 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Product return Logistics E-commerce Shopping |
| Founded | 2015 |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, CA, U.S. |
Area served | United States |
Key people | David Sobie, CEO Mark Geller, COO Andrew Pease, CFO |
| Website | www |
Happy Returns is a Los Angeles-based software and reverse logistics company that enables box-free, label-free, in-person returns for online merchants at third-party Return Bar locations. Happy Returns launched their Return Bar service in April 2016. 18 months later, Amazon developed a similar program that allows its shoppers to drop off their returns at Kohl’s stores. Ref 1 Ref 4
Happy Returns was founded in 2015. Ref 2
Happy Returns facilitates and organizes returns for more than 150 brands, including Revolve, Rothy's, Everlane, Steve Madden, Untuckit and Draper James and works with many large companies including FedEx and Cost Plus World Market. Ref 1 Ref 2 Ref 12
FedEx and Happy Returns have a partnership which allows for 2600 box-free drop-off locations across the U.S. Happy Returns signs displaying QR codes are placed at these locations allowing customers to use their smartphones and drop off their returns. Ref 2
This partnership quadruples Happy Returns' work and allows Happy Returns to process one million returns per month. Ref 2
Happy Returns also works with many e-commerce retailers that don't have brick and mortar stores. Ref 4
The Shopify App Store offers the ability to use Happy Returns. Ref 11
Physical locations where consumers can bring their items to be returned are called "Return Bars" by Happy Returns. Ref 5 U.S. based consumers can find a Return Bar by searching on the Happy Returns website.
Environment and Cost edit
Happy Returns was founded to give consumers the option to return items without a box or label at designated locations such as traditional retailers, shopping malls, campus bookstores and office buildings. Ref 2
FedEx uses Happy Returns to reduce shipping costs by streamlining the return process and using shipment aggregation. Ref 1
Packages are returned in the original manufacturer's packaging when possible which is environmentally friendly because it reduces waste in the form of packaging, boxes and cardboard. Ref 1 Ref 4
Box-free returns reduce greenhouse gas emissions Ref 3
One goal is that due to the partnership with FedEx, nearly 70% off the U.S. population will be within 10 miles of a Happy Returns location. Ref 4
Costs for retailers and consumers are lower if your return process is optimized. Ref 10
Pioneering Ideas edit
Because of aggregated shipping and Happy Returns' business model, consumers are often able to get their refunds more quickly than they would have otherwise. Ref 6
Refunds can get back to consumers more quickly because they don't need to take the time to print and affix labels, box and package returns themselves or wait for returns to arrive at the destinations by mail. Ref 8
Happy Returns has aided in streamlining the returns process and this was heavily used in 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic because more shoppers than ever were making purchases online. Ref 9
Online purchases are returned at a much higher rate than in-person purchases because consumers don't have the ability to try on sizes or match colors accurately. Ref 7
References edit
Reference 1: https://edition.cnn.com/2020/10/20/business/fedex-no-box-returns/index.html
Reference 2: https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurendebter/2020/10/20/fedex-happy-returns-partnership/
Reference 3: https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/5138416/Happy%20Returns%20GHG%20Study.pdf
Reference 4: https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/shopping/2020/10/20/return-policy-happy-returns-fedex-walmart-online-holiday-shopping/3685189001/
Reference 5: https://locations.happyreturns.com/
Reference 6: https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-whole-foods-market-inc-shopping-coronavirus-pandemic-7871a47693855802a93c6b9d116076f1
Reference 7: https://digiday.com/media/brands-look-to-maintain-improvements-in-returns-process/
Reference 8: https://www.vox.com/recode/22149760/amazon-returns-kohls-happy-returns-staples-fedex-ups-locations
Reference 9: https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/way-instantly-money-back-return-121953585.html
Reference 10: https://nrf.com/blog/how-retailers-can-handle-oncoming-rush-returns
Reference 11: https://apps.shopify.com/happyreturns
Reference 12: https://www.digitalcommerce360.com/2019/09/24/every-cost-plus-world-market-store-now-features-a-happy-returns-return-bar/