What does it take to build an online company that not only survives but thrives in today’s competitive marketplace? In this interview series by Website Planet, executives from successful digital companies reveal how they identify and solve the most urgent problems in their fields, stand out in the most competitive markets, and position themselves for the future.
Spencer Bonthoux is the Founder and CEO of DropCommerce, a bootstrapped dropshipping platform that has reached over 250,000 installations, and is trusted by 8,500+ US-based merchants. He’s been recognized as the 2024 Most Influential CEO in British Columbia’s dropshipping sector.
What’s the story behind the founding of your company, and what are your biggest milestones so far in terms of customers, revenue team, etc.?
Like many aspiring entrepreneurs, I was inspired by Tim Ferriss’s “The 4-Hour Work Week” and the concept of dropshipping. However, my initial research led to an influx of “get-rich-quick” ads on social media, which made me skeptical. As I explored these advertised solutions, I quickly became disillusioned.
The product sourcing options were predominantly low-quality items from overseas suppliers with long shipping times. The idea of selling a $2 watch from China for $50 seemed unsustainable and unattractive, especially considering the potential for negative customer reviews and chargebacks.
This experience led me to question why there wasn’t an easy option for sourcing products from North American suppliers. This gap in the market inspired the creation of DropCommerce, a platform for sourcing products from Canadian and US-based suppliers.
Six years later, our platform is integrated with major e-commerce platforms like Shopify, Wix, BigCommerce, and Shoplazza. We’ve achieved significant milestones, including over a quarter-million merchant installations and becoming one of the first product sourcing apps on the Shopify app store to earn “Built for Shopify” status.
What are the most pressing pain points you are currently solving, and what makes them more urgent now than in the past? In other words, why is now the time for your company to exist?
Initially, our main focus was addressing the lack of high-quality, fast-shipping products in the dropshipping industry. Our solution received positive feedback from users, as we were among the few platforms offering this option.
The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 led to a surge in demand for our product, driven by individuals seeking sustainable home-based business opportunities. While the pandemic-induced rush has subsided, we’re now experiencing a significant increase in interest from established businesses.
These companies are looking for ways to expand their product offerings without the upfront costs or risks associated with inventory purchases. This new customer segment has opened up fresh opportunities for us to explore and solve their unique pain points
How are people usually trying to fix these problems without you (DIY or competitors), and what’s wrong with these solutions?
Our service offers significant value by handling the complex aspects of dropshipping.
We’ve established a network of over 400 reliable suppliers and manage all order processing automatically when a purchase is made through your store. Attempting to replicate this independently would be challenging and time-consuming. Unlike our competitors, who primarily rely on overseas suppliers with long shipping times and subpar product quality, we focus on domestic suppliers.
Our users frequently express their relief and excitement upon discovering DropCommerce, often after struggling to find a comparable solutions in the market. This feedback reinforces our outlook on the sector and that we are addressing a critical need for quality, efficiency, and reliability in the dropshipping industry.
“This app has made everything as easy as can be. I was new to shopify and their platforms and apps, but after working with DropCommerce it became more clear and easy to learn and progress my skills as a business owner! Wonderful high-quality products!” Muddy Paws Pet Stores
What unique features and capabilities help you solve them in a better way, and how has that helped you make an impact? Can you share metrics or stories that show the difference you’re making?
DropCommerce’s software puts the entire dropshipping process on autopilot. Users can effortlessly discover new products, import them directly into their store with pre-set descriptions and pricing, make customizations as needed, and have items ready for sale quickly. When a DropCommerce-sourced product is ordered, our system automatically transmits order details to the supplier, processes payment, and initiates shipping to the end customer.
For established businesses seeking to expand their product range, we provide a significant upselling opportunity by offering complementary items. Our impact is substantial: over a quarter-million merchants have installed DropCommerce into their e-commerce stores, with many relying on our platform to power their entire business model.
What exciting new projects or updates are you working on right now? What made you decide to focus on them, and how are they going to benefit your customers?
We’ve recently overhauled our Shopify integration, embedding it directly into the Shopify admin panel. This upgrade provides our Shopify users with a seamless and efficient way to integrate DropCommerce into their workflow. This investment contributed to DropCommerce becoming one of the first dropshipping apps to achieve Built for Shopify status, and one of the first 500 apps in the entire Shopify app store to gain that recognition.
However, our focus on improvement extends beyond Shopify, as we’re currently developing a comprehensive upgrade for our non-Shopify users, featuring a new design and expanded feature set.
Additionally, we’re in the process of creating an AI assistant to help users maximize DropCommerce’s core functionality. Alongside these technological advancements, we continue to expand our supplier network, with many new partnerships in the pipeline.
If you could share one piece of advice for aspiring digital entrepreneurs who are just starting out, what would it be?
Timing is crucial in entrepreneurship. A great idea’s success hinges on its execution at the right moment. DropCommerce’s success can be attributed to how we were able to identify trends and promptly address real problems faced by our target audience.
However, it’s essential to recognize that while seizing opportunities quickly is important, entrepreneurship is ultimately a marathon, not a sprint. The key to long-term success lies in consistent improvement. If you and your organization are making progress each day, no matter how small, you’re moving in the right direction.
The most important steps are to start your journey and maintain a commitment to continuous learning and growth.
With over 13 years of experience in SEO and managing content websites, he has coordinated over 5000 product reviews and interviews with the biggest names in eCommerce, web hosting, cybersecurity, SaaS, AI, and online marketing, to provide newbies and experts with untapped, actionable insights from the top experts in the industry on how to build and grow websites.
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