Plan for Returns: SVT Urges Peak Season Reverse Logistics Prep

Most businesses plan peak season backwards, focusing on outbound operations like carrier negotiations, fulfillment speed, and inventory positioning. However, a critical element is often overlooked: what happens when orders come back. Returns are inevitable and can be massive, with U.S. retailers processing over $890 billion in merchandise returns in a recent year. During peak season, return volumes spike alongside sales, and the financial impact can be devastating if not planned for.

SVT Supply Chain Solutions (SVT) argues that reverse logistics planning should be a core operational priority before Black Friday, back-to-school, and the holiday rush. Lauren Steil, Director of Business Development at SVT, notes that businesses struggling after peak season often had no real plan for returns. When inventory sits unprocessed, it loses resale value daily, warehouse space gridlocks, and customer service queues fill with return status inquiries. For B2B operators, high return volumes strain key account relationships.

A positive returns experience is one of the strongest predictors of repeat purchase behavior, making it crucial during emotionally loaded peak season purchases. Businesses that get this right build and stress-test their reverse logistics infrastructure months in advance. They define intake procedures, establish disposition logic by product category, align staffing to projected return curves, and implement real-time reporting. A third-party logistics partner like SVT provides proven workflows, trained staff, and integrated technology, enabling businesses to recover margin and retain customers without entering the new year with a returns backlog.