The Numbers Behind Drop Shipping

We have previously blogged about the pros and cons of drop shipping, but what else do you know about this hot topic? We thought we'd provide a more detailed post detailing the numbers behind drop shipping, some of the most common questions, and whether it's a good tool for your business...

The Ecommerce market

Fact 1: Retail e-commerce is a $220 billion dollar market in the U.S. alone and is growing by nearly 17% a year. (eCommerce Drop Shipping Standards)

This number only looks set to rise with U.S. Online Retail Sales expected to Hit $370 Billion by 2017! There's no denying that the ecommerce market is huge. With awesome tools readily available to now help people set up their online store, it makes sense that people are looking for ways to improve on their store.

Enter, drop shipping...

What is it?

For those who didn't catch the previous post, drop shipping basically means that when a customer places an order from you, the supplier will ship the product directly to the customer – so you don't have to.

This means that you don't have to worry about finding a warehouse for your stock, spending hours of your time dedicated to shipping products and you are free to run your store anywhere you like.

Who else uses it?

Fact 2: 22-33% of Internet retailers have adopted drop shipping as their primary method of order fulfillment. (E-DSS.org)

You'd be surprised how many stores actually use this method to help shift their stock. Zappos began as a drop shipping company, Amazon and Sears both use drop shipping and Wayfair.com has built their entire business around this very method!

Fact 3: In 2012 drop shipping accounted for 34% of products sold in 2011 by e-commerce giant, Amazon.com. (Forester Research)

That’s $14.2 billion dollars of drop shipped orders from a single e-retailer! Now if Amazon can make it work for them, then there's definitely the opportunity for your online store to do the same.

Can I profit from drop shipping?

Yes you can. If used correctly, drop shipping can be a great help to the success of your business. As you will be cutting shipping costs completely, there is potential to make a profit here.

You will save money because:

• You won't have your money tied up in stock
• You won't have to pay for storage and associated bills of storing inventory
• You won't need to pay for a warehouse, equipment or staff
• You won't need to buy in bulk – so you won't have unwanted stock to shift

How do I find a supplier I can trust?

Fact 4: 84% of online sellers find that establishing a drop ship supplier or wholesaler relationship is the #1 roadblock to starting an online business. (gogo drop ship)

When it comes to drop shipping it's OK to be cautious, but as with any business tool, you need to do plenty of research. If you pride yourself on excellent customer service, then your supplier has to be somebody who you can trust and shares your values. If they are willing to offer seamless communication with you then there's no reason why you can't form a great partnership. Check out WorldWideBrands as you can find a whole directory of wholesalers, along with testimonials.

How does it benefit the manufacturer?

Fact 5: The average profit of a manufacturer who drop ships is 18.33% higher than a manufacturer who uses traditional channels. (The Journal of the Operational Research Society)

Due to storage limitations, when a retailer has to buy in bulk they can normally only hold around 13% of what a supplier would like to sell – meaning lower profits for the supplier. With drop shipping, the constraints are lifted so the retailer can buy whenever they get an order, and the supplier can make more money in the long run.

Do I have to use drop shipping all year round?

Fact 6: In the 2013 festive period, 18 percent of retailers increased their inventory with the help of drop shipping, due to an increase in sales. (E-DSS.org)

The truth is, you don't always have to use drop shipping if you don't want to. Anyone with good business sense will know that you can't become too complacent. If something isn't working then change it. If an opportunity comes along – take it. Drop shipping might not always be something that will work for your online store all the time, but during busy festive periods – it certainly can help you sell more stock.

It's in your hands

The choice is yours to decide, but if you are new to ecommerce then drop shipping is a convenient and easy way for you to get started with your online store success. Are you considering it? Do you use it currently? We'd love to hear what you think in the comments below!

And speaking of ecommerce success – don't forget to give us a call if you ever need help setting up your awesome online store.

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