Checkpoint Security System – 3 WC Blog 364
Checkpoint Tags – 3
No Joking Around, A Checkpoint System Is A Theft Prevention Tool Not A Toy
Pranks can be fun, I mean let’s face it who doesn’t get a laugh when a good practical joke works and no one is injured or hurt and the joke does not cause embarrassment that makes someone uncomfortable. Television shows like “Candid Camera” used to be extremely funny as the poor victim would be set up and the joke plays out and most people when the camera is pointed out to them would start to laugh. Of course when pranks go too far feelings can be hurt injuries happen or worse someone is placed in a position where they don’t want to go to work anymore. Occasionally Loss Prevention officers can play pranks too, usually with each other and they will hide Checkpoint Tags somewhere on a co-worker’s person or in a laptop bag. It can be funny, especially if the victim is known to be a little “uptight” all of the time. I would never admit to being a party to such a gag when I was younger, I will only say that I have heard of such things taking place. Of course the funny part is when the victim exits through the Checkpoint Security System pedestals and the alarm is activated. The victim is looking around for the cause of the alarm knowing they should be responding to it until they realize everyone is looking at them. Do this to someone who lacks humor and they can get all discombobulated…so I’ve heard.
I realize there are readers who may not know what Checkpoint Tags are so I will take a moment to describe them. They are anti-shoplifting devices that are placed on merchandise to deter and prevent theft of goods. While they may take a variety of forms, some are adhesive labels and others are hard tags that are pinned on clothing, they all operate on radio frequency signals. The tags are designed to emit a specific radio frequency and this signal is picked up by a Checkpoint Security System pedestal(s) usually set up near store entrances and exits. When tagged items are carried too close to pedestals a loud audible alarm sounds alerting store personnel of a problem, often a shoplifter attempting to get out with stolen merchandise. Store associates trained to respond to alarms conduct receipt checks and find the cause of the alarm and handle the situation as they have been appropriately taught to do.
While pulling such gags on co-workers may seem fun and harmless there can be unintended consequences. Aside from potentially angering a co-worker, there is the alarm itself. If the alarm activates while a customer is exiting at the same time, they are not aware of the cause and may become defensive. While a store has the right to ask for a receipt from a customer who sets off the alarm, failing to respond to alarms and/or making false accusations based on an electronic article surveillance (EAS) activation can result in a customer complaint or in an extreme case a lawsuit. If a customer says they were embarrassed because of a false alarm a situation can escalate. This is why it is so important to treat EAS alarm activations seriously and to understand that a Checkpoint Security System is a tool to drive down shortage, not a toy to amuse employees. In the same way that closed circuit television recording should be handled in a secure, professional manner and never as a source of amusement, anti-shoplifting tools should receive the same care.
I know that people are human and prone to doing silly things sometimes. Even Loss Prevention professionals can make silly decisions. Just remember, when the temptation hits you to pull a gag avoid using retail theft prevention tools such as your Checkpoint Tags or any other company property for that matter. I encourage everyone to have fun at work and enjoy what you do, just be smart about how you do it and ensure it would never cause harm or embarrassment to another person or to your employer.
Need information on Checkpoint Tags? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
Pranks can be fun, I mean let’s face it who doesn’t get a laugh when a good practical joke works and no one is injured or hurt and the joke does not cause embarrassment that makes someone uncomfortable. Television shows like “Candid Camera” used to be extremely funny as the poor victim would be set up and the joke plays out and most people when the camera is pointed out to them would start to laugh. Of course when pranks go too far feelings can be hurt injuries happen or worse someone is placed in a position where they don’t want to go to work anymore. Occasionally Loss Prevention officers can play pranks too, usually with each other and they will hide Checkpoint Tags somewhere on a co-worker’s person or in a laptop bag. It can be funny, especially if the victim is known to be a little “uptight” all of the time. I would never admit to being a party to such a gag when I was younger, I will only say that I have heard of such things taking place. Of course the funny part is when the victim exits through the Checkpoint Security System pedestals and the alarm is activated. The victim is looking around for the cause of the alarm knowing they should be responding to it until they realize everyone is looking at them. Do this to someone who lacks humor and they can get all discombobulated…so I’ve heard.
I realize there are readers who may not know what Checkpoint Tags are so I will take a moment to describe them. They are anti-shoplifting devices that are placed on merchandise to deter and prevent theft of goods. While they may take a variety of forms, some are adhesive labels and others are hard tags that are pinned on clothing, they all operate on radio frequency signals. The tags are designed to emit a specific radio frequency and this signal is picked up by a Checkpoint Security System pedestal(s) usually set up near store entrances and exits. When tagged items are carried too close to pedestals a loud audible alarm sounds alerting store personnel of a problem, often a shoplifter attempting to get out with stolen merchandise. Store associates trained to respond to alarms conduct receipt checks and find the cause of the alarm and handle the situation as they have been appropriately taught to do.
While pulling such gags on co-workers may seem fun and harmless there can be unintended consequences. Aside from potentially angering a co-worker, there is the alarm itself. If the alarm activates while a customer is exiting at the same time, they are not aware of the cause and may become defensive. While a store has the right to ask for a receipt from a customer who sets off the alarm, failing to respond to alarms and/or making false accusations based on an electronic article surveillance (EAS) activation can result in a customer complaint or in an extreme case a lawsuit. If a customer says they were embarrassed because of a false alarm a situation can escalate. This is why it is so important to treat EAS alarm activations seriously and to understand that a Checkpoint Security System is a tool to drive down shortage, not a toy to amuse employees. In the same way that closed circuit television recording should be handled in a secure, professional manner and never as a source of amusement, anti-shoplifting tools should receive the same care.
I know that people are human and prone to doing silly things sometimes. Even Loss Prevention professionals can make silly decisions. Just remember, when the temptation hits you to pull a gag avoid using retail theft prevention tools such as your Checkpoint Tags or any other company property for that matter. I encourage everyone to have fun at work and enjoy what you do, just be smart about how you do it and ensure it would never cause harm or embarrassment to another person or to your employer.
Need information on Checkpoint Tags? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
ALPHA KEEPERS STOP ORGANIZED RETAIL CRIME RING FROM STEALING HIGH VALUE MERCHANDISE!
Alpha Keepers: 4 ML Blog 11
Prevent Shoplifting: 3
As a Loss Prevention expert, I am in charge of protecting the assets in my stores. When it comes to merchandise protection, I am always attempting to find the best protection devices! Each year expert thieves find new ways to shoplifter our high value products, so we must remain on high alert in the fight against preventable loss. Hard tags and spider wraps are not enough in many theft scenarios. Alpha keepers are the highest form of technology out there for retailers to prevent shoplifting. I had to learn the hard way, by taking a big loss from boosters in order to get better merchandise protection devices.
I frequently watch my CCTV cameras to analyze high theft trends and the known shoplifter patterns. I was watching cameras one evening, and noticed an organized retail crime group of 4 subjects on our CCTV. They were quickly scoping the store for associates, making sure no one was following them. I recognized this group because they hit my location two other times. The group targeted our high dollar items previously, before we had Alpha Keepers in use. When they hit us before, they were able to get away with $5,785.00 worth of merchandise, from two visits. Two of the subjects selected merchandise from different areas of the store and stage the merchandise, while the other two subjects keep watch for store personnel. Having seen this group previously, I knew their ultimate target would likely be expensive fragrances. Their prior sections were all small value items, but thieves gravitate toward fragrance due to its easy resale. Upon making it to the perfume area for their grand finale, they noted all items encased with Alpha Keepers. I could see on camera they were not used to dealing with these type of devices. They searched for any bottle without an Alpha Keeper, but could not find it. They tried to remove a bottle from its keeper, but could not pry it apart. Their ultimate plans failed and they left all their merchandise. My store lost nothing in this incident, but could have lost $2,012 & not to mention the return trips that would have followed. After this incident, I have not seen them back in my location. The deterrence piece worked, as it should have. The following month, I had 8 more similar cases like this one. Shoplifters coming in, but noticing the merchandise protection so they leave. This showed my store team the importance of ensuring we are utilizing the Alpha Keepers to prevent shoplifting. It illustrated the need to continue their use as part of our shrink action plan.
It’s moments like this that make us realize the importance of keeping our merchandise protection standards updated at the highest level possible and evaluating any new techniques or devices on the market the moment they are available for store use. One thing we really liked is that they are available in different sizes; the various sizes lend themselves to products of all sorts in many different departments. We were able to order specific sizes to protect fragrance, electronics, razor products, and other high dollar areas in the store. The customer can also see the product information through the keepers, so it does not inhibit sales. When we analyzed our weekly theft trends in these areas, we noticed a massive decline in these departments. Due to the success rate, we decided to invest in these devices at every location in my district. Improve your bottom line by taking your merchandise protection to the next level. Give boosters the boot as I did, and prevent shoplifting in your business.
Need information on the Alpha Keepers? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
As a Loss Prevention expert, I am in charge of protecting the assets in my stores. When it comes to merchandise protection, I am always attempting to find the best protection devices! Each year expert thieves find new ways to shoplifter our high value products, so we must remain on high alert in the fight against preventable loss. Hard tags and spider wraps are not enough in many theft scenarios. Alpha keepers are the highest form of technology out there for retailers to prevent shoplifting. I had to learn the hard way, by taking a big loss from boosters in order to get better merchandise protection devices.
I frequently watch my CCTV cameras to analyze high theft trends and the known shoplifter patterns. I was watching cameras one evening, and noticed an organized retail crime group of 4 subjects on our CCTV. They were quickly scoping the store for associates, making sure no one was following them. I recognized this group because they hit my location two other times. The group targeted our high dollar items previously, before we had Alpha Keepers in use. When they hit us before, they were able to get away with $5,785.00 worth of merchandise, from two visits. Two of the subjects selected merchandise from different areas of the store and stage the merchandise, while the other two subjects keep watch for store personnel. Having seen this group previously, I knew their ultimate target would likely be expensive fragrances. Their prior sections were all small value items, but thieves gravitate toward fragrance due to its easy resale. Upon making it to the perfume area for their grand finale, they noted all items encased with Alpha Keepers. I could see on camera they were not used to dealing with these type of devices. They searched for any bottle without an Alpha Keeper, but could not find it. They tried to remove a bottle from its keeper, but could not pry it apart. Their ultimate plan failed and they left all their merchandise. My store lost nothing in this incident, but could have lost $2,012 & not to mention the return trips that would have followed. After this incident, I have not seen them back in my location. The deterrence piece worked, as it should have. The following month, I had 8 more similar cases like this one. Shoplifters coming in, but noticing the merchandise protection so they leave. This showed my store team the importance of ensuring we are utilizing the Alpha Keepers to prevent shoplifting. It illustrated the need to continue their use as part of our shrink action plan.
It’s moments like this that make us realize the importance of keeping our merchandise protection standards updated at the highest level possible and evaluating any new techniques or devices on the market the moment they are available for store use. One thing we really liked is that they are available in different sizes; the various sizes lend themselves to products of all sorts in many different departments. We were able to order specific sizes to protect fragrance, electronics, razor products, and other high dollar areas in the store. The customer can also see the product information through the keepers, so it does not inhibit sales. When we analyzed our weekly theft trends in these areas, we noticed a massive decline in these departments. Due to the success rate, we decided to invest in these devices at every location in my district. Improve your bottom line by taking your merchandise protection to the next level. Give boosters the boot as I did, and prevent shoplifting in your business.
Need information on the Alpha Keepers? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
Employee Theft-4 wc blog 379
Stop Shoplifting-4
Drill Into The Basics Of How To Stop Shoplifting And Employee Theft With Manager Training From LPSI
The year was 1983, and it was a warm San Antonio evening, sometime after midnight when our bus pulled through the gates of Lackland Air Force Base. I don’t remember a lot about that first introduction to Basic Training except there was a whole lot of yelling, screaming and being told to hurry up. It is kind of a blur now as I look back on it, but in my mind they brought us in during the middle of the night so we would have a harder time escaping than if we came in during the daytime and knew the route we came in. Of course I’m kidding, we were all volunteers but for a bunch of green 18 year-olds, it was very unnerving. The truth is, none of us knew much about the military or the U.S.A.F. and in order to get a bunch of kids prepared to take on the responsibilities that military life would require harsh training was necessary and paid off. Later in life when I became a Loss Prevention Manager I went from a Loss Prevention Associate in a department store straight to my new position in a brand new, big box retail store that was being built. I had to get in my training, hire a new Loss Prevention Team for my store and conduct a section of new employee orientations for groups of 10 to 50 people on employee theft and how to stop shoplifting. I had to develop my own style of training to get my message across. Loss Prevention Systems Inc. (LPSI) offers training for companies that have no Loss Prevention Department.
There are many retail owners and managers who deal with retail shrinkage due to employee theft and have no idea how to prevent it or stop shoplifting in their stores. Many of these managers could use training that can help them reduce shortage due to theft issues much like the training I used to provide. If you are one of those managers you will be happy to know that there is a solution to your problem. As I mentioned LPSI offers training seminars on how to reduce employee theft and stop shoplifting in your stores. When the training lessons are applied in a store, retail shortage declines and profits improve. Rest assured you will receive the best possible training available. Bill Bregar, President of LPSI, has years of National level Loss Prevention experience in addition to his founding of LPSI in 1983. His expertise in the field ensures you will receive world-class sessions.
When I started having to conduct orientations for mass hires, I had a guiding hand from a Loss Prevention Manager who had been with the company a long time. He conducted one session and then worked with me on the next one. By the third orientation he allowed me to do it myself with him being in the background ready to give me advice and step in if I began faltering. Fortunately there was some stumbling on my part but I muddled through without totally dropping the ball. Soon my helper had to leave but I had enough experience to continue on my own. Over time I did develop a style I was satisfied with that combined serious aspects from my Air Force Training Instructors and the fun parts my counterpart used in his orientations.
I believe the results of the orientations from mass hire through my many years as Loss Prevention Manager were reflected in our inventory results. Our first inventory we had a .75% shrinkage result. My store manager who had been with the company well over 20 years and had opened many new stores told me that he rarely saw a new store inventory the first year under 1% shrink. Was this a fluke? No, over 12 annual inventory cycles only twice did we go over 1% and both of those offset the following years. I believe that properly training employees and managers on how to stop shoplifting and identify and prevent employee theft does make a difference.
You don’t have to go through basic training with a Drill Instructor yelling at you to prepare you for combating retail theft. Owners of smaller retail stores also don’t have to have a Loss Prevention team to drive down shortage. Let LPSI give you the training that will improve your profits and drive out thieves.
Get more information on employee theft, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
The year was 1983, and it was a warm San Antonio evening, sometime after midnight when our bus pulled through the gates of Lackland Air Force Base. I don’t remember a lot about that first introduction to Basic Training except there was a whole lot of yelling, screaming and being told to hurry up. It is kind of a blur now as I look back on it, but in my mind they brought us in during the middle of the night so we would have a harder time escaping than if we came in during the daytime and knew the route we came in. Of course I’m kidding, we were all volunteers but for a bunch of green 18 year-olds, it was very unnerving. The truth is, none of us knew much about the military or the U.S.A.F. and in order to get a bunch of kids prepared to take on the responsibilities that military life would require harsh training was necessary and paid off. Later in life when I became a Loss Prevention Manager I went from a Loss Prevention Associate in a department store straight to my new position in a brand new, big box retail store that was being built. I had to get in my training, hire a new Loss Prevention Team for my store and conduct a section of new employee orientations for groups of 10 to 50 people on employee theft and how to stop shoplifting. I had to develop my own style of training to get my message across. Loss Prevention Systems Inc. (LPSI) offers training for companies that have no Loss Prevention Department.
There are many retail owners and managers who deal with retail shrinkage due to employee theft and have no idea how to prevent it or stop shoplifting in their stores. Many of these managers could use training that can help them reduce shortage due to theft issues much like the training I used to provide. If you are one of those managers you will be happy to know that there is a solution to your problem. As I mentioned LPSI offers training seminars on how to reduce employee theft and stop shoplifting in your stores. When the training lessons are applied in a store, retail shortage declines and profits improve. Rest assured you will receive the best possible training available. Bill Bregar, President of LPSI, has years of National level Loss Prevention experience in addition to his founding of LPSI in 1983. His expertise in the field ensures you will receive world-class sessions.
When I started having to conduct orientations for mass hires, I had a guiding hand from a Loss Prevention Manager who had been with the company a long time. He conducted one session and then worked with me on the next one. By the third orientation he allowed me to do it myself with him being in the background ready to give me advice and step in if I began faltering. Fortunately there was some stumbling on my part but I muddled through without totally dropping the ball. Soon my helper had to leave but I had enough experience to continue on my own. Over time I did develop a style I was satisfied with that combined serious aspects from my Air Force Training Instructors and the fun parts my counterpart used in his orientations.
I believe the results of the orientations from mass hire through my many years as Loss Prevention Manager were reflected in our inventory results. Our first inventory we had a .75% shrinkage result. My store manager who had been with the company well over 20 years and had opened many new stores told me that he rarely saw a new store inventory the first year under 1% shrink. Was this a fluke? No, over 12 annual inventory cycles only twice did we go over 1% and both of those offset the following years. I believe that properly training employees and managers on how to stop shoplifting and identify and prevent employee theft does make a difference.
You don’t have to go through basic training with a Drill Instructor yelling at you to prepare you for combating retail theft. Owners of smaller retail stores also don’t have to have a Loss Prevention team to drive down shortage. Let LPSI give you the training that will improve your profits and drive out thieves.
Get more information on employee theft, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
Return Fraud – 3 WC Blog 362
Wardrobing Tags – 4
Don’t Get Bummed Over Bikinis And Beachwear That Have Been Worn; Stop Return Fraud With Wardrobing Tags
As a veteran and an avid reader of military books, especially biographies and autobiographies, I have a high regard for those brothers and sisters who have served in uniform and especially combat veterans. I did not serve during a period of combat so though I am a veteran, I have a high esteem for those who have. That being said, as I read my books, watch military movies and documentaries, I pick up on some things that just stick with me. One of those things is a term I have read over and over in books about Navy SEALs, when the authors talk about their experiences of BUDs training, they almost always reference getting “wet and sandy”. This expression is derived from one of the torturous exercises that they constantly endure of running into the cold surf water and then coming out and rolling or crawling through the sandy beaches. To be one of the best of the best, every SEAL goes through it. If you are like me and want a great read, I am going to stray a little and suggest you take time to read the book “Lone Survivor” by Marcus Luttrell. Now I know you are wondering, “what in the world does the term “wet and sandy” have to do with return fraud or wardrobing?” Hold your horses, I’m getting there. Working in retail in a beach resort area we often get vacationers who go through our stores looking for the hottest new beachwear. They are only here for a few days to a week so they tend to pack light, intending to buy something when they get here and boy do they have a lot of stores and shops to choose from to find a new bikini or swim trunks. The problem for retailers is that many of the visitors wear the swim clothes to the beach, get “wet and sandy” and attempt to return the items, with the tags and receipts. Because they have receipts and store managers don’t want to risk a negative customer survey or the scene that may be caused, they allow this type of return fraud to take place. This kind of fraud could be prevented with the use of wardrobing tags.
Wardrobing tags are applied to garments in a very visible location where they will be very hard to hide. The purpose is to make the clothing unable to be worn in public without people knowing the item is going to be returned. Basically it shames the purchaser of the item if they try to wear it to an event or out in public. Those who engage in this kind of fraud want to be seen in the clothes, they just don’t want others to know they don’t intend to keep them. In many situations, the practitioners of wardrobing hide clothing hang tags inside the garment or they are very clever at removing the tags and reattaching them. The attachment guns can be bought at any office supply store along with refill plastic attachments. After wearing the clothes the “customer” returns the item(s) to the store with tags intact and receipt in hand and get a refund. Many stores have liberal return policies and make no issue of odors or minor stains on the garments. If they do get pointed out, the “customer” frequently causes a scene so the manager or employee will want to get it taken care of and get them out of the store.
Does this really happen even for swimwear? Yes it does. I have dealt with customers who have brought in merchandise that I believed had just come off the beach. Sand still in the seams, water can be wrung out and the customer has sworn the bathing suit shrank up on them and could not be worn! Yes, they have the tags and the original receipt and no, there is simply no way this garment can be resold, marked down or salvaged. The managers take the clothes back and the merchandise is marked out of stock, costing the store money. The best way to defend against these outlandish returns is to use the wardrobing tags on the merchandise. The customer either has to cut it off which then renders the possibility of a return null and void OR they wear the swimwear with the tag right where it is so all the world can see it.
Wet and sandy is appropriate for Navy SEAL trainees and for beachgoers while on vacation. It is not an appropriate descriptor for bathing suits when the customer is trying to do a return. Prevent return fraud and use wardrobing tags on all of the clothing you sell, including bathing suits.
Need information on wardrobing tags? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
As a veteran and an avid reader of military books, especially biographies and autobiographies, I have a high regard for those brothers and sisters who have served in uniform and especially combat veterans. I did not serve during a period of combat so though I am a veteran, I have a high esteem for those who have. That being said, as I read my books, watch military movies and documentaries, I pick up on some things that just stick with me. One of those things is a term I have read over and over in books about Navy SEALs, when the authors talk about their experiences of BUDs training, they almost always reference getting “wet and sandy”. This expression is derived from one of the torturous exercises that they constantly endure of running into the cold surf water and then coming out and rolling or crawling through the sandy beaches. To be one of the best of the best, every SEAL goes through it. If you are like me and want a great read, I am going to stray a little and suggest you take time to read the book “Lone Survivor” by Marcus Luttrell. Now I know you are wondering, “what in the world does the term “wet and sandy” have to do with return fraud or wardrobing?” Hold your horses, I’m getting there. Working in retail in a beach resort area we often get vacationers who go through our stores looking for the hottest new beachwear. They are only here for a few days to a week so they tend to pack light, intending to buy something when they get here and boy do they have a lot of stores and shops to choose from to find a new bikini or swim trunks. The problem for retailers is that many of the visitors wear the swim clothes to the beach, get “wet and sandy” and attempt to return the items, with the tags and receipts. Because they have receipts and store managers don’t want to risk a negative customer survey or the scene that may be caused, they allow this type of return fraud to take place. This kind of fraud could be prevented with the use of wardrobing tags.
Wardrobing tags are applied to garments in a very visible location where they will be very hard to hide. The purpose is to make the clothing unable to be worn in public without people knowing the item is going to be returned. Basically it shames the purchaser of the item if they try to wear it to an event or out in public. Those who engage in this kind of fraud want to be seen in the clothes, they just don’t want others to know they don’t intend to keep them. In many situations, the practitioners of wardrobing hide clothing hang tags inside the garment or they are very clever at removing the tags and reattaching them. The attachment guns can be bought at any office supply store along with refill plastic attachments. After wearing the clothes the “customer” returns the item(s) to the store with tags intact and receipt in hand and get a refund. Many stores have liberal return policies and make no issue of odors or minor stains on the garments. If they do get pointed out, the “customer” frequently causes a scene so the manager or employee will want to get it taken care of and get them out of the store.
Does this really happen even for swimwear? Yes it does. I have dealt with customers who have brought in merchandise that I believed had just come off the beach. Sand still in the seams, water can be wrung out and the customer has sworn the bathing suit shrank up on them and could not be worn! Yes, they have the tags and the original receipt and no, there is simply no way this garment can be resold, marked down or salvaged. The managers take the clothes back and the merchandise is marked out of stock, costing the store money. The best way to defend against these outlandish returns is to use the wardrobing tags on the merchandise. The customer either has to cut it off which then renders the possibility of a return null and void OR they wear the swimwear with the tag right where it is so all the world can see it.
Wet and sandy is appropriate for Navy SEAL trainees and for beachgoers while on vacation. It is not an appropriate descriptor for bathing suits when the customer is trying to do a return. Prevent return fraud and use wardrobing tags on all of the clothing you sell, including bathing suits.
Need information on wardrobing tags? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
DW Blog 01
Alpha Keepers – 5, Prevent shoplifting – 3
ALPHA KEEPERS: PROTECTING YOUR PRODUCT WHILE HELPING INCREASE YOUR SALES
One of the most challenging aspects of running a business knows how to react when your inventory starts to disappear. A lot of folks have a gut reaction to pull the items that they are losing to prevent shoplifting and lock them up behind a cage; some other folks may limit quantities. While these reactions can potentially limit your losses, they will most definitely have a negative impact on your sales. Alpha Keepers allow you to both protect those items while allowing for sales growth.
Success of retail business is dependent on being able to drive sales growth. This can be challenging when those items start flying off the shelf before they make it to the register. Alpha Keepers can help you protect you prevent shoplifting. If you haven’t heard of them, they are clear acrylic containers that you place your product in, that activates the alarm on the Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) towers at the stores entrance when nearby.
There are a number of benefits aside from just setting off an alarm. The most important benefit is that you can place your product on the shelf and allow the customer to still interact with that product without having to have someone from your team unlock a display case. I couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve been out shopping and wanted an item and had to wait around for a long time for an employee to get a key and unlock the display case. In many cases customers just walk away, causing another missed sale. Along with availability, the other benefit is that Alpha Keepers are reusable. When a protected item is purchased at the register, the cashier easily removes the product and the keeper is able to be used again and again. They also come in a variety of sizes for different types of product. What’s more is they cannot be accidentally deactivated like some of the EAS labels out there.
In my many years of Loss Prevention experience, I have found that there are two types of shoplifter; the amateur and the professional. Alpha Keepers deter both equally. Your professional thief wants to get in and out as quickly as possible. They are looking to load up as much product as they can in the shortest amount of time possible. Alpha Keepers increase the size of the product they are protecting, which makes it difficult for professional thieves to load up as much product. If they were going to attempt to get the item out of the keeper, they would risk damaging the product as well as waste precious time. The amateur thief is even more deterred, as most amateur shoplifters tend to steal based on opportunity. These devices tell potential shoplifters that getting this product out is no easy task.
Training your team to use Alpha Keepers is also super easy. The device uses a magnet key that matches up to the device and a simple slide of the tab allows for easy entry. This makes it easier for your team to adapt to the changes of the new devices. You don’t need any special equipment to use these devices either. They sit on the shelf just like the product you want protected. You can rest easy knowing that they are there protecting your product, even if you aren’t there.
So if you’re in a situation where you need to prevent shoplifting, just know that there are solutions out there to help you with your problem.
Need information on Alpha Keepers? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
One of the most challenging aspects of running a business knows how to react when your inventory starts to disappear. A lot of folks have a gut reaction to pull the items that they are losing to prevent shoplifting and lock them up behind a cage; some other folks may limit quantities. While these reactions can potentially limit your losses, they will most definitely have a negative impact on your sales. Alpha Keepers allow you to both protect those items while allowing for sales growth.
Success of retail business is dependent on being able to drive sales growth. This can be challenging when those items start flying off the shelf before they make it to the register. Alpha Keepers can help you protect you prevent shoplifting. If you haven’t heard of them, they are clear acrylic containers that you place your product in, that activates the alarm on the Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) towers at the stores entrance when nearby.
There are a number of benefits aside from just setting off an alarm. The most important benefit is that you can place your product on the shelf and allow the customer to still interact with that product without having to have someone from your team unlock a display case. I couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve been out shopping and wanted an item and had to wait around for a long time for an employee to get a key and unlock the display case. In many cases customers just walk away, causing another missed sale. Along with availability, the other benefit is that Alpha Keepers are reusable. When a protected item is purchased at the register, the cashier easily removes the product and the keeper is able to be used again and again. They also come in a variety of sizes for different types of product. What’s more is they cannot be accidentally deactivated like some of the EAS labels out there.
In my many years of Loss Prevention experience, I have found that there are two types of shoplifter; the amateur and the professional. Alpha Keepers deter both equally. Your professional thief wants to get in and out as quickly as possible. They are looking to load up as much product as they can in the shortest amount of time possible. Alpha Keepers increase the size of the product they are protecting, which makes it difficult for professional thieves to load up as much product. If they were going to attempt to get the item out of the keeper, they would risk damaging the product as well as waste precious time. The amateur thief is even more deterred, as most amateur shoplifters tend to steal based on opportunity. These devices tell potential shoplifters that getting this product out is no easy task.
Training your team to use Alpha Keepers is also super easy. The device uses a magnet key that matches up to the device and a simple slide of the tab allows for easy entry. This makes it easier for your team to adapt to the changes of the new devices. You don’t need any special equipment to use these devices either. They sit on the shelf just like the product you want protected. You can rest easy knowing that they are there protecting your product, even if you aren’t there.
So if you’re in a situation where you need to prevent shoplifting, just know that there are solutions out there to help you with your problem.
Need information on Alpha Keepers? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
Background Check Company-3 WC Blog 349
Pre-employment screening-3
Stressful Workplaces Can Be Improved When Employee Background Checks Are Used Part 2
Job stress will always exist be it through deadlines, the type of work that has to be complete, the random day when Murphy’s Law seems to take over and everything goes wrong and so on. In part 1 of this series I discussed job stresses that are related to bad employees. Most of us have had to work with them before. These are the people that always seem to argue over everything. You come in to work and say a cheerful good morning and Mr. Grumpy Pants wants to know what’s so good about it? You bring in the box of donuts to share with the office and this is the person who gripes because you didn’t include chocolate glazed. I mentioned how some of these people can be avoided simply by conducting pre-employment screenings and finding out they have a checkered work history. You can identify patterns and possible lies in the application process that give you reason to question if this is the person you want to include on your team. However managers share some responsibility too. How many managers out there don’t want to address performance issues? I see it a lot. There are some managers who don’t have the skills or the nerve to confront poor performers. They excuse bad behavior or poor performance, sometimes hiding behind the excuse that the store is short staffed and can’t afford to lose the employee right now. Are you KIDDING ME?! Think about it folks, if the person is a poor performer, they are either making everyone else on the team work harder OR the team sees that nothing happens to the employee, they get disgruntled and slow down. I’ve seen it happen far too often. I hold the managers responsible who are unwilling to sit down with the employee when poor performance is first identified. Yes, a background check company can help weed the bad apples out, but there still has to be accountability and that starts at the top.
Just to be clear, a background check company can be hired to look into all sorts of information that can be important in your hiring decisions for new staff. Maybe you want to make sure the people you are hiring are legally allowed to work in the U.S. A pre-employment screening can be used to verify social security information. Perhaps you want to look out for the safety of your employees so a sex offender registry and criminal history check is completed. Employment history can also be verified, has the applicant worked where and when they said they worked at other locations? There is a wealth of information a background check company can provide that is just not possible for most businesses to obtain on their own.
The information provided can help in making hiring decisions but from time to time a poor employee can slip through the cracks and you have to have managers that are equipped to manage performance or manage someone out the door if behavior doesn’t change. As a Loss Prevention Manager I recall at least two different employees on two different occasions who worked in other departments that I brought on my L.P. team. In both instances the supervisors regularly complained about the performance of these employees but they never seemed to take steps to fix the problem and it was impacting their team’s performance. I took both employees onto my team and let them know that I expected improved performance and attendance or they would be let go. One did really well and eventually took an L.P. job with another company. The second employee continued with his poor attendance and I let him go. I followed our policy on corrective actions and addressed the issue. There was never a surprise when someone’s job was terminated we had already had performance discussions. It wasn’t personal but there was a business to run.
Managers need to understand that corrective action should not be a personal conflict it is a matter of enforcing policies in a fair and equitable manner. Employees know who is and who is not performing or is regularly calling out and they get angry when they feel they have to pick up the slack. It is the manager’s job to manage team performance even when it is uncomfortable.
Use pre-employment screening to make the best possible hiring decisions. For those employees who slip through the process make sure performance issues are addressed in a timely manner. When managers do that, they keep the rest of the team happy and productive.
Pre-employment screening is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
Job stress will always exist be it through deadlines, the type of work that has to be complete, the random day when Murphy’s Law seems to take over and everything goes wrong and so on. In part 1 of this series I discussed job stresses that are related to bad employees. Most of us have had to work with them before. These are the people that always seem to argue over everything. You come in to work and say a cheerful good morning and Mr. Grumpy Pants wants to know what’s so good about it? You bring in the box of donuts to share with the office and this is the person who gripes because you didn’t include chocolate glazed. I mentioned how some of these people can be avoided simply by conducting pre-employment screenings and finding out they have a checkered work history. You can identify patterns and possible lies in the application process that give you reason to question if this is the person you want to include on your team. However managers share some responsibility too. How many managers out there don’t want to address performance issues? I see it a lot. There are some managers who don’t have the skills or the nerve to confront poor performers. They excuse bad behavior or poor performance, sometimes hiding behind the excuse that the store is short staffed and can’t afford to lose the employee right now. Are you KIDDING ME?! Think about it folks, if the person is a poor performer, they are either making everyone else on the team work harder OR the team sees that nothing happens to the employee, they get disgruntled and slow down. I’ve seen it happen far too often. I hold the managers responsible who are unwilling to sit down with the employee when poor performance is first identified. Yes, a background check company can help weed the bad apples out, but there still has to be accountability and that starts at the top.
Just to be clear, a background check company can be hired to look into all sorts of information that can be important in your hiring decisions for new staff. Maybe you want to make sure the people you are hiring are legally allowed to work in the U.S. A pre-employment screening can be used to verify social security information. Perhaps you want to look out for the safety of your employees so a sex offender registry and criminal history check is completed. Employment history can also be verified, has the applicant worked where and when they said they worked at other locations? There is a wealth of information a background check company can provide that is just not possible for most businesses to obtain on their own.
The information provided can help in making hiring decisions but from time to time a poor employee can slip through the cracks and you have to have managers that are equipped to manage performance or manage someone out the door if behavior doesn’t change. As a Loss Prevention Manager I recall at least two different employees on two different occasions who worked in other departments that I brought on my L.P. team. In both instances the supervisors regularly complained about the performance of these employees but they never seemed to take steps to fix the problem and it was impacting their team’s performance. I took both employees onto my team and let them know that I expected improved performance and attendance or they would be let go. One did really well and eventually took an L.P. job with another company. The second employee continued with his poor attendance and I let him go. I followed our policy on corrective actions and addressed the issue. There was never a surprise when someone’s job was terminated we had already had performance discussions. It wasn’t personal but there was a business to run.
Managers need to understand that corrective action should not be a personal conflict it is a matter of enforcing policies in a fair and equitable manner. Employees know who is and who is not performing or is regularly calling out and they get angry when they feel they have to pick up the slack. It is the manager’s job to manage team performance even when it is uncomfortable.
Use pre-employment screening to make the best possible hiring decisions. For those employees who slip through the process make sure performance issues are addressed in a timely manner. When managers do that, they keep the rest of the team happy and productive.
Pre-employment screening is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
