This year, the US consumer market once again demonstrated strong resilience in holiday shopping. According to the latest survey released by the ICSC (International Council of Shopping Centers), 88% of US adults—approximately 235 million people—plan to spend between Thanksgiving and Cyber Monday, with total spending expected to reach $127 billion, or $542 per person.
Notably, millennials showed the strongest spending intentions, with an average expected expenditure of $764 per person, and nearly 60% of Generation Z also planned to increase their budgets. In terms of channel selection, US consumers exhibited typical omnichannel shopping behavior, with 83% choosing physical stores or online delivery, and 63% using AI tools to assist in price comparison and selection, highlighting the increasingly diversified and content-driven trend in shopping methods. Meanwhile, the NRF (National Retail Federation) predicts that retail sales will grow by 3.7%–4.2% in November and December, reaching $1.01–1.02 trillion, further confirming that the holiday economy still has considerable growth potential.
High holiday spending also means a significant increase in subsequent returns. Especially in categories like apparel, outdoor gear, and holiday gifts, US consumers' returns tend to be characterized by large-scale, short-cycle returns due to sizing discrepancies, inconsistent preferences, or decreased demand after the holidays.
A familiar scenario for cross-border sellers is about to unfold: the peak sales season has barely ended when a large influx of returns floods warehouses. If not handled promptly, prolonged retention of returned goods not only occupies warehousing resources but also leads to inventory loss, increased processing costs, and potentially negatively impacts platform store ratings. Therefore, establishing local US return warehousing infrastructure before the peak season has become a crucial step for more and more sellers to safeguard profits.
The Real Challenges Behind Holiday Promotions: Peak Returns Test Operational Capabilities
Based on the experience of the cross-border industry over the past few years, sales during Thanksgiving and Christmas often surge in a short period, but the peak in returns typically occurs one to two weeks after the promotions. Compared to daily operations, the pressure of peak season returns lies in the "tight timeframe, large volume, and fast pace." For example, apparel not only has a high return rate but also demands higher speed and accuracy in quality inspection and categorization. Larger categories such as home furnishings and outdoor equipment have complex logistics processes, where even minor errors can increase costs. Furthermore, US consumers have clear expectations regarding return processing times, requiring sellers to complete inspection, repackaging, restocking, or return shipment within a short period. All of this necessitates stable and efficient operational capabilities from the returns warehouse.
Relying on in-house teams often leads to insufficient manpower, processing delays, and untimely system synchronization, further increasing operating costs. Therefore, cross-border sellers choose to partner with professional returns warehouses during peak seasons not only to "handle returns" but also to ensure that peak season profits are not eroded by returns.
U-Speed's US returns warehouse network: Dual Capacity Covering the East and West Coasts
To address the potential surge in returns after the peak season, U-Speed has established two major returns warehouses in the US: New Jersey (East Coast) and Los Angeles (West Coast). Based on the official data you provided, the details are as follows:
The East Coast (New Jersey) returns warehouse covers 7,250 square meters and has a daily processing capacity of over 20,000 items. It can handle the concentrated returns from cross-border sellers after Black Friday and Cyber Monday, including high-return categories such as apparel and home goods.
The West Coast (Los Angeles) returns warehouse also has 7,250 square meters and a daily processing capacity of over 10,000 items. For sellers located on the West Coast and reliant on the Los Angeles port, this significantly shortens the return shipping path and reduces cross-regional transportation costs.
Both warehouses are equipped with comprehensive hardware and software facilities, including forklifts, light and heavy-duty shelving, fire protection systems, 24-hour security, and CCTV surveillance, providing a stable operating environment for high-frequency, high-volume returns. During peak season return periods, the importance of such infrastructure is particularly pronounced, effectively preventing damage and processing delays caused by insufficient equipment or limited warehousing conditions.
Further Service Capabilities: Advantages in Timeliness, Team, and Complete Supply Chain
Beyond warehouse size and equipment, U-Speed's greatest advantage in US return services lies in the collaborative management and efficient processing pace between its Chinese and American teams. Its model involves a local Chinese team in the US handling operations, while a Chinese management team oversees business, coupled with a professional customer service system. This creates a communication mechanism that "understands both platform rules and seller needs," which is especially crucial for managing peak season returns.
Regarding timeliness, U-Speed can complete return quality inspection within 2 days, with subsequent return logistics time remaining stable at 3-5 days. This minimizes return dwell time during peak seasons, reducing warehousing costs and helping sellers quickly restore marketable inventory, improving cash flow efficiency.
More notably, U-Speed has established a complete supply chain in the US, encompassing first-leg logistics, warehousing, drop shipping, and returns processing. Sellers no longer need to deal with multiple service providers, significantly reducing communication costs and the probability of errors. During the hectic peak season, this closed-loop service allows sellers to focus more on product selection, advertising, and operations, rather than being constrained by complex node management.
Seizing growth opportunities during peak seasons also requires advance planning for returns capabilities.
Data from ICSC and NRF shows that this year's US holiday spending is not only substantial in scale, but also exhibits stronger consistency and planning in consumer shopping patterns. Omnichannel, AI-assisted, and family-oriented consumption are becoming mainstream trends. For cross-border sellers, the opportunity during peak season is not just about "selling more," but also about successfully managing the returns cycle after the sales surge, ensuring a more stable profit structure. Advance planning for local US return warehouses, especially with service providers possessing large-scale processing capabilities, stable delivery times, advanced hardware, and professional teams, has become a crucial element in ensuring success during the peak season.
With the November-December promotions reaching their peak, now is the perfect time for cross-border sellers to prepare for the return peak. U-Speed's dual-warehouse network in the East and West United States provides sellers with a reliable and stable capacity to handle returns.
