We’re sorry to report that no brands are perfect. Even those closest to perfection are likely to encounter occasional returns. Preparation for those returns is crucial for beauty companies to protect their bottom lines and reputations with retailers as well as shoppers. “It’s a given of business that brands will be asked for returns, exchanges or refunds. They need to plan for it,” stresses Mia Bell, a retail broker with Mia Bell Brands. Planning for hitches includes discussing return procedures with stores, writing reasonable online return policies and adjusting to marketplace demands for product givebacks. Amazon is increasingly establishing return standards, but Amazon isn’t the only player coping with returns. Beauty Independent solicited experts to weigh in on essential aspects of the return rigmarole that brands should take stock of when setting expectations for the inevitable.