Clothing Security -4 WC Blog 580
Checkpoint Tags-3
ORC Groups Target Designer Clothes – Fight Back With Checkpoint Tags
Apparel retailers are constantly struggling with clothing security issues due to theft. We all are aware that shoplifters are getting their hands on merchandise and creating shortage. This also entails the problems associated with theft such as reduced merchandise available to sell. What may not be as clear to retailers, especially small storeowners is the impact of Organized Retail Crime (ORC) activity on their store. According to the National Retail Federation 2017 Organized Retail Crime Survey, two of the top categories for theft for these groups is designer clothing and denim jeans (pg. 8). The report also indicates that 94.6% of retailers surveyed believe their stores have been the victims of ORC activity (pg. 5). So what are ORC groups and why are the items they are taking hot commodities. Organized Retail Crime organizations are theft rings that work together to shoplift. They are distinct from the regular or casual shoplifter because they plan their activities and have specific merchandise they target. The merchandise they set their sights on are normally able to be resold quickly either in a brick and mortar “Mom and Pop” shop or via online stores. Merchandise may also be returnable so that giftcards or cash may be obtained for the items that were taken. Aside from outstanding customer service the best method for preventing such theft is with the use of Checkpoint tags on merchandise.
Combating retail crime is no easy task. Large, national chain stores devote money to Loss Prevention teams and anti-theft devices. They also spend a lot of money on closed circuit television, cameras and recording equipment. The small retail owner may not be able to afford all of this equipment. What they can afford is to purchase an electronic article surveillance system (EAS) for the store. With Checkpoint towers at the front entrance and clothing security tags attached to softlines goods, products are well protected. If a mule working for an Organized Retail Crime group tries to waltz out with designer jeans stuffed in a backpack or purse and the jeans have Checkpoint tags on them they will set off the tower alarms. If the mule decides to try to forcibly remove the tags they merchandise will be damaged, there’s no getting around it. Damaged goods don’t sell and the organization makes no money.
ORC groups also do not seek out attention. Being identified means a group will have a more difficult time stealing from the same retailer and that is an impediment to their business. Checkpoint EAS system alarms ensures a store is receiving an exceptional level of clothing security even if that store can’t afford other security measures. I would be remiss if I failed to point out that according the survey retailers are reporting an uptick in ORC gang aggression and violence (pg. 10). This is not to say employees should not respond to EAS alarms when they do occur. What is important is that employees are trained to de-escalate situations and approach situations in a non-aggressive, non-accusatory manner. Kill ‘em with kindness is a motto that served my teams well when I was a Loss Prevention Supervisor.
Another problem that has arisen due to ORC theft is an increase in return fraud. This has caused many retailers rethink their return policies. On page 11 of the 2017 Organized Retail Crime Survey 36.8 % of retailers reported making changes to their point-of-sale return policies. Many stores have already done away with cash for non-receipted returns issuing merchant gift cards instead. Unfortunately, even gift cards are now being sold to pawn shops. Some alternatives are a requirement to exchange for exact merchandise only taking away the incentive to try to get a lower cost item and cash in the transaction. Other retailers are putting a stop to potential criminal activity by requiring a government issued ID to be scanned for non-receipted returns and refunds over a certain dollar amount. These retailers then cut off all non-receipted returns after a set number of transactions, usually somewhere from three to five at the most. Attempted returns of garments with clothing security tags still attached are also rejected, especially when the attempt is without a receipt.
Organized Retail Crime is a growing problem and it isn’t only a concern for big name retailers. Loss Prevention Systems Inc. CEO Bill Bregar wants smaller retailers to know that they aren’t alone in the fight against these groups. You may not have the resources of the big box stores but you can get help from Loss Prevention Systems Inc. from advice on Checkpoint tags to training on how to stop shoplifting in your stores. Stop ORC before it gets a foot in your door.
For more information about Checkpoint tags contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
Apparel retailers are constantly struggling with clothing security issues due to theft. We all are aware that shoplifters are getting their hands on merchandise and creating shortage. This also entails the problems associated with theft such as reduced merchandise available to sell. What may not be as clear to retailers, especially small storeowners is the impact of Organized Retail Crime (ORC) activity on their store. According to the National Retail Federation 2017 Organized Retail Crime Survey, two of the top categories for theft for these groups is designer clothing and denim jeans (pg. 8). The report also indicates that 94.6% of retailers surveyed believe their stores have been the victims of ORC activity (pg. 5). So what are ORC groups and why are the items they are taking hot commodities. Organized Retail Crime organizations are theft rings that work together to shoplift. They are distinct from the regular or casual shoplifter because they plan their activities and have specific merchandise they target. The merchandise they set their sights on are normally able to be resold quickly either in a brick and mortar “Mom and Pop” shop or via online stores. Merchandise may also be returnable so that giftcards or cash may be obtained for the items that were taken. Aside from outstanding customer service the best method for preventing such theft is with the use of electronic article surveillance (EAS) tags on merchandise.
Combating retail crime is no easy task. Large, national chain stores devote money to Loss Prevention teams and anti-theft devices. They also spend a lot of money on closed circuit television, cameras and recording equipment. The small retail owner may not be able to afford all of this equipment. What they can afford is to purchase an electronic article surveillance system (EAS) for the store. With EAS towers at the front entrance and clothing security tags attached to softlines goods, products are well protected. If a mule working for an Organized Retail Crime group tries to waltz out with designer jeans stuffed in a backpack or purse and the jeans have EAS tags on them they will set off the tower alarms. If the mule decides to try to forcibly remove the tags they merchandise will be damaged, there’s no getting around it. Damaged goods don’t sell and the organization makes no money.
ORC groups also do not seek out attention. Being identified means a group will have a more difficult time stealing from the same retailer and that is an impediment to their business. EAS system alarms ensures a store is receiving an exceptional level of clothing security even if that store can’t afford other security measures. I would be remiss if I failed to point out that according the survey retailers are reporting an uptick in ORC gang aggression and violence (pg. 10). This is not to say employees should not respond to EAS alarms when they do occur. What is important is that employees are trained to de-escalate situations and approach situations in a non-aggressive, non-accusatory manner. Kill ‘em with kindness is a motto that served my teams well when I was a Loss Prevention Supervisor.
Another problem that has arisen due to ORC theft is an increase in return fraud. This has caused many retailers rethink their return policies. On page 11 of the 2017 Organized Retail Crime Survey 36.8 % of retailers reported making changes to their point-of-sale return policies. Many stores have already done away with cash for non-receipted returns issuing merchant gift cards instead. Unfortunately, even gift cards are now being sold to pawn shops. Some alternatives are a requirement to exchange for exact merchandise only taking away the incentive to try to get a lower cost item and cash in the transaction. Other retailers are putting a stop to potential criminal activity by requiring a government issued ID to be scanned for non-receipted returns and refunds over a certain dollar amount. These retailers then cut off all non-receipted returns after a set number of transactions, usually somewhere from three to five at the most. Attempted returns of garments with clothing security tags still attached are also rejected, especially when the attempt is without a receipt.
Organized Retail Crime is a growing problem and it isn’t only a concern for big name retailers. Loss Prevention Systems Inc. CEO Bill Bregar wants smaller retailers to know that they aren’t alone in the fight against these groups. You may not have the resources of the big box stores but you can get help from Loss Prevention Systems Inc. from advice on EAS tags to training on how to stop shoplifting in your stores. Stop ORC before it gets a foot in your door.
For more information about EAS tags contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
Retail traffic counting -3 wc blog 673
Customer Counting Device-4
Effective Payroll Management With The Help Of A Customer Counting Device
Retail traffic counting is important when store managers are trying to maintain profitable stores. It is no easy task to balance payroll, staffing and how many and when to schedule employees to work. Do you assign a person to cashier AND work the salesfloor? Do you assign one person to the salesfloor and merchandise stocking? What time of the day should you have an extra person come in to work? Is it easiest to simply make a schedule that is recycled every week except during holidays, such as during a Black Friday event? You can choose the easy way and just make a set schedule but you are probably doing yourself a disservice in the long run. A cut and paste schedule does not take into account when customers are in the store shopping. If foot traffic is heaviest at specific times of the day and specific days of the week your system of scheduling employees may not be serving the needs of the customers OR the financial interests of the business.
Store sales can be increased through improved scheduling and that doesn’t mean just throwing more dollars at the payroll dart board hoping to hit a bullseye. In order to have a more effective payroll management strategy a customer counting device installed in an electronic article surveillance tower is a must. The Integrated EAS Traffic Counter from Sensormatic can be installed in compatable Sensormatic pedestals allowing merchants to continue to reap the benefits of merchandise protection while tracking customers as they enter and leave the store. Data obtained from a retail counting device can include the time of day and the day of the week of activity taking place. Think about the implications that can have for your sales and how you staff your store. Knowledge is power so the saying goes and knowing your customer shopping trends is power!
For those who may not see the correlation between the customer counting device and payroll allocation think about the reporting tools you will have available. You can see the times customers are in your store and it takes the guessing out of the equation. If shoppers tend to come in to your establishment at noon and then again around 6:00pm those will be the times you want to have the most salesfloor coverage and cashiers available. It is going to drive your sales if you have employees available to assist your customers. Not only will they help the customers find what they need but it provides the opportunity for suggestive selling. As a side note, if you are not training your staff on this skill you need to make it a focus but that is a topic for another discussion. The addition of cashiers when foot traffic is highest will help speed up the checkout process which will increase customer satisfaction and ultimately customer loyalty.
You can also use the numbers generated from a customer counting device to plan for other work projects. You don’t want to stock merchandise or set new planograms and displays when most of your customers are shopping. Customers must always be the priority for your business. Using the information from a retail traffic counting system you can strategize when it will be best to get tasks completed. You may choose to have stockers in the store from 8am-11am and transition to a client oriented service from 11am until your next slow period. You may also determine that Saturdays are better for project completions than a Monday or Tuesday. All of these factors can play a part in improving payroll allocation.
Retail traffic counting can help improve scheduling effectiveness and in turn increase income for stores. If your business doesn’t have a Sensormatic security system, invest in one and get it with the customer counting device included. You’ll improve profits through increased sales AND decreased theft.
Retail traffic counting is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
Retail traffic counting is important when store managers are trying to maintain profitable stores. It is no easy task to balance payroll, staffing and how many and when to schedule employees to work. Do you assign a person to cashier AND work the salesfloor? Do you assign one person to the salesfloor and merchandise stocking? What time of the day should you have an extra person come in to work? Is it easiest to simply make a schedule that is recycled every week except during holidays, such as during a Black Friday event? You can choose the easy way and just make a set schedule but you are probably doing yourself a disservice in the long run. A cut and paste schedule does not take into account when customers are in the store shopping. If foot traffic is heaviest at specific times of the day and specific days of the week your system of scheduling employees may not be serving the needs of the customers OR the financial interests of the business.
Store sales can be increased through improved scheduling and that doesn’t mean just throwing more dollars at the payroll dart board hoping to hit a bullseye. In order to have a more effective payroll management strategy a customer counting device installed in an electronic article surveillance tower is a must. The Integrated EAS Traffic Counter from Sensormatic can be installed in compatable Sensormatic pedestals allowing merchants to continue to reap the benefits of merchandise protection while tracking customers as they enter and leave the store. Data obtained from a retail counting device can include the time of day and the day of the week of activity taking place. Think about the implications that can have for your sales and how you staff your store. Knowledge is power so the saying goes and knowing your customer shopping trends is power!
For those who may not see the correlation between the customer counting device and payroll allocation think about the reporting tools you will have available. You can see the times customers are in your store and it takes the guessing out of the equation. If shoppers tend to come in to your establishment at noon and then again around 6:00pm those will be the times you want to have the most salesfloor coverage and cashiers available. It is going to drive your sales if you have employees available to assist your customers. Not only will they help the customers find what they need but it provides the opportunity for suggestive selling. As a side note, if you are not training your staff on this skill you need to make it a focus but that is a topic for another discussion. The addition of cashiers when foot traffic is highest will help speed up the checkout process which will increase customer satisfaction and ultimately customer loyalty.
You can also use the numbers generated from a customer counting device to plan for other work projects. You don’t want to stock merchandise or set new planograms and displays when most of your customers are shopping. Customers must always be the priority for your business. Using the information from a retail traffic counting system you can strategize when it will be best to get tasks completed. You may choose to have stockers in the store from 8am-11am and transition to a client oriented service from 11am until your next slow period. You may also determine that Saturdays are better for project completions than a Monday or Tuesday. All of these factors can play a part in improving payroll allocation.
Retail traffic counting can help improve scheduling effectiveness and in turn increase income for stores. If your business doesn’t have a Sensormatic security system, invest in one and get it with the customer counting device included. You’ll improve profits through increased sales AND decreased theft.
Retail traffic counting is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
Free Loss Prevention Calculator-4 WC Blog 585
Can Loss Prevention Be Free?-3
The Free Loss Prevention Calculator Shows How To Stop Shrink
How many times do you see a “Free with purchase” offer to get you to buy a product? It can make you kind of numb to real offers like the Free Loss Prevention Calculator from Loss Prevention Inc. It is not uncommon to see things like a free tire rotation with an oil change from an automotive maintenance company. The car tire rotation may be free but I’ll be darned if it doesn’t seem like every rotation I get I am given the dire warning of how my tires are worn and should be replaced. Also, I paid how much for that oil change? No, this is not a tirade against automotive repair businesses. I know they are in business to make money but free doesn’t seem so free if you are pushing me to get new tires or strongly suggest I replace my brakes that are ready to go out on me tomorrow and throw me into a ditch or worse yet, kill me. Maybe more free is the $10 company issued giftcard with purchase when you by $75 in ink from a store. Of course the catch there is you are buying $75 in ink and you will be coming back to use that giftcard. And let’s be honest, with that $10 giftcard how many people are really going to look for just $10 in merchandise? It is a great marketing tool but it does make the “free” offer feel a little less free. Since I focus much of my attention on Loss Prevention issues it seems that there should be a question posed to companies that sell retail anti-theft systems. Can Loss Prevention be free? How many are going to say, “Yes it can be.” There is one company that says it can be and that is Loss Prevention Systems Inc.
Now I know it is going to sound ridiculous to most of you. In fact some are probably wanting to know when I’m going to pronounce that the brakes are shot on this car after you get your oil change. No, there are no surprises or catches. Can Loss Prevention be free? You bet it can be. The fact of the matter is a new Checkpoint system is going to save you money by theft reduction. The installation of new electronic article surveillance pedestals and application of retail anti-theft devices on each piece of merchandise carried in your store is going to deter criminals from stealing. For those few who will be foolish enough to attempt to steal anyways, the pedestals are going to be set off when tagged items are carried near the doors. Pedestal alarms will alert employees that someone is going to try to steal. Merchandise is then recovered in the receipt check that follows. Every time a crook walks out empty handed or a recovery is made money is added back to the store profit line and offsets a portion of the cost of a new antitheft system. How can I be so sure? I have extensive experience as a Loss Prevention Manager and I know how effective Checkpoint Systems products are. I have also tested the Free Loss Prevention Calculator and find it to be an accurate measurement tool.
Free to use for anyone, the calculator gives a store owner the ability to enter variables such as annual sales information and how much they would consider spending on a Loss Prevention system. The calculator assumes a standard annual shrink rate of 1.2% (slightly less than the current national average) and a modest shortage reduction resulting from a newly installed system to .65% annually. The final calculation is the estimated number of months it would take for a system to pay for itself through shortage reduction savings. And the best part is that there is no catch. No sign up or registration required to use the Free Loss Prevention Calculator. It’s kind of like getting that oil change and tire rotation and no pressure to buy a couple of new tires.
Can Loss Prevention be free? It can be in the amount it saves in shortage due to theft. Can a system really save this much money for a store? There is no question it can especially with a well-trained group of employees who know the best methods for alarm resolutions. Visit the Loss Prevention Systems Inc. website and give the free Loss Prevention Calculator a try. No oily sales staff here, just professionals who want to help your business save money and reduce theft.
Get more information on the Free Loss Prevention Calculator, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today
How many times do you see a “Free with purchase” offer to get you to buy a product? It can make you kind of numb to real offers like the Free Loss Prevention Calculator from Loss Prevention Inc. It is not uncommon to see things like a free tire rotation with an oil change from an automotive maintenance company. The car tire rotation may be free but I’ll be darned if it doesn’t seem like every rotation I get I am given the dire warning of how my tires are worn and should be replaced. Also, I paid how much for that oil change? No, this is not a tirade against automotive repair businesses. I know they are in business to make money but free doesn’t seem so free if you are pushing me to get new tires or strongly suggest I replace my brakes that are ready to go out on me tomorrow and throw me into a ditch or worse yet, kill me. Maybe more free is the $10 company issued giftcard with purchase when you by $75 in ink from a store. Of course the catch there is you are buying $75 in ink and you will be coming back to use that giftcard. And let’s be honest, with that $10 giftcard how many people are really going to look for just $10 in merchandise? It is a great marketing tool but it does make the “free” offer feel a little less free. Since I focus much of my attention on Loss Prevention issues it seems that there should be a question posed to companies that sell retail anti-theft systems. Can Loss Prevention be free? How many are going to say, “Yes it can be.” There is one company that says it can be and that is Loss Prevention Systems Inc.
Now I know it is going to sound ridiculous to most of you. In fact some are probably wanting to know when I’m going to pronounce that the brakes are shot on this car after you get your oil change. No, there are no surprises or catches. Can Loss Prevention be free? You bet it can be. The fact of the matter is a new electronic article surveillance system is going to save you money by theft reduction. The installation of new electronic article surveillance (EAS) pedestals and application of retail anti-theft devices on each piece of merchandise carried in your store is going to deter criminals from stealing. For those few who will be foolish enough to attempt to steal anyways, the pedestals are going to be set off when tagged items are carried near the doors. Pedestal alarms will alert employees that someone is going to try to steal. Merchandise is then recovered in the receipt check that follows. Every time a crook walks out empty handed or a recovery is made money is added back to the store profit line and offsets a portion of the cost of a new antitheft system. How can I be so sure? I have extensive experience as a Loss Prevention Manager and I know how effective EAS products are. I have also tested the Free Loss Prevention Calculator and find it to be an accurate measurement tool.
Free to use for anyone, the calculator gives a store owner the ability to enter variables such as annual sales information and how much they would consider spending on a Loss Prevention system. The calculator assumes a standard annual shrink rate of 1.2% (slightly less than the current national average) and a modest shortage reduction resulting from a newly installed system to .65% annually. The final calculation is the estimated number of months it would take for a system to pay for itself through shortage reduction savings. And the best part is that there is no catch. No sign up or registration required to use the Free Loss Prevention Calculator. It’s kind of like getting that oil change and tire rotation and no pressure to buy a couple of new tires.
Can Loss Prevention be free? It can be in the amount it saves in shortage due to theft. Can a system really save this much money for a store? There is no question it can especially with a well-trained group of employees who know the best methods for alarm resolutions. Visit the Loss Prevention Systems Inc. website and give the free Loss Prevention Calculator a try. No oily sales staff here, just professionals who want to help your business save money and reduce theft.
Get more information on the Free Loss Prevention Calculator, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today
I work in a retail store as a sales associate and I often use my experiences as a Loss Prevention Associate and Manager to stop shoplifting and prevent shortage in the store where I now work. A recent experience made me recall that not all shortage is theft related, some is operational and some we cannot determine which it falls under but it can still be prevented. I was working the cash register and being the back to school season patrons were buying lots of supplies for their students/children. I had one young woman purchasing pencils, paper, a binder, folders and a few other items. When I got to the binder I scanned the barcode and as I started to place it to the side to scan the next item I realized something was in the binder. I opened it up and there were three 3-hole punched poly dividers that had been inserted inside. I looked at them to ensure they were not a part of the binder and found barcodes on each one. I scanned them and they were about $2.50 each. The customer said she meant to take them out and forgot to do so. It may not sound like a lot but by catching it I was able to prevent $7.50 in shortage or did I stop $7.50 in shoplifting? Either way, money was saved and THAT contributes to store profitability.
Similarly Sensormatic systems can reduce shortage through theft prevention and detecting operational errors. In terms of theft prevention tagged merchandise can be hidden inside a purse, satchel bag, under clothing, etc. and the tags will be detected at the door pedestals. As a retail manager you need to be aware that another method of theft utilized by the bad guys is to conceal merchandise inside other merchandise. In Loss Prevention we use an acronym, L.I.S.A. short for Look InSide Always. It is a method we use to remind cashiers to look inside of places where goods can be hidden. Examples may include, zipper binders, trash cans with lids, storage containers with lids, luggage and so on. If something can be hidden in it a cashier should be looking inside as it is rung up. Think about purses or comforters. Both items are popular for concealing merchandise in and attempting to buy the item and avoiding paying for the hidden merchandise. There are instances where merchandise is simply overlooked because it is on the bottom of a shopping basket. Cases of drinks, bulky paper towels and bags of dog food are items often placed here due to the amount of space they take up in a cart. Unless the shopper and/or the cashier is paying attention they can be missed and go out the door as unpaid merchandise. Of course if a store is using Sensormatic systems and all goods are tagged then the pedestals will alarm and remind the patron that something was missed. The customer and the employee have an opportunity to react and have the item properly processed at the point of sale.
The situation I described above is not the first time I have encountered hidden merchandise whether it was done intentionally or by someone else. As a Loss Prevention Manager I have seen shoppers come to a register with a blouse and dress jacket on a hanger that looked like they could be sold as a single item. After alerting the cashier to look at both pieces it was found there was a second price tag. The customer changed her mind. Did we stop shoplifting or prevent an honest mistake? I don’t have that answer. What I do know is we prevented the shortage of the blouse if I had not alerted the cashier to look.
As a Loss Prevention professional what I like about Sensormatic systems is that they are not a one-trick pony. They do stop shoplifting but they also impact employee theft and operational shortage. They also help keep vendors honest. I have seen cosmetic and jewelry vendors start to leave after a visit and set off electronic article surveillance alarms. The merchandise was recovered but it could not be determined if the vendor intended to steal or made an honest mistake. Shrink isn’t the result of theft alone and Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. can show you how Sensormatic systems can play a role in reducing all of it.
Need information on Sensormatic systems? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
Prevent Shoplifting -3 WC Blog 567
Alpha Security – 5
Break Out Of The Showcase Mindset With Alpha Security Products
SO, you want to prevent shoplifting in your store and you are determined that a display case is the best solution to your problem. I would like to make a case that there is a better solution than locking up merchandise in a showcase. To demonstrate that showcases are not the fool-proof solutions you may think they are. Take a minute to review the following cases (no pun intended, although it is funny now that I think about it):
• From wbtw.com by Kendall McGee, Feb 19,2018 – “The police report says the suspects…used a pry bar from the hardware section of the store to open a display case containing Apple iPhones”. Estimated value of the phones, $3,776.
• From delawareonline.com, by Alonzo Small, March 31, 2017 – “…police are seeking the public’s help in identifying a shoplifter who stole more than $2,000 worth of cologne…(the thief) proceeded to remove assorted cologne after opening the display cases with an unknown type of tool.”
• Patch.com, by Lorraine Swanson, Aug 6, 2017 – In an article, “Shoplifter Swipes Over $43,000 Worth Of Gold Earrings From Sears: Prosecutor” the story reports, “…is accused of cutting a security alarm on a display case and walking out of the shopping mall with $43,708 worth of assorted gold earrings.”
Showcases are a poor remedy to a bigger problem. That problem is how to prevent shoplifting with leaner payroll budgets as traditional stores struggle to stay competitive with their traditional competitors and now online rivals. The better way to stop thieves is to use Alpha Security retail anti-theft devices on your merchandise.
Bill Bregar, CEO of Loss Prevention Systems Inc. (LPSI) has made it the objective of his company to help retailers battle criminal shoplifters. With years of Retail Loss Prevention experience up to and including the Director level for National retail chain stores, Bill knows the constraints placed on small business owners. Alpha Security products are recommended by LPSI because they are nearly impossible for shoplifters to defeat and work hand-in-hand with Checkpoint electronic article surveillance towers. Trying to carry Alpha Security tagged items past a Checkpoint tower activates an alarm that gets a response from trained store personnel. Unlike items in a showcase that gets broken into and a bag is stuffed full and carried out a door, a tagged item is not going to be tampered with and is going to set off that tower. A video of someone who broke into a showcase probably won’t get your merchandise back for your store there is usually too much time that has gone past. An electronic article surveillance system gives live results. Staff members respond as soon as that alarm sounds. Real time alarms result in real time recoveries.
There is another downside to store showcases. They prevent honest shoppers from being able to look at the products inside of them. If they do see something they are attracted to they can’t handle it and read information on the packaging say for example the iPhones. Your customer wants to look at something? They can wait until you get someone over to open the case and show it to them. Wait! That’s right, you put the display cases in to save payroll because you can’t afford to have someone nearby the area to show merchandise to people who may not want to buy your goods. Now you have to have a call button so the employees you do have in the store can try to get to the showcase before the customer leaves. By using Alpha Security anti-theft devices on merchandise you have the protection you are wanting from a showcase without the interruption to customer service. The more accessible merchandise is to the customer the more sales a store will have. Increased sales means increased payroll so you can better serve your customers.
When stores are stretched so thin on payroll that shoplifters have time to break into showcases to steal then showcases are no longer the answer to prevent shoplifting. Let LPSI help you reduce stock shortage and improve sales with Alpha Security products. You won’t be disappointed and neither will your customers.
For more information about Alpha Security contact us or call 1.770.426.0547.
SO, you want to prevent shoplifting in your store and you are determined that a display case is the best solution to your problem. I would like to make a case that there is a better solution than locking up merchandise in a showcase. To demonstrate that showcases are not the fool-proof solutions you may think they are. Take a minute to review the following cases (no pun intended, although it is funny now that I think about it):
• From wbtw.com by Kendall McGee, Feb 19,2018 – “The police report says the suspects…used a pry bar from the hardware section of the store to open a display case containing Apple iPhones”. Estimated value of the phones, $3,776.
• From delawareonline.com, by Alonzo Small, March 31, 2017 – “…police are seeking the public’s help in identifying a shoplifter who stole more than $2,000 worth of cologne…(the thief) proceeded to remove assorted cologne after opening the display cases with an unknown type of tool.”
• Patch.com, by Lorraine Swanson, Aug 6, 2017 – In an article, “Shoplifter Swipes Over $43,000 Worth Of Gold Earrings From Sears: Prosecutor” the story reports, “…is accused of cutting a security alarm on a display case and walking out of the shopping mall with $43,708 worth of assorted gold earrings.”
Showcases are a poor remedy to a bigger problem. That problem is how to prevent shoplifting with leaner payroll budgets as traditional stores struggle to stay competitive with their traditional competitors and now online rivals. The better way to stop thieves is to use EAS retail anti-theft devices on your merchandise.
Bill Bregar, CEO of Loss Prevention Systems Inc. (LPSI) has made it the objective of his company to help retailers battle criminal shoplifters. With years of Retail Loss Prevention experience up to and including the Director level for National retail chain stores, Bill knows the constraints placed on small business owners. EAS products are recommended by LPSI because they are nearly impossible for shoplifters to defeat and work hand-in-hand with electronic article surveillance (EAS) towers. Trying to carry EAS tagged items past a EAS tower activates an alarm that gets a response from trained store personnel. Unlike items in a showcase that gets broken into and a bag is stuffed full and carried out a door, a tagged item is not going to be tampered with and is going to set off that tower. A video of someone who broke into a showcase probably won’t get your merchandise back for your store there is usually too much time that has gone past. An electronic article surveillance system gives live results. Staff members respond as soon as that alarm sounds. Real time alarms result in real time recoveries.
There is another downside to store showcases. They prevent honest shoppers from being able to look at the products inside of them. If they do see something they are attracted to they can’t handle it and read information on the packaging say for example the iPhones. Your customer wants to look at something? They can wait until you get someone over to open the case and show it to them. Wait! That’s right, you put the display cases in to save payroll because you can’t afford to have someone nearby the area to show merchandise to people who may not want to buy your goods. Now you have to have a call button so the employees you do have in the store can try to get to the showcase before the customer leaves. By using EAS anti-theft devices on merchandise you have the protection you are wanting from a showcase without the interruption to customer service. The more accessible merchandise is to the customer the more sales a store will have. Increased sales means increased payroll so you can better serve your customers.
When stores are stretched so thin on payroll that shoplifters have time to break into showcases to steal then showcases are no longer the answer to prevent shoplifting. Let LPSI help you reduce stock shortage and improve sales with EAS products. You won’t be disappointed and neither will your customers.
For more information about how to prevent shoplifting, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547.
