Product returns can have a serious impact on a retailer’s bottom line. In fact, according to the National Retail Federation, returns accounted for over $400 billion in lost sales for U.S. retailers in 2020 alone. Ecommerce brands are particularly impacted by product returns—with 20% of online-bought products returned on average, compared to just 9% at brick-and-mortar stores. The most popular time for returns? December, January, and February—following the holiday shopping season. Many shoppers tend to overbuy during the holiday season, resulting in a surge of product returns in the weeks following the holiday shopping frenzy. While there’s no way to get around returns as part of the cost of doing business, there are steps you can take for your ecommerce store now to help reduce returns in the new year. First, it’s helpful to know why customers return products—specifically products purchased online. Take a look at the most common reasons why customers return ecommerce products: Received wrong product We all know that sometimes mistakes just happen. From warehouse mix-ups, to inaccurate sizing information, 23% of ecommerce returns are due to the customer receiving a different item than the one they ordered online. Product looks different You know the feeling when you’re really excited to receive something you ordered online, but when it finally arrives it just isn’t quite what you thought it would be? Whether it looks different from the product photos, doesn’t match the product description, or just isn’t what the customer expected, this experience accounts for 22% of ecommerce product returns. Damaged product While no ecommerce retailer ever wants their customer to receive damaged products, it happens more than you would think. In fact, customers receiving a product that is damaged upon arrival accounts for 20% of ecommerce returns. Let’s face it. Returns are something that all ecommerce retailers have to deal with. The good news is that there are steps you can take to handle them. Let us break them down for you. Craft detailed product descriptions Your product descriptions should include as much information as possible—especially when it comes to describing the product’s materials, ingredients, and dimensions or sizing. Apparel items should always be accompanied by a size chart with accurate measurements that customers can use as a reference when deciding on a size. Your product descriptions don’t have to read like an information manual. In fact, you should be using your product descriptions as an opportunity to really sell customers on your product. As an ecommerce retailer, you don’t get the same opportunity that brick-and-mortar stores do to give customers a sales pitch while they’re right there in front of you. So your description will have to do the work of a stellar salesperson by helping customers learn all about your awesome product and why they should buy it. We love how Little Party Dress includes information about the features, fit, and fabric of their dresses along with an easy-to-follow size guide. We really love how they use storytelling in their descriptions to help the customer envision themselves as the proud owner of a new Little Party Dress. Bonus points for providing some helpful styling tips too! Include multiple product images As we said before, ecommerce retailers don’t have the same advantage as brick-and-mortar stores do when it comes to the customer actually being able to see the product in front of them. This means that ecommerce brands have to work a little harder to make sure they’re giving their customers all the info they need to finally hit the “Add to Cart” button. Including different views of the product from varying angles gives customers a better sense of what it will look like IRL (in real life) so they know what to expect in the mail once they’ve placed their order. Product photos should be high quality with natural lighting and minimal background. If you’re an ecommerce retailer selling...