Returns are the Achilles' heel of many a fine retail outfit. Apparel returns, for example, can be as high as 35%. These articles can help you minimize returns and develop effective tactics for processing them. Topics covered include reverse logistics, returns management programs, liquidation methods, and configuration of returns handling areas in your facility.
 10 Steps for Better Returns
Whether a returned item was the wrong size or was defective, you need a set of procedures for handling the product once it arrives in your warehouse. Fulfillment pro Curt Barry has a simple 10-step reverse logistics strategy. These tips can help you refurbish returns and get them back on the shelf for sale....
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Reverse Logistics: Every Department's Challenge
By: By Sherry Chiger
More than 75% of all returned products are not defective, according to Gailen Vick, founder/president of the Reverse Logistics Association. Instead the primary cause of returns is “misinformation at the time of purchase,” due perhaps to misleading marketing materials or an ill-informed sales staff. The secondary factor is related: The product did not meet expectations....
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Live from NCOF: Reverse Logistics Is Everyone's Challenge
By: By Sherry Chiger
Schaumburg, IL—More than 75% of all returned products are not defective, according to Gailen Vick, founder/president of the Reverse Logistics Association. Instead, the primary cause of returns is "misinformation at the time of purchase," ...
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Best Practices in Returns Policies
By: By Linda Shea
Based on Opinion Research Corp.’s December 2006 study on retail returns, we’ve come up with a list of returns best practices that can help boost satisfaction among customers as well as your staff. ...
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Fulfilling Urban's Legend
As director of distribution, Ken McKinney is responsible for all distribution, fulfillment, and transportation functions for Philadelphia-based Urban...
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Getting Ready for Post-Holiday Returns
By: By Will Taylor
If you’re a fourth-quarter business, you’ve no doubt already inspected your warehouse systems, double-checked demand forecasts, stocked your shelves, reevaluate labor processes to optimize order fulfillment. But in addition to preparing for the holiday season’s spike in output, you also have to get ready for the inevitable return of products....
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Many happy returns?
By: Tim Parry
Consumers are not only getting comfortable with the task of e-tailing, they are happier and more willing to return items purchased online, according to...
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Seven Ways to Improve Returns Processing
By: By Debra Ellis
Everyone knows that a positive shopping experience increases the likelihood that a customer will purchase again. Returns processing is a customer contact point and as such can provide you with a competitive edge, so long as you handle it properly. That’s why returns have moved from the dark side of marketing and operations to the forefront. ...
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Returns Engagement
By: By Margery Weinstein
Catalogers know that a customer making a return isn't happy with the product. But if you can quickly and efficiently process the return, you may be able...
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CWD Finds Fitting Way to Reduce Returns
By: By Margery Weinstein
All catalogers would like to reduce their return rates, but Richmond, VA-based children's apparel cataloger Children's Wear Digest tries to head off the likelihood of returns even before shipping the merchandise to customers. ...
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A Proper Handle on Returns
By: Margery Weinstein
Delray Beach, FL-based women's apparel cataloger Boston Proper two years ago developed a software system to help with its biggest inventory management...
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Easy Returns Draw Repeat Sales
Retailers—including catalogers and Web merchants—are more likely to retain customers when they make returns easy and efficient, according to a survey...
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A Booth's-Eye View of NCOF
By: jeff kline
THIS PAST APRIL 13-16 I attended the 2003 National Conference on Operations and Fulfillment (NCOF) at Walt Disney World's Dolphin Resort. Mickey Mouse...
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A Users' Guide to Warehousing
By: bill kuipers
EVERY JANUARY AND FEBRUARY, I have the privilege of conducting the Annual Warehousing Forum with several dozen distribution and operations professionals...
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Stately Pleasure Domes
By: By Rama Ramaswami
Not too long ago, if you had a kiosk, it was probably a dusty old cardboard box lurking in a dark corner of your store (a far cry from what the word signified...
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Up Front
By: Jeff Kline
I have managed many catalog fulfillment centers and toured many other facilities in my 25 years of experience. If you want to evaluate an operation quickly,...
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Reverse Gear
By: Lew Waddey
A company may outsource all or a portion of its operations. Typically, a firm that chooses to outsource the fulfillment portion of its business does so...
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It's in There
By: By Ernie Schell
Dream on, about the warehouse infrastructure that you'd love to have but can't afford, about the new systems that you've been told will save you money...
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Not Many Returns
By: Paul Miller
After a decent holiday season, most catalogers say that their post-holiday return rates are the same as or slightly below the previous year's. But not...
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