Sustainable ecommerce has moved from being a checkbox approach to a competitive differentiator driving global growth. In today’s economic landscape, most retail and ecommerce companies realize that sustainable practices are not only the right thing to do but essential to their success. But it needs to go beyond the bottom line.
Outdoor retailer giant and sustainability market leader REI announced plans to open a new circular Re/Supply location in Clackamas, Oregon in late August 2023. The new store follows REI’s Re/Supply store in Manhattan Beach, California, which opened in 2020. The new store location will feature lightly used gear and apparel that REI receives through its returns and trade-in programs.
For retailers, sustainability encompasses everything from ethical sourcing and social responsibility on factory labor to environmentally conscious manufacturing processes and reducing the carbon footprint associated with bringing products to market, and all the way to product end-of-life recycling. The reason: consumers have clear ideas about what “sustainability” means when shopping for products.
When it comes to circular apparel, brands are not acting fast enough to make a difference in the race to a more sustainable approach for the fashion industry. Consulting firm … Continue Reading →
Many will argue whether the pandemic was a White Swan or Black Swan event. In either case, the supply chain impacts did not create new trends or problem categories. Instead, they amplified underlying instabilities and dramatically accelerated the pace of change. Supply chain organizations and the companies that support them need to prepare for a world that is less predictable, less stable and faster moving.
Secondhand clothing has come a long way since the days of the community thrift store as quick-acting brands have positioned themselves to capture some of the $100B global recommerce market. … Continue Reading →
A new global study by IBM found that 61% of CPGs and retailers are purposefully aligning sustainability and operational goals: 77% said sustainability investments will accelerate business growth. Luq Niazi, a global managing partner at IBM Consulting, talks about how companies are allocating resources for sustainability, and how to communicate your efforts to consumers without greenwashing.
American Circular Textiles Group (ACT) is a coalition seeking to establish U.S. leadership and policy in textile waste and circularity, with a focus on the waste hierarchy. Founding members include Rent the Runway, The Real Real, thredUP and Fashionphile. ACT director and founder talks about the momentum behind circularity in apparel, and how ACT is working to influence legislators and industry leaders.
Omoda, a Dutch-based retailer of premium shoes, wanted to reduce its CO2 footprint and demonstrate a commitment to the environment. Its preexisting process often resulted shipping up to 50% air, which caused a substantial impact on both sustainability and shipping costs. In this Q&A case study, Omoda talks about how Ranpak’s solution helped the retailer achieve its goals.
Sustainability in ecommerce is becoming a big deal (photo credit: 3blmedia) Multichannel Merchant recently sat down with Earnest Sweat, venture partner at GreatPoint Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm based … Continue Reading →
Managing the costs of returns and leveraging them as an opportunity is critical for retailers. Returns might be a significant expense, and while managing those costs is critical to maintaining … Continue Reading →
Always a thorny issue for retailers, returns has turned into quite the conundrum in 2023. New solutions are sprouting up every day, but the rising costs have ballooned. Meanwhile customer expectations around are rising, so where are we now? To help answer that question, we talk to Brian Kilcourse of Retail Systems Research, in this Multichannel Merchant webinar.
Join Multichannel Merchant Brian Kilcourse, managing partner at Retail Systems Research, to learn more about returns and how you can navigate the changing landscape.
A new app-based returns solution called ReturnQueen, which provides a concierge-like service where consumers can pay a one-time, monthly or annual fee and leave multiple returned items from different retailers at their door to be picked up, has expanded nationwide and is launching a B2B offering. The partners have been in discussions with midsize and enterprise level retailers.
A clear, comprehensive ecommerce returns policy is a great preventive measure. It helps customers understand how and when they can return products, acting as insurance for them and your business. However, there are other less obvious but nevertheless influential tactics you can and should employ. Here are seven more ways you can reduce returns, protect profits and improve customer satisfaction.
Two Boxes, a software startup promising to make the dispositioning of ecommerce returns more efficient for brands and 3PLs, has launched with a $4.5 million seed round and advisors from Amazon, Shopify, Whiplash, Loop Returns and Rent the Runway. Funding was led by Vinyl Capital, with Matchstick Ventures and Range Ventures.
Outdoor co-op REI, high-end outdoor apparel/gear brand Arc’teryx, fashion brand Amour Vert, running supplier On and luxury brand Philip Lim stood out in the first recommerce leaders index compiled by Trove, as the growing category has added an estimated 100 programs in the past year.
Liquidity Services, a major marketplace for returned and overstock merchandise, has opened a second AllSurplus Deals location at its facility in Hebron, KY, allowing local consumers to purchase deals online, then pick them up at its warehouse. The first opened in Phoenix in 1999, and plans call for more facilities to add pick-up services.
While ecommerce returns continue to soar and cost retailers both in terms of actual dollars and the bad customer experience, there are practical ways to reduce the rate, make the process more efficient and leverage the customer opportunity, attendees were told at the NRF 2023 Big Show in New York.
Taking advantage of a growing preference for boxless returns, FedEx is rolling out a consolidated returns program early this year aimed at providing the service for small-to-medium-sized merchants in addition to major retailers. While FedEx has a relationship with Happy Returns, it provides all the logistics for this new offering.
For CPGs, it’s no longer a matter of if but when the circular economy will supplant the traditional linear take-make-use-dispose model of consumption. The race to tap emerging sources of value and capitalize on the circular economy is well underway. The edge likely will go to companies that mobilize to take these seven steps.
Sustainability is more than just good for the planet; it’s good PR for your company. That’s why you should consider adding sustainable packaging to your repertoire. It helps your company meet sustainability goals while giving eco-conscious consumers a better choice. Here’s how to go about sourcing sustainable packaging.
Boox, a company providing returns service with reusable boxes being trialed by companies like Sephora, Revolve and lululemon, is rolling out a line of reusable bags as it expands into apparel and other categories and looks to grow its footprint beyond the U.S. and the UK. The Boox Baag, as it’s called, is made from recycled polyester.
For shippers worried about the pressure to green up their shipping operations, and the associated costs and resources required, there’s good news. It’s not only the right thing to do for the earth but can be good for your business as well. Here actions you can take now to improve your sustainable shipping.
Underscoring the growing importance of sustainability and an environmental focus among values-conscious consumers when choosing brands, a new survey of shoppers in the U.S., the UK, Germany and France showed just how much these issues matter during the purchase decision process. Photo credit: Charles Etoroma on Unsplash
It’s no surprise consumers are becoming more environmentally conscious, and they’re expecting the same behavior from brands. And eco-friendly shipping is no exception. How much do consumers consider a company’s eco-friendly practices when buying online? What will they pay? How long will they wait? Here are the results.
When starting an online store, ecommerce entrepreneurs have so much to consider, including how to drive more sales and setting up shipping, among other topics. For many, packaging is towards the middle or end of their list of things to prioritize, but efficient packaging can be a cost saver and set you apart in the market.
Ecommerce utilizes far too much product packaging, which adversely affects the environment. However, even if there was a marked reduction, the very nature of the industry still impacts environmental health in a big way. All aspects of the supply chain, from materials to transportation, can benefit from significant improvements.
At Ecommerce Operations Summit 2019, Hanko Kiessner, CEO of Packsize, Jamie Markland, associate director of operations at Boll & Branch and Rob Bass, chief supply chain officer at Best Buy, discussed their ecommerce packaging sustainability journey and the benefits realized. Here are some of the insights they shared.
Packaging is the last touchpoint of an ecommerce order, and it’s also a branding vehicle that has to protect your product. Sustainability is another imperative, as tons of excess materials end up in landfills and customer perception is a concern. Learn what brands are doing and how innovation plays a role in sustainability efforts.
