About this episode
Christian Piller and Joe Lynch discuss painless retail returns. Christian is a co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer of Pollen, a technology platform revolutionizing the reverse supply chain for retailers with pickups from consumers' doorsteps for less than a standard return shipping label. About Christian Piller Christian Piller is a co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer of Pollen Technologies, Inc. ( ReturnsSuck.com ) where he is responsible for business development, fundraising, sales, and strategy. Christian brings 15+ years' experience of supply chain execution, strategy, and digitalization from project44, Amazon, and Grainger. He is a Lecturer at DePaul University's Kellstadt Graduate School of Business and an Instructor for the University of Tennessee's Executive Education for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). He is Purdue University's Mitch E. Daniels, Jr. School of Business 2023 Young Alumni Award winner. Christian earned his bachelor's from Purdue University. He and his wife, Michelle, live in Chicago. About Pollen Pollen Technologies is a groundbreaking technology platform that is revolutionizing the reverse supply chain for retailers. With a focus on returns, Pollen helps retailers sell and save millions by plugging its technology into existing logistic ecosystems. By orchestrating a "door to warehouse" label/box-less pickup at no additional cost to the retailer, Pollen can free up billions in working capital that is often trapped in excess inventory. Additionally, Pollen's innovative approach minimizes millions of tons of waste, making it an environmentally friendly solution. Unlike traditional methods, Pollen does not require overhead costs such as drivers, rented space, or sort centers. Instead, it leverages a network of gig economy, rideshare partners, and shippers to facilitate pickups from consumers' doorsteps. With its patented technology, Pollen is transforming returns from a cost to a profit center for retailers. Key Takeaways: Painless Retail Returns Christian Piller is a co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer of Pollen, a technology platform revolutionizing the reverse supply chain for retailers with pickups from consumers' doorsteps for less than a standard return shipping label. In the podcast interview, Christian and Joe discuss painless retail returns, which is exactly what Pollen provides to their customers. Pollen helps retailers sell and save millions through returns. Pollen plugs its technology into existing logistic ecosystems to orchestrate a "door to warehouse" label/box-less pickup at no additional cost to the retailer. Pollen frees billions in working capital trapped in excess inventory and minimizes millions of tons of waste. Pollen is the first technology platform revolutionizing the reverse supply chain for retailers with pickups from consumers' doorsteps for less than a standard return shipping label. Pollen requires no overhead like drivers, rented space in a retail location, or sort centers. Pollen lays on top of existing supply chain solutions to orchestrate pickups through a network of gig economy, rideshare partners, and shippers. Pollen does not require a box or label to pick up - that's something they've patented. Pollen's solutions include "door to warehouse" synchronization of the existing supply chain, market your business with branded returns, faster recovery and reinjection of products into existing inventory lines, consolidation to streamline warehouse flows, sustainable packaging waste reduction, and verified item validation at pickup. Pollen's pick up service is available across 20,000 locations, covering 95% of the US. Pollen's technology transforms returns from a cost to a profit center, resulting in happy customers, increased post-return buy rates, reduced return fraud, and improved cart conversion rates. Learn More About Painless Retail Returns Christian on LinkedIn Pollen on LinkedIn Pollen website Episode Sponsor: Port X Logistics Is Drayage Just Drayage with Brian Kempisty Episode Sponsor: Lean Solutions Group Outsourced Sales and Marketing with Ryan Mann The Logistics of Logistics Podcast If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a positive review, subscribe, and share it with your friends and colleagues. The Logistics of Logistics Podcast: Google , Apple , Castbox , Spotify , Stitcher , PlayerFM , Tunein , Podbean , Owltail , Libsyn , Overcast Check out The Logistics of Logistics on Youtube