High-ticket dropshipping products: an easy guide (no, it's not all hype)
This post was last updated on February 21, 2023.
High-ticket dropshipping has its pros and cons.
In one sense, it’s an attractive option for entrepreneurs who are inspired by the Guccis and Pradas of the world but don’t want to invest heavily into inventory. In another, it’s a form of dropshipping that has inherent risks.
It goes without saying that before you take the plunge, you should know exactly what you’re getting yourself into - the same way you need to do your research before starting a business in general.
Crack open this guide to learn what high-ticket dropshipping is, why it’s popular, and tips for making this dropshipping business idea work for you.
What is high-ticket dropshipping?
High-ticket dropshipping is the practice of selling high-priced items online using the standard dropshipping model. In other words, you source your products from a supplier who ships products directly to your customer on your behalf.
This model extends to businesses in B2B dropshipping, allowing retailers or wholesalers to specialize in offering premium products without the need for extensive inventory, catering to a niche market of consumers seeking high-value and exclusive items.
The “high-ticket” part refers to the pricepoint of the items that you sell. For our purposes, we’re talking about products that cost anywhere from $200 to $5,000.
There are three main characteristics of high-ticket items that separate them from traditional (or “low-ticket”) dropshipping products:
They garner a higher profit - While you may sell fewer items overall, each sale of a high-ticket item brings in a significant profit compared to lower-cost items, like cell phone cases and yoga mats.
They’re not impulse buys - High-ticket items are products that your customers research and mull over before making a purchase. They can be big or bulky items like furniture, or smaller items that fall into a luxury or premium niche (e.g., a wool throw blanket for $199).
They're high-quality - Since you're selling items at a higher price point, your customers largely expect a higher level of quality. This means that you'll need to source your products from vendors and wholesalers who are reliable and can meet your standards both in terms of customer service and product quality.
Challenges of high-ticket dropshipping
While high-ticket dropshipping and traditional dropshipping may sound identical except for the types of products that are handled, there are other things to keep in mind:
High-ticket dropshipping generally requires more upfront capital. You’ll have to budget more money for every item you sell, including the cost of shipping, packaging, and marketing. Not to mention that if an item is lost, damaged, or returned you’ll have to stomach higher costs for replacing it.
You need strong branding and marketing to survive. While every dropshipper needs a strong marketing plan, high-ticket dropshippers are especially under fire for developing a strong brand to justify the higher costs of their products.
Customer expectations are higher. The stakes are higher when you’re selling a $4,000 coffee table as opposed to a $15 tote bag. Customers will have the highest expectations in terms of on-time delivery, shipping condition, product quality, and customer support.
Smaller customer pool. By nature of selling more high-end products, you’ll be engaging a narrower pool of customers that need to be strategically targeted, nurtured, and re-engaged. You can’t bank on having as wide a reach as with low-ticket dropshipping, and may see less returning customers in a given period because each product you sell is an investment piece.
For these reasons and more, high-ticket dropshipping may not be the best option for first-time sellers. The strategy for selling and branding pricier items is far different from selling budget-friendly products.
Benefits of high-ticket dropshipping
However, if you’re a more seasoned seller, high-ticket dropshipping can offer several big advantages.
The most obvious: you can earn the same amount of money by selling less units. In addition to this, you don’t have to juggle as many orders or customers (read: fewer customer service reps) in a given day. You can instead focus your energy in fostering a strong, niche audience through brilliant branding.
If you’re able to achieve this, you’ve got a much more sustainable business in your hands.
How to find the right products to sell
If high-ticket dropshipping intrigues you, you’d benefit from first studying the most popular dropshipping niches and products to sell. Make sure that when choosing your niche, you align it with your own interests and expertise, so you can create authentic messaging and choose products that resonate with shoppers that you understand.
Research products by:
Giving Google Trends a whirl. Simply plug in product names or categories to see if an item or niche is trending over a specified time frame.
Reviewing Amazon's Best Sellers product lists. Get a feel for what’s hot on Amazon and isolate premium products by category.
Investigating popular search terms via SEO tools like Google keyword planner, Semrush, or Ahrefs. Each of these can provide insight into the most-searched products online.
Taking inspiration from luxury brands. Get a feel for the types of products, messaging, and price points that resonate with your target audience by studying the brands they already shop from.
Use a variety of these research methods to validate product ideas, keeping in mind that you don’t want to be selling products that face declining or violent fluctuations in demand. Rather, you’ll want to sell products that have a strong, consistent following.
As examples, here are some popular high-ticket dropshipping niches to explore:
Personal transportation - Electric bicycles, scooters, and skateboards
Outdoor gear and apparel - Camping gear, hiking boots, and outdoor furniture
Home improvement - Power tools, solar panels, and security systems
Luxury items - Designer handbags, watches, and sunglasses
Small-batch, speciality, and rare items - Baby carriers, artisan goods/crafts, organic clothing
How to source your products
Once you've identified a product or products that you’re interested in selling, you can begin to source suppliers. Sourcing involves some legwork, but there are tools that help to simplify the process.
Modalyst, for instance, connects you with some of the best dropshipping suppliers. Through a strict vetting process, Modalyst makes it easier for you to find a reliable supplier who shares your standards for product quality, shipping speed, and overall workflow.
Bonus: Through Modalyst or print on demand companies like it, you can start selling print on demand products as well. This means that you can sell items that are both high-end and customized to your brand, while still outsourcing fulfillment.
Alternatively, you could research suppliers on your own by googling “wholesale [your product name]” or reaching out to local artisans and makers. The latter can help you to lower costs and/or speed up delivery, but can require more hands-on management, especially if your supplier has little experience with eCommerce (see our guide on what is eCommerce).
5 tips for succeeding as a high-ticket dropshipper
There are several key ingredients to running a successful dropshipping business for high-ticket products. Here are five pointers to keep in mind.
01. Source suppliers carefully
High-ticket dropshipping is, in essence, all about quality over quantity.
Take extra care in vetting your suppliers, ensuring that they have a good track record and that products meet your quality standards. Ask for samples. Verify shipping speed, costs, and packaging. Compare ongoing fees—like any platform fees or pre-order fees—and double-check that suppliers manufacture your items year-round, not seasonally.
02. Watch your branding
Premium products demand premium branding and marketing strategies. Your eCommerce branding should be rooted in a strong mission and clear values.
This should then be reinforced with unique and consistent messaging, powerful web design, high-quality imagery—or even a memorable unboxing experience.
To get your eCommerce site up and running quickly, use one of Wix’s online store templates, alongside our free logo maker. Or, search the Wix Marketplace for a graphic designer or eCommerce specialist who can help.
All of these efforts will help to build trust with potential customers and create an impression that lasts.
03. Incentivize and reassure customers
Since you’re selling expensive items, customers will likely need more convincing than they would to purchase a budget-friendly piece. Product pages and policies need to be thoughtfully planned out and positioned differently than for low-ticket items.
For starters, include social proof like product reviews and customer testimonials on your product pages. You can even pull in user-generated content (think: Instagram posts showing your customers enjoying their products) to your site, further building confidence in your brand.
A thoughtful About Us page that shares your story and values can also increase brand affinity. Similarly, a generous return policy can give customers the extra push they need to pull the trigger on a purchase (though make sure your supplier can accommodate). And, offering free and fast shipping can be a major motivator, given how much customers are already paying for your product.
04. Offer financing
Because high-ticket items are more expensive, you'll want to offer various payment options that make your products accessible to more people. Options like buy now pay later (aka BNPL) allow you to get paid upfront, while offering some relief to your customers.
You can easily add BNPL to your site using a solution like Wix Payments. Wix Payments includes other popular forms of payment, including credit card, debit card, Apple Pay, and more.
All in all, you’ll want your checkout process to be seamless so that customers aren’t given a reason to doubt their purchases, especially at the last minute.
05. Prioritize customer service
Finally, don't forget about customer service at your online store. Offer an experience to shoppers that mirrors the (high) quality of your products. This will help you create repeat customers and build a strong reputation. Some ways to do this include:
Have expanded business hours and address customer questions quickly
Offer live chat on your website and include a prominent toll-free phone number
Provide detailed tracking information for orders and proactively send shipping updates to your customers
Offer a white-glove service for assembling and installing large products like furniture
Make sure your return policy is clear, transparent, and easy to find
So, is high-ticket dropshipping right for you?
One thing’s for certain: high-ticket dropshipping isn’t for the faint-hearted. While this type of business model can be a great way to boost your income and differentiate your store, it requires careful research and close management.
But if you’re up for the challenge, read up on how to start a dropshipping business today. Plus, leverage Wix’s dropshipping features to get your store up and running with the right products, storefront, and backoffice toolbox.
High-Ticket Dropshipping FAQ
What is high-ticket dropshipping?
High-ticket dropshipping is a type of dropshipping where you sell high-priced items, typically ranging from $200 to $5,000 or more. With high-ticket dropshipping, you can make a higher profit margin on each sale, but you also need to invest more time and money into marketing and advertising your products.
Is high-ticket dropshipping profitable?
What products are high ticket sales?
What is considered high ticket?
Other dropshipping ideas and products to consider
Allison Lee Editor, Wix eCommerce
Allison is the editor for the Wix eCommerce blog, with several years of experience reporting on eCommerce news, strategies, and founder stories.
