What is dropshipping?

Who does what?

1. The customer orders and pays through your store.
2. You, the seller, send the correct item, variant, address and any personalisation details to your supplier, then pay the supplier under your agreement.
3. The supplier sources or makes the item, packs it and sends it directly to the customer.

You still own the customer relationship. You need accurate listings, a realistic delivery estimate and a process for questions, returns and order problems. The exact division of work depends on the supplier you choose.

What should you check before selling?

Ask for the price including shipping to your customer's destination, the time needed before dispatch, the delivery estimate after dispatch and how tracking is shared. Confirm whether the supplier can send one order at a time, which products or variants are in stock, and how they handle damage or a wrong item.

If the product is personalised, agree how each customer's text or artwork reaches the maker and who checks the proof before production. Get those details in writing for the product you intend to list.

Where does a private supplier fit?

A private supplier can give you a direct contact for quotes and order details rather than leaving you to interpret a marketplace listing. That does not automatically make every product suitable for dropshipping. Check the supplier's stock, minimums and individual dispatch process first. Read what we mean by a private supplier.