The US underwear and apparel market continues to grow rapidly. According to Persistence Market Research, the US men's and women's underwear market was projected to be worth approximately $23.618 billion in 2023, growing at a compound annual growth rate of approximately 6.1% to reach $42.697 billion by 2033. Globally, the global underwear market was estimated to be worth $44.32 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach $91.76 billion by 2030, at a compound annual growth rate of 6.1%.
High return rates and significant operating costs
Apparel return rates on e-commerce platforms are generally high, severely impacting operational efficiency. A Coresight Research report shows that the US online apparel (including underwear) return rate is approximately 24.4%, higher than the overall e-commerce return rate of approximately 16.9%.
This means that for every 100 items sold, an average of 24 are returned due to incorrect size, style, or cosmetic issues. The high cost and complex process of handling returns have become a bottleneck for sellers' continued profitability.
The Complexity of Handling Underwear Returns
Handling returns for underwear is more challenging than for general apparel, primarily for the following reasons:
High hygiene and compliance requirements: Because underwear is worn close to the body, returned items must be undamaged, unworn, or professionally cleaned before they can be restocked.
Large sizing and fit variations: The discrepancy between the user's shopping experience and the actual fit often leads to returns.
High return pressure: During promotional seasons and holidays, returns surge, placing high demands on supply chain responsiveness.
These factors make underwear returns a burdensome challenge for cross-border sellers.
U-Speed's Professional Support at the US return warehouse
To help sellers effectively address the challenges of underwear returns, U-Speed has established a return warehouse in the US with robust quality inspection and processing capabilities:
US East Coast (New Jersey) Return Warehouse: 7,250 square meters, processing over 20,000 returns daily. US West (Los Angeles) Return Warehouse: Both facilities cover 7,250 square meters and handle over 10,000 items daily.
Equipped with light and heavy-duty racking, forklifts, 24/7 CCTV, a 24-hour security system, and fire monitoring, these warehouses are safe and reliable, providing the hardware necessary for efficient returns processing.
U-Speed Service Advantages
Efficient Operations through Collaborative US-China Teams
The China Returns Management Team develops processing standards, which are implemented by a local Chinese operations team in the US, supplemented by customer service support. This transparent process ensures convenient communication.
Fast Quality Inspection and Processing
Underwear returns are inspected and classified within 2 days, and further processing is completed within 3–5 days, leading industry efficiency.
Standardized Re-listing Process
Returned products undergo professional cleaning, inspection, and packaging before being re-listed for maximum value recovery.
Flexible Return Processing Options
Sellers can flexibly process returns based on the condition of their products, including re-listing, drop shipping, domestic returns, or environmentally friendly disposal.
Integrated forward and reverse logistics
We not only provide return processing services but also support front-end transportation, warehouse management, and drop shipping, providing a complete service chain from shipment to returns.
Making returns a refined operational advantage
Faced with the massive demand in the US lingerie market, high return rates pose a significant challenge for sellers. U-Speed's US Return Warehouse, through professional warehouse layout, team collaboration, and efficient processes, fully supports sellers in turning returns into commercial value. Returns are no longer an operational pain point, but a powerful tool for optimizing profits and user experience.
