How to Make Money Selling Other People’s Physical Products (Without Inventory) - FaithfulBiz

Ever thought about starting a business but felt stuck because you don’t have your own product to sell? Here’s the good news: You don’t need one.

Yes, seriously.

Selling other people’s physical products—through dropshipping, affiliate marketing, or wholesale reselling—is a solid way to start making money online without manufacturing or even storing inventory.

I’ve seen folks go from zero to consistent monthly income just by tapping into this model. But it’s not a magic trick. It takes planning, research, and a bit of hustle. Let’s walk through how this actually works—and how to make it work for you.

1. Dropshipping: The No-Inventory Hustle

Okay, let’s start with dropshipping because it’s the most buzzed-about model.

Here’s how it works: You set up an online store (maybe using Shopify, WooCommerce, or even Etsy if you're creative). Then, you list products from suppliers—without actually buying them first. When someone places an order, you pass that order to the supplier, and they ship it directly to your customer.

Simple? Kinda. Profitable? It can be.

✅ Real Example:

You could connect with local logistics or dropshipping suppliers within Nigeria or your country to reduce delivery delays—a big win compared to relying on overseas suppliers.

2. Affiliate Marketing: Get Paid Just for Referring

Affiliate marketing is where you promote someone else’s physical product on your blog, YouTube channel, or social media page. If someone buys through your link, you get paid a commission.

You never touch the product. You don’t ship anything. But you do help people make buying decisions—and that’s the value you bring.

💡 Real Example:

Say you love home gadgets. You could join the Amazon Associates Program, write honest reviews on products, or post demos on TikTok or Instagram. When someone clicks and buys, ka-ching—you earn a cut.

3. Retail Arbitrage: The Side Hustler’s Hack

Retail arbitrage is kind of like treasure hunting. You find products being sold for cheap (think: clearance racks, liquidation sales, thrift stores), then resell them at a profit on platforms like eBay, Facebook Marketplace, or Jumia.

✅ Real Example:

People in Lagos and Accra make a killing flipping discounted items from Shoprite or local open markets. Some even scan barcodes using apps like SellerAmp to check prices and profit margins in real time.

4. Wholesale Reselling: Buy Bulk, Sell Retail

This one needs more upfront cash. You buy products in bulk from a manufacturer or distributor at a low wholesale rate, then sell them at retail price. Think clothing, electronics, hair extensions, beauty supplies—whatever fits your market.

✅ Real Example:

If you’ve ever seen someone selling branded perfumes or sneakers on WhatsApp status or Instagram stories—they might be running a small-scale wholesale resell biz.

So... Which Model Should You Choose?

• Your startup capital (affiliate = low cost, wholesale = high cost)
• Your willingness to handle inventory (dropshipping = no inventory, wholesale = full inventory)
• Your content creation skills (affiliate marketing thrives on storytelling)
• Your audience access (social media, email list, blog, etc.)

✅ Choose Products That Actually Sell

Don’t just chase trends. Pick stuff that people are already buying—consistently. Tools like Google Trends, Amazon Best Sellers, or even scrolling TikTok and seeing what’s “gone viral” can help.

Bonus tip: Pick products with decent margins. Selling a $3 phone case where you earn 50 cents isn’t worth the effort.

✅ Do Your Research

• What are their shipping times?
• What’s the return/refund policy?
• Do they have positive reviews?

Also, understand your audience. Are they price-sensitive? Do they care more about quality? Location? These things shape your entire approach.

✅ Market the Heck Out of It

• Build a website with product pages, reviews, and good SEO
• Post product demos on TikTok, YouTube Shorts, or Instagram Reels
• Run Facebook/IG ads targeting people most likely to buy
• Use email marketing to keep warm leads engaged

✅ Don’t Sleep on Customer Service

Even if it’s not your product, the customer sees you as the face of the business. Respond to messages, fix issues quickly, be polite—even if someone’s being difficult. This builds brand loyalty and repeat sales.

✅ Keep Learning and Adapting

Maybe the first product flops. That’s normal. Every successful seller has bombed a launch or picked a dud product at some point. What matters is you:

• Learn from it
• Tweak your approach
• Try again with better info

🔥 BONUS: Platforms to Get Started

Method	Platforms/Tools
Dropshipping	Shopify, AliExpress, CJdropshipping, WooCommerce
Affiliate Marketing	Amazon Associates, ShareASale, Jumia KOL Program
Retail Arbitrage	eBay, Jiji.ng, Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp
Wholesale Resell	Alibaba, TradeIndia, local markets, bulk vendors

Know this:

Selling other people’s products can be a game-changer—especially if you’re starting out with limited capital or no product of your own. But it’s not “easy money.” The people who win at this play the long game, test often, and keep showing up.

So if you’re ready to dive in, pick a model, pick a product, and start testing. You might just surprise yourself.