How to Start Dropshipping Candles: Unveiling the Top 10 Suppliers for Beginners

Do you want to start dropshipping candles but don’t know where to start? Worry not; we have shared everything you need to know. 

But why should you consider dropshipping? Are candles good for dropshipping?

Dropshipping is a booming industry. Statistics shared by Forrester’s Research show that dropshipping accounted for 23% of all online sales in 2017. The industry is witnessing exponential growth, with statistics showing that the dropshipping industry will be a $500 billion+ market by 2027.

Dropshipping candles is a smart idea as you can reach a wider market, you don’t need to have inventory, there is a growing demand for candles, and margins are high. You can also tap into the potential of emerging markets, such as the print-on-demand dropshipping model and homemade candles.

In this roundup, check out a step-by-step guide on how to set up a candle dropshipping business and, importantly, find the best suppliers. 

How to Start Dropshipping Candles

Gone are the days when candles were a primary source of light. Today, these luminaries still hold a special place in our hearts as they are used today for a variety of reasons, as listed below.

Is Dropshipping Candles Profitable?

Dropshipping candles is a profitable venture considering the candles industry is growing exponentially. On average, most candles’ wholesale prices range between $1 and $10, and the margin falls between 25% and 50%, which is a decent fetch.

How to Set Up a Successful Candle Dropshipping Business

Most dropshipping businesses fail. There’s a common consensus that between 10% and 20% of dropshipping businesses succeed today.

So, how do you become part of the 10% and 20%?

1. Market Research

Research is the foundation of a successful business and can be the deal maker or breaker. It will help you achieve several goals, including;

Unfortunately, most dropshipping newbies overlook market research, which often leads to failure. 

2. Choosing a Niche

As a beginner, it may be hard for you to focus on everything in the candle niche. It would be best if you narrowed down to a specific micro-niche. Going for all microniches at once could overwhelm you in terms of operations. 

Why Go for a Micro Niche?

Choosing a micro niche has several advantages. There is less competition, and you can target your market with higher precision. Ultimately, you are sure of higher ROI on your efforts and boost conversions.

Below are the best candle micro niches you can start with. 

3. Selecting a Platform for Dropshipping

When it comes to sales channels, you have 2 options; selling on online marketplaces or your online store.

Sell on Online Marketplaces

Some candle dropshippers opt to sell their products on online marketplaces, for example, eBay and Amazon. 

Online marketplaces have several advantages. Getting into business is easy as you only need to create an account, list products, and start selling. Also, they already have traffic. 

Sell on Your Online Store

To succeed in dropshipping, the best option is selling on your own online store. You can create your dropshipping website on self-hosted platforms or platforms hosted by top proprietary e-Commerce platform brands. 

Self-Hosted vs. Hosted Platforms for Dropshipping

Creating your online store is a great idea now that you can customize your platform to your liking. Besides, you have total control over pricing as there’s no competition. However, you will need a huge budget to hire a web designer.

On the other hand, hosted platforms are ideal if you are on a budget and want a ready solution. They feature ready-made themes, designs, and templates you can customize without necessarily having technical expertise. 

As a beginner, consider hosted dropshipping platforms. The best hosted dropshipping platforms include;

4. Marketing Strategies 

Now that you have done market research, found a micro-niche, and have a platform, the next step will be setting up a marketing strategy. Here, it would be best to outline your short-term and long-term marketing plan clearly.

Below are some smart marketing strategies to deploy.

1. Embrace Facebook Ads/TikTok Ads

Running ads may be costly, but you get high ROI if you target the ads correctly. Facebook and Tiktok ads should be a priority as these platforms have large audiences and effectively foster brand awareness.

2. Consider SEO

While ads are effective, you should also focus on Search Engine Optimization (SEO). For starters, SEO refers to a set of on-page and off-page processes to acquire traffic from free, organic, editorial, and natural search results on search engines such as Google. The advantage of SEO is that it is cost-effective in the long term.

3. Competitive Pricing

As a beginner, you want your business to gain traction and assert itself on the market. One of the best ways to do this is to offer competitive pricing. Consider selling at lower margins to attract customers to your store. For example, if the average price of a Mrs. Meyer’s lavender candle is $20, you can reduce it to $17 or offer discounts and promotions.

4. Offer Exceptional Customer Service

To run a successful business, you need to offer steadfast customer service. Ensure you are reachable 24/7 on live chat, telephone, email, or social media. Never let any message or inquiry fall through the cracks as you could lose a sale and a returning customer. 

5. Streamline Shipping Processes

One last tip, make sure your shipping and delivery infrastructure is in order. If it’s the supplier handling shipping and delivery, make sure the delivery time is as agreed.

Choosing the Right Supplier for Your Business

One of the reasons most dropshipping businesses fail is because of unreliable suppliers. Statistics show that 84% of entrepreneurs say getting a reliable supplier is the biggest hurdle in starting a dropshipping business.

Your supplier directly impacts aspects such as customer satisfaction, your brand, product quality, pricing, shipping and delivery turnaround, and operations. 

How to Find the Best Candle Dropshipping Suppliers

Finding a supplier for dropshipping goods is perhaps one of the biggest challenges you will face. Below are some methods you can leverage to find candle dropshipping companies.

Factors to Consider When Selecting Candle Dropshipping Suppliers

Once you have a list of dropshipping suppliers, you must carefully vet each before engaging them. So, what criteria will you use? Below are the factors to consider.

1. Product Variety and Uniqueness 

Even though you might have opted for a micro niche, a good supplier should have a wide variety of candles with different fragrances and scents, as the scent is a crucial aspect buyers consider.

It would also be a great idea to go unique by enlisting print-on-demand candle suppliers, as print-on-demand candles are popular among consumers and fetch some good returns. Homemade candle suppliers should also be a priority.

2. Pricing and Profit Margins

A good supplier should also offer a reasonable per-order fee and wholesale prices.

3. Packaging and Shipping Policies

The best supplier should have decent packaging options, with carton boxes as the most preferred for candles. Gift wraps will also come in handy when it comes to candles for giftings. Multiple shipping options at reasonable rates is also vital, and so is the delivery time. Go for suppliers that offer multiple shipping options and fast delivery time.

4. Customer Support and Responsiveness

A good supplier should have reliable multichannel customer support that gives you prompt feedback on critical issues. This way, you can always be in the loop of all activity, from new products, revised prices, order status, and other dynamics.

5. How to Evaluate Supplier Reputation and Reliability 

To verify a supplier’s reputation, check their reviews to see what other dropshippers think of them. As for reliability, try ordering some candles to gauge their shipping and delivery time and, importantly, packaging. This can be part of your 84-candle rule implementation.

Top 10 Best Candle Dropshipping Suppliers for Beginners 

To help you make an informed decision, we have shared the top 10 candle dropshipping suppliers you can leverage to start your business as a dropshipping beginner.

1. Harbor Mill Candles 

This American company boasts over 20 years of experience in all wax mediums, offering personalized solutions to both new and existing brands. Its diverse product line includes top-quality scented candles, fragrance formulation, and private label services. 

Harbor Mill Candles cost anything between $20 and $50 bucks. You will also like the fact that this candle dropshipping manufacturer offers free shipping, which is very impressive. However, the delivery turnaround is 7 days on average, while for private label candles, it takes longer. Support is available on multiple channels.

2. AliExpress

Launched in 2010, AliExpress is a Chinese conglomerate owned by Alibaba Group. AliExpress is one of the biggest eCommerce platforms where you can get anything you can think of, including candles, at very low prices. 

While there are hundreds of candle suppliers, you need to be extra vigilant, as some suppliers are known for low-quality candles that might hurt your brand. There are several shipping options, including AliExpress Standard Shipping (15-45 days), ePacket (7-20 days), and DHL, FedEx, or UPS (3-10 days).

3. Passion Products Group 

This supplier focuses on candles for massage, among other adult toys. Even though the Passion Products Group is not known in the mainstream market, it can help you as a beginner to launch a candle dropshipping business in the adult niche.

Passion Products Group has a wide range of romantic candles designed to set the mood right. The prices of candles start at $10 and can offer you some pretty decent returns. Passion Products Group delivers in 4-7 days and ships worldwide for free.

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4. Candle4Less

As the name suggests, Candle4Less is among the cheapest suppliers for dropshipping candles. The company was established in 2005 and has asserted itself as a market leader in the candles industry. It boasts a wide variety of candles and candle holders for all occasions. 

Candles4Less will be a perfect choice if you are a beginner, as the registration process is super simple, and customer support is top-notch. The prices are quite low, and the quality is above the bar. Candle4Less has multiple shipping options and ships globally. The delivery turnaround is 2-3 days for most of the orders.

5. Wax & Wick

If you want to narrow down to soy candle enthusiasts, Wax & Wick is the way to go. The company has plenty of 100% soy candles made from vegetable oils. Wax & Wick candles are known for their non-toxicity, longer burning, and pleasant fragrances.

As a beginner, Wax & Wix will be a go-to solution as it offers a 35% discount on samples. Shipping is pretty fast but note, Wax & Wick ships in the US only. As a beginner, you won’t struggle to start the business as Wax & Wick has reliable customer support.

6. CJ Dropshipping

One of the best suppliers from China is CJ Dropshipping, a company that started in 2014. It is known for high-quality products at affordable prices. Here, you can find the best flameless candles, paraffin wax candles, vegan candles, soy candles, you name it.

One great thing about CJ Dropshipping is the competitive pricing which starts from as low as $1. The company has several global warehouses and multiple shipping options. The delivery time is between 7 and 17 days. There’s also CJ Academy, which can be resourceful for beginners.

7. ACDC Co

Sustainable candles are one of the booming microniches. ACDC Co. happens to be one of the best sustainable candle suppliers. The company was started in 2013 and has climbed the ranks to be a top candle supplier. So whether you want to sell boxed candles, essential oil candles, or container and jar candles, ACDC Co has got you covered.

While the quality is excellent, ACDC Co doesn’t have a wide variety of candles. But it offers fast shipping compared to the competition. Orders are shipped in 1-2 working days. There are multiple shipping options. Support is available via a contact form. 

8. Smart Candles

Smart Candles is among the best suppliers if you want to sell LED candles. Established in 2006, the company is known for high-quality rechargeable LED and replaceable battery LED candles. Even though the prices are quite high, the candles are of excellent quality.

Smart Candles has several shipment methods and ships globally. Typically delivery time is 4-7 days. When it comes to support, you can get in touch with the team via live chat.

9. FragranceNet.com

If you want to venture into the scented candles micro-niche, FragranceNet.com is the supplier you want to work with. Established in 1997, the company is known for a wide range of high-quality scented candles starting from $50.

FragranceNet.com offers free shipping in the United States. Several shipping methods are available, and delivery takes an average of 7 days. Support is available via live chat, telephone, and email.

10. Daniella’s Candles

The luxury candles micro niche will be the best for entrepreneurs who want high ticket sales. Daniella’s Candles has a wide range of luxury candles, with scented jewelry candles as the main highlight. Since its establishment in 2015, Daniella’s Candles has been known for its commitment to quality.

Daniella’s Candles has several shipping methods and ships directly to customers in the US. Delivery takes anything between 1 and 2 days. You can reach the team via email or through their social media pages.

How to start dropshipping with Easync service?

To get started, select the listing you are going to add. Lrt’s take this Amazon listing as an example: https://www.amazon.com/Chesapeake-Bay-Candle-Serenity-Lavender/dp/B07GH691SQ/

Click on Products in the sidebar.

Further on Add your first product. In the pop-up window, insert the ASIN of the product. In our case it is B07GH691SQ

Click Publish.

Go to the Drafts tab, tick the listing and click on Approve.

You can view your listings in the Products tab.

After the listings are added to your eBay store, set the parameters needed.

Enable repricing. Make sure the specified number of days is at least 5.

Next, you need to choose a method for shipping and processing orders. You can use your fulfillment accounts or FBE (Fulfilment by Easync). When working with your fulfillment accounts, you can process orders manually or using AutoOrder. If you need an AutoOrder, enable this option in the settings.

Then set up AutoTracking so the trackings are automatically converted to Aquiline and uploaded to your store.

Here are the basic steps to set up your Easync account. For all your questions, you can contact our support service.

Conclusion

That’s it, folks, a guide on how to start dropshipping candles if you are a beginner. As discussed above, it’s essential to do thorough market research, narrow down to a micro niche, select the right platform, and draw a formidable marketing plan. Importantly, choose your suppliers wisely, as most dropshipping businesses fail because of unreliable suppliers.

So, what are you waiting for?

Start your candle dropshipping business today!