Online store how to?

[Acenas73]

Hello

New to the forum. I am looking to open an online store that would sell automotive accesories like rims, spoilers, performance items etc etc. How would I go about finding distributors/wholesalers that would dropship. All ive contacted that supply to actual store locations do not drop ship. The online store would be geared to the european market although I live in the USA.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you

[anthonyl]

How goes?
Have you looked at a courier service and include this into your costs?

[Essex_boy]

Try the droppshippers directory available from Amazon.

If it isnt in there give up.

[Acenas73]

"Have you looked at a courier service and include this into your costs?"

Customer would pay shipping. why would I need to figure it into my cost?

"Try the droppshippers directory available from Amazon.
If it isnt in there give up."

Why give up?Its being done everyday, I know someone who is doing it now but obviously would not reveal their sources, we are geared to the same market.

Thanks for the replys.

[derekwong28]

If you are shipping what could be pretty heavy items from US to Europe, not only would your customers have to pay expensive shipping charges, they may also have to pay import duties and VAT. It is quite likely that they can buy at much cheaper prices locally.

If you find European supplers who are willing to drop-ship locally, coordination would be more difficult than US suppliers.

Even if someone were doing this already, it is doubtful that they are taking many orders unless they have got some highly specialized items that cannot be found in Europe.

[Acenas73]

any more help?

[sem4u]

Do a Google search for your products and distributors. You will probably see listings for Yahoo! and Dmoz directory listings. You will of course have to contact each company yourself.

[danieljean]

whoa... well, that is one market I would be very reluctant to enter.

I was in Paris for a year and a half (back in NA for 11 months now). In the last few months I was there, deregulation was hitting that market and some big players were mass-marketing in the metro, promoting almost entirely on the basis of price.

Derek also hits the nail on the head with regards to VAT and import duties. You probably need a local supplier.

I would also recommend getting a European hosting account; it will be more expensive, but just a touch faster for EU customers.

[bzprod]

Hello Acenas,

I would highly recommend that you call maybe 3-5 manufacturers of products that you wish to sell. You will find very quickly that a lot of manufacturers deal with multi-line warehouses to ship products. Once you get hold of a multi-line warehouse, you will be good to go. I know this is true in the US auto accessory industry, however, I am not familiar with the European market.

p.s. I am giving this advice based on fact...I am also in this industry and would love to help out someone new. I don't want to just give a phone number out though ;)

Good luck and welcome to a wonderful industry!

[Acenas73]

bzprod

Thanks for your reply. I sent you an Email.

Thanks