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Dropshipping

14 Best Dropshipping Suppliers in South Africa [Updated 2024]

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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.

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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. As of early 2024, South Africa boasted an impressive 45 million internet users, a number that reflects the growing digital penetration in the country. This increase in internet accessibility has directly impacted the rise of online shopping, creating a fertile ground for dropshipping businesses.
  • Online shoppers. As projected by market research, the number of eCommerce users in South Africa is expected to grow to 27 billion users by 2028. This surge signifies a substantial market base for online retailers.
  • Shopping preferences. The shopping preferences of South African consumers are diverse, with fashion, beauty products, and electronics topping the list of most-purchased items online.
  • Payment habits. 39% 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.

How to start dropshipping in South Africa?

Starting a dropshipping business in South Africa might sound like a big leap, but it’s pretty straightforward once you know the steps. Here’s a friendly guide to get you going:

  1. Do your homework: Start with researching the market. Look into what’s trending, what South Africans are buying online, and identify a niche that interests you.
  2. Find the right supplier: This is crucial. You want a reliable partner who stocks quality products and understands the local market. Check out the list of below to pick one that vibes with your business idea.
  3. Set up your online store: Whether you’re tech-savvy or not, eCommerce platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, Wix, Shift4Shop, and BigCommerce make this step a breeze.
  4. Get the word out: Use social media, SEO, and maybe some paid advertising to attract customers to your store.
  5. Keep learning and adapting: The digital world changes fast. Stay updated with trends, customer preferences, and new marketing strategies to keep your store fresh and appealing.

Best 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.

SupplierProducts offered
BrandsGatewayLuxury clothing and accessories
Men’s Republic DistributorsElectronics
The ScentsFragrances
ParcelNinjaWarehouse solutions
Neat FreakCleaning supplies
DropstoreVariety of products
GadgetgyzElectronics
MantalityGadgets and electronics
Third Wave DistributionElectronics
CalascaVariety of products
Planet54Clothing and tech products
ShopstarVariety of products
PrintifyPrint-on-demand products
Cosmic PetsPet products

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 that consist of over 20,000 items from over 100 luxury brands.

With warehouses in the US and Europe, BrandsGateway ensures fast and timely delivery within 1-3 days within the EU and 5-7 days for other rest of the world to over 170 locations 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, Wix, WooCommerce, and BigCommerce-based websites.

BrandsGateway also ensures dropshippers benefit from automated order processing – meaning the orders made in the dropshippers’ stores are automatically forwarded to BrandsGateway – as well as from automated inventory update – meaning dropshippers are provided with real-time product synchronization.

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 quickly 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 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.

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.

Printify

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 Printify. 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 has supplied 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.

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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

Yes, dropshipping is legal in South Africa. It is a recognized business model where you sell products to customers without stocking inventory. However, it’s important to comply with South African business laws, consumer protection acts, and tax regulations to operate legally.

To successfully dropship in South Africa, start by:

    • STEP 1: Choosing a profitable niche that aligns with local consumer preferences.

    • STEP 2: Partnering with reliable suppliers who can provide quality products and efficient shipping.

    • STEP 3: Using popular eCommerce platforms for setting up your online store.

    • STEP 4: Implementing strong marketing strategies, focusing on digital channels like social media and SEO.

    • STEP 5: Offering excellent customer service.

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.

  • BrandsGateway
  • Men’s Republic Distributors
  • The Scents
  • ParcelNinja
  • Neat Freak
  • Dropstore
  • Gadgetgyz
  • Mantality
  • Third Wave Distribution
  • Calasca

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.

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.

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