Boosting Sales and Minimizing Return Costs: Unlock New International Markets With The Right Partners

4 min

Boosting Sales and Minimizing Return Costs:

Unlock New International Markets With The Right Partners

December 13, 2023

Return Strategy

By Robert Domagala

Expanding into international markets is an exciting venture for any brand. The potential of international growth promises vast new audiences, diverse markets, and increased sales. However, many brands often overlook the challenge of return management, which, if not addressed, can erode the benefits of global expansion.

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If you’re a growing fashion brand, for example,  you’re probably focused on branding, product design, photography, sourcing, supply chain, and customer acquisition, and you’d be hard-pressed to find the time to manage the regional aspects of selling to international customers online. This is where assembling the right team of partners can help instrument your international sales operations and scale your growth exponentially.  Experts in international expansion, payments, currency and customs/duties like Zonos, Reach, Brand Access, and Passport Global can help you set up local processes that make it easy for customers from new markets to shop your brand. Add ReturnBear to the mix, and complement your international sales solution by ensuring that you have an all-in-one returns processes in place that will increase customer satisfaction and reduce the cost of new international returns.

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The Appeal of International Expansion for Fashion/Apparel Businesses

Tapping into international markets brings with it the promise of exponential growth. But it’s not just about increasing sales - it's about diversifying your brand’s presence, addressing new trends, and growing community with your new cross-border customers. These are some of the top reasons we see high-performing brands (in apparel, footwear and other categories) exploring international expansion:

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The Role of Partners Like Zonos, Reach, Brand Access and Passport

Most brands understand that they need to grow beyond their local borders, so the question becomes: What is the best way to expand internationally? And, naturally, which tools and partners can help accelerate and manage this global expansion? Every brand is different - from their products and customers to their values and vision - so the partners to work with will also be different depending on what your goals are. The good news is there are some amazing companies that are ready to help you bring your business to new markets. Here are some of ReturnBear’s recommendations for partners that can help you with seamless international expansion in 2024:

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The Hidden Cost: Returns and Why They Matter

A staggering number of brands experience high volumes of expensive cross-border returns. Increased returns, especially from geographies far from your home warehouse, negatively impact your bottom line. This is where ReturnBear comes in, offering an end-to-end returns management platform that will complement your new international fulfillment processes. Brands that work with ReturnBear can have a localized, convenient and cost-effective experience for returns originating in Canada, the US and the UK, through the use of our drop-off network, regional hubs, and all-in-one processing and consolidation services. At the end of the day, the right partner will help you sell your products into international markets, and ReturnBear can help cut cross-border costs and delight customers with fast and convenient local return services.

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ReturnBear: The End-to-End Return Management Platform

Partnering with ReturnBear provides local returns and reverse logistics in the international markets where your margin is eroding the most. Here’s how ReturnBear supports brands selling into Canada, the US and the UK:

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International growth is an exciting chapter for any brand, but the challenges of managing expanded operations, especially in the domain of returns, can quickly overshadow some of the exciting gains you are pushing for! By establishing a team of the right partners,  and employing an end-to-end return management solution with ReturnBear, your brand can ensure that its global expansion is scalable, profitable and sustainable.

Table of Contents

  1. The Appeal of International Expansion for Fashion/Apparel Businesses
  2. The Role of Partners Like Zonos, Reach, Brand Access and Passport
  3. The Hidden Cost: Returns and Why They Matter
  4. ReturnBear: The End-to-End Return Management Platform

About ReturnBear

We’ll manage your returns from start to finish with RMA software and end-to-end reverse logistics.

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About ReturnBear

ReturnBear is the #1 end-to-end E-commerce returns management platform for brands selling internationally. Get access to a network of return points, preferred cross-border shipping rates, and an automated RMA platform that lets you recover inventory and issue refunds faster. Better returns for you and your customers.

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Show All Return Strategy Commerce Trends Case Studies Company Updates Webinar & Reports

4 mins\ \ \ Product Updates\ \ •\ \ November 3, 2025\ \ Fall Product Updates: Real-Time Tracking, ReturnBear Assistant, and Logistics Tools \ \ Peak season is approaching, and ReturnBear is helping merchants manage returns with more speed, visibility, and control. Explore new tools for real-time tracking, compliance, and automated workflows.

4 mins\ \ \ Commerce Trends\ \ •\ \ August 5, 2025\ \ The Hidden Costs of Slow Returns \ \ Returns are eating your margins. We break down the hidden costs—and how ReturnBear helps brands restock faster, refund instantly, and resell smarter.

4 mins\ \ \ Commerce Trends\ \ •\ \ July 22, 2025\ \ Price Outranks Loyalty: How Tariffs Are Reshaping Consumer Behavior \ \ Consumers are tariff-aware and price-sensitive. “Keep it” policies won’t cut it. Smarter returns—verified, local, and fraud-free—are now a brand’s best defense against churn.

4 mins\ \ \ Commerce Trends\ \ •\ \ July 10, 2025\ \ Goodbye De Minimis, Hello DDP: How to Win the Tariff War and Keep Your Customers \ \ With de minimis gone, brands must rethink cross-border strategies. See why DDP plus forward fulfillment reduces friction, avoids surprise fees, and makes returns cheaper, faster, and easier for global growth.

3 min\ \ \ Return Strategy\ \ •\ \ May 8, 2025\ \ What Canada's New Prime Minister Means for Cross-Border Returns \ \ Mark Carney’s trade shift means new return challenges. Discover how ReturnBear simplifies cross-border logistics, reduces costs, and supports global growth for e-commerce brands.

4 min\ \ \ Return Strategy\ \ •\ \ April 23, 2025\ \ Flexible Return policies \ \ 84% of shoppers check your return policy before buying. Learn how flexible, customer-first return policies can increase sales and retention, without hurting margins. Discover how flexible return policies can drive sales, boost loyalty, and reduce operational costs while balancing shopper expectations and profitability.

3 min\ \ \ Commerce Trends\ \ •\ \ March 12, 2025\ \ Sustainable Returns: How Brands Are Reducing Waste & Cutting Costs \ \ With eCommerce returns reaching 30%, brands are rethinking reverse logistics to reduce waste and emissions. Learn how brands can reduce emissions, minimize landfill waste, and align with consumer demand through returnless refunds, eco-friendly packaging, and optimized reverse logistics.

4 min\ \ \ Commerce Trends\ \ •\ \ March 3, 2025\ \ AI-Powered Returns Management: How Retailers Can Cut Costs and Improve CX \ \ AI is transforming eCommerce returns, helping brands analyze trends, improve sizing accuracy, and automate customer support. Discover how AI-powered tools can reduce returns and boost customer satisfaction.

3 min\ \ \ Return Strategy\ \ •\ \ February 21, 2025\ \ Affordable Strategies for Streamlining International Returns \ \ Expanding internationally? Returns can make or break your global strategy. Optimize logistics, reduce costs, and boost customer loyalty with a seamless return process.

2 min\ \ \ Company Updates\ \ •\ \ February 14, 2025\ \ Unlocking Seamless Returns with APIs \ \ Seamlessly integrate ReturnBear’s reverse logistics into your existing returns workflow with our new and improved APIs. Learn more!

3 min\ \ \ Case Study\ \ •\ \ February 10, 2025\ \ Resultco \ \ Discover how Resultco transformed cross-border returns with ReturnBear, saving $15K annually, improving customer experience, and expanding into new markets.

3 min\ \ \ Case Study\ \ •\ \ January 20, 2025\ \ How Orva Transformed High-Volume eCommerce Returns with ReturnBear \ \ Top Amazon footwear seller Orva worked with ReturnBear automation to scale to handle 1,000+ daily returns while boosting return process accuracy and efficiency

5 min\ .jpg)\ \ Commerce Trends\ \ •\ \ December 10, 2024\ \ The Impact of Bracket Buying on eCommerce: Challenges and Opportunities \ \ Learn about bracket buying, a growing eCommerce trend where customers order multiple product variations to find the right fit. Explore its impact on profits, logistics, and sustainability, plus solutions to manage this challenge.

6 min\ \ \ Commerce Trends\ \ •\ \ December 3, 2024\ \ E-commerce Returns in the UK \ \ Expanding to the UK? Effective returns management is key for North American brands entering this market. Streamline cross-border logistics and meet UK shoppers' high expectations to boost growth and customer loyalty

2 min\ \ \ Company Updates\ \ •\ \ October 1, 2024\ \ September 2024 Merchant admin updates \ \ The Merchant Admin has new updates for Fall 2024, including customizable refund payouts, a visual refresh, and faster app loading. Brands can now adjust refunds per case, improving flexibility and user experience.

7 min\ \ \ Return Strategy\ \ •\ \ September 26, 2024\ \ Understanding Returns Management for E-Commerce brands \ \ An overview of what returns management is, the benefits of an effective returns management strategy and why brands should prioritize it. Learn about the key elements of a successful returns management strategy, and upcoming trends in returns management.

7 min\ \ \ Commerce Trends\ \ •\ \ August 28, 2024\ \ The Top Return Management Software & Post Purchase Platforms \ \ Explore the best return management software and post-purchase platforms to simplify eCommerce returns, improve customer experience, and reduce costs with automated solutions and advanced return portals – so you can select the perfect return solution for your brand.

3 min\ \ \ Commerce Trends\ \ •\ \ April 18, 2024\ \ Understanding Returns Fraud and Tips for Retailers on How to Reduce it \ \ Returns fraud is a $101 billion dollar problem and one that can have detrimental impact for retailers. Learn about the most common types of returns fraud and what retailers can do to reduce fraud.

3 min\ \ \ Return Strategy\ \ •\ \ April 3, 2024\ \ Reducing the Environmental Impact of Returns \ \ What brands and customers are increasingly realizing is the significant environmental impact these returns can have if not managed with care, and the sustainability challenges that can arise from inefficient returns management.

3 min\ %20(1).jpg)\ \ Case Study\ \ •\ \ March 26, 2024\ \ How Numi cut costs on Canadian returns with ReturnBear \ \ Numi's collaboration with ReturnBear led to a 60% reduction in return costs and a 33% boost in revenue retention, marking a significant operational and financial improvement for the brand.

4 min\ \ \ Return Strategy\ \ •\ \ December 13, 2023\ \ Boosting Sales and Minimizing Return Costs: Unlock New International Markets With The Right Partners \ \ Ecommerce expansion into international markets comes with the challenge of return management. It’s important to get the right return partners and solutions in place to support growth.

3min\ \ \ Return Strategy\ \ •\ \ November 28, 2023\ \ Section 321: Logistics and Cost Saving Opportunities for Online Retailers \ \ The ecommerce world continues to rapidly expand as consumer demand for variety and convenience drives more and more users to the infinite aisles online.

2min\ \ \ Commerce Trends\ \ •\ \ September 15, 2023\ \ Selling Online in Canada: A Comprehensive Guide for U.S. and International Businesses \ \ Canada's ecommerce landscape is thriving, with more Canadians turning to online purchases than ever before.

4min\ \ \ Return Strategy\ \ •\ \ September 14, 2023\ \ What US eCommerce Companies Need to Know About Doing Business in Canada \ \ Expand your business to Canada with confidence. Our guide provides key insights on cross-border shipping, reverse logistics, and meeting local market requirements to boost sales and reduce return-related costs.

2min\ \ \ Return Strategy\ \ •\ \ September 13, 2023\ \ How to Deal with Returns When Dropshipping: 11 Things You Need to Know \ \ Optimize your dropshipping business with effective returns management. Explore tips on reducing return rates, managing customer expectations, and boosting your eCommerce success.

5min\ \ \ Return Strategy\ \ •\ \ September 13, 2023\ \ Ecommerce Returns Management: Enhancing Customer Experience and Retailer Efficiency \ \ Unlock the best eCommerce return solutions for your business. Learn how to manage returns efficiently, reduce losses, and keep your customers satisfied in the competitive online retail landscape.

2min\ \ \ Return Strategy\ \ •\ \ August 14, 2023\ \ The Benefits of Reverse Logistics Providers in Canada \ \ Explore the benefits of reverse logistics, where goods flow in the opposite direction. See how efficient returns management boosts sustainability, customer satisfaction, and cost-effectiveness for e-commerce businesses

5min\ \ \ Commerce Trends\ \ •\ \ August 11, 2023\ \ How to Sell on Hudson's Bay Marketplace, Thebay.com \ \ A how-to guide for ecommerce sellers on the Hudson's Bay Co (HBC) marketplace. Everything from getting set up and listing products to establishing a returns management solution.

4min\ \ \ Commerce Trends\ \ •\ \ August 9, 2023\ \ Managing Cross-Border Ecommerce in Canada and the USA: a guide for brands and businesses \ \ In the booming global ecommerce market, brands and merchants are increasingly embracing cross-border ecommerce, finding new opportunities to expand their customer base and tap into new markets.

4min\ \ \ Commerce Trends\ \ •\ \ August 8, 2023\ \ The Ultimate Cross-Border Sales Guide For Ecommerce Businesses \ \ In today's fiercely competitive business landscape, ecommerce has become a crucial revenue source for retailers. To stay profitable and relevant, businesses must think beyond their domestic borders and explore cross-border selling.

6min\ \ \ Return Strategy\ \ •\ \ July 28, 2023\ \ Marketplace Returns - Returnbear's guide to eCommerce growth and marketplace returns \ \ In this blog post, we will discuss the advantages of expanding into marketplaces, the customer experience, and the importance of a comprehensive return management solution like ReturnBear. We will also highlight why partnering with a Canadian return management solution is an excellent choice for brands and international sellers looking to expand into the Canadian market from abroad.

5min\ \ \ Company Updates\ \ •\ \ July 14, 2023\ \ The Bay Marketplace returns: Partnering with ReturnBear for Hassle-Free reverse logistics \ \ As a marketplace seller on TheBay.com, managing returns efficiently is essential to maintain customer satisfaction and optimize your operations. That's where partnering with a reliable Canadian return management solution like ReturnBear can make all the difference.

3min\ \ \ Company Updates\ \ •\ \ July 12, 2023\ \ ReturnBear Drop-Off Network Expands With PenguinPickUp \ \ ReturnBear’s Canadian drop-off network has expanded! We’ve partnered with PenguinPickUp to offer return acceptance at their GTA locations.

3min\ \ \ Company Updates\ \ •\ \ June 6, 2023\ \ Optimizing International Returns in Canada with Reship and ReturnBear \ \ Reship and ReturnBear enable international sellers to have a seamless cross-border return management solution that effectively inspects, accepts, and processes returns in Canada, the USA, and the UK.

3min\ \ \ Case Study\ \ •\ \ April 28, 2023\ \ How Nadaré improved customer experience with enhanced return services \ \ Nadaré is a jewelry brand that creates beautiful waterproof pieces at price points for all budgets. Andrea believes that everyone should have access to quality jewelry they love and feel beautiful wearing.

5min\ \ \ Case Study\ \ •\ \ March 12, 2023\ \ Palladium Boots saved 70% in return shipping costs using ReturnBear drop-off locations \ \ Palladium Boots Canada needed a solution to automate their return process, improve their response times, enhance the efficiency of their warehouse operations, and save them money on return shipping.

2min\ \ \ Return Strategy\ \ •\ \ February 3, 2023\ \ Preparing your business for 2023 and changing buyer behaviours \ \ Over the last 3 years we’ve seen major shifts in consumer spending, loyalty and expectations. During the pandemic, consumers increased their spending and online purchases from grocery and apparel to furniture, housewares and other categories.

5min\ \ \ Commerce Trends\ \ •\ \ February 1, 2023\ \ 9 eCommerce Trends to Stay Ahead of Competitors in 2023 \ \ Discover the top 9 eCommerce trends of 2023 to drive growth and customer loyalty. Learn about voice search, video content, AI chatbots, and more to keep your business competitive in the ever-evolving online market | eShipper guest post

10min\ \ \ Commerce Trends\ \ •\ \ November 1, 2022\ \ 7 Shopify apps to recession-proof your business \ \ If browsing through the Shopify App Store feels like you’re searching for a needle in a haystack you’re not alone. There are over 6000 apps in the App Store across 6 different categories. That’s a lot of time spent browsing!

5min\ \ \ Return Strategy\ \ •\ \ October 26, 2022\ \ 4 ways to strengthen your shipping and post purchase processes during the recession \ \ In partnership with eShipper. Win customers in the long run by stepping up your pre and post purchase customer experience.

7min\ \ \ Return Strategy\ \ •\ \ September 30, 2022\ \ What Do I Do With All My Returns? Creating The Ultimate Returns Customer Experience With Data Integration \ \ Creating The Ultimate Returns Customer Experience With Data Integration. Blog is written by Vanessa Matos — Digital Marketing Manager at VL OMNI.

3min\ \ \ Return Strategy\ \ •\ \ October 15, 2021\ \ Reimagine logistics with a purpose–built shared network \ \ Let’s be honest. Logistics is hard. The retail industry is at a tipping point with an average brand expecting to lose 8% in margin by 2025 with the growth of eCommerce.

7min\ \ \ Return Strategy\ \ •\ \ October 4, 2021\ \ eCommerce Can Be Profitable, Even With Higher Returns \ \ Nobody likes returns! Customers are annoyed by the many process steps involved, from getting a shipping label to driving to the post office. For brands, returns don’t just mean lost revenue but also more costs.

4min\ \ \ Return Strategy\ \ •\ \ June 10, 2021\ \ The Ultimate Guide To Return Policies In Canada \ \ Us Canadians are known as kind and helpful folk, so we expect the same kindness from the brands we engage in, especially when it comes to returns.

7min\ \ \ Return Strategy\ \ •\ \ June 10, 2021\ \ How To Offer Free Returns and Shipping Without Killing Your Profit Margin \ \ As an eCommerce business owner, you want to entice customers to purchase your products without sacrificing your profits.

5min\ \ \ Return Strategy\ \ •\ \ June 10, 2021\ \ How To Reduce Returns To Your E-commerce Store \ \ Returns hurt your bottom line. But with a few effective product return practices, you can limit the number of return requests you receive and boost the health (and profits!) of your store.

5 min\ \ \ Return Strategy\ \ •\ \ June 10, 2021\ \ Reducing Return Fraud on Free Returns for Your eCommerce Store \ \ Return fraud is the practice of returning items that don’t qualify for a refund. According to a study performed by the National Retail Federation, about 6% of returns are fraudulent.

\ \ Unboxing Trump's Tariffs \ \ For ecommerce brands selling cross border, get free RMA with returns management handled for you. Returns software and reverse logistics services.](/content/reports/unboxing-trump-tariffs/index.html)

\ \ 5 Ways to Improve Your Return Policy and Keep Customers Coming Back \ \ A well-crafted return policy can be powerful tool for increasing sales, boosting customer loyalty, and reducing operational headaches. It’s one of the first things customers check before making an online purchase and in some ways it can be a make or break it point.](/content/reports/5-ways-to-improve-your-return-policy/index.html)

\ \ Unboxing Trump Tariffs \ \ For ecommerce brands selling cross border, get free RMA with returns management handled for you. Returns software and reverse logistics services.](/content/unboxing-trump-tariffs/index.html)

\ \ Return Season! Turning post-peak returns into revenue. \ \ What Happens After the Shopping Frenzy? Navigating the Post-Peak eCommerce Returns Landscape. Discover best practices for streamlining international returns, managing costs, and enhancing customer satisfaction](/content/webinar/returns-season-webinar/index.html)

\ \ Improving Your Return on Returns \ \ Make your returns more profitable With ReturnBear. Save time, reduce costs, and retain sales with our end-to-end returns services, drop-off network, and forward fulfillment to your next customers.](/content/webinar/manifest-improving-your-return-on-returns/index.html)

\ \ Slash Returns Before the Rush \ \ Listen to parcelLab’s Larry Thoma and a panel of industry rockstars from HexClad, ARMRA, Order Protection, and ReturnBear as they dissect the daily challenges retailers face with ecommerce returns and how they can gear up for the holiday rush.](https://parcellab.com/webinars/peak-season-prep-slash-returns-before-the-rush/?utm_source=returnbear)

\ \ Navigating the Future of Supply Chain \ \ Make your returns more profitable With ReturnBear. Save time, reduce costs, and retain sales with our end-to-end returns services, drop-off network, and forward fulfillment to your next customers.](/content/webinar/navigating-the-future-of-supply-chain/index.html)

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