Message from the Publisher

By Tony Sciarrotta, Reverse Logistics Association

As I write this message, the world has changed dramatically in recent months and business has been disrupted. A global pandemic has put the entire world on pause to some degree to avoid spreading the COVID-19 virus. First, we hope that all our community are practicing all measures to be healthy and staying safe. We will get through this together.

The reverse logistics industry is considered an essential business because many products are still being sold and ecommerce is flourishing for many RLA retailers and manufacturers. Therefore, returns are still happening and need to be processed, dispositioned, refurbished, repaired, remarketed, or recycled by RLA 3rd party solutions partners. The RLA recognizes our responsibility to the industry to provide good information and new best practices during this pandemic, and we are responding.

In April and May, the RLA has held two, live webinar events focused on reverse logistics in the age of COVID-19 with 7 members of the Advisory Board. The RLA will continue the series on June 3rd and the webinar will again be open to all members of the community. Also in May, we have opened the RLA Industry Committees to everyone in the community. Normally the RLA Committees are for full members only. Finally, the RLA is planning for virtual Summits if necessary for Europe, Asia, and the regional 1-day Seminars.

All of us here at the RLA hope that each of our member companies continue to stay safe while doing the essential work of providing goods to customers and consumers, as well as processing the returns. RLA will continue to offer advice and newest practices during these challenging times. Feel free to contact us here at the RLA for any pandemic concerns we can help to answer.

Best regards,

Tony Sciarrotta

tony@rla.org

In 2016, Tony took over the Reverse Logistics Association and became the Executive Director and Publisher after 12 years of active involvement on the Advisory Board and on Committees. Tony has held various industry positions including 15 years in returns management at Philips. During his Philips years, Tony developed new reverse logistics strategies and implemented many new returns initiatives. He worked with retail partners and industry groups on best practices still being used. Tony then became an evangelist for improving the customer experience to reduce returns and their associated costs. Today, Tony is considered a subject matter expert in reverse logistics and speaks for the industry at conferences all over the world.