Checkpoint Systems-3 WC Blog 264
Checkpoint Security System-5
Checkpoint Tags-5
Stop Shoplifting-3
Checkpoint Security Systems Are Key To Your Inventory Control: Part 2
In Part 1 of this series on Inventory Control, I discussed my definition of what Inventory Control is and how it can be confused with the different strategies used by stores to keep control over inventory. I examined how the use of Checkpoint Tags are a strategy to exert control as soon as merchandise is received by a store and can stop shoplifting and deter internal and vendor theft. In Part 2 I will be going over other parts of a Checkpoint Security System that play a role in retail theft prevention and inventory control.
A Checkpoint Security System includes the Checkpoint Tags and labels as I mentioned, but aside from deterrence without the other components of the system, Checkpoint Tags are not extremely helpful. A primary component of Checkpoint Systems is the electronic article surveillance (EAS) antennas. Antennas are usually placed near the main entry and exit points of a store in order to detect merchandise that is protected with Checkpoint Tags that have not been deactivated or removed at a point of sale. The tags and labels are structured so that they transmit a specific radio frequency. When the antennas detect this radio frequency an alarm built into the antennas activates and warns staff that merchandise not yet paid for is leaving the store. This means an item has a Checkpoint Tag that has not been detuned at the register or a hard tag that has not been removed by a cashier. When employees are alerted by the alarm they respond to the doors to conduct a receipt check and determine the cause for the activation. Usually the alarm will result in recovered merchandise as a result of the check, such as a customer carrying out merchandise they “forgot” they had with them. An alarm may stop shoplifting when a criminal panics and drops the goods they were attempting to steal, a result I frequently witnessed as a Loss Prevention Manager.
When a Checkpoint Security System is installed, there are a variety of EAS antennas that a store owner can choose from to stop shoplifting, internal theft and vendor theft. Checkpoint systems include antennas that can be installed in the floor during store construction, antennas that can help showcase merchandise with advertising panels (the Evolve iRange P30) and smaller antennas that take up minimal space at doorways, like the Classic N10 antenna. No matter which type of antenna is chosen, the inventory control strategy is making sure merchandise is accounted for through the point of sales or proper execution of vendor return processes or vendor credit/destroy processes.
If a store owner wants to be serious about inventory control and theft prevention, it would be wise to consider putting Checkpoint Security System antennas in other areas and not limited to just the front doors. EAS antennas can be placed at employee entrances and vendor/receiving doors. Antennas located at front doors stop shoplifting and may deter some employee theft and vendor theft, but if there are alternate exits employees and vendors may take advantage of those doors to avoid the detection of Checkpoint tags and labels. In rare instances I have observed Checkpoint Systems antennas located at a hallway entrance leading to store restrooms. I applaud this step. I can recall several employee theft investigations I conducted that involved the employee taking concealed merchandise into a restroom and later I would find the empty packaging. Again, I stress that inventory control is control over the movement of product in the building. Well placed antennas can control the areas people are able to carry merchandise into.
Make inventory control a reality by implementing effective merchandise protection strategies that limit the ability of customer, employees or vendors to steal. Control what happens within your building by installing a Checkpoint Security System.
Get more information on Checkpoint Security Systems, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
In Part 1 of this series on Inventory Control, I discussed my definition of what Inventory Control is and how it can be confused with the different strategies used by stores to keep control over inventory. I examined how the use of Checkpoint Tags are a strategy to exert control as soon as merchandise is received by a store and can stop shoplifting and deter internal and vendor theft. In Part 2 I will be going over other parts of a Checkpoint Security System that play a role in retail theft prevention and inventory control.
A Checkpoint Security System includes the Checkpoint Tags and labels as I mentioned, but aside from deterrence without the other components of the system, Checkpoint Tags are not extremely helpful. A primary component of Checkpoint Systems is the electronic article surveillance (EAS) antennas. Antennas are usually placed near the main entry and exit points of a store in order to detect merchandise that is protected with Checkpoint Tags that have not been deactivated or removed at a point of sale. The tags and labels are structured so that they transmit a specific radio frequency. When the antennas detect this radio frequency an alarm built into the antennas activates and warns staff that merchandise not yet paid for is leaving the store. This means an item has a Checkpoint Tag that has not been detuned at the register or a hard tag that has not been removed by a cashier. When employees are alerted by the alarm they respond to the doors to conduct a receipt check and determine the cause for the activation. Usually the alarm will result in recovered merchandise as a result of the check, such as a customer carrying out merchandise they “forgot” they had with them. An alarm may stop shoplifting when a criminal panics and drops the goods they were attempting to steal, a result I frequently witnessed as a Loss Prevention Manager.
When a Checkpoint Security System is installed, there are a variety of EAS antennas that a store owner can choose from to stop shoplifting, internal theft and vendor theft. Checkpoint systems include antennas that can be installed in the floor during store construction, antennas that can help showcase merchandise with advertising panels (the Evolve iRange P30) and smaller antennas that take up minimal space at doorways, like the Classic N10 antenna. No matter which type of antenna is chosen, the inventory control strategy is making sure merchandise is accounted for through the point of sales or proper execution of vendor return processes or vendor credit/destroy processes.
If a store owner wants to be serious about inventory control and theft prevention, it would be wise to consider putting Checkpoint Security System antennas in other areas and not limited to just the front doors. EAS antennas can be placed at employee entrances and vendor/receiving doors. Antennas located at front doors stop shoplifting and may deter some employee theft and vendor theft, but if there are alternate exits employees and vendors may take advantage of those doors to avoid the detection of Checkpoint tags and labels. In rare instances I have observed Checkpoint Systems antennas located at a hallway entrance leading to store restrooms. I applaud this step. I can recall several employee theft investigations I conducted that involved the employee taking concealed merchandise into a restroom and later I would find the empty packaging. Again, I stress that inventory control is control over the movement of product in the building. Well placed antennas can control the areas people are able to carry merchandise into.
Make inventory control a reality by implementing effective merchandise protection strategies that limit the ability of customer, employees or vendors to steal. Control what happens within your building by installing a Checkpoint Security System.
Get more information on Checkpoint Security Systems, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
AA Blog 15
Customer Counting Device: 5
Door Counting Sensor: 4
Avoid the Headache of Resource Management By Using The Visiplus Customer Counting Device
Working as a supervisor in retail I have come to learn that managing employees is a tedious and difficult task at times. Between dealing with their personal issues, vacations and sick days; while trying to balance store activity levels, I sometimes wish I had some genie in a bottle to help me sort it all out. Don’t get me wrong we can typically discern when our peak days are, as most people shop in our store on the weekends or weekdays during lunch time, but it definitely isn’t an exact science. We also have store sales and promotions that obviously increase our customer base during that timeframe, but that also results in a wide variation of shopping times. I find that sales and promotions always increase the number of shoppers, but they also tend to make the timing more sporadic. I am not sure if that is affected by the means and timing of the media delivery or if other factors outside of my control are involved. Either way it causes my stress levels to rise exponentially. I start to question what level of staff I need on any given day and whether I have enough loss prevention on duty to cover the anticipated increase in sales. Just when I think I have it all figured out, I discover I have way too many employees, and I am wasting money watching my employees stand around trying to see what their employee discount will buy them. Then I send half my staff home and the next thing we know we are swamped with customers. It is very frustrating and time consuming for me to try and manage this, especially when this is not my only job. If any of you have been or are currently in my position you know exactly what I am talking about. Just when I thought I would never get it figured out, all my prayers were answered! I discovered the Visiplus customer counting device and it literally saved my life.
The Visiplus customer counting device is installed at your main entry points and counts people coming in and exiting your store. This customer counting device downloads data daily to provide current and accurate customer information. The data is broken down by hour so you can critically analyze your customer traffic to identify strengths and weaknesses for all aspects of your business. From this information I am able to look at customer activity and trends to better evaluate my resources. Since I have had the door counting sensor installed, I have substantially reduced my overhead cost by improving my employee management. I have also received positive feedback from my staff, as it has also improved their moral and overall satisfaction. The Visiplus customer counting device significantly reduces my call in rates, improves scheduling consistency, and reduces the need for overtime situations. I think my employees appreciate the improvements as much as I do. During sales and promotions my door counting sensor can help me evaluate which promotions or sales are more lucrative and allows me to manage the timing of those promotions based on historical information, as I have learned from this system, that some promotions produce higher sales numbers during specific times of the year. This allows me to plan accordingly so I can avoid those timeframes that aren’t as productive. The door counting sensor can also be integrated into your existing Checkpoint system to provide a multi-faceted device. By integrating the EAS into the door counting sensor you get specific data on your alarms and EAS activity rates by the hour. This has been beneficial when determining whether I have employee training issues in regards to EAS de-activation or removal, or if I have any EAS devices that are not functioning properly. It can also provide a detailed view of my attempted shoplifting rates and whether those incidents are being handled properly and by policy.
I could probably go on for days about how great the Visiplus customer counting device is and what it has done for me and my company, but please check it out for yourself! It has significantly reduced the amount of time it takes to manage and schedule my resources, which has decreased my overhead, increased profit, and improved employee satisfaction. Having the appropriate resources available has significantly improved our customer satisfaction and helped us better manage our loss prevention program in order to reduce theft.
Need more information on the Visiplus customer counting device? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
Working as a supervisor in retail I have come to learn that managing employees is a tedious and difficult task at times. Between dealing with their personal issues, vacations and sick days; while trying to balance store activity levels, I sometimes wish I had some genie in a bottle to help me sort it all out. Don’t get me wrong we can typically discern when our peak days are, as most people shop in our store on the weekends or weekdays during lunch time, but it definitely isn’t an exact science. We also have store sales and promotions that obviously increase our customer base during that timeframe, but that also results in a wide variation of shopping times. I find that sales and promotions always increase the number of shoppers, but they also tend to make the timing more sporadic. I am not sure if that is affected by the means and timing of the media delivery or if other factors outside of my control are involved. Either way it causes my stress levels to rise exponentially. I start to question what level of staff I need on any given day and whether I have enough loss prevention on duty to cover the anticipated increase in sales. Just when I think I have it all figured out, I discover I have way too many employees, and I am wasting money watching my employees stand around trying to see what their employee discount will buy them. Then I send half my staff home and the next thing we know we are swamped with customers. It is very frustrating and time consuming for me to try and manage this, especially when this is not my only job. If any of you have been or are currently in my position you know exactly what I am talking about. Just when I thought I would never get it figured out, all my prayers were answered! I discovered the Visiplus customer counting device and it literally saved my life.
The Visiplus customer counting device is installed at your main entry points and counts people coming in and exiting your store. This customer counting device downloads data daily to provide current and accurate customer information. The data is broken down by hour so you can critically analyze your customer traffic to identify strengths and weaknesses for all aspects of your business. From this information I am able to look at customer activity and trends to better evaluate my resources. Since I have had the door counting sensor installed, I have substantially reduced my overhead cost by improving my employee management. I have also received positive feedback from my staff, as it has also improved their moral and overall satisfaction. The Visiplus customer counting device significantly reduces my call in rates, improves scheduling consistency, and reduces the need for overtime situations. I think my employees appreciate the improvements as much as I do. During sales and promotions my door counting sensor can help me evaluate which promotions or sales are more lucrative and allows me to manage the timing of those promotions based on historical information, as I have learned from this system, that some promotions produce higher sales numbers during specific times of the year. This allows me to plan accordingly so I can avoid those timeframes that aren’t as productive. The door counting sensor can also be integrated into your existing Checkpoint System to provide a multi-faceted device. By integrating the EAS into the door counting sensor you get specific data on your alarms and EAS activity rates by the hour. This has been beneficial when determining whether I have employee training issues in regards to EAS de-activation or removal, or if I have any EAS devices that are not functioning properly. It can also provide a detailed view of my attempted shoplifting rates and whether those incidents are being handled properly and by policy.
I could probably go on for days about how great the Visiplus customer counting device is and what it has done for me and my company, but please check it out for yourself! It has significantly reduced the amount of time it takes to manage and schedule my resources, which has decreased my overhead, increased profit, and improved employee satisfaction. Having the appropriate resources available has significantly improved our customer satisfaction and helped us better manage our loss prevention program in order to reduce theft.
Need more information on the Visiplus Customer Counting Device? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
Tablet Theft: 3
Alpha Thunder Tag: 5
Protect Your Most Sensitive Information With An Alpha Thunder Tag
As the manager of a security and loss prevention program we commonly use third party vendors to provide services for our company. We have one company that we use that does all of our background checks for pre-employment screening. We recently were notified of a possible data breach involving some of our employees as well as some applicants that were not hired. An employee of this third-party company had taken their company tablet or IPad home, and had subsequently left it in their car. The car was burglarized and the tablet was stolen. Although the tablet was encrypted, which reduces the likelihood of an actual breach of client PPI; it is not a failsafe means to protect the device. This theft resulted in a required mass notification to all of the personnel possibly affected, additional credit reporting protection, and increased liability to that company. This can result in increased costs and possible litigation if PPI information is released. It also caused us to be concerned about the vendors’ credibility and their ability to safeguard our employee’s personal confidential information. We are in a technological world and we can’t presume to think that we can work without the use of computers or technology to store and secure personal information, but we can expect a certain level of protection as a consumer and as a company. This applies to most companies irrespective of the services they provide, because everyone has employee information and some professions have increased liability due to the very nature of their profession. That is why it is important for everyone to take an active role in protecting this type of information to avoid breaches in personal data and to avoid increased liability. The best way to protect computer equipment that contains personal information is through the use of an Alpha Thunder Tag.
The Alpha Thunder Tag can reduce your risk of tablet theft, or theft of other devices, thus reducing the risk of losing sensitive data. This can be very effective in areas such as the medical field, or in similar areas that maintain large amounts of client or patient data. It can also be effective in fields that have sensitive information or want to protect their intellectual property. The Alpha Thunder Tag is a hard tag that can be placed on any computer related device, and is equipped with EAS technology, in order to prevent tablet theft. This provides protection against anyone trying to remove the tag from the device and prevents someone from leaving the building with the computer, tablet or other device. A company simply adds EAS antennas at all of the entrance/exits, and if the tag comes in close proximity to the antennas it will make an audible signal, so staff can prevent a breach of information and protect their property. These tags are attached with a strong adhesive and allow you to turn them on or off, depending on your needs. It also provides a red indicator light that works as a deterrent but also shows you when the device is activated. When it comes to protecting sensitive information in a technological world, it is imperative that we take additional precautions to prevent identity theft and unlawful disclosure of personal data.
Technology has resulted in an increase in the use of computer related equipment to maintain records and track data. Patient records are now kept electronically and are updated and maintained on various types of computer devices, which creates a liability for those associated with protecting it. That is why Alpha Thunder Tags are an important resource to assist with protecting sensitive information, regardless of what that might be. Tablet theft can be more than just the loss of a device it can involve the disclosure of sensitive information, which leads to future litigation and increased costs.
Alpha Thunder Tags are important and we can help with it. Call 1.770.426.0547.
As the manager of a security and loss prevention program we commonly use third party vendors to provide services for our company. e have one company that we use that does all of our background checks for pre-employment screening. e recently were notified of a possible data breach involving some of our employees as well as some applicants that were not hired. n employee of this third-party company had taken their company tablet or IPad home, and had subsequently left it in their car. he car was burglarized and the tablet was stolen. Although the tablet was encrypted, which reduces the likelihood of an actual breach of client PPI; it is not a failsafe means to protect the device. This theft resulted in a required mass notification to all of the personnel possibly affected, additional credit reporting protection, and increased liability to that company. This can result in increased costs and possible litigation if PPI information is released. It also caused us to be concerned about the vendors’ credibility and their ability to safeguard our employee’s personal confidential information. We are in a technological world and we can’t presume to think that we can work without the use of computers or technology to store and secure personal information, but we can expect a certain level of protection as a consumer and as a company. This applies to most companies irrespective of the services they provide, because everyone has employee information and some professions have increased liability due to the very nature of their profession. That is why it is important for everyone to take an active role in protecting this type of information to avoid breaches in personal data and to avoid increased liability. The best way to protect computer equipment that contains personal information is through the use of an Alpha Thunder Tag.
The Alpha Thunder Tag can reduce your risk of tablet theft, or theft of other devices, thus reducing the risk of losing sensitive data. This can be very effective in areas such as the medical field, or in similar areas that maintain large amounts of client or patient data. It can also be effective in fields that have sensitive information or want to protect their intellectual property. The Alpha Thunder Tag is a hard tag that can be placed on any computer related device, and is equipped with EAS technology, in order to prevent tablet theft. This provides protection against anyone trying to remove the tag from the device and prevents someone from leaving the building with the computer, tablet or other device. A company simply adds EAS antennas at all of the entrance/exits, and if the tag comes in close proximity to the antennas it will make an audible signal, so staff can prevent a breach of information and protect their property. These tags are attached with a strong adhesive and allow you to turn them on or off, depending on your needs. It also provides a red indicator light that works as a deterrent but also shows you when the device is activated. When it comes to protecting sensitive information in a technological world, it is imperative that we take additional precautions to prevent identity theft and unlawful disclosure of personal data.
Technology has resulted in an increase in the use of computer related equipment to maintain records and track data. Patient records are now kept electronically and are updated and maintained on various types of computer devices, which creates a liability for those associated with protecting it. That is why Alpha Thunder Tags are an important resource to assist with protecting sensitive information, regardless of what that might be. Tablet theft can be more than just the loss of a device it can involve the disclosure of sensitive information, which leads to future litigation and increased costs.
Alpha Thunder Tags are important and we can help with it. Call 1.770.426.0547.
95 BILLION Dollars, that is the estimated cost of what shoplifting and dishonest employee theft cost retailers worldwide in 2014-205, according to the 2014-2015 Global Retail Theft Barometer (pg. 25). Just as disturbing for clothing retailers, their total shrinkage was 1.80% globally. In North America clothing retail shortage as a percent to sales was even higher at 2.28%. With these kinds of numbers it is important for retailers who carry any type of clothing merchandise to use Checkpoint tags to protect against theft. Clothing security tags along with electronic article surveillance (EAS) antennas can provide the protection needed to curb theft. Once a clothing alarm system is in place, there will be training provided on how to maintain equipment and also how to respond to alarms. Once that training is complete, it is the responsibility of the owner or managers to conduct ongoing training of new employees. I was a Retail Loss Prevention Manager for a long time and a part of my job was to train front end employees as well as Loss Prevention staff how to properly respond to a clothing alarm. Take my word for it there is a right and wrong way to do it. In part 1 I covered what NOT to do in response to an EAS alarm. In this article I will give tips on what should be done when a Checkpoint tag activates an alarm.
For some readers who may have missed the first part of this series, I will briefly review what clothing security tags and EAS antennas are. Clothing security tags are radio frequency tuned, anti-theft devices that are pinned on softlines merchandise. EAS antennas are the towers that you frequently see located at store entrances/exits. When an item protected by a Checkpoint tag is near the antenna a loud 95 decibel alarm sounds and lights on the antenna flash. It is this alert signal that store employees respond to in order to recover merchandise.
How your employees respond to the clothing alarm activation can determine how effective your system will be. A proper response can also keep your employees safe and keep merchandise in the building. These are my tips for properly responding with clothing security tags cause an alarm activation.
DO:
- Respond immediately. When a customer has to wait they become agitated or walk out. Agitated customers are more difficult to work with and those that walk out provide no opportunity to recover merchandise.
- Be polite. Assuming someone has stolen something and being terse or accusatory will probably cause a defensive response, even if the person did not do anything dishonest or illegal. A smile goes a long way in disarming a grouch.
- Ask if you can assist in determining what may have caused the alarm activation. Provide possible solutions. Did the cashier overlook something? Did you purchase something at another store that may be causing the alarm? Would you mind if I looked at your receipt to see if any Checkpoint tags were not removed? When you give suggestions you give “outs”. Many times someone who is trying to steal will be willing to give up merchandise if they have an excuse made for them.
- Do ask to look at a receipt and check inside a bag or purse or backpack. If the patron refuses you can go back to giving some “outs”, suggesting an error may have been made, removing fault from the shopper.
- If merchandise is found that was not paid for DO treat it as an oversight and Do offer to have the item rung at a register or the customer may “choose” not to purchase the item.
- IF there were Checkpoint tags not removed and it was the fault of the cashier, be sure to apologize for the inconvenience and follow up with the cashier so they are aware of the oversight.
I dislike a thief and spent many years working to deter or catch and prosecute them. I also learned that there were times when it was better to be nice, no matter how suspicious the circumstances and get merchandise back. Clothing alarm activations should be your opportunity to get your product back, keeping profits in the store. Purchase a clothing security tags and EAS antennas and watch how much of your shortage you can shrink, adding profits to your bottom line.
Need information on Clothing security tags? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
Checkpoint Security Tags- 4 WC Blog 225
Checkpoint Tags-4
Electronic Article Surveillance-5
Checkpoint hard tags-3
Stop shoplifting-3
Tips To Identify Potential Shoplifters And How The Use Of Checkpoint Tags And Customer Service Can Prevent Theft Part 2
In part 1 of this series I discussed the false notion some Loss Prevention people hold that somehow they can just look at a person and tell if they are a shoplifter. I contend that in the majority of the cases they may point to in order to prove their point; there were probably indicators in behavior or attire that actually initiated the case. In part 1 I reviewed a few of the signs of a shoplifter though it was neither all-encompassing nor universal since each shoplifter has their own quirks. I also pointed out that stores can deter a majority of shoplifters simply by using Checkpoint security tags and electronic article surveillance antennas to protect merchandise. In this part I am going to cover how store personnel who are not trained in Loss Prevention can respond to those signals as well as electronic article surveillance alarms, to stop shoplifting and keep merchandise in the store.
For the readers who may have missed part 1, here is a quick review of what Checkpoint security tags and electronic article surveillance antennas are and how they work together to stop shoplifting. Checkpoint tags come in two versions, a soft tag and Checkpoint hard tags. a soft tag which can be peeled from a roll and applied to a number of surfaces, including cardboard, plastic and shrink wrap. Checkpoint hard tags are two piece designs that are pinned through materials and secured together. These tags are versatile and can be attached to a wide range of products, including but not limited to clothing, shoes, purses, bedding, towels, and even pinned through clam shell packaging. Checkpoint tags are designed with radio frequency technology that is able to be picked up by Checkpoint antennas. The antennas are set up at entrances and exits in order to detect protected merchandise a thief may try to walk out of a store with. The point I made in my previous article was that the use of the antennas and Checkpoint security tags in a retail store are often enough to discourage most shoplifters from entering in the first place.
Even when Checkpoint tags and electronic article surveillance antennas are used, there are a few shoplifters who will try to steal anyways. I addressed the signs employees can look for in part 1, but it is just as important to know how to interact with a suspicious person and stop shoplifting discreetly.
Do:
• Offer assistance and if the person appears to be trying to remove a Checkpoint tag, offer to assist with the specific item they are holding. For example, “Can I answer any questions you may have about that shirt?” Mentioning the item can make a shoplifter nervous.
• Greet the customer and offer help. If they refuse your offer and are giving signs they are trying to steal, stand in the area and straighten merchandise. Shoplifters don’t want people hanging around them.
• If the customer has placed something in a purse or bag and you are certain of what it was, ask if you can help them with the item they had been holding. You may say something like, “That was a nice pair of shoes you were looking at, were you still interested in them?”
• Offer what I call aggressive customer service. Make small talk, ask who the person is buying for, or what is the event they are going to wear the item too. I have had people try to complain that I was pestering them, but they sound silly when they say they are being offered too much help. Kill them with kindness!
Don’t:
• Accuse someone of trying to steal. Depending on the jurisdiction, concealment may not be enough to say someone is shoplifting and that leads to other issues.
• When responding to an Electronic Article Surveillance Alarm, suggest that there may be something the person may have “forgotten” to pay for. By giving the person an out, they may be more likely to give the item back. You get the merchandise back and have established that your employees DO respond to alarms.
• Don’t try to physically detain someone. The culprit may have a weapon, or they may be violent. You can file a police report after they leave the store.
• Don’t chase. You endanger yourself and potentially other customers.
Using Checkpoint hard tags and soft tags will save you money by deterring or preventing most shoplifting. For the rare occasion when you have a determined thief, provide them with the best shopping experience they have ever had and customer service them to death.
Get more information on Checkpoint Tags. Contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 now.
In part 1 of this series I discussed the false notion some Loss Prevention people hold that somehow they can just look at a person and tell if they are a shoplifter. I contend that in the majority of the cases they may point to in order to prove their point; there were probably indicators in behavior or attire that actually initiated the case. In part 1 I reviewed a few of the signs of a shoplifter though it was neither all-encompassing nor universal since each shoplifter has their own quirks. I also pointed out that stores can deter a majority of shoplifters simply by using Checkpoint security tags and electronic article surveillance antennas to protect merchandise. In this part I am going to cover how store personnel who are not trained in Loss Prevention can respond to those signals as well as electronic article surveillance alarms, to stop shoplifting and keep merchandise in the store.
For the readers who may have missed part 1, here is a quick review of what Checkpoint security tags and electronic article surveillance antennas are and how they work together to stop shoplifting. Checkpoint tags come in two versions, a soft tag and Checkpoint hard tags. A soft tag which can be peeled from a roll and applied to a number of surfaces, including cardboard, plastic and shrink wrap. Checkpoint hard tags are two piece designs that are pinned through materials and secured together. These tags are versatile and can be attached to a wide range of products, including but not limited to clothing, shoes, purses, bedding, towels, and even pinned through clam shell packaging. Checkpoint tags are designed with radio frequency technology that is able to be picked up by Checkpoint antennas. The antennas are set up at entrances and exits in order to detect protected merchandise a thief may try to walk out of a store with. The point I made in my previous article was that the use of the antennas and Checkpoint security tags in a retail store are often enough to discourage most shoplifters from entering in the first place.
Even when Checkpoint tags and electronic article surveillance antennas are used, there are a few shoplifters who will try to steal anyways. I addressed the signs employees can look for in part 1, but it is just as important to know how to interact with a suspicious person and stop shoplifting discreetly.
Do:
• Offer assistance and if the person appears to be trying to remove a Checkpoint tag, offer to assist with the specific item they are holding. For example, “Can I answer any questions you may have about that shirt?” Mentioning the item can make a shoplifter nervous.
• Greet the customer and offer help. If they refuse your offer and are giving signs they are trying to steal, stand in the area and straighten merchandise. Shoplifters don’t want people hanging around them.
• If the customer has placed something in a purse or bag and you are certain of what it was, ask if you can help them with the item they had been holding. You may say something like, “That was a nice pair of shoes you were looking at, were you still interested in them?”
• Offer what I call aggressive customer service. Make small talk, ask who the person is buying for, or what is the event they are going to wear the item too. I have had people try to complain that I was pestering them, but they sound silly when they say they are being offered too much help. Kill them with kindness!
Don’t:
• Accuse someone of trying to steal. Depending on the jurisdiction, concealment may not be enough to say someone is shoplifting and that leads to other issues.
• When responding to an Electronic Article Surveillance Alarm, suggest that there may be something the person may have “forgotten” to pay for. By giving the person an out, they may be more likely to give the item back. You get the merchandise back and have established that your employees DO respond to alarms.
• Don’t try to physically detain someone. The culprit may have a weapon, or they may be violent. You can file a police report after they leave the store.
• Don’t chase. You endanger yourself and potentially other customers.
Using Checkpoint hard tags and soft tags will save you money by deterring or preventing most shoplifting. For the rare occasion when you have a determined thief, provide them with the best shopping experience they have ever had and customer service them to death.
Get more information on Checkpoint Tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 now.
Alpha 3 Alarm: 5
Prevent shoplifting: 3
Inventory Control: 3
Improve Your Inventory Control With The Alpha 3 Alarm. Deter, Detect, And Improve Profit.
When it comes to the retail industry you can’t be naïve to risk, which is why it is imperative for any company to identify and mitigate their risk. It is important to have a well-rounded loss prevention program so you can identify and prevent theft. In order to be prepared, you have to be knowledgeable of the resources available to help prevent shoplifting. Security and technology continues to improve and develop over the years, which provides better security products for any industry. I continually try to educate myself on products so I can continue to improve the security in my stores. With security comes efficiency. I have found the more protected I am the better control I have over other aspects of my business, such as: inventory control; employee management and customer satisfaction. If you are in the retail business, you know how difficult these types of tasks and controls can be, especially inventory management. For years I have tried to better understand how to improve this process and increase efficiency, which is why I use Alpha 3 alarm technology.
I have learned throughout my career that those who shoplift will go to extreme measures to take your property. They educate themselves on current loss prevention equipment, and how to circumvent security measures, which is why you must do the same. Shrinkage is a large factor when it comes to inventory control and managing your resources efficiently. Most stores only do a periodic inventory and find themselves looking for products, which should exist, but can’t be located. This creates issues when it comes to ensuring we have the proper stock on the shelves and available for our customers. Since I started using the Alpha 3 alarm devices in my stores, I have seen a significant reduction in shrinkage. Security devices equipped with these alarms allow detection on multiple levels. The EAS technology will sound an audible alarm and flash an LED light when a breach or tampering occurs with the device, and offers long range EAS to notify when an item is removed from the store. Tampering with hard tag devices is very common in the market, which is why the Alpha 3 alarm is the best means at deterring theft. These devices are very durable and can be attached to any garment, shoes, purses and other accessories. These alarms are easily applied in store and can be re-used multiple times, which provides a significant cost-savings to the retailer. Since I started using these devices I have reduced my shrinkage by 30%, which is significant in managing my inventory and ensuring I have products on hand. It has also improved my ability to prevent shoplifting and increased my profit margin substantially.
Since I have started using the Alpha 3 alarms on my merchandise, I have had a huge improvement in my inventory control. I have found that this product helps me prevent shoplifting, reduces my shrinkage and improves my profit margin. Now I do not have to conduct multiple inventories to determine what I have on the shelves; which has also improved my customer satisfaction. As a customer myself, I know how frustrating it can be to go to your favorite store and never find what you are looking for. Now I can do quarterly inventory, without fear that I am missing something significant in between, resulting in a profit loss to my business. This EAS system is very reliable product in comparison to other security tags I have used in the past. Its durability and reliability is unmatched in the market and its deterrence capability has paid for itself multiple times.
Get more information about Alpha 3 alarms, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
When it comes to the retail industry you can’t be naïve to risk, which is why it is imperative for any company to identify and mitigate their risk. It is important to have a well-rounded loss prevention program so you can identify and prevent theft. In order to be prepared, you have to be knowledgeable of the resources available to help prevent shoplifting. Security and technology continues to improve and develop over the years, which provides better security products for any industry. I continually try to educate myself on products so I can continue to improve the security in my stores. With security comes efficiency. I have found the more protected I am the better control I have over other aspects of my business, such as: inventory control; employee management and customer satisfaction. If you are in the retail business, you know how difficult these types of tasks and controls can be, especially inventory management. For years I have tried to better understand how to improve this process and increase efficiency, which is why I use Alpha 3 alarm technology.
I have learned throughout my career that those who shoplift will go to extreme measures to take your property. They educate themselves on current loss prevention equipment, and how to circumvent security measures, which is why you must do the same. Shrinkage is a large factor when it comes to inventory control and managing your resources efficiently. Most stores only do a periodic inventory and find themselves looking for products, which should exist, but can’t be located. This creates issues when it comes to ensuring we have the proper stock on the shelves and available for our customers. Since I started using the Alpha 3 alarm devices in my stores, I have seen a significant reduction in shrinkage. Security devices equipped with these alarms allow detection on multiple levels. The EAS technology will sound an audible alarm and flash an LED light when a breach or tampering occurs with the device, and offers long range EAS to notify when an item is removed from the store. Tampering with hard tag devices is very common in the market, which is why the Alpha 3 alarm is the best means at deterring theft. These devices are very durable and can be attached to any garment, shoes, purses and other accessories. These alarms are easily applied in store and can be re-used multiple times, which provides a significant cost-savings to the retailer. Since I started using these devices I have reduced my shrinkage by 30%, which is significant in managing my inventory and ensuring I have products on hand. It has also improved my ability to prevent shoplifting and increased my profit margin substantially.
Since I have started using the Alpha 3 alarms on my merchandise, I have had a huge improvement in my inventory control. I have found that this product helps me prevent shoplifting, reduces my shrinkage and improves my profit margin. Now I do not have to conduct multiple inventories to determine what I have on the shelves; which has also improved my customer satisfaction. As a customer myself, I know how frustrating it can be to go to your favorite store and never find what you are looking for. Now I can do quarterly inventory, without fear that I am missing something significant in between, resulting in a profit loss to my business. This EAS system is very reliable product in comparison to other security tags I have used in the past. Its durability and reliability is unmatched in the market and its deterrence capability has paid for itself multiple times.
Get more information about Alpha 3 alarms, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
