The Ultimate Guide to High-Ticket Dropshipping in 2024 + High-Ticket Products Examples

High-ticket dropshipping refers to dropshipping products of higher value that are made of premium materials and, therefore, sold for higher prices.

To put it a bit differently – high-ticket dropshipping includes selling high-priced products sold at much higher prices than others mainly because of their high quality. In other words, products that cost at least over $200 can be defined as high-ticket items.

Check out: How One Entrepreneur Makes over $44.000 per Month with BrandsGateway

While high-ticket items are expensive products of usually very high quality, low-ticket items are cheap products of poor quality. The main difference between them is the long-term profit you can make.

Although it’s not impossible to earn money by dropshipping low-ticket items, this approach requires a larger investment.

On top of that, most of these products are sourced by Chinese suppliers widely known for several negative aspects such as uncertain transportation timelines, language barriers, potential copyright, and intellectual property issues, complicated returns, and, of course, product quality problems.

By dropshipping high-ticket items, on the other hand, you can easily avoid dealing with any of that and get the opportunity to sell fewer items and earn a bigger profit.

To give you an illustration, let’s say you are thinking about whether to sell cheap or luxury clothing and accessories. Here’s how much you’d earn by selling each of these categories:

• Selling cheap women’s bags manufactured and imported from locations that offer low manufacturing costs. This particular handbag costs $30, you may sell it for $49.99 and will earn $15.
• Selling authentic bags from renowned brands, for example, this Dolce & Gabbana bag you can source from BrandsGateway. You can buy this bag for a wholesale price of €586 and sell it for a retail price of €1,950, leaving you with €1,364 in profits.

The verdict: By selling luxury clothing, you can earn big profits by selling a few products. With low-ticket items, you’ll need to sell substantially more products to earn the same profits.

Even at a 10:1 ratio, the 10 sales you make from the low-ticket item still wouldn’t make that much compared to a single sale from the high-ticket item.

There are countless reasons why you should consider dropshipping high-ticket instead of low-ticket items:

• Easier advertising: When it comes to marketing, if you dropship high-ticket items, you’ll only need to target specific buyer personas within certain developed countries that have larger financial power.
• Bigger sustainability: High-ticket dropshipping is a more sustainable business model as it involves selling authentic branded products, which fewer sellers do. This means less competition and more chances to stand out in the market.
• Lower return rate: With high-ticket items being products of premium quality, you’re likely to receive a much lower number of product returns and customer complaints.
• The mindset behind buying high-ticket items: The psychology of buying premium goods plays a big role in online shopping. Most of the time, people are purchasing goods online impulsively. If we make a comparison between cheap low-quality and expensive luxury goods, online buyers are more likely to spend more on good-quality pieces that would last longer than on trivial things that don’t have a long life span.

As already mentioned, high-ticket products are typically those items that carry a higher price point and, consequently, offer higher margins upon sale.

Here are some detailed examples of categories that fall under high-ticket items:

• Luxury apparel and accessories: This category includes high-end, premium branded apparel and accessories that are often seen as status symbols. Products such as designer dresses, branded watches, luxury sunglasses, and designer footwear fall into this group. These items not only command a higher price due to the brand’s prestige but also due to the quality of materials used and the craftsmanship involved.

• Cosmetics: High-ticket items in cosmetics aren’t your everyday drugstore finds. These are often premium skincare products, exclusive perfumes, or luxury makeup brands.

• Electronics: In the electronics market, high-ticket items typically include the latest and most advanced gadgets and appliances. This could range from high-end smartphones and laptops to professional-grade cameras and smart home systems.

• Cars: Vehicles are inherently high-ticket items and cover a broad spectrum from luxury sedans and sports cars to electric vehicles (EVs). High-end brands like Mercedes-Benz, Tesla, and Ferrari not only offer transportation but are also a symbol of luxury, innovation, and social status.

Selecting the right niche is crucial when you’re diving into the world of high-ticket dropshipping.

Here’s how you can pinpoint a niche that not only sparks your passion but also has substantial earning potential:

• Evaluate your interests and expertise: Start by considering areas you are passionate about or have substantial knowledge in. This familiarity can be invaluable when choosing products, dealing with customers, and building your brand.

• Research market demand: Utilize tools like Google Trends or market research reports to analyze what products are trending and growing in demand. Look for products that show a steady upward trend or have a consistent level of interest over time. High-ticket items often have less frequent but more substantial purchases, so understanding market dynamics is key.

• Analyze profit margins: High-ticket items generally offer larger profit margins, which is vital for covering the inherent risks and marketing costs associated with these expensive products.

• Check competition levels: While some competition is a healthy indicator of a viable market, too much can be a barrier to entry. Use SEO tools to assess the number of businesses operating in your potential niche and their strength. If you’re facing giants, it might be tough to break in. However, finding a niche with moderate competition and high customer demand could be a goldmine.

• Consider supplier reliability: Since high-ticket items involve significant investment, having reliable suppliers is crucial. Research potential suppliers extensively to ensure they offer high-quality products and dependable shipping.

High-ticket dropshipping niches are something you should explore in order to identify the most profitable high-ticket items to dropship.

If we dive into a little research, we’ll notice that the fashion industry is one of the leaders in the retail market, projected to reach over 760 billion USD by the end of this year.

More specifically, the luxury clothing segment seems to be the unanimous winner, having earned over 100 billion USD in 2023 in profits.

So, let’s go over the list of designer fashion items that are likely to help you excel in the dropshipping business like no other products.

Women’s dresses: Luxurious dresses are cherished for their exquisite craftsmanship and stunning designs, making them ideal for gala events and special occasions. Their demand stems from their ability to make wearers stand out with elegance, showcasing intricate details and luxurious fabrics that speak to a discerning fashion sense.

Women’s tops and shirts: Luxury blouses and tops are highly sought after for their versatility and the sophisticated touch they add to any ensemble. Whether paired with a business suit or worn under a casual jacket, these tops offer unmatched style and comfort due to their fine materials like silk and organic cotton.

Women’s jeans and pants: Designer jeans and trousers are in demand for combining style with practicality. They cater to fashion-forward consumers who do not want to compromise on either look or comfort, offering durability and a flattering fit with high-quality materials and stylish cuts.

Women’s jackets and coats: From trendy leather jackets to luxurious fur coats, these pieces are essential for their ability to blend functionality with high fashion. They are particularly valued for providing warmth without sacrificing style, making them perfect for both seasonal transitions and cold-weather fashion.

Women’s shoes: Designer shoes are a crucial part of fashion due to their ability to define and complete an outfit. Whether it’s elegant heels for an evening out or stylish flats for day-to-day wear, these shoes are sought after for their beauty and craftsmanship, often becoming the centerpiece of attire.

Women’s watches: Luxury watches are much more than timekeepers; they are a symbol of sophistication and status. Their demand comes from both their aesthetic appeal and their craftsmanship, incorporating precious materials and advanced features that make them prized possessions and often heirlooms.

Women’s bags: Designer handbags are coveted not only for their practicality but for the prestige they carry. Available in various designs and sizes, these bags meet a range of needs from utility to fashion statement, making them indispensable accessories in high fashion.

Women’s sunglasses and frames: High-end sunglasses and designer frames are in demand for their dual function of protecting the eyes while enhancing personal style. With features like UV protection and signature branding, these accessories offer both functionality and luxury.

Men’s jackets: Men’s jackets, ranging from casual bombers to formal overcoats, are essential for their versatility and style. They are sought after for their ability to adapt to different settings, providing both comfort and a polished look.

Men’s jeans and pants: High-quality men’s jeans and pants are in demand for their comfort and the effortless style they offer. Made with premium fabrics, they provide durability and a perfect fit, making them staples in any man’s wardrobe.

Men’s suits: The demand for men’s suits is driven by the need for formal attire that offers elegance and professionalism. Suits are a symbol of sophistication and are essential for business and formal events, where making a good impression is paramount.

Men’s blazers: Blazers are popular for their ability to elevate a casual look or add a finishing touch to formal attire. Their versatility makes them valuable for various occasions, from business meetings to social events.

Men’s shoes: Quality craftsmanship and stylish design make men’s shoes highly sought after as well. From durable boots to classic leather loafers, these shoes are essential for completing both casual and formal looks.

Men’s watches: Like their female counterparts, men’s luxury watches are in demand for their functionality and as a status symbol. They reflect the wearer’s taste and success, often featuring intricate mechanics and luxurious materials.

Men’s bags: Men’s bags combine practicality with elegance, making them essential for carrying daily necessities while maintaining a stylish appearance. They range from backpacks for casual days to leather briefcases for a professional setting.

Men’s sunglasses and frames: Men’s sunglasses and optical frames are sought after for their protective features and the instant style upgrade they offer. They are indispensable for their functionality and fashion statement.

Before you dive into the world of high-ticket dropshipping, you’ve got to know your battlefield.

What’s your niche?

Who are your ideal customers?

What are they hungry for?

Conduct comprehensive market research to unearth these answers. Start by analyzing market trends with tools like Google Trends to see what’s hot and what’s not.

Continue with studying potential competitors. Identify the major players in your niche and take a close look at their product offerings and the prices they’re selling them for.

Don’t skip on keyword research. Discover what your target customers are searching for. Use Google Keyword Planner as a free option or Ahrefs if you have a bigger budget.

Last but not least, perform a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis of your chosen niche. This framework can help you identify your niche’s potential and challenges.

Your supplier is your business’s backbone. You need a partner who delivers quality, reliability, and efficiency.

To locate the best dropshipping suppliers who specialize in high-ticket items, you need to conduct thorough research.

Start by exploring online directories and industry-specific forums. Networking at trade shows and reaching out to established dropshippers for recommendations can also yield valuable contacts.

When you finally succeed in getting into contact, ask the following questions:

1. What products do you offer for dropshipping?
2. Are your products authentic and high quality?
3. How often do you update the product catalog?
4. Do you have MOQ?
5. What are your pricing and payment terms?
6. What is your shipping policy?
7. Do you provide tracking information?
8. How do you handle returns and refunds?
9. What eCommerce platforms do you support?
10. How can I get in touch with your customer support?

Check out: 25 Questions to Ask Your Dropshipping Supplier Before Getting Started

Choose a platform that suits your needs, design a killer website, and optimize it for conversions. Remember, your store is your virtual storefront, and first impressions count!

Popular platforms for dropshipping include:

• Shopify: Renowned for its ease of use and powerful dropshipping integrations.

• WooCommerce: Best for those who are already familiar with WordPress.

• BigCommerce: Offers robust out-of-the-box features for growing businesses.

• Wix: Known for its simple drag-and-drop interface, making it easy for beginners.

• Shift4Shop: A great option with advanced eCommerce tools for a more comprehensive setup.

Although each of them comes with a different set of features, all are super affordable and beginner-friendly.

Read more about them in the following step-by-step guides:

• Shopify Dropshipping Guide
• WooCommerce Dropshipping Guide
• Wix Dropshipping Guide
• Shift4Shop Dropshipping Guide
• BigCommerce Dropshipping Guide

For more in-depth and step-by-step instructions, continue with our guide on How to start a dropshipping business.

Today, there are infinite possibilities you can use to make your dropshipping store stand out and quickly get recognized among customers.

Here are a few of the most successful strategies to start things off with:

• Facebook advertising: Facebook is a powerful platform that can help you grow your business to its fullest potential. The diverse marketing objectives on the platform allow you to observe traffic, engagement, lead generation, and more and allow you to create amazing Facebook ads for dropshipping by focusing on advertising specific products your audience is interested in buying.
• Instagram advertising: Instagram is a widely used social media platform that offers two main options for advertising a dropshipping store that sells branded products: you can team up with influencers or use Instagram ads for dropshipping, which allow you to select the type of audience and countries that you would want to target with your high-ticket products.
• TikTok advertising: In the last few years, marketing on TikTok has grown immensely in popularity, and nowadays, more and more businesses are turning to this platform’s advertising opportunities. Even though there is a common misconception that TikTok users are teenagers between 13-19, in fact, the biggest percentage of users – 35% – belongs to the age group between 19-29 years. This demographic is actually the one interested in dropshipping, online shopping, and branded goods.

Once you start selling, the minute you make successful sales, ask customers politely if they’re willing to share their shopping experience with you.

There’s nothing else that screams ‘reliability’ and ‘genuine products’ more than honest reviews and testimonials by previous happy buyers.

The more of these you share with potential shoppers, the bigger your store’s authenticity and online exposure, and thus the bigger your customer base.

SEO for eCommerce stores might seem complex, but with the right techniques, you’ll be able to significantly increase your store’s domain rating and SERP rankings.

When you’re dropshipping high-ticket items, other than ads and product reviews, you should also focus on making your store visible in the SERPs.

This can be done in many ways, a few of which include:

• improving the meta titles and descriptions for your product pages
• creating a blog where you can distribute valuable content that will appeal to your customers
• using the right keyword density
• building a sitemap of your website
• creating a simple web structure
• implementing plenty of product images.

If you’re into selling fashion pieces and targeting an audience that finds pleasure in buying high-ticket products, you got yourself a winning opportunity. BrandsGateway is a dropshipping supplier that offers high-ticket items from more than 100 renowned brands which belong to the fashion segment.

Moreover, they offer dropshippers a plugin solution designed to automate the dropshipping process and provide them with a seamless experience.

What’s more, BrandsGateway’s plugin provides the possibility for dropshippers to add their own preferred markups as well, which allows them to decide the price and the profits they would earn from their sales.

The rest of the benefits this supplier offers its customers are the following:

• A wide selection of products from various luxury brands
• Automated integration with eCommerce platforms Shopify, WooCommerce, BigCommerce, Shift4Shop, and Wix
• Automated order placement and catalog synchronization
• Fast and on-schedule worldwide delivery
• No minimum order quantity
• High-profit margins of up to 250% per order

To illustrate how can you earn high profits by selling BrandsGateway’s luxury goods, let’s take as an example an item from their inventory.

The leather mesh pumps by Jimmy Choo displayed below are available to dropship with BrandsGateway with a wholesale price of €346 while their suggested selling price is €865.

If you add this high-ticket item to your store’s collection, you have the possibility to earn €519 in profits with only one sale.

High-ticket dropshipping is a business model definitely worth exploring and giving a shot. By putting a plan and strategy into place, choosing a profitable niche, and defining your buyer persona, you can set the grounds for your business and move on from there.

With our detailed guide used as a reference throughout this journey, you have great chances of building a successful online store and becoming an expert in high-ticket dropshipping.