Dropshipping with AliExpress can be a great way to get started with ecommerce.
But, anyone who has used AliExpress before often has a couple of things that have bothered them.
One of those things is that it's quite a challenge to get your products shipped in custom packaging on AliExpress.
Meanwhile, using a third-party service to pack your order into custom packaging after your AliExpress supplier has sent it out is often too much of a hassle.
However, don't worry. Today, we will go through some tips that will help you to get custom packaging on AliExpress!
Let's get started!
Why should you try to get custom packaging when dropshipping?
First things first, why would you even bother to get custom packaging when dropshipping with AliExpress?
To answer that, let's take a look at the difference between a regular dropshipping package and a custom dropshipping package.
Here's how your package will look when you are dropshipping the way many other dropshippers do it:
And, here's how it can look when you are using custom packaging:
As you can see, the standard package from AliExpress doesn't look that exciting. It's just a plain white box with ugly graphics and a “Made in China” heading. It doesn't really seem like a valuable product, right?
On the contrary, the custom packages do look great, don't you think?
These packages contain awesome graphics and are branded with the company's name and/or logo.
If you were a customer, which package would you rather receive? And from which of these companies would you consider purchasing in the future?
You would rather receive your product in custom packaging, right?
And that's why you should get custom packaging when dropshipping.
Step into your customer's shoes and think about how your ideal experience ordering something online would look like. Then, apply it to your own store, and you will definitely see long-term success.
Using custom packaging, you can avoid looking like a reseller. Through your customer's eyes, the products they receive don't come from a supplier but from your brand.
In other words, custom packaging is a great way to brand your dropshipping store.
Besides branding, you will also make your store more unique.
As I said, very few dropshippers are using custom packaging for their products. If you manage to set up custom packaging for your dropshipping store, you will differentiate yourself from the competition.
Simply said, customers will rather shop at your online store instead of your competitors' stores!
With that said, I hope you have learned about the benefits of having custom packaging for your dropshipping store.
If you are interested in getting custom packaging for your dropshipping store, then read along as I guide you in the right direction!
How do you get custom packaging on AliExpress? (4 Tips)
It's likely that you are currently doing dropshipping.
In other words, you don't have any stock, and you purchase products for your orders from your dropshipping supplier.
You have to remember that in this business model, your dropshipping supplier is carrying the risk of keeping products in their inventory.
They don't know if or when they will sell those products. They may receive 50 orders per day for a couple of days, but when the dropshippers decide it isn't profitable anymore, the orders will simply stop.
If your dropshipping supplier has to supply you with custom packaging, they will have an extra risk for their business. They either have to print the custom packages beforehand and keep them in stock or print them one by one whenever you order something.
Both options are either more risky or time-consuming. After all, the orders are not guaranteed.
This is why it can be difficult to get custom packaging when dropshipping with AliExpress. For the suppliers, it's either an extra risk or very time-consuming (in case they have to create custom packages one by one whenever you make an order).
However, remember that if you really want something, there is always a way to achieve it!
Let's take a look at how you can get custom packaging when dropshipping with AliExpress:
1. Find AliExpress product pages that offer custom packaging
The first option to get custom packaging on AliExpress is one that pretty much everyone will think about first; finding a product page on AliExpress that offers custom packaging.
Unfortunately, most people realize that it's hard to find a product page on AliExpress that offers custom packaging.
So, you must be pretty lucky if you manage to find a supplier that offers custom packaging for the product you are selling. In reality, custom packaging isn't often promoted on AliExpress product pages.
Because of this, you will come across heaps of AliExpress sellers selling custom packages in lots when adding the “custom packaging” keyword in the search bar:
2. Use private label dropshipping suppliers
So, if you can't find AliExpress product pages that offer custom packaging, what is the solution then?
Well, if you're looking to get custom packaging directly from the supplier you are buying the actual product from, a better option would be to search for a dedicated private label dropshipping supplier.
A private label supplier specializes in providing either custom product labels, custom packaging, custom invoicing, or all three. An example of a private label supplier is one that I already mentioned in this article: Art of Where.
If you're interested in this, then check out the 15 best private label dropshipping suppliers here.
3. Have good contact with your supplier
If you want to stick to AliExpress, and you didn't find a product page that includes the possibility to ship in custom packaging, then here is another method to have up your sleeve.
Good contact with your AliExpress supplier can allow you to dropship with custom packaging. After working with your supplier for some time, you will be able to build a relationship with them, and they will trust you more and more.
After ordering products from your supplier consistently, you could ask them if they can support you by providing custom packaging.
If you have built a relationship with that supplier and they trust you, it is likely that they will help you to create custom packaging for your dropshipping business. However, be aware that they will likely ask for an extra fee.
You can contact your AliExpress supplier here:
For more information on how to message your AliExpress suppliers, check out this article here.
4. Work with a dropshipping agent
Unfortunately, in some cases, AliExpress suppliers won't be able to provide you with customized packaging. Often, they do not have the resources that are needed to create custom packaging for their products.
Other suppliers just don't want to deal with the extra risk and hassle that comes with offering custom packaging for dropshipping, just like I explained earlier.
Packing products in custom packaging is a lot more work compared to regular non-branded packaging.
If the previous two tips didn't work for you, then you could consider working with a dropshipping agent:
A dropshipping agent is an alternative to a dropshipping supplier. It’s a person that will source, store, pack, and ship products for your dropshipping store.
The key difference between a dropshipping agent and a dropshipping supplier is that a dropshipping agent is a middleman and can offer you more services.
A dropshipping agent operates from their own warehouse. So, for an additional fee, most dropshipping agents will be able to ship out your products in custom packaging!
Side note: Wondering if there's a difference between a dropshipping agent and an AliExpress agent? Check out this article here!
If you are interested in working with a dropshipping agent, check out our article that goes over five tips for finding high-quality dropshipping agents!
Conclusion
Dropshipping with AliExpress can be a great way to make money online. However, most people who try it do run into a few hurdles.
Considering you were looking for ways to get custom packaging on AliExpress, you are likely one of them!
But don't worry. As I said, it's completely normal to run into hurdles when dropshipping. And, for pretty much any problem, there will be a solution!
If you follow the tips provided in this article, I believe that you will find a way to dropship with custom packaging.
However, if you don't, then remember that you can always contact us for help! We will do our best to guide you in the right direction.
Good luck with your dropshipping store and finding a supplier that offers custom packaging!
2 Comments
Hi Patryk, thank you for this super helpful article. I am right now struggling with this. Do you think its a good idea to get a few orders before trying customized packaging? Because I am using Dser and they are not very flexible with creating customized packages unless I have a lot of orders. Should I start customized packaging once I know this is working or should I do it from the start? What do you think?
Hi Auora,
Great question! Customized packaging can really help your store in the long-term and increase customer loyalty if you’ve some awesome designs for your packages. However, it won’t necessarily turn any product into a winning product. Unless you have images of your products in your customized packages, customers won’t even see your packaging until they have bought and received it!
Therefore, it is not necessary to start with customized packaging right away. I would advise trying to sell your product without customized packaging first. If you see that it’s working and that you are profitable, then you can always start with customized packaging to take your store to the next level!
Good luck with everything!
– Patryk