Message from the Publisher

By Tony Sciarrotta, Reverse Logistics Association

The RLA has worked very hard to prepare for the world’s premier Conference on returns management and reverse logistics being held this year in the larger Grand Ballroom of the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas, February 4-6. We are proud of the support for the Reverse Logistics Association by the world’s leading manufacturers and retailers, as well as solution providers, academics and consultants through the transitions of 2019 – including a new RLA website and new business team managers, but a continued focus on the members. Reverse logistics has become a very broad, all-encompassing industry that covers the aftermarket for returns processing, transportation, repair services, refurbishment, resale of goods in the secondary market, sustainability,  the Circular Economy, and more.  RLA is the best way to learn and share next best practices, to network with industry thought leaders, and to find more ways to be a hero at your company by learning ways to improve the customer experience, discovering techniques to reduce returns, and increasing asset recovery for returned goods.  

The 17th Annual RLA Conference & Expo will have many panel sessions covering the important topics as returns become a more significant part of every consumer products company and ecommerce retailers. In the next year, we will reach the point where the value of returns from ecommerce may exceed that of the brick and mortar stores even though their share of business is still below 20% of the total marketplace. More importantly, the RLA will continue to provide valuable information all year to our members and our community through RL Magazine, the RLA SmartBrief Newsletter, research publications, regular Committee meetings, and facility tours again at RLA Seminars and Summits around the world.    

We believe every company can benefit by having many of its managers join the RLA community. Tell others in your company about the RLA and the value we can provide to companies new to this area. We want to grow the RLA community, and in 2020 we will focus on expanding membership with your help.