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Relaxed return policies create a competitive advantage for retailers with consumers but can wreak havoc on reverse logistics. Hundreds of billions of dollars in merchandise is returned to retailers each year, most of which can’t go back on the shelf; this could be due to diminished item condition, damaged packaging or product obsolescence. No matter the reason, that’s a significant amount of idle inventory taking up backroom or warehouse space and subsequently costing money.
However, by getting smart about the secondary market and looking beyond traditional liquidation methods, you can create a more sophisticated, scalable solution that optimises the cash coming back into the business from customer returns and other excess stock.
For finance leaders at large retailers and brands, excess and returned inventory can pose a significant drag on working capital and margin performance. With returns projected to cost U.S. retailers $850 billion annually—roughly 17% of total sales—and processing costs ranging…
San Mateo, CA and Chicago, IL, Feb. 11, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — New data from both Circana and B-Stock reveals the age of smartphones traded-in reached an all-time high during the 2025 upgrade cycle, with most devices being three generations…