Eager to try your hand at Dropshipping? I keep seeing videos on YouTube with captions like “Is Dropshipping dead?”. I sincerely believe that it is still an extremely relevant online business model to operate right now. In this article, I will show you the best dropshipping platforms for Nigerians like you and I. Let’s go!
What is Dropshipping?
I wrote an article earlier on how to jump into dropshipping. If you haven’t gone through this article, I’ll encourage you to do so.
So, what’s dropshipping? In a nutshell, it is a business model whereby a seller acts as a third party between a manufacturer and a buyer, without actually stocking the goods in a warehouse. The thing is, Dropshipping can be done online and offline, but it is better done online.
Now here’s a fun fact: do you know that when you advertise a sneaker for a friend on your WhatsApp status, you’re dropshipping? If someone indicates interest in the sneaker and wants to buy it, you can close the sale and arrange for the customer to receive the product. That’s dropshipping in a real-life scenario.
Who can dropship? Anyone can. What you simply need is a plan, and you’ll be cashing out in no time. The good thing is that you’re not stocking products in a warehouse. The suppliers do that. Your job is simply to advertise and close the sale. The supplier takes it up from there.
How does online Dropshipping work?
Well, it usually involves setting up an online store and populating it with products that are connected to the dropshipping fulfillment company. What I mean is this: you simply list the products on your webstore, and whenever someone buys and pays you, you simply forward the order to the Dropshipping supplier, who in turn sends the product to the customer. At the end, everyone’s happy! You get paid, the customer gets their order, and the manufacturer/supplier gets paid too for the goods.
Is Dropshipping still relevant today?
Definitely. Dropshipping has come to stay, as a genuine online business model. It will never go out of fashion, for the simple reason that humans will always want goods and services, and most of the time, they don’t know where to buy the goods that they want. If you can position yourself as a seller of the goods and services that they want, you’ll make money. It’s that simple.
In my opinion, you can make a fortune by dropshipping if you play your cards right, that is. It might interest you to know that the sellers don’t stock the products you see on Jumia. They simply dropship those products from the suppliers. Immediately you place your order and pay, they only need to forward your order to the manufacturer/supplier who sends the product to you. End of story.
Do you need to register a company for Dropshipping?
It’s not important, but it’s necessary. What I mean is this: you don’t need to register a company with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), before you can run your Dropshipping business in Nigeria. This is because dropshipping is mainly an online business, not a regular business you run in a brick-and-mortar shop. Online businesses run by a different set of rules, compared to offline brick-and-mortar businesses. Get the picture?
However, to increase the reputation of your brand as a seller, you should register your company, and also probably rent an office. This way, buyers will see you as a reliable seller, not just one of those online businesses without a physical presence.
You can create marketing videos of these products in your office, and watch your sales soar. Why? Because your potential customers see the product in a real-world setting, and they are encouraged to make a purchase.
Difference Between Dropshipping Apps and Platforms
Now, you need to get this right. There’s a difference between the two terms. A Dropshipping app is one designed to aid Dropshippers to run their business effectively. On the other hand, a Dropshipping supplier/platform is a company that probably manufactures goods, or sells wholesale goods, and effectively fulfills the orders sent by the seller/Dropshipper.
A good example of a Dropshipping application is DropshipMe, while a good example of a Dropshipping supplier is Hypersku. Hypersku is a supplier, and they also have an app that can streamline your Dropshipping business. A supplier could also be any of the companies on Aliexpress that you can partner with to run your business.
What you need to start a Dropshipping Business in Nigeria
- A Website/webstore: this is where your products are displayed for the world to see. You could use a platform like Shopify (paid), or WooCommerce (free) to set up your webstore. Also, understand that you will need to pay for a domain name and hosting every year.
- A brand: you need to create your brand. This is the name of your business and what it stands for. You need to sort out this aspect from the onset to distinguish your brand in the marketplace. You need a brand name, a logo, and brand colors.
- A supplier: this is the manufacturer or wholesaler of the product you wish to sell. You will need to choose a reliable supplier that you can establish a long-term business relationship with. However, if you use a Dropshipping app to run your business, this issue is done for you already. You don’t need to go hunting for suppliers on your own; the app does this for you already, complete with products you can import to your webstore.
- A Dropshipping app: this could be a mobile app, a WordPress plugin, a Shopify app, or a web application. Once you set up your webstore, you simply connect your store to the app, and the app allows you to import products to your webstore. The app does the syncing of products, orders, and other communication between your webstore and the manufacturer/supplier/wholesaler.
- A payment processor: this is a company that offers an application with which you can collect payments on your webstore. This is preferably a payment processor that operates in your country. You can’t use a payment processor that doesn’t operate in your country. A good example of a payment processor for Nigerians is Flutterwave.
Best Hot-Selling Dropshipping Products in Nigeria
This is not an exhaustive list, and every month or year these trends change due to customer preferences and trending new products.
- Phone Accessories
- Car Accessories
- Laptops and gadgets
- Cosmetics
- Hair extensions
- Electronics
- Clothing and Fashion Accessories
- Shoes
- Health Products
- Beauty Products
- Baby Products
Best Dropshipping Platforms for Nigerians
Hypersku
Hypersku is a Dropshipping platform that promises to simplify your business, so you can focus more on selling and less on sweating the small stuff. Here’s the scoop: Hypersku connects directly to suppliers and manages product sourcing, order fulfillment, and logistics for e-commerce stores. It integrates with Shopify, making it an appealing option for store owners who hate the back-and-forth logistics hassle. Imagine an assistant who handles everything from finding quality products to shipping them straight to your customers, and you’ve got Hypersku.
A cool perk? Real-time inventory updates mean fewer awkward emails explaining why a customer’s dream item is suddenly out of stock. They also have U.S. and European warehouses, which helps with faster shipping times—a big plus in the world of e-commerce where long shipping times can lead to unhappy customers and brutal reviews.
Hypersku is a no-frills, no-fee Dropshipping platform, meaning you only pay when you make sales. There are no monthly subscriptions or hidden fees, just straightforward order fulfillment, inventory management, and express shipping for your products.
You can connect up to 10 stores for free, and their team even offers sourcing support, from finding unique products to handling custom labeling. Plus, with PayPal and Payoneer as payment options and a dedicated account manager for support, Hypersku makes scaling a Dropshipping business simple and affordable.
Aliexpress
AliExpress Dropshipping is a big, messy playground for e-commerce businesses. It’s budget-friendly, with no subscription fees and millions of products, so you can find anything from gadgets to quirky knickknacks. The tradeoff? Expect longer shipping times for international orders, so prepare for some “Where’s my package?” emails from customers.
AliExpress is a solid (if occasionally chaotic) choice for flexibility on a tight budget. However, most of the Dropshipping apps and platforms source their products from Aliexpress. So, it is not advisable to run your business manually, like placing orders on behalf of your customers on Aliexpress. Simply use one of the other options here.
Alibaba
Alibaba for Dropshipping is like a bulk wonderland but with a twist. It’s geared more towards wholesale, so it’s best for Dropshippers ready to buy in quantity for better pricing. While it’s possible to order single items, the platform shines when you’re scaling or looking for custom products.
You’ll likely need to negotiate with suppliers, so be ready to put on your best business hat. For custom products and unique items, Alibaba can be gold—but it’s less “plug-and-play” than platforms like AliExpress.
AliDropship
AliDropship is a platform that gives entrepreneurs a shortcut to launching an e-commerce business with a bit of flair. It offers a one-time payment for either a plugin or a custom store, so it’s designed for WordPress users who want to minimize ongoing costs.
This is not all. You can get a store loaded with proven best-selling products, direct from Aliexpress for free by signing up for a free trial for 14 days, after which you get to pay $39 per month after trial.
The AliDropship plugin (priced at $89 one-time payment), is all you need to run a profitable e-commerce Dropshipping business, right in Nigeria. It syncs with AliExpress, so you can import products, set pricing, and fulfill orders automatically. For those looking for a hands-off setup, AliDropship’s custom store option is a major perk—they’ll create a store tailored to your niche, complete with a dedicated manager to help get things going.
According to their Dropshipping profit calculator, if you sell a product from Aliexpress price of $12 with a markup of 150%, at just 50 sales per month you’re hitting the $1K mark. They also have lots of articles on their blog to educate aspiring Dropshippers. They also have tons of success stories to motivate you. I encourage you to check these out.
Another standout feature is AliDropship’s marketing tools, like its “abandoned cart” reminders and email marketing integrations, which make keeping customers engaged easier. Plus, the platform provides in-depth analytics, so you can track what’s working and what’s not.
Any downside? The AliDropship platform is WordPress-exclusive, so if you’re not comfortable with WordPress, you’ll need someone to teach you, or you’ll need to learn it yourself.
AutoDS
AutoDS is a Dropshipping powerhouse that lets you automate the tedious stuff so you can focus on growing your store. It supports multiple platforms like Shopify, eBay, and Facebook Marketplace, making it flexible for different business setups. Features like automated price adjustments, inventory syncing, and one-click product importing from suppliers like AliExpress, Amazon, and Walmart are its bread and butter.
Its product research tool is a gem for spotting trending items, and the automatic fulfillment system cuts out hours of manual labor. For ambitious Dropshippers, AutoDS is a smart investment in sanity.
Jumia
Jumia is an e-commerce giant with tentacles spread all over some African countries is one of your best options if you’re from Nigeria. Jumia has managed to achieve some level of success in Nigeria, with a platform that allows anyone to sell their products to the huge Nigerian market.
Jumia has an inventory of millions of products, offers different payment options (including pay on delivery), and fast shipping times. On top of that, anyone can sell their goods on Jumia, absolutely for free.
You can quickly set up your store on Jumia, list products, and start selling immediately. This is made possible due to the large volume of traffic Jumia gets every month, because of its popularity in Nigeria. most sellers list products from Aliexpress simply using good photos. Whenever someone buys and pays for the product, they place an order with their trusted Aliexpress supplier, who ships the product to the customer.
If you’re a beginner, I would encourage you to utilize Jumia before using other options. If you start with this option, you will learn the ropes quickly before investing in one of the other paid options like AliDropship.
Konga
Another player in the Nigerian market, Konga has carved a reputation for itself in the Nigerian market. It is the 2nd largest e-commerce company in Nigeria, though it doesn’t have a presence in other African countries like Jumia.
It also offers dropshippers the opportunity to set up their stores on the website for free. Konga is almost like Jumia in many respects, and it is ideal for beginner dropshippers who don’t have funds to pay for expensive dropshipping apps like AliDropship.
Bumpa
Bumpa is a dropshipping platform designed for entrepreneurs, especially in Africa, to simplify their e-commerce operations. The app combines features for inventory management, multi-channel order tracking, and website creation, making it a one-stop solution for small beginner dropshippers.
It was particularly created for social commerce, allowing sellers to manage customer interactions and orders directly from social media DMs like Instagram and WhatsApp. Think of it as the ultimate digital assistant for non-tech-savvy business owners.
Bumpa stands out for its user-friendly interface and quick setup. Opening a virtual shop can take less than a minute. The platform supports features like push order notifications, detailed sales analytics, and even a built-in invoice generator. It also lets you create free online stores that integrate various payment methods, including card payments, transfers, and USSD.
A highlight of the platform is its focus on education and community. Bumpa connects users to a Telegram group where they can learn growth strategies and share tips. Additionally, the app enables seamless omnichannel management with Meta integration, earning it the nickname “King of Social Commerce” in Africa.
Bumpa has a free plan for beginners to start with, though premium features like multiple staff accounts and custom domains require a subscription to the Pro plan. Still, it remains an affordable and practical choice for beginner dropshippers like you, who want to break into dropshipping without much hassle.
Bumpa is a great option for Nigerians who want to explore dropshipping as an online business model. You can check out this success story on Bumpa to spike your motivation.
Final Words
Are you ready to start your dropshipping journey? Which of these dropshipping platforms or apps would you start with? I’m sure this post has provided some pointers on the best dropshipping platforms you can utilize as a Nigerian. Why not share this post on your social media?
Do you feel motivated? Leave a comment below to let us know your thoughts. Thanks for reading.
