Dropshipping’s Future: Synergy Of Something Different Wholesale & Avasam Enterprise

The Future of Dropshipping – The Synergy Between Something Different Wholesale and Avasam Enterprise

Market Assessment

In a fiercely competitive eCommerce landscape, businesses face growing challenges related to customer acquisition costs and supply chain expenses. 

As a result, forward-thinking merchants are seeking innovative technology solutions and strategic partnerships to enhance efficiency and maximise the value they bring to their customers.

Traditionally, mid-market merchants have employed multi-channel strategies that involve listing their products on popular marketplaces like Amazon and eBay, alongside their direct online stores and traditional wholesale operations. 

However, the advent of B2B SaaS tools, especially dropship platforms, has revolutionised the eCommerce landscape. 

These platforms automate order processing, inventory synchronisation, and payment reconciliation, offering an opportunity for businesses to boost sales by establishing custom marketplaces for third-party sellers and vendors.

Something Different Wholesale’s Transformation

Something Different Wholesale (SDW), a pioneer in the giftware industry, seized the opportunity offered by the Avasam platform to create new routes to market through a “marketplace” of third-party sellers. 

Founded in 1999 by Managing Director Jane Wallace-Jones, SDW started its journey as a market stall trader, specializing in giftware. 

Recognizing the need to differentiate early on and ensure the uniqueness of their products, SDW design their own products and control their supply chain, sourcing directly from Asia and producing some of their range in the UK. 

Embracing technology, they adopted an eCommerce-first approach, even before it became mainstream.

SDW has built a strong brand by championing alternative and niche markets, specialising in categories like gothic and wellbeing.

By pursuing a deliberate B2B strategy, they support a wide spectrum of retailers, from big corporations to independent sellers and international distributors.

Meeting the Demand for Dropshipping

With a surge in online orders, coupled with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, requests from sellers for a comprehensive dropshipping service skyrocketed. 

SDW initially employed an in-house solution with manual processes, but it became evident that automation was essential to maintain profitability and efficiency, particularly given the typically low order values of giftware items.

SDW explored viable business models for dropshipping and discovered the Avasam platform. 

Avasam’s unique platform offers a user-friendly interface and a technology stack that automates the entire order process, from payment reconciliation to stock syncing and returns and refunds.

The Avasam Partnership and Scalability

The partnership with Avasam Enterprise enables SDW to harness the full capabilities of the platform, customising and white-labelling it for their specific needs with the launch of https://www.somethingdifferentconnect.co.uk/.  

They can now list their entire product inventory, synchronise it with their stock management system, and onboard sellers from their customer base to source, list and dropship on their own online channels. 

This opens up new opportunities for sellers to expand their range of giftware items without the need for additional capital investment in inventory or warehousing space.

Avasam provides an additional channel for SDW, essential as the eCommerce environment becomes more competitive and traditional wholesaling transitions to Dropshipping as a service. 

By automating payments and manual operations, SDW ensures ROI on lower average transaction values (ATV) is achieved, boosting efficiency as the business scales.

Challenges and Solutions

Challenges naturally arise when introducing new concepts and technologies. 

In the case of SDW’s partnership with Avasam, some sellers, accustomed to traditional retail channels, required support to set up and scale their online operations. 

SDW is focused on addressing these challenges, particularly in the areas of seller profiles, pricing and stock levels.

Seller Profiles:

SDW recognizes the importance of understanding the experience profile of sellers. 

They aim to match sellers with the right solution, helping them navigate inventory listings and promotion in the online realm. 

This involves supporting both sellers with loyal customer bases and those who are new to online sales.

Pricing:

Competitive pricing, with only a 5% markup above wholesale rates for dropshipping, to cover single item despatch operational costs, enables sellers to generate a healthy return on investment. 

This approach appeals to sellers who prioritise innovation, efficiency, and unique sales strategies over low pricing.

Stock Levels:

Concerns about stock levels and potential out-of-stock scenarios drive some sellers to consider purchasing stock upfront. 

SDW manages stock depth for popular items and allocates stock to the dropshipping channel, ensuring sellers can build sales momentum on key lines.

Future Plans

Looking ahead, SDW aims to achieve a balanced 50:50 split between online and offline  retailers. 

The retail sector has rebounded, and the human element remains essential, especially for giftware, linked to tourism and garden centres.

Online channels are evolving rapidly, and B2B commerce must evolve in tandem to support growing B2B dropshipping demand. 

Embracing technology early, passing on efficiencies to customers, and partnerships with Avasam as well as fintech solutions like buy now pay later provider Hokodo for example are integral parts of the strategy.

Additionally, SDW is committed to sustainability and green initiatives, including solar power and sustainable sourcing of materials.

They aim to further integrate these principles into their core business.

Conclusion

The partnership between Something Different Wholesale and Avasam Enterprise exemplifies the future of Dropshipping. 

By harnessing technology and innovative platforms, businesses can efficiently meet the demands of their customers, scale their operations, and adapt to a rapidly evolving eCommerce environment.

This case study highlights the successful synergy between technology, strategy, and a commitment to sustainability in the giftware industry. 

As SDW continues to lead the way in eCommerce, other businesses can draw inspiration from their journey and embrace the future of Dropshipping.