A reverse logisticsseen before only as cost and challenge for e-commerce, has been consolidating itself as a competitive differential in Brazil. Returns and removal of packages are becoming a business opportunity. With more than 7.5 thousand points of collection in operation, Free market (BDR:) e Shopee They turned small trades into logistics points, expanding convenience for consumers and creating new sources of revenue for smaller entrepreneurs.
In part of stationery and neighborhood stores such as removal and collection places, major marketplaces decentralize the logistics operation and move the economy of hundreds of Brazilian cities.
The free market, pioneer in this model, today has more than 4,500 partner trades spread across the country, the so -called “Meli Places”. Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Campinas, Curitiba and Brasilia are among the cities with the highest concentration of points.
According to Frederico Rezeck, senior director of free market transport in Brazil, the project was born from the need to offer consumer flexibility. “Innovation has emerged to improve the experience of those who are not at home during the day and need to remove their orders at convenient times. At the same time, sellers gain more efficiency in the logistics mesh and local trades find a new source of income,” he says.
For small commerce, being part of the giant gear such as free market and shopee means not only increasing revenues, but also entering a high growth market.
In addition to reducing costs and optimizing transport routes, Meli Places move the local economy. Company estimates show that 40% of customers who remove packages at a partner point end up buying something on site, generating extra revenue for the merchant.
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For 17 years, Gloria de Paula has had a stationery store in the Bela Vista neighborhood, São Paulo. The site became a logistical point of the free market in 2018. There are about 7,000 packages received per month. A partnership that is already responsible for more than 50% of store revenues. “That’s what saved me during the pandemic. We get a fixed value stipulated by package. It’s a very good and simple system,” he says.
Today, in addition to the free market, the merchant is also a point of delivery and return of two other digital retailers “I think it really came to stay this system. So we don’t have to go to the post office, take queues and take a long time. The driver comes every day at the scheduled time and removes or delivers the orders. For me, as a merchant, it is very worth it”, renovation.
Logistics and Economic Trends
Shopee, in turn, already brings together 3,000 brand agencies in more than 500 Brazilian cities. Since 2024, these establishments have been working as posts for sellers, purchasing places for consumer and reverse logistics.
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Cities like Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, Curitiba and Guarulhos concentrate the largest number of agencies. Since May 2025, the platform has also offered the option to withdraw orders in partner trades, reinforcing the convenience strategy. “Consumers have more practicality, traders gain new opportunities and our logistics operation becomes even more efficient,” says Tiago Freddi, Shopee’s logistics head.
For traders, the model represents not only direct remuneration for processed package, but also greater flow of customer. A survey by Shopee itself showed that 45% of partners had revenue increase after becoming agencies, and 40% had to hire new employees to account for the demand.
“Shopee agencies are an essential pillar of our logistics strategy. They raise the consumer experience by offering convenience and agility, while strengthening the ecosystem of local micro and small businesses,” concludes Freddi.
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Almost two years ago, William Mendonça saw the movement of the plastic articles store in central São Paulo, growing after a Shopee agency became. “I get about 300 packages a day. The customer comes to remove the product and ends up seeing another in the store and also taking it. This has made our revenue increase considerably helping to decrease other costs,” he says.
For the consumer side, this type of logistics with the possibility of removing or returning packages at flexible times and at home, is also an attractive. “In addition to moving more my trade, myself as a consumer had trouble sending a package. It also motivated me to become a partner of Shopee,” explains William.
