Retail Brew

Retail Brew delivers the latest retail industry news and insights surrounding marketing, DTC, and e-commerce to keep leaders and decision-makers up to date.

Returns are one of the more complicated aspects of retail and that's only amplified during the holiday shopping season. Retail Brew takes a look at why retailers craft certain return policies, how returns are executed, and their effects beyond the bottom line.

E-Commerce

Consumer Experience

Katishi Maake

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Consumer Behavior & Trends

Returned inventory creates 9.6 billion pounds of landfill waste each year, and emits more than 27 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, according to Optoro.

Return Behavior

Returns not only pose financial costs but also environmental ones 

Total returns accounted for more than $761 billion in merchandise for US retailers in 2021—nearly 20% of which occurred after the holiday shopping season, per NRF.

Post-Purchase Experience

Retailers grapple with the financial impact of the returns process 

More companies, like H&M and Zara, are experimenting with charging for returns. 

Returns Experience

Retailers navigate returns ahead of the hectic holiday shopping season

Stories

Diminishing Returns