The hottest new e-comm disruptor is …

By Gina Acosta | Mar 16, 2018

An e-commerce startup's plan to streamline the return process just got a big boost.

Happy Returns, a provider of in-person returns for online shoppers, has signed up its biggest retail partner yet in Paper Source. The company announced that it will be installing its Return Bars at 18 Paper Source stores in Chicago and Los Angeles.

Happy Returns provides in-person returns for online purchases, speeding up the refund process for customers. Shoppers simply bring their online purchases to one of the start-up's 75 return bars around the country, allow the item to be inspected, provide an email address and have their refund initiated on the spot. The service is free for consumers, and Happy Returns is paid a per-item fee by the retailers it works with, all of whom operate online.

“As an omni-channel retailer, we know shoppers prefer to return online purchases in person,” said Jenica Myszkowski, Chief Operating Officer at Paper Source. “We are happy to expand our best-in-class service to Happy Returns customers, while also offering inspiring locations for shoppers to easily manage their returns.”

Paper Source associates will use Happy Returns technology to facilitate returns with immediate refunds for shoppers from a wide range of retailers who offer Happy Returns, including: Carbon38, Eloquii, Everlane, Jaanuu, Thursday Boots, Tradesy, UNTUCKit and more.

Happy Returns currently operates a national network of 75 Return Bar locations in 15 metro areas staffed by return specialists located in shopping centers, stores, independent boutiques, and other convenient spots.

In December the company announced it had conducted another round of financing and raised $8 million. The Santa Monica, Calif.-based company, raised its new money from U.S. Venture Partners along with previous investors Upfront Ventures and TrunkClub founder Brian Spaly.

Article was originally published here.