7 Dropshipping Store Options for More Sales Channels

This article explores various avenues for entering the dropshipping sphere, including the creation of a personalized online store.

1. Dropshipping Store in Amazon

Amazon stands as the premier global online marketplace. While previously limited to U.S. residents, it now welcomes sellers from around the world.

Registering for a seller’s account involves selecting a Selling Plan, with the Professional plan offering unlimited sales for $39.99 monthly. Additional fees include referral and variable closing fees.

To register for a store on Amazon, you typically need to follow these steps:

1. Visit Amazon Seller Central: Go to the Amazon Seller Central website (sellercentral.amazon.com).
2. Create an Account: If you don’t have an Amazon seller account, you’ll need to create one. Click on the “Register now” button and follow the prompts to set up your account. You’ll need to provide some basic information about yourself and your business.
3. Choose a Selling Plan: Amazon offers different selling plans, including Individual and Professional plans. Select the plan that best fits your needs.
4. Provide Business Information: You’ll need to provide details about your business, including its name, address, and contact information.
5. Verify Your Identity: Amazon may require you to verify your identity to ensure that you’re a legitimate seller. This may involve providing additional documentation, such as a government-issued ID or utility bill.
6. Set Up Your Store: Once your account is set up, you can start setting up your store on Amazon. This involves creating product listings, setting prices, and configuring shipping options.
7. Submit Your Products: Upload your product listings to Amazon’s platform. Make sure to provide accurate descriptions, images, and other relevant information to attract potential buyers.
8. Manage Your Store: Once your store is up and running, you’ll need to manage it effectively. This includes monitoring sales, handling customer inquiries, and optimizing your listings for better visibility.
9. Comply with Amazon Policies: Make sure to familiarize yourself with Amazon’s seller policies and guidelines to ensure that you’re operating within their rules and regulations.

Amazon’s prominence in the e-commerce landscape cannot be overstated. With its vast customer base and robust infrastructure, it serves as an attractive platform for dropshipping endeavors. Previously restricted to U.S. residents, Amazon now extends its seller program to individuals worldwide, opening doors for aspiring entrepreneurs globally.

2. Dropshipping Store in eBay

Initially an auction site, eBay has evolved to accommodate both new and used items, making it a viable platform for dropshipping.

To register for a store on eBay, here’s what you typically need to do:

1. Go to eBay’s Website: Visit eBay’s website (www.ebay.com).
2. Sign Up for an Account: If you don’t already have an eBay account, you’ll need to sign up for one. Click on the “Register” link at the top of the page and follow the prompts to create your account. You’ll need to provide some basic information, such as your name, email address, and a password.
3. Choose a Selling Plan: eBay offers different selling plans, including Individual and Business plans. Review the options and select the plan that best fits your needs.
4. Provide Business Information: If you’re signing up for a business account, you’ll need to provide additional information about your business, such as its name, address, and contact details.
5. Verify Your Identity: eBay may require you to verify your identity to ensure that you’re a legitimate seller. This may involve providing additional documentation, such as a government-issued ID or utility bill.
6. Set Up Your Store: Once your account is set up, you can start setting up your store on eBay. This involves creating product listings, setting prices, and configuring shipping options.
7. List Your Products: Upload your product listings to eBay’s platform. Make sure to provide accurate descriptions, images, and other relevant information to attract potential buyers.
8. Manage Your Store: Once your store is up and running, you’ll need to manage it effectively. This includes monitoring sales, handling customer inquiries, and optimizing your listings for better visibility.
9. Comply with eBay Policies: Make sure to familiarize yourself with eBay’s seller policies and guidelines to ensure that you’re operating within their rules and regulations.

eBay, renowned for its auction-style listings and diverse product offerings, serves as another viable platform for dropshipping ventures. While its origins lie in facilitating the sale of second-hand items, eBay has evolved into a marketplace encompassing both new and used goods, providing sellers with a broad audience to showcase their products.

• Sellers must disclose the item’s location on product listings, adhering to eBay’s guidelines.
• Fees for selling on eBay vary by country and include insertion, auction, and fixed-price fees.

Fees associated with selling on eBay vary by country and are contingent upon factors such as listing format (auction vs. fixed price) and item category. Sellers incur insertion fees for listing products and may encounter additional charges for optional listing upgrades and promotional features. Moreover, eBay’s final value fees, calculated as a percentage of the total sale price, contribute to the overall cost structure of selling on the platform.

3. Your Own Dropshipping Store

Creating a personalized e-commerce store offers autonomy in branding and product selection. Platforms like Shopify, Magento, and WooCommerce facilitate store creation, though incurring monthly hosting fees. Transaction fees, typically around 2%, apply to payments processed through chosen payment gateways.

4. Dropshipping Store in Facebook

Leveraging Facebook’s expansive user base, sellers can establish shops or utilize Facebook Marketplace for direct selling.

To set up a store on Facebook, you can use Facebook Shops. Here’s how to do it:

1. Access Facebook Commerce Manager: Go to Facebook Commerce Manager (https://www.facebook.com/commerce_manager/) and log in to your Facebook account. If you don’t have a Facebook account, you’ll need to create one.
2. Navigate to Commerce Manager: Once logged in, navigate to the Commerce Manager section. You can find this in the Facebook Business Suite or through the Business Manager if you have one set up.
3. Set Up Your Shop: In Commerce Manager, follow the prompts to set up your shop. You’ll need to enter basic information about your business, such as its name, address, and contact details.
4. Add Products: After setting up your shop, you can start adding products to your catalog. Provide details about each product, including images, descriptions, and prices.
5. Customize Your Shop: Customize your shop to reflect your brand and showcase your products effectively. You can choose a cover image, arrange your products into categories, and add additional information about your business.
6. Configure Settings: Configure settings such as shipping options, payment methods, and return policies to ensure a smooth shopping experience for your customers.
7. Publish Your Shop: Once you’re satisfied with how your shop looks, publish it so that customers can start browsing and purchasing your products.
8. Promote Your Shop: Use Facebook’s advertising tools to promote your shop and reach a wider audience. You can create targeted ads to reach specific demographics or use retargeting ads to reach people who have already shown interest in your products.
9. Manage Your Shop: Monitor your shop regularly to track sales, respond to customer inquiries, and manage orders. Stay engaged with your audience by posting updates, promotions, and new product announcements.

By following these steps, you can set up a shop on Facebook and start selling your products directly to customers on the platform.

Engagement within niche-specific groups enables targeted product promotion, albeit without an integrated payment processor.

Unlike traditional e-commerce platforms, Facebook does not offer integrated payment processing solutions for transactions conducted within the platform. As such, sellers must coordinate payment methods with buyers independently, utilizing external payment gateways like PayPal or bank transfers to facilitate transactions securely.

5. Dropshipping Store in a Blog

Integrating e-commerce capabilities into a blog expands revenue streams beyond traditional advertising or affiliate marketing. WordPress plugins like WooCommerce facilitate seamless product integration, while product-focused blog posts serve as effective sales pages.

RELATED: 5 Online Businesses to Make Lots of Money

6. Dropshipping Store in Etsy

Catering to artisans and creators, Etsy provides a dedicated marketplace for handmade and vintage goods.

To set up a store on Etsy, follow these steps:

1. Sign Up for an Etsy Account: If you don’t already have one, visit the Etsy website (www.etsy.com) and sign up for an account. You can do this by clicking on “Sign in” or “Register” at the top right corner of the homepage.
2. Open Your Shop: Once you’re logged in, click on the “Sell on Etsy” option, usually found at the top right corner of the homepage. Follow the prompts to open your shop.
3. Choose Your Shop Name: Select a unique name for your shop. Make sure it reflects your brand and is easy for customers to remember.
4. Set Up Your Shop: Fill in the details about your shop, including policies, payment methods, and shipping options. You can customize your shop’s appearance by adding a banner, logo, and shop announcement.
5. Create Listings: Start adding your products to your shop by creating listings. Include high-quality photos, detailed descriptions, and relevant tags to make your products easy to find.
6. Price Your Items: Set prices for your items, taking into account materials, labor, and any other costs associated with making or sourcing your products.
7. Manage Your Inventory: Keep track of your inventory to ensure that you have enough stock to fulfill orders. You can also set up variations for your listings, such as different sizes or colors.
8. Promote Your Shop: Utilize Etsy’s built-in promotion tools, such as Etsy Ads and Promoted Listings, to increase visibility for your shop. You can also promote your shop through social media, email marketing, and collaborations with other sellers.
9. Provide Excellent Customer Service: Respond promptly to customer inquiries and address any issues or concerns they may have. Providing excellent customer service can help you build a loyal customer base and receive positive reviews.
10. Manage Orders: Keep track of incoming orders and fulfill them in a timely manner. Make sure to communicate with customers throughout the shipping process and provide tracking information when available.

Sellers establish shops within Etsy, with fees including listing and transaction costs, along with optional subscription fees for enhanced features.

Fees associated with selling on Etsy include listing fees, transaction fees, and optional subscription fees for enhanced features and visibility. Sellers incur a nominal fee of $0.20 per item listed, with transaction fees amounting to 5% of the total sale price, including shipping costs.

7. Dropshipping Store in Pinterest

Utilizing Pinterest’s visual platform, sellers can showcase products through pins, with the potential to create Buyable Pins for direct purchases.

To set up a shop on Pinterest, you’ll need to use Pinterest’s Shopping features. Here’s how to do it:

1. Create a Business Account: If you haven’t already, sign up for a Pinterest business account. You can do this by converting your existing personal account or creating a new one specifically for your business.
2. Apply for Pinterest Shopping: Apply for access to Pinterest’s Shopping features. You can do this by going to the “Settings” section of your Pinterest account, selecting “Shopping,” and following the prompts to apply. Note that not all countries support Pinterest Shopping at the moment.
3. Set Up Your Shop: Once you’re approved for Pinterest Shopping, you can start setting up your shop. Go to the “Shopping” section in your Pinterest account settings and follow the prompts to set up your shop. You’ll need to provide details about your business, including your website and tax information.
4. Claim Your Website: If you have a website where you sell your products, you’ll need to claim it on Pinterest. This involves adding some code to your website or verifying ownership through other methods.
5. Create Product Pins: Start creating Product Pins for the items you want to sell. Product Pins include details like the product name, description, price, and a link to purchase the item. You can create Product Pins manually or use Pinterest’s Catalogs feature to upload your product feed.
6. Organize Your Boards: Organize your boards to showcase your products effectively. Create boards based on different categories or themes, and make sure to feature your Product Pins prominently.
7. Promote Your Products: Use Pinterest’s advertising tools to promote your products and reach a wider audience. You can create Promoted Pins to target specific demographics or interests.
8. Engage with Your Audience: Stay engaged with your audience by regularly pinning new content, responding to comments and messages, and participating in group boards and communities related to your niche.

Advertisements, known as Promoted Pins, operate on a cost-per-click model, driving traffic to product listings.

It’s worth noting that Pinterest’s advertising policies prohibit certain promotional content, including explicit price information, calls to action, and promotional language.

As such, sellers must craft compelling visuals and messaging that adhere to Pinterest’s guidelines while effectively conveying the value proposition of their products.

8. Dropshipping Store in Instagram

Although lacking direct selling features, Instagram serves as a visually appealing platform for product promotion.

To set up a shop on Instagram, you’ll need to use Instagram’s Shopping features. Here’s how to do it:

1. Ensure Eligibility: Before you start, make sure your Instagram account meets the eligibility requirements for Instagram Shopping. Your account must be a business or creator account, and you need to comply with Instagram’s merchant agreement and commerce policies.
2. Connect to Facebook: Your Instagram account must be connected to a Facebook Page. This is because Instagram Shopping is powered by Facebook’s Commerce Manager. If you haven’t already connected your Instagram account to a Facebook Page, you can do so in your Instagram account settings.
3. Set Up Your Catalog: Create a product catalog using Facebook’s Commerce Manager. You can do this by uploading a product feed or manually adding products. Make sure your catalog includes all the necessary information, such as product names, descriptions, prices, and images.
4. Enable Shopping on Instagram: Once your catalog is set up, go to your Instagram account settings and navigate to the “Business” section. From there, tap on “Shopping” and follow the prompts to connect your Instagram account to your product catalog.
5. Create Shopping Posts: Start creating posts that feature your products. When you create a new post, you’ll have the option to tag products from your catalog. Tag products by tapping on the “Tag Products” button and selecting the products you want to feature.
6. Use Shopping Stickers in Stories: You can also feature your products in Instagram Stories using Shopping Stickers. When you create a new story, tap on the sticker icon and select the “Product” sticker. Then, search for the product you want to feature and add it to your story.
7. Promote Your Products: Use Instagram’s advertising tools to promote your products and reach a wider audience. You can create ads that feature your products and target specific demographics or interests.
8. Engage with Your Audience: Stay engaged with your audience by responding to comments and messages, posting regularly, and using hashtags to increase visibility. Encourage followers to shop directly from your Instagram posts and stories.

Sellers engage with potential buyers through visually enticing posts, directing inquiries to external payment methods like PayPal.

Summary: Dropshipping Store Options

In conclusion, dropshipping offers a wealth of opportunities for entrepreneurs to generate revenue online. By leveraging the diverse array of platforms and channels available, sellers can reach a broad audience of potential buyers and cultivate successful businesses in the digital age.

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