A new managed returns service launched today at the Delivery Conference – ZigZag Global. In a nutshell they offer to resell returns globally to cut costs for retailers and improve cash recovery.
We’ve heard from a number of retailers that Amazon.com are now demanding the seller pick up the cost of transatlantic returns. ZigZag Global could be just the solution retailers need, which is why as soon as Al Gerrie started explaining how it worked he grabbed my attention.
ZigZag is backed by WeArePentagon.com and founded by Al Gerrie and Laurence Guy. Both have been eBay power sellers in their own right and run returns businesses in the past. Pentagon manage some of the UK’s leading retailers in marketplaces, such as Maplin, BMW, Halfords, Ann Summers, Peacocks and Dabs.
ZigZag is a managed international returns service to help retailers re-sell stock instead of return stock. In our experience, retailers want sales and cash recovery, not returns!
The ZigZag returns web portal can be easily white labelled and integrated into a retailer’s own website to enable your customers to print out a simple cost controlled label to send the goods back to a local ZigZag warehouse.
ZigZag labels are intelligently produced to help save money on postage but also create sales, so we’ll redirect the return to the place where it has the highest propensity to sell.
Return solutions can include any number of courier partners and services such as standard parcels, post shop, lockers or collection services as required.
The ZigZag web portal also includes payment options, such as PayPal, or the retailer can elect to offer free returns or even deduct the returns cost from the refund upon receipt of the goods. The return label cost can be determined as soon as the initial order is placed.
Customers can choose to exchange or refund goods, and select from a number of customised returns reasons to help retailers better monitor their returns and report costs accurately.
ZigZag operate multiple warehouses worldwide, and can keep return costs low, as we have fixed cost agreements with major international courier partners. Returns are tracked wherever possible, and ZigZag will give visibility on what’s coming back and how much it will cost before it has even left the customer.
The local ZigZag receiving warehouse then scans and inspects the goods are as described, and on the same day the retailer can send a replacement or a refund, speeding up the process and improving the customer experience.
ZigZag will grade the goods for you and can offer product refurbishment if required. ZigZag can then consolidate all returns to send them back to the retailer itemised by pallet, at the most cost efficient time.
But here’s the clever bit…
Instead of sending the goods back to the retailer, ZigZag can re-sell the goods and redistribute them locally, saving retailers money on the cost of processing returns and reducing your carbon footprint.
ZigZag has over 100 experienced multilingual staff, operating in 8 languages on major international marketplaces. We already turnover in excess of £100m on international marketplaces for our clients. So they are exceptionally well placed to resell your products.
ZigZag can also offer a white label service for retailers who wish to discount their returns without damaging their brand or established price points. They can even sell into an entirely different market if required.
Working to pre-agreed margins and timelines, ZigZag will list your returned stock until sold, on a revenue share basis. Once the item sells, the retailer will be credited for the sale, turning your returns into cash.
If the item is damaged, or doesn’t sell, ZigZag can either liquidate locally, destroy, or return via consolidation. If you have a sale or shortage in a local or international market, you can also call on the stock ZigZag are holding and we can fulfil direct to your customer in plain packaging.
The company uses the simple slogan: ZigZag Global – Returns re-sold.
ZigZag is currently in beta launching in Q2 2015 and aimed at higher volume retailers to begin with, but will be expanding to support the SME market by the end of the year.
If you are interested in further information there is a video on their website zigzag.global or they can be emailed at [email protected]
