15 Best Dropshipping Suppliers in South Africa in 2023 [Updated]
With a population well into the 1 billion and a median age of 19.7 years as based on the latest estimates by Worldometers, Africa is the world’s youngest continent. Add to this factor the eCommerce revolution seen in recent years and what do you get? A young continent with a huge opportunity for boosting profits.
African countries, and especially South Africa, are deemed by industry experts a great opportunity for starting a dropshipping business. With people turning to online shopping more than ever, the eCommerce landscape in South Africa has been growing at a fast pace, creating an ideal environment for young entrepreneurs who are seeking to take advantage of this business model.
Having that in mind, let’s explore together the country’s dropshipping market and see which are the best dropshipping suppliers in South Africa.
With BrandsGateway's dropshipping service, you can start earning profits in the blink of an eye.
Is dropshipping in South Africa worth it?
Yes, dropshipping in South Africa seems to be considered a game-changer for many business owners. To give you a better picture of what we mean by that, let’s take a look at the country’s eCommerce landscape and learn about its customers’ shopping habits:
- Internet users. South Africa has been reported to have 43 million internet users at the beginning of 2023.
- Online shoppers. The number of eCommerce users is expected to grow to 37 million users by 2023.
- Shopping preferences. The three most popular shopping categories for South African consumers who shop online are fashion, beauty products, and electronics.
- Payment habits. 38% of eCommerce transactions in South Africa were completed by using a credit card. Mobile banking has also been on the rise in the country, while current payment gateways available in South Africa are: PayFast, PayGate, BitPay, GoCoin, PUT IT ON LAY-BUY, Coinbase Commerce, Payment Express PxPay, PayPal Express Checkout.
Dropshipping Suppliers in South Africa
Now that we have explained the key features of the South African eCommerce market, it’s time to dive into the next important part of the dropshipping business – seeking authentic suppliers. For that purpose, we gathered a list of the best dropshipping suppliers in South Africa that cover different industries.
We gathered a list of the best dropshipping suppliers in South Africa that cover different industries.
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BrandsGateway
Niche: luxury clothing and accessories
If you decide to follow what statistics show about South African online buyers’ shopping preferences, you should definitely consider opening an online boutique for dropshipping designer clothing and pick BrandsGateway to be your supplier.
Teaming up with BrandsGateway will allow you to offer your customers premium clothing collections for both women and men. With warehouses in the US and Europe, BrandsGateway ensures fast and timely delivery to any location using diverse shipping methods including UPS, FedEx, and DHL.
Additionally, the company provides automated integration with Shopify via the BrandsGateway Shopify App which makes the dropshipping experience even easier and seamless. On top of that, they also offer task automation for Shift4Shop and Wix-based stores by downloading the BrandsGateway Shift4Shop App and the BrandsGateway Wix App as well as convenient and easy-to-install plugin solution for WooCommerce-built websites.
To check BrandsGateway’s extensive collection of luxury clothing and accessories for women and men, you can create a free account in just a few clicks.
Men’s Republic Distributors
Niche: electronics
When it comes to electronics, Men’s Republic Distributors is considered one of the leading dropshipping suppliers based in South Africa. The company sells gadgets, smartphone accessories, RC toys, novelties, and gifts for men. They are responsible for picking, packing, and dispatching orders to end customers, as well as for all dropshipping returns.
The Scents
Niche: fragrances
As the name itself implies, The Scents is a wholesale supplier of designer fragrances and other beauty products for both men and women. They ship their orders via shipping carriers that ensure tracking information (DHL, UPS, SAPO, POSTNET, USPS, etc.) and accept payments with all major credit cards.
ParcelNinja
Niche: warehouse solutions
ParcelNinja supports dropshippers by giving them smart warehouse solutions. By adopting these solutions, as a dropshipper, you can drop your stock off at their warehouses and schedule items to be delivered. Besides, you can get real-time tracking that will allow you to follow your order from the shelf to your customer’s door.
Neat Freak
Niche: cleaning supplies
Neat Freak is a South African dropshipping supplier that focuses on supplying dropshipping stores with all kinds of tools for home organizing. More specifically, Neat Freak offers everything from detergents and general household cleaning supplies to office and storage accessories.
If you are looking for a dropshipping supplier that can provide you with wide-ranging household items, you can choose Neat Freak. However, make sure to explore this market to see if there’s a demand for these kinds of products.
Dropstore
Niche: a variety of products
By streamlining and simplifying product sourcing from various suppliers, Dropstore lets dropshippers find trending dropshipping products, add them to their online store, and ship them directly to their customers fast and easily. Once your customer makes an order, the order is automatically sent to the South African supplier. Later Dropstore will ship the item with the provided tracking information.
Gadgetgyz
Niche: electronics
Gadgetgyz is a good choice for technology and smart gadget fanatics. More specifically, Gatgetgyz offers a broad collection of Android phones, accessories, smartwatches, and gadgets from brands like OnePlus, Cubot, Ulefone, Xiaomi, and more. Furthermore, they state that they ensure 24/7 customer support for their network of dropshippers.
Mantality
Niche: gadgets and elecronics
Another South African supplier of gadgets and accessories is Mantality. They supply products ranging in several categories including gadgets and gear, living and leisure, geek and gaming, and also electronics and tech. Mantality is a good choice if you are planning to start up a store that will target mostly people with a passion for tech electronics.
Third Wave Distribution
Niche: electronics
A high-quality choice of electronics is available to dropship with Third Wave Distribution as well. We included it in our list of the best dropshipping suppliers in South Africa because of its location and the selection of products it offers. The company brings over 400 products to the table and their delivery is between 2-4 business days.
Calasca
Niche: a variety of products
Homeware, toys, kitchen products, jewelry, and beauty products are available for dropshipping at Calasca. Based in Sandton, South Africa, Calasca supplies dropshipping stores with an extensive range of products. Their return policy is quite strict as they allow product returns only made within 48 hours after the delivery date.
Planet54
Niche: clothing and tech products
Planet54 is a dropshipping supplier that offers numerous types of products that fall under several categories, such as footwear, clothing, including dropshipping women dresses, accessories, and tech. You can choose to become a part of their reseller entrepreneurship program or source their products on Dropstore.
Marijuanasa
Niche: cannabis products
If you are interested in opening a dropshipping store that will specialize in selling cannabis seeds, and all essential products for growing cannabis, then check out Marijuanasa. This dropshipping supplier delivers its products to South Africa, United Kingdom, Namibia, Swaziland, and Lesotho.
Shopstar
Niche: a variety of products
If you are familiar with how Shopify works, it wouldn’t be difficult to understand Shopstar. It’s a dropshipping supplier you can use both to create your store and sell different products. Depending on the pricing plan you would choose, you can have from 1-25 to an unlimited number of products.
Print A Trend
Niche: print-on-demand products
If you are looking for a supplier of niche products, such as personalized swimwear, mugs, or t-shirts, you should try Print A Trend. It is a widely known South African dropship supplier for printing on demand. They offer dropshipping of their products directly through their website and when you join as a reseller you will be able to buy products at wholesale pricing as well.
Cosmic Pets
Niche: pet products
Finally, the last company on the list is Cosmic Pets. When it comes to selling pet products and items, Cosmic Pets is a wholesale supplier that is known and respected within the industry. For more than 10 years, Cosmic Pets supplies more than 500 retailers.
For instance, these include pet shops, veterinary clinics, and pet care professionals throughout South Africa. They offer premium pet products with high-quality branding that they deliver within 5 days from order placement.
To summarize
When it comes to choosing the best dropshipping supplier from South Africa, the most important aspect is to get informed about the eCommerce market: what’s the market’s annual revenue, how many people shop online, what are the best selling products, etc. Once you’ve understood the needs and requirements of the typical South African online buyer, you can start creating your dropshipping business plan and launch your store carefree.
Our list of best dropshipping suppliers in South Africa will help you not only to choose the ideal supplier for your store, but also to closely examine which niche would be most profitable for your business and bring you the best results.
So, without further ado, you are now ready to embark on the journey of opening a dropshipping business.
FAQs
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In order to easily come across dropshipping suppliers in South Africa, you can start by searching through online directories or browsing search engines. Moreover, you can attend conferences as well as try to reach out to local dropshipping suppliers directly.
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The best dropshipping products to sell can vary depending on the current market trends and customer demand. Some popular product categories include fashion and accessories, beauty products, and electronics.
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Yes, Shopify is available in South Africa and can be used to build an online store and run a dropshipping business.
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About the Author
Kristina Gjorgievska
Kristina, Head of Content at BrandsGateway. Eternal inspiration: The Doors music and lyrics, Bernardo Bertolucci's timeless “Stealing Beauty”, and the dynamic and meditative Ashtanga Yoga.
