What is dropshipping?
Dropshipping is a retail model where you sell products without stocking them. When a customer places an order on your store, you purchase the item from a supplier who ships it directly to the customer. You never handle the physical product.
This model lowers the barrier to starting an online store because you do not need warehouse space, bulk purchasing, or packaging materials upfront.
The dropshipping cycle
- You list a supplier's product on your Cartva store at your retail price
- A customer orders and pays you
- You place a fulfillment order with the supplier (manually or through integration)
- The supplier ships to your customer
- You keep the margin between retail price and supplier cost
How it works on Cartva
Cartva supports dropshipping through supplier integrations and order management tools.
Supplier connection
Connect CJ Dropshipping or other supported suppliers from Integrations. Authentication links your Cartva account to your supplier account so product and order data can sync.
Product import
Browse the supplier catalog within Cartva. Import products to your store — images, descriptions, and variant options come pre-filled. Edit listings and set retail prices with your desired markup.
Order fulfillment
When a dropshipping order arrives:
- Review the order in your Orders dashboard
- Confirm the supplier cost and shipping address
- Forward the order to the supplier for fulfillment
- Update the customer with tracking information when available
Some integrations support automated order forwarding; others require manual confirmation per order.
Mixed catalogs
Your store can sell dropshipped products alongside self-fulfilled inventory and print-on-demand items. Each product type follows its own fulfillment path after checkout.
Who it's for
Dropshipping fits entrepreneurs who want to test markets and scale product variety without capital tied up in stock.
Good fit:
- First-time ecommerce sellers validating product demand
- Merchants in regions without easy access to local wholesale
- Side businesses exploring additional revenue streams
- Stores that want trending or niche products without manufacturing
Challenges to expect:
- Longer shipping times than local stock
- Less control over packaging and product quality
- Customer service responsibility when suppliers delay or err
- Competitive pricing pressure on popular items
What you control vs what Cartva handles
| You control | Cartva handles |
|---|---|
| Product selection and retail pricing | Storefront and checkout for all product types |
| Supplier choice and integration setup | Import UI and catalog mapping |
| Order forwarding and customer updates | Order records and payment capture |
| Listing edits and brand presentation | Dashboard tools for fulfillment workflow |
| Refund and dispute policies with customers | Platform connectivity to supplier APIs |
You own the customer relationship and business decisions. Cartva provides the store, payments, and workflow tools; suppliers handle physical fulfillment.
Pricing model
Dropshipping economics on Cartva involve:
- Cartva subscription — Your plan covers the store and integration tools
- Supplier cost per order — Paid when you fulfill; visible during import and order review
- Shipping fees — Set by supplier or configured in your shipping zones
- Payment processing — Standard gateway fees on customer payments
- No inventory carrying cost — The main financial advantage of the model
Profit per sale = retail price − supplier cost − shipping − payment fees. Price products with realistic shipping and enough margin to cover returns or ads.