Dropshipping from AliExpress to Shopify. How It Works
Dropshipping from AliExpress to Shopify is a great way to set up your store. With it, you don’t have to overpay for shipping and storage services. For many small online stores, it is a great way to get started with eCommerce in 2023. Such an approach lets you partner with a range of wholesale suppliers. Every order that involves dropshipping allows a third-party seller to deliver their products straight to your customers. This way you can save on delivery costs. Also, you won’t struggle with managing product storage and manufacturing goods.
In today’s article, we are going to talk about dropshipping using Shopify and AliExpress. Also, we will describe the whole process of setting up an online dropshipping store. It takes certain preparation to provide the services that your clients will appreciate. This post will guide you through all steps of establishing a dropshipping shop with Shopify. But before we start, let’s take a closer look at the definition of dropshipping and its numerous benefits. It’s important to understand why this business model is so popular among merchants on Shopify. Moreover, learning more about how it works is the first step toward creating a similar store for your business.
The Benefits of Dropshipping from AliExpress to Shopify
As stated above, dropshipping from AliExpress to Shopify allows you to sell products directly to the customer. By doing so, you don’t need to spend time and money managing shipping expenses as the products are delivered from the manufacturer’s storage. This way you can work more on marketing your store and its product variety. Moreover, such an approach allows the merchant to save funds for further development and improvement of their store. This is especially useful for those who are just getting started with Shopify.
The dropshipping model doesn’t require a lot of people to manage it. That’s why it’s extremely popular among small eCommerce teams as well as single online store owners. Here merchant acts as an intermediary between the product manufacturer and a client. Your storefront is a ground for promoting the supplier’s goods to your clients. Also, this approach allows you to scale your business more effectively. Because you don’t have to purchase the products to sell them online later, you can plan the improvement of your business and make the right investments in it at the right time.
What is AliExpress?
One of the most important steps in dropshipping is to choose the right business partner. Well-established and reputable eCommerce websites are a fitting choice for any dropshipping online shop. AliExpress is a perfect example of a marketplace recommended for it. It was founded in 2010 by Alibaba Group, an eCommerce giant based in China. This company offers a huge variety of products at affordable prices. Ranging from electronics to clothes and tools, their website provides thousands of goods from manufacturers worldwide. And when it comes to dropshipping, this marketplace is one of the most suitable ones for it.
Most marketplaces often have a monthly charge for dropshipping. However, AliExpress provides it for free. It also has everything you need to organize dropshipping with your store and the mentioned marketplace. From photos to descriptions, many products contain all the necessary data and media needed for your store catalog. Still, you can always create a description that fits your store the best way. Adding more photos from different angles is also allowed and even appreciated by customers. Besides, AliExpress ensures all data transactions are secure and verified. Lastly, by using both Shopify and AliExpress to set up your dropshipping store, you get two great advantages. Providing quality and reasonably priced products means more loyal and regular clients. Besides, you won’t need to worry about any extra payments and expenses.
What are the Steps to Dropship from AliExpress to Shopify?
While dropshipping from AliExpress to Shopify doesn’t require a lot to set up, the proper approach to planning for your business is still needed. There are quite a few steps to be taken before you can sell the products from AliExpress using the dropshipping model. Some of them may be similar to establishing an ordinary online store with Shopify. However, there are still some differences that we would like to mention and discuss. They concern a variety of principles that need to be met to make your store a primary dropshipping destination for your clients to shop at. Here’s what you need to do before launching your dropshipping store:
- Choose the right products;
- Create an account with Shopify and AliExpress;
- Use a suitable Shopify app for dropshipping automation;
- Import the desired products to your store;
- Advertise your dropshipping business;
- Learn how to successfully fulfill your dropshipping orders;
- Offer top-quality customer service.
Almost all these steps can be taken when establishing any online store. However, dropshipping from AliExpress gives new opportunities for your business. For example, you can build not just a responsive storefront that attracts your customers but also offers a curated product selection that retains them. Furthermore, properly preparing before launching the store can help you avoid some major mistakes that merchants often make. So now, that we have learned how dropshipping works and what its benefits are, let’s take a closer look at how to incorporate it into your Shopify store.
Creating Accounts & Choosing Products for Dropshipping
Before setting up your store for dropshipping from AliExpress to Shopify, it’s essential to pick the proper products for it. We recommend searching for trending categories & products among your target audience. Besides, you can do your research based on similar products from your competitors. Looking for suitable hashtags on social networks and related websites like Instagram or TikTok may also help. This way you can easily find out what products may be considered popular and give your future Shopify store an instant boost. Don’t forget to consider the fitting price range for the product you select based on your clientele’s requests and wishes. Also, we’d recommend choosing products that don’t experience a decrease in quality during long delivery times. The latter is a common disadvantage for some customers ordering directly from AliExpress.
After carefully selecting the proper products, you can start preparing your store for selling them. The first step that needs to be taken toward your goal is account creation. You will need both Shopify and AliExpress accounts to get started. The mentioned marketplace has a free and simple signup procedure for everyone. After completing the registration, create a Shopify account or log in to an existing one. The platform also provides a free trial option. You may use a default Shopify theme or choose a preferable design for your store. The important part here is adding the previously selected products from AliExpress to your shop’s catalog. This can be easily done using any of the Shopify Apps for dropshipping, which we’ll discuss below.
Automating Dropshipping from AliExpress to Shopify and Product Import
Varied applications simplify a wide range of tasks for merchants. Dropshipping from AliExpress to Shopify is just a single goal they help you achieve. Different apps perform different tasks. They range from planning your dropshipping strategy to managing the store’s inventory. The trick is to choose what you need most. This is especially useful when you are just starting to learn dropshipping. Additionally, the Shopify community can help you forge your path in the eCommerce world. Here are some useful applications to help you import goods from AliExpress and add them to your store:
Any of these apps allow you to easily import and order the desired products. This helps you to integrate them with Shopify more effectively than by adding them manually. Automation is a primary feature of all abovementioned as well as many other apps. Some of them even allow you to work with other dropshipping service providers. With apps, you save a lot of time on importing product details and descriptions. The bare minimum you need is an URL of a desired product. Any top-rated application can do the rest for you. Moreover, it can help with other important eCommerce aspects, such as payment processing, order tracking, etc.
Ways to Grow and Advertise Your Dropshipping Business
It is impossible to imagine establishing a store without marketing it. That’s why advertising an eCommerce website for dropshipping from AliExpress to Shopify is critically important. Most traditional online marketing techniques work perfectly here. From SEO to SMM and influencer marketing, you are free to use any impactful methods. It is also recommended to use images and descriptions provided by your product supplier. Moreover, you can create content related to the products you are selling. Remember not to use third-party content that can be copyrighted.
Additionally, we’d suggest using varied methods of marketing. For example, combining paid advertising and email marketing can work wonders. This is true for both regular and first-time buyers. Customer reviews and ratings are also quite important. Especially when it comes to deciding whether to buy a product or not. Advertising your products on related marketplaces might also work. It can give you the desired traffic boost, too. Doing giveaways and providing special offers is a great option for any store, dropshipping-based or not. Lastly, don’t forget about utilizing a content marketing strategy. It can help you plan the next steps. You can even add corrections according to your feedback of your customers.
How to Fulfill Orders and Provide Quality Customer Service
Fulfilling orders for dropshipping from AliExpress to Shopify requires specific efforts from merchants. It differs from performing traditional orders in online stores. The reason for it is to make sure the order from AliExpress reaches its destination. The approach used by dropshipping stores is quite simple. When managing a traditional Shopify store, you need to care about more than product delivery. As a store owner, you must ensure a secure payment process, proper packaging as well as safe and fast delivery. Marketplaces that offer dropshipping carry out most of these tasks and expenses. As an owner and manager of a Shopify store, you need to:
- Receive your customer’s order;
- Place the order with your dropshipping service provider;
- Keep your customer updated with their order’s current status.
Finally, let’s discuss another important step in performing dropshipping from AliExpress to Shopify. We are talking about proper customer service. Dropshipping Shopify websites may experience heavy risks. This happens when not paying enough attention to the level of customer service. This can be said about any eCommerce website or store. However, dropshipping businesses rely mostly on their reputation and relations with both customers and suppliers. For that reason, it is important to keep your operations transparent for your customers. Listening to their requests will help them appreciate your service more. Besides, it will be of great use when trying to solve issues with your products.
Dropshipping from AliExpress to Shopify: Conclusion
As you can see, dropshipping from AliExpress to Shopify is quite easy to set up and manage. If you have little to no prior experience in eCommerce, it can be a great start for your business. Besides, partnering with the world’s leading marketplace will help you establish new connections with suppliers. And for experienced merchants, such a business model can be an awesome way of concentrating on what they find most important. You’ll learn how to market and grow your business more effectively. Additionally, this way you can save money and time that you can use later to develop and scale your online store.
If you are looking for more Shopify guides and reviews, don’t forget to visit our blog. There you’ll find more interesting articles about website monetization and popular trends in eCommerce. With a wide selection of solutions for Shopify available on our website, you can easily transform your store. We also invite you to take a look at our theme portfolio. It contains dozens of spectacular and feature-rich themes for various platforms. And in case you prefer social networks, we recommend following us on Instagram and Facebook. With Zemez, you’ll get the best from the worlds of eCommerce and web development.
