Anyone start with dropshipping, then move to inventory once it works?

Hey everyone — I’m getting into ecom and I’m trying to figure out if this actually works in real life:

Start with dropshipping to test → once something hits, buy inventory and fulfill via a 3PL.

If you’ve done it (successfully or not), I’d love to hear:

- How many products/offers did you test before you found a winner?

- What made you switch to holding stock? Any specific numbers/metrics you watched?

- Biggest things that moved the needle (product selection, creatives/ads, offer, landing page, email/SMS, upsells, etc.)?

- How do you handle supplier stuff (agent vs factory, QC, lead times, refunds/chargebacks, random issues)?

- Anyone here sell the store / do an exit

Honest stories welcome — even if it didn’t work out.

Thanks!