Last Updated on September 27, 2022
Dropshipping (or reselling goods) is a great way to start your dropshipping business without worrying about inventory or shipping. The scheme is simple: you put an item for sale on your website. Once you receive your order, you write to the supplier to have them ship the item on your behalf.
With AliExpress, you can easily find goods for sale and not have to worry about inventory or shipping. You can pay for items at wholesale prices, and the seller will dispatch them directly to your customers.
What Is the Best Dropshipping Item? (Criteria for Evaluation)
Market analysis is necessary to identify the level of competition, study competitors, take into account their mistakes, and do better. Even with a lot of competition, you can have a good income if you make the best offer. It is worth stopping at the category of goods that are close to your lifestyle.
What are the best AliExpress products for dropshipping? Anything: from household chemicals to phone cases. It depends on the approach to the business and the selling proposition. But there are more traditional dropshipping products on AliExpress that have plenty of competition.
Trending
Let us look at the most popular dropshipping products on AliExpress and define the most trending niches using statistics given by Google Trends. Overall, we can specify the five most popular niches:
- Tech supplies (smartphones, headphones, cables, laptops, power banks, and so on)
- Accessories (bags, backpacks, belts, bracelets, earrings, etc.)
- Clothes (kids clothing are popular, as well as men’s and women’s clothing)
- Goods for home (cookware, vacuum cleaners, home gadgets, lighting, decor, and textiles)
- Marvel products (hoodies and T-shirts, gadgets, toys, etc.)
Gadgets and Tech Supplies
This is perhaps the most popular category in recent years. Gadgets are the most in-demand – not only on AliExpress but in all online stores. Here we can see the top trending tech products on AliExpress:
A separate advantage of AliExpress in this niche is the price – you can buy most smartphones, laptops, headphones, and other gadgets here much cheaper. As you can see on a screenshot, the popularity of this niche is constantly high.
Accessories
Another reasonably popular request on AliExpress is accessories – bags, belts, earrings, etc. The reason is the same price, as well as the variety and richness of choice. Here we can see most trending accessories on AliExpress:
Perhaps, in no other online store will you find as many options as on AliExpress. There is an option for every size, purse, and taste – and that is the success of this niche.
Clothes
Most people engaged in AliExpress dropshipping make the majority of their money selling clothes. Here we can see trending clothes on AliExpress:
Such popularity is influenced by several factors – seasonality, the cheapness of production, quality, and regular promotions and special offers from sellers like “buy 3 things, get 4 for half price.” The main thing is to follow trends in fashion, offer the most in-demand items, and keep track of what influencers are wearing.
Home Goods
Decorating and improving one’s home is typical for almost everyone – so why not do it with products from AliExpress? Here we can see top trending home goods on AliExpress:
The popularity of the home goods section is incredibly high. This is due to the wide choice and good value for money. This niche is a win-win option even for those who are just starting dropshipping products online.
Marvel Products
Superhero-themed merchandise, both for adults and children, is always popular. Here we can see trending Marvel-themed goods on AliExpress:
After the release of the WandaVision series, the popularity of Marvel-themed merchandise has increased incredibly. The main thing here is the quality of the merchandise (this advice applies to any niche, though).
Seasonality and Demand
When starting to study the market for dropshipping products, it is necessary to consider the seasonality of some goods. Seasonal goods have a pronounced dependence of sales on the season (for example, swimwear in summer, garlands – in winter). This category will be the same for most competitors, with peak sales at the beginning and middle of the season.
During the season, the customer expects the vendors to offer the maximum range and the best price. In the off-season, such goods are sold at minimal prices; the assortment is reduced to a minimum or none at all.
Here is an example of a summer product – look at a wave-like graph with sales peaking in early summer:
And here is an example of a winter product – we can still see a wave-like graph, but the peaks are around November and December:
There is also such a thing as all-season goods – these are popular products and in demand all year round. These can include appliances, clothing, household chemicals, household goods, and so on.
Demand for these goods is relatively constant, but even it has ups and downs, so you need to consider delivery times.
Cheap and Fast Delivery
The buyer’s main parameter (after the cost of the product itself) is the cost of delivery. More often than not, people choose goods from sellers who offer free shipping with the possibility of tracking the parcel along the way:
There are even some goods with the delivery’s price higher than the price of a good itself:
Sometimes the shipping method varies with the amount of the order, and cheap packages are only tracked within China. Some sellers offer faster delivery, but for a higher price (although the difference is not always significant unless you need the item the day after tomorrow):
A combination of price and speed of delivery would be ideal. It’s incredible if you can deliver the product for free within two weeks – then you are guaranteed success on AliExpress. But even if a buyer will pay for your delivery, try not to exceed the cost of the item and ensure timely and fast delivery.
Unbranded
Do not enter the niche of branded items to resell fakes and imitations – it is better to choose unbranded goods. If there is a logo on the product, it is better to refuse it, even if the logo is real. According to AliExpress’s policy, third parties are not allowed to sell branded items on the platform.
Do not take the risk because you are not an official representative of the brand, and you cannot be sure whether the product will turn out to be authentic:
Because of this, you risk reducing the choice of goods for resale significantly, so it is better to choose a niche in which the brand does not matter – for example, electronic accessories or clothing.
The non-branded items policy applies only to world-renowned brands. So if your product has the logo of some small local company, there is nothing wrong with that. You can safely sell your goods on the platform. But it is better not to work with fakes (or even originals) of world-famous brands.
Emotional Impact
The key to the success of any retail outlet is the right choice of assortment. First – you need to choose the main product for which the client goes to dropshipping store. Then, there are items that people buy because they liked the presentation, because the product was offered at the right time in the right place, or because a buyer just “felt like it.”
This category of goods is called impulse purchases. The number of impulse purchases in small dropshipping stores can make up to 50% of the turnover, making this part of the assortment extremely important.
Suppose your product does not fall into the category of impulse purchases, but you want to sell it via emotions. In that case, the main thing you need to worry about is the presentation and positioning of the product. The picture should arouse a desire to possess the product and evoke pleasant emotions.
Let’s compare the two hoodies presented on the platform:
Which emotions does this product evoke in you? None. Now look at this one:
We look at this pretty couple and immediately want to associate ourselves with them. How can we do that? That’s right, by buying the hoodie they’re wearing. Compare the number of orders on this item with the item above – now you see it. That’s how emotional shopping works – and that’s why you have to pay a lot of attention to it.
Lightweight
Another parameter that you should monitor if choosing dropshipping products is their weight. Typically, it shouldn’t exceed 2-4 kilograms – and here’s why. First, heavy goods are inconvenient to handle. Even during home delivery, the product can be dropped and damaged – and for heavy goods, this risk increases. Second, international shipping will most likely require an additional weight charge. This is not very good for your customers, don’t you agree?
For example, this wolf’s head weighs about 3 kilograms – and look at the number of purchases. And here’s a similar piece of décor, but light-weighted – the number of purchases increases (and the price drops):
Compact
Here, the principle is the same as for heavy parcels – the more compact your product is, the safer and easier it will be to deliver it. And also, the higher the probability that it will reach the buyer without damage and missing parts. Take this stroller, for example:
It has so many parts and details that the chance of missing or breaking some of them during packaging or delivering is quite high. What’s more – it cannot be folded so that it takes up little space. And now look at this example:
This stroller is easy to fold without detaching parts, does not take up much space, and can be easily packed. What do you think, which of the two products has a higher chance of reaching the buyer unharmed?
Uniqueness
Another criterion that you should pay attention to when dropshipping products is their uniqueness and peculiarity. No one wants to buy plain, dull things – we go online to find something unique, something that no one in our inner circle has. So try to sell peculiar things. For example, let’s take a look at this mug:
While it’s quite interesting, there are not so many purchases. Why? Because it is ordinary – you can find a mug like this in any cutlery ecommerce store near your house. Now look at these mugs and at the number of purchases here:
Something like that cannot be found in the nearest store – it is unique, and this is why it is so popular.
Competitive Cost
Depending on the products that you plan to resell, choose products to sell that cost $1-20. Thanks to this, you are less at risk if the product turns out to be of poor quality and you lose money, and you can also make a large mark-up on such products and sell them for $20-50. For example, on AliExpress, you can find sneakers for $ 0 and sell them for $50. This way you will get 60% of the net profit.
What’s more – try to make your price reasonable. Not so many people are eager to buy a phone case for almost $70 – a brand new phone may be cheaper! Moreover, this item can be lost during the delivery – losing $70 because of some phone case is very disappointing.
At the same time, $1-5 is a reasonable cost for a phone case. Look at the number of purchases here:
Safe and Conscientious Dropshippng Suppliers
Of course, before you start dropshipping products, you should make sure that the supplier you have chosen as a colleague is honest and reliable. There are several criteria by which this can be determined – let’s look at each of them in more detail.
Full product description – not “copy-paste”
The number one criteria of a safe supplier is a product’s description with lots of details. You should be able to find in the description the main characteristics and advantages of the product, the features of use or instructions, the size grid, information about the warranty or service. The most important thing – look for similar descriptions on AliExpress. If you see a copy-paste, this supplier cannot be trusted.
Lots of high-quality photos
Another thing to pay attention to is the presence of good-quality product photos in the description. The images should show the product from different sides; if it is clothing or shoes-the size should be visible, and there should be no smeared areas, large logos, or defects in the photos.
Just in case, check whether the photos are really provided by the manufacturer and not stolen from another seller. You can do a Google search on the image to see if the photos were taken by the seller himself or were taken from the manufacturer.
Lots of real, positive feedback
It is worth making sure that the product you are going to resell has a high rating (more than 4.5 stars) and that the seller himself has a high rating and good reviews. It is important that the reviews are not just “stars,” but real text reviews written by real people. It’s ideal if photos are attached to the reviews – so you can look at the quality and appearance of the product that really reaches people.
The seller’s profile is complete
You should be able to find all the information about the seller – the country where the product is made, where it is delivered from, who the manufacturer is, and so on. After reading this card, you should not have a single question left.
All contact information is available
On the seller’s page, a supplier must specify all contact details – and those phone numbers or emails must be answered. Do not be afraid to ask the seller questions before placing an order. A good, reliable seller will quickly answer all your questions. Sometimes you can even get a discount. If the seller does not respond to messages, this is clearly a wake-up call.
High seller rating
Pay attention to the seller’s rating. It consists of five indicators: the average score for reviews, age on the site, ratings for communication, the number of positive reviews, and the speed of delivery. The more satisfied customers there are, the higher the store’s rating will be. You can view it on the product page at the top.
Stores with the highest rating on AliExpress receive the status of a reliable brand. They are marked with a special icon and appear first on the search page. All reliable brands are collected on one page and divided into categories.
The supplier is always in touch
The supplier must respond to any request, whether it is a positive review or a problem that the buyer addresses to them. This demonstrates not only the availability of the seller but also his interest in the satisfaction of the buyer. If you have more questions on how to distinguish a good supplier from a bad one, you can visit this article on the Alitools website.
Reliable Search Methods of Dropshipping Products on AliExpress
There are several ways to understand which products are the most popular and inspire ideas for your own dropshipping. You can browse the “Most Popular” category on AliExpress itself, use some web tools, or scroll through social media.
Search on AliExpress
Let us take a look at some of the most helpful search methods.
Recommendations
The easiest and fastest way to find appropriate dropshipping items on AliExpress is to look at recommendations. For example, you are interested in selling sneakers but do not know what models are popular today. Find a product that is similar to what you are going to sell online. You will see a list of “Recommended for you” to the right of the photo and price box.
These are the items that AliExpress recommends to you after reviewing that item. These are the items that the site recommends to most visitors – which means that they are popular. In this way, you can see which products are in demand on the site and which models are likely to sell quickly. What’s nice – AliExpress recommends products in the same price category.
Top Selling
Another great way to find the goods that are suitable for you is to visit the “Top Selling” section on the main page. This method is especially suitable for those who do not understand where to start selling and which product is better to choose. Here you will see the products that are most often bought on the platform. And if they are bought so often, there is a demand for them, and working with them can be profitable.
Start with inexpensive and compact things like phone cases, accessories, or toys. Another good option would be shoes or clothes. Don’t choose any expensive items or seasonal items from this section, as demand for them can drop quickly.
Seller Recommendations
Suppose you like a particular seller on AliExpress, and you would like to sell a product similar to his. There is a “Sellers Recommendations” section for such cases – where the seller recommends items identical to his and similar bona fide sellers on AliExpress.
This method is suitable for those who want to deal with only one group of goods (for example, dresses or sneakers) and want to diversify their assortment. Thanks to such recommendations, you will understand what other products can be added to your portfolio and what prices to put on them.
Use the AliExpress Dropshipping Center
For many people, finding the right products to dropship on AliExpress on their own can be difficult and too time-consuming. But even for such people, there is a way out. Today, there are many tools for searching for selling products on AliExpress. For example, there is a free search tool from the site itself called AliExpress Dropshipping Center.
You don’t have to do much here – a simple and free registration in the program is enough. After that, you get all the dropshipping tools, even if you haven’t started your business yet. Another bonus is that this tool always stays with you. You can find it in your AliExpress account after you activate it.
Use Search Tool
Another way to search for the right products on AliExpress is to use a third-party tool to find suitable goods. One such tool is the Alitools app. Alitools legally accumulates information about stores, sellers within those stores, products, and prices. Thanks to this data, Alitools can show reliable Aliexpress sellers, history of prices for most products, search for similar products (including by picture), and show honest user reviews.
You can always determine if an item is overpriced or the lowest price over the last six months. Add the item to your tracked items in the Alitools browser extension or the Alitools mobile app. Alitools will continuously check the product you added, and as soon as the price of the product drops, The app will notify you, and you can buy the product at the price you want.
Anyone can use Alitools. Install a browser extension or an iOS or Android app. Then, go to the page of the product you are interested in or search among the thousands of products you need. Check the price, seller, and item – Alitools will display this information directly on the seller’s page. Compare prices, choose a vendor, see genuine reviews, and decide.
Search With Google Trends
Finally, you can use Google Trends to find the right niche or product. The service will help you find out what your customers care about today, whether your product is attractive to the market, its seasonality, and in what region products are popular.
Let’s start with the “Analysis” section. You can get there right from the home page by entering a search word or topic into the search box. Pay attention to the filters:
- “Region” – you can see statistics for the entire world, as well as to find out the popularity of the request at country or city level.
- “Period” – you can set the period since 2004.
- “Category” – the function will be helpful if you need to specify the category of the search query.
- “Search type” – here, we can choose where exactly we want to analyze the question: by Internet, pictures, news, as well as in the YouTube search and in “Google Shopping.”
One of the essential advantages of Google Trends is the ability to analyze data with a detailed breakdown by region and city. Here, you can find out which areas are more often interested in the given product. You can see another helpful function at the bottom of the page – similar search terms and topics. Here you can see what users search for along with the products you specify.
In “Analysis,” you can see not only the dynamics of queries, seasonality, and analysis by region. You can also compare up to four segments (search queries, products, topics).
There are no queries in the analysis results:
- Unpopular. Google Trends presents only queries that occur often enough. For the rest, you will see zero values.
- Repetitive. Identical queries from the same user in a short period are ignored.
- With special characters. Queries with apostrophes and other special characters are filtered out.
Top 7 Products to Avoid for Dropshipping On AliExpress
Now that we’ve named the best products for dropshipping on AliExpress and explained precisely how to choose products and suppliers, it’s time to talk about what products you shouldn’t choose.
If you choose low-quality or unsuitable dropshipping products, the consequences can range from angry customers to loss of reputation and legal action. So what products should be avoided? Let’s sort it out.
Sex Products
Sensitive products such as sex toys, lube, and condoms are best purchased at specialty stores or pharmacies – but not on AliExpress. There are too many risk factors, from low-quality materials used to manufacture the product to a malfunctioning mechanism. So, dropshipping sex products from AliExpress is a bad idea. That is why it is better to leave such sales to professionals and experts in the field.
Expensive Gifts
It’s simple – you can never be 100% sure of the quality of the product or that it will reach you (in one piece). And if you bought some costly jewelry or a gadget, it can simply be stolen on the way from China to you (unfortunately, it happens). Yes, of course, you can get a refund if something goes wrong – but it’s better not to take the risk from the beginning and give preference to less expensive goods.
Furniture and dimensional interior items
The same principle applies here as we described above in the section on heavy and bulky things. If you order a sofa, closet, or bed on AliExpress, be prepared to overpay for shipping and receive your purchase in pieces that are not intact.
The furniture is a complicated purchase; it must be measured to check how it fits in the room, whether it fits the color and whether the material is pleasant. And to do all this on AliExpress, unfortunately, is not possible.
Narrow Niche Products
Do not sell narrow-niche products on AliExpress – demand for them is too low to start making good money. You will probably spend more on purchasing and shipping than you will earn in the end. Especially if you’re just starting out in dropshipping, we advise you to go for the more popular and relevant products for everyone.
Fake Brands
As we said above, AliExpress has a pretty strict brand policy. You can’t sell branded items, even if they are originals, and you certainly shouldn’t sell fakes. At a minimum, it could lead to your blocking on the platform, and at a maximum – to legal proceedings. It is better to choose non-branded items from local manufacturers without large logos and icons.
Weapons
In many countries, the arms trade is heavily restricted and regulated by law. That is why it is not only unprofitable but also legally dangerous to trade weapons on AliExpress. In addition, the demand for real weapons (not cosplayer copies) on the site is actually relatively low, so on top of everything else, it is simply unprofitable.
Fragile Items
As we said above, international or even home delivery can damage the item, and if your product is fragile, it may not reach the buyer at all. No one likes to get broken things – especially if they are worth more than a couple of bucks. That’s why it’s better not to take items made of glass, ceramics, or other similar materials for dropshipping.
Tips for Successful Dropshipping Business
-Start by researching what products are selling well on Aliexpress
-Look for products that have a high margin and low competition
-Create a Shopify store and connect it to your Aliexpress account
-Design high-quality product images and write catchy product descriptions
-Promote your store on social media and drive traffic to your website
-Monitor your sales data and make changes to your product lineup as needed
FAQs
Is dropshipping from AliExpress profitable business?
There is no easy answer when it comes to whether or not dropshipping from AliExpress is profitable. This is because it greatly depends on the products you decide to sell.
That being said, there are a few products that tend to be more profitable than others. Below are a few of the most popular and profitable dropshipping products:
- Clothing and accessories
- Electronics
- Home goods and decor
- Health and beauty products
How do I start a dropshipping store on AliExpress?
To start a dropshipping store on AliExpress, you’ll first need to create an account with AliExpress. Then, you’ll need to find a supplier for the products you want to sell. You can search for suppliers on AliExpress by entering keywords into the “Find Suppliers” box on the top of the page.
Once you’ve found a supplier, you’ll need to contact them and ask if they offer dropshipping services. If they do, they’ll provide you with all the information you need to start selling their products. You’ll also need to create an account with a shipping carrier, such as FedEx or UPS, so that you can ship your products to your customers.
How do I find a specific supplier on AliExpress?
There are a few different ways that you can find specific suppliers on AliExpress. The first way is to use the search function on the site. You can enter in keywords related to what you are looking for, and then AliExpress will show you a list of relevant suppliers.
Another way to find specific Aliexpress suppliers is to browse through the supplier directory. This directory is organized by product category, so you can narrow down your search to find exactly the type of supplier you are looking for. Within each category, you will be able to see a list of all the suppliers that offer products in that category.
If you still can’t find what you’re looking for, there is also an option to contact AliExpress customer service
How much does it cost to dropship on AliExpress?
The cost of dropshipping on AliExpress depends on a few factors, such as the price of the products you are selling, the shipping costs, and any other fees associated with running your store.
Is it better to use Alibaba or AliExpress for dropshipping?
It really depends on your specific needs and preferences. Some factors you may want to consider include the wide range of suppliers available on Alibaba, as well as the low prices available on AliExpress. However, keep in mind that AliExpress can be a bit more riskier in terms of quality control, so it’s important to do your research before selecting a supplier. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide which platform is best for your online business.
Is it free to dropship with AliExpress?
There is no cost to dropship with AliExpress. However, there are costs associated with setting up and running an online store. Some of these costs include dropshipping website development and design, marketing, and inventory management. There are also fees associated with processing payments and shipping products.
Which is cheaper Alibaba or AliExpress?
In general, Alibaba is likely to be more expensive than AliExpress, as it is aimed at businesses rather than individuals and has higher fees for sellers. That said, if you are looking to purchase large quantities of goods or want to work with a particular supplier, Alibaba may be the more cost-effective option.
Is it illegal to dropship from AliExpress?
Yes and no. It is illegal to dropship from AliExpress without an own shop, as this would count as copyright infringement. However, if you have your own shop and are shipping products from AliExpress yourself, then there is no issue.
Can you get sued while dropshipping?
It’s possible, but there are a few things you can do to minimize your risk.
Dropshipping business model is a great because it allows entrepreneurs to start their own businesses with very little up-front cost. However, as with any business venture, there is always some risk involved. If you’re thinking about starting a dropshipping business, here are a few things you can do to minimize your risk:
1. Choose a reputable dropshipping supplier.
2. Only sell products that you trust and that have good reviews.
3. Make sure you have a solid legal agreement in place with your supplier.
4. Protect your personal information and financial data.
Can I get copyrighted for dropshipping?
There are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to copyright and dropshipping. First, copyright law generally protects original works of authorship, such as books, movies, and music. So if you’re selling copyrighted items that you don’t have permission to sell, you could be infringing on someone’s copyright. Additionally, some countries have “first sale” doctrines that allow resellers to sell copyrighted items without the permission of the copyright holder; however, the United States does not have such a doctrine. Finally, it’s important to remember that even if an item is not copyrighted, you may still be violating other laws by selling counterfeit or knock-off products.
Is dropship without permission illegal?
Dropshipping without the permission of the trademark or copyright holder is illegal. There are a few reasons for this. First, it deprives the trademark or copyright holder of potential income from the sale of their products. Second, it can damage the reputation of the trademark or copyright holder by associating their products with an unauthorized seller. Finally, it can create consumer confusion as to whether or not the product is authorized for sale by the trademark or copyright holder.
Instead of a Conclusion
So now you know everything about dropshipping on AliExpress. Making money dropshipping on Aliexpress can be not only very profitable but quite simple – especially if you choose the right niche and the right product. We hope that our comprehensive guide will be of use to you on your way to dropshipping products online.
To summarize, we will once again put together all the tips:
- Choose popular and inexpensive products
- Start with small batches.
- Constantly explore new niches
- Try new search tools.
If you follow these tips, you will find much more than 1-2 products with super profit over time. Good luck!
