Dropshipping has become a popular business model for entrepreneurs worldwide and Pakistan is no exception. With the growing e-commerce industry and easy access to global suppliers, starting a dropshipping business can be a profitable venture. Dropshipping is a fast-growing e-commerce model expected to reach a global market size of $321.11 billion in 2025, with a projected annual growth rate of 22.8% through 2030. AliExpress, a giant online retail service based in China, provides an excellent platform for Pakistani entrepreneurs to source products at competitive prices and start their own dropshipping businesses with minimal investment. This article by Tashheer will guide you step-by-step on how to start a dropshipping business in Pakistan using AliExpress.
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What is Dropshipping?
Dropshipping is a retail fulfillment method where a store doesn’t keep the products it sells in stock. Instead, when a store sells a product, it purchases the item from a third party, often a wholesaler or manufacturer, who ships it directly to the customer. As a dropshipping entrepreneur, you never handle the products directly. You only manage the online store and marketing and the supplier takes care of the inventory and shipping.
Why Start a Dropshipping Business in Pakistan?
Before diving into the specifics of how to use AliExpress for dropshipping, it is important to understand why this business model is a good choice for Pakistani entrepreneurs:
| Advantage | Description |
|---|---|
| Low Initial Investment | Unlike traditional retail, dropshipping eliminates the need to purchase inventory upfront, allowing you to start with minimal capital. |
| Global Reach | AliExpress offers a wide variety of products across different niches, enabling access to international suppliers and markets beyond Pakistan. |
| Ease of Setup | Setting up a dropshipping business is simple, especially with user-friendly platforms like AliExpress. |
| Minimal Risk | With no bulk inventory to purchase, financial risk is significantly reduced—most of your investment goes into marketing and store management. |
| Flexible Location | As long as you have internet access, you can run your dropshipping business from anywhere—including from within Pakistan. |
Step by Step Guide to Starting a Dropshipping Business in Pakistan Using AliExpress
Here is the list of 7 steps Guide to Launching a Dropshipping Business in Pakistan via AliExpress, mentioned as:
1. Choose a Niche for Your Dropshipping Business
Selecting the right niche is the foundational step in building a successful dropshipping business, especially in a competitive and growing market like Pakistan. A niche refers to a specific category or segment of products that caters to a particular group of customers. Instead of selling everything to everyone, focusing on a targeted niche allows you to tailor your marketing efforts, create a stronger brand identity, and build customer loyalty. According to a 2024 report by Oberlo, niche-based e-commerce stores enjoy 35% higher conversion rates compared to general stores, primarily because they attract a more focused audience.
In Pakistan, popular niches such as fashion accessories, beauty products, electronics and home décor continue to perform well with the fashion segment alone expected to generate over USD 1.9 billion in revenue by 2025 (Statista). When choosing a niche, it is essential to consider your interests and knowledge, identify market trends, analyze local consumer demand and evaluate competition. Tools like Google Trends, SEMrush and Facebook Audience Insights can help validate your niche idea by providing data on search interest and audience size.
2. Create an Online Store
Once you have chosen a niche, the next step is to create your online store. You have several options for creating a dropshipping store in Pakistan:
Shopify
Shopify is one of the most popular e-commerce platforms globally and it is ideal for dropshipping businesses. Shopify integrates well with AliExpress, offering a seamless experience for sourcing products and processing orders.
WooCommerce
WooCommerce is a WordPress plugin that turns your website into an online store. It is cost-effective and flexible, making it a great choice for beginners.
BigCommerce
Another e-commerce platform suitable for dropshipping businesses, BigCommerce offers various integrations to help streamline the dropshipping process.
Wix
If you are looking for an easy-to-use platform, Wix offers e-commerce functionality with a drag-and-drop builder.
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3. Find Products on AliExpress
AliExpress is one of the largest e-commerce platforms in the world, offering millions of products across various categories. This platform is ideal for dropshipping as it allows you to purchase items without upfront investment.
Search for Products
On AliExpress, use the search bar to find products related to your niche. Use keywords relevant to the product you want to sell.
Filter by Supplier Rating
Look for suppliers with high ratings and positive reviews. This ensures that you are sourcing products from reliable suppliers who offer good quality and timely delivery.
Check shipping times
Pay attention to shipping times. AliExpress suppliers usually offer multiple shipping methods, so choose one that balances cost and delivery time. For Pakistan, consider suppliers who offer ePacket.
4. Integrate AliExpress with Your E-Commerce Store
To make the dropshipping process smoother, you can integrate AliExpress with your e-commerce store. There are several apps and tools available that can help you automate the product import and order fulfillment process
Oberlo (for Shopify)
Oberlo is an app that allows you to easily import products from AliExpress into your Shopify store. You can also use it to fulfill orders automatically when you make a sale.
Ali Dropship
Look for suppliers with high ratings and positive reviews. This ensures that you are sourcing products from reliable suppliers who offer good quality and timely delivery.
Spocket
Spocket is a dropshipping platform that allows you to find suppliers based in the US, EU and other regions. While it’s not strictly AliExpress, it can help you find higher-quality suppliers for your store.
5. Set Your Pricing and Profit Margins
One of the most important aspects of your dropshipping business is pricing. You need to find a balance between making a profit and remaining competitive.
Markup Pricing
Typically, dropshipping businesses mark up their product prices by 2x-3x to cover costs and make a profit. For example, if a product costs you $10 on AliExpress, you could sell it for $20-30.
Consider Additional Costs
Don’t forget to factor in transaction fees, shipping costs and advertising expenses when setting your prices.
6. Market Your Drop Shipping Business
Marketing is very important for the success of a dropshipping business especially in Pakistan where internet and social media use is growing fast. As of 2024, over 70% of Pakistanis use the internet and there are more than 50 million active social media users. Platforms like Facebook, Instagram and TikTok are great for promoting your products through ads that target specific age groups, interests and locations. Influencer marketing is also helpful; partnering with local influencers can build trust and help reach more people. Research shows that for every Rs. 100 spent on influencer marketing, businesses can earn over Rs. 500 in return.
Another key method is Search Engine Optimization (SEO) which helps your store appear in Google search results when people look for similar products. SEO is effective, with a higher chance of getting sales compared to cold calls or print ads. You can also use Google Ads to directly target customers who are already searching for products like yours. Lastly, email marketing is a powerful tool, it can bring in Rs. 3,600 for every Rs. 100 spent. Sending regular emails with promotions and updates helps keep customers engaged and encourages them to buy again.
7. Handle Orders and Customer Service
Once you start receiving orders, it is important to manage them effectively. AliExpress offers a simple order fulfillment process but you must stay on top of it. Using tools like Oberlo or AliDropship, you can quickly forward orders from your store to AliExpress suppliers, who then ship products directly to customers, no inventory or packaging needed on your part. Still, you must monitor deliveries to avoid delays, as 62% of online shoppers say fast shipping is key to a positive experience (Oberlo, 2023). If orders are delayed, customers may not come back. Good customer service is also very important. According to Zendesk (2022), 70% of people expect a reply within 24 hours and 60% will stop buying from a store if they have a bad experience. In short, quick order handling and friendly customer support help build trust and keep your customers happy.
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Final Words
Starting a dropshipping business in Pakistan using AliExpress can be a highly profitable venture with relatively low upfront costs. By carefully selecting a niche, creating an appealing online store, sourcing products from AliExpress and effectively marketing your business, you can reach customers globally. It’s essential to stay organized, manage your orders effectively and provide excellent customer service to build a successful dropshipping business. As the e-commerce landscape in Pakistan continues to grow, this could be a great opportunity to enter the market and scale your business.
About the Author: Sana Noureen
