Style Shark just planted 20 trees in collaboration with TECO & the Brazilian Eden Reforestation project. (3/1/24)

Check out the full article here: https://teco.co/company/shop-style-shark/

The Style Shark Difference

Our business structure, dropshipping from overseas, is a sustainable form of eCommerce that reduces total global carbon footprint. We don't have to worry about storage, shipping, or inventory management because we're not stocking anything in-house. What Is Dropshipping, and How Does It Work?

Dropshipping is a business model where retailers sell products without storing inventory. You can define the dropshipping process through the following steps:

• A customer places an order on your online store.
• The retailer orders the product from the supplier.
• Your supplier ships that item directly to your customer. The supplier handles everything, including storage and fulfillment of orders

How Businesses Traditionally Reduce Their Carbon Footprint

The global carbon footprint is the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions humans produce. It's vital to reduce this carbon footprint because greenhouse gases trap heat in the Earth's atmosphere and cause climate change.

There are a few ways that businesses (including ours) can traditionally reduce their carbon footprints, including:

Eliminating paper waste

Switch to electronic billing and invoicing, recycle discarded sheets of paper, and use paper with post-consumer recycled content. This approach can help reduce the number of trees cut down each year.

Using recycled materials in production

This method incorporates recycled plastics, paper, and metals in the manufacturing process.

Reducing packaging waste

By using smaller packaging, reducing waste sent to landfills, and recycling materials, you can reduce packaging waste.

Optimizing shipping routes

Businesses can save time, money, and energy by organizing their shipments to avoid multiple deliveries to one area.

Dropshipping as a Sustainable Business Model

Dropshipping has several benefits, but one major pro lies in its sustainability. Many factors contribute to the sustainable nature of dropshipping, including:

No need for expensive warehouses

Expensive warehouses and inventory storage can be a considerable expense for many retailers. Since dropshippers don't have to worry about stocking any products in-house, you eliminate the need for expensive warehouses. This approach saves money and reduces environmental impacts because it cuts down on CO² emissions. These emissions can come from the transportation of stored goods and the energy used in warehouse operations such as refrigeration and lighting.

Eliminates crowded shelving within retail stores

The average brick-and-mortar retailer will use a considerable portion of their total sales revenue keeping items in stock. When you sell online using eCommerce platforms, you can cut back on expenses associated with maintaining an overcrowded store environment; it's no longer necessary to display all available products at once since there is no physical store. Without a physical store, there is less need for large product storage spaces.

Reduces the amount of excess inventory

Dropshipping also helps reduce the amount of excess inventory that builds up in the supply chain. Excess inventory is a waste of resources and can often lead to increased environmental impacts due to disposal or destruction. Dropshipping helps you avoid this issue because you only order products that a customer has requested in real time.

Doesn't require the use of physical stores

Dropshipping eliminates the need for physical stores. You can avoid using the energy required to maintain a storefront or hire in-house employees by selling exclusively online through eCommerce. With dropshipping, you save money and reduce environmental impacts by not having to pay rent on expensive retail locations, heat/cool those spaces, or use electricity-powering lights and other amenities at store locations.

Reduces the amount of old merchandise

Usually, dropshippers don't have a central warehouse for storing products. No central warehouse means you can reduce the amount of old inventory stuck in storage. Not only does it reduce waste, but it cuts down on another carbon footprint contributor: methane emissions and released chemicals from discarded trash.

Saves on transportation costs

Dropshipping saves money and reduces environmental impacts by cutting down on transportation-related emissions. Without the need to manage a warehouse or deal with crowded store shelves, we're capable of focusing our efforts on marketing and business development to stay competitive in today's marketplace.

Requires fewer gas station expenses

Employees of dropshipping companies don't have to waste time and money filling up their gas tanks. Instead, employees can set that money aside for essentials or various forms of entertainment. This approach reduces the amount of CO² emissions from cars creating a more sustainable work environment for our employees. 

Enhances customer satisfaction

Because dropshippers don't have to worry about fulfillment and shipping, they're able to focus on providing an excellent customer experience — everything from responding quickly to inquiries to ensuring orders are delivered on time. 

Easier scalability

As a business grows, it becomes increasingly difficult and expensive to ship large quantities of products to customers. Dropshipping is one of the most scalable business models because it allows entrepreneurs to grow their businesses without worrying about outgrowing these limitations along the way.

Common Misconceptions About Dropshipping From China

Despite its many benefits, dropshipping still has a few negative connotations regarding shipping products from China. These misconceptions include:

Customs officials will confiscate the items

Customs officials may confiscate items if you're not adequately documenting and disclosing where your products originate or if taxes/duties aren't paid for. All of our orders include taxes and duties and we've never had issues with getting our customer's orders through customs. 

Products will be of low quality

It may have been true in the past, but it's not the case anymore. Quality control has become a top priority for Chinese manufacturers, and many suppliers can now produce products that meet or exceed the quality of similar items made in other countries.

Shipping costs will be high

Again, this is no longer the case. China's shipping rates have come down significantly in recent years, making dropshipping from China more affordable than ever.

Packages will get lost in transit

This risk comes with any form of shipping, but it can be minimized with a reputable shipping carrier.

Products will arrive damaged

We avoid this problem by using a good-quality shipping carrier and ensuring that our orders are always well-packaged.

Dropshipping Ethics

While dropshipping has many benefits, it may come with ethical concerns when sourcing products from overseas. Some people argue that by supporting Chinese manufacturers, brands contribute to the decline of American jobs and the promotion of sweatshop labor. Others claim that as long as we're buying from reputable brands who are transparent about their supply chains, there's no harm in dropshipping products from China.

The most common topics related to ethics in dropshipping include:

Workers' rights

Workers in China work long hours and receive low wages for their efforts. Dropshipping can help promote a more ethical relationship between consumers and Chinese manufacturers by only conducting business with those who are transparent about their practices. 

Labor conditions

Many products are made in sweatshops where employees work long hours under poor working conditions. Dropshipping can help reduce the demand for these unethical manufacturing practices by making it easier than ever to find high-quality alternatives that factor in better standards of living.

Environmental impact

The manufacturing of products in China often comes at a high environmental cost due to dirty manufacturing practices like heavy chemical use. Proper dropshipping helps reduce the demand for these practices and increase environmentally friendly production methods.

Transparency in supply chains

By working with brands that are transparent about their supply chains, our customers can be sure they're not contributing to unethical labor practices or negative environmental impacts.

Conclusion

Dropshipping is a sustainable and ethical way to do business that can positively impact the planet. By choosing suppliers who are transparent about their supply chains, dropshipping customers can be sure they're not contributing to unethical labor practices or negative environmental impacts.

How to Dispose of or Responsibly Recycle Clothing

If your clothing cannot be donated, it's really important not to throw things in the trash. Some fabrics can sit in land fills for up to 20 years! Instead of doing that, send them to these organizations for responsible recycling!

American Textile Recycling

https://atrscorp.com/services/

Souls 4 Shoes

https://soles4souls.org/give-shoes/