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How to Reduce Clothing Returns: 10 Tips for Apparel Brands

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Anne Fontaine using WeSupply exchanges

Reducing the return rate of clothing can save your brand money and improve customer satisfaction. To understand how to reduce clothing returns, learn practical tips like using AI sizing tools, detailed sizing charts, and better return policies. These strategies will target the common causes of returns and boost your customer experience.

Key Takeaways

  • Utilizing AI-powered sizing tools and detailed sizing charts can significantly reduce clothing returns by ensuring customers select the correct size.

  • Implementing virtual try-on technology and encouraging customer reviews with detailed fit feedback enhances the online shopping experience, leading to increased customer satisfaction and fewer returns.

  • Optimizing fulfillment processes, offering flexible return policies, and encouraging exchanges over refunds can help retain revenue while minimizing the negative impacts of returns on customer loyalty and brand reputation.

  • WeSupply reduces clothing returns with precise sizing insights, proactive order tracking, flexible return policies, and exchange incentives. Streamline returns management to boost customer satisfaction and retain revenue. Get started with WeSupply today!

Understanding the Causes of Returns

Returns are a significant challenge for online retailers, with ecommerce returns expected to reach $550 billion in 2020 in the US alone. Apparel is the category with the highest return rate, at about 29%. To reduce returns, it’s essential to understand the causes of returns and address them proactively.

Understanding why customers return items is the first step in reducing return rates. Common reasons for returns include incorrect sizing, discrepancies between product descriptions and the actual product, and unmet customer expectations. By identifying these pain points, brands can implement targeted strategies to address them.

For instance, if a high number of returns are due to sizing issues, investing in AI-powered sizing tools and detailed sizing charts can help. If product descriptions are causing confusion, enhancing the clarity and detail of these descriptions can set more accurate customer expectations. By proactively addressing the root causes of returns, online retailers can significantly reduce return rates and improve overall customer satisfaction.

For instance, if a high number of returns are due to sizing issues, investing in AI-powered sizing tools and detailed sizing charts can help. If product descriptions are causing confusion, enhancing the clarity and detail of these descriptions can set more accurate customer expectations. By proactively addressing the root causes of returns, online retailers can significantly reduce return rates and improve overall customer satisfaction.

In addition to these strategies, collecting and analyzing customer feedback on returns can provide valuable insights. This data can help brands continuously refine their products and processes, leading to fewer returns and a better shopping experience for customers. Understanding the causes of returns is not just about reducing return rates; it’s about enhancing the entire customer journey and building long-term customer loyalty.

Unlocking Insights: How WeSupply Helps Brands Understand Return Causes

WeSupply offers comprehensive tools to help brands uncover the root causes of product returns, enabling informed decisions to enhance customer satisfaction and optimize profitability. Key features include:

  • Detailed Returns Analytics: Get insights into why customers are returning products, identify patterns, and understand customer pain points.
Returns Analytics for eCommerce Business - return reasons

With WeSupply, brands can turn return data into actionable insights, refining their offerings to better meet customer expectations and reduce return rates.

Use AI-Powered Sizing Tools for Accurate Fit

One of the primary reasons for returns in the apparel industry is fit issues, often due to incorrect sizing. Utilizing AI-powered sizing tools can significantly mitigate this issue. These tools analyze customer inputs such as age, weight, and height to recommend the most suitable size, reducing the chances of selecting the wrong size. AI can help brands provide a better fit for customers on the first try.

Moreover, AI-powered tools can learn from previous purchase data, continuously improving their accuracy over time. This personalized approach not only enhances the shopping experience but also decreases the likelihood of returns due to sizing issues.

Provide Detailed and Inclusive Sizing Charts

Comprehensive sizing charts are essential for helping customers choose the right size. Many returns occur when the product doesn’t match the online description, underscoring the importance of detailed sizing information. By offering a comprehensive size guide that covers all garment components and includes measurements for body parts like bust, waist, and shoulders, brands can significantly reduce return rates.

Including body measurement guides alongside detailed sizing information is beneficial. This helps customers determine their ideal size and enhances their shopping experience. Brands should also extend their size offerings beyond traditional ranges to cater to all body types, given that the average American woman wears a size 16 to 18.

Clear indications of whether garments fit loosely or tightly can guide customers in their size decisions, reducing mismatches and returns. Including measurements in both inches and centimeters caters to a wider audience, improving clarity in size selection. Different body types require different proportional designs, making it essential to tailor the fit of clothing across all sizes.

Enhance Accuracy: WeSupply’s Data-Driven Sizing Solutions

WeSupply empowers brands to provide accurate and inclusive sizing charts by offering detailed insights into customer returns and feedback, enhancing product satisfaction and reducing return rates. Key features include:

return reasons - suit jacket sku analytics

WeSupply’s data-driven approach helps you refine product information, fostering a more accurate shopping experience and greater customer satisfaction.

Implement Virtual Try-On Tools to Enhance the Shopping Experience

Virtual try-on tools are revolutionizing the online store shopping experience. These tools allow customers to visualize how garments will fit and look before making a purchase, reducing dissatisfaction with fit and appearance. This technology bridges the gap between in-store and online shopping experiences, offering a more interactive and engaging way to shop.

Virtual try-on tools help online retailers boost customer confidence in purchasing decisions for online shoppers. This not only improves customer satisfaction but also reduces the likelihood of returns, streamlining the return process. Virtual try-ons are effective ecommerce returns solutions, helping to minimize the guesswork involved in online purchases.

Incorporating product videos alongside virtual try-on tools can further enhance the shopping experience. Videos showcasing the product in motion can provide additional context, helping customers better understand the fit and feel of the garment. This combination of virtual try-on tools and product videos can significantly reduce return rates and boost customer satisfaction.

Encourage Customer Reviews with Detailed Fit Feedback

Customer reviews are a goldmine of information for both brands and future customers. Encouraging customers to leave reviews that include detailed fit information can significantly reduce return rates. When shoppers provide insights about sizing, fit, and material, it helps build a more accurate sizing guide and informs the return policy for future buyers.

Incentivizing customers to leave detailed feedback can enhance customer trust and loyalty. Highlighting fit-related reviews on product pages can set appropriate expectations for target customers, minimizing the chances of returns. Positive reviews about fit can make potential buyers more likely to complete a purchase without hesitation.

A system allowing customers to share their sizing experiences can foster community engagement and loyalty. This not only improves the overall shopping experience but also helps brands gather valuable data to refine their sizing guides and product offerings.

Build Trust and Accuracy with WeSupply’s Fit Feedback and Review Insights

WeSupply helps brands encourage authentic customer reviews by integrating detailed fit feedback and return analytics, driving continuous improvement and customer trust. Key features include:

WeSupply CSAT and NPS - returns updates

With WeSupply’s robust tools, brands can effortlessly gather meaningful feedback, foster customer loyalty, and increase conversions.

Create custom return policies

here are many moving pieces in ecommerce logistics. Book a quick call with our experts to see how WeSupply can help you take control by creating custom policies to handle them all easily. You get to decide how you want to handle final sale items, return window lengths, return request approvals, and more.

Book a call

Enhance Product Descriptions and Use High-Quality Photography

Transparent product descriptions and high-quality photography play a critical role in setting customer expectations. Detailed product descriptions that include material, fit, and care instructions can help customers make informed purchasing decisions, reducing the likelihood of returns. Clear and honest descriptions build trust and improve customer satisfaction.

High-quality product images significantly influence purchasing decisions and can streamline the return process by setting accurate expectations. Providing a variety of image formats, such as 360-degree views and lifestyle shots, can improve customer confidence. Detailed visuals, including varied angles and close-ups, help manage customer expectations and minimize product return rates.

Consistency in visual identity across product pages helps strengthen brand recognition and recall. Regularly updating product images based on customer feedback demonstrates a commitment to quality and can enhance overall customer satisfaction. Optimizing product images for SEO can also increase visibility and drive organic traffic to e-commerce sites.

Optimize Fulfillment Processes to Prevent Shipping Errors

Accurate fulfillment processes are crucial in preventing returns caused by incorrect or damaged orders, thereby reducing the return rate. Ensuring timely and well-packaged deliveries can significantly reduce return rates. A streamlined fulfillment process not only improves customer satisfaction but also reduces the operational costs associated with returns.

By optimizing fulfillment processes, brands can enhance the overall customer experience. Strategies such as double-checking orders before shipment and using reliable shipping partners can prevent delivery delays and errors, further reducing customer returns.

Enhance Fulfillment Accuracy with WeSupply’s Proactive Shipping Solutions

WeSupply empowers brands to optimize fulfillment processes and minimize shipping errors, ensuring a smooth delivery experience that builds customer trust and reduces return rates. Key features include:

  • Estimated Delivery Dates: Set clear delivery expectations by embedding accurate arrival dates into your logistics, reducing customer anxiety.

Tradlands using WeSupply Estimated Delivery Date
JMcLaughlin Zavi Evereve using WeSupply Order Tracking

  • Proactive Delivery Notifications: Keep customers informed at every stage of the shipping process, proactively addressing delays to prevent unnecessary customer inquiries.

XBOX NBA and WarnerBros using WeSupply shipping updates

  • Seamless Integrations: Connect with hundreds of third-party tools, platforms, and carriers to streamline data flow and enhance order accuracy.

By leveraging WeSupply’s tools, brands can streamline their fulfillment process, prevent errors, and deliver a reliable, transparent experience from order placement to delivery.

Strengthen Policies to Prevent Return Fraud

Return fraud is a growing concern for many retailers, making a strong return policy essential to curb abusive behaviors like wardrobing and bracketing. Implementing strategic policies can help curb abusive behaviors like wardrobing and bracketing. Strengthening return policies can protect brands from fraudulent returns while maintaining fairness for genuine customers.

Clear communication of these policies to customers is essential. Informing customers about the consequences of fraudulent returns can deter such behavior. A balanced approach ensures that the majority of honest customers are not adversely affected while reducing the return rates due to fraud.

Protect Revenue with WeSupply’s Fraud-Resistant Return Policies

WeSupply helps brands strengthen return policies to prevent fraud, ensuring a fair return process while protecting revenue. Key features include:

  • Customizable Return Rules: Design flexible return policies tailored to different products and scenarios, reducing vulnerabilities in your returns process.

WSS using WeSupply return rules to prevent return abuse

With WeSupply, brands can create a balanced, fraud-resistant return policy that fosters customer trust while protecting profitability.

Encourage Exchanges Over Refunds to Retain Revenue

Encouraging exchanges instead of refunds can help retain revenue and foster customer loyalty. Offering incentives such as free return shipping and store credit can convert returns into exchanges, preserving revenue. This approach not only keeps the customer engaged but also simplifies the return process, increasing the likelihood of future purchases.

Inform customers about the benefits of exchanges over refunds. Highlighting the ease and convenience of exchanging items can encourage customers to opt for this option. This strategy reduces return rates and enhances customer satisfaction.

Encouraging exchanges can also positively impact the brand’s image. Customers who experience a seamless customer journey are more likely to return for future purchases and recommend the brand to others, fostering long-term loyalty.

Retain Revenue with WeSupply’s Customer-Friendly Exchange Solutions

WeSupply enables brands to encourage exchanges over refunds, helping to retain revenue and boost customer loyalty. Key features include:

  • Seamless Exchange Experience: Direct customers back to your website for exchanges, allowing them to shop any product, regardless of price, for an effortless experience.

WeSupply exchanges - full catalog browsing - Anne Fontaine

  • Flexible Refund Options: Offer refunds as store credits, gift cards, or coupon codes to encourage customers to return and shop again.

PlayStation using WeSupply Gift Cards
WeSupply Instant Credit with Exchanges

  • Versatile Exchange Options: Allow customers to exchange items for any product, reship the same item, or choose items of equal or higher value.

With WeSupply’s exchange-focused tools, brands can retain sales, improve customer satisfaction, and maximize order values effortlessly. Ready to see the impact? Book a demo today!

Simplify Returns for Your Customers and Support Team

Book a quick call with our experts to see how WeSupply can help you: simplify the Return experience with just a few clicks, reduce customer service calls and manual processing, notify your customer about their refund, automate returns and reduce user error

Book a call

Offer Flexible but Fair Return Policies

Balancing flexibility and profitability in return policies is essential for maintaining customer satisfaction while protecting profit margins. Offering a fair return policy that is easy to understand and follow can reduce customer frustration and return rates.

Elements of a fair return policy include a reasonable return window, clear instructions for returns, and accommodating policies for defective products, all of which can help reduce the return rate. Informing customers about these policies can set appropriate expectations and reduce the likelihood of disputes.

Flexible return policies can enhance customer loyalty. Customers who know they can return or exchange items easily, including options for free returns, are more likely to make a purchase. However, it’s important to ensure that the policy is sustainable and does not encourage excessive returns, which can harm profit margins and increase environmental costs.

Streamline Returns with WeSupply’s Flexible Policy Management

WeSupply enables brands to offer flexible yet fair return policies tailored to diverse needs, minimizing confusion and streamlining returns. Key features include:

  • Clear Return Windows: Define straightforward return periods to eliminate confusion for customers and support teams.

  • Customizable Return Policies: Set specific rules for final sales, return window lengths, request approvals, and more, allowing for precise control.

Gentlemans Gazette using WeSupply Returns Rules for extended holiday returns
WeSupply providing ecommerce return solutions with Intelligent Disposition
international return cost

With WeSupply’s flexible return policy tools, brands can reduce return friction, ensure fairness, and streamline the process for both customers and operations.

Case Study: Reducing Clothing Returns with Advanced Return Management Solutions

Evereve's Success Turning Returns Into Opportunities With WeSupply

During the COVID-19 shift to online shopping, Evereve faced rising return rates due to the challenges of managing split shipments and manual return processes. With no visibility into their returns data, the company struggled with:

  • Lack of data to address return causes

  • Delayed returns resulting in markdowns

  • Overwhelmed customer service with support tickets

Key Solutions with WeSupply:

  • Automated Returns: Integrated with Magento, Zendesk, and more, automating the process and providing visibility.

  • Proactive & Self-Service: Empowered customers to manage their own returns, exchanges, and refunds, reducing customer service load.

  • Improved Efficiency: Centralized operations, ensuring transparency and consistency across teams.

Big Wins:

  • Cost savings by reducing customer service tickets

  • Faster, accurate returns with better accountability

  • Streamlined customer experience with proactive notifications and order tracking

Read how WeSupply helped Evereve transform their returns into opportunities for customer satisfaction and growth!

Everve using WeSupply return flow

WeSupply’s pre-built return policies not only help prevent fraud but also streamline your entire return process. Check out our other pre-built policies to see how they can further optimize your returns and protect your revenue!

ZAVI Streamlined Product Returns & Shipping For Multiple Warehouses

ZAVI, a sustainable fashion brand, successfully streamlined its returns and shipping operations with WeSupply, leading to a significant increase in efficiency and customer satisfaction. WeSupply’s platform integrated seamlessly with ZAVI’s Shopify store, transforming their post-purchase experience and optimizing product returns to multiple warehouses.

Key Details:

  • Challenge:

    • Difficulty managing orders and returns without centralized tracking.

    • Need for automated returns to original warehouses.

  • Solution by WeSupply:

    • Developed a custom post-purchase experience and return management plan.

    • Automated return logic and label generation for smooth returns.

    • Implemented Branded Tracking Page and Split Ship View for enhanced visibility.

    • Enabled proactive email notifications to improve customer communication.

  • Results:

    • 20% increase in workload capacity.

    • 360-degree visibility into shipping and returns.

    • Reduced product displacement and transportation costs.

Read how WeSupply helped ZAVI streamline returns and elevate customer trust.

ZAVI using WeSupply Order Tracking and Return Notifications

Wrapping Up: Ecommerce Returns Solutions for Reducing Clothing Returns and Enhancing Customer Satisfaction

Reducing the return rate of clothing is a multifaceted challenge that requires a combination of strategies. From leveraging advanced technologies like AI and virtual try-ons to refining return policies and encouraging detailed customer reviews, each approach plays a crucial role in minimizing returns.

Customer satisfaction directly influences brand loyalty and retention. A positive shopping experience, including simple return processes, promotes customer loyalty and positive referrals. Addressing returns aligns with sustainability goals, as reducing returns can lessen the environmental impacts associated with logistics.

Analyzing return patterns and reasons can provide insights that help improve product offerings and customer experiences. By implementing these strategies, apparel brands can enhance customer satisfaction, reduce return rates, and foster long-term loyalty.

Summary

In summary, reducing the return rate of clothing is essential for both financial and environmental reasons. By implementing AI-powered sizing tools, detailed sizing charts, virtual try-on tools, and encouraging customer reviews, brands can significantly reduce return rates.

WeSupply helps brands reduce clothing returns by addressing key factors that drive customer satisfaction and loyalty. Through detailed SKU-level analytics, brands can adjust sizing charts, improve product descriptions, and identify items needing additional reviews. Proactive order tracking, estimated delivery dates, and real-time notifications build customer trust, reducing unnecessary returns. Flexible yet fair return policies allow for customizable return windows, tailored conditions, and regional rules, minimizing return-related confusion. To retain revenue, WeSupply promotes exchanges over refunds with store credit options and incentives. With seamless integrations and automated policies, WeSupply streamlines returns management, ensuring a smooth post-purchase experience that lowers return rates. Ready to reduce returns and boost satisfaction? Get started with WeSupply today!

Frequently Asked Questions

How can AI-powered sizing tools help reduce clothing returns?

AI-powered sizing tools can significantly reduce clothing returns by analyzing customer data like age, weight, and height to recommend the most appropriate size, leading to better fit and satisfaction with purchases. This targeted approach helps ensure customers select the right size from the outset.

Why are detailed sizing charts important for reducing returns?

Detailed sizing charts are crucial as they offer precise measurements, enabling customers to select the correct size and thereby minimizing return rates. This proactive approach enhances customer satisfaction and reduces excess return handling costs.

How does WeSupply help identify why customers are returning clothing items?

WeSupply provides Returns Analytics that give insights into the reasons behind returns. By examining return data at the SKU and variant level—including size, color, and quality issues—brands can adjust their offerings to better match customer expectations, reducing the likelihood of returns.

How can WeSupply encourage exchanges instead of refunds to retain revenue?

WeSupply offers flexible options to encourage exchanges over refunds. Features include store credit incentives and seamless website redirects that let customers browse for alternative items. This approach not only retains revenue but also provides a customer-friendly experience that encourages repeat purchases.

What tools does WeSupply provide to prevent return fraud, especially in clothing?

WeSupply helps protect against fraudulent returns by offering customizable return policies and a blocklisting feature to prevent repeat abuse. Brands can use these tools to set strict return rules for specific customer groups, ensuring fairness while protecting revenue.

Does WeSupply have an official Shopify App?

Yes, WeSupply does have an official Shopify App. You can download and begin to integrate it with your Shopify store.

Does WeSupply have an official Magento extension?

Yes, WeSupply has an official extension for Magento. The WeSupply x Magento integration allows for automating order tracking experiences, reducing customer inquiries, automating shipping email and SMS notifications, and providing a fully branded order tracking experience

Does WeSupply have an official BigCommerce App?

Yes, WeSupply has an official BigCommerce App. You can integrate WeSupply with your BigCommerce store to improve your post-purchase customer experience.

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