Before we start
Forget the TikTok videos promising millions overnight. Forget the Lamborghinis. Forget the fake screenshots. Today is about understanding one of the most accessible business models available to everyday South Africans.
Begin the journey
ScrollNot just make money. Actually own something. Something with your name on it. Something that could one day become your full-time income. People have started these businesses from their bedrooms, student accommodation, spare rooms and kitchen tables.
Maybe you've had the dreamBut then reality kicked in.
Sound familiar? You're not the only one. Every successful entrepreneur has asked those same questions.Some people let those questions stop them. Others decided to learn anyway.
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Figures in online sales
0m+
Million+ in mentee sales
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Years of experience
I never wanted a 9 to 5.
I started selling products back in high school. Not because I had connections, investors, or a fancy business degree. But because I saw a problem with anyone who works — if that's your path, I respect it. But for me? It felt limiting. It felt like signing up for a life where someone else decides what my time is worth, when I can rest, when I can grow, and how much I'm allowed to earn.
One random day, the word Shopify popped up on my screen.
I was on my break, scrolling on my phone, not really looking for anything. I had never heard that word in my life. You can earn money online? You can start a business? Wait — I can just OPEN a business? No landlord, no shop, no massive startup capital, no permission from anyone? That single moment cracked my whole world open.
My first business was custom printing.
T-shirts, mugs, hoodies. If you could name it, I printed it. And from the outside, it looked like I was winning. But behind the scenes? It was draining me. Upfront stock costs eating my money. Production expenses rising every month. Running around like a headless chicken trying to ship orders on time. And the worst part? Making almost nothing per sale for the amount of work I was putting in. Eventually my first business failed. It wasn't because I couldn't sell. It was moving hundreds of orders. Marketing was never my problem — the model was the problem.
I made a decision that changed my life.
I started with sneakers, using the exact same marketing strategy I'm about to share with you tonight. Then I had an idea: I talked to my supplier — reliable people I could trust and offered them a cut of each sale. They agreed to ship the products for me. Suddenly, my time was free and I still work with them to this day. Then I did something I never thought I could — I went on a 3-month holiday. While I was away, my business kept running, and I made R200,000 profit in just 3 months.
The material wins were never the point.
I bought my first car. Then I helped my mom get hers. I moved into my own home. But the real win? Peace. Clarity. Financial security. Time. Waking up without an alarm, without asking permission, without begging for leave. This business changed my life — and if I can change yours too, let's do it together.
Right model. Right system. Real freedom.
That is traditional retail. And for many South Africans it's simply not realistic. Not because you're not capable — because the barrier to entry is huge.
What if there was another way?
Imagine you're opening a clothing boutique. Normally you'd have to buy 500 dresses. Store them. Package them. Hope they sell.
With dropshipping, you don't buy the dress until someone else has already paid for it.
The customer buys first. You purchase second. The supplier ships third. You're the smart middleman — not making the product, not storing it in your garage, not running to the courier — connecting a customer who wants a product to a supplier who has it.
Customer
places an order on your store
You
connect the order to your supplier
Supplier
packs and ships the product
You make the connection. They handle the rest. You get paid.
The customer
Doesn't know the supplier.
The brand
That's you — the business they trust.
The supplier
Doesn't own your brand.
The courier
Simply delivers the parcel.
Your job is building a business customers trust.
It's Friday night. You're watching Netflix.
Your phone buzzes. New order received.
Someone has just purchased from your online store.
Tomorrow morning you open Shopify and forward the order to your supplier.
They package it. They ship it. Your customer receives it. You keep the profit.
That's not a dream. That's simply how the fulfilment process works — your website worked while you were relaxing.
Tap a statement to reveal the truth.
All of this is possible through one business model — and I'm here to share everything I know about it.
The price on your website
What your supplier charges
Your profit per product sold
Say you start a jewellery brand. You list a necklace at R550. Your supplier charges R150. You sell it, they ship it, and R400 stays with you.
R 0
Profit per product
0
Sales per day
R 0
Profit per day
That's R120 000 a month in profit.
Total sales
R 0
↗ 8%
Last 7 days
R 0.00
Last 7 days
R 0.00
Up 77% from the past 7 days
“Joining TJ's program was the best decision I've ever made. I'm officially done with my job — just 2 months left until I can go all in. Right now I'm already averaging double my salary, and the DFY has been worth every cent.”
“Month 3 doing 50K in sales. Life's been hectic and I haven't been as active as I wanted to be, but I hit 50K again this month — third month in a row.”
“Guess who made their first 5 sales from sending out an email. I'm so excited for tomorrow — do I now use my profit on ads?”
“Week update: all orders shipped out, a customer even posted a TikTok review and she's very happy.”
Real messages, real dashboards. Tap any screenshot to read it in full.
Rule #1: forget everything you think you know. Most people are out here trying to guess the next “winning product”. Refreshing TikTok for hours. Gambling on trends. Hoping something blows up. That's not business. That's the lottery.
I ask myself one questionAre people buying in this niche every. single. day?
Not once a week. Not when it's trending. Every day. You don't need a viral product to build a business — you need a niche with consistent daily demand. That's how you get paid whether TikTok is buzzing or not.
What these stores actually look like
Beauty & skincare
Cosmetics, skincare, fragrance
Women restock every month, not once a year. A clean store, good product photos and consistent content is all it takes to compete.
Hair
Wigs, bundles, clip-ins, frontals
The South African hair industry is booming. Women will always invest in looking their best — it's not a trend, it's a lifestyle.
Apparel
Tops, hoodies, streetwear
Print on demand and curated clothing. Branded goods sell at premium prices — and your supplier ships every order for you.
I don't just follow trends — I follow what's profitable, in demand and aligned with freedom.
Use a local dropshipping platform 🇿🇦
Platforms like Supplier Plus already have pre-verified SA suppliers ready to go. They handle fulfilment, offer private labeling, and ship directly to your customer. Perfect for beginners.
Reach out to brands or wholesalers directly
Find brands in your niche and DM or email them. Ask if they offer dropshipping or a commission-based model. You'd be shocked how many say YES.
Use my supplier
My supplier ships across multiple niches and can privately source products for you. Fulfilment and shipping all handled. Want access? DM me the word “SUPPLIER” on Instagram and I'll send you the full list.
No expensive software. No monthly fees. No degree required. Just action.
Shopify
Your online store
Your digital storefront — your version of Takealot or Shein. It's where customers land, fall in love with your products, add to cart and pay.
Yoco
How you get paid
A business that can't collect money isn't a business. Your payment provider gives customers trust, lets them pay safely by card, and the money lands in YOUR bank account — by 8am the next morning.
Your supplier
Your silent business partner
The secret sauce. They hold the stock, pack the orders and ship them out to your customers for you.
Social media
Free marketing machine
No ad budget required to start. Your phone, consistent content, and a niche people buy from every single day.
Never built a website before? Good — this is written for you. Five steps, one week, and every step opens up to show the exact actions, the trap beginners fall into, and how to know you're finished.
Shopify & brand identity
Before we think about marketing or making sales, we create a brand customers can trust. We start with Pinterest as an inspiration board to establish the look and feel of your business.
Do this now
Beginner trap
Don't spend a week on the logo. A clean wordmark in your chosen font is enough to launch — customers judge the product photos, not the logo.
You're done when
You have a store name, a colour palette, a font, and a Shopify account open.
Select your products
Once branding is in place, choose products that match your niche. Start with the Beauty Box supplier and carefully select products that create a cohesive collection.
Load your products
Load your chosen products, write clear high-converting descriptions, upload images, set your pricing, and organise everything into the correct collections.
Get the store live
Name your store and add a logo, select the basic plan, set up delivery, add your card details, buy your domain and add your policies. Buy a domain before registering.
Social & the creative process
Register with a payment provider, open your social media (TikTok), and start creating. Order a sample so you can shoot your own content.
The whole vocabulary, in plain language.
That's it — you've completed your store and you're ready to start selling.
Want me to do this live with you right after this training?
Message me the word PART 2 on Instagram @marketingwithtjbanksza and you'll get access to a live walk-through on Zoom — building your store with me, step by step.
Message "PART 2" on InstagramWho handles returns
Your supplier does, not you. If there's an issue, they fix it — at their cost. That's why choosing a reliable one is non-negotiable.
How does my order look
Blank packaging, no other brand's name. With my supplier you can even add your own brand sticker so your customer sees your business name on their delivery.
It's all worth it
Your supplier ships. You collect the profit. No stock, no packing, no post office runs. You focus on sales and marketing, they handle the rest.
If possible, order a sample from your supplier to test the quality and shipping — and to create your own content. Never place an order using your customer's email address: create an account with your brand's own email instead.
No. You don't buy stock, rent a warehouse, or manufacture anything. Your costs are a store on Shopify from about $1 a month, roughly R250 to link your domain, and registering with a payment provider. Your customer pays you first — you pay the supplier out of that money.
Revisit Chapter 03 — What dropshipping actually is →By the end of this journey you'll know exactly how the model works, how to pick a niche with daily demand, how to find a supplier who ships for you, and how to get a store live that customers trust.
Now — pick the way you want to start.
The fastest launch option to get live and start selling.
The fastest launch option to get live and start selling.
A fully custom dropshipping brand, built specifically for you and your niche.
Perfect if you have a specific brand idea and want it built to your taste.
R4 500 full package
domain + payment provider linking included · R3 500 standard or R1 750 × 2 months
Get startedA full live training to set up and build your own store from scratch.
Perfect if you want to learn how to build store after store, for yourself or clients.
Getting started today — apply code 2026 to save up to 35% on your spot.
TJ Banks Official · www.dropshippingwithtjbanks.co
