Industry Overview - The U.S. faces a significant overstock and returns crisis, with 8.4 billion pounds of products returned to online sellers annually, representing about 17% of retailer inventory [1] - Retailers typically dispose of returned products in landfills, as this can be written off as a business cost, leading to a lack of investment in reverse supply chains [1] Company Insights - Rebel, a recommerce site, has raised $25 million in a Series B funding round to develop a resale network and supporting software for retailers, with notable investors including Jay-Z's MarcyPen Capital Partners and Serena Ventures [2] - The company, founded by Emily Hosie, aims to address the issue of returns ending up in landfills by selling written-off products at discounts of 40% to 70% [3] - Rebel operates a 300,000-square-foot warehouse in North Carolina, processing over 70,000 unique products weekly, with new deals added to its website every 15 minutes [4] Technology and Operations - Rebel utilizes AI technology to inspect, log, and tag the condition of each return, optimizing the process of receiving products from retailers and shipping them to consumers [4] - The company has developed a smart-pricing algorithm that adjusts item prices based on demand, condition, and inventory more than 10 times a day [5] - Rebel plans to expand its physical presence to the West Coast by 2026 [5]

Core Insights - Assurant, Inc. has entered a strategic collaboration with Plug to enhance the customer experience in the certified pre-owned device market [1][8] - The partnership aims to provide customers with a 12-month limited warranty, a 30-day satisfaction guarantee, and free shipping, while ensuring rigorous quality checks [2][3] - Assurant's investment is expected to accelerate Plug's growth and support sustainability efforts by promoting a circular economy [3][4] Company Strategy - The collaboration allows Assurant to integrate its protection plans and warranties into Plug's direct-to-consumer platform, creating new revenue streams [4][8] - This partnership enhances Assurant's brand presence in the consumer space and improves asset efficiency, positioning the company for long-term profitability [4] Market Performance - Assurant's shares have experienced a year-to-date decline of 10.8%, influenced by increased policyholder benefits and macroeconomic factors [5]