Top 10 Best Dropshipping Suppliers in South Africa for Local Sellers (2025)

Dropshipping means you run an online store, sell products, but you do not keep stock. When a customer orders, a supplier ships directly to customer. For South Africa, dropshipping has been growing fast. More people now buy online, local logistics improving, mobile payments rising. Because of those, many entrepreneurs prefer local dropshipping suppliers. In this article, we will go through a list of 10 best dropshipping suppliers in South Africa for 2025.

Criteria for Selecting the Best Dropshipping Suppliers in South Africa

Before going into the list, you should know how to choose the most suitable suppliers for your business goals. Here is a recommended checklist:

• Stock location / delivery time — are products stocked in South Africa? If not, how fast shipping from abroad?
• Product variety and niche focus — does supplier serve your niche (fashion, home, electronics, beauty, etc.)?
• Integration with ecommerce platforms — Shopify, WooCommerce, local SA platforms, marketplace compatibility.
• Pricing & fees — product cost, subscription fees, hidden costs like import duties, shipping, VAT.
• Reliability & support — how good is supplier’s customer service, returns policy, consistency.
• Transparency and legal compliance — supplier shows clear policies, includes import taxes or declarations, deals legally.

Top 10 Best Dropshipping Suppliers in South Africa (2025)

Below are ten dropshipping suppliers relevant to South Africa in 2025. For each, you see who they are, what they offer, pricing, niche strengths, pros and cons.

1. ZA Dropshipping

ZA Dropshipping is a South African-based supplier that helps entrepreneurs launch and run online stores without holding stock. The company sources a wide range of products from trusted local wholesalers, giving sellers access to fast delivery times within the country.

Pricing: Subscription model — R-299/month subscription.

Niche: General products across categories (beauty, home goods, electronics, etc.). Good when you want many product types, stocked locally.

Pros:

• Local stock reduces delivery time significantly.
• Transparent pricing with a subscription model.
• Integration with Shopify stores
• Great customer support and fulfillment infrastructure.

Cons: May not support very niche or high-end products

2. Shopstar

Shopstar is a South African e-commerce platform that includes built-in dropshipping features. The company partners with local suppliers, allowing merchants to add products directly into their online stores without needing to manage inventory.

By combining an easy-to-use store builder with integrated dropshipping, Shopstar provides entrepreneurs with an all-in-one solution to start and scale an online business.

Pricing: Various tiers: R 220/month for up to ~25 products, higher tiers for more products. They offer a 14-day free trial.

Niche: General product categories; good for fashion, home, gifts, small accessories.

Pros:

• Everything localized (payment, support, delivery). That reduces friction and risk.
• No long overseas shipping delays for many items since local suppliers.
• Good platform tools: store builder, payment gateways, etc.

Cons:

• The more premium or specialized products might not be available locally.
• Platform lock-in: since store + supplier tools are on Shopstar, migrating away might require effort.
• Higher subscription if inventory list is large.

3. New Feeling

New Feeling is a South African-based clothing wholesaler and manufacturer with over two decades of experience. The company specializes in producing a wide range of apparel, from casual wear to plus-size clothing, making it a versatile partner for entrepreneurs in the fashion niche.

Niche: Women’s fashion

Pricing: Works mainly on wholesale pricing, with low minimum order quantities for bulk buyers. Exact prices vary depending on style, quantity, and customizations.

Pros:

• Local supplier with warehouses in South Africa, reducing shipping delays.
• Over 25 years of industry experience, offering reliability and consistency.
• OEM/ODM services for entrepreneurs looking to launch private label fashion.
• Wide size ranges and styles that appeal to diverse markets.

Cons:

• Not a pure dropshipping platform, bulk purchases may be required.
• Limited integration with ecommerce platforms compared to global providers.

Relevant reading: Top 10 Streetwear Dropshipping Suppliers in 2025

4. EPROLO

EPROLO is a global dropshipping and print-on-demand platform that supports entrepreneurs with product sourcing, branding, and order fulfillment. While headquartered internationally, the company serves South African businesses by offering worldwide shipping options. In short, EPROLO is a practical solution for South Africans who want to sell both locally and internationally without holding stock.

Pricing: Free plan; features depend on plan (e.g. branding, private labeling) likely cost extra. EPROLO

Niche: Wide range: fashion, home supplies, beauty, electronics. Good if you want large variety.

Pros:

• No MOQ (minimum order quantity) helps with low risk testing.
• Branded / private labeling options.
• Useful if you want to combine local and overseas supply.

Cons:

• Shipping from abroad still may take longer; cost plus customs / import fees may add up.
• Quality consistency varies with overseas-sourced items.
• Branding / packaging slower or costlier for some items.

5. BrandsGateway

BrandsGateway is a global dropshipping supplier that partners with retailers in South Africa to provide access to premium fashion and luxury apparel. With its dropshipping program, retailers can sell high-end fashion without maintaining inventory, while benefiting from automated order processing.

Although international shipping may affect delivery times, BrandsGateway remains a strong choice for South African entrepreneurs aiming to build online stores in the luxury fashion niche.

Pricing: Premium pricing due to designer nature; shipping and customs add further cost. (No public low-cost plan typical of luxury suppliers.)

Niche: Luxury fashion, handbags, watches, shoes, accessories.

Pros:

• Good for high margin fashion stores.
• Premium branding helps if your audience values brand and quality.
• Worldwide shipping options plus faster delivery for certain tiers.

Cons:

• High cost per item, lower margin for cheaper product niches.
• Customs, import duties, VAT may make pricing complex for customers in SA.
• Return & warranty issues may be more complex.

6. Printful

Printful is one of the world’s leading print-on-demand and dropshipping platforms. Sellers can design apparel, accessories, and homeware, then sync their store with Printful. Although Printful doesn’t have a warehouse in South Africa, sellers can still use it to target the international market.

Niche: Print-on-demand products, including T-shirt, hats, mugs, wall art, and lifestyle accessories.

Pricing: No subscription required; sellers pay per product after a customer orders. There is a plan for medium to large businesses.

Pros:

• Zero upfront inventory costs with full print-on-demand model.
• Wide product range with customizable options.
• Seamless integrations with leading ecommerce platforms (e.g., Shopify)
• Branding options available, including custom packaging.
• Reliable global reputation with extensive resources and tutorials.

Cons:

• Products ship from international facilities, leading to longer delivery times for South African customers.
• Shipping costs may be higher compared to local suppliers.

You may want to read: 8+ Best T-shirt Dropshipping Suppliers for Your Online Stores

7. The Scents

The Scents is a South African fragrance supplier that offers a specialized dropshipping program focused on perfumes, colognes, and home scents. The company provides access to a wide selection of authentic, high-quality fragrances sourced from well-known brands. With local fulfillment, The Scents ensures quicker delivery times compared to international fragrance suppliers.

Pricing: Varies per product; beauty items often have regulated import rules.

Niche: Beauty, perfumes, gift sets, cosmetics.

Pros:

• High demand niche in SA; people like fragrance and beauty products.
• Local supplier → faster shipping, lower risk of damage in transit for fragile items.
• Branding and packaging often better.

Cons:

• Imports and customs for beauty items may require regulatory compliance (health, safety).
• Inventory risk: beauty trends change fast.
• Return or expiry issues must be managed carefully.

8. Minty’s Wholesalers

Mintys Wholesalers is a long-established South African homeware, furniture, and appliances wholesaler founded in 1921. The company operates a factory shop, offers products like blankets, rugs, foam mattresses, plasticware, furniture, appliances, etc. With many reviews and testimonials, this supplier is trustworthy and can ensure a steady business for you.

Niche: Homeware, furniture, appliances, plasticware, bedding & mattresses.

Pricing: Wholesale pricing on bulk orders; they offer discounted rates for large quantities. Minty’s Wholesalers

Pros:

• Broad, established product range across many home & furniture categories.
• Local stock & delivery across South Africa reduces shipping time & risk.
• Strong trust: decades in business, reputable legacy.
• Ability to supply bulk quantities at discount, helpful for scale.

Cons:

• Bulky items (furniture, large appliances) carry higher shipping cost & handling issues.
• Potentially higher lead times for special or custom orders.

9. Cosmic Pets

Cosmic Pets is a South African supplier dedicated to dropshipping pet products, offering a range that includes pet beds, carriers, enclosures, toys, and accessories. The company caters to both everyday pet owners and breeders, with durable and practical items designed to improve pet comfort and care.

Pricing: Moderate; depends on product type, brand, etc.

Niche: Pets (dogs, cats), accessories, grooming.

Pros:

• Pet niche tends to have dedicated customers; people pay for quality.
• Some pet items are small and simple → lower shipping costs.
• Less saturated than fashion potentially.

Cons:

• Some pet product categories require regulatory compliance (safety, labeling).
• Bulkier items (beds, crates) raise shipping and storage cost.
• Customer expectations for durability are high.

10. CJ Dropshipping

CJ Dropshipping is a top global e-commerce supplier that offers product sourcing, order fulfillment and warehousing services. Sellers from South Africa can integrate their stores (Shopify, WooCommerce, etc.) with CJ, choose items from its vast catalog, and have orders processed internationally via CJ’s network of warehouses.

Niche: Broad general merchandise: gadgets, accessories, household items, fashion items, POD (print-on-demand) products.

Pricing: No monthly subscription or setup fee for basic services; add-on fees based on orders or MOQ.

Pros:

• Huge product catalog across many categories; good for testing product ideas.
• Strong integration tools: automatic order sync, inventory updates, store connections.
• Custom branding, packaging, print-on-demand options available.
• Good reviews for customer support; many users report responsive agents.

Cons:

• Delivery times to South Africa can take 6-14 days
• Lower quality control compared to niche suppliers

Further reading: 10 Best Dropshipping Suppliers In India That Are Well Vetted

How to Start Dropshipping with South African Suppliers

Use these steps as roadmap:

• Choose a niche: Pick product categories you understand and that match local demand in SA. Use Google Trends, local social media to see what people buy.
• Register your business / compliance: Even if small, registering legally helps with tax, opening bank accounts, building trust. Know about Consumer Protection Act, ECT Act-SA, import duties, VAT.
• Select supplier(s): Use list above. Order sample products first. Check delivery times, quality, packaging.
• Set up your store: Use platforms like Shopify, WooCommerce, or SA-based platforms. Integrate payment gateways that South Africans trust (e.g. EFT, card, PayFast, etc.).

Not on any platform yet? Learn about Shopify and their $1 deal.

• Test orders: Place mock orders to simulate real customers. See shipping delays, product quality, returns. Use findings to adjust pricing, expectations.
• Scale gradually: Once confident, invest in ads, improve product photography, customer service, branding.

>>> Check out our article on How To Start a Successful Shopify Dropshipping Store for more specific guides.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right dropshipping supplier matters more than many new store owners realise. Good supplier means quicker delivery, fewer unhappy customers, clearer margins. eComStart hopes you can find the right supplier within our list.

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