Wary Of Overnight Crews Binging on Beverages? Stop The Party With Bottle Locks
Have you ever heard the old saying, “when the cat’s away the mice come out to play?” Sometimes for retailers those mice can take human form when no supervisors are in the building. During my years as a Loss Prevention Manager I caught a number of overnight employees and contracted cleaning crew staff stealing in our store. The reason I bring this up is because of a story I came across about a Cleveland, Ohio area store security officer who caught a contracted overnight cleaning crew employee stealing over $1,800 worth of wine from a period of December 2015 until February 2016. That is a lot of wine to rip off! Many times stores will staff with overnight cleaning personnel or early morning stocking staff in order to get the store ready for the next day. If you run a store that sells alcohol, how confident are you that overnight staff are not stealing from you? One way to be more confident is to use Alpha security bottle locks on your wine and spirits.
Using a bottle lock prevents someone from opening a bottle without a special detachment key. Bottle Locks come in several designs but most are made to fit over the cap of a bottle and part of the neck. They lock in place and prevent someone from being able to pry a bottle open and attempts to do so lead to broken bottles. The locks activate electronic article surveillance door antennas if someone attempts to walk out the door with a bottle protected with a lock. In the case of the Versa Guard bottle lock, it is designed for quick removal at the point of sale, adding efficiency when handling multiple bottles at once. Efficiency does not mean easy to defeat and shoplifters are still thwarted in efforts to force a lock off.
Perhaps you don’t have an overnight cleaning staff or employees stocking the sales floor overnight and you are questioning the need for bottle locks. Alpha Security locks don’t prevent just employee theft they also prevent shoplifting. It is easy to walk into many liquor stores and grocery stores and find merchandise without a bottle lock. Shoplifters take bottles and conceal them under clothing, or in bags or purses. With no protection in place, the thief walks out and no one realizes anything is wrong until they notice empty shelves. Worse, no one pays attention until inventory time and shortage results show how many dollars of merchandise are missing.
The question arises, “Why don’t I just use lock up cases and then neither overnight employees nor shoplifters can steal the alcohol?” I have found in my experiences that lock-up cases are a poor solution for theft prevention. They do keep people out, shoplifters and legitimate customers alike. On the other hand, during store operating hours, they require constant customer service. An employee has to be available at all times to open any locked case. Failure to do so in a timely manner can mean lost sales and with enough lost sales a store is bound to go out of business. The fact is customers don’t want to wait and often won’t wait for service. Alpha security products provide retailers the ability to stock merchandise on open displays while still providing security. Sales increase when customers have access to product and can walk around with it and continue shopping. Shoplifters are more likely to go to other stores where there is no wine or liquor bottle security in use.
Whether you have overnight staff or not, there is always a concern that employees may be stealing from your store. Add to that the theft that takes place from shoplifters and stock shortage becomes a real financial problem. Wine and liquor bottle security is significantly enhanced and profits climb when bottle locks are used.
Get more information on bottle locks, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
Have you ever heard the old saying, “when the cat’s away the mice come out to play?” Sometimes for retailers those mice can take human form when no supervisors are in the building. During my years as a Loss Prevention Manager I caught a number of overnight employees and contracted cleaning crew staff stealing in our store. The reason I bring this up is because of a story I came across about a Cleveland, Ohio area store security officer who caught a contracted overnight cleaning crew employee stealing over $1,800 worth of wine from a period of December 2015 until February 2016. That is a lot of wine to rip off! Many times stores will staff with overnight cleaning personnel or early morning stocking staff in order to get the store ready for the next day. If you run a store that sells alcohol, how confident are you that overnight staff are not stealing from you? One way to be more confident is to use Alpha security bottle locks on your wine and spirits.
Using a bottle lock prevents someone from opening a bottle without a special detachment key. Bottle Locks come in several designs but most are made to fit over the cap of a bottle and part of the neck. They lock in place and prevent someone from being able to pry a bottle open and attempts to do so lead to broken bottles. The locks activate electronic article surveillance door antennas if someone attempts to walk out the door with a bottle protected with a lock. In the case of the Versa Guard bottle lock, it is designed for quick removal at the point of sale, adding efficiency when handling multiple bottles at once. Efficiency does not mean easy to defeat and shoplifters are still thwarted in efforts to force a lock off.
Perhaps you don’t have an overnight cleaning staff or employees stocking the sales floor overnight and you are questioning the need for bottle locks. Alpha Security locks don’t prevent just employee theft they also prevent shoplifting. It is easy to walk into many liquor stores and grocery stores and find merchandise without a bottle lock. Shoplifters take bottles and conceal them under clothing, or in bags or purses. With no protection in place, the thief walks out and no one realizes anything is wrong until they notice empty shelves. Worse, no one pays attention until inventory time and shortage results show how many dollars of merchandise are missing.
The question arises, “Why don’t I just use lock up cases and then neither overnight employees nor shoplifters can steal the alcohol?” I have found in my experiences that lock-up cases are a poor solution for theft prevention. They do keep people out, shoplifters and legitimate customers alike. On the other hand, during store operating hours, they require constant customer service. An employee has to be available at all times to open any locked case. Failure to do so in a timely manner can mean lost sales and with enough lost sales a store is bound to go out of business. The fact is customers don’t want to wait and often won’t wait for service. Alpha security products provide retailers the ability to stock merchandise on open displays while still providing security. Sales increase when customers have access to product and can walk around with it and continue shopping. Shoplifters are more likely to go to other stores where there is no wine or liquor bottle security in use.
Whether you have overnight staff or not, there is always a concern that employees may be stealing from your store. Add to that the theft that takes place from shoplifters and stock shortage becomes a real financial problem. Wine and liquor bottle security is significantly enhanced and profits climb when bottle locks are used.
Get more information on bottle locks, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
Don’t Horse Around – Use Alpha Thunder Tags To Protect Veterinary Mobile Devices
You may be aware that many doctor’s offices and hospitals are transitioning from paper records and files to electronic devices to conduct their work. For example they are now using i-pads and tablets for review of patient records, viewing scans and x-rays, even consulting with other doctor’s about procedures before treating patients. But did you know that the use of mobile medical devices is not limited to the treatment of humans? Veterinarians are also helping render aid and treatment to our furry friends with mobile devices. I had never considered that there might be apps available to vets just as there are for doctors. If there are vet apps for i-pads and tablets as those offered to other medical services, then there must be growth in the demand for the devices. Just like the risks posed to other doctors, this means i-pad theft and tablet theft will be a concern for veterinarians. The Alpha Thunder Tag is the anti-theft device that will keep your mobile devices safe.
Originally designed as a retail anti-theft tool, the Alpha Thunder Tag has applications outside the retail arena. The tag is attached by an adhesive to a mobile device and therefore acts as a visible deterrent to someone who may be tempted to try to steal one. The tags also are designed to work with an electronic article surveillance system (EAS) so that in the event a thief attempts to walk out of an office the EAS antenna will activate. The activation serves to warn staff that a device is being carried out of the building and they can respond and retrieve the device. If the 3 alarm model of the tag is purchased an added benefit is an internal alarm that activates in the device if someone were to get through the antennas and exit the building. Having worked for many years in the retail loss prevention field, I can verify that EAS activations can scare thieves into dropping merchandise. I am confident it would have the same effect for someone attempting a medical tablet theft or i-pad theft.
You may be wondering what would possess someone to want to steal information on Spot or Fluffy. The bad guys may not be trying to get the pet’s information remember veterinary clinics carry a lot of client information from the pet owner. Addresses, email information, pet prescriptions and billing information are all potentially areas of vulnerability that could have value on the black market. With adequate information, criminals can gain enough data to create identity theft via a stolen profile. Veterinarians are not subject to HIPAA regulations so they may not be as careful with client information as other doctors. This is not to say they would be intentionally careless, but the penalties imposed on other doctors by the government if a data breach occurs is a strong catalyst to ensure adequate security measures are in place. Much of the information a criminal needs is often stored on mobile devices and therefore makes i-pad theft and tablet theft a real possibility.
The other reason a veterinary practice should be concerned with mobile devices being stolen is that tablets and i-pads are valuable for resale. Someone may not be attempting to gain access to Fido’s prescription dog food information they might simply want to get the device and wipe it clean and resell it. In other cases, people will steal simply for the excitement of trying to get away with something. In retail loss prevention we frequently would encounter the shoplifter who would steal because they were “dared” or “they wanted to see if they could do it”. There is an adrenaline rush some thieves feel and that drives their motivation.
Regardless of the reason, tablet theft and i-pad theft is as much a concern for veterinarians as it is for other medical practices. The Alpha Thunder Tag is the way to ensure that mobile devices and the information they carry remain secure.
Need information on Alpha Thunder Tag? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
You may be aware that many doctor’s offices and hospitals are transitioning from paper records and files to electronic devices to conduct their work. For example they are now using i-pads and tablets for review of patient records, viewing scans and x-rays, even consulting with other doctor’s about procedures before treating patients. But did you know that the use of mobile medical devices is not limited to the treatment of humans? Veterinarians are also helping render aid and treatment to our furry friends with mobile devices. I had never considered that there might be apps available to vets just as there are for doctors. If there are vet apps for i-pads and tablets as those offered to other medical services, then there must be growth in the demand for the devices. Just like the risks posed to other doctors, this means i-pad theft and tablet theft will be a concern for veterinarians. The Alpha Thunder Tag is the anti-theft device that will keep your mobile devices safe.
Originally designed as a retail anti-theft tool, the Alpha Thunder Tag has applications outside the retail arena. The tag is attached by an adhesive to a mobile device and therefore acts as a visible deterrent to someone who may be tempted to try to steal one. The tags also are designed to work with an electronic article surveillance system (EAS) so that in the event a thief attempts to walk out of an office the EAS antenna will activate. The activation serves to warn staff that a device is being carried out of the building and they can respond and retrieve the device. If the 3 alarm model of the tag is purchased an added benefit is an internal alarm that activates in the device if someone were to get through the antennas and exit the building. Having worked for many years in the retail loss prevention field, I can verify that EAS activations can scare thieves into dropping merchandise. I am confident it would have the same effect for someone attempting a medical tablet theft or i-pad theft.
You may be wondering what would possess someone to want to steal information on Spot or Fluffy. The bad guys may not be trying to get the pet’s information remember veterinary clinics carry a lot of client information from the pet owner. Addresses, email information, pet prescriptions and billing information are all potentially areas of vulnerability that could have value on the black market. With adequate information, criminals can gain enough data to create identity theft via a stolen profile. Veterinarians are not subject to HIPAA regulations so they may not be as careful with client information as other doctors. This is not to say they would be intentionally careless, but the penalties imposed on other doctors by the government if a data breach occurs is a strong catalyst to ensure adequate security measures are in place. Much of the information a criminal needs is often stored on mobile devices and therefore makes i-pad theft and tablet theft a real possibility.
The other reason a veterinary practice should be concerned with mobile devices being stolen is that tablets and i-pads are valuable for resale. Someone may not be attempting to gain access to Fido’s prescription dog food information they might simply want to get the device and wipe it clean and resell it. In other cases, people will steal simply for the excitement of trying to get away with something. In retail loss prevention we frequently would encounter the shoplifter who would steal because they were “dared” or “they wanted to see if they could do it”. There is an adrenaline rush some thieves feel and that drives their motivation.
Regardless of the reason, tablet theft and i-pad theft is as much a concern for veterinarians as it is for other medical practices. The Alpha Thunder Tag is the way to ensure that mobile devices and the information they carry remain secure.
Need information on Alpha Thunder Tag? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
Don’t Be Intimidated By Wardrobers; Use Alpha Shark Tags To Enforce Return Policies
I have a daughter who works in clothing retail, often at the customer service counter taking returns. Because of our similar backgrounds, I like to ask her about her experiences with attempted return fraud. She recently told me about a customer attempting to return an inexpensive lingerie item that had a shirt tag on it for $32.99. The ticket was from a shirt their store carries, but she said the lingerie piece was not one of their brands. While this is one return she was able to prevent, she did say that she has had a number of items returned that had obviously been worn. She described an incident of a man returning a pair of work pants that had a foul smell and had obviously been worn. Because the customer had the receipt and the tags, the manager on duty accepted the return. Since I have retail management experience, I knew the answer to my own question, but I asked my daughter if they were supposed to take items in this condition back. I also asked her why the managers would do this. The answer: No, they aren’t supposed to take the items back, but some do it to avoid the threat of a call to corporate.
Return fraud situations like this could easily be avoided if clothing retailers would use Alpha Shark Tags on the garments they sell. What is so special about Alpha Shark Tags? These tags are attached to clothing in a location that will ensure they are visible and can’t be concealed. For example, on a pair of slacks a Shark Tag would be applied on a seam near the knee so an untucked shirt cannot be used to cover it up. On a shirt the tag could be applied near the collar so there is no concealing it with a sweater. Wardrobing tags have to be removed once the purchaser gets home and decides they are going to keep the item and wear it. Once removed wardrobing tags can’t be reattached and store policy should dictate that under no circumstance will an item be accepted for a return without tag attached, except in the case of a defect in the merchandise.
It is an unfortunate reality that many people involved in wardrobing know that it is not difficult to return merchandise they have worn. They are aware that many retail managers at store level don’t like to have an upset customer and they don’t like confrontation. Part of this I blame on the culture that has developed around the concept that “the customer is always right”. No, the customer is not always right, especially when they are trying to commit return fraud. It is important to do the right thing for the customer who is making a legitimate purchase and return, but the people wardrobing are using stores as their personal clothing closet, buying new clothes, wearing them and returning them for full refunds. Too often I have seen managers tell a customer no to a return and the customer demand the number to a district manager or a corporate phone number. The dreaded threat of a “call to corporate” often ends up with a manager “allowing the return just this once, even though I’m not supposed to”.
Excellence in customer service starts with making your patrons feel welcome when they enter your store and making sure you find out what they are looking for and helping them make the choices that will fit them. Offering suggestions for accessorizing can also make a shopping experience enjoyable, especially for a shopper who may not know quite what will go with an outfit. Finally, ensure that the checkout process is easy and the customer knows exactly what the store return policies are. Customers who are honest will abide by return policies and won’t abuse them as long as a store is upfront about their policies and makes good faith efforts to correct a problem with defective merchandise.
If you use Alpha Shark Tags and explain the return policy to customers, you can stand by your policy with confidence. Even if YOU are the “District Manager” and “Corporate Office”, you can rest assured your good customers will continue to shop with you and those committing return fraud will find somewhere else to go where they can intimidate managers.
For more information on Return Fraud contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
I have a daughter who works in clothing retail, often at the customer service counter taking returns. Because of our similar backgrounds, I like to ask her about her experiences with attempted return fraud. She recently told me about a customer attempting to return an inexpensive lingerie item that had a shirt tag on it for $32.99. The ticket was from a shirt their store carries, but she said the lingerie piece was not one of their brands. While this is one return she was able to prevent, she did say that she has had a number of items returned that had obviously been worn. She described an incident of a man returning a pair of work pants that had a foul smell and had obviously been worn. Because the customer had the receipt and the tags, the manager on duty accepted the return. Since I have retail management experience, I knew the answer to my own question, but I asked my daughter if they were supposed to take items in this condition back. I also asked her why the managers would do this. The answer: No, they aren’t supposed to take the items back, but some do it to avoid the threat of a call to corporate.
Return fraud situations like this could easily be avoided if clothing retailers would use Alpha Shark Tags on the garments they sell. What is so special about Alpha Shark Tags? These tags are attached to clothing in a location that will ensure they are visible and can’t be concealed. For example, on a pair of slacks a Shark Tag would be applied on a seam near the knee so an untucked shirt cannot be used to cover it up. On a shirt the tag could be applied near the collar so there is no concealing it with a sweater. Wardrobing tags have to be removed once the purchaser gets home and decides they are going to keep the item and wear it. Once removed wardrobing tags can’t be reattached and store policy should dictate that under no circumstance will an item be accepted for a return without tag attached, except in the case of a defect in the merchandise.
It is an unfortunate reality that many people involved in wardrobing know that it is not difficult to return merchandise they have worn. They are aware that many retail managers at store level don’t like to have an upset customer and they don’t like confrontation. Part of this I blame on the culture that has developed around the concept that “the customer is always right”. No, the customer is not always right, especially when they are trying to commit return fraud. It is important to do the right thing for the customer who is making a legitimate purchase and return, but the people wardrobing are using stores as their personal clothing closet, buying new clothes, wearing them and returning them for full refunds. Too often I have seen managers tell a customer no to a return and the customer demand the number to a district manager or a corporate phone number. The dreaded threat of a “call to corporate” often ends up with a manager “allowing the return just this once, even though I’m not supposed to”.
Excellence in customer service starts with making your patrons feel welcome when they enter your store and making sure you find out what they are looking for and helping them make the choices that will fit them. Offering suggestions for accessorizing can also make a shopping experience enjoyable, especially for a shopper who may not know quite what will go with an outfit. Finally, ensure that the checkout process is easy and the customer knows exactly what the store return policies are. Customers who are honest will abide by return policies and won’t abuse them as long as a store is upfront about their policies and makes good faith efforts to correct a problem with defective merchandise.
If you use Alpha Shark Tags and explain the return policy to customers, you can stand by your policy with confidence. Even if YOU are the “District Manager” and “Corporate Office”, you can rest assured your good customers will continue to shop with you and those committing return fraud will find somewhere else to go where they can intimidate managers.
For more information on Return Fraud, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
Jewelry stores have to balance the fine line of having enough inventory out for display and having the right amount of protection in place. Honest shoppers want to be able to browse around and find the right item, but criminals are also on the lookout for what they can grab. There has to be a good selection of diamond rings for the nervous groom to be, but if there are no retail anti theft devices in place, a smooth talking thief can be out the front door with a fistful before the staff ever misses a thing.
Bracelets, necklaces, earrings, and more are very vulnerable, expensive, small pieces that can be slipped in a pocket or purse. In order to prevent shoplifting, there is a great tool called the Alpha Jewel Lok that can help you monitor your valuable inventory. A key selling point for this product is that it will protect the jewelry, not the packaging.
I live in a town where just last year a pair of men went into a very high end jewelry store and asked to look at the Rolex watches. They took turns trying on practically every single one they had. They went back and forth, looking at them all, talking with the clerks and shooting the breeze with them. Then one guy got a phone call, while the other kept checking out the watches. A little more time passed and both men left without making a purchase. Unfortunately when the clerk began to return all the watches to their boxes, there was one missing. Between the two of them, they walked out the door with a $35,000 time piece. It’s been just over a year, and neither of them have been caught. Last night there was a similar story on the nightly news. A man and woman this time, in the same town, but it was a different jewelry store. It was almost the same situation though. (Again, there were no retail anti theft devices on any of the pieces.) The two of them walked in and asked to look at the best watches the place had in stock. The store staff happily complied, ready for a big sales commission. After some time looking at them, the pair said they planned to look around at other competitors. Then when the manager started looking at the display case, he found one watch was gone. Sure, they got them on surveillance and the picture was clear, but the store is still missing a $12,000 watch. That’s a big hit for a one day loss.
Alpha Jewel Loks could have prevented both of these terribly brazen thefts. They are made to be attached directly to the jewelry item, not the box. Alpha Jewel Loks are a great theft deterrent because of this. If there is a theft attempt, the store staff will immediately be alerted, instead of finding out after the fact when it is too late. Jewel thieves are known to be slick fast talkers. They have made an art of getting away with valuable pieces to sell or add to their own collections. They tend to go from town to town and they are frequently successful using the same schemes. That’s why it is so imperative to prevent shoplifting in the jewelry store sector. In order to put a stop to this, we’ve got to get owners and managers of jewelry stores to look into investing in Alpha Jewel Loks.
Get more information on Alpha Jewel Loks and more Alpha Hard Tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today
Jewelry stores have to balance the fine line of having enough inventory out for display and having the right amount of protection in place. Honest shoppers want to be able to browse around and find the right item, but criminals are also on the lookout for what they can grab. There has to be a good selection of diamond rings for the nervous groom to be, but if there are no retail anti theft devices in place, a smooth talking thief can be out the front door with a fistful before the staff ever misses a thing. Bracelets, necklaces, earrings, and more are very vulnerable, expensive, small pieces that can be slipped in a pocket or purse. In order to prevent shoplifting, there is a great tool called the Alpha Jewel Lok that can help you monitor your valuable inventory. A key selling point for this product is that it will protect the jewelry, not the packaging.
I live in a town where just last year a pair of men went into a very high end jewelry store and asked to look at the Rolex watches. They took turns trying on practically every single one they had. They went back and forth, looking at them all, talking with the clerks and shooting the breeze with them. Then one guy got a phone call, while the other kept checking out the watches. A little more time passed and both men left without making a purchase. Unfortunately when the clerk began to return all the watches to their boxes, there was one missing. Between the two of them, they walked out the door with a $35,000 time piece. It’s been just over a year, and neither of them have been caught. Last night there was a similar story on the nightly news. A man and woman this time, in the same town, but it was a different jewelry store. It was almost the same situation though. (Again, there were no retail anti theft devices on any of the pieces.) The two of them walked in and asked to look at the best watches the place had in stock. The store staff happily complied, ready for a big sales commission. After some time looking at them, the pair said they planned to look around at other competitors. Then when the manager started looking at the display case, he found one watch was gone. Sure, they got them on surveillance and the picture was clear, but the store is still missing a $12,000 watch. That’s a big hit for a one day loss.
Alpha Jewel Loks could have prevented both of these terribly brazen thefts. They are made to be attached directly to the jewelry item, not the box. Alpha Jewel Loks are a great theft deterrent because of this. If there is a theft attempt, the store staff will immediately be alerted, instead of finding out after the fact when it is too late. Jewel thieves are known to be slick fast talkers. They have made an art of getting away with valuable pieces to sell or add to their own collections. They tend to go from town to town and they are frequently successful using the same schemes. That’s why it is so imperative to prevent shoplifting in the jewelry store sector. In order to put a stop to this, we’ve got to get owners and managers of jewelry stores to look into investing in Alpha Jewel Loks.
Get more information on Alpha Jewel Loks and more Alpha Hard Tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today
50 PRODUCTS THAT SHOULD BE PROTECTED WITH CHECKPOINT LABELS – PT6
Well here we are at the halfway point! I’m glad you’ve stuck around this long. I tried to think of some specialty retailers and specialized items that may get overlooked in the product protection strategy playbook. I’ve crafted yet another list of product that would make you a target for thieves if you’re not using EAS Labels.
22. Ceramic Dolls
Does anyone else out there have a grandmother, or aunt that just has this huge collection of ceramic dolls? And does anyone else think that when you’re over at said grandmother or aunt’s house, that the dolls watch you? Well, I do; and it’s a creepy hobby if you ask me, but to each their own I suppose. For me, this is my grandmother. She loves to go out and collect these dolls; no matter the price. I’ve been with her a few times when she makes her purchase. Normally, it is a small retailer, which may even be family owned. You walk in, and there are hundreds of ceramic dolls just staring at you… There are also no EAS labels either. So if you’re not scared of being haunted, they are easy to steal. Just like the dolls, Checkpoint Labels are always watching.
23. Key chains
How many gift shops have you stumbled your way into? Every single place we go, it seems like my girlfriend will find a gift shop; and they’re all the same.. They all carry the same basic items: T-Shirts from the city, shot glasses, magnets and of course key chains. I often wonder just how many get stolen every year. They are super small, easily concealable and often placed in back corners. A perfect storm for inviting theft. There are some smaller Checkpoint Labels out there that can be a great tool to use here.
24. Cookbooks
This goes back to my gift shop owners. You can always find a local cookbook in there as well. Why take the chance of a shoplifter taking this book? Use a Checkpoint Label to make sure your profits don’t burn like your bisque. Here’s a good tip for tagging books. Don’t do like so many retailers and put the label on the back cover. Criminals are stupid, but they aren’t dumb. They can easily attempt to defeat the label. Instead, hide the EAS Label on a random blank page in the book. That way, the tag is harder for the shoplifter to detect and will certainly still set the door alarm off if someone tries to walk away with your recipes!
25. Bedding Sets
I know, this one is a little random; but I didn’t have anywhere else to include it at. I recently found myself purchasing new bedding set. Egyptian cotton, 1000 thread count. I sleep like a baby. It also set me back more than I ever thought I’d pay for sheets, too. This is another item that is made perfect for the professional price-switcher. With just a little effort, a thief can swap out the tags and really give your P&L nightmares. Don’t’ let it happen to you. Use your Checkpoint Labels and sleep better knowing that your profits are staying in your pockets!
For more information on Checkpoint Labels, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
Well here we are at the halfway point! I’m glad you’ve stuck around this long. I tried to think of some specialty retailers and specialized items that may get overlooked in the product protection strategy playbook. I’ve crafted yet another list of product that would make you a target for thieves if you’re not using EAS Labels.
22. Ceramic Dolls
Does anyone else out there have a grandmother, or aunt that just has this huge collection of ceramic dolls? And does anyone else think that when you’re over at said grandmother or aunt’s house, that the dolls watch you? Well, I do; and it’s a creepy hobby if you ask me, but to each their own I suppose. For me, this is my grandmother. She loves to go out and collect these dolls; no matter the price. I’ve been with her a few times when she makes her purchase. Normally, it is a small retailer, which may even be family owned. You walk in, and there are hundreds of ceramic dolls just staring at you… There are also no EAS labels either. So if you’re not scared of being haunted, they are easy to steal. Just like the dolls, Checkpoint Labels are always watching.
23. Key chains
How many gift shops have you stumbled your way into? Every single place we go, it seems like my girlfriend will find a gift shop; and they’re all the same.. They all carry the same basic items: T-Shirts from the city, shot glasses, magnets and of course key chains. I often wonder just how many get stolen every year. They are super small, easily concealable and often placed in back corners. A perfect storm for inviting theft. There are some smaller Checkpoint Labels out there that can be a great tool to use here.
24. Cookbooks
This goes back to my gift shop owners. You can always find a local cookbook in there as well. Why take the chance of a shoplifter taking this book? Use a Checkpoint Label to make sure your profits don’t burn like your bisque. Here’s a good tip for tagging books. Don’t do like so many retailers and put the label on the back cover. Criminals are stupid, but they aren’t dumb. They can easily attempt to defeat the label. Instead, hide the EAS Label on a random blank page in the book. That way, the tag is harder for the shoplifter to detect and will certainly still set the door alarm off if someone tries to walk away with your recipes!
25. Bedding Sets
I know, this one is a little random; but I didn’t have anywhere else to include it at. I recently found myself purchasing new bedding set. Egyptian cotton, 1000 thread count. I sleep like a baby. It also set me back more than I ever thought I’d pay for sheets, too. This is another item that is made perfect for the professional price-switcher. With just a little effort, a thief can swap out the tags and really give your P&L nightmares. Don’t’ let it happen to you. Use your Checkpoint Labels and sleep better knowing that your profits are staying in your pockets!
For more information on Checkpoint Labels, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
Bottle Service Keeps Your Nightclub From Becoming A Wild West Saloon!
I am a HUGE fan of western movies and ESPECIALLY John Wayne! I love sitting down and watching the bad guys terrorizing the town and then the sheriff, outnumbered and outgunned takes on the unruly gang and their leader. How about the saloon fights? One guy standing at the bar minding his own business and in walks the local bully who gets drunk and wants to start a fight? The little guy gets pushed around and in steps someone who is willing to confront the bully and his thugs. Fists fly, the piano player in the corner trying to play his music while mayhem rules the barroom. Mugs of beer get tossed in a person’s face and whiskey bottles are smashed over someone’s head. I know, it’s the movies, it is glamorized and the reality is fights leave people really hurt and not everyone wakes up after a pitcher of water is tossed on the face. Now, what would happen in those same movies if the saloons (the nightclubs of the day) offered a bottle service to their customers? The scenario would be a little different and so would my movie watching.
A little background on what the bottle service is before I go on. Nightclubs that offer this service are offering a party package that is purchased in advance. The group pays for a waiter/waitress who will be attending to the party for the night. They also receive a booth or table and in some cases a room that gives them a best view in the house, so to speak. Their server will pour and mix their drinks from a bottle or two of a premium wine or alcohol beverage. Each bottle is secured with a bottle lock so the server controls who gets a drink and how much. Hint: The server can also cut off a party member who is getting too drunk or obnoxious.
Now, picture what my favorite westerns would look like if the saloons of the day had bottle service. The outlaw gang makes reservations for their group for the night. They arrive and are greeted by the saloon owner who makes a big show of their arrival and escorts them to a table near the piano player and they meet their waitress for the evening. The barroom (or nightclub) starts to fill with patrons and people are having a good time. The gang leader has had a couple of drinks and is starting to get loud. He demands another drink and the waitress refuses to take the bottle lock off of the whiskey. Our bad guy is now more demanding and wants the bottle lock removed so he can pour his own drink. The waitress reminds him that as per their service agreement, she is responsible for removing the bottle lock and mixing drinks and has the right to cut off a guest who she feels is too intoxicated. The waitress contacts the saloon owner who then reviews the terms of the agreement with the gang and explains the beech of the contract. The gang reluctantly gets up and leaves the saloon. No fight breaks out and everyone else continues to enjoy a good time.
Boy, am I glad they didn’t have bottle service in the old days that certainly would not make for an entertaining movie! Of course I am being silly, but in a sense this is what a service can do for today’s nightclub or bar owner. Create a unique experience for a group, perhaps for a birthday party or other celebration and provide a dedicated server who can control drinks and mixing. Should a group member start to become too drunk or out of line, they can be cut-off from additional drinks and club security can be made aware before the person starts to fight or cause a problem.
Bottle service is a great way to increase your income and offer new experiences for your customers. Don’t let your nightclub turn into a Wild West saloon, make it a fun, safe and controlled environment for everyone!
Get more information on Bottle Service, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
I am a HUGE fan of western movies and ESPECIALLY John Wayne! I love sitting down and watching the bad guys terrorizing the town and then the sheriff, outnumbered and outgunned takes on the unruly gang and their leader. How about the saloon fights? One guy standing at the bar minding his own business and in walks the local bully who gets drunk and wants to start a fight? The little guy gets pushed around and in steps someone who is willing to confront the bully and his thugs. Fists fly, the piano player in the corner trying to play his music while mayhem rules the barroom. Mugs of beer get tossed in a person’s face and whiskey bottles are smashed over someone’s head. I know, it’s the movies, it is glamorized and the reality is fights leave people really hurt and not everyone wakes up after a pitcher of water is tossed on the face. Now, what would happen in those same movies if the saloons (the nightclubs of the day) offered a bottle service to their customers? The scenario would be a little different and so would my movie watching.
A little background on what the bottle service is before I go on. Nightclubs that offer this service are offering a party package that is purchased in advance. The group pays for a waiter/waitress who will be attending to the party for the night. They also receive a booth or table and in some cases a room that gives them a best view in the house, so to speak. Their server will pour and mix their drinks from a bottle or two of a premium wine or alcohol beverage. Each bottle is secured with a bottle lock so the server controls who gets a drink and how much. Hint: The server can also cut off a party member who is getting too drunk or obnoxious.
Now, picture what my favorite westerns would look like if the saloons of the day had bottle service. The outlaw gang makes reservations for their group for the night. They arrive and are greeted by the saloon owner who makes a big show of their arrival and escorts them to a table near the piano player and they meet their waitress for the evening. The barroom (or nightclub) starts to fill with patrons and people are having a good time. The gang leader has had a couple of drinks and is starting to get loud. He demands another drink and the waitress refuses to take the bottle lock off of the whiskey. Our bad guy is now more demanding and wants the bottle lock removed so he can pour his own drink. The waitress reminds him that as per their service agreement, she is responsible for removing the bottle lock and mixing drinks and has the right to cut off a guest who she feels is too intoxicated. The waitress contacts the saloon owner who then reviews the terms of the agreement with the gang and explains the breech of the contract. The gang reluctantly gets up and leaves the saloon. No fight breaks out and everyone else continues to enjoy a good time.
Boy, am I glad they didn’t have bottle service in the old days that certainly would not make for an entertaining movie! Of course I am being silly, but in a sense this is what a service can do for today’s nightclub or bar owner. Create a unique experience for a group, perhaps for a birthday party or other celebration and provide a dedicated server who can control drinks and mixing. Should a group member start to become too drunk or out of line, they can be cut-off from additional drinks and club security can be made aware before the person starts to fight or cause a problem.
Bottle service is a great way to increase your income and offer new experiences for your customers. Don’t let your nightclub turn into a Wild West saloon, make it a fun, safe and controlled environment for everyone!
Get more information on Bottle Service, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
