Dropshipping from China – Complete Guide

Recently, Amazon Japan was ordered by the Tokyo District Court to pay a fine of 35 million yen (approximately 244,000 USD) and compensate the brand Excel Plan for its losses due to failure in effectively addressing counterfeit sales on its platform. This incident has raised widespread concern in the industry about the issue of counterfeit goods and serves as a wake-up call for sellers involved in dropshipping (cross-border e-commerce). Counterfeit Crisis: The Hidden Threat in the Supply Chain In this case, Excel Plan discovered counterfeit pulse oximeters on the Amazon Japan platform. These inferior products were sold at prices significantly lower than the genuine ones, severely affecting the brand’s market performance. Worse still, after receiving complaints, Amazon not only failed to take down the counterfeit goods promptly but also mistakenly removed the genuine products, causing Excel Plan to suffer heavy losses in just two months—from an initial sales figure of about 100 million yen to a dramatic drop to only around 610,000 yen. This incident serves as a reminder that counterfeit goods not only affect consumers’ purchasing experience but can also seriously harm the interests of brand owners and potentially expose platforms to legal risks. In dropshipping, sellers typically rely on third-party suppliers, making supply chain management crucial. The issue of counterfeit goods, especially in cross-border e-commerce, is not just a quality concern; it also involves multiple risks, including compliance and brand reputation. How to Avoid Counterfeit Issues in Dropshipping? Choose Reliable Suppliers  When selecting a dropshipping supplier, it is essential to choose one with a good reputation and legitimate qualifications. You can ensure the legality and quality of their products by reviewing certifications, past reviews, and product quality reports. […]

Before diving into the world of cross-border e-commerce independent sites, understanding their revenue models is crucial. Different business models determine the site’s operational direction, target customers, and profit channels. Today, let’s explore the six major business models for cross-border e-commerce independent sites. Model 1: DTC (Direct-to-Consumer) – Take Full Control of Your Brand  If you’re planning to build a cross-border e-commerce independent site, the DTC model is something you can’t ignore. Simply put, you become your own boss—selling directly to consumers without middlemen like agents, wholesalers, or retailers. No more commissions, no more markups—more profit, more control. Think about it: You’ve worked hard to create a great product, but once it passes through layers of distributors, the price skyrockets, and your customers end up paying way more than they should. Sounds unfair, right? That’s exactly why the DTC model is a game-changer. It eliminates unnecessary costs, gives you full control over the sales process, and allows you to connect directly with your customers. You get instant feedback, adjust your product offerings accordingly, and continuously improve. Even better, you own your space—from your website design to your marketing strategy. No more worrying about platform rules limiting your promotions. Want to run a flash sale? Go ahead. Thinking about personalized marketing? Do it. Want to build brand loyalty? The DTC model is made for it. Real Case: Away – The DTC Luggage Success Story   When it comes to DTC success stories, Away is a brand that stands out. From day one, they made a bold decision: skip traditional retail channels and sell directly to consumers through their own website. Their strategy? Create high-quality, stylish luggage while telling a compelling brand story that resonates with travelers. But Away […]

Dropshipping is widely considered the Holy Grail of low-cost startups — no inventory, no warehouse, no big upfront investment. But here’s the deal: startup costs are low, but hidden costs such as shipping, advertising and returns can enter and have an impact on your profits. In this guide, we’ll have a closer look at the real dropshipping costs as well as questions such as “How much does it cost to set up a dropshipping business? and “Do you need money to start dropshipping?, and provide tips for controlling those costs. Let’s get started! What is Dropshipping? You don’t have to stock shelves, pack boxes or set foot in a warehouse. And this is exactly what dropshipping means. This is a business model where you just introduce your customers to suppliers. Here’s how it works: when a customer makes an order from your online store, you purchase the item from a supplier, and the supplier ships it to the customer directly. You never touch the product — it’s easy, right? Source:Red Stag Fulfillment This is a home run for some large reasons. First, low startup costs. There is no upfront purchase of inventory, so no risk of stock left over that you did not manage to sell, gathering dust in the garage. Second, flexibility. Dropshipping is a model that allows you to run your store from anywhere in the world, be it your kitchen table or a beach in Bali. And finally, scalability. You don’t need to rent larger warehouses or expand your workforce as your company grows. Creating an online store to dropship products can be a relatively low-risk concept, but here’s where the catch comes in — dropshipping isn’t […]