50 PRODUCTS THAT SHOULD BE PROTECTED WITH CHECKPOINT LABELS – PT 4
You know, I’m really enjoying this series. I wish when I first started in the retail Management and LP business, someone would have put together a list like this for me. I still find items almost weekly that should be secured with Checkpoint Labels, or other security measures, and I’m sure that’s the case with most in my position. We all want to be as proactive to loss reduction as possible, so we’ll continue the series with some more commonly stolen; and even more commonly not-protected items.
16. Toothpaste
If you recall in part 3 of the series, we talked a lot about those home care product and how they are just so appealing to boosters. Toothpaste ranks as one of the top 10 commonly stolen personal use products and again it’s due to the easy of concealment and the large market that exists for the stolen goods. That couple with a lack of EAS labels on most brands, you have a perfect storm brewing for massive losses. You can deter this type of theft with a simple Checkpoint Label. I would suggest placing the label directly on the tube of toothpaste, in lieu of the box, as thieves have gotten pretty wise and I’ve seen an increase in cases where they meticulously remove the tubes from boxes to avoid detection going out the door.
17. Lipstick
From teens, to the elderly that are going play a round of bingo, lipstick is a very popular cosmetic. It’s also incredibly easy to steal, due to the size. Did you know that Checkpoint Labels come in a variety of sizes that can fit just about every need? There are some simple EAS Labels that can be applied to these items to discourage anyone from slipping a tube in their pocket.
18. Headphones
Headphones come in so many shapes and sizes. Whether you carry the large, over the ear line, or the slim in-ear buds, these are popular amongst a wide variety of demographics. They are even more popular amongst the thieves. Fear not, Checkpoint Labels make a great physical deterrence to any would be thief.
19. Cookware
Not too long ago, my girlfriend and I walked into a speciality cookware store, looking for some inexpensive dinnerware. I enjoy cooking, and most of my meals during the week are home cooked, so I don’t mind spending a bit of money on an item that I know will last me several years. If you’ve ever found yourself in the same store, you already know just how expensive some cookware can be! $150 for on pan! That’s a bit much and for that price, it better cook my egg for me… As with any retailer that sells high end items, the risk for shoplifting incidents is always higher, just due to the value of the product. If you sell cookware that is commonly stolen, try using Checkpoint Label to help deter the thieves. Knowing that they will set off the alarm at the exit will usually deter most opportunistic thieves.
20. Thermos Mugs
Yes, believe it or not, I see these get stolen from my stores quite a few times a week. I think mainly the cause is they are not protected in any way shape or form. My particular company doesn’t see the need to use an EAS Label here, so I have to battle the thieves pretty often. You, however, most likely own your store, or at least are a decision maker when it comes to product protection. If you’re struggling with missing inventory, it could be a theft problem. A simple label to the bottom of the mug will prevent most theft.
For more information about Checkpoint Labels, contact us or call 1.8.66.426.0547
You know, I’m really enjoying this series. I wish when I first started in the retail Management and LP business, someone would have put together a list like this for me. I still find items almost weekly that should be secured with Checkpoint Labels, or other security measures, and I’m sure that’s the case with most in my position. We all want to be as proactive to loss reduction as possible, so we’ll continue the series with some more commonly stolen; and even more commonly not-protected items.
16. Toothpaste
If you recall in part 3 of the series, we talked a lot about those home care product and how they are just so appealing to boosters. Toothpaste ranks as one of the top 10 commonly stolen personal use products and again it’s due to the easy of concealment and the large market that exists for the stolen goods. That couple with a lack of EAS labels on most brands, you have a perfect storm brewing for massive losses. You can deter this type of theft with a simple Checkpoint Label. I would suggest placing the label directly on the tube of toothpaste, in lieu of the box, as thieves have gotten pretty wise and I’ve seen an increase in cases where they meticulously remove the tubes from boxes to avoid detection going out the door.
17. Lipstick
From teens, to the elderly that are going play a round of bingo, lipstick is a very popular cosmetic. It’s also incredibly easy to steal, due to the size. Did you know that Checkpoint Labels come in a variety of sizes that can fit just about every need? There are some simple EAS Labels that can be applied to these items to discourage anyone from slipping a tube in their pocket.
18. Headphones
Headphones come in so many shapes and sizes. Whether you carry the large, over the ear line, or the slim in-ear buds, these are popular amongst a wide variety of demographics. They are even more popular amongst the thieves. Fear not, Checkpoint Labels make a great physical deterrence to any would be thief.
19. Cookware
Not too long ago, my girlfriend and I walked into a speciality cookware store, looking for some inexpensive dinnerware. I enjoy cooking, and most of my meals during the week are home cooked, so I don’t mind spending a bit of money on an item that I know will last me several years. If you’ve ever found yourself in the same store, you already know just how expensive some cookware can be! $150 for on pan! That’s a bit much and for that price, it better cook my egg for me… As with any retailer that sells high end items, the risk for shoplifting incidents is always higher, just due to the value of the product. If you sell cookware that is commonly stolen, try using Checkpoint Label to help deter the thieves. Knowing that they will set off the alarm at the exit will usually deter most opportunistic thieves.
20. Thermos Mugs
Yes, believe it or not, I see these get stolen from my stores quite a few times a week. I think mainly the cause is they are not protected in any way shape or form. My particular company doesn’t see the need to use an EAS Label here, so I have to battle the thieves pretty often. You, however, most likely own your store, or at least are a decision maker when it comes to product protection. If you’re struggling with missing inventory, it could be a theft problem. A simple label to the bottom of the mug will prevent most theft.
For more information about Checkpoint Labels, contact us or call 1.8.66.426.0547
Bottle service-5 WC blog 63
Nightclub-5
Bottle Lock-5
Revel In More Revenue By Adding Bottle Service
If you already own a nightclub or bar, I’m probably not going to be able to tell you much about how lucrative the club industry can be. I’m also not going to be able to tell you how many staff to hire, or what to charge for a drink. But, what I may be able to offer you is a suggestion that can make your business more profitable than it already is. Before I let you in on my suggestion, I would like to share some statistics from nciaa.com (Nightlife and Club Association of America). According to their website: “ A study conducted by Optimize Atlanta with participating Atlanta nightclubs and lounges, reveals interesting information about nightclubs, VIP, Bottle Service, and Group Dynamics. We learned that the average overall bottle price is $239; the overall average drink price is $10.50; 67% consume two or more drinks, shots or cocktails; and spend $55 on average.” Now, consider this information from howmuchisit.org: “…the most common way to charge for bottle service is per bottle. On average, depending on the type of alcohol served, plan on spending anywhere from $200 to as much as $800 per bottle.” They go on to say, “If you want to break it down per person, it is best to estimate $150 – $300 PER person.” So, according to the information from the two websites, the average club patron will spend $55 versus the bottle service patron who may spend as much as $300. The numbers are not guaranteed, part of what needs to be taken into consideration is what a nightclub is offering for their particular packages. No matter how you slice it though, this service can significantly increase a club owner’s profits.
So now you are wondering what a bottle service entails. It is a special offer to groups who are looking for a club that will treat them like VIP’s. This might be for a reunion, a birthday party, or perhaps an after- hours office party. The group pays a price based on the level of service they are seeking. The more amenities requested or the larger the party the more bottles are required to be ordered by the group. For example, a party of four seated in a booth by the dance floor might be charged a price that includes a single bottle of champagne or other top shelf spirit. The alcohol they order should come with a bottle lock and the package price includes a waiter or waitress dedicated to serving the party during the night. The server has a bottle lock key that will permit only the dedicated server to open the bottle and pour drinks. The bottle lock keeps anyone not affiliated with the group from pilfering drinks from the bottle. It also allows the server to control the serving sizes to ensure alcohol measurements are proper. The bottle lock is tamper proof so if someone were to pick up the bottle and take it somewhere to open it, chances are they will break the bottle rather than get it open.
Clubs also benefit with the service because the dedicated server can be more committed to building rapport with the group they are assigned to and will be able to identify if a member of the party might be having too much to drink. If the server believes the customer is too intoxicated a ride home with a designated driver or a cab can be arranged. The bottle lock gives staff the ability to cut off that patron’s alcohol consumption.
Customers will love the opportunity to receive VIP treatment and to be the center of attention. Nightclub owners will enjoy the increased profits that a bottle service will provide.
For more information on bottle service, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
If you already own a nightclub or bar, I’m probably not going to be able to tell you much about how lucrative the club industry can be. I’m also not going to be able to tell you how many staff to hire, or what to charge for a drink. But, what I may be able to offer you is a suggestion that can make your business more profitable than it already is. Before I let you in on my suggestion, I would like to share some statistics from nciaa.com (Nightlife and Club Association of America). According to their website: “ A study conducted by Optimize Atlanta with participating Atlanta nightclubs and lounges, reveals interesting information about nightclubs, VIP, Bottle Service, and Group Dynamics. We learned that the average overall bottle price is $239; the overall average drink price is $10.50; 67% consume two or more drinks, shots or cocktails; and spend $55 on average.” Now, consider this information from howmuchisit.org: “…the most common way to charge for bottle service is per bottle. On average, depending on the type of alcohol served, plan on spending anywhere from $200 to as much as $800 per bottle.” They go on to say, “If you want to break it down per person, it is best to estimate $150 – $300 PER person.” So, according to the information from the two websites, the average club patron will spend $55 versus the bottle service patron who may spend as much as $300. The numbers are not guaranteed, part of what needs to be taken into consideration is what a nightclub is offering for their particular packages. No matter how you slice it though, this service can significantly increase a club owner’s profits.
So now you are wondering what a bottle service entails. It is a special offer to groups who are looking for a club that will treat them like VIP’s. This might be for a reunion, a birthday party, or perhaps an after- hours office party. The group pays a price based on the level of service they are seeking. The more amenities requested or the larger the party the more bottles are required to be ordered by the group. For example, a party of four seated in a booth by the dance floor might be charged a price that includes a single bottle of champagne or other top shelf spirit. The alcohol they order should come with a bottle lock and the package price includes a waiter or waitress dedicated to serving the party during the night. The server has a bottle lock key that will permit only the dedicated server to open the bottle and pour drinks. The bottle lock keeps anyone not affiliated with the group from pilfering drinks from the bottle. It also allows the server to control the serving sizes to ensure alcohol measurements are proper. The bottle lock is tamper proof so if someone were to pick up the bottle and take it somewhere to open it, chances are they will break the bottle rather than get it open.
Clubs also benefit with the service because the dedicated server can be more committed to building rapport with the group they are assigned to and will be able to identify if a member of the party might be having too much to drink. If the server believes the customer is too intoxicated a ride home with a designated driver or a cab can be arranged. The bottle lock gives staff the ability to cut off that patron’s alcohol consumption.
Customers will love the opportunity to receive VIP treatment and to be the center of attention. Nightclub owners will enjoy the increased profits that a bottle service will provide.
For more information on bottle service, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
Retail Theft prevention – 3 WC blog 45
stop shoplifting-3
Electronic Article Surveillance Buying Guide
Electronic Article Surveillance systems were created in 1966 by Arthur Minasy in order to prevent thieves from shoplifting from stores. Over the years the industry has grown and with it systems have improved from types of antennas used to detect EAS protected merchandise to the variety of EAS tags used in the industry today. The use of the technology has also grown from being retail theft prevention oriented to having an impact in businesses, libraries, and even into the medical field.
Knowing what you need to secure
It is important to know what it is you want to protect before making a purchasing decision. Are you a small retailer that sells clothing and need to stop shoplifting? Perhaps you own a wine specialty shop and want a retail theft prevention system to protect higher priced wines or other spirits from theft. Many businesses, including medical practices, have adopted newer mobile technologies in the workplace and use tablets and i-pads. Due to the information contained on these devices there is a need to ensure the devices don’t leave the building. While Electronic Article Surveillance systems all work on the same basic principle of a radio frequency reading tags that pass through antennas and alarm if the tag is not deactivated, there are various types of tags and devices that can be used based on the item(s) to be protected.
• Electronic Article Surveillance Tags – These are considered “soft” tags and generally can be applied to cardboard, plastic and ceramic surfaces. They may be purchased in rolls and applied by hand or they can be applied by vendors in a source tagging situation.
• EAS labels – Labels can be custom designed on different materials, for example denim, leather or plastic and vendor source applied. This method conceals the EAS tag, while maintaining the brand and appearance of the merchandise.
• Hard Tags – These tags come in a range of models and types. They can be applied by adhesives, clamps, pins or cables depending on the type of tag being used. Hard tags can be versatile and used on a variety of merchandise and property, including portable office electronics.
• Security boxes – Security boxes allow merchandise to be placed in the box for display purposes and then displayed on a shelf. They are clear so customers can look at the contents and read packaging and carry it around the store until they are ready to check out at a register. These boxes will alarm if tampered with or if someone were to try to exit with the box.
Within the range of available retail theft prevention supplies there are other factors to take into consideration such as whether a 2 alarm device or 3 alarm device makes more sense to meet your demands. The 2 alarm devices alarm if tampered with and activate an EAS antenna alarm if someone attempts to exit with an item that is tagged. The 3 alarm devices add another layer of security by activating not only the antennas, but the alarm device itself if someone were to attempt to exit with tagged product. A new product on the market allows merchandise that is tagged with the appropriate device to be tracked if it leaves a zone it is designated to be in. The merchandise tracking feature will alert store or office staff via mobile devices or computers (even P.A. announcements) if a device is tampered with or moved out of its’ designated zone.
A company specializing in merchandise protection, such as Checkpoint Systems, can provide suggestions on how best to stop shoplifting and/or protect the merchandise or equipment you are selling or using in your business.
Electronic Article Surveillance Antennas
Store or business space can also be a factor when looking at EAS systems. Antennas are the pedestal looking devices you most frequently recognize when you enter or exit a store. These are the devices most people will associate with a system, and may be a concern if your location is not very big. An example might be a small jewelry store that you see in a mall. They don’t tend to have a lot of sales floor space and that space can be constricted. Small medical practices, such as a doctor’s office may not have a lot of space for the lobby and entry ways are tight, allowing only the necessary room for a wheelchair. These situations may not seem suitable for EAS antennas which appear to take up a considerable amount of entry way space. At one time this may have been true, however there are antennas on the market now that take up considerably less space than you might imagine and are compatible with the smaller waiting room or limited sales floor footprint. For locations where space is not a factor, antennas on the market are stylish and have a sleek design. There are also antennas that provide for customer counting options for analyzing traffic data through a store. Some now integrate signing capability that allows a business to incorporate advertising opportunities in the antenna.
Electronic Article Surveillance is continually growing in the scope of businesses that can benefit from installing a system. Whether you are running a small business and need to stop shoplifting or a large medical facility and seek to prevent theft of equipment, electronic article surveillance can be designed to fit your business model.
For more information on retail theft prevention, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
Electronic Article Surveillance systems were created in 1966 by Arthur Minasy in order to prevent thieves from shoplifting from stores. Over the years the industry has grown and with it systems have improved from types of antennas used to detect EAS protected merchandise to the variety of EAS tags used in the industry today. The use of the technology has also grown from being retail theft prevention oriented to having an impact in businesses, libraries, and even into the medical field.
Knowing what you need to secure
It is important to know what it is you want to protect before making a purchasing decision. Are you a small retailer that sells clothing and need to stop shoplifting? Perhaps you own a wine specialty shop and want a retail theft prevention system to protect higher priced wines or other spirits from theft. Many businesses, including medical practices, have adopted newer mobile technologies in the workplace and use tablets and i-pads. Due to the information contained on these devices there is a need to ensure the devices don’t leave the building. While Electronic Article Surveillance systems all work on the same basic principle of a radio frequency reading tags that pass through antennas and alarm if the tag is not deactivated, there are various types of tags and devices that can be used based on the item(s) to be protected.
• Electronic Article Surveillance Tags – These are considered “soft” tags and generally can be applied to cardboard, plastic and ceramic surfaces. They may be purchased in rolls and applied by hand or they can be applied by vendors in a source tagging situation.
• EAS labels – Labels can be custom designed on different materials, for example denim, leather or plastic and vendor source applied. This method conceals the EAS tag, while maintaining the brand and appearance of the merchandise.
• Hard Tags – These tags come in a range of models and types. They can be applied by adhesives, clamps, pins or cables depending on the type of tag being used. Hard tags can be versatile and used on a variety of merchandise and property, including portable office electronics.
• Security boxes – Security boxes allow merchandise to be placed in the box for display purposes and then displayed on a shelf. They are clear so customers can look at the contents and read packaging and carry it around the store until they are ready to check out at a register. These boxes will alarm if tampered with or if someone were to try to exit with the box.
Within the range of available retail theft prevention supplies there are other factors to take into consideration such as whether a 2 alarm device or 3 alarm device makes more sense to meet your demands. The 2 alarm devices alarm if tampered with and activate an EAS antenna alarm if someone attempts to exit with an item that is tagged. The 3 alarm devices add another layer of security by activating not only the antennas, but the alarm device itself if someone were to attempt to exit with tagged product. A new product on the market allows merchandise that is tagged with the appropriate device to be tracked if it leaves a zone it is designated to be in. The merchandise tracking feature will alert store or office staff via mobile devices or computers (even P.A. announcements) if a device is tampered with or moved out of its’ designated zone. A company specializing in merchandise protection, such as Checkpoint Systems, can provide suggestions on how best to stop shoplifting and/or protect the merchandise or equipment you are selling or using in your business.
Electronic Article Surveillance Antennas
Store or business space can also be a factor when looking at EAS systems. Antennas are the pedestal looking devices you most frequently recognize when you enter or exit a store. These are the devices most people will associate with a system, and may be a concern if your location is not very big. An example might be a small jewelry store that you see in a mall. They don’t tend to have a lot of sales floor space and that space can be constricted. Small medical practices, such as a doctor’s office may not have a lot of space for the lobby and entry ways are tight, allowing only the necessary room for a wheelchair. These situations may not seem suitable for EAS antennas which appear to take up a considerable amount of entry way space. At one time this may have been true, however there are antennas on the market now that take up considerably less space than you might imagine and are compatible with the smaller waiting room or limited sales floor footprint. For locations where space is not a factor, antennas on the market are stylish and have a sleek design. There are also antennas that provide for customer counting options for analyzing traffic data through a store. Some now integrate signing capability that allows a business to incorporate advertising opportunities in the antenna.
Electronic Article Surveillance is continually growing in the scope of businesses that can benefit from installing a system. Whether you are running a small business and need to stop shoplifting or a large medical facility and seek to prevent theft of equipment, electronic article surveillance can be designed to fit your business model.
For more information on retail theft prevention, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
Alpha Keepers -5 WC blog 24
Prevent Shoplifting – 3
Retail Anti Theft Devices-3
Alpha Keepers A Clear Choice For Customer Service
When I walk into a store, I am always evaluating what the store is doing in terms of merchandise protection. What do they have behind their customer service counters? How does that particular store arrange their products and does that arrangement affect staffing and also customer service. I look at retail anti-theft devices and how they are used and how consistent is the store in using those devices. I am also looking to see if Alpha Keepers are used in a store and if not, what do the out-of-stocks look like on their shelves?
Sometimes when I am doing my ‘studying’ I see items protected in protective boxes I had not considered previously. For example, when I started working in an office supply store, I had no idea that for them, printer ink could be such a high theft item. I took note of two strategies that are used by this retailer to prevent shoplifting of ink. First is a corral strategy, the use of gondola shelving and a point of sale counter to create an enclosed area with only one access point. This allows staff to monitor those who enter to select ink cartridges. The other strategy to prevent shoplifting is the use of Alpha Keepers to hold the higher priced cartridge boxes.
Because the protective boxes are designed so well, the customer can see all of the information they need on the cartridge box, the type of cartridge, the printer model it is used in, and other manufacturer information. The box itself is secure and requires the use of a detachment key to open it, allowing a customer the ability to continue shopping if they want to do so with the ink in their possession. I find that the corral effect tends to make customers feel like they have to leave products at the counter or they feel like they can’t go into the area without permission. There is a significant deterrence value in the corralling products as well as, using retail anti-theft devices to work together to keep product in the store. Should a thief attempt to walk out of the store with an Alpha Keeper box, the electronic article surveillance antenna will be set off, adding one more layer of protection to the product.
From an operations viewpoint, the concept being used to prevent shoplifting is beneficial because additional staffing is not required if only one cashier is scheduled to work and that person is stationed at the register where the ink is corralled. Sales and returns are all conducted at the single point of sale and if necessary a back-up cashier can always be requested to open another register. Customers are able to walk into the area and select their ink and if they require assistance, the cashier is right there. If Alpha Keepers were not being used, it would be incumbent on the cashier to not only ring up customers, they would also have to be the person to find and select ink for patrons and hold it until they were ready to complete their shopping.
This brings me back to my point on critiquing what I see in so many stores and consider ‘what if’ questions, for example; What if those items sold only from customer service counters were placed in protective boxes and made available for selection by the customer? How many customers leave a store angry because they had to wait for a cashier to retrieve an item only available behind a customer service counter (such as cartons of cigarettes)? How many customers abandon shopping carts because they get tired of waiting behind someone who has to have merchandise retrieved from behind another counter?
Alpha Keepers come in a wide range of sizes and styles offering a retail anti-theft solution to meet the needs of almost every retailer. Take a look at what is available in Alpha products and see if you might be able to improve sales by making merchandise more available to your customers.
For more information about Alpha Keepers, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
.
When I walk into a store, I am always evaluating what the store is doing in terms of merchandise protection. What do they have behind their customer service counters? How does that particular store arrange their products and does that arrangement affect staffing and also customer service. I look at retail anti-theft devices and how they are used and how consistent is the store in using those devices. I am also looking to see if Alpha Keepers are used in a store and if not, what do the out-of-stocks look like on their shelves?
Sometimes when I am doing my ‘studying’ I see items protected in protective boxes I had not considered previously. For example, when I started working in an office supply store, I had no idea that for them, printer ink could be such a high theft item. I took note of two strategies that are used by this retailer to prevent shoplifting of ink. First is a corral strategy, the use of gondola shelving and a point of sale counter to create an enclosed area with only one access point. This allows staff to monitor those who enter to select ink cartridges. The other strategy to prevent shoplifting is the use of Alpha Keepers to hold the higher priced cartridge boxes.
Because the protective boxes are designed so well, the customer can see all of the information they need on the cartridge box, the type of cartridge, the printer model it is used in, and other manufacturer information. The box itself is secure and requires the use of a detachment key to open it, allowing a customer the ability to continue shopping if they want to do so with the ink in their possession. I find that the corral effect tends to make customers feel like they have to leave products at the counter or they feel like they can’t go into the area without permission. There is a significant deterrence value in the corralling products as well as, using retail anti-theft devices to work together to keep product in the store. Should a thief attempt to walk out of the store with an Alpha Keeper box, the electronic article surveillance antenna will be set off, adding one more layer of protection to the product.
From an operations viewpoint, the concept being used to prevent shoplifting is beneficial because additional staffing is not required if only one cashier is scheduled to work and that person is stationed at the register where the ink is corralled. Sales and returns are all conducted at the single point of sale and if necessary a back-up cashier can always be requested to open another register. Customers are able to walk into the area and select their ink and if they require assistance, the cashier is right there. If Alpha Keepers were not being used, it would be incumbent on the cashier to not only ring up customers, they would also have to be the person to find and select ink for patrons and hold it until they were ready to complete their shopping.
This brings me back to my point on critiquing what I see in so many stores and consider ‘what if’ questions, for example; What if those items sold only from customer service counters were placed in protective boxes and made available for selection by the customer? How many customers leave a store angry because they had to wait for a cashier to retrieve an item only available behind a customer service counter (such as cartons of cigarettes)? How many customers abandon shopping carts because they get tired of waiting behind someone who has to have merchandise retrieved from behind another counter?
Alpha Keepers come in a wide range of sizes and styles offering a retail anti-theft solution to meet the needs of almost every retailer. Take a look at what is available in Alpha products and see if you might be able to improve sales by making merchandise more available to your customers.
For more information about Alpha Keepers, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
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Alpha Thunder Tags- 4 WC blog 82
Retail Anti-Theft Device-3
Protect Store Devices AND Merchandise With Alpha Hard Tags
Retail mobile devices can be protected by the same retail anti-theft devices used to protect merchandise. In today’s retail environment, managers are using many different mobile devices to conduct daily operations. From tablets to handheld scanners, including i-pods and i-pads, devices are being used to track sales information, daily checklists, schedules, etc. I currently work part time in a retail store and we use mobile devices for a myriad of different tasks. I can scan to check store stock levels for merchandise, stockroom and sales floor locations for product that may appear to be out of stock and I can see if any of our nearby stores have the product if we are out of an item. We can even complete a credit card or debit card transaction sales transaction with our mobile devices to keep our customers from waiting in checkout lines. Interestingly, while the store uses Alpha Security products to prevent shoplifting, it does not use anything to protect these handheld devices that are so important to day to day operations. It would benefit not only my employer, but ANY retailer which uses mobile technology to protect these devices with Alpha Thunder Tags.
Alpha Thunder Tags work in conjunction with an electronic article surveillance system (EAS). When a piece of merchandise or equipment that has one of these retail anti-theft devices attached passes through an EAS antenna, the antenna alarm sounds and lights flash. These tags also have a built in alarm that activates if a device passes through an antenna and goes a certain distance away. In the event someone should attempt to remove a tag from a device, a tamper alarm activates and staff can respond to the alert, a loud, high pitched tone and prevent a theft.
You might be wondering how anyone would steal a store mobile device. Doing so is fairly straight forward. Although we wear holsters to carry our devices it is not uncommon to find scanners lying around the store. Sometimes they have been put down next to a register while a sales floor employee is helping a cashier with a customer carry-out. Other times they are put down after scanning a piece of merchandise and there is bending or reaching involved to get to the item. Once a device is left unattended, if there is no retail anti-theft device on the unit, it can be a target of opportunity for a thief. I recall one time when I was a Loss Prevention Manager for a store, I was monitoring one of our sales counters and noticed a store two-way radio had been left on the counter unattended. I watched it to see which associate would pick it back up so I could speak to them about their error. No employee came back to get the radio but a customer in the store DID pick it up and proceeded to walk into the parking lot with it. I stopped the would-be thief and retrieved the radio. When I asked him what he thought he was doing he said it was just sitting there so he was going to try to find the owner. I wasn’t convinced that was what he was going to do I was, however just glad to get the radio back. As I reflect on it now and I see how much more technology has grown in retail I have to wonder what would have happened had the radio been a Manager On Duty’s tablet instead! Using Alpha Thunder Tags on store owned devices can prevent these types of incidents and prevent the chance for data breaches, not to mention simply the expense of replacing a tablet or store mobile device.
Whether someone steals equipment from a retailer as a prank or they intend to try to resell it, the loss still negatively affects the business. Why not use retail anti-theft devices that are already on hand to protect your handheld devices along with your merchandise? Protect business PDA’s, tablets and mobile devices with Alpha Thunder Tags.
For more information on Alpha Thunder Tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
Retail mobile devices can be protected by the same retail anti-theft devices used to protect merchandise. In today’s retail environment, managers are using many different mobile devices to conduct daily operations. From tablets to handheld scanners, including i-pods and i-pads, devices are being used to track sales information, daily checklists, schedules, etc. I currently work part time in a retail store and we use mobile devices for a myriad of different tasks. I can scan to check store stock levels for merchandise, stockroom and sales floor locations for product that may appear to be out of stock and I can see if any of our nearby stores have the product if we are out of an item. We can even complete a credit card or debit card transaction sales transaction with our mobile devices to keep our customers from waiting in checkout lines. Interestingly, while the store uses Alpha Security products to prevent shoplifting, it does not use anything to protect these handheld devices that are so important to day to day operations. It would benefit not only my employer, but ANY retailer which uses mobile technology to protect these devices with Alpha Thunder Tags.
Alpha Thunder Tags work in conjunction with an electronic article surveillance system (EAS). When a piece of merchandise or equipment that has one of these retail anti-theft devices attached passes through an EAS antenna, the antenna alarm sounds and lights flash. These tags also have a built in alarm that activates if a device passes through an antenna and goes a certain distance away. In the event someone should attempt to remove a tag from a device, a tamper alarm activates and staff can respond to the alert, a loud, high pitched tone and prevent a theft.
You might be wondering how anyone would steal a store mobile device. Doing so is fairly straight forward. Although we wear holsters to carry our devices it is not uncommon to find scanners lying around the store. Sometimes they have been put down next to a register while a sales floor employee is helping a cashier with a customer carry-out. Other times they are put down after scanning a piece of merchandise and there is bending or reaching involved to get to the item. Once a device is left unattended, if there is no retail anti-theft device on the unit, it can be a target of opportunity for a thief. I recall one time when I was a Loss Prevention Manager for a store, I was monitoring one of our sales counters and noticed a store two-way radio had been left on the counter unattended. I watched it to see which associate would pick it back up so I could speak to them about their error. No employee came back to get the radio but a customer in the store DID pick it up and proceeded to walk into the parking lot with it. I stopped the would-be thief and retrieved the radio. When I asked him what he thought he was doing he said it was just sitting there so he was going to try to find the owner. I wasn’t convinced that was what he was going to do I was, however just glad to get the radio back. As I reflect on it now and I see how much more technology has grown in retail I have to wonder what would have happened had the radio been a Manager On Duty’s tablet instead! Using Alpha Thunder Tags on store owned devices can prevent these types of incidents and prevent the chance for data breaches, not to mention simply the expense of replacing a tablet or store mobile device.
Whether someone steals equipment from a retailer as a prank or they intend to try to resell it, the loss still negatively affects the business. Why not use retail anti-theft devices that are already on hand to protect your handheld devices along with your merchandise? Protect business PDA’s, tablets and mobile devices with Alpha Thunder Tags.
For more information on Alpha Thunder Tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
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Checkpoint Hard Tags – A Profitable Investment
According to the 2014-2015 Global Retail Theft Barometer report, total retail shortage globally was approximately 123.39 billion dollars. North American reported shortage for the year was approximately 36.79 billion dollars. For stores that specialize in clothing and accessories the shrinkage percent was the second highest category, at 1.98% following only behind pharmacies/drugstores at a whopping 2.25% shrinkage rate. Within the Apparel and Fashion Accessories category, the most stolen items were footwear, sports-related clothing and fashion accessories. Employee theft and shoplifting are estimated to have been the cause of 85% of the shrinkage for Apparel Specialist Retailers and of this amount it was almost evenly divided between shoplifting and dishonest employees. There are steps apparel retailers can take to stop shoplifting and prevent some employee theft from draining profits from their business. One of the most effective steps is to install an electronic article surveillance system and then use the Checkpoint mini hard tag on merchandise.
The electronic article surveillance system (EAS) will include an antenna system that alarms when merchandise protected with EAS tags or Checkpoint hard tags is carried within the range of the antennas. The system also includes deactivation pads that deactivate EAS tags and removal devices to take Checkpoint hard tags off of merchandise when it is purchased. Training is also provided so store managers and personnel know how to test the system and respond to EAS alarms appropriately in order to prevent a theft.
Why do I suggest using the Checkpoint mini hard tag, especially if a clothing retailer is just starting to use an electronic article surveillance system? There are a number of Checkpoint hard tags a retailer can choose from to protect softlines products, but the mini tag provides flexibility to tag not only clothing but accessories too. The mini hard tag can be pinned directly to a piece of clothing providing both a visual deterrent to prevent shoplifting and alarm protection if someone tried to exit with a garment that still had the tag on it. This Checkpoint tag can be pinned to clothing accessories, such as ties, scarves, gloves, hats and even belts so the store is not limited in what it can protect. The same can be done with purses and handbags. The Checkpoint mini hard tag makes it simple to select one protective device to secure a wide range of products and eliminates the need to have multiple checkpoint hard tags being used in one store.
For a clothing store that is already using electronic article surveillance products, but has reduced the amount of items being tagged due to cost reduction efforts, let me point out another fact from the Global Retail Theft Barometer. In 2014-2015, for stores that participated in the prior year survey, clothing retailers reduced spending on loss prevention measures, including EAS technology, by .15 percentage points. Shrinkage rates in these stores increased 1.68 percentage points! It may be possible that in some instances stores were using too many different EAS tags, or they may have been attempting to save payroll by reducing the number of sku’s being tagged so tagging did not take as long. I have two suggestions that can help achieve either objective. First, using the mini tag would eliminate some of the need for employing a variety of Checkpoint tags, while still being able to tag nearly all clothing lines carried in the store. The alternative to save payroll would be to look into apparel source tagging options offered by Checkpoint. These options give the store the protection of EAS tagging but the actual tagging of merchandise is done elsewhere, no additional payroll is spent in the store!
Don’t allow theft to shrink your profits. Invest in electronic article surveillance and Checkpoint hard tags to keep your merchandise in the store and available for sale. If you have an EAS system and are looking for new ways to save payroll without degrading clothing security, find out more about source tagging from Checkpoint.
Get more information on Checkpoint hard tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
According to the 2014-2015 Global Retail Theft Barometer report, total retail shortage globally was approximately 123.39 billion dollars. North American reported shortage for the year was approximately 36.79 billion dollars. For stores that specialize in clothing and accessories the shrinkage percent was the second highest category, at 1.98% following only behind pharmacies/drugstores at a whopping 2.25% shrinkage rate. Within the Apparel and Fashion Accessories category, the most stolen items were footwear, sports-related clothing and fashion accessories. Employee theft and shoplifting are estimated to have been the cause of 85% of the shrinkage for Apparel Specialist Retailers and of this amount it was almost evenly divided between shoplifting and dishonest employees. There are steps apparel retailers can take to stop shoplifting and prevent some employee theft from draining profits from their business. One of the most effective steps is to install an electronic article surveillance system and then use the Checkpoint mini hard tag on merchandise.
The electronic article surveillance system (EAS) will include an antenna system that alarms when merchandise protected with EAS tags or Checkpoint hard tags is carried within the range of the antennas. The system also includes deactivation pads that deactivate EAS tags and removal devices to take Checkpoint hard tags off of merchandise when it is purchased. Training is also provided so store managers and personnel know how to test the system and respond to EAS alarms appropriately in order to prevent a theft.
Why do I suggest using the Checkpoint mini hard tag, especially if a clothing retailer is just starting to use an electronic article surveillance system? There are a number of Checkpoint hard tags a retailer can choose from to protect softlines products, but the mini tag provides flexibility to tag not only clothing but accessories too. The mini hard tag can be pinned directly to a piece of clothing providing both a visual deterrent to prevent shoplifting and alarm protection if someone tried to exit with a garment that still had the tag on it. This Checkpoint tag can be pinned to clothing accessories, such as ties, scarves, gloves, hats and even belts so the store is not limited in what it can protect. The same can be done with purses and handbags. The Checkpoint mini hard tag makes it simple to select one protective device to secure a wide range of products and eliminates the need to have multiple checkpoint hard tags being used in one store.
For a clothing store that is already using electronic article surveillance products, but has reduced the amount of items being tagged due to cost reduction efforts, let me point out another fact from the Global Retail Theft Barometer. In 2014-2015, for stores that participated in the prior year survey, clothing retailers reduced spending on loss prevention measures, including EAS technology, by .15 percentage points. Shrinkage rates in these stores increased 1.68 percentage points! It may be possible that in some instances stores were using too many different EAS tags, or they may have been attempting to save payroll by reducing the number of sku’s being tagged so tagging did not take as long. I have two suggestions that can help achieve either objective. First, using the mini tag would eliminate some of the need for employing a variety of Checkpoint tags, while still being able to tag nearly all clothing lines carried in the store. The alternative to save payroll would be to look into apparel source tagging options offered by Checkpoint. These options give the store the protection of EAS tagging but the actual tagging of merchandise is done elsewhere, no additional payroll is spent in the store!
Don’t allow theft to shrink your profits. Invest in electronic article surveillance and Checkpoint hard tags to keep your merchandise in the store and available for sale. If you have an EAS system and are looking for new ways to save payroll without degrading clothing security, find out more about source tagging from Checkpoint.
Get more information on Checkpoint hard tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
