When I launched my first Shopify store, the biggest roadblock wasn’t the tech.
It was this question: “Where do I actually get the products to sell?”
I thought the hard part would be designing a beautiful store. But I quickly learned that without the right suppliers or product sources, the storefront means nothing.
You need reliable products, fast shipping, decent profit margins, and a sourcing model that fits how you want to run your business.
In this guide, I’ll break down every legit way to source products for your Shopify store — whether you’re doing print on demand, dropshipping, wholesale, or building a real brand with private label products.
Let’s go through each method, what works, what to avoid, and where to actually start sourcing.
Print-on-Demand (POD): Sell Custom Products Without Inventory
Print-on-demand lets you sell products like t-shirts, mugs, wall art, and phone cases. You upload the design, the POD company prints and ships it under your brand.
This is one of the easiest ways to get started with Shopify if you’re a designer, creator, or influencer — or just want to avoid holding inventory.
Why I Recommend POD for New Sellers
- No upfront inventory costs
- Easy Shopify integrations
- Hundreds of products to choose from
- Great for testing designs and niches
- Branded shipping available
I started with POD using Printful, and it connected to Shopify in minutes. I didn’t have to worry about packaging or shipping.
I could just focus on creating designs and marketing.
Best POD Suppliers for Shopify
| Supplier | Shipping Locations | Avg. Base Prices (USD) | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Printful | USA, EU, Mexico, Australia | T-shirt: $13.25 | High-quality prints, white-label branding |
| Printify | Global network | T-shirt: $8.70+ | Multiple print providers, cheaper base cost |
| Gelato | 30+ countries | T-shirt: $9.00+ | Fast global shipping |
| Gooten | USA + Global | T-shirt: $9.90+ | Great for bulk, simple dashboard |
| Teelaunch | USA | T-shirt: $10.50+ | Good for unique items like drinkware |
Printful is known for premium quality and reliable fulfillment centers in the US and Europe. It’s a top choice for sellers who want professional branding and consistent print quality.
Printify offers access to a wide range of print providers, giving you more flexibility on pricing and location. It’s great for sellers looking to optimize costs or scale with volume.
Gelato has one of the largest fulfillment networks globally, which helps with faster delivery and lower shipping costs. It’s especially useful if you’re selling internationally and need a wide coverage area.
Gooten is ideal for scaling stores due to its easy-to-use dashboard and strong fulfillment system. It also has solid pricing for bulk orders, which helps improve margins over time.
Teelaunch focuses on unique and niche products like tumblers, drinkware, and gadgets. If you’re looking to offer something beyond standard t-shirts and mugs, it’s worth exploring.
Most of these platforms have mockup generators and automatic order fulfillment. You only pay after a customer buys.
What POD Products Sell Best?
- T-shirts (still the top seller year after year)
- Hoodies and sweatshirts
- Wall art and posters
- Mugs and drinkware
- Phone cases
- Stickers and planners
If you’re going this route, keep your focus on designs that solve a problem or trigger emotion — humor, identity, fandoms, niche interests. That’s what makes people buy.
Dropshipping: Sell Trending Products Without Holding Inventory
Dropshipping is another no-inventory business model. Instead of printing custom designs, you source existing products (from platforms like AliExpress or US suppliers), mark them up, and your supplier ships it directly to your customer.
This method exploded in popularity in recent years because it lowers the barrier to entry.
Pros of Dropshipping
- No inventory or warehousing
- Thousands of products to test
- Lower startup cost than wholesale
- Works with nearly any niche
- Direct integration with Shopify
But dropshipping has its trade-offs. If your supplier is based in China, shipping can take 10–35 days, which frustrates customers. Quality control is harder too.
Top Dropshipping Platforms for Shopify
| Platform | Product Source | Shipping Time (US) | Monthly Cost | Key Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DSers | AliExpress | 15–35 days | Free–$49 | Replaces Oberlo, direct AliExpress link |
| Zendrop | US/China | 5–15 days | Free–$49 | Private labeling, faster shipping |
| Spocket | US/EU | 3–7 days | Free–$99 | High-quality US suppliers |
| CJ Dropshipping | China/US/Global | 7–20 days | Free | Print-on-demand + dropshipping |
| AutoDS | Global | 10–20 days | $24–$47 | Product finder and auto-fulfill |
DSers is built for AliExpress-based dropshipping and replaced Oberlo as Shopify’s go-to integration. It’s ideal if you’re looking to tap into a massive range of low-cost products from China.
Zendrop offers faster shipping than typical AliExpress options and includes US-based fulfillment for select items. It also supports private labeling, which is great if you’re building a brand.
Spocket connects you with US and EU suppliers offering higher-quality products and faster delivery. It’s a strong pick if you want to focus on local shipping and avoid long wait times.
CJ Dropshipping is a flexible platform that combines traditional dropshipping with print-on-demand capabilities. It gives you the option to scale with both custom and non-custom products under one dashboard.
AutoDS is an all-in-one automation tool that helps you find, import, and fulfill products across multiple suppliers. It’s especially useful if you’re managing multiple stores or want to speed up your operations.
What to Sell With Dropshipping?
- Tech accessories (chargers, phone stands)
- Home goods (LED lights, kitchen tools)
- Pet accessories (toys, collars)
- Fitness gear (resistance bands, yoga mats)
- Fashion accessories (bags, watches)
Start by testing 5–10 products. Once you find a winner, you can scale up with ads or even private label it.
Wholesale Suppliers: Bulk Products, Better Margins
If you’ve got some upfront capital and want to build a more serious Shopify store, wholesale might be the way to go.
You buy in bulk at discounted rates, store it yourself or use 3PLs (third-party logistics), and ship it when you make a sale.
Margins are better, but the risk is higher.
Why Wholesale?
- You control quality
- Faster delivery times
- Build stronger brand reputation
- Higher profit margins per sale
But keep in mind, you’ll need to manage inventory, handle returns, and pay upfront.
Best Wholesale Platforms
| Platform | Location Focus | MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity) | Fees | Notable Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Faire | USA/EU | Low (5–10 units) | None | Focused on indie & boutique brands |
| Abound | USA | Low (10+ units) | None | Net-60 payment terms available |
| Tundra | USA | Low to high | None | Commission-free wholesale |
| Alibaba | Global | High (100+ units) | None | Private label and factory access |
Faire is a curated wholesale marketplace focused on boutique and independent brands across the US and Europe. It’s great if you want lower MOQs and trendier, small-batch products that stand out.
Abound connects you with verified US-based brands and offers flexible net-60 payment terms. That’s a big plus if you’re starting out and want to hold onto your cash longer.
Tundra gives you access to a wide range of US-based suppliers without commissions or hidden fees. It’s ideal for buying in bulk without sacrificing transparency or control.
Alibaba is the go-to platform for private label and large-scale sourcing from manufacturers around the world. You’ll need to meet higher minimums, but it’s how most ecommerce brands build custom products at scale.
If you’re starting small, I’d suggest platforms like Faire or Abound. They let you test inventory without massive commitments.
Private Labeling: Build a Real Brand
Private labeling is when you put your own branding on generic products and make them your own.
You source a product from a manufacturer (usually on Alibaba), customize it, and sell it under your own label.
This is how real ecommerce brands scale. You own the product, the brand, and the customer relationship.
Why Go Private Label?
- Full control over branding
- Unique product offers
- Build long-term brand value
- More protection from copycats
It’s not the cheapest option, but it gives you the most leverage. You’ll need to invest in product samples, branding, and packaging design — but you’ll also keep a larger slice of profit.
Steps to Get Started
- Find a product on Alibaba that already sells well
- Request samples from 3–5 suppliers
- Negotiate for custom packaging or logo printing
- Order a small batch (start with 100–300 units)
- Ship it to your home or a 3PL warehouse
- List on Shopify with your branding
Make sure your supplier includes DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) to the US to avoid surprise customs fees.
Local POD or US/EU Fulfillment: Faster Delivery, Less Drama
If you’re serious about customer experience, consider working with US-based or EU-based POD suppliers. They offer faster shipping (usually 2–5 days) and better quality control.
Benefits of Local Fulfillment
- Faster delivery times
- Lower return rates
- Improved customer reviews
- Less chance of chargebacks or disputes
I switched to Gelato for some of my POD products, and my customer complaints dropped overnight.
Best Local POD Companies
| Supplier | Regions Fulfilled | Average Ship Time | Top Products |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gelato | 30+ countries | 2–6 days | Posters, mugs, apparel |
| Printful | US, EU, AUS | 2–7 days | Apparel, accessories |
| AOP+ | UK/US | 3–5 days | Apparel, home goods |
| Scalable Press | US | 3–5 days | T-shirts, hoodies, mugs |
Gelato is ideal for international sellers because it uses local print hubs in over 30 countries to reduce delivery times and shipping costs. It’s a strong choice if you’re targeting multiple global markets from one Shopify store.
Printful offers consistent quality and branding options with fulfillment centers in the US, EU, and Australia. It’s one of the most established POD platforms and integrates smoothly with Shopify.
AOP+ is a UK-based POD supplier with fulfillment in both the UK and US, making it a good pick for stores targeting those regions. It’s a print-all-over specialist, great for full-coverage apparel and custom home goods.
Scalable Press handles large volumes for US-based sellers and is known for fast turnaround on popular apparel items. If you’re focused on bulk t-shirt or hoodie sales, it’s one of the most reliable options for speed and consistency.
If your audience is mainly in the US or UK, local fulfillment is worth the extra cost.
Product Research Tools: Find Winning Products Without Guessing
If you’re unsure what products to sell, you don’t need to guess. There are tools that show you what’s already trending, what competitors are selling, and what’s making money.
Best Product Research Tools
| Tool | Focus Area | Free Plan | What It Does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sell The Trend | Dropshipping | No | Trending AliExpress + TikTok products |
| Ecomhunt | Dropshipping | Yes | Daily hand-picked winning products |
| Niche Scraper | Dropshipping/POD | Yes | Product spy + competitor research |
| Pexda | Dropshipping | Yes | Facebook ad examples, hot product feed |
| Dropship Spy | Dropshipping | No | Research + marketing materials included |
Sell The Trend is a powerful tool for discovering trending products by analyzing data from AliExpress, TikTok, and Shopify stores. It’s built for serious sellers who want to find viral products before they saturate the market.
Ecomhunt offers a curated feed of daily product picks complete with profit margins, targeting tips, and engagement stats. It’s beginner-friendly and great for quick product ideas without deep research.
Niche Scraper combines product spying with competitor tracking so you can see exactly what’s working in your niche. It’s especially useful for both POD and dropshipping stores wanting insight into successful ads and stores.
Pexda helps you discover high-potential dropshipping products by tracking viral Facebook ads. It’s a go-to for ad creatives, product validation, and seeing what’s getting traction on social media.
Dropship Spy offers detailed research on product performance plus marketing materials like ad copy, targeting suggestions, and influencer lists. It’s ideal if you want a plug-and-play approach to launching a new product.
These tools are great for building your product testing list. I use them to track trends and test offers before committing to large inventory.
Bonus: Sell Digital Products or Printables
If you want zero shipping, high margins, and no returns, digital products are a solid add-on.
These could be:
- Printable planners
- Journal templates
- Social media templates
- Digital wall art
- Course materials
- Checklists and guides
You can sell digital goods directly through Shopify using apps like Digital Downloads, SendOwl, or Sky Pilot.
Final Thoughts: Start Simple, Scale Smart
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer to “where to get products to sell on Shopify.”
It depends on your goals, risk tolerance, budget, and time. Here’s how I’d summarize:
- Just starting? Go with Print-on-Demand or beginner-friendly dropshipping.
- Want more control? Use US-based POD or wholesale suppliers like Faire.
- Ready to build a real brand? Start sourcing and private labeling with Alibaba.
- Still unsure? Use product research tools to test the market first.
The key is not to overthink your first product. Just launch, test, and learn.
Once you’ve got traction, that’s when you can double down and scale.
