You’re interested in dropshipping. And there’s good reason to be. The dropshipping market is growing fast and is expected to be valued at USD 1,253.79 billion by 2030.
But to succeed, you need reliable supply partners who can deliver quality products on time and handle fulfillment smoothly.
How do you find these suppliers? Who are the dependable ones? And what should you look for when evaluating potential partners?
In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to find dropshipping suppliers that can help you build a profitable business.
Key Takeaways: Finding Dropshipping Suppliers
- You can find dropshipping suppliers by exploring common marketplaces, using dropshipping apps, and via direct contact.
- Tools like ZIK Analytics allow you to reverse engineer competitor suppliers and match winning products to vendors.
- Most dropshipping platforms offer filters like location, reviews, and rating to help you narrow down results.
- You can vet dropshipping supplies by placing a small test order and evaluating their product quality, shipping speed, and overall customer experience.
Method 1: Find Winning Dropshipping Products & Match Them to Suppliers
Before anything else, you should try the tactic of finding winning items and matching them to suppliers via tools.
ZIK Analytics is designed to help you do exactly that. With our Shopify Product Explorer tool, you can research items across categories and use metrics such as sell-through rate and estimated revenue to identify potential winners for your store.
Go to your ZIK dashboard, change your marketplace to Shopify, and then choose Product Explorer from the left tab.
Inside Product Explorer, enter the keyword that best describes your item and choose from filters like currency, language, and product type (in our case, it’s dropshipping).
Click the Search button and then ZIK will give you a list of items currently being sold on the market.
To match a product to a Shopify supplier, click on the box icon containing the AliExpress logo in the last column. This triggers the Search Aliexpress by image function of the tool.
ZIK will then match the product to suppliers on AliExpress and Alibaba. Additionally, it will show you the profit margin and ROI you can expect to achieve by dropshipping that particular item.
You can then analyze the products and add the ones that make sense to your store in a few clicks.
Method 2: Using Dropshipping Apps
Many store owners prefer using dropshipping apps to find suppliers, and for good reason.
These apps integrate directly with verified suppliers and offer advanced filtering tools to help you narrow down results.
Some of the best Shopify dropshipping apps to use include:
Spocket
The Spocket app connects you to a curated network for US and EU suppliers as well as wholesalers and distributors in other locations.
You can use its location filter to find dropshipping suppliers in your preferred region.
Having suppliers close to your customers’ location ensures fast shipping (often 2-5 days) and quicker returns if it comes to that.
AutoDS
AutoDS is another dropshipping app that integrates with over 30 global suppliers and marketplaces. You’ll also find a bunch of private suppliers who offer a curated selection of products on the platform. If you can’t find a supplier for your item, you can submit a sourcing request to the AutoDS team who will help get the item for you.
DSers
DSers is a top-rated dropshipping app that primarily connects your Shopify store to suppliers on AliExpress and Alibaba. You can use its Alibaba integration to source items directly from wholesalers and manufacturers, plus explore customization and private labeling options. You can also use its Supplier Optimizer feature to find potentially better suppliers than the ones you’ve narrowed down (if any).
Printful
Printful functions as a print-on-demand dropshipping supplier itself. It’s basically a third-party fulfillment company that prints your artwork or designs on physical products and ships them directly to your customer. You can choose from its catalog of over 460 items that cover a wide range of apparel, home decor products, and other items.
Method 3: Using Dropshipping Supplier Directories
This is one of the fastest ways to find vetted suppliers. Dropshipping supplier directories provide centralized access to reputable vendors and wholesalers, saving you from expensive research.
Directories also offer info on things like shipping and price range upfront, so you can get the basic info without needing to individually contact each supplier
Here are some of the best directories:
Inventory Source
Inventory Source gives you access to a large database of suppliers who’ve been vetted by the company. You can view complete product data feeds that contain details, images, and pricing. You can also filter suppliers by location, product niche, supplier type, and integration status to narrow down your options.
Wholesale Central
If you’re looking for genuine wholesalers who offer access to competitive, low-cost products, Wholesale Central is the directory to explore. This platform lets you browse vetted and legitimate suppliers whom you can contact free of charge. The vast majority of suppliers are US-based, meaning you can ensure faster shipping and more reliable fulfillment for US customers.
Salehoo
Salehoo provides access to over 8,000 suppliers, and all of them have been manually vetted by the company to ensure their legitimacy and quality. Together, these suppliers offer more than 2.5 million products across a variety of niches, allowing you to find items with ease. Plus, the majority of vendors in Salehoo’s directory have no minimum order quantity.
Method 4: Reverse Engineering Competitor Suppliers
Reverse engineering competitor suppliers means figuring out which factories or distributors other dropshipping stores are using to manage their fulfillment.
You can use ZIK Analytics’ Shopify Sales Tracker and Shopify Product Item Finder to get this information.
First, open the Shopify Sales Tracker and enter the URL of the store you want to reverse engineer.
Click Search, and ZIK will take you to a dashboard where you can see the estimated sales, revenue, total products, and the tech stack of that store.
In the product view section, you can see which products are best sellers, which ones were recently sold, and what items the store recently added to its inventory.
To see which suppliers are selling a similar product, click the box icon with the AliExpress logo in the last column.
You can then analyze the Shopify price, supplier price, fees, ROI, and profit margin to decide which supplier might be worth contacting.
Method 5: Find Common Dropshipping Marketplaces
Another way to find droshipping suppliers is to browse common marketplaces. These platforms offer curated & organized data on suppliers along with filters to streamline the research process. You also get tools to initiate direct communication and the option to import items directly into your e-commerce site.
Examples of common dropshipping marketplaces include:
AliExpress
AliExpress is home to a large network of suppliers. To find the ones that dropship, the built-in AliExpress Dropshipping Center is your best resource. Within this area, you get a product analysis tool that lets you enter an item URL to examine metrics like sales volume trends and shipping methods offered. There’s also a “Find Products to Sell” feature, which helps you identify trending items for AliExpress dropshipping.
CJ Dropshipping
CJ dropshipping is an all-in-one platform that simplifies the process of finding and managing suppliers. Basically, it connects you directly to factories and offers a comprehensive set of tools for sourcing, fulfilment, and communication via a dedicated agent. You can also submit a sourcing request to CJ’s team should you not find a specific item in their catalog.
Modalyst
Modalyst’s suppliers are mainly based in the US and EU and have been pre-screened for quality and reliability. You can use the platform’s filters to narrow down suppliers by specific product categories (e.g., fashion or electronics). Modalyst also highlights niche vendors in its catalog, making it easier to find specialty suppliers who offer unique items not available on other marketplaces.
Grab your Shopify dropshipping eBook and find winning suppliers fast!Method 6: Social Media/Communities/Forums
Social media platforms can also be a resource for finding dropshipping suppliers for your business.
You can begin by joining specific dropshipping groups on Facebook. Search for terms like “dropshipping suppliers” and “AliExpress suppliers” to find relevant groups to join. You can also explore groups focused on specific regions (like the USA, UK, EU, etc.) and ask the members for supplier recommendations.
Then take your search to Reddit, where people often have casual discussions about suppliers. Join dropshipping-focused communities such as r/dropshipping and see which suppliers often come up in conversations and threads. You may also be able to find sourcing agents who work directly with store owners on a one-to-one basis.
There are also dedicated dropshipping forums where wholesalers and resellers come together to leave opinions on suppliers. A few you’ll want to check out are The Wholesale Forum and Dropship Forum.
And of course, search for suppliers on your TikTok and Instagram by using hashtags like #producttrends and #dropshipsupplier. Keeping tabs on unboxing videos and viral products might lead you to potential sources (links to the supplier’s website sometimes appear in descriptions or comments.
Method 7: Google & AI Search
Google has so much data on things that it’s a no-brainer to use it for your dropshipping supplier research.
The search engine is free to use and can help you find specialized, niche-based suppliers. However, you’ll need to make very specific searches in order to get valuable results from this tool.
Some searches you can make:
“wholesale [niche] supplier” -aliexpress -amazon -ebay
This will give you a list of dedicated wholesalers in your niche while filtering out major marketplaces like Amazon and eBay.
“[niche] distributor” USA or “[niche] distributor” UK
With this search query, you should be able to find region-specific suppliers for faster shipping.
“site:trustpilot.com” “supplier name” reviews
Using this query will allow you to check the third-party reviews of a potential supplier
“[product name] reseller program” or “[product name] dropship program”
You can use this to find suppliers who have established dropshipping programs for store owners.
“no MOQ” + [product name]”
With this last query, you can target suppliers who don’t require minimum purchases
Alternatively, you can just ask your AI, whether that’s ChatGPT, Claude, or another tool, to give you a list of dropshipping suppliers for your particular niche.
Here’s an example prompt to use when ChatGPT dropshipping:
“Give me a list of reliable dropshipping wholesalers for ‘baby products’ in the US and UK.”
What Makes a Good Dropshipping Supplier? [Key Criteria]
A good dropshipping supplier has a few traits that make them a reliable and transparent partner for your business. Here’s a quick set of criteria to check when deciding who to work with:
- Product quality and consistency. The supplier consistently ships products that match their listings and offer specific value to customers.
- Fast and reliable shipping. They can process and ship orders quickly and have warehouses in your target audience’s location to reduce delivery times.
- Real-time inventory sync. They have a system or integration that provides real-time, automatic updates on pricing and stock levels.
- Efficient order fulfillment: They follow procedures to make sure the correct items are delivered to the right addresses and offer reliable tracking with self-service.
- Prompt customer service. They are easy to reach via multiple channels (chat, email, etc.) and respond quickly to inquiries and customer issues.
Keep this dropshipping checklist handy to save time and find good options for your store.
How to Vet Droshipping Suppliers
Once you’ve narrowed down your options, take the following steps to vet dropshipping suppliers:
Step 1: Compile Short List of Selected Suppliers
Before anything else, you want to create a short list of suppliers that you feel capable of supporting your business.
For this, you can use a simple Excel or Google Sheets file where you list details like supplier name and product categories.
You can also mention the source where you found each supplier. Additionally, consider adding quick notes for their pricing and stated shipping processing times.
So your spreadsheet might look something like this:
| Supplier Name | Product Category | Shipping Region | Source | Price Range | Processing Time | Notes |
| Alpha Goods Co. | Home & Kitchen | US / Canada | AliExpress | $8–$15 | 2–4 days | Active listings |
| GreenNest Supply | Eco Products | UK / EU | Supplier Directory | $12–$22 | 3–5 days | Clear branding |
| PetFlow Direct | Pet Accessories | US | Direct Website | $6–$18 | 1–3 days | Fast response |
| StyleHub Wholesale | Apparel | Worldwide | Marketplace | $10–$25 | 4–7 days | Seasonal focus |
Step 2: Contact Each Supplier with Questions
Once you’ve narrowed down your options, get in touch with those suppliers to ask important questions.
Most suppliers have a “Contact Us” page on their website. Look for this page and then use one of the available communications channels to make contact.
Some of the questions you’ll want to ask include:
- How frequently do you add new products to your inventory?
- Do you offer tools or plugins for order automation?
- Where do you ship from, and what are the typical delivery times to my target countries?
- Do you have minimum order requirements?
- How long do you take to process and dispatch orders after a customer places them?
- Do you provide the tracking details for every order?
Step 3: Order Samples
Assessing a product by its photos and description is one thing. Evaluating its quality by touching and feeling it is another.
Samples give you the opportunity to physically assess a product and then decide whether it deserves a place on your store.
To request a sample, send an email to a supplier stating you’d like to see one or two units of their product. Make sure to specify your intended use of the sample.
You can get several samples from the supplier to check consistency, and samples from 2-3 other suppliers to compare quality and price.
Step 4: Evaluate Fulfillment
As a dropshipper, you don’t handle the product, so analyzing your supplier’s fulfillment efficiency is crucial for ensuring a good customer experience.
You can record metrics like the order date, the shipping date, and the final delivery date to measure their actual processing and delivery time against their promised timeline.
Additionally, you can verify order accuracy by confirming that the correct item, size, quantity, and color were delivered across different samples. Any discrepancies suggest potential issues with the supplier’s internal order management and quality control systems.
Step 5: Negotiate Terms
Negotiating favorable terms with suppliers allows you to reduce costs and offer competitive prices to consumers.
Effective negotiation starts with understanding the typical prices of products in your market. You can use ZIK Analytics’ Shopify software to analyze data such as estimated Shopify revenue, 30-day sales trend, and the average price.
After evaluating the data, get in touch with suppliers who are selling close to the average price. Then negotiate the terms of payments, such as offering to split a certain percentage upfront and the rest later (e.g., making a 20%-50% deposit).
You can also negotiate based on the timing (e.g, clearing the balance after 15 days of shipping, as well as provide early payment discounts in exchange for improved terms. Mentioning that you’ve received quotes from other suppliers can motivate your preferred supplier to be more competitive.
Make sure to get everything in writing. Draft a contract outlining all agred terms, payment due dates, return policies, and shipping. Doing this can help you avoid future disputes and revisit the terms any time to refresh your memory.
Step 6: Start with Small Orders
Placing a small order is a low-risk way to identify potential issues before investing a larger amount with a supplier.
You can choose a low-cost, representative product from the supplier’s inventory and buy it via the same method they use for regular orders. This allows you to experience the whole customer journey, making it easy to arrive at a decision later.
You’ll also want to have the item shipped directly to your home so you can inspect the product and packaging yourself. Shipping shouldn’t cost a lot as it’s a smaller order that can be shipped in a poly mailer.
Find Winning Dropshipping Products with Suppliers Using ZIK Analytics
ZIK Analytics offers a comprehensive toolkit to help Shopify store owners validate products and connect with reliable suppliers.
However, I want to highlight three tools that make supplier matching and product validation easier:
- Shopify Product Explorer shows you which products are selling across Shopify stores with real sales data. Search for keywords and filter by sales to see estimated revenue and performance. Use the image search feature to match products with AliExpress or Alibaba suppliers and get automatic profit margin calculations.
- AliExpress Product Research helps you find high-performing products on AliExpress with real marketplace data. Search for keywords and filter by sales range, price, reviews, and ratings. The tool shows sell-through rate, total sold items, and seller feedback so you can validate products before sourcing them.
- AliExpress Item Finder matches products to suppliers across Alibaba and AliExpress. Click the supplier match button on any product to see pricing, shipping options, and profit margins so you can choose the best supplier for your needs.
You can also use the Shopify Sales Tracker to monitor successful dropshipping stores and see which suppliers they work with based on shipping times and product performance.
Get your ZIK Analytics trial and start sourcing winning dropshipping products with verified sales data.
Frequently Asked Questions About How to Find Dropshipping Suppliers
In this section, I’ll answer the frequently asked questions about how to find dropshipping suppliers.
How to find sellers for dropshipping?
You can find dropshipping sellers through online marketplaces, by using dropshipping apps, and by contacting manufacturers and wholesalers directly. Using online communities like Reddit forums or Facebook groups can also help you get supplier recommendations. You can also attend industry trade shows, which give you the chance to meet sellers in person and build direct relationships.
Which supplier is best for dropshipping?
The best supplier for dropshipping depends on your needs. If you’re looking for fast and reliable shipping, Spocket and CJ dropshipping are the best. For distinguishing your store with unique, high-quality items, Modalyst is the supplier that you should use. For print-on-demand dropshipping, no supplier comes close to the technology and integrations offered by Printify and Printful.
What are the best dropshipping suppliers for luxury products?
Some of the best luxury dropshipping suppliers include B2B Giriffati (offers 10,000+ items from over 300 major Italian and international high-fashion brands), Brandsdistribution (has over 120 designer brands available to buy at wholesale prices), and PackageX (a dropshipping supplier for luxury perfumes and fragrances).
What are the traits of a good dropshipping supplier?
Some of the traits of a good dropshipping supplier include proactive communication, niche expertise, and transparent pricing. The best dropshipping suppliers are also accountable and deliver on their promises. Working with these suppliers means you can expect a consistent supply of high-quality products along with fewer customer issues.
Dropshipping Suppliers by Region
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