I had a great opportunity today to do a phone interview with Paul Barker, of Extreme Outdoor Supply.  I thank Paul for taking the time out of his busy schedule to answer some questions that I feel will inspire, due to the fact that (in my opinion) Paul is a dropshipping success story!  I wanted those who read this blog to get some ideas from a real person who does a dropship business for a living!

Tell us a little bit about your dropshipping business -
I am the owner of Extreme Outdoor Supply. We offer the best selection of skimboards, longboard skateboards and basically any other extreme boarding products.  We are very happy with the site and excited for it's future. We have been doubling in size and in sales every year. We are also very proud to raise awareness on extreme poverty through our site.

How long have you been working with dropshippers?
For over 4 years.

What is the most difficult task you had to overcome when dealing with dropshipping partners?
The most difficult task is to get the product out in a timely fashion. It's hard to transfer your great customer service to a bigger dropshipping company that might not care as much for that single order.

What has owning an Internet dropshipping business taught you?
Follow up. You always have to follow up if you want with the dropshipper s if you want to keep your customers happy. Just don't annoy the dropshipper! Keep a good relationship with them. They are your life blood.

What are some of the mistakes that you have made in the past when dropshipping that you could help others avoid?
Make sure you understand the dropshippers policies. Can they rush ship? How do they handle returns? Warranties? Cost of shipping? How much of a rebate you can offer on their products? This can save you a lot of headache especially during the christmas season and also keep a good relationship with your dropshippers.

Is owning a dropshipping business hard?
With any business you have to be smart. You will make mistakes, just don't repeat them!

What are your top 6 tips for people thinking about getting into a dropshipping business?
1.In the beginning, don't hesitate to go with a overpriced easy dropshipper. That way you can load up products and look like an official site that has been in business for years before you approach big companies.
2. Make sure your site looks amazing! This is the only thing potential customers know about you!
3. Be good to your customers!
4. Get into what you sell.
5. Get your site EVERYWHERE!
6. Don't stop learning about SEO, web development and your products. Keep up with the new!"

What is the best thing about owning a dropshipping business?
It's 11 o'clock... guess who is still in their pjs and already had 5 sales?... oh that's me! The best thing is that you control if you are going to succeed. You don't have to depend on "the man" giving you a pay check and then laying you off the next week. You control your own success.

Any last words of advice for start up dropshipping business owners?
Find something that you can really get into. I couldn't be excited about selling scented candles that's for sure!

Again, I thank Paul Barker for taking the time to answer some questions about dropshipping and his business.  If you are wanting to learn more information about the products Paul is offer then please visit his site - Extreme Outdoor Supply

As always, if you are looking to get into a dropshipping business, The Shipper is offering a FREE 7 Day Trial of our dropshipping directory membership.  Join Today, and start growing your business like Paul!