Dropshipping 101 — sell without holding stock

What is dropshipping?

You list a product, the customer pays you, then you forward the order to a supplier who ships it directly to the buyer. Zero inventory, zero warehouse, zero upfront capital — just margin on every sale.

1) Pick a niche

• High-demand, low-competition beats trendy. Kitchen gadgets, eco-friendly home items, pet accessories and modest fashion all work well in Pakistan.
• Avoid heavy/fragile/perishable items — courier costs eat margins fast.

2) Find a supplier

For Pakistan-based dropshippers, the realistic sources are:

• Daraz wholesale sellers — message them directly and negotiate dropship terms.
• AliExpress — long shipping (~3 weeks), but cheap. Use only for non-urgent items.
• Local wholesalers in Karachi (Bolton Market), Lahore (Anarkali, Hall Road) and Faisalabad — visit in person, take samples, negotiate per-unit pricing.

3) Calculate your margin

Formula: Selling price = (Supplier cost + Shipping + Packaging) × 2.2. The 2.2× covers your platform fee, ad spend, returns, and profit. Below 2× and you'll struggle to stay profitable after Facebook Ads.

4) Create your listing

Use the supplier's photos only if you have permission — otherwise reshoot. Write your own description (Google penalises duplicate text). Add a "Cash on Delivery available" badge — Pakistani buyers convert ~3× higher on COD.

5) Fulfilment workflow

1. Order comes in on ShopNow → you get a WhatsApp notification
2. You forward the order details (name, phone, address, product) to your supplier
3. Supplier ships and gives you the tracking number
4. You enter the tracking number in Seller → Orders → Mark as Shipped — buyer is auto-notified via WhatsApp & email
5. Once delivered, COD cash is sent to you minus the platform commission

6) Returns & refunds

Return rates in Pakistan run 8–15% on apparel and ~3% on electronics. Always agree return terms with your supplier before listing, otherwise you'll absorb the loss.

7) Scale with ads

Start with Rs 500/day on Facebook & TikTok ads targeting Pakistan. Once a product hits 3× ROAS, double the budget. Kill anything below 1.5× ROAS within 48 hours.

Next: Read "Facebook Ads for Pakistani sellers" in the Marketing section.