How To Start Dropshipping In New Zealand In 2025
Why start dropshipping
Many people dream of a profitable business that serves customers all over the world. If you are one of them – you’re in the right place.
Dropshipping is the business that provides equal opportunities to everyone.
It doesn’t matter whether you are an islander or a resident of a busy metropolis.
If you want to secure a better future for yourself and your family, you can easily set up an online business that will bring you money at any point of the globe.
You don’t need to manufacture products or to buy them from someone in advance. All you need is stable Internet access and an online store. From here, your business journey begins.
How dropshipping works
Why start dropshipping in New Zealand
New Zealand is rapidly becoming a prime destination for dropshipping entrepreneurs, thanks to its growing ecommerce market and a population that is increasingly comfortable with online shopping. The country’s low competition in the dropshipping sector offers a unique opportunity for early adopters to establish a strong foothold without the intense rivalry seen in more saturated markets.
Moreover, New Zealand’s robust infrastructure, including a well-developed logistics network, ensures that order fulfillment is smooth and efficient, a critical factor for success in dropshipping.
The New Zealand government’s supportive policies and various startup grants further enhance the appeal for entrepreneurs looking to launch their online businesses. With a digital-savvy population that is eager to purchase quality products, the market is ripe for dropshippers who can offer unique and valuable offerings.
Whether you are a local entrepreneur or looking to tap into a new market, New Zealand’s favorable business environment and strong consumer demand make it an ideal place to harness the power of dropshipping.
Population
Internet users
Revenue in 2024
Leading e-retail category
Advantages and disadvantages of dropshipping in New Zealand
Advantages of dropshipping in New Zealand
- Low Startup Costs
One of the most significant advantages of dropshipping is the low initial investment required. You don’t need to purchase inventory upfront, which means you can start a business with minimal capital. This is particularly beneficial for entrepreneurs in New Zealand who may not have access to large amounts of startup capital.
- Minimal Overhead Expenses
Dropshipping eliminates the need for physical storefronts, warehouses, and inventory management. This reduces overhead costs significantly, allowing you to focus more on marketing and customer service. In New Zealand, where the cost of living and business expenses can be high, this is a major advantage.
- Flexibility and Scalability
Dropshipping offers a high degree of flexibility. You can run your business from anywhere, as long as you have an internet connection. This is ideal for entrepreneurs who value a work-life balance. Additionally, the model is highly scalable. As your business grows, you can easily add more products and suppliers without the need for additional infrastructure.
- Wide Product Range
With dropshipping, you can offer a wide range of products without the constraints of physical inventory. This allows you to cater to diverse customer needs and preferences. In New Zealand, where the market is relatively small compared to larger countries, offering a broad product range can help you attract a larger customer base.
- Risk Mitigation
Dropshipping reduces the risk associated with holding inventory. You only pay for products when they are sold, which means you don’t have to worry about unsold stock or the costs of storing and managing inventory. This is particularly beneficial in a market like New Zealand, where consumer trends can change rapidly.
Disadvantages of dropshipping in New Zealand
- Profit Margins
Dropshipping often comes with lower profit margins compared to traditional retail. Since you are not the manufacturer, you have less control over the cost of goods sold. In New Zealand, where the cost of living is high, maintaining competitive pricing while ensuring profitability can be challenging.
- Quality Control
One of the biggest challenges in dropshipping is ensuring the quality of products. Since you don’t handle the products yourself, you rely on suppliers to maintain quality standards. This can lead to issues with product quality, which can negatively impact customer satisfaction and your brand reputation.
- Shipping Delays and Costs
Shipping can be a significant issue in dropshipping, especially in New Zealand. Due to its remote location, shipping times can be longer, and shipping costs can be higher. This can lead to customer dissatisfaction and increased operational costs. Additionally, international shipping can be subject to customs delays and additional fees.
- Supplier Reliability
Finding reliable suppliers is crucial in dropshipping. Unreliable suppliers can lead to stockouts, delayed shipments, and poor customer service. In New Zealand, the supplier market may be smaller, making it more challenging to find high-quality, reliable suppliers.
- Customer Service Challenges
Dropshipping can make it difficult to provide excellent customer service. Since you don’t handle the products directly, you may have limited control over the customer experience. Issues such as incorrect orders, damaged products, and shipping delays can be challenging to resolve, leading to customer dissatisfaction and negative reviews.
What to dropship?
How much can you make with dropshipping?
How far you can go with dropshipping: real-life experience
How To Make A Profit In The FIRST Month Of Owning A Store!
FAQ
Is dropshipping legal in New Zealand?
Yes! When you are dropshipping, you are not ‘fooling’ anyone, and you are not breaking any laws. You are simply helping other people receive the items they want - and enjoy the perfect customer service you provide.
However, pay attention to your choice of products. It is illegal to sell branded, copyrighted items, or things like weapons (even their sports or hunting models), knives, smoking mixtures, etc.
How much money do I need to start?
At least $150 is necessary - let’s do the maths.
If you have some technical skills and can assemble and set up a website yourself, you will need around $150.
First of all, you will need to buy a domain name (a good one costs about $10-15, and you will need to pay this fee every year to prolong your registration).
After that, you need a hosting: a server that makes your store info visible to the Internet user. You can use the basic hosting service from AliDropship (‘Silver Plan’) and only pay $69 per year.
Then, you will need to install WordPress, which is absolutely free, and buy AliDropship plugin, which costs $89. It should be enough: WordPress + AliDropship make a proper basis to create a fully functional dropshipping store.
If you don’t have these technical skills, you can order a ready-made store based on the AliDropship plugin. It will be made for you personally by an expert team: the specialists will even add the first products to your store. So, technically, it will be ready to sell items from day 1. The basic ready-made dropshipping store costs $299; together with the annual domain fee, you will have to pay $310-315 to launch your business.
How to choose the store niche?
First, it should be something that you really like - or, at least, know deeply. You will be picking products, making advertisements, and advising customers, so you absolutely need to be a pro in this.
Also, this niche should be popular with buyers and easy to promote online. Here is a complete niche selection guide that will help you!
What country to target?
Living in New Zealand, you are not limited to your local market. You can serve customers all over the globe, even in the countries of Europe and North America. Remember your store niche and think who might be interested in these products. Where do these people live, most likely? That’s your target region!
Where to find the products?
AliDropship plugin lets you easily import products on your dropshipping website. Basically, it transfers the products’ titles, descriptions and images in a single click. So, all you need to do is browse and find good quality products from reputable sellers.
Alternatively, you can use a database of over 50,000 selected products which are guaranteed to be in high demand. This database is available within AliDropship plugin: you can see it when you go to the Import section of your AliDropship-based store. The best part is that all the products’ titles and descriptions are already edited there, so you won’t spend your own time doing this yourself.
If I sell products, how can I compete with itself?
AliExpress is a large shopping platform where sellers offer everything at once. At the same time, your niche dropshipping store is focused on a specific range of products. Surely, you are more client-oriented than a large-scale store, and this is why buyers will choose you over.
Will my buyers know they are actually buying items?
It’s not likely. Even if they see Chinese names/addresses/characters on the wrapping paper, it won’t tell them anything. Lots of warehouses and manufacturing facilities of the largest global companies are situated in China, so there is nothing strange if a buyer receives a package of the Chinese origin.
Also, you can write your suppliers directly and ask them not to put any promotional materials into the package. Sellers are always glad to partner with dropshipping store owners because this partnership is profitable, so they will be happy to help you.
Will my buyers agree to a long delivery?
Long delivery itself isn’t a problem. Your customers are not buying life critical items from you, so they don’t mind waiting - especially, if you offer them an appealing price and a low-cost shipping.
Besides, you can choose the ePacket delivery method which cuts up the delivery time significantly. With ePacket, it will take the packages 7-15 days to arrive.
What if a buyer asks me for a refund?
Refunds are the responsibility of the original suppliers. Usually, they refund low-cost purchases really quickly, so there is nothing for you to worry about.
How to promote the store?
To make profit from your store, you first of all need to attract traffic to it. There are lots of ways to promote your store online for free, so pick the ones you personally like. Also, read the free marketing tips for dropshipping business: an experienced team brings them to you every week!
Will WordPress or AliDropship limit my activity and charge business fees?
No. The only recurring fee is the domain fee - you will have to pay for it every year, otherwise, your site won’t be visible on the Internet.
WordPress is completely free, and all the AliDropship solutions only require a one-time payment. Whatever AliDropship tool or service you get, you remain a full owner of your business. There are no limits on the amount of orders you can accept, or the volume of profit you make, or the quantity and the content of the products you import, etc. You are your own boss!
Free Dropshipping Guide
