Supplier

Definition

A supplier is a company or individual that provides products to dropshippers for sale, usually without the dropshipper holding inventory.

Explanation

• In dropshipping, the supplier is responsible for storing products, managing stock, and shipping orders directly to customers.
• A reliable supplier ensures product quality, timely fulfillment, and accurate inventory updates.
• Dropshippers rely on suppliers for product selection, competitive pricing, and fulfillment support.

Example

A dropshipper sells fitness trackers on their Shopify store. The supplier in China holds the stock and ships each order directly to the US customer once purchased.