External Product (Dropshipping)

An external product is an item listed in your store but fulfilled and shipped by a third-party supplier. You don’t hold inventory. When a customer places an order, the supplier handles storage, packing, and shipping directly to the customer. This is the foundation of a dropshipping business model.

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When to Use External Products

Use the External product type when:

• Dropshipping. You sell products that a supplier ships directly to your customers
• Affiliate products. You list products from another store and earn a commission
• Marketplace model. You curate products from multiple vendors in your catalog
• Print-on-demand. Items are printed and shipped by a third-party service
• Made-to-order. Products manufactured by a partner after the order is placed

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How Dropshipping Works with Shopper

The typical dropshipping flow with External products:

1. You list the product in your store with your own pricing and branding
2. A customer places an order on your store
3. You forward the order to your supplier
4. The supplier ships the product directly to your customer
5. You keep the profit margin (your price minus supplier cost)

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What Makes External Products Unique

External products have the most simplified configuration since fulfillment is handled externally:

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Configuring an External Product

After creating an external product through the creation wizard, the configuration focuses on:

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Pricing Strategy

The key to dropshipping profitability is your pricing: Example pricing calculation:

• Supplier price (cost): $25.00
• Your retail price: $59.99
• Compare at price: $79.99
• Your profit margin: $34.99 per sale

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Product Information

Even though the product is fulfilled externally, you should provide:

• Compelling descriptions. Write unique descriptions rather than copying the supplier’s text. This helps SEO and builds customer trust.
• Quality images. Use high-resolution product photos. Request sample products from your supplier for original photography when possible.
• Accurate details. Ensure your product descriptions match what the supplier actually ships.

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Example: Creating a Dropshipping Product

Let’s create a “Minimalist Wooden Watch” from a dropshipping supplier:

1. Type: Select “External Product”
2. General info: Name it “Minimalist Wooden Watch, Natural Bamboo”, write a unique product description that highlights craftsmanship and sustainability
3. Associations: Brand “EcoTime” (your private label), category “Accessories > Watches”, collection “Eco-Friendly”
4. Media: Upload supplier product photos (front, side, on wrist, packaging)
5. Stock: Skip, supplier manages inventory

After creation:

• Pricing: Price $89.00, compare at$129.00, cost $28.00 (supplier price)
• SEO: Title “Bamboo Wood Watch - Eco-Friendly Minimalist Timepiece”
• Related products: Link to other watches and accessories in your store

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Managing Supplier Relationships

While Shopper handles the storefront, you’ll manage supplier relationships outside the platform:

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Dropshipping Best Practices

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Differences from Other Product Types