Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. has partnered with Narvar to add package pick-up and return services to more than 8,000 of its pharmacy locations.
The stores, which are part of the Narvar Concierge network, will offer FedEx OnSite services FDX, +0.44% . Narvar works with retailers and brands to improve customer experience.
“Customers are continuing to redefine value and convenience, and this is another way in which we can provide a differentiated retail experience, by offering more simple and time-saving solutions, said Alex Gourlay, president of Walgreens, in a statement.
Walgreens WBA, -0.42% stock has lost 19.3% in 2019 while the S&P 500 indexSPX, +0.17% has gained 15.7% for the period.
The Narvar Concierge network extends to Nordstrom Inc. JWN, +0.05% , where there is a pilot of pick-up and drop-off service in Los Angeles. Other brands using the service include Urban Outfitters Inc. URBN, +0.23% , Levi Strauss & Co.LEVI, +1.49% and Cole Haan.
Increased e-commerce activity is driving up the number of returns and the costs associated with them. Thirty-seven percent of U.S. shoppers make a purchase with intent to return, according to data from inRiver, a product information management platform. That figure goes up to 57% among 16-to-24-year-olds.
“Online shoppers don’t like returning by mail,” said David Sobie, chief executive of Happy Returns. Sobie talked with MarketWatch about the foot traffic that in-store returns create during the recent Shoptalk conference.
Happy Returns, which works with retailers including Sur La Table and mall operators including Simon, launched self-service return kiosks during the conference. The company also provides manned Return Bars at participating retailers and expects to have 1,000 in place around the country by year-end.
“Returns are always going to be part of online shopping,” said Sobie. “I don’t see an end to returns anytime soon. It’s part of the shift to e-commerce.”
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