One of the biggest drawbacks that many people find in regards to selling pet food and supplies at retail level is the inventory management. Not only can it be cumbersome to have to keep up with the actual inventory it can also be expensive to keep that much inventory on hand. Dropshipping eliminates these problems. With dropshipping you do not have to actually maintain the inventory on hand. Instead, you simply accept orders and then have the items dropshipped from your supplier to your customer. You never actually have to handle the merchandise.
In addition to pet food, some of the most common pet supplies that can be dropshipped include:
• Bird cages
• Exercise pens
• Cat and dog toys
• Grooming brushes
• ID collars and tags
Dropshipping greatly reduces the cost of shipping items while also eliminating the need to maintain an inventory. It also provides the pet owner with the convenience of being able to shop at whatever time is best for them as your online store can be open 24 hours per day. Also, because the items are delivered directly to them they do not have to worry about bringing home bulky or heavy items. As a result of this, many pet owners are actually more likely to shop online as it can help to eliminate the pressure of buying from a store and make the entire process more convenient for them.
Setting up a Drop Shipping Business
In order to operate a successful dropshipping pet supply business you will first need to have a website for your company. This will help prospective customers to find you and will provide a link between you and the consumer. You should have pictures of all of the items that are available for purchase on your website. All pictures should be clear and accurate. Also, all costs should be clearly indicated. You should also include product descriptions that are as detailed as possible. Finally, be sure you include methods of payment.
In addition, your website you should consider adding a form that will allow customers to discuss products they have purchased from your site and make recommendations and reviews. This is an excellent and easy way to market your products. You might also consider providing your own recommendations and advice as well.
Finding Vendors and Suppliers
The next step is identifying a supplier that is cost-effective and reputable. Take the time to research the supplier and be certain they are reliable in terms of filling orders and avoiding back orders. A back order can occur when the client has paid for an item and but the product in question is out of stock. In this type of situation, not only is the customer disappointed but it can also give your business a bad reputation. If you have too many backorders you may find that you begin to lose out on business.
In the event you should have a backorder it is imperative that you contact the customer immediately, apologize and explain what has happened. You may be able to save the customer relationship and retain them as a customer if you respond promptly and do everything possible to work out an amicable solution to the problem.
