Product Returns

Are Online Retailers Missing Something Obvious?
November 2, 2017 at 12:14 pm

While online retail as an industry is growing, many online retailers are struggling to grow and capture their fair share of that growth. In a recent study of online retailers conducted by Forrester and the National Retail Federation, 12 percent of retailers experienced flat or declining revenues in the last year. To find pockets of…

Data Platform Helps Asics Increase Conversions, Decrease Returns
October 16, 2017 at 10:28 am

In episode 114 of Total Retail Talks, recorded at Shop.org last month in Los Angeles, Jason LeBoeuf, director, e-commerce, Asics, and Romney Evans, co-founder of True Fit, discuss how the athletic footwear and apparel brand is using True Fit's data platform to personalize its customers’ shopping experiences. The result for Asics has been increased revenues…

Wal-Mart Aims to Handle Online Returns in 35 Seconds or Less
October 9, 2017 at 11:32 am

In its ongoing effort to compete with Amazon.com, Wal-Mart announced a new way of handling in-store returns of online purchases that it claims could shrink the processing time to 35 seconds. Starting next month, Mobile Express Returns will enable consumers to begin a return process on Wal-Mart’s app before bringing the item in question to any…

The Cost of E-Commerce Returns and Why You Should Care
October 2, 2017 at 9:47 am

I surf e-commerce sites daily both professionally and as a consumer. While the overall user experience has improved greatly over the years, I'm shocked at what I find (or don’t find) in this day and age, specifically as it relates to product returns. Why does this matter? Because returns are killing margins for most e-tailers!…

How to Stay Competitive in the Face of E-Commerce Giants
September 26, 2017 at 11:50 am

Online shopping has hit its stride. But with all the things that set it apart from traditional retail — more convenience, options and ways to buy — there's one facet that won't ever disappear: retail giants. Just as mom-and-pop shops watched department stores and big-box retailers spring up and seemingly take over, independent online sellers…

Retail Right Now: Toys"R"Us, Aerosoles File for Bankruptcy
September 22, 2017 at 10:28 am

In this episode of Retail Right Now, Total Retail's Taylor Knight reviews the top retail news of the week, including two retailers — Toys"R"Us and Aerosoles — filing for bankruptcy, and Kohl's offering free returns for Amazon.com customers starting in October.

7 Tips to Take the Worry and Hassle Out of Holiday Shipping
September 22, 2017 at 10:22 am

Retailers of all sizes are experiencing the phenomena known as "Christmas creep," as the holiday shopping season begins earlier each year. Advertisers and marketers have likely made their holiday plans for not only the 2017 season — but for 2018 as well. With Black Friday only nine weeks away, it’s not yet time to panic,…

Kohl's to Accept Amazon Returns
September 20, 2017 at 11:13 am

Kohl’s and Amazon.com announced this week that 82 Los Angeles and Chicago area Kohl’s stores will offer free return service for Amazon customers. The Kohl's stores will pack and ship "eligible" Amazon return items, for free, starting this October. Participating Kohl’s locations will have designated parking spots to make the return process even easier for…

Why Baseball and Retail’s All-Stars Need to Hit the Cutoff Man
August 29, 2017 at 11:34 am

Retail executives who tuned in to the Major League Baseball All-Star Game earlier this summer learned something about e-commerce operations if they paid close attention. When a ball was hit deep, they saw MLB’s best players hit the cutoff man when returning the ball to their teammates in the infield. Throwing a runner out when…