Turning Trade Turbulence Into Opportunity: How Recommerce Can Help Brands Weather the Tariff Storm

Peter Whitcomb
Jun 18
4 min read

By Peter Whitcomb, CEO, Tersus Solutions

The global trade landscape is shifting rapidly, and few industries are feeling the impact as sharply as retail apparel and gear. With rising tariffs, supply chain constraints, and economic uncertainty, many brands are navigating a storm of volatility. There’s no single fix for this disruption—no magic lever that solves it all. But there is a strategic opportunity hiding in plain sight: the closets, garages, and gear bins of your customers.

At Tersus Solutions, we’ve long believed that recommerce—through take-back, repair, and resale programs—is not just a sustainability play, but a business imperative. In today’s environment, it’s more relevant than ever.

Tariffs Are Squeezing Margins—Recommerce Offers Relief

For many brands, rising tariffs on imports—particularly from Asia—are hitting the bottom line. New products cost more to bring in, and those higher costs are difficult to pass on to consumers already tightening their wallets. This margin compression is pushing brands to seek alternatives.

That’s where recommerce comes in. By activating take-back programs, investing in repair, and reselling used inventory domestically, brands can tap into a hidden supply chain that’s already been manufactured, shipped, and loved.

This isn’t a niche sustainability tactic anymore. It’s a margin-saving, customer-acquiring engine that also happens to reduce waste and support circular business models.

The Domestic Supply Chain Hiding in Plain Sight

Imagine the closets and garages of your customers as micro-distribution centers. Within them sit jackets, boots, bags, and gear that still have life left—but aren't being used. Each of these items represents both a consumer touchpoint and a potential product, ready to be cleaned, repaired, and resold.

Every one of the brand's consumers becomes a little supply chain. Your garage is a small supply chain. There are hundreds of millions of products out there domestically that have a lot of life left in them. Let’s get them back. They might be more profitable than the tariff-laden supply chain right now.

The economics back it up. When brands reclaim and refurbish gear, they bypass overseas manufacturing and shipping costs, avoid tariff burdens, and often resell items at higher margins than brand-new goods. Meanwhile, consumers benefit from lower prices and a brand experience that values sustainability and smart choices.

Circularity as a Strategic Advantage

Many brands already understand the why behind circularity: it’s more sustainable, resonates with younger consumers, and extends the life of products that would otherwise head to landfills.

But fewer brands have fully embraced the how—especially as a resilient, future-proof business model that addresses today’s real economic constraints.

Through our advanced waterless cleaning and repair systems, Tersus helps brands unlock this potential at scale. We’ve supported dozens of apparel and gear companies in building out robust recommerce programs—from The North Face’s Renewed bsuiness to brands just beginning their journey.

Here’s what happens when brands invest in recommerce:

Improved customer retention and loyalty Customers who participate in take-back or resale programs tend to buy again—and feel more connected to brands that share their values.
New customer acquisition Lower-priced used gear attracts price-conscious shoppers and younger consumers, introducing them to the brand at a more accessible price point.
Increased profitability per used item Refurbished goods, when resold, often come with healthier margins, especially compared to traditional alternatives, such as liquidation.
Supply chain diversification Reclaimed goods reduce reliance on global manufacturing and shipping, creating more agility and control.
Stronger brand equity and ESG outcomes Circular programs contribute meaningfully to sustainability goals and public-facing commitments.

Consumer Trends Align with Circular Solutions

Today’s consumers are more conscious, value-driven, and price-sensitive than ever. Gen Z and Millennial shoppers in particular are embracing resale as a norm, not a niche. They want to buy from brands that align with their values—and they’re not afraid to switch to those that do.

Recommerce allows brands to meet these consumers where they are. It makes sustainability tangible and accessible. It offers price points that work for a broader audience. And it builds trust through transparency and action.

In many ways, this is the future of consumption. A future where ownership is more fluid, where products have multiple lives, and where sustainability is baked into the business model—not bolted on.

From Strategy to Execution

We know starting or scaling a recommerce program can feel daunting. That’s why we partner closely with brands to develop tailored solutions—from logistics and cleaning to repair and resale integration.

And we’re not alone in championing this shift. The brands that know are doubling down on their recommerce business. They understand that recommerce is more than just a sustainability effort—it’s a hedge against volatility and a foundation for long-term growth.

In a time when supply chains are under strain and margins are under pressure, investing in what already exists—products that are here, now, and recoverable—makes economic and environmental sense.

A Call to Action

As the tariff environment continues to evolve, the brands that will thrive are those who diversify their sourcing strategies, build resilient operations, and find new ways to connect with their customers.

Recommerce checks every box.

At Tersus Solutions, we’re proud to be at the forefront of this shift. We’re not just helping brands reduce waste—we’re helping them build profitable, resilient, circular businesses that work in today’s world and tomorrow’s.

If your brand is feeling the squeeze of tariffs, or if you’re looking to future-proof your operations, we’d love to talk.

Let’s turn your customers’ closets into your next great supply chain.