Within Suzhou's manufacturing system, Kunshan has always held a unique position. It possesses a complete textile and apparel supply chain and has long focused on mid-to-high-end products in fabric selection, garment manufacturing processes, and quality control. In recent years, with the structural upgrading of cross-border e-commerce, many apparel companies in Kunshan and its surrounding areas have shifted their focus to high-end product categories such as cashmere coats and wool jackets, selling directly to the US market through channels like Amazon and independent websites.

Higher unit prices bring better profit margins, but this also raises a crucial question—how to handle returns from the US market without jeopardizing profits?

Kunshan cashmere coats going global: The real challenges behind the US market opportunity

From a consumer perspective, the US is a vital global market for autumn and winter apparel. According to publicly available apparel industry research data, US consumers have a high acceptance of natural fiber products such as wool and cashmere, especially in mid-to-high latitude regions, where autumn and winter outerwear demand has remained consistently stable.

Sellers in Kunshan have several advantages: First, they have strong control over fabrics, enabling them to produce high-percentage cashmere and wool blends; second, their designs are mature and suitable for European and American body types; and third, their supply chain is responsive, suitable for small-batch, multi-style testing in cross-border e-commerce.

However, cashmere coats are also a category with extremely high return risks.

Why are returns of cashmere coats in the US more difficult than for ordinary clothing?

Many sellers have found in practice that the return rate for cashmere coats isn't "high," but rather "difficult to handle."

First, there's the issue of sizing and fit. Cashmere coats have much higher requirements for shoulder width, length, and silhouette than ordinary tops. If American consumers are not satisfied after trying them on, their intention to return them is very clear.

Second, the material is extremely prone to showing signs of use. Cashmere fabric is prone to pilling, attracting dust, and absorbing odors. Even short-term wear can affect its resale value.

Third, there's the strong seasonal risk. Once a cashmere coat misses the autumn/winter sales window, its inventory value drops significantly, and the speed of return processing directly determines whether it can catch up with the sales cycle.

Simply choosing to "return to China" often results in exorbitant international shipping costs and time, turning a potentially resaleable coat into a sunk cost.

This makes the availability of US return warehouses that support resale a core criterion for cashmere sellers when selecting service providers.

U-Speed US Return Warehouses offer a more reliable processing path for high-value apparel.

U-Speed's US return warehouse network covers two core regions: the East Coast and the West Coast, suitable for cross-border sellers targeting the entire US market.

The U-Speed East Coast (New Jersey) return warehouse has an area of approximately 7,250 square meters and a daily processing capacity of over 20,000 items; the U-Speed West Coast (Los Angeles) return warehouse also has an area of 7,250 square meters and a daily processing capacity of over 10,000 items.

The warehouses are equipped with forklifts, light and heavy-duty shelving, fire protection and monitoring systems, and implement 24-hour security and CCTV management, providing a relatively stable and safe processing environment for high-value apparel returns. From an execution perspective, U-Speed is more suitable for high-value apparel sellers because:

In terms of personnel and management, U-Speed's US returns business is managed by a Chinese team that oversees the entire process, while a local Chinese team in the US handles the actual operations, working in conjunction with a professional customer service team to address seller needs. This model aligns more closely with the operational habits of domestic sellers in terms of communication efficiency and meticulous execution.

Regarding timeliness, return quality inspection is typically completed within 2 days, and return-related logistics processing takes 3-5 days, helping sellers quickly determine the whereabouts of goods and reduce inventory retention time.

Furthermore, U-Speed not only provides returns services but also covers forward logistics aspects such as first-leg shipping, warehousing, and dropshipping, forming a relatively complete US cross-border logistics and warehousing service system, reducing the uncertainties associated with multi-supplier collaboration.

For cashmere coats, customized processing is particularly crucial.

For high-value garments like cashmere coats, U-Speed, within compliance regulations, offers customized services such as lint removal, basic cleaning, ironing, and odor removal, helping some returned items return to a resaleable state.

In actual operation, this type of processing often determines whether a coat is "damaged" or "generates new cash flow," a significant difference in value for sellers.

For cross-border cashmere coat sellers in Kunshan, Jiangsu, US returns are no longer an occasional issue but a long-term variable that must be incorporated into the overall operational model. Having a stable US return warehouse that supports relisting directly impacts profit margins, inventory turnover, and sales rhythm.

In the current environment, keeping returns in the US and processing them professionally is becoming a practical choice for an increasing number of high-value apparel sellers.