Page 5 - CBM09

~ Founder ~

COLUMN

Marketplaces & Returns

ne thing all online retailers have to take into account, whether they are selling
on their own channels or via marketplaces, is returns. Th e dazzling percent-
Oages of returns (especially fashion), are becoming top priority for e-commerce
entrepreneurs. Dealing with returns is important, as they are costly, not sustainable and
negatively infl uence the quality of the environment.

Take some time to think about it. How do you deal with returns? It is important not
to scare your potential consumers with an impossible returns process, but an incredibly
easy, consumer-friendly returns procedure results in more and more returns. Even more
important: is free returns and delivery sustainable? How long can we keep this strategy
going, if we know that someone in the end has to pay for it all? Among brands, it
becomes more common to try and prevent, market or reduce returns.

Now, ruminate on the returns procedures of marketplaces. While marketplaces are
great platforms to generate sales and provide openings for you to new markets, they
also tend to have very consumer-friendly returns procedure. Th ey do not need to
deal with these returns themselves, the retailer selling through
the marketplace platform has to, so they are able to off er this
extreme consumer-friendly construction. It must be stated that
COLOFON
marketplaces too are looking into sustainable solutions for the
returns question, as more and more marketplace platforms are
aware of the negative impact on sustainability. Have a look at
Azneo.com, which profi les itself as a fairtrade marketplace,
looking for sustainable entrepreneurship and a fair way to trade
cross-border. FOUNDER & PUBLISHER JEROEN LEENDERS
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF NICO HOEIJMANS
Each brand and retailer chooses their own (cross-border) sales
channels and strategy and, therefore, has to work with their EDITOR PHOEBE HARDING
own returns strategy. Some choose to sell on marketplaces only,
GRAPHIC DESIGN & LAYOUT GEORGINA BURNETT
like Rarewaves, and select specifi c products which typically
fi t for a marketplace business model. Others focus more on a
long-term relationship, using marketing techniques to create a
fan-based community based on a D2C business strategy, like
WEBSITE: WWW.CROSS-BORDER-MAGAZINE.COM
RevolutionRace.

Both ways of doing business have their pros and cons, and both
If you are interested in learning more about sponsorship or
ways can work, as we highlight in this issue of Cross-border advertising opportunities or you would like to discuss creating
Magazine. What do you think? a customised plan to meet the needs of your company, please
contact: [email protected]
Th e Cross-Border Magazine is owned and published by Salesupply BV.
Enjoy reading!
No person, organisation or party can copy or re-produce the content
of the Cross-Border Magazine or any part of this publication
Jeroen Leenders, without a written consent from the editor-in-chief or publisher.
Founder Cross-Border Magazine Th e publisher, authors and contributors reserve their rights with
regards to copyright of their work.
[email protected]

5 5