Thought Leadership: E-commerce & Returns

Breaking research reveals that retail media networks are vital, not niche

We recently conducted a survey of 200 retail professionals about their existing or planned retail media The retail professionals we surveyed overwhelmingly indicated an increased commitment to, and investment in, their RMNs in 2021. The main reason? They see those networks as crucial vehicles to drive sales and create new revenue streams.

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Buy Now/Pay Later Carries Myriad Challenges for Return Policies

On the surface it presents as a not-bad idea. Enable an online shopping experience that drives purchase by providing consumers the ability to order immediately and pay over time. Accelerated sales and initial shopper satisfaction, right? It’s an obvious “win-win.” Or so it would seem. 

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Enabling a Superior Post-Purchase Experience for Merchants and Consumers

Successful e-commerce starts with a user-friendly purchase experience. But, if omnichannel retailers and dedicated online sellers want those purchases to repeat, they need to ensure that customers enjoy on-time-as-expected delivery and, when necessary, an easy and effortless returns experience.

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DRIVE USAGE OCCASIONS AND INSPIRE PURCHASES USING SOCIAL COMMERCE

Social commerce has revolutionized the shopper’s journey, with a direct connection from influencer content to your e-commerce platform. The number of US social commerce buyers accelerated 25.2% to 80.1 million in 2020, and will grow another 12.9% to 90.4 million in 2021. Brands that are integrated from content to commerce are able to drive purchase intent from social platforms, while others are missing out. 

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Supply Chain Now Livestream: Maximizing Value Recovery on Returns

Curtis Greve, our VP of Liquidation -- and unofficial Master of the Secondary Market -- sat down with Supply Chain Now for their Reverse Logistics Livestream to share insights into what online sellers need to do to optimize their returns management and maximize value recovery for customer returns, overstocks and excess inventory. 

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Your e-commerce strategy had better be ready for the new normal

The pandemic pushed e-commerce adoption rates years ahead of schedule, both in terms of consumer expectations and retailer capabilities. While shoppers will eventually return to browsing in-store, many have grown used to the convenience and variety that e-commerce offers.

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What really matters in retail today?

Everything is changing at a pace that’s hard to fathom. But some things will never change.

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IN A PANDEMIC, PEOPLE WANT PROMOTIONS.

With additional stimulus still a question mark, and likely a “2021 thing,” the economic pressure consumers are already feeling is growing -- alongside increased consumer demand for brands and retailers to help them stretch their grocery budgets. Promotions have not been a priority for many trading partners during these past months but data from our latest shopper survey shows that needs to change.

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Holiday Returns 2020: Online Shopping, Returns Higher than Ever

Holiday shopping is always a big time for returns, but shifts in shopping habits during the COVID-19 pandemic are raising questions about what holiday returns will look like this year. Shoppers gave us some surprises on their holiday shopping and returns expectations in a recent Inmar Intelligence survey, showing significantly more people planning online gift shopping because of the pandemic.

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