ARTICLES
8
min watch time
July 17, 2025

Better Shopping, Smarter Returns

Better Shopping, Smarter Returns

Returns don’t have to be a sunk cost - in fact, they can become your secret weapon for loyalty. Our CMO Corey Morris and Returbo CEO Julia Söderqvist unpack how brands can flip the script on returns.

Better Shopping, Smarter Returns
Table of Contents

The problem with returns (and why they’re getting worse)

In 2024, online shoppers are expected to return over $890 billion worth of products. That’s nearly double what it was in 2019. And when you factor in restocking, logistics, and customer service, returns can eat up to 65% of a product’s original value.

But here’s what’s often overlooked:

83% of shoppers won’t come back after a bad return experience - and 97% will return after a positive one. ❞

That’s why how you manage returns—before and after purchase—can be a true competitive advantage.

Returbo’s approach: Make returns easier, smarter, and more valuable

Julia founded Returbo after running her own e-commerce business and realizing how painful manual return processes can be—for both merchants and customers.

Returbo helps modern e-commerce teams:

  • Automate return handling and eliminate back-and-forth
  • Collect data on why customers are returning (by product, category, or pattern)
  • Nudge customers toward exchanges instead of refunds → Some merchants convert over 60% of returns into exchanges

That keeps more revenue in your business—and customers in your ecosystem.

Where Sprii comes in: Prevent returns with Live Shopping

Returns happen when products don’t match expectations. That’s where Live Shopping shines.

“Live Shopping helps customers make better, more informed decisions before they click ‘buy’,” Corey explained.

Here’s how Sprii reduces returns:

  • Live demos show how products fit, feel, or function
  • Hosts answer questions in real-time to reduce uncertainty
  • Customers get social proof from experts and communities
  • Return rates drop - Sprii customers often see returns of <10%, and even <1%

It’s like walking into a store, talking to a salesperson, and walking out confident.

The new strategy: From return risk to loyalty engine

Corey and Julia agreed on one thing:

Returns shouldn’t be viewed as a problem to eliminate—but as an opportunity to improve.

The winning formula?

  • Clear return policies - 8 in 10 shoppers check them before purchasing
  • Digital return workflows - Speeds up the process and unlocks valuable insights
  • Smarter product information - Live Shopping = better expectations = fewer surprises

Let’s flip the script on returns

It’s time to stop seeing returns as a sunk cost—and start seeing them as part of the full customer experience.

Whether it’s guiding customers before purchase through Live Shopping, or offering seamless post-purchase options through Returbo, the goal is the same:

Build trust. Boost loyalty. And keep shoppers coming back.

Want to watch the full talk - check out our Expert Talk with Returbo and Julia Söderqvist here.

Learn more

📦 Want to turn your returns into a loyalty engine? Visit reurbo.io to explore Returbo

📺 Want to reduce returns before they happen? Learn how Sprii’s Live Shopping solution can help

📌 Want more content like this? - Follow Sprii on LinkedIn or watch the full Expert Talk

Discover how Live Shopping

can 20X your conversions

Experience Live Shopping with Sprii

Calculate your potential revenue

Use our Live Shopping calculator to see how much you could earn.

The #1 Live Shopping master class is here
Unleash the power of Live Shopping with Sprii's 5-part bootcamp series!
Crush Black Friday with Live Shopping
Win the retail rush with this playbook packed with Live Shopping strategies
Whoa, Live shopping crushes E-commerce
Learn how they compareand discover the 12 key industry benchmarks.
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Corey Morris
CMO
Author
Corey Morris
CMO

Discover how Live Shopping
 can 20X your conversions

Experience Live Shopping with Sprii

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Sprii in Action

During a Live Shopping event, Sprii automatically replies to comments, creates orders for your customers, sends them a link to their basket, and handles payment and shipping.

5. Create hype & excitement during your events

The beauty of Live Shopping is that it can be used in so many ways. This is particularly valuable during Black Friday and Cyber Monday when businesses are looking to engage their viewers in as many ways as possible.

Here are 3 ways to create hype and get customers excited about your Black Friday events so you can achieve your revenue goals.

5. Create hype & excitement during your events

During Black Friday and Cyber Monday, potential customers often experience an intense pressure to participate in the shopping frenzy, driven by the fear that they will miss out on the best deals and discounts if they don't join in.

Live Shopping enables viewers to make purchases instantly while watching the stream, which can be especially effective during Black Friday and Cyber Monday when time-limited deals are available. This instant purchasing capability can drive sales during Live Shopping events.

With Live Shopping, consumers get the personal assistance of an in-store shopping experience and the convenience of being able to shop from the comfort of their own sofa or favorite coffee shop.

Viewers can get information from the retailer in real-time by asking questions directly in the Live Shopping event.

During a live show, viewers can ask questions and get answers in real-time. Even better, they can interact with each other and share their experiences with your products.

AspectTraditional E-Commerce JourneyLive Shopping Journey
Marketing ApproachHigh ad spend and several channels to attract shoppers to webshopLeveraging existing social media followers
NavigationRequires navigating through a static webshop to find products.Requires nothing more than watching a live video to discover new products.
Product PresentationProducts are presented through static images. Products are presented in a live video by engaging hosts.
Customer ExperienceFeels like a business transaction.Feels like a personal connection.
Engagement and InteractionLimited to static product descriptions, images, and occasional customer reviewsOffers real-time interaction between hosts and viewers, allowing for immediate Q&A, live demonstrations, and personalized recommendations
Customer ExperienceCustomers independently navigate the webshop and make purchase decisions without help.Customers are guided through products, receive helpful information, and can ask questions as well as see what others are writing and asking.
Conversion RatesRelies on well-designed websites and optimized marketing funnels to convert visitors into buyers.Often achieves higher conversion rates due to the sense of urgency and interactive nature of live events.
Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC)Higher CAC due to extensive marketing efforts across various channels.Typically lower CAC by leveraging social media followings and organic engagement during live events.
Return RatesHigher return rates due to customers not fully understanding the product before purchase.Lower return rates as live demonstrations provide a clearer understanding of the product, leading to more informed purchasing decisions.
Time to sellCan range from hours to weeks or even months. Often much quicker, ranging from minutes to hours.
Metric Traditional E-Commerce Live Shopping²
 Avg. Conversion Rate 2.5%³  Up to 60% (Sprii Data)
 Avg. View Time 54 seconds⁴ 20+ minutes (Sprii Data)
 Avg. Checkout Rate 45%⁵ 60% (Sprii Data)
 Avg. Return Rate 20-30%⁶ Under 10% (Sprii Data)
 Avg. Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) +€50⁷ 0*
 Avg. Sales Cycle Hours, weeks, months Minutes