Manufy and It Goes Forward partner to crunch fashion brands' costly returns

Amsterdam, September 4, 2024 – A new partnership between circular clothing platform Manufy and software provider It Goes Forward enables customers to redirect returns straight to the next buyer, creating a win-win situation for brands and the environment.

Forwarded returns are guaranteed to be resold, boosting sales while keeping perfectly usable clothing out of landfills. Manufy is proud to introduce the new circular module from It Goes Forward—the first of its kind on the platform. With the software, brands can provide more eco-friendly purchasing options, gain insights into return behavior, and achieve sustainability goals while saving on unnecessary costs.

Nout Knabben, founder of Manufy, expressed his excitement about the new partnership: "We are a big fan of the work of Itgoesforward: by redirecting returns to new buyers, we can help our users drive both sustainability and business growth in one solution."

A representative from It Goes Forward added: "QUOTE TBD."

A solution for costly returns

Returns are one of the most destructive inefficiencies in the fashion business. Approximately one-fourth of all clothing is returned, which is a costly affair. These items are either restocked and resold—adding extra steps to the sales process—or they are donated, destroyed, or sold to bulk discounters at a fraction of their value. This process results in hundreds of billions of euros in losses, even though the products are often in excellent condition.

Nearly new items shipped faster

Most returns happen due to poor fit, meaning there's a high chance another consumer would be interested in a freshly returned garment. It Goes Forward offers consumers an attractive, sustainable purchase option by giving them a discount on these forwarded items. The return process is also more efficient, as items can be resold directly, bypassing the traditionally slow restocking system.

A new customer experience

As soon as a customer initiates a return, It Goes Forward’s software automatically lists the product on the website at a reduced price. For undecided buyers, the site highlights the benefits of choosing a forwarded item: the amount of clothing waste saved (in kg), CO2 emissions reduced, and the discount offered. Safety is ensured through privacy and anti-counterfeiting measures. It Goes Forward also helps build return portals and plugins for seamless integration with your storefront, providing support for brands that don’t have these systems in place yet.

Win-win for retailers

The new circularity service on Manufy offers numerous benefits for brands and retailers. By forwarding an item directly to the next consumer, you save on CO2 emissions that would otherwise be released during transportation, destruction, and the production of a new item. Overall, this results in a reduction of about 30%, which in turn translates into significant economic benefits. By avoiding traditional reverse logistics costs—such as shipping back to the warehouse, inspection, repacking, restocking, and resending—retailers can significantly reduce their expenses.

It Goes Forward's software also provides instant control over return volumes with a dashboard for retailers. With adjustable discounts, lost sales becomes a thing of the past. The higher the discount, the more attractive the item becomes.

For more information and questions:

Contact Nout Knabben at nout@manufy.com

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