Gettin' Trendy Wit It: My Dropshipping Journey

You’ve probably seen the TikToks. “I made $10K in a week with this one dropshipping hack.” “Quit your 9–5 and start a Shopify store today.” Cue B-roll of a beach, a laptop, and someone sipping a suspiciously full mimosa.

It all looks easy—until you actually try it.

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It’s February 2024, and I’ve been “dropshipping” for almost two years—with zero sales to show for it. Not a single cha-ching. No passive income. No laptop lifestyle. Just a dusty Big Cartel page, a graveyard of abandoned product mockups on Canva, and a lot of bookmarked “How to Sell on Shopify” videos I never finished watching.

I wasn’t building an empire. I was barely holding on to a free storefront. 

But I kept going. I kept watching, learning, posting, tweaking, overthinking, restarting—because something about it still felt possible. And that’s what this post is about: what dropshipping actually looks like in 2024—no hype, no hustle-porn energy—just the messy, real version from someone who’s been in it.

So… What Is Dropshipping, Really?

At its core, dropshipping is an e-commerce model where you sell products online without keeping any inventory. You list an item on your store, someone buys it, and a third-party supplier ships it directly to the customer. You’re the middlewoman, basically—a digital matchmaker between product and buyer.

Sounds easy, right? That’s the appeal.

No warehouse. No packing peanuts. No bulk orders or storage units filled with unsold hoodies. All you need is a storefront and the right supplier. You mark up the price, pocket the difference, and let the logistics happen somewhere else.

In theory, it’s a low-risk way to get into business.

In practice? It’s a lot of guessing, Googling, editing mockups at 2 AM, wondering if anyone even wants a “self-care is sacred” phone case. Spoiler: They might not. But that’s part of it.

Photo by Kindel Media on Pexels

Dropshipping isn’t new, but it got a serious makeover during the pandemic. Between 2020 and 2021, everyone and their algorithm was pushing side hustles. YouTubers made it look easy—just slap a trendy quote on a hoodie, run some Facebook ads, and boom, passive income. Shopify stores popped up overnight. TikTok was filled with 19-year-olds claiming six figures from dropshipping phone chargers.

It was the gold rush of e-commerce. And just like with NFTs, it felt like everyone was getting in.

But by 2023, the shine started to fade. Shipping times from overseas were long. Customer complaints piled up. Instagram ads stopped converting. And buyers got smarter. People started to recognize those $9 AliExpress earrings being sold for $45—and they weren’t impressed.

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Meanwhile, the platforms got more expensive. Paid ads became a gamble. The profit margins shrank. And unless you were willing to brand your store like a real business (with real customer service and real fulfillment expectations), it just didn’t hit the same.

So here in 2024, dropshipping still exists—but it’s a quieter, humbler version of what it was during the hype. It’s less “get rich quick” and more “start small, learn fast, and actually offer value.”

Photo by Nataliya Vaitkevich on Pexels

And that’s what I’m finally starting to understand.

Back when I launched my first Big Cartel page, I was chasing a feeling more than a business model. I wanted freedom. I wanted to create something that felt like me. But I didn’t know what I was selling, who I was selling it to, or why anyone should care. I just knew I wanted to be in the game.

It’s taken me a long time to admit that I wasn’t lazy or unmotivated—I was overwhelmed. The tutorials made it sound easy, but the pressure to be successful right out the gate? That part hit hard. So when I didn’t make sales, I assumed I’d failed, instead of realizing I hadn’t even built a foundation yet.

I learned real quick that dropshipping isn’t just about picking a cute product and calling it a day. You have to understand your customer, research your supplier, write your own product descriptions (because those default ones? trash), and be ready to handle returns, late shipments, and that one person who wants to talk to the manager.

Still, I get why people do it. It’s a great entry point into e-commerce. If you don’t have the budget to bulk order inventory, it lets you test your ideas and find out what your audience actually wants. And if you play it smart, it can absolutely be the first step toward building something bigger.

So... What Should You Actually Know Before You Try It?

The dream sounded simple enough: make a cute online store, skip the warehouse chaos, and earn money while you sleep. That’s the pitch, right?

But what is dropshipping really, once you strip away the YouTube ads and hustle-thread promises?

Here’s how it works: you create an online store, a customer places an order, and instead of keeping inventory stacked in your living room, your supplier ships it directly to them. You’re the middlewoman—handling the marketing, the vibes, and the branding, without ever touching the actual product.

And in theory, that sounded perfect for me. Low startup costs. No boxes of unsold mugs haunting me in the garage. The freedom to build something from scratch. But in practice? Whew.

So if you’re thinking about trying dropshipping—or wondering why it hasn’t worked for you (yet)—here are a few tips and reminders I really wish I’d listened to the first (and second... and third) time around:

7 Tips and Reminders from a Very Tired Dropshipper

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1. Cheap doesn’t mean easy.

Yes, you can start a dropshipping store with almost no money. But building a brand, earning trust, and driving traffic? That costs time, energy, and yes—eventually, some money too.

2. Your product has to stand out.

The internet is full of the same stuff. If you’re selling a water bottle everyone’s seen on ten other sites, your edge better be in the experience, the branding, or the story. (Otherwise? Scroll.)

3. Pick suppliers like you’d pick a roommate.

Because if they’re slow, messy, or impossible to communicate with, guess who your customers blame? Not them. You. Test orders, check shipping times, and don’t settle just because it’s “cheaper.”

4. Pretty websites don’t equal sales.

I used to spend hours tweaking colors and fonts on a store no one was visiting. Focus on building your audience before you overthink your homepage layout.

5. Customer service is your real product.

You may never touch the items you sell, but how you handle emails, refunds, and “where’s my order?” messages will make or break your brand.

6. Trends are cute, but long-term matters.

That “viral” product might get clicks now, but is it something you care about? Something you can keep selling next season? Think big picture.

7. You’re not behind—you’re just getting clear.

Every “failed” attempt brought me closer to what I actually want to create. So if you’re stuck, start asking better questions instead of beating yourself up.

Photo by Nataliya Vaitkevich on Pexels

So… Was It Worth It?

At the end of the day, dropshipping didn’t make me rich. It didn’t launch me into some overnight success story. But it taught me a lot—about business, branding, patience, and pivoting when something just isn’t working. And honestly? That might be more valuable than a random viral win.

It’s easy to feel like you missed the wave or you’re doing something wrong if it didn’t take off right away. But real growth doesn’t always come with flashy numbers or TikTok-worthy wins. Sometimes, it’s just showing up, learning the hard lessons, and deciding to try again—with more intention and a little less delusion.

I’m still building. Still experimenting. Still learning how to make e-commerce feel like me. If you’re on the same journey—or thinking of starting it—stick around. I’ve got more to share. 💌