In terms of supply chain set-up, particularly the distribution part of it, there always is a warehouse somewhere. Even the parts you are buying from China are seeing multiple warehouses, sortation centers and cross-docking sites before they arrive at you destination.
Right now the low shipping costs for parcel-sized orders make this set-up, with stock as far from customers as it probably can, economic. Once this cost advantage is gone the last-mile performance from "local" warehouses, read warehouses on the same continent or in the same country, is winning the day.
In short, it is likely that the majoprity of the inventory is moved from China to the individual markets by someone. If this Amazon that would mean competition for seller doing drop-ship out of China. Still, even Amazon is offering FBA-services for the procurement part from China using Amazon container lines. Or it is some sort of wholeseller who is just covering the import part, maybe even up to warehousing.
I see a business opportinity for a logistics provider offering bulk-import, storage and distribution for the existing dropshippers. Workling interfaces to Shopify and co. wouldn't hurt neither.
Right now the low shipping costs for parcel-sized orders make this set-up, with stock as far from customers as it probably can, economic. Once this cost advantage is gone the last-mile performance from "local" warehouses, read warehouses on the same continent or in the same country, is winning the day.
In short, it is likely that the majoprity of the inventory is moved from China to the individual markets by someone. If this Amazon that would mean competition for seller doing drop-ship out of China. Still, even Amazon is offering FBA-services for the procurement part from China using Amazon container lines. Or it is some sort of wholeseller who is just covering the import part, maybe even up to warehousing.
I see a business opportinity for a logistics provider offering bulk-import, storage and distribution for the existing dropshippers. Workling interfaces to Shopify and co. wouldn't hurt neither.