How to Start an Online Custom Cushion Business With a Dropship Manufacturer

Updated October 2026 · By Sam K, Fabrica Kraft

Quick summary

You can launch an online custom cushion store without a workshop or inventory. Your customers order made-to-measure cushions on your website, and a manufacturer makes each one and blind-ships it straight to them, with your brand and no supplier branding or prices in the box. What makes it work is a niche you can explain well (RV dinettes, boats, patio sets, window seats), clear measuring help, honest lead times and a supplier with no minimum order. With us, there's no minimum and no website requirement to start, US shipping is free, and trade pricing runs from 10% to 20% off retail.

1. Pick a niche you can own

"Custom cushions" is broad. Shoppers search for the thing they're fixing, so a focused store converts better:

• RV, camper and travel trailer cushions: dinette seats and backs, sofa beds and bunk mattresses. Owners replace worn original cushions and want exact sizes.
• Boat cushions: marine vinyl and Dryfast foam for seats that get wet.
• Patio replacement cushions: for branded or discontinued outdoor furniture.
• Window seats, benches and banquettes: indoor projects for homeowners and designers.

Start with a few product types you can describe well, then add more as demand grows.

2. How blind dropshipping works

1. Your customer orders on your site with their sizes, foam and fabric.
2. You place the order with us at your trade price.
3. We send a spec sheet if anything needs checking, then cut and sew it.
4. We ship direct to your customer, tracked and insured, with your labels and packaging if you want them and no Fabrica Kraft branding, promotional material or prices in the box.

Covers and foam often ship as separate parcels, so tell your customers to expect two boxes. Foam arrives vacuum-packed and takes 12 to 18 hours to fully expand.

3. What your customers can customise

• Size: any width and depth, cut within ±13 mm of the order.
• Thickness: up to 8″, with thicker sizes on request. Most RV dinette seats are 3″ to 5″.
• Foam: firm Lux seat foam, Dryfast quick-dry foam for outdoor and marine use, or Super Soft foam for backs.
• Fabric: Sunbrella, Warwick (indoor) and marine vinyl in hundreds of colours.
• Shapes: angled ends, rounded corners and notches are made from a paper template. See how to order custom-shaped cushions.

4. Pricing and margins

Because every cushion is custom, wholesale is priced by size rather than from a fixed list. Send us your 5 to 10 most common sizes and we'll build a price sheet at your trade rate. To set retail prices:

• Start from your wholesale cost per cushion or set.
• Shipping within the US is free, so there's nothing extra to add for delivery.
• Allow for payment fees, advertising and the occasional remake for a customer measuring error, which you'll often want to absorb or split to keep reviews strong.

Your trade discount grows with volume: 10% off retail from approval, 15% after $5,000 in rolling 12-month spend and 20% after $20,000. See the trade program.

5. Measuring help prevents most problems

The biggest cause of unhappy custom-cushion customers is a wrong measurement. Give yours a clear guide: measure the seat or frame, not the old cushion; measure width and depth at the front and back; round to the nearest ¼″; and note any angled or rounded corners. Our measuring guide and dinette and banquette guide are good references.

6. Set honest delivery times

• Standard shapes: made and dispatched in 2–3 weeks.
• Custom shapes from a template: 5–6 weeks from when the template arrives.
• Transit: add carrier time on top.

Show these on your product pages so customers aren't surprised.

7. Returns, defects and damage

• Our errors: if a cushion is more than 0.5″ off the order, or has a defect, we remake it free.
• Customer measuring errors: made-to-measure cushions can't be returned, so state this clearly in your own policy.
• Shipping damage: report it within 48 hours of delivery with photos. Lost parcels are replaced at no cost.

8. Getting set up

1. Apply for a trade account with your business name and type. A Tax ID or EIN is optional, and you don't need a live website yet.
2. Order swatches ($7 each, credited back on your next order) and a sample cushion to check quality.
3. Send your common sizes for a price sheet, and ask about product photos and white-label packaging.
4. If you have a resale certificate, send it so we can remove sales tax in the states where we collect it.

See how it works on our white-label and wholesale pages, or browse RV and camper cushions.

FAQ

Can I dropship custom cushions without holding inventory?

Yes. Every cushion is made to order and shipped direct to your customer, so you don't need stock or a workshop.

Is there a minimum order to become a reseller?

No. You can start with single customer orders, and you don't need a live website to apply.

Will my customers see the manufacturer's branding or prices?

No. We blind-ship with no Fabrica Kraft branding, promotional material or prices in the box, and we can use your labels and packaging.

How long do custom RV cushions take?

2–3 weeks for standard shapes and 5–6 weeks for custom shapes made from a template, plus transit time.

Who pays if the customer measured wrong?

Cushions made to wrong customer measurements can't be returned, so most sellers offer measuring help before ordering. If we're more than 0.5″ off the order, we remake it free.