Ideas
Explore the world's #1 largest database of ideas and innovations, with 462,195 inspiring examples.
Trend Reports
Discover why 1,242 brands rely on our AI-powered Trend Reports to get better, faster insights.
Newsletter
Join 320,990 subscribers who rely on our weekly newsletter to keep up with need-to-know trends and insights.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Consumer Insights
Uncover major shifts and emerging opportunities with our exclusive PRO research.
Trend Reports
Discover why 1,242 brands rely on our AI-powered Trend Reports to get better, faster insights.
Newsletter
Join 320,990 subscribers who rely on our weekly newsletter to keep up with need-to-know trends and insights.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Advisory & Services
Accelerate innovation and ignite disruptive thinking with our award-winning programs and research.
Trend Reports
Get fast, customized trend reports, presentations and deep dives 20x faster than traditional research.
Plans
Get started today with a free consultation, our self-serve tools, or a dedicated program.
Articles & Magazine
Get inspired with our 4,213 innovation strategy articles, keynote, videos and innovation tools.
Innovation Awards
Trend Hunter’s Innovation Strategy Awards recognize the best innovation tactics gathered from our interviews with some of the world's most notable business leaders, authors and change makers.
Advisory & Services
Accelerate innovation and ignite disruptive thinking with our award-winning programs and research.
Innovation Assessment
Enhance your innovation potential with a deeper understanding of your unique innovation archetype and how your organization benchmarks.
FuturistU
Prepare for the years ahead with 100+ lessons, tactics, tools and frameworks with our full learning database.
Innovation Books
Join 20,000,000 people getting better and faster with our New York Times Bestselling books and keynote videos.
Jeremy Gutsche
Ignite your event or virtual event with our CEO, a NY Times Bestselling Author and one of the top innovation keynote speakers.
Our Team of Speakers & Virtual Presenters
Inspire your group with our most popular speakers on innovation, trends, change and futurism.
Custom Training & Events
Bring the Future Festival experience directly to your team or co-hosted custom event.
Custom Masterclasses
Join the world's leading brands who leverage our custom programs to accelerate innovation.
FuturistU 5-Day Program
Become a Futurist with our immersive 5-Day program at Future Festival World Summit.
Online eLearning
Learn the fundamentals of futurism and trends with 100+ online courses about innovation.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
Contact
Get in touch to learn more, ask a question or submit a tip.
About Us
Learn more about Trend Hunter and how we accelerate innovation.
Follow-Us
Join our 3,500,000 social media followers, on the cutting edge.
How to Hunt
Learn more about how to hunt megatrends, ideas, patterns and opportunity.
FAQ
Get answers to common questions about Trend Hunter.
Community
Stay on the cutting-edge with the help of the Trend Hunter community.
Team
Meet the team trusted by hundreds of leading businesses worldwide.
Jobs
Find opportunities to accelerate your career with the #1 Trend Firm.
News
Catch up on noteworthy Trend Hunter news and media mentions.
Join
Build a portfolio and put your trend-spotting abilities to the test.
Advertising
Supercharge your marketing by partnering with Trend Hunter.
Portfolio
Visit your public portfolio and browse your past articles.
Add a Trend
Write up an article and showcase your trend-spotting skills.
My Trends
Edit your articles and see how they stack up on the leaderboards.
Settings
Edit your profile, connect your social media accounts, and more.
Add a trend, customize your dashboard, or track topics.
Future Festival
Innovation Events
Join the world's top innovators at our in person events.
Free Webinars
Learn to innovate through chaos, navigate the new normal and maintain work culture from home.
Custom Training & Events
Bring the Future Festival experience directly to your team or co-hosted custom event.
Search our database of 462,195 cutting edge ideas.

Efficient Return Strategic Partnerships

Amazon Debuts New Return System for Whole Foods Market

— January 5, 2021 — Business
Amid COVID-19, Amazon recently announced a streamlined return option for over 500 Whole Foods Market stores across the U.S as well as extending its return deadline. Consumers can now use a box-free, label-free system that just involves showing a generated QR code to the Customer Service desk. Shoppers can also return items at other locations including Amazon Books, Amazon 4-star, Amazon Fresh grocery stores, Amazon Go stores, UPS Store locations, and Kohl’s.

“During a holiday season that might be more unpredictable than year’s past, our employees want to help customers have one less thing to think about by giving customers more time to return, and by providing a variety of free, convenient, and easy return options this year,” said Libby Johnson McKee, director, Amazon WW Returns, ReCommerce and Sustainability. “Our hope is that by offering so many return options—from tens of thousands of drop-off locations to shipping an item back—as well as more time to think about making a return, customers can relax and shop with confidence this holiday season.”

Image Credit: Shutterstock
Trend Themes
1. Streamlined Returns - Amazon's label-free QR code system offers a new and efficient way to process returns, paving the way for more streamlined returns systems in online retail.
2. Extend Return Deadlines - In response to COVID-19, Amazon's extension of the return deadline offers a more flexible and accommodating return policy for customers, leading to more industry players extending their return deadlines as well.
3. Multiple Drop-off Locations - Amazon's partnership with Whole Foods and other retailers allows for more drop-off locations for returns, leading to the creation of more strategic partnerships between retailers to offer more convenient return options for customers.
Industry Implications
1. Retail - Retailers can innovate their returns system by implementing new technology and partnerships to create a more efficient and convenient return experience for customers.
2. Logistics - More efficient returns systems require new logistics strategies and technologies, creating opportunities for logistics companies to innovate in this area.
3. E-commerce - Amazon's streamlined returns and extended return deadlines set a new standard for e-commerce, presenting opportunities for other e-commerce players to follow their lead and innovate in this area as well.
3.9
Score
Popularity
Activity
Freshness