Dropship or affiliate programme?

[LYDweddings]

Not sure if this is in the right place but anyway!

Having ddecided to take the plunge and sell products as well as my service(wedding Planning) I had a clear idea of the types of products i wanted to sell and feel I should keep a small amount of stock so that i can pad out the wedding fayre stands etc.  I found a few items that are on well known wedding website such as confetti and the gift experience, i have used both of these websites to buy as a customer and they offer an affiliate programme.

Confetti need a £5 admin fee which is credited back to you, (to activate your affiliate account) and you can cherry pick which products you want ot feature and buttons and tools and doesn't specify your commission.

TheGiftExperience offer you a 10% and you can pick which 'feeds' you want and a banner.


Would it be better to find a dropship supplier of the products rather than the affilliate?  which offers the best deal?   

I have no idea what to do now!


Any advice?

[scotserve]

Ok - firstly you need to find out what the affilliate commission is
10% will almost certainly turn out a loss by the time you have paid your costs including Paypal fees

[jonny]

if you dropship their products then your in direct competition with them (to build your own brand)

As an affiliate you can be a lot more creative in the way that you promote. I would be an affiliate personally. however if your commission is 10% and they are low value products then your going to need to sell / promote a lot to make a decent wage.

If you choose to be an affiliate, you want to check out this site: http://www.associateprograms.com/categories/beginners-articles.html

[Rainee Bows]

dropshipping works if you are creating a niche site that wants to expand it offerings , im guessing your wedding planning service is being aimed at a local market too ?

that would give you a perfect way to get your local market seeing you as a "local market leader" when it comes to all things weddings when they search online ..... you could offer a custom made service if you can find a good jewellery maker to work with too , the possibilities are endless for expanding a niche in that way , you could even offer books ;o) diaries and notebooks lol ....

Think of it as a marketing exercise , cherry pick little bits and pieces from wherever you can to give your service something different to everyone else and you are onto a winner , i used to subsidise my floristry work in the same way , offering jewellery services from businesses i had "met" along the way , that i knew and worked with regularly .... develop a relationship with potential suppliers and you would be surprised at what they may be able to suggest and or consider getting in  ;o) to help you grow your businesss and theirs , you dont get to do that with affiliate earnings :o) , the better relationships you can forge with suppliers and other businesses on your way the better chance you have of being able to fill your customers requirements in a way no one else can




Rainee x

[LYDweddings]

Thanks both Jonny and Rainee,

I have found a supplier of wedding planner journals and other notebook type things and  a crafty worker from another wedding network group is costing specially branded-  Loves Young Dream, albums for me as we speak and I have found a supplier of little clay nick-nacks that are gorgeous.
 
Still mulling things over.