Sweaty Betty partners with ReBOUND to offer rapid returns to international shoppers

Sweaty Betty has announced a partnership with returns experts ReBOUND, as the premium sportswear brand moves to keep up with the demands of its rising number of international online customers.

The brand saw reported it had seen triple digit digital growth in 2020, with total revenues increasing by around 60%, despite many of its 62 worldwide boutiques facing COVID-19 imposed closures.

The women's activewear business already offers a premium returns policy with free returns worldwide, so as returns continue to increase in line with their ecommerce success, the shift to managing returns online supports their global growth.

ReBOUND was chosen to help Sweaty Betty scale and retain this new wave of UK and international online shoppers, who expect a quick, convenient and transparent returns experience no matter where they are based. ReBOUND will manage all Sweaty Betty returns across the UK as well as Sweaty Betty’s core ecommerce markets across the USA, Ireland and Australia.

The ReBOUND-powered process will see customers offered a seamless digital returns journey in just a few clicks as they send items back via ReBOUND’s online portal. Even shoppers without a printer can now register returns via a mobile with ReBOUND-powered QR code options, giving Sweaty Betty’s active customers the ability to return on-the-go.

Returns visibility is set to be an online retail game-changer in the next few years, as COVID’s ecommerce surge continues and international return volumes remain higher than pre-2020 levels.

Tracking returns will also give Sweaty Betty the capability to keep customers updated with the status of their return and keep them informed on precisely when to expect a refund.

Mark Smith, Sweaty Betty Chief Operating Officer, said: “Over the last 12 months we’ve seen customers around the world shop with us for the first time as they search for products to support their fitness and lifestyle needs. These customers all deserve the same convenient, quick refund and exchange service, whether they’re stood inside one of our boutiques or registering a return online. We’re excited to work with ReBOUND to improve our returns service and ensure our end-to-end customer experience matches the demands of the world’s increasingly savvy online shoppers.”

Graham Best, ReBOUND Chief Executive Officer, added: “We have been really impressed with Sweaty Betty's forensic approach to their returns project plan, from selecting the right returns partner to appointing a steering committee spearheaded by the VP of Special Projects to guide the project launch. This is a substantial investment for the brand which is expected to deliver a significant ROI, particularly in the area of customer satisfaction.”