There are several ways to sell online effectively, via ecommerce stores, free web stores or through eBay. eCommerce stores are great for building your brand but will take time for the market to take and to realize its full potential as an online sales channel. Websites like eBay, on the other hand, already have a huge following. Selling on eBay can mean faster returns for the new merchant.
If you do not have your own products that you manufacture, the first thing you need to do is to look for the right set of eBay suppliers. We recommend dropshipping as the supply chain management method for you to use. Dropshipping allows you to sell items even if they are not on-hand.
In dropshipping, you will choose items from a virtual warehouse or an online catalogue. You can choose to list this in your eCommerce store first or list it directly in eBay. Once a purchase is made, you need to collect the payment. Then, order the item from the dropshipper. The item will be shipped directly to your eBay buyer or from people purchasing from your online store.
Sounds pretty straightforward, right? Choosing the eBay supplier you will have to partner up with still needs to be properly taken in to consideration as this will affect your reputation as a seller. First things first, choose a reliable supplier. Do your research. Find out what other stores or sellers they work with.
Another factor to look for in your eBay supplier is product variety. Even if you focus on a particular niche market, it is still important to have a healthy collection of items within that product range. For instance, if you are selling shoes, it should be a good mix of formals and casuals, leathers and rubber shoes, sneakers and mules plus hundreds of brands in between.
You should also consider price as a good indicator if the dropshipper can be your eBay supplier. As in any other retail platform, selling online requires that you have a good profit margin to succeed. This is defined by the difference between the price at which you acquired the item and the price at which you sell it. A potential eBay supplier should offer you a good price for the products, as much as possible in the wholesale range. This would allow you a bigger profit margin and you end up making more.
