Canggu is a wonderland for those seeking wealth without the pretense of earning it. Set against the backdrop of gentle Balinese sunsets, the symphony of clattering keyboards from co-working spaces harmonizes with the hair-raising roars of mopeds—like a game of high-stakes dodgeball. Here, expats (our beloved western transplants) sip on overpriced smoothie bowls and lattes while engaging in spirited discussions about their rather fascinating lives. Oh, and if you fancy a rubdown, a local will work out your knots for less than the price of a limp avocado toast. Welcome to paradise, where everyone is beach-ready and costs are blissfully low.
Once upon a time, Canggu was merely a rest stop for backpackers yearning for yoga and enlightenment. Fast forward to now, and it is the go-to haven for self-proclaimed “digital nomads”—a term that sounds far more glamorous than “unemployed.” Cafés are teeming with barefoot geniuses tapping away on MacBook Pros, discussing Facebook ads as passionately as a football commentator during the World Cup. When locals show up at the coffee shops, it’s usually to ask them to turn the volume down on the incessant chatter. As one of these digital nomads noted while lounging in a hot tub (because why not?), “Many Indonesians just aren’t quite on the same wavelength as us bule.” Truly, who could ever understand?
In Canggu’s co-working extravaganzas (Dojo is the trendy veteran while Outpost is the cool newcomer), you’ll find entrepreneurs crafting extraordinary business empires without ever touching a product. Dropped right into the dropshipping trend, these folks are the grand puppeteers of a globalized marketplace, pulling strings while sipping coconut water. What could possibly go wrong?
Let’s break down the art of dropshipping. It’s a “fulfillment” method that sounds roughly as thrilling as watching paint dry. First, an enterprising individual finds a shiny product—probably a quirky gadget through the magic of AliExpress—believing it will appeal irresistibly to American or European consumers. They conjure up a Shopify website (voilà!), target buyers with Facebook ads, and voila, they become the proud owners of a business they’ve never physically engaged with!
When an order inevitably rolls in, our intrepid dropshipper hops onto AliExpress, purchases the item, and ships it directly to the blissfully unaware customer. The magic happens as they pocket a sweet little markup minus their ever-increasing advertising bills. Stock? Who needs stock? They merely thrive as middlemen in an elaborate dance of supply chain pretzels.
These masterful dropshippers have developed a knack for solving “pain points.” Maybe you’re an avid runner who can’t stand tangling leashes? No worries! They’ll source you a hands-free leash from AliExpress; all you have to do is watch a flashy video ad on repeat until you succumb to the inevitable purchase. Patience is required, though—expect your new leash to arrive sometime this century because it’s traipsing all the way from China!
Despite the global dropshipping phenomenon, Canggu has carved out quite the niche for itself. With its affordable living, lively café scene, and anywhere-but-the-office vibe, it’s become a sort of digital paradise. As Agung Suryawan Wiranatha from Udayana University in Denpasar thoughtfully announced, the digital nomads began flocking to Canggu about four years ago—because who wouldn’t want to give up a soul-sucking nine-to-five for sun-soaked bliss? Michael Craig, the mastermind behind Dojo, credits Johnny FD—an influencer and dropshipping deity—for this influx. Once he set foot in the area back in 2017, it was as if a flock of tech-savvy sheep just had to follow. They built Outpost shortly after, proving that if you build it, they will come—probably while whining over free Wi-Fi.
