Alpha Security-5 WC blog 489
prevent shoplifting-4
Retail Anti-Theft Devices-5
Prevent Shoplifting With Careful Product Placement And Security
It may sound like an odd question but have you ever considered that it can be difficult to prevent shoplifting if you are not being careful in your merchandising strategies? I currently work part time for a medium size retail store. We recently had a pretty big sale and in order to drive the impulse buys a display table was set up near the front entrance. Our store does use an electronic article surveillance system and Alpha Security retail anti-theft devices on many items but not on everything. As I entered the building after being off for several days and I observed the table I noted that there were a number of items displayed that had no protective devices on them. It made me start to think about the ways retailers may unintentionally create their own theft problems.
As I mentioned our store does use electronic article surveillance pedestals and Alpha Security retail anti-theft devices. Not everyone is familiar with this equipment so I am going to take a minute to talk about what they are and how they function. Electronic article surveillance (EAS) technology is best described as a system that uses radio frequency waves to detect protected merchandise that is being carried out of a store. An Alpha Security protective device such as a Keeper box or Spider Wrap (two examples from a whole line of products) send out radio frequency signals and those signals are detected by EAS towers. The towers are located near store entry/exit points and when tagged merchandise is brought into range of the towers alarms and lights in the towers are set off. When the alarm sounds and the lights flash store staff members respond and conduct thorough receipt checks. Merchandise that is not paid for can be turned over to the staff member or the “customer” may be offered an opportunity to purchase the item.
It should be obvious then that if merchandise is not protected then you significantly hinder your ability to prevent shoplifting. That is the first ways that stores create their own theft problems. Some stores may make the decision because management is not aware of retail anti-theft devices that are available. It may be the decision is made because management perceives Alpha Security products and EAS technology is financially out of reach for their budgets. If this is your position, I urge you to reconsider. Loss Prevention Systems Inc. can show you how it is more affordable than you may think (try the Free ROI Calculator on their website).
Other stores do what I saw at my store and position merchandise especially high price/high theft products near their entrances. The idea is to catch the eye of the impulse shopper but it also catches the attention of shoplifters. Thought should be given to the positioning of products. If you want to draw the interest of customers as they enter your building keep the price points of the items on the lower end of the price scale. These items should still be protected with retail anti-theft devices but in the event a criminal attempts a grab and run the financial impact to the business will be minimized.
Another way that retailers may be contributing to theft issues they are experiencing is by failing to train employees on proper response, resolution and reporting of EAS alarms. With proper training employees can use their customer service skills and non-accusatory conversation to recover more merchandise due to an alarm than someone who has not received training. Even shoplifters tend to respond better to sugar than vinegar. Following up with management and reporting system issues or cashier errors to remove Alpha Security products can ensure the EAS system will prevent shoplifting as intended.
Be sure you are taking all the necessary steps to prevent shoplifting in your store. Be careful with product placement, train employees on how to deter theft and use retail anti-theft devices on all of your merchandise.
Alpha Security is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
It may sound like an odd question but have you ever considered that it can be difficult to prevent shoplifting if you are not being careful in your merchandising strategies? I currently work part time for a medium size retail store. We recently had a pretty big sale and in order to drive the impulse buys a display table was set up near the front entrance. Our store does use an electronic article surveillance system and Alpha Security retail anti-theft devices on many items but not on everything. As I entered the building after being off for several days and I observed the table I noted that there were a number of items displayed that had no protective devices on them. It made me start to think about the ways retailers may unintentionally create their own theft problems.
As I mentioned our store does use electronic article surveillance pedestals and Alpha Security retail anti-theft devices. Not everyone is familiar with this equipment so I am going to take a minute to talk about what they are and how they function. Electronic article surveillance (EAS) technology is best described as a system that uses radio frequency waves to detect protected merchandise that is being carried out of a store. An Alpha Security protective device such as a Keeper box or Spider Wrap (two examples from a whole line of products) send out radio frequency signals and those signals are detected by EAS towers. The towers are located near store entry/exit points and when tagged merchandise is brought into range of the towers alarms and lights in the towers are set off. When the alarm sounds and the lights flash store staff members respond and conduct thorough receipt checks. Merchandise that is not paid for can be turned over to the staff member or the “customer” may be offered an opportunity to purchase the item.
It should be obvious then that if merchandise is not protected then you significantly hinder your ability to prevent shoplifting. That is the first ways that stores create their own theft problems. Some stores may make the decision because management is not aware of retail anti-theft devices that are available. It may be the decision is made because management perceives Alpha Security products and EAS technology is financially out of reach for their budgets. If this is your position, I urge you to reconsider. Loss Prevention Systems Inc. can show you how it is more affordable than you may think (try the Free ROI Calculator on their website).
Other stores do what I saw at my store and position merchandise especially high price/high theft products near their entrances. The idea is to catch the eye of the impulse shopper but it also catches the attention of shoplifters. Thought should be given to the positioning of products. If you want to draw the interest of customers as they enter your building keep the price points of the items on the lower end of the price scale. These items should still be protected with retail anti-theft devices but in the event a criminal attempts a grab and run the financial impact to the business will be minimized.
Another way that retailers may be contributing to theft issues they are experiencing is by failing to train employees on proper response, resolution and reporting of EAS alarms. With proper training employees can use their customer service skills and non-accusatory conversation to recover more merchandise due to an alarm than someone who has not received training. Even shoplifters tend to respond better to sugar than vinegar. Following up with management and reporting system issues or cashier errors to remove Alpha Security products can ensure the EAS system will prevent shoplifting as intended.
Be sure you are taking all the necessary steps to prevent shoplifting in your store. Be careful with product placement, train employees on how to deter theft and use retail anti-theft devices on all of your merchandise.
Alpha Security is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
Stop Shoplifting – 4 WC Blog 451
Checkpoint Security System – 4
Employees With A Vested Interest In Shortage Reduction Can Make A Checkpoint Security System More Powerful
Lowering stock shortage and how to stop shoplifting are topics we frequently talk about in retail. We discuss issues related to improper markdowns and front end cashiering errors. We make shortage actions plans to try to nail down how we are going to focus on improving high shrinkage departments. We talk about theft and fraud and the need to prevent it but when it comes down to the rubber meeting the road what do we really do to stop shoplifting? What are store owners and managers really willing to do to make an impact on this aspect of shortage? I am going to ask if a store owner is willing to take it seriously enough to invest in a Checkpoint Security System.
What is a Checkpoint Security System? It is a system built to directly stop shoplifting and retail theft through the use of radio frequency enabled tags and receiving pedestals. Tags and labels that send out radio waves are applied to all sorts of merchandise. Hard tags can be pinned to clothing, bedding, towels and other softlines goods. Labels can be placed on all sorts of surfaces, cardboard, shrink wrap, plastics, etc. Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) pedestals are set up near the store exits and entrances have a detection field designed to pick up the radio waves being sent out by the tags and labels. When tagged merchandise is carried into this detection field alarms sound and LED lights in the pedestals flash warning store employees that tagged merchandise is being carried out of the store. Trained employees know how to respond to these alarm activations and resolve them through receipt checks. Usually recoveries are from shoplifters attempting to get merchandise out of the store but some recoveries include merchandise that was overlooked in the bottom of a shopping cart. Think about the implications that has on shortage reduction from attempted theft AND operational errors at the point of sale.
Continuing with my point on taking shortage reduction seriously employers need to understand that theft related shortage comprised 81% of shortage in North America according to the 2014-2015 Global Retail Theft Barometer. This leaves only 19% of losses attributed to operational errors and problems and vendor shortage and fraud. If an employer is focusing a shortage action plan and most efforts on these areas it is a poor plan. A better plan would be to spend money on a Checkpoint Security System and the tags, labels and accessories associated with it. Also spend the time training the store staff on how to tag merchandise properly and how to respond appropriately to EAS alarm activations. When employees are trained on proper tag placement, tagging becomes consistent and fewer pieces of merchandise are missed in the process. Trained employees answer the pedestal alarm with tact and with the knowledge of how to do a thorough inspection of a receipt and packages. They have the confidence to approach someone who has activated that alarm and can recover unpaid merchandise without making accusations of shoplifting even if that was the offender’s intent.
Why should employees expend any more effort on shortage reduction than any other aspect of the business? There’s incentive for the store owners, it makes the business more profitable profitable when shortage is brought down. In some stores managers receive bonuses when they meet certain financial goals for a store, such as low shortage and meeting sales objectives. Often the store employees receive no additional incentive to help the store reduce shrinkage. I worked for a retailer that would give bonuses to store managers for the achievements of goals which included beating shortage objectives but the hourly employees had no additional perks. The only benefit that the employees would receive was a better percentage increase at annual review time if the store met financial goals. The company I work for now has just announced that if a store beats its shortage objective this year full time and part time employees will receive bonuses. That is a great incentive for employees to buy into a theft reduction plan for a store.
So what should a business expect when employees have a vested interest in the profitability of the store? Employees will not just speak of great customer service they will demonstrate it to discourage theft and improve sales. They will be aggressive in tagging products to stop shoplifting. They will want to learn how to properly use the Checkpoint Security System, testing the equipment and learning how to respond to alarms properly. Find out for yourself how profitable your company can be when you invest in Checkpoint Systems and the talented people who work for you.
For more information about Checkpoint Security Systems contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
Lowering stock shortage and how to stop shoplifting are topics we frequently talk about in retail. We discuss issues related to improper markdowns and front end cashiering errors. We make shortage actions plans to try to nail down how we are going to focus on improving high shrinkage departments. We talk about theft and fraud and the need to prevent it but when it comes down to the rubber meeting the road what do we really do to stop shoplifting? What are store owners and managers really willing to do to make an impact on this aspect of shortage? I am going to ask if a store owner is willing to take it seriously enough to invest in a Checkpoint Security System.
What is a Checkpoint Security System? It is a system built to directly stop shoplifting and retail theft through the use of radio frequency enabled tags and receiving pedestals. Tags and labels that send out radio waves are applied to all sorts of merchandise. Hard tags can be pinned to clothing, bedding, towels and other softlines goods. Labels can be placed on all sorts of surfaces, cardboard, shrink wrap, plastics, etc. Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) pedestals are set up near the store exits and entrances have a detection field designed to pick up the radio waves being sent out by the tags and labels. When tagged merchandise is carried into this detection field alarms sound and LED lights in the pedestals flash warning store employees that tagged merchandise is being carried out of the store. Trained employees know how to respond to these alarm activations and resolve them through receipt checks. Usually recoveries are from shoplifters attempting to get merchandise out of the store but some recoveries include merchandise that was overlooked in the bottom of a shopping cart. Think about the implications that has on shortage reduction from attempted theft AND operational errors at the point of sale.
Continuing with my point on taking shortage reduction seriously employers need to understand that theft related shortage comprised 81% of shortage in North America according to the 2014-2015 Global Retail Theft Barometer. This leaves only 19% of losses attributed to operational errors, problems, vendor shortage and fraud. If an employer is focusing a shortage action plan and most efforts on these areas it is a poor plan. A better plan would be to spend money on a Checkpoint Security System and the tags, labels and accessories associated with it. Also spend the time training the store staff on how to tag merchandise properly and how to respond appropriately to EAS alarm activations. When employees are trained on proper tag placement, tagging becomes consistent and fewer pieces of merchandise are missed in the process. Trained employees answer the pedestal alarm with tact and with the knowledge of how to do a thorough inspection of a receipt and packages. They have the confidence to approach someone who has activated that alarm and can recover unpaid merchandise without making accusations of shoplifting even if that was the offender’s intent.
Why should employees expend any more effort on shortage reduction than any other aspect of the business? There’s incentive for the store owners, it makes the business more profitable profitable when shortage is brought down. In some stores managers receive bonuses when they meet certain financial goals for a store, such as low shortage and meeting sales objectives. Often the store employees receive no additional incentive to help the store reduce shrinkage. I worked for a retailer that would give bonuses to store managers for the achievements of goals which included beating shortage objectives but the hourly employees had no additional perks. The only benefit that the employees would receive was a better percentage increase at annual review time if the store met financial goals. The company I work for now has just announced that if a store beats its shortage objective this year full time and part time employees will receive bonuses. That is a great incentive for employees to buy into a theft reduction plan for a store.
So what should a business expect when employees have a vested interest in the profitability of the store? Employees will not just speak of great customer service they will demonstrate it to discourage theft and improve sales. They will be aggressive in tagging products to stop shoplifting. They will want to learn how to properly use the Checkpoint Security System, testing the equipment and learning how to respond to alarms properly. Find out for yourself how profitable your company can be when you invest in Checkpoint Systems and the talented people who work for you.
For more information about Checkpoint Security Systems contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
Prevent Shoplifting-4 WC Blog 432
Alpha Keepers-4
Is A Resume Good Enough To Show An Employer How Your Knowledge Of Alpha Keepers Translates To Inventory Control When Trying To Change Careers?
I was conversing with a co-worker the other day about resumes versus C.V.’s (curriculum vitae). The discussion was in reference to providing information on ourselves for a new boss in our academic library. I was suggesting I would update my resume, my co-worker was saying he was going to update his C.V. I was only familiar with a C.V. for academic positions and did not think it was applicable to our positions as staff members. My friend then made a strong point. To someone with no knowledge of retail or Loss Prevention, would my former position as a Retail Loss Prevention Manager mean anything to an academic Dean? A C.V. would offer more of a description of what my work entailed than identifying me as someone who investigated employee theft or worked to prevent shoplifting. A resume is a brief history of work experience, education and background. A C.V. has more detail in it. For the purpose of informing my new Dean of what my skill sets really are does he/she need to know about my knowledge of Alpha Keepers or does he/she need to know about my knowledge of inventory control and the impact it has on library resources such as books, music, videos, etc.?
It is appropriate at this point to discuss Alpha Keepers and inventory control for those who may not be familiar with them and how they work together. Alpha Keepers are clear, solid boxes with a hinged, locking lid. The Keepers come in a variety of sizes to accommodate a wide selection of items, from batteries to baby formula cans. There are sizes that are sure to please almost every retailer. From an inventory control perspective Keepers provide flexibility in terms of how much “lock-up” merchandise a store manager has to keep in a locking display case. The reason for this is that Keepers are basically portable lock-up display cases. They can’t be opened without a special detachment key usually secured at the point of sale. Tampering with the lid activates a tamper alarm allowing employees to prevent shoplifting of the contents. The boxes also have electronic article surveillance (EAS) technology built in that allows the box itself to be detected by EAS towers. Thieves trying to smuggle merchandise in Alpha Keepers out of a store are in for a surprise when the tower sounds a screeching alarm that alerts employees to the attempted shoplifting. When Keepers are used there is less need for display cases and manpower to supervise and unlock them. Inventory control is less burdensome on the store owner.
Getting back to the resume vs. C.V. comparison, is there a significant difference when I am attempting to highlight my experience or translate how my experience works from one job to the other? Is it important for someone to be able to make such clarifications? For example, when I interviewed for my position to work in a library, I was able to explain how my retail customer service experience would be useful in assisting library patrons. I was also able to translate my experience as a Loss Prevention Manager responsible for emergency preparedness and planning would be beneficial to crisis response in an academic library. My role as Loss Prevention Manager required me to be responsible for the security of merchandise, prevent shoplifting and look out for the safety of patrons and the shoplifter when conducting apprehensions. One of the library job requirements when I first applied was being able to keep patrons safe during late night hours. I was already prepared before my interview to explain how my experience was similar to what the job ad was seeking. Had I gone into the interview with only my resume I would probably not be working where I am. A C.V. can do sort of the same thing, show someone who may not have the experience how much you can contribute.
I tell you this because many of you store managers and owners may interview people who only present you with a resume. It might be beneficial if you are able to translate skills listed in one occupation to the job you are trying to fill. As you prepare to interview candidates ask questions so they can tell you how they are prepared to do the job you need done. Can that library staffer really be useful to your store? They can, as much as that Loss Prevention Manager can exchange knowledge of how to prevent shoplifting to preventing the theft of library materials. Managers do yourself a favor and review those resumes carefully, you might be missing a gem of a hire if you are too focused on key words and not skill sets.
For more information about how to prevent shoplifting contact us or call 1.770.426.0547.
I was conversing with a co-worker the other day about resumes versus C.V.’s (curriculum vitae). The discussion was in reference to providing information on ourselves for a new boss in our academic library. I was suggesting I would update my resume, my co-worker was saying he was going to update his C.V. I was only familiar with a C.V. for academic positions and did not think it was applicable to our positions as staff members. My friend then made a strong point. To someone with no knowledge of retail or Loss Prevention, would my former position as a Retail Loss Prevention Manager mean anything to an academic Dean? A C.V. would offer more of a description of what my work entailed than identifying me as someone who investigated employee theft or worked to prevent shoplifting. A resume is a brief history of work experience, education and background. A C.V. has more detail in it. For the purpose of informing my new Dean of what my skill sets really are does he/she need to know about my knowledge of Alpha Keepers or does he/she need to know about my knowledge of inventory control and the impact it has on library resources such as books, music, videos, etc.?
It is appropriate at this point to discuss Alpha Keepers and inventory control for those who may not be familiar with them and how they work together. Alpha Keepers are clear, solid boxes with a hinged, locking lid. The Keepers come in a variety of sizes to accommodate a wide selection of items, from batteries to baby formula cans. There are sizes that are sure to please almost every retailer. From an inventory control perspective Keepers provide flexibility in terms of how much “lock-up” merchandise a store manager has to keep in a locking display case. The reason for this is that Keepers are basically portable lock-up display cases. They can’t be opened without a special detachment key usually secured at the point of sale. Tampering with the lid activates a tamper alarm allowing employees to prevent shoplifting of the contents. The boxes also have electronic article surveillance (EAS) technology built in that allows the box itself to be detected by EAS towers. Thieves trying to smuggle merchandise in Alpha Keepers out of a store are in for a surprise when the tower sounds a screeching alarm that alerts employees to the attempted shoplifting. When Keepers are used there is less need for display cases and manpower to supervise and unlock them. Inventory control is less burdensome on the store owner.
Getting back to the resume vs. C.V. comparison, is there a significant difference when I am attempting to highlight my experience or translate how my experience works from one job to the other? Is it important for someone to be able to make such clarifications? For example, when I interviewed for my position to work in a library, I was able to explain how my retail customer service experience would be useful in assisting library patrons. I was also able to translate my experience as a Loss Prevention Manager responsible for emergency preparedness and planning would be beneficial to crisis response in an academic library. My role as Loss Prevention Manager required me to be responsible for the security of merchandise, prevent shoplifting and look out for the safety of patrons and the shoplifter when conducting apprehensions. One of the library job requirements when I first applied was being able to keep patrons safe during late night hours. I was already prepared before my interview to explain how my experience was similar to what the job ad was seeking. Had I gone into the interview with only my resume I would probably not be working where I am. A C.V. can do sort of the same thing, show someone who may not have the experience how much you can contribute.
I tell you this because many of you store managers and owners may interview people who only present you with a resume. It might be beneficial if you are able to translate skills listed in one occupation to the job you are trying to fill. As you prepare to interview candidates ask questions so they can tell you how they are prepared to do the job you need done. Can that library staffer really be useful to your store? They can, as much as that Loss Prevention Manager can exchange knowledge of how to prevent shoplifting to preventing the theft of library materials. Managers do yourself a favor and review those resumes carefully, you might be missing a gem of a hire if you are too focused on key words and not skill sets.
For more information about how to prevent shoplifting contact us or call 1.770.426.0547.
Employee Theft Reduction Training-4 WC Blog 481
Employee Theft -5
Employee Theft May Impact You More Than You Realize Part 1
Employee theft reduction training videos are available on social media sites to watch but you won’t become an expert. The videos are not live and there is no interaction with the trainer. If you are a small retail owner and you have an inkling that you may have an employee or employees stealing from you it may take more than a web search to get the training needed to stop employee theft. In large companies Retail Loss Prevention Managers go through extensive training programs to learn various methods of employee theft and how to identify it. We then go through additional training on investigating cases and determining how extensive the theft has become and how to build on a case in the event other people are involved. Finally, Loss Prevention Managers are trained and tested before we are permitted to conduct a dishonest employee interview. If we are not certified by our respective companies to conduct interviews we may have to turn our case over to a trained District Manager or a Company Investigator.
If I don’t think there is an effective employee theft reduction video on some video web site to help you catch your own crooked employee what is a store owner to do? I am so glad you asked. First, you have to know how your employees may be stealing from you. If you use a time card system have you ever considered that an employee may have another employee clock them in when they aren’t at work yet? That is theft of time or sometimes known as time card manipulation. If you don’t have any reports you review you may not be aware of under ringing taking place between two or more cashiers for each other. Do you ever watch the returns your employees are making? If you do, do you ever review the return against an original purchase by that employee? You may have return fraud taking place you weren’t aware of. Employee theft reduction training from Loss Prevention Systems Inc. will provide you with the training you need to help you identify the various methods your employees may be using to steal from you. The training you will receive is from an expert in the Retail Loss Prevention field, Bill Bregar. Bill’s experience ranges from U.S. Army Military Police Investigations to leading Loss Prevention Programs at the National Director level. You can receive live speaking engagements or subscribe to a live, interactive webinar training session. LPSI has the experienced professional training you need to help you reduce or eliminate employee theft in addition to other training modules you can use.
I know, it is hard to imagine that employee theft is taking place among your workers some of whom you have had around for ages. That may be so but life happens and sometimes that leads to people doing things they would never have considered doing in the past. I have caught employees stealing who worked for our company for several years. I have seen store executives who earned good salaries steal cash and merchandise. I once apprehended a seasonal employee who claimed she was stealing so she could purchase Christmas gifts for her child. Some people steal out of greed, some out of a sense of not being compensated enough for their work and others because they feel they have no other options to meet financial obligations that have piled up. Whatever the reason, you would be surprised at who will steal under a certain set of circumstances.
In part 2 of this article, we will discuss other problems that arise when employees are stealing from your business. It is not always a one-time occurrence. Sometimes an employee theft case has other issues that have to be uncovered. Employee Theft Reduction Training from Loss Prevention Systems Inc. will give you the insights you need to identify problems you may not know you have or prevent them in the future.
Need information on Employee Theft Reduction Training? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
Employee theft reduction training videos are available on social media sites to watch but you won’t become an expert. The videos are not live and there is no interaction with the trainer. If you are a small retail owner and you have an inkling that you may have an employee or employees stealing from you, it may take more than a web search to get the training needed to stop employee theft. In large companies Retail Loss Prevention Managers go through extensive training programs to learn various methods of employee theft and how to identify it. We then go through additional training on investigating cases and determining how extensive the theft has become and how to build on a case in the event other people are involved. Finally, Loss Prevention Managers are trained and tested before we are permitted to conduct a dishonest employee interview. If we are not certified by our respective companies to conduct interviews we may have to turn our case over to a trained District Manager or a Company Investigator.
If I don’t think there is an effective employee theft reduction video on some video web site to help you catch your own crooked employee what is a store owner to do? I am so glad you asked. First, you have to know how your employees may be stealing from you. If you use a time card system have you ever considered that an employee may have another employee clock them in when they aren’t at work yet? That is theft of time or sometimes known as time card manipulation. If you don’t have any reports you review you may not be aware of under ringing taking place between two or more cashiers for each other. Do you ever watch the returns your employees are making? If you do, do you ever review the return against an original purchase by that employee? You may have return fraud taking place you weren’t aware of. Employee theft reduction training from Loss Prevention Systems Inc. will provide you with the training you need to help you identify the various methods your employees may be using to steal from you. The training you will receive is from an expert in the Retail Loss Prevention field, Bill Bregar. Bill’s experience ranges from U.S. Army Military Police Investigations to leading Loss Prevention Programs at the National Director level. You can receive live speaking engagements or subscribe to a live, interactive webinar training session. LPSI has the experienced professional training you need to help you reduce or eliminate employee theft in addition to other training modules you can use.
I know, it is hard to imagine that employee theft is taking place among your workers some of whom you have had around for ages. That may be so but life happens and sometimes that leads to people doing things they would never have considered doing in the past. I have caught employees stealing who worked for our company for several years. I have seen store executives who earned good salaries steal cash and merchandise. I once apprehended a seasonal employee who claimed she was stealing so she could purchase Christmas gifts for her child. Some people steal out of greed, some out of a sense of not being compensated enough for their work and others because they feel they have no other options to meet financial obligations that have piled up. Whatever the reason, you would be surprised at who will steal under a certain set of circumstances.
In part 2 of this article, we will discuss other problems that arise when employees are stealing from your business. It is not always a one-time occurrence. Sometimes an employee theft case has other issues that have to be uncovered. Employee Theft Reduction Training from Loss Prevention Systems Inc. will give you the insights you need to identify problems you may not know you have or prevent them in the future.
Need information on Employee Theft Reduction Training? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
Alpha Shark Tags-4 WC Blog 411
Wardrobing-4
Return Fraud-3
People Who Engage In Return Fraud Are Like Sharks Taking A Bite Out Of Your Profits; Stop The Feeding Frenzy With Alpha Shark Tags
I’m going to do something you don’t often see, I’m writing an article about return fraud and sharks, an unusual combination right? Now, I don’t know about you but I really enjoy watching shows about sharks. It may be Shark Week on the Discovery Channel or (I’m dating myself here) The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau and it can even be the movie, “Jaws”. With that information in mind I thought I would share a few interesting facts about sharks from Discovery.com in an article titled, “The 15 Most Surprising Facts About Sharks”, by Anastacia Darby, 06/04/2015:
• The whale shark is not only the largest shark species; they are also the largest fish in the world at over 40 feet long.
• The gestation period for a pregnant shark can last from 5 months to TWO YEARS!
• It has been estimated that the bite of the great white shark is up to 4000 PSI. For comparison a tiger has a bite of around 1000 PSI
• Some sharks can cycle through up to 35,000 teeth in a lifetime.
• The blue shark can give birth to up to 135 pups in one litter!
• Hammerhead sharks’ heads aren’t just for show they are equipped with electrical sensors which makes them superior hunters.
Finally from sportfishingmag.com, February 1, 2017 by Devin Golden, “Tagged Mako Shark Travels Record Distance”; “After 600 days, the mako shark, named Hells Bay, After Hells’ Bay Boatworks, traveled more than 13,000 and broke a GHRI for the shark species in the Atlantic Ocean.” While it may not break any bite pounds per square inch records or distance traveled records, Alpha Shark Tags can help stores break the number of people engaging in return fraud due to wardrobing.
Wardrobing takes place when a person buys clothes with the intention of wearing them on only one or two occasions and then returning them with the tags on them and the receipt in hand. While it may not seem like return fraud in the traditional sense of the word such as when someone steals an item and then tries to return it for a refund, when wardrobing takes place there are several hits a store takes. A salesperson who earns a commission may lose their commission when the item is returned after spending time with the customer trying to help them with the purchase. The items are frequently returned damaged so merchandise is returned at full price paid and then damaged out or marked fully out of stock. An item that was stolen may be returned for a reduced price if it has taken a mark down or a store credit is issued when no receipt is presented. But no salesperson is losing a commission and if a receipt is not provided there may be less financial impact on the store. It is also likely the merchandise that was stolen won’t be returned damaged because the thief wants as much money as possible. When Alpha Shark Tags are used on merchandise it prevents wardrobing because it has to be on the merchandise when it is returned in order to get a refund. The tags are one-time use only meaning that the tag stays on a garment until the purchaser pays and takes the item home. Once the buyer decides to keep the item and wear it, THEN the tag is removed by the customer and the item cannot be returned at that point.
The potential for sharks to be in the water give most of us a pause before we go into the ocean or even in rivers, in some instances. For example bull sharks can and do swim in canals and rivers in Florida. We see videos and pictures in the news and on the computer in websites like YouTube and get a little squeamish about dipping a toe in the water after all. Well, those who participate in return fraud pause to reconsider what they are about to do when they see Alpha Shark Tags being used by a merchant.
Consider using Alpha Shark Tags on your merchandise and watch your profits go up as fraud declines. No shark cage necessary, the only people who need to fear are the con-artists who try to take advantage of retailers.
For more information about Alpha Shark Tags contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
I’m going to do something you don’t often see, I’m writing an article about return fraud and sharks, an unusual combination right? Now, I don’t know about you but I really enjoy watching shows about sharks. It may be Shark Week on the Discovery Channel or (I’m dating myself here) The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau and it can even be the movie, “Jaws”. With that information in mind I thought I would share a few interesting facts about sharks from Discovery.com in an article titled, “The 15 Most Surprising Facts About Sharks”, by Anastacia Darby, 06/04/2015:
• The whale shark is not only the largest shark species; they are also the largest fish in the world at over 40 feet long.
• The gestation period for a pregnant shark can last from 5 months to TWO YEARS!
• It has been estimated that the bite of the great white shark is up to 4000 PSI. For comparison a tiger has a bite of around 1000 PSI
• Some sharks can cycle through up to 35,000 teeth in a lifetime.
• The blue shark can give birth to up to 135 pups in one litter!
• Hammerhead sharks’ heads aren’t just for show they are equipped with electrical sensors which makes them superior hunters.
Finally from sportfishingmag.com, February 1, 2017 by Devin Golden, “Tagged Mako Shark Travels Record Distance”; “After 600 days, the mako shark, named Hells Bay, After Hells’ Bay Boatworks, traveled more than 13,000 and broke a GHRI for the shark species in the Atlantic Ocean.” While it may not break any bite pounds per square inch records or distance traveled records, Alpha Shark Tags can help stores break the number of people engaging in return fraud due to wardrobing.
Wardrobing takes place when a person buys clothes with the intention of wearing them on only one or two occasions and then returning them with the tags on them and the receipt in hand. While it may not seem like return fraud in the traditional sense of the word such as when someone steals an item and then tries to return it for a refund, when wardrobing takes place there are several hits a store takes. A salesperson who earns a commission may lose their commission when the item is returned after spending time with the customer trying to help them with the purchase. The items are frequently returned damaged so merchandise is returned at full price paid and then damaged out or marked fully out of stock. An item that was stolen may be returned for a reduced price if it has taken a mark down or a store credit is issued when no receipt is presented. But no salesperson is losing a commission and if a receipt is not provided there may be less financial impact on the store. It is also likely the merchandise that was stolen won’t be returned damaged because the thief wants as much money as possible. When Alpha Shark Tags are used on merchandise it prevents wardrobing because it has to be on the merchandise when it is returned in order to get a refund. The tags are one-time use only meaning that the tag stays on a garment until the purchaser pays and takes the item home. Once the buyer decides to keep the item and wear it, THEN the tag is removed by the customer and the item cannot be returned at that point.
The potential for sharks to be in the water give most of us a pause before we go into the ocean or even in rivers, in some instances. For example bull sharks can and do swim in canals and rivers in Florida. We see videos and pictures in the news and on the computer in websites like YouTube and get a little squeamish about dipping a toe in the water after all. Well, those who participate in return fraud pause to reconsider what they are about to do when they see Alpha Shark Tags being used by a merchant.
Consider using Alpha Shark Tags on your merchandise and watch your profits go up as fraud declines. No shark cage necessary, the only people who need to fear are the con-artists who try to take advantage of retailers.
For more information about Alpha Shark Tags contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
Pre-employment screening-4 WC blog 419
Background Check Company-3
Be A Trainer And A Mentor To A Young Worker But Use Pre-Employment Screening To Aid In Sound Hiring Decisions
There can be challenges in hiring young people to work for you and some employers are reluctant to even try. They may say that they have no experience or that the young people aren’t mature enough to handle the responsibilities that come with the job, especially in retail. What are some of those challenges? Younger employees may be more prone to use their smart phones while working. They may tend to call out frequently especially when their friends are going to go out somewhere like a Friday night football game or a dance, etc. They may not dress appropriately for an interview. Maybe they don’t conduct themselves well in an interview. What if they decide to steal while working for you or give merchandise to their friends? All of these could be legitimate concerns but I would argue that they could be concerns you can have with older workers too. Rather than avoiding hiring young people, it would be a better option to conduct pre-employment screening to help hire the best candidates.
Pre-employment screening is conducted by a background check company specializing in validating a prospective employee’s application and resume. They may also look at a person’s personal history that is open, public information. For example, a criminal history report can be reviewed or a driving record can be researched. Some credit history information is accessible to certain companies and individuals. Much of this information is useful for determining the compatibility of a candidate for a business. In what way? Well, if an applicant has a checkered credit history it might not be a good idea to hire them for a cashiering position. Someone with too many traffic tickets may be a poor fit for a position that requires someone to drive a company vehicle. A nursing home center may want to do a more in-depth search on sex offender registries to ensure the safety of patients in their care. Hiring someone for a position and then learning about their past due to a safety or security issue puts a business owner at risk for a lawsuit.
Can a background check company make a difference when it comes to hiring young people with little or no work experience? It can still be useful to run a pre-employment screening for these applicants even with the lack of work history. You may still find out about driving history or in some situations a serious criminal history. A juvenile’s criminal record may not be able to be researched due to protections for minors but serious crimes could show up if they are treated as adults. A reputable background check company knows what information they may legally obtain and takes precautions to avoid breaking laws that could violate an individual’s rights.
All of that said I believe that everyone needs an opportunity to get experience and it is in that first job that a store owner or manager can make a huge impact on a young worker. You may not have thought about it but you can be a mentor to someone in their first job. Yes, it may take a little bit more of your time and some extra effort but you have a chance to teach valuable life lessons to someone in their first job. Consider that you can teach that young person that every job serves a purpose and to take pride in it. Whether it is mopping a floor or emptying trash cans the tasks need to be done. Failing to do so and not doing it properly makes the store look bad and customers won’t want to shop there. Even as a Loss Prevention Manager, when I saw our store outside trash can overflow I would empty them rather than let that be the first impression our customers would see. You can teach them how to provide great service to all customers, the nice ones as well as the rude ones. All of these lessons can be carried with them throughout their lives to make them productive workers and good citizens.
Take a chance on hiring a young person (in addition to experienced workers) and be a powerful influence in someone’s life. Use pre-employment screening to help protect your interests in the process of giving a helping hand to a new worker.
For more information about pre-employment screening contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
There can be challenges in hiring young people to work for you and some employers are reluctant to even try. They may say that they have no experience or that the young people aren’t mature enough to handle the responsibilities that come with the job, especially in retail. What are some of those challenges? Younger employees may be more prone to use their smart phones while working. They may tend to call out frequently especially when their friends are going to go out somewhere like a Friday night football game or a dance, etc. They may not dress appropriately for an interview. Maybe they don’t conduct themselves well in an interview. What if they decide to steal while working for you or give merchandise to their friends? All of these could be legitimate concerns but I would argue that they could be concerns you can have with older workers too. Rather than avoiding hiring young people, it would be a better option to conduct pre-employment screening to help hire the best candidates.
Pre-employment screening is conducted by a background check company specializing in validating a prospective employee’s application and resume. They may also look at a person’s personal history that is open, public information. For example, a criminal history report can be reviewed or a driving record can be researched. Some credit history information is accessible to certain companies and individuals. Much of this information is useful for determining the compatibility of a candidate for a business. In what way? Well, if an applicant has a checkered credit history it might not be a good idea to hire them for a cashiering position. Someone with too many traffic tickets may be a poor fit for a position that requires someone to drive a company vehicle. A nursing home center may want to do a more in-depth search on sex offender registries to ensure the safety of patients in their care. Hiring someone for a position and then learning about their past due to a safety or security issue puts a business owner at risk for a lawsuit.
Can a background check company make a difference when it comes to hiring young people with little or no work experience? It can still be useful to run a pre-employment screening for these applicants even with the lack of work history. You may still find out about driving history or in some situations a serious criminal history. A juvenile’s criminal record may not be able to be researched due to protections for minors but serious crimes could show up if they are treated as adults. A reputable background check company knows what information they may legally obtain and takes precautions to avoid breaking laws that could violate an individual’s rights.
All of that said I believe that everyone needs an opportunity to get experience and it is in that first job that a store owner or manager can make a huge impact on a young worker. You may not have thought about it but you can be a mentor to someone in their first job. Yes, it may take a little bit more of your time and some extra effort but you have a chance to teach valuable life lessons to someone in their first job. Consider that you can teach that young person that every job serves a purpose and to take pride in it. Whether it is mopping a floor or emptying trash cans the tasks need to be done. Failing to do so and not doing it properly makes the store look bad and customers won’t want to shop there. Even as a Loss Prevention Manager, when I saw our store outside trash can overflow I would empty them rather than let that be the first impression our customers would see. You can teach them how to provide great service to all customers, the nice ones as well as the rude ones. All of these lessons can be carried with them throughout their lives to make them productive workers and good citizens.
Take a chance on hiring a young person (in addition to experienced workers) and be a powerful influence in someone’s life. Use pre-employment screening to help protect your interests in the process of giving a helping hand to a new worker.
For more information about pre-employment screening contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
