Starting Your Shopify Candle Dropshipping Business – A Beginner’s Guide
By Sam Nguyen
In this post, we’ll explore how to start your candle dropshipping business using Shopify. After reading, you will have on hand essential tips for setting up your store, selecting suppliers, and marketing your products effectively.
How Profitable Is Dropshipping Candles
The global candle market offers an attractive opportunity for dropshipping businesses, with revenues expected to hit US $11.11 billion in 2024 and an annual growth rate of 3.43% through 2029. This growth demonstrates the potential profitability of selling candles online, especially as traditional candles continue to be popular.
Particularly in the United States, where the market revenue is projected at US$2,199 million in 2024, there’s a significant opportunity for dropshippers. With a per capita spending of US$1.43, the broad consumer interest in different regions further underscores the potential for a scalable dropshipping business that doesn’t require a significant initial investment.
5 Best Candle Products To Start Dropshipping
Here are five types of candle products that you might consider for starting a dropshipping business:
Soy Candles
The soy candle market is poised for significant growth from 2023 to 2030, especially in North America and Europe.
Soy candles are a fantastic choice for eco-conscious consumers. Soy candles are made from soybeans, a renewable resource, and they burn cleaner and longer than traditional paraffin candles. They are available in various scents and styles, making them versatile for different customer preferences.
Scented Candles
These candles add a pleasant aroma to any space and are particularly popular for their ability to enhance mood and décor. Available in countless fragrances, from vanilla to lavender, scented candles can cater to all sorts of olfactory tastes and are great for seasonal offerings as well.
The global scented candles market, valued at USD 2.97 billion in 2019, has shown steady growth and is projected to increase from USD 3.16 billion in 2023 to USD 5.52 billion by 2031.
LED Flameless Candles
LED flameless candles are increasingly sought for their safety and convenience, especially in environments with children or pets. They still offer the beauty of candles without the fire hazard. These candles often come with features like timers and remote controls, making them convenient and safe options for consumers.
Candle Sets
Candle sets are perfect for gifting and offer considerable appeal during holidays and occasions like weddings and housewarmings. Offering a set of candles can appeal to customers looking for gifts or wanting to create a coordinated look in their home décor.
These sets can include candles of various sizes and scents, packaged attractively to boost their appeal. Bringing several candles together increases average order values, which benefits dropshipping margins.
Candle Making Kits
These kits provide all the necessary materials and instructions to make candles at home, allowing customers to personalize their colors, scents, and shapes. These kits encourage creativity and personalization, appealing to a broad demographic, including families, craft enthusiasts, and those looking to develop a new hobby.
The craft kit market is forecasted to grow as consumers seek hands-on experiences and personalized products. This product taps into the “maker” culture and is a wonderful product to dropship.
Top 5 Suppliers For Dropshipping Candles
When considering suppliers for dropshipping candles, it’s essential to select partners that offer quality, variety, and reliability. Here are the top 5 suppliers renowned for their excellence in the candle dropshipping industry:
Faire
Faire is an expansive wholesale marketplace connecting retailers with over 100,000 independent brands globally. It is an ideal platform for dropshippers looking to source a variety of candles, including soy wax, festive, and creative designs.
Established in 2017, Faire aims to level the playing field for small businesses against retail giants, offering benefits like free returns on initial orders and no membership fees for resellers. This platform is especially beneficial for those looking to source unique candles not commonly found on other marketplaces or in traditional stores.
Private Label by Velavida
Located in Richardson, Texas, Private Label by Velavida stands out as a supplier specializing in customizable candles for dropshipping. They offer a flexible choice between unlabeled or private-label candles, allowing for significant customization to match any reseller’s brand vision.
With over 15 container styles and more than 40 fragrances to choose from, the options are extensive. Additionally, their low minimum order requirement of just 12 units makes it feasible for drop shippers to conduct small-scale test runs before scaling up their orders, reducing the risk and upfront investment typically associated with new product lines.
Match Fragrance
As a UK-based supplier operating out of a substantial 10,000-square-foot factory in Plymouth, Match Fragrance dedicates itself exclusively to producing candles, ensuring expertise and quality in every product. They offer various soy candles, wax melts, and melters, catering to different consumer preferences.
For drop shippers looking to brand these products, Match Fragrance provides options for white label (under their May & Maple line) and private label customization. This focus on specialized production and branding flexibility makes Match Fragrance an excellent choice for those seeking a reliable and expert partner in the candle market.
Bulk Apothecary
Based in Aurora, Ohio, Bulk Apothecary is a versatile supplier catering to DIY enthusiasts and businesses looking to sell finished products. For those interested in crafting their candles, Bulk Apothecary offers an extensive array of raw materials, including various types of waxes, fragrances, containers, and essential oils. This allows for complete customization in candle making.
Additionally, for drop shippers who prefer to focus on selling rather than production, Bulk Apothecary provides a range of private-label products, such as pre-made candles, bath bombs, and cold-process soaps. This dual approach makes Bulk Apothecary a valuable resource for hands-on creators and those looking for ready-to-market goods in the personal care niche.
Tropical Labs
Tropical Labs is a wholesale supplier specializing in plant-based and organic personal care products in Tampa, Florida. It is an excellent choice for drop shippers looking into the eco-friendly market. In addition to a variety of personal care items such as skin creams, lotions, shave gels, and hair care products, Tropical Labs also offers candles.
Tropical Labs also provides opportunities for branding through its private label services and supports product innovation with its research and development capabilities. This makes Tropical Labs a versatile partner for businesses that cater to niche markets in the organic and plant-based sectors.
How To Start A Candle Dropshipping Business On Shopify
Starting a candle dropshipping business on Shopify can be rewarding if you know the right steps. Here’s an easy guide to help you set up your business effectively:
Step 1: Sourcing Your Suppliers
First up, you need to decide what to sell, such as soy candles or candle sets. Of course, you can and should offer various products in your store. Brainstorm it into a list and decide what you want to sell.
Next, find suppliers for your products. You can consider the suppliers we’ve suggested or search for others on platforms like Alibaba or AliExpress. Once you’ve identified potential suppliers, start discussions with them to establish terms for dropshipping. This step is really important as it will make or break your business.
Step 2: Build Your Online Store
To start selling, you’ll need to sign up and create a store on Shopify if you don’t have one. Choose a subscription plan that suits your needs, and start setting payment methods, shipping, adding your store’s policy, etc.
To make your store look great, choose a theme that matches the aesthetic of your candle business. Some themes that work well for visually oriented products like candles include Minimalista, Responsive, Trade, and Broadcast, all of which are customizable and designed to showcase products beautifully. You should head to the Shopify Theme Store to explore more designs.
Step 3: Add Your Products
You can add products to your Shopify store manually or use automation tools. Manually involves entering product details yourself, which is feasible if you have a small inventory.
If you want to go big, you can automatically import products from the suppliers to your store using automation apps like Spocket, AutoDS, Zopi, or others to streamline the process. These apps can help you sync product data and shipping information directly from your suppliers to your store, simplifying the process and ensuring efficient management as you scale.
Step 4: Launch Your Store
Once your products are uploaded and your website is polished, you’re ready to launch. Ensure all functions, from navigation to checkout, are tested to guarantee a smooth customer experience.
Step 5: Marketing And Promotion
For a candle business, you should implement a marketing strategy of multiple methods to boost the traffic to your store. Leverage content marketing via SEO-optimized blog posts, email campaigns, and especially social media to attract and retain customers.
Highlight the benefits and USPs of your products and consider partnering with wellness influencers to broaden your reach. Consider running promotions or discounts at launch to draw in initial customers.
Step 6: Managing Orders and Customer Service
Order management and customer service are pivotal for maintaining customer satisfaction.
You can take advantage of Shopify’s built-in tools for order and inventory management. Keep customers informed with automated updates and respond promptly to inquiries to enhance customer satisfaction and loyalty.
Another aspect to put effort into is setting up a system for handling customer inquiries and complaints. Good customer service can turn a one-time buyer into a repeat customer.
Bottom Line
You’re now ready to start your candle dropshipping journey with Shopify. Embrace the opportunity to create a thriving online business, fuel your entrepreneurial spirit, and light up your path to success.
FAQs
Yes, you can make a living selling candles, especially if you establish a unique brand or niche that appeals to specific customer interests, like eco-friendly materials or exclusive scents. Effective online and offline marketing and maintaining quality and customer satisfaction can help you build a loyal customer base. Additionally, keeping costs low and exploring various sales channels, such as online platforms, farmers markets, and retail partnerships, will increase your potential profitability.
Selling candles can be an excellent side hustle as it often requires a manageable initial investment and can be scaled according to your time and resources. It allows for creative expression in crafting unique scents and designs, which can attract various customers. Moreover, the flexibility to sell through multiple channels, such as online marketplaces, local boutiques, or craft fairs, makes it adaptable to different lifestyles and goals.
The average profit of a small candle business can vary widely depending on factors such as production costs, sales volume, and marketing strategy. Generally, profit margins for candle businesses are between 25% to 50%, with the possibility of higher margins for those who can brand and market their products effectively.
The cost to start a candle business can vary, but initial expenses typically range from $200 to $1,000 for basic supplies like wax, wicks, molds, fragrance oils, and packaging. Additional costs for website development, marketing, and event fees may apply if you plan to set up an online store or attend craft fairs.
To start a candle dropshipping business, you must set up an online store using a platform like Shopify, simplifying website creation and product listing. You'll also need to partner with reliable suppliers who offer quality candles and are willing to ship them directly to your customers. Developing a solid marketing strategy will also be crucial to attracting and retaining customers, involving social media promotion, SEO, and possibly paid advertising.
