As summer gradually arrives in the northern hemisphere, several US states continue to issue heat advisories, leading to a significant increase in demand for sun protection and cooling products. Against this backdrop, Chinese-made awnings, thanks to their practicality, diverse styles, and cost-effectiveness, have become a hot-selling item in the US outdoor market. However, the attendant challenges of returns processing have placed higher demands on the supply chain of cross-border sellers.
Why have awnings become such a hot seller in the US?
The US has always valued outdoor leisure culture, with summer being a popular time for family barbecues, camping, park gatherings, and beach activities. According to data released by Statista, the US outdoor leisure market is projected to reach $23.4 billion in 2025, with outdoor sunshade equipment continuing to be popular in gardening, camping, and gardening.
Especially in states with high temperatures and strong sunshine, such as California, Texas, and Florida, awnings are not only a travel essential but also a crucial component of backyard renovations. Data from platforms like Amazon and Walmart show that awning sales have increased by over 30% year-on-year since June. A report from Alibaba International Station also shows that Chinese-made sunshade products are experiencing explosive sales overseas, becoming one of the "new three things."
This surge in sales is accompanied by rising return rates.
Despite the surge in awning sales, the return rate for this category is not low due to factors such as long cross-border shipping times, bulky packaging, and complex product structures. Awnings, in particular, involve multiple components, including fabric, structural members, and mounting hardware. Problems at any stage can trigger a return request from consumers.
According to data from Walmart and Wayfair's seller backends, the main reasons for awning returns are:
Missing or damaged parts; Misinstallation due to unclear installation instructions; Product discrepancies between the actual product and the image; Exorbitant returns for large items, leading consumers to request refunds rather than returns.
Statista data shows that the average return rate for home and outdoor products in the United States will be between 10% and 18% in 2024. Awnings, as typical seasonal large items, have a slightly higher return rate than the average. If cross-border sellers are unable to quickly process returns locally, they face multiple challenges, including product backlogs, a degraded customer experience, and eroded profits.
U-Speed's US return warehouse: A Reliable Solution for Awning Return Quality Inspection
To address the pain points faced by sellers in processing awning returns, U-Speed has established two dedicated return warehouses in the US: East Coast (New Jersey) and West Coast (Los Angeles). These warehouses are dedicated to providing cross-border sellers with localized, standardized return quality inspection and logistics support.
Large-Scale Return Processing Capabilities Covering Both East and West Coasts
The U-Speed East Coast Return Warehouse, located in New Jersey, spans 7,250 square meters and has a daily processing capacity of over 20,000 orders.
The U-Speed West Coast Return Warehouse, located in Los Angeles, also spans 7,250 square meters and has a daily processing capacity of over 10,000 orders.
Both warehouses are equipped with forklifts, light and heavy-duty racking, fire monitoring systems, and 24-hour CCTV systems, enabling them to effectively handle the handling and storage needs of large items like awnings.
Efficient Return Quality Inspection System, Complete Quality Inspection and Issuance within 2 Days
The U-Speed Return Warehouse supports the quality inspection process for awning products, including unpacking inspection, parts verification, exterior photography, and functional testing. The warehouse completes a quality inspection report within 2 days of receiving the return, providing timely feedback on the source of any issues and helping sellers optimize their products and supply chains.
Additionally, logistics processing time for returns is limited to 3-5 days, significantly shortening cross-border return cycles and alleviating sellers' inventory pressure.
A collaborative Chinese and American team ensures service quality.
The U-Speed Return Warehouse's management team leads the business process, while a local Chinese team in the United States oversees on-site operations, working alongside a professional customer service team to ensure smooth communication and professional handling. Especially for products like awnings, which are complex to install and have fragile components, the team can provide customized solutions based on sellers' needs.
A closed-loop forward and reverse logistics service system makes it more convenient.
In addition to return services, U-Speed also provides forward logistics services such as head-end logistics, warehousing, and drop shipping, creating a closed-loop cross-border logistics system. Sellers only need to connect with a single service provider to manage multiple links, making operations more worry-free and responsive.
Pre-emptive return warehouse deployment is crucial for ensuring peak season sales.
Awnings, as typical seasonal, high-priced, and bulky items, offer considerable profit margins, but untimely returns can easily impact overall sales. Currently, sales of sunshade products in the United States continue to rise. While seizing market opportunities, cross-border sellers should also proactively prepare for back-end returns.
U-Speed's professional return warehouses in the East and West Coast regions not only efficiently handle return quality inspection and logistics, but also provide data collection and problem analysis to feed back into front-end product selection and quality control, helping cross-border sellers maintain stable growth during peak season.
