Mall operator Simon is launching a program that will allow consumers to quickly drop off returns from approximately two dozen brands at participating locations. Simon has partnered with Narvar to offer the carrier-agnostic service.
Consumers who are in close proximity to a participating Simon property will see the return option in the online returns portal powered by Narvar for its participating retailers. More than 300 brands use the platform for online returns, including many that are also retailers in Simon properties. With this Simon partnership, Narvar has extended its returns drop-off network to nearly 80,000 locations.
“Our properties continue to be a town square destination for the communities they serve,” said Andy Hutcherson, SVP of Innovation and Customer Experience for Simon in a statement. “Offering a variety of services at our properties helps consumers consolidate errands and save time, driving incremental visitation to our properties.”
Recent Narvar consumer research found that one third of consumers used an alternative location to drop off their last return, with 30% to 40% citing convenience of location or hours as their primary motivation, and 41% saying they like to consolidate multiple errands in one trip. In addition, both the desire for and usage of printer-free returns has doubled since last year, with 27% of consumers using a mobile QR code instead of a printed label for their last return.
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“Despite our deep roots in ecommerce, we’ve always believed in the persistent power of physical retail,” said Amit Sharma, founder and CEO of Narvar in a statement. “As we extend seamless consumer experiences across all channels for our retailers, we’re excited to join Simon to increase choice and convenience for consumers while supporting operational efficiency for retailers.”
Physical return hubs for online purchases continue to rise in popularity, including services such as Happy Returns, which also uses stores and other public access locations as convenient “return bars.”
