How to start dropshipping or print on demand with E-STAGE

The three suppliers at a glance

Read in Genesis → Project settings → Suppliers on October 9, 2026. Check your own project for the current list and fields.

Dropshipping or print on demand?

With dropshipping, you sell products the supplier already has in stock. When a buyer pays, the supplier sends the item straight to them. In E-STAGE that is CJ Dropshipping, which ships from its own warehouses, or AliExpress, where the order goes to an AliExpress seller.

With print on demand, you sell your own designs, such as shirts or mugs. Nothing is printed until someone orders; then the supplier prints it and ships it. In E-STAGE that is Teemill.

In both cases you keep no inventory and do not pack boxes. You set the price, sell from your hub and look after your customer.

Connect Teemill for print on demand

Teemill prints your design only when someone orders. Once you connect it, each paid store order is placed with Teemill automatically and charged to the payment method on your Teemill account. For orders that cross a border you can add customs details: an EORI number, a VAT number and a pre-registration type and number, such as IOSS. These are optional.

• In Teemill, open Settings → API and turn on Enable Private API.
• Copy the API key shown there.
• In Genesis, open Settings → Suppliers, click Connect on Teemill and paste the key.
• Fill in Teemill store only if your Teemill account has several stores; otherwise it is read from the key.
• Choose Delivery: the cheapest or the fastest Teemill offer for each order.
• Click Connect My Account, then create your products in the Teemill dashboard and import them from Settings.

Connect CJ Dropshipping

• In your CJ Dropshipping account, generate an API key.
• In Genesis, open Settings → Suppliers and click Connect on CJ Dropshipping.
• Paste your CJ account email and the API key.
• Pick the shipping method (it defaults to CJPacket Ordinary) and where orders ship from.
• Click Connect My Account.

Connect AliExpress

• In the AliExpress open platform console, create an app and authorise your seller account.
• In Genesis, open Settings → Suppliers and click Connect on AliExpress.
• Paste the app key, the app secret and the access token from the seller authorisation.
• Keep or change the logistics service (it defaults to CAINIAO_STANDARD).
• Click Connect My Account.

Suppliers you email, and a supplier per variant

Not every supplier needs an API. In the CRM → Store → Suppliers you can add suppliers you email orders to, and choose which supplier fulfils each variant of a product. That way one store can mix print on demand, dropshipping and products you ship yourself.

For anything you pack yourself, connect a carrier in Settings → Shipping Carriers. There are 12 as of October 2026, including J&T Express and Naqel Express for Saudi Arabia and PostNord for Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland.

Test with one small order first

The CJ Dropshipping and AliExpress panels say the connection was tested against the suppliers’ documented responses, not live keys, and recommend placing one small order first. That is good practice with any supplier.

• Buy one low-priced item from your own store with a real payment.
• Check that the order appears in your supplier account.
• Follow the shipment until it arrives, and look at the packaging and delivery time your buyer will get.
• Only then start promoting the product.

Before you sell

• Price with the supplier’s cost and shipping in mind; the supplier charges you for every order it fulfils.
• Order a sample so you know the quality your buyers will receive.
• Write a clear returns policy and tell buyers honestly how long delivery takes.
• Each supplier sets its own prices, stock, delivery times and terms. Check them in your supplier account.