I’ve been testing out a super small-scale dropshipping setup in the beauty/skincare niche. I don’t use Shopify or big automations yet — it’s more of a hybrid model. I source the products through a supplier, keep a bit of stock, and handle orders manually through WhatsApp and Instagram DMs.
I started with just 10 units of one product to see if people would buy. To my surprise, I sold out in less than two weeks. What worked best for me wasn’t flashy ads just consistent product photos, basic reels, and following up in chats. I think the fact that I’m local and respond personally makes a big difference in trust.
My main question now is does it make sense to keep this “manual and social” model going for a while, or should I be thinking about scaling up with a proper store and paid ads? I’m not sure if trying to automate everything too soon will break the customer vibe I’ve built.
Anyone here grow a small niche dropshipping hustle without diving into full-blown ecommerce infrastructure right away?
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