Tent
This is one of the most successful dropshipping business ideas. Kids love building forts and escaping into their little worlds of fun and imagination. But these days forts come ready-made as kids play tents.
They’re a trending product in the children’s toys market and a great business idea for anyone looking to get into this niche.
The Little Dove Kid’s Foldable Teepee Play Tent looks like a great option with low competition, a $55 average sale price, and 50% sell rate.
39. Rice Cooker
So it looks like the world’s figured out that cooking rice on the stove is harder than it sounds and discovered the revolution that is rice cookers that deliver perfect rice every time.
Rice cookers have become an essential household item, much like smoothie blenders above.
If you’re looking at starting a business in the kitchen appliance or kitchenware niche, adding rice cookers to your list could be a winner.
40. Air Fryer
This is one of the most successful dropshipping business ideas. The best invention of all time… Making fried food healthy! There are a few reasons why the air fryer has taken off since 2017.
Part of the reason is the rise in conscious consumers, the fact more people are spending time at home, and the development of new technology.
For whatever reason, the sales aren’t set to drop any time soon as the market is expected to reach $1.2 billion by 2026. So why not grab your piece of the pie!
41. Duvet Cover
This is one of the most successful dropshipping business ideas. A comfy duvet cover is a practical household item that has seen steady growth in search results over the last few years.
And, so has the bedding market which is estimated to continue growing, reaching 147 billion U.S. dollars by 2028.
People are investing in their home furnishings now more than ever and adding duvet covers to your eCommerce store could be a great idea!
42. Sleep Gummies
The world is not getting enough sleep and in the USA alone, 50-70 million adults have a sleep disorder. It seems more and more people are needing sleeping aids to assist them in getting a good night’s shut-eye.
That’s where sleep gummies come in. They are a candy with melatonin added which is a natural hormone that helps regulate sleep.
They are an alternative option over heavier sleep medications and search interest for them has sparked in the last few years.
If your dropshipping business niche is in the health & wellness industry then perhaps sleep gummies could be a great product to add to your store!
43. Electric Toothbrush
Electric toothbrush searches have been on an upward trend over the last few years.
Although they have been around for a while it seems people still love them, especially around Christmas time. And the global market is expected to grow and reach $2163 Million by the end of 2026 (USD).
44. Sports Tracksuit
This is one of the most successful dropshipping business ideas. Nope, not just for sports teams! Tracksuits are a fashion statement! They are an outfit combining pants and usually a hoodie/sweatshirt (sometimes matching).
They are a hit with men, women, and children and a part of the athleisure market which is expected to continue growing!
If you are thinking of entering the clothing market it could be seriously worth thinking about adding sports tracksuits to your eCommerce store!
45. HIIT Equipment
The fitness niche is one of the top ecommerce niches. It is evergreen, stable and profitable for the most savvy ecommerce entrepreneurs.
HIIT (high intensity interval training) workouts keep rising in popularity; you’ll hit a home run with this niche if you choose to start an online business selling HIIT equipment.
You can dropship armbands, jump ropes, medicine balls, and other smaller items with less shipping cost. This is a great idea for a small business startup. This ecommerce business idea has been trending upwards for a while now
Start your online marketing first by analyzing the competitive space. Workout equipment (generally) is a competitive keyword but ranking for HIIT equipment is not as competitive. You have high demand, ad success potential with video marketing, and a lot of cross-sell opportunities.
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FAQs
How Profitable is Dropshipping?
Dropshipping can be the most profitable business model of all, as you are not responsible for the costs of shipping and manufacturing.
Because of this profits can quickly be reaped once you have found the right suppliers. You can calculate your profit to ensure you are on the right track to success with a Profit Margin Tool.
Why Is Starting a Dropshipping Business a Good Idea?
A dropshipping business is a low-risk business model. When it comes to startup costs, you only pay for products that you sell to paying customers.
You don’t become overburdened with the cost of creating products, carrying inventory, costs of maintaining unsold inventory, and the cost of employees for packaging and shipping products.
It will require daily work when it comes to processing orders. However, most of the order processing steps are automated and require a click of a button.
Can You Make Money Dropshipping?
Yes, you can make money through dropshipping, like many of our successful merchants continue to do.
Dropshipping allows you to find products with huge profit potential, and set up a business selling them.
When you are motivated to sell products you are more likely to invest more time into promotion and marketing, leading to more profits from your endeavors.
Dropshipping is a worthwhile investment of both time and money. You will never realize the benefits of your online business if you do not invest time in it.
The lack of consistency and perseverance is one of the reasons why people abandon dropshipping.
Setting up a store, importing products, deciding on a price plan, and starting to sell take time with dropshipping. Nothing will happen until you put forth effort.
If this was helpful, do well to share with your family and friends, and also, leave your opinions in the comment below.
