RLA Inaugural Startup Pitch Contest
Retail return rates for 2022 appear to be leveling off, according to data from the National Retail Association and research partner, Appriss. NRF and Appriss estimate $816.7 billion in retail returns will be made in 2022 - 16.5% of total retail sales, the same rate as in 2021.
An interesting finding in the NRF and Appriss survey is that Buy online, return in-store (BORIS) return fraud is expected to be 48% higher than fraud in returns to non-store locations, which is “potentially spotlighting an area to further streamline data and process protocols when multichannel return processes are present.”
The biggest retail challenges from the NRF and Appriss survey include the following:
Self-service returns
Damaged returns or policy abuse
Re-processing goods at a warehouse on digital returns
Indeed, a lot of work still needs to be done in reverse logistics.
A number of logistics providers, carriers, and tech companies are introducing reverse logistics services and options.
As such, the Reverse Logistics Association (RLA) will shine the light on six of these firms in RLA’s annual conference in Las Vegas, Feb 7-9, in its inaugural Reverse Logistics Startup Pitch Contest.
Each startup will have 7 minutes to ‘pitch’ its company in front of five esteemed judges and over 600 attendees.
Two awards will be rewarded – The Judges Award and the Audience Award – including an exclusive interview for RLA’s RL Magazine.
The startups are:
Boomerang - Founded in 2021, Boomerang offers an online platform that manages end-to-end returns management powered by pickup. The platform integrates with UPS, FedEx, USPS, Shopify, Purolator, DoorDash, and more.
Carolina Sisters – Since 2018, Carolina Sisters has been sourcing from retailers and selling pallets of wholesale products to the general public.
Newmine – In 2018, Newmine shifted its focus towards returns and launched cloud-based software to reduce customer return rates. Its customers include Gap, Levi’s, Old Navy, and Urban Outfitters.
Pollen Returns - Pollen provides data-driven insights that can help retailers to identify trends and optimize their return strategy. According to the company, it provides a faster, greener, and more cost-effective way to leverage existing inventory.
Returns Worldwide – Returns Worldwide is a full-service reverse logistics provider managing returns of all kinds and overstock and liquidation services. The company offers B2B and B2C services, with oversight and controls that will eliminate refund overages.
Tompkins Robotics – Expanded its reverse logistics capabilities in 2018. Its tSort robotic system offers inbound, and outbound returns sortations, unit handling, and more.
Our Judges are:
Alexander Rhodeen serves as a supply chain catalyst with the Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC), Georgia’s technology business incubator, at Georgia Tech. Previously he was with Geodis, Kanga, and Lovesac.
Robert Echols is an investor and entrepreneur. He is the founder of Bargain Hunt and Treverse LLC, a wholesale, liquidation & auction business based in Nashville, TN.
Sylvie Thompson is consulting vice president and partner of consumer brands, retail, and distribution for NTTData, an information technology service and consulting company. In addition, Sylvie sits on the board of advisors for the Center for Supply Chain Research at Penn State University. Previously, Sylvie worked at Infosys Consulting and Optoro.
Sender Shamiss is president and CEO of goTRG, a leading reverse logistics third-party service party provider. Previously Sender was with Kyozou Inc, a multichannel and inventory management technology company.
Stephen John is the founder of telecom and technology-focused consultancy HCG Holdings LLC. HCG Holdings LLC focuses on helping companies develop and execute strategic growth plans, including M&A, capital raises, and organizational development. Previously, Stephen worked at Field Square and Westell.
Join us in Vegas
There’s still time to join us in Las Vegas for RLA’s annual conference. Besides the Startup Pitch Contest, we will have panel discussions on automation, holiday returns, non-profits, retail, wireless & mobility, asset recovery, finding ESG opportunities in reverse logistics, and more.
In addition, we will have our pre-conference retailers and manufacturers-only roundtable and our industry roundtable, in which we’ll provide updates on research projects.
For more information, please visit the RLA website.
-Cathy
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I wear a number of hats these days. Catch my weekly column on air cargo, freight forwarding, and the express markets, and the occasional podcast on Air Cargo World. I’m also helping out the Reverse Logistics Association as a research manager, and at JOC, I help out as a research analyst and write a weekly LinkedIn article, Freight Forward, summarizing JOC articles and providing an outlook for the week ahead.
Upcoming webinars & conferences:
January 12, I’ll be participating in Container X Change’s webinar.
In late January/February, I’ll be at Manifest, in which I’ll be moderating what’s sure to be an interesting session - It’s a Plane, It’s a Ship, It’s a Train! Keeping Goods Moving Through Disruptions & Bottlenecks
And of course, I’ll also be at Reverse Logistics Association’s (RLA) annual conference the following week. Looking forward to moderating RLA’s first startup pitch contest!