Letter from the Editor

Reverse Logistics Magazine, Edition 16

Returning home from a recent business trip, I was engaged in conversation with the gentleman seated next to me. Talk was standard onboard fare - start of trip or returning home, business or pleasure - when eventually we came round to what we do for a living.

I mentioned the association and our magazine and told him how we define RL as anything involving a product after the point of sale, be it returns management, refurbishment, repair or so on. I also told him how RL crosses all industries including food and beverage, apparel, consumer electronics, medical/pharmaceutical, etc.

He mentioned how he'd recently returned a coffeemaker to the retailer where he'd purchased it. He'd gotten his money back and hadn't really considered how the retailer would get compensated. He assumed they'd return it to the manufacturer for credit - which is probably the case. So, he was an unknowing participant in the RL process.

I asked about his business and he told me his company provides the food and beverages served by airlines on flights. "Really" I said, "then you are involved in the RL process." "How so?" he asked. "by refurbishing items returned after flights," I replied. One more example of RL.

This was a short 3 hour flight so no meal was served. However, we were provided with beverages and snacks. My neatly packaged cheese and crackers were accompanied by a box of raisins and bag of mixed nuts. He mentioned that his company doesn't "kit" the boxed snack, they just deliver it. In contrast, he said that first class passengers get served "real food" on plates with metal utensils. I asked who cleans the dirty dishes. It turns out his company does, along with refilling the plates with the next meal. I learned that his company also launders the linens used in first class as well as blankets and pillow cases. Even the headsets provided for in flight entertainment are cleaned, ear pads replaced, cords neatly rewound and repackaged in plastic for the next user. All of these are RL operations.

So, now he knows a little bit more about RL and the role his company plays. He left with a copy of the RL Magazine and a better understanding of what happens when he returns a product to the retailer.

Next time you are traveling and the flight attendant comes by to collect your empty bottle or aluminum can, be sure to thank them for their part in the RL process.

Best regards,

Christine Morrow
Editor, Reverse Logistics Magazine