‘Instagram culture’ and ‘freight and logistics’ aren’t two things you often see lumped together, and there’s certainly a large proportion of the global population who may only have heard of one or the other. However, the two may be more interlinked than it appears at first glance.
Instagram culture, for those who don’t know, is a largely millennial-driven trend, which involves a person’s attitude towards their image, particularly via Social Media. It’s suggested that Instagram culture contributes to e-commerce sales, particularly in markets such as clothing, health and beauty, and fitness. Using Instagram as a marketing tool and portraying the ‘perfect life’ made possible by the acquisition of these products is a legitimate marketing strategy.
It’s estimated that as much as 30% of all e-commerce results in a product being returned, meaning stock having to make its way back to the point of origin. With 1 billion active monthly users on Instagram as of 2018, alongside 2 million active advertisers, brands are quickly optimising their social feeds for a more ‘shoppable’ experience on the app.
The numbers quickly add up.
Return logistics are no longer an afterthought. Where there weren’t necessarily specific jobs, warehouses or handlers just a few years ago, this has all changed.
Zebra Technologies, the tech solutions giant, have conducted market research including a number of consumer studies. They all came up with the same results: consumers’ biggest concern when it comes to e-commerce is the returns process, and their desire for a free, fast and flexible returns service.
And if it’s what consumers want, it’s what businesses need to provide to stay ahead of the competition.
More of these e-tailers are integrating the returns process into their original business strategy: for example, clothing brands such as Topshop and ASOS have a ‘try before you buy’ scheme, which allows you to order a number of items of clothing, keep the items you like and return those that you don’t. Offers such as these eat into profit margins considerably. You may have seen similar processes with online retailers for things like prescription glasses
Logistics industry winners are going to be those who can provide a flexible, multi-faceted service, and are able to offer high quality sameday and next day courier services. Ultimately, the space is ripe for someone to capitalise on the boom in return logistics, and provide a fast-paced, ad hoc solution.
‘Instagram culture’ and ‘freight and logistics’ aren’t two things you often see lumped together, and there’s certainly a large proportion of the global population who may only have heard of one or the other. However, the two may be more interlinked than it appears at first glance.
Instagram culture, for those who don’t know, is a largely millennial-driven trend, which involves a person’s attitude towards their image, particularly via Social Media. It’s suggested that Instagram culture contributes to e-commerce sales, particularly in markets such as clothing, health and beauty, and fitness. Using Instagram as a marketing tool and portraying the ‘perfect life’ made possible by the acquisition of these products is a legitimate marketing strategy.
It’s estimated that as much as 30% of all e-commerce results in a product being returned, meaning stock having to make its way back to the point of origin. With 1 billion active monthly users on Instagram as of 2018, alongside 2 million active advertisers, brands are quickly optimising their social feeds for a more ‘shoppable’ experience on the app.
The numbers quickly add up.
Return logistics are no longer an afterthought. Where there weren’t necessarily specific jobs, warehouses or handlers just a few years ago, this has all changed.
Zebra Technologies, the tech solutions giant, have conducted market research including a number of consumer studies. They all came up with the same results: consumers’ biggest concern when it comes to e-commerce is the returns process, and their desire for a free, fast and flexible returns service.
And if it’s what consumers want, it’s what businesses need to provide to stay ahead of the competition.
More of these e-tailers are integrating the returns process into their original business strategy: for example, clothing brands such as Topshop and ASOS have a ‘try before you buy’ scheme, which allows you to order a number of items of clothing, keep the items you like and return those that you don’t. Offers such as these eat into profit margins considerably. You may have seen similar processes with online retailers for things like prescription glasses
Logistics industry winners are going to be those who can provide a flexible, multi-faceted service, and are able to offer high quality sameday and next day courier services. Ultimately, the space is ripe for someone to capitalise on the boom in return logistics, and provide a fast-paced, ad hoc solution.
