Any Tips for Dropshipping Beginners?

[Davis-Hend]

I’ve been thinking about launching my first Shopify store, but I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the setup options. I’m planning to sell matcha bowls and the whisk sets as it seems to be the trendy products right now. 

Any advice on must-have apps for getting started? Also, how long did it normally take to get first sale?

[rajweb]

Hey @Davis-Hend ,

That’s awesome! Matcha-related products are definitely trending, and they have a strong niche audience.

For must-have Shopify apps, here are some essentials to get started:

1. DSers or Zendrop (if dropshipping) – Helps with automated order fulfillment.

2. PageFly or GemPages – For building custom landing pages.

3. Judge.me or Loox – To display customer reviews and build trust.

4. Klaviyo or Omnisend – For email marketing automation.

5. ReConvert – Helps with post-purchase upsells.

6. SEO Manager or TinyIMG – For search engine optimization and image compression.

7. Shopify Inbox – Allows live chat with customers.

As for the first sale, it really depends on your marketing strategy. If you start running ads or working with influencers immediately, you could see sales within a few days. Otherwise, organic traffic (SEO, social media, etc.) can take a few weeks or more. Have you thought about how you’ll drive traffic to your store?

Also, if you need any help with customization or SEO, feel free to reach out anytime. Thanks!

If I was able to help you, please don't forget to Like and mark it as the Solution!Best Regard,
Rajat

[Yuparkoti]

@Davis-Hend 

It would be wise to start a Shopify store where you will sell matcha bowls and whisk sets since they are becoming very popular nowadays. The following is what you must know:

Essential apps

– Klaviyo: Email marketing (free up to 250 contacts).

– Loox: Photo reviews ($9. 99/month).

– DSers/Oberlo: Dropshipping automation (free tier available).

– Privy: Pop-ups for conversions (free basic plan).

– Google Shopping: Free product listings.

– SEO Booster: Keyword optimization (free to start).

First Sale Timing

Depends, can be within days or take some weeks with proper marketing (e. g., Instagram, TikTok), or 1-3 months on average based on Shopify data. Niche products like matcha gear could be quicker movers with focused promo.

Keep it simple – great pictures, a couple apps, and some hype.

[wonderful_231]

Hey Davis - Hend, congrats on starting your Shopify journey! I know the setup can feel overwhelming, but don’t overthink it—just take it one step at a time.

For apps, I’d suggest PageFly to make your store look great, Judge.me for customer reviews, Klaviyo for email marketing, and ReConvert to help boost sales after checkout.

As for your first sale, it really depends. Some people get one in days, others take weeks. The best way to get there faster is to post TikToks and Instagram reels about your matcha sets, work with small influencers, and maybe try Facebook or Google ads

[Carlos-Sz · Accepted solution]

Hello @Davis-Hend,

Launching a first store is definitely a marathon, not a sprint, but having a handful of go-to apps makes a huge difference:

• Kudosi Reviews (free plan) for social proof—nothing converts like happy customer photos on your matcha bowls + they also offer email flow so you can capture your customer's reviews later on. 
• Smart SEO to bulk-edit meta tags and JSON-LD so Google actually finds you.
• Shopify’s Google Channel to sync products, enable Shopping ads, and track performance in Analytics.
• Shopify Inbox (free) if you want simple live-chat or Facebook Messenger integration out of the box.

As for your first sale, most new stores see it anywhere from a few days (if you have a small warm audience) to a few weeks once ads or organic posts start driving traffic. Don’t stress if it’s not instant; use that time to refine your page copy, test a couple of ad creatives, and start collecting reviews. Once you nail one traffic source and your store converts, you’ll have a blueprint to scale.