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MySizeID specializes in creating perfect size match for online customers

By Sara Ehlers

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Business |INTERVIEW

With online retail taking over the necessity for brick-and-mortars, it seems MySizeID has capitalized on the trend. Although online shopping has increased in the past couple of years, according to the start up, nearly 40 percent of all clothing purchased online is returned due to sizing issues. In an effort to fix this problem, the company has development a measurement technology that matches customer's true size. The Israel-based brand implements the technology can allow its online shoppers to create a digital profile of their personal measurements to make sure they receive the perfect fit. Ultimately, MySizeID's agenda is to result in less returns and increased profit margins for the businesses. FashionUnited chatted with Ronen Luzon, CEO/Founder of MySize, Inc. through an email Q&A to discuss the startup and how it can help revolutionize online shopping.

Ronen, can you tell us a little more about MySizeID and how it helps figure out customer sizing?

MySizeID is a technology that can be embedded into a retailer’s existing or white label mobile shopping app to create a customized solution for accurate and efficient measurement of a consumer’s body to ensure a proper fit when buying clothes online. This enables retailers to eliminate costly inefficiencies related to the retail industry’s escalating returns issue due to a lack of universal sizing system, and potentially improve their bottom line while providing a better customer experience.

What inspired you for this particular concept?

After becoming routinely frustrated with the online purchase process – from having issues determining proper sizing, to the item not fitting once it finally arrived, along with the burden of the return process – we set out to develop a solution.

It’s been reported that 20-30 percent of online apparel orders are being returned (with 70 percent of those returns due to problems with fit), costing the retailer anywhere from 3 to 12 dollars per order. One study cites total expenses to e-retailers from apparel returns at 1.4 billion dollars, roughly 2.5 percent of the total online revenue (60B dollars) of apparel and accessories in 2015.

Why have you decided to launch in the U.S.?

MySizeID is available for implementation with retailers around the globe, as the retail returns issue is one that is impacting everyone.

What were some factors you considered in creating a startup company that specializes in sizing?

Despite best efforts across the industry, there is no universal system that drops everyone into an accurate bucket for their size. Where some retailers sell pants by waist and length, others tag them as small, medium, or large, and there is no consistency across brand. Even where retailers offer a sizing chart, many consumers will still guess their size or opt for the size they prefer to be, leading to incorrect purchases.

We chose a company that specializes in sizing because we saw several large market opportunities for our technology. As previously noted, the retail industry has significant need for sizing technology to cut down on the huge return problem. However, our technology can be utilized outside of retail/apparel; within the shipping/parcel delivery industry our technology can be used to more accurately measure packages to ensure greater efficiency within packaging, shipping, and delivery. There is also a significant opportunity within the big box/DIY space for measurement of items (furniture, window dressings, etc.) that often have to be shopped for in store. This is why we chose to specialize in sizing – because we can impact three significant verticals.

How do you think the plus size industry and its emerging trend might affect your business?

More attention is being paid to plus size, with retailers like Elloqui, Ava & Viv, and Torrid crafting apparel specifically for this market. Meanwhile, mainstream retailers like LOFT and Old Navy have begun servicing a wider range of sizes. However, the same issues still apply, and the lack of a universal sizing system is going to impact the customer whether they are a size 8 or 18.

Also, many women may now know whether to consider themselves plus size or not, or what the difference between plus size and a numerical size means to them. Even with plus size, the retail industry is trying to fit various round pegs into a few square holes, and someone always ends up left out. We believe our technology can help because we can give a consumer their true sizing, and they are then only shown clothes that will fit them correctly.

Do you have any future plans for the company, including reaching out to more retailers?

MySizeID is available for license by retailers for apps on both iOS and Android operating systems. By working with e-commerce retailers who are looking to harness this technology, we can create customized solutions for accurate and efficient measurement, enabling them to eliminate costly inefficiencies and potentially improve their bottom line.

As noted earlier, we are also continuing to penetrate the shipping/parcel delivery and DIY marketplaces, where a more accurate measuring system can benefit both the retailer and the consumer.

What large markets are you currently targeting?

MySizeID has the ability to seamlessly embed the technology into a retailer’s existing or white label mobile app in just a short period of time. That allows us to focus more on the vertical (retail, shipping, DIY) rather than the geographic location of the market. We are targeting specific retailers and brands to implement our technology, which would then make their users our users – no matter where they are.

Can you explain a little about the mobile app for MySizeID?

With a few quick and simple movements of a smartphone, MySizeID utilizes the phone’s internal sensors, along with the Company’s proprietary and patent-pending algorithms and anthropometric data, to accurately measure everything from everyday objects to body measurements. By syncing the user’s measurement data to a retailer’s integrated sizing chart, MySizeID can also make recommendations on which items will correctly match for a correct fit each and every time. Here’s a video that showcases exactly how MySizeID works:

Which markets do you plan to aim for in the future?

The ability to incorporate our technology within an existing Android or iOS mobile application offers retailers the capability to provide their customers with a complete measurement solution - whether purchasing a new shirt, installing curtains or preparing to ship a package. My Size technologies can calculate and record measurements in a variety of novel ways, and most importantly, increase revenue for businesses across the globe. Other applications (outside of retail) include:

SizeUp – A digital tape measure that allows users to measure length, width and height of a surface by moving their smartphone from point to point of an object or space. SizeUp is a value-add for DIY and home improvement retailers, whose customers struggle to find the appropriate sized items (like blinds or curtains) for their homes or projects due to inaccurate measurements. SizeUp also replaces rulers, tape measures and other measuring tools used for DIY projects. According to Business Wire, the DIY tools market is projected to grow to 13.9 billion dollars by 2021.

BoxSizeID – Enables customers to quickly and easily measure the size and weight of a parcel to accurately calculate shipping fees. It also offers shipping companies a variety of precise logistical data for more efficiently managing their shipping processes. According to Accenture , the parcel delivery business is poised to grow to 343 billion dollars globally by 2020.

Photos: MySizeID

MySizeID