Dropshipping where an e-Commerce store a products first and then orders it from it’s suppliers. The store purchases the item from its supplier and has it shipped directly to the customer. As a result, the seller or the e-Commerce store does not see or handles the product.

This model allows sellers to start an online business with minimal investment and without the need to hold inventory or manage shipping logistics. However, it also means that the seller has less control over the shipping and handling of the product, which can lead to longer delivery times or quality issues if the supplier is not reliable.

Shopify offers a range of features and integrations that streamline the entire dropshipping process, including:

1. Supplier Integrations: Shopify integrates with a number of supplier platforms, such as Oberlo, AliExpress, and Spocket. This allows e-Commerce stores to easily find products to sell and import them into their Shopify store.

2. Easy Order Management: With Shopify, sellers can manage orders from multiple sales channels in one place, including their online store, social media, and marketplaces. This makes it easy to track and fulfill orders.

3. Automated Fulfillment: Shopify also offers integrations with fulfillment services for certain regions.

4. Payment Processing: Shopify’s payment processing system makes it easy for sellers to receive payments from customers and pay their suppliers, all from one platform.

Dropshipping is not all sunshine and rainbows. Here are some of the most important mistakes to watch out for:

1. Choosing the Wrong Products: You should research products carefully to make sure there is demand for them, they can be profitable and satisfy customer expectation.

2. Ignoring Shipping Times and Quality: You will be reliant on your supplier to handle shipping and fulfillment. If your supplier is slow to ship or has poor quality control, it can lead to customer complaints, lost sales and failure. Vet your suppliers carefully before doing business with them.

3. Not Setting Realistic Expectations: Dropshipping can be a great way to start a business, but it’s important to set realistic expectations. Many people expect to make a lot of money quickly, but it takes time and effort to build a successful business.

4. Neglecting Customer Service: Providing good customer service is crucial in any business, but it’s especially important in e-Commerce dropshipping. Because you are not handling the shipping and fulfillment yourself, you need to be responsive to customer inquiries and complaints in order to maintain a good reputation.

5. Failing to Plan for Growth: As your dropshipping business grows, you will need to scale up your operations to keep up with demand. Failing to plan for growth can lead to issues with inventory management, shipping, and customer service.

6. How to start dropshipping in New Zealand?

7. Choose a niche: First, decide what products you want to sell. It’s a good idea to choose a niche that you are interested in and that has a potential market in New Zealand.

8. Find suppliers: Look for suppliers who are willing to dropship their products. Search for a supplier online. Make sure to vet potential suppliers carefully and only work with reliable and trustworthy partners i.e. can delver in reasonable time frames and take pride in the quality of their product.

9. Develop an e-Commerce website: choose a platform to build your online store. Shopify is a popular option that offers many features specifically designed for dropshipping businesses.

10. Market your store: Promote your store with digital marketing.

11. Manage your operations: As orders come in, manage your operations by working with your suppliers to fulfill orders and provide customer service. Keep track of inventory levels and adjust your product offerings as needed.

12. What is restricted in New Zealand to import using dropshipping?

New Zealand has a number of restrictions on importing goods using dropshipping. Ensure products are not prohibited. Some of the restricted items include:

1. Dangerous Goods

2. Firearms

3. Prescription Medication

4. Animals and Plants

5. Copyrighted Material

Some products may require special permits or certifications before they can be imported, so it’s important to do your research and follow all applicable regulations.