The Customer
Shopping for clothes online has brought convenience and frustration to consumers around the world – women, in particular. In the $700 billion global online apparel industry on pace for over$1 Trillion by 2025, 68.5% of revenue is attributed to women’s apparel sales. While it may seem as though an ecommerce retail model is a major benefit to women – especially those who work long hours or have small children to care for – the lack of a universal sizing tool makes it difficult for many to find clothing that fits properly.
Current solutions put an extreme amount of pressure on the consumer to determine their size. The shopping process goes from enjoyable to a chore. Instead of feeling excited about the opportunity to purchase new clothes, shoppers have to get out their measuring tapes, scour reviews, take quizzes, and even compare their bodies to others. The time saved by buying online is offset by frustration about fit & time at the post office returning clothing.
Lastly, consequences of inadequate sizing tools far surpass the frustration of returning and rebuying clothing items. There are also environmental, financial, & body image implications to consider.
The Retailer
A recent study by ReverseLogix reports, 80% of retailers report that their cost of returns is “significant to severe.” The breakdown of costs are as follows, taken from the study report:
- Warehouse and equipment costs: The warehouse space and machinery needed to manage 10-30% return rates was noted as the highest source of returns costs.
- Transportation costs: The cost of a “free” return for the consumer, plus the cost of moving goods from a store or central warehouse to the final disposition place.
- Labor costs: The costs of warehouse employees managing the return; the costs of customer service teams handling questions about returns, refunds, and exchanges; plus labor tasks related to restocking, reselling, or recycling an item.
The Optoro 2020 Impact Report reveals, over $428 billion worth of inventory was returned in 2020, costing retailers an average of 21% of the total order value. Optoro reports of the total returns in 2020: 5.8 billion tons of returns wound up in landfills, and 16 million metric tons of CO₂ was emitted from the transportation of returns. Apparel accounted for 23% of the total waste generated from returns & the problems will magnify as the global online apparel market is expected to reach $1 Trillion by 2025.
The Solution - Forsure Fit Technology
In a Time Magazine article, Parsons School of Fashion professor Beth Dincuff Charleston stated she’s hopeful for the future of sizing tool technology. “Body measurements are so advanced now — with 3-D scanning, digital changing rooms — I think that people will have options for better fitting clothing,” she says.
Forsure Fit is the technology that is revolutionizing the way women and men shop for clothing online by removing the barriers for virtual fitting rooms. Forsure Fit leverages science and technology to increase conversions, reduce returns, & improve customer engagement.
Users can create a “Virtual Avatar” based on gender, age, height, weight, waist size, and body shape. Forsure Fit's Technology is backed by science, which allows Forsure Fit to generate an accurate visualization while requiring minimal customer input & fewer than 10 seconds of customer interaction. Our technology leverages world-class software to generate interactive 3-D visualizations and allows the customer to decide if the clothing is the right fit and style for their body.
The results of investing in customer experience technologies are staggering:
- Reduced returns – Fewer returned items mean fewer dissatisfied customers, less revenue lost, lower operating expenses, & less waste.
- Increased conversions – 49% of buyers have made impulse purchases after receiving a more personalized retail experience.
- Increased customer engagement – 86% of buyers are willing to pay more for a great customer experience.
- Increased average order value – 60% of shoppers would buy more often if they could get a consistent fit. Trying on clothes is commonly regarded as the worst part of the shopping experience.
- Customer persona data capture – Additional customer size data supports better apparel design.
Forsure Fit allows customers to try-on any item of clothing before it is purchased, saving consumers and businesses money and time. Customers don't need to worry about buying clothes off the internet because they can be assured they will fit. Current online sizing tools have a negative impact on mental health, revenue, and our environment.
Forsure Fit is the future of online apparel shopping, and it’s here.
Visit Forsure Fit’s Website to learn more about the technology that’s revolutionizing the online apparel industry.