Alpha Cable Lock-5 WC blog 22
Prevent Shoplifting-5
Shoes Walking Out On You? Alpha Mini Cable Locks Can Bring Theft To A Screeching Halt!
How do you stop shoplifting in a department like shoes? This was one of those departments where I found it difficult to prevent theft when I was an Assets Protection Manager. We regularly found old shoes in a box sitting on a shelf…YUCK! I was fairly certain they were not donations to the store. Of course we also had the regular shoplifters who would steal shoes, box and all without leaving anything behind. We didn’t have a lot we could do except place soft EAS tags on the shoes, but generally this was restricted to higher priced shoes. Soft tags were problematic because they were pulled off with the hang tags. Alpha Security products include a mini Alpha Cable Lock as an effective means to prevent shoplifting of shoes (as well as other hard to tag merchandise).
Larger hard tags tend to be too big and bulky to place on shoes and can interfere with trying the shoe on. Soft EAS tags on a box or on hang tags make no sense because hang tags can be pulled off and when on a box, the shoes are just removed from the box. The mini Alpha Cable Lock has a steel cable that can be run through a shoe eyelet or around a sandal strap. The cable is secured in an alarmed locking mechanism. The alarm device will sound if the cable is cut and store staff will be alerted that someone is attempting to steal a pair of shoes. If a shoplifter attempts to leave the store with a pair of shoes secured by a cable lock, the electronic article surveillance antenna alarm will be triggered. Because the device is secured through the shoe eyelet, the shoe is not damaged from pins holes. The cable of the Alpha Cable Lock is small enough to fit through the eyelet while the Alarm mechanism is large enough to provide a visual deterrent to prevent shoplifting
Why is it such a big deal to focus on shoe theft? Because it is a very real issue and with the prices of shoes being what they are, one pair of shoes walking out of a store can be a significant loss. There is a particular brand of athletic shoe that has prices over $300.00 for a single pair of shoes. A name brand hiking/outdoors boot has styles well over $200.00 a pair. There are women’s dress shoes advertised for over $150 for a pair of high heeled shoes. If a shoe has laces, straps, clasps or buckles, the mini Alpha Cable Lock offers the retailer the protection needed to prevent shoplifting. Certainly not ALL shoes can be tagged if they don’t have a place to secure the tag, but there are methods to help stop the shoplifting of those styles, such as displaying a single shoe or as an alternative, using the soft EAS tags (at least for lower priced shoes).
The question arises, “Why not display one shoe of every style and prevent shoplifting altogether?” I would argue that there are two reasons for not doing this. From a customer service stand point a merchant has to personally assist every customer that wants to try on shoes. On a busy day this may not be practical. I believe every customer should be greeted and made to feel welcome, however not every customer wants one on one attention the entire time they are in a store. This can actually drive customers away if they feel “crowded”. The second reason not to display shoes like this is that customers will find a shoe they want and try it on, but if they like it they want to try on the other shoe also. Not having the second shoe available, a customer has to find an employee and then the employee has to go to the stockroom and find the other shoe. I have been one of those customers, with one sales person in the department trying to assist three or four families and I had to wait for assistance to allow my son to try on the second shoe. No retailer should be willing to risk losing a customer because of a lack of service.
Don’t let shoplifters walk all over you. Use Alpha Cable Locks to prevent shoplifting of your shoes. You will improve the level of customer service you can provide without adding payroll and your customers can make selections, take them to a point of sale without waiting for additional assistance and this translates to more profit!
For more information on Alpha Cable Locks, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
How do you stop shoplifting in a department like shoes? This was one of those departments where I found it difficult to prevent theft when I was an Assets Protection Manager. We regularly found old shoes in a box sitting on a shelf…YUCK! I was fairly certain they were not donations to the store. Of course we also had the regular shoplifters who would steal shoes, box and all without leaving anything behind. We didn’t have a lot we could do except place soft EAS tags on the shoes, but generally this was restricted to higher priced shoes. Soft tags were problematic because they were pulled off with the hang tags. Alpha Security products include a mini Alpha Cable Lock as an effective means to prevent shoplifting of shoes (as well as other hard to tag merchandise).
Larger hard tags tend to be too big and bulky to place on shoes and can interfere with trying the shoe on. Soft EAS tags on a box or on hang tags make no sense because hang tags can be pulled off and when on a box, the shoes are just removed from the box. The mini Alpha Cable Lock has a steel cable that can be run through a shoe eyelet or around a sandal strap. The cable is secured in an alarmed locking mechanism. The alarm device will sound if the cable is cut and store staff will be alerted that someone is attempting to steal a pair of shoes. If a shoplifter attempts to leave the store with a pair of shoes secured by a cable lock, the electronic article surveillance antenna alarm will be triggered. Because the device is secured through the shoe eyelet, the shoe is not damaged from pins holes. The cable of the Alpha Cable Lock is small enough to fit through the eyelet while the Alarm mechanism is large enough to provide a visual deterrent to prevent shoplifting
Why is it such a big deal to focus on shoe theft? Because it is a very real issue and with the prices of shoes being what they are, one pair of shoes walking out of a store can be a significant loss. There is a particular brand of athletic shoe that has prices over $300.00 for a single pair of shoes. A name brand hiking/outdoors boot has styles well over $200.00 a pair. There are women’s dress shoes advertised for over $150 for a pair of high heeled shoes. If a shoe has laces, straps, clasps or buckles, the mini Alpha Cable Lock offers the retailer the protection needed to prevent shoplifting. Certainly not ALL shoes can be tagged if they don’t have a place to secure the tag, but there are methods to help stop the shoplifting of those styles, such as displaying a single shoe or as an alternative, using the soft EAS tags (at least for lower priced shoes).
The question arises, “Why not display one shoe of every style and prevent shoplifting altogether?” I would argue that there are two reasons for not doing this. From a customer service stand point a merchant has to personally assist every customer that wants to try on shoes. On a busy day this may not be practical. I believe every customer should be greeted and made to feel welcome, however not every customer wants one on one attention the entire time they are in a store. This can actually drive customers away if they feel “crowded”. The second reason not to display shoes like this is that customers will find a shoe they want and try it on, but if they like it they want to try on the other shoe also. Not having the second shoe available, a customer has to find an employee and then the employee has to go to the stockroom and find the other shoe. I have been one of those customers, with one sales person in the department trying to assist three or four families and I had to wait for assistance to allow my son to try on the second shoe. No retailer should be willing to risk losing a customer because of a lack of service.
Don’t let shoplifters walk all over you. Use Alpha Cable Locks to prevent shoplifting of your shoes. You will improve the level of customer service you can provide without adding payroll and your customers can make selections, take them to a point of sale without waiting for additional assistance and this translates to more profit!
For more information on Alpha Cable Locks, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
THE ULTIMATE REVIEW – ALPHA EYEWEAR TAG
Continuing on with my review series, I thought we can take a few minutes and talk about the Alpha eyewear tag. I had to do a bit of researching on this one, as my company doesn’t use this tag. Luckily for me, a buddy of mine manages a sunglass store in the local mall. I got to see some up close this past weekend. Sunglasses are a hot market right now for thieves. As retailers, you have to do everything in your power to prevent shoplifting, or else your bottom line will suffer. So, how does it stack up?
Key Features
1. The eyewear tag comes in three sizes; small, large and extra-large.
2. It does have a protective cushion on the inside of the tag that protects your glasses from scuffs.
3. It will work with both AM and RF systems.
4. Un-Obstructive* to the wearer
Uses
1. Primary use is on designer sunglasses, or really any sunglass that you’re having a theft problem.
2. I didn’t think this was a problem, but I’ve heard of them being used with prescription glasses (think optometrist’s office). Who steals from their doctor? I guess I really shouldn’t be surprised, though.
Pros
1. As far as preventing shoplifting, these tags will. The Alpha eyewear tag makes a statement to any thief when they walk into your store. The tags are very noticeable, so they do provide you with a great visual deterrence.
2. It’s one of those tags that you will more than likely break the product before you break the tag, if you’re a thief with a pair of pliers. They are quite sturdy and have a very solid grip on the frame.
3. Displays – if your store only sells sunglasses, you obviously will have them all displayed. How else will you sell them? You need to protect your displays from walking off. In addition, for those other retailers who dabble in eyewear, wouldn’t you rather your customers be able to try on any pair of shades at any time, without the need for an employee to open a case? I hate waiting for employees in a store… your customers do as well.
Cons
1. I marked it with an * above… for all the product descriptions you will find on this product, they all say it is not obstructive to the wearer. Well, personally, I felt the tag was a bit on the bulky side. Even the small size bothered me a bit as I was trying on sunglasses. It wasn’t bad to a point where I would give up on shopping, but rather I’d like to see Alpha work on trimming down the size a bit more here.
Like I said, if you are having a serious problem with sunglass theft, and you need a solution to prevent shoplifting, these tags will work for you. I do like the visual deterrent they provide, which also allows you to maximize your display selection. An opportunistic thief will steal a pair of shades if they know they can get away with it. Having this tag makes a bold statement to that shoplifter. Additionally, the Alpha eyewear tag will help boost your sales in two ways. It will prevent shrink caused by shoplifters. Also by allowing you to maximize your display opportunities, you will be putting more product in the hands of your customers. This is a sure fire way to increase sales.
For more information about Eyewear Tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
Continuing on with my review series, I thought we can take a few minutes and talk about the Alpha eyewear tag. I had to do a bit of researching on this one, as my company doesn’t use this tag. Luckily for me, a buddy of mine manages a sunglass store in the local mall. I got to see some up close this past weekend. Sunglasses are a hot market right now for thieves. As retailers, you have to do everything in your power to prevent shoplifting, or else your bottom line will suffer. So, how does it stack up?
Key Features
1. The eyewear tag comes in three sizes; small, large and extra-large.
2. It does have a protective cushion on the inside of the tag that protects your glasses from scuffs.
3. It will work with both AM and RF systems.
4. Un-Obstructive* to the wearer
Uses
1. Primary use is on designer sunglasses, or really any sunglass that you’re having a theft problem.
2. I didn’t think this was a problem, but I’ve heard of them being used with prescription glasses (think optometrist’s office). Who steals from their doctor? I guess I really shouldn’t be surprised, though.
Pros
1. As far as preventing shoplifting, these tags will. The Alpha eyewear tag makes a statement to any thief when they walk into your store. The tags are very noticeable, so they do provide you with a great visual deterrence.
2. It’s one of those tags that you will more than likely break the product before you break the tag, if you’re a thief with a pair of pliers. They are quite sturdy and have a very solid grip on the frame.
3. Displays – if your store only sells sunglasses, you obviously will have them all displayed. How else will you sell them? You need to protect your displays from walking off. In addition, for those other retailers who dabble in eyewear, wouldn’t you rather your customers be able to try on any pair of shades at any time, without the need for an employee to open a case? I hate waiting for employees in a store… your customers do as well.
Cons
1. I marked it with an * above… for all the product descriptions you will find on this product, they all say it is not obstructive to the wearer. Well, personally, I felt the tag was a bit on the bulky side. Even the small size bothered me a bit as I was trying on sunglasses. It wasn’t bad to a point where I would give up on shopping, but rather I’d like to see Alpha work on trimming down the size a bit more here.
Like I said, if you are having a serious problem with sunglass theft, and you need a solution to prevent shoplifting, these tags will work for you. I do like the visual deterrent they provide, which also allows you to maximize your display selection. An opportunistic thief will steal a pair of shades if they know they can get away with it. Having this tag makes a bold statement to that shoplifter. Additionally, the Alpha eyewear tag will help boost your sales in two ways. It will prevent shrink caused by shoplifters. Also by allowing you to maximize your display opportunities, you will be putting more product in the hands of your customers. This is a sure fire way to increase sales.
For more information about Eyewear Tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
20 USES FOR ALPHA KEEPERS – PART 3
We’ve made it past the halfway point already! I’ve already covered 10 of the most effective ways at using Alpha Keepers and I’ve got 10 more on the way. You really won’t find another security product that is as versatile and effective as these little plastic cases. They truly are a perfect solution to some of today’s most commonly stolen merchandise. So, let’s continue on with my list of 20 uses, with numbers 11 through 15.
11. Printer Ink
I so despise replacing the ink on my printer at home. First comes the sticker shock when you realize just how expensive it can be. The next is waiting forever at the store, ever waiting for a sales clerk to come unlock the showcase glass. As if that weren’t enough, they have to then walk you up to the register. Look, I’m an LP manager. I understand you have to take product protection seriously, but there are far more effective ways to prevent shoplifting. Prominently promote printer ink inside of an Alpha Keeper!
12. Laundry Detergent
I never thought in my career, I’d see the day when we, as a retail industry, would have to secure laundry detergent just to stay profitable. With organized criminal groups targeting this product at ever increasing rate, retailers must take extreme measures to simply keep the product on the shelf. With the vast range of sizes, most detergent can be securely locked away using an Alpha Keeper, all while maintaining a strong store display.
13. Baby Formula
You’ve probably said this your entire retail career; if someone was stealing food for their children, I would have more sympathy. Well, if you hadn’t noticed, baby formula theft is off the charts. It’s not due to a rash of unemployed mothers; it’s fueled by organized retail crime groups. This product is specifically targeted due to the high cost and the ease of resale to corner stores, flea markets and through online channels. In order to prevent shoplifting, retailers are being forced to take on much harder anti-theft tactics. I know of a simple plastic case that can help cut down your store’s losses here.
14. Headphones
This is a niche that has blown up in the past 3 years. With Bluetooth technology climbing and the consumer demand for higher quality, some of these items can fetch nearly $500. A good retailer knows that in order to sell the product, it has to be available to the customer. Prominently displaying this type of merchandise in an Alpha Keeper can give you all the aesthetics of a traditional store display, all while giving you the peace of mind knowing the product is secured from potential shoplifters.
15. Wearable Fitness Technology
With the near year right on the horizon, this growing category will surely begin to post even higher numbers. With wearable trackers that can now calculate heart rate, steps taken, distance walked and hundreds of other measurements that beam right to your smartphone, we are seeing an increase in health conscience consumers shell out top dollar for the best device. These are also a prime target for shoplifters, thus you have to do all in your power to prevent them from walking out on their own. While you could very well keep them behind lock and key, displaying them in an Alpha Keeper will most likely result in higher sales, as the merchandise can be placed into the hands of the customer all while you prevent shoplifting. It’s a win for all!
For more information about Alpha Keepers contact us or call 1.770.426.0547.
We’ve made it past the halfway point already! I’ve already covered 10 of the most effective ways at using Alpha Keepers and I’ve got 10 more on the way. You really won’t find another security product that is as versatile and effective as these little plastic cases. They truly are a perfect solution to some of today’s most commonly stolen merchandise. So, let’s continue on with my list of 20 uses, with numbers 11 through 15.
11. Printer Ink
I so despise replacing the ink on my printer at home. First comes the sticker shock when you realize just how expensive it can be. The next is waiting forever at the store, ever waiting for a sales clerk to come unlock the showcase glass. As if that weren’t enough, they have to then walk you up to the register. Look, I’m an LP manager. I understand you have to take product protection seriously, but there are far more effective ways to prevent shoplifting. Prominently promote printer ink inside of an Alpha Keeper!
12. Laundry Detergent
I never thought in my career, I’d see the day when we, as a retail industry, would have to secure laundry detergent just to stay profitable. With organized criminal groups targeting this product at ever increasing rate, retailers must take extreme measures to simply keep the product on the shelf. With the vast range of sizes, most detergent can be securely locked away using an Alpha Keeper, all while maintaining a strong store display.
13. Baby Formula
You’ve probably said this your entire retail career; if someone was stealing food for their children, I would have more sympathy. Well, if you hadn’t noticed, baby formula theft is off the charts. It’s not due to a rash of unemployed mothers; it’s fueled by organized retail crime groups. This product is specifically targeted due to the high cost and the ease of resale to corner stores, flea markets and through online channels. In order to prevent shoplifting, retailers are being forced to take on much harder anti-theft tactics. I know of a simple plastic case that can help cut down your store’s losses here.
14. Headphones
This is a niche that has blown up in the past 3 years. With Bluetooth technology climbing and the consumer demand for higher quality, some of these items can fetch nearly $500. A good retailer knows that in order to sell the product, it has to be available to the customer. Prominently displaying this type of merchandise in an Alpha Keeper can give you all the aesthetics of a traditional store display, all while giving you the peace of mind knowing the product is secured from potential shoplifters.
15. Wearable Fitness Technology
With wearable trackers that can now calculate heart rate, steps taken, distance walked and hundreds of other measurements that beam right to your smartphone, we are seeing an increase in health conscience consumers shell out top dollar for the best device. These are also a prime target for shoplifters, thus you have to do all in your power to prevent them from walking out on their own. While you could very well keep them behind lock and key, displaying them in an Alpha Keeper will most likely result in higher sales, as the merchandise can be placed into the hands of the customer all while you prevent shoplifting. It’s a win for all!
For more information about Alpha Keepers, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547.
THE VERSATILE VERSALOK
I’m not a salesperson. That’s not what I do. By day, I’m a Regional Loss Prevention Manager for a big box retailer. At night, I try to provide you all with some tricks of the trade to, hopefully, make your work life a little easier. I like to tell you how certain products have had a financial impact on my stores and the occasional funny shoplifter story. I think today, I’m going to do something a bit different. I’m going to talk directly about a great product that I see so many retailers use incorrectly and in-effectively, including my own. I’m talking about the Alpha Versalok.
A few years ago, we purchased these tags as we were having some serious shrink issues with toner and ink. We tried a few different tags and nothing really fit well, so we went with these. The Versalok is easy to use. You simply slide a disposable trace through the main tag and stick it to whatever you don’t want stolen. Here was our problem, and it’s the same problem that I’ve seen at countless other stores.
The associate tagging the merchandise simply stuck the tag on top of the box, or on the side. Well it doesn’t take a criminal with half a brain to realize this. What we found was copious amounts of empty boxes where our toner and ink cartridges were once merchandise. The associates and managers who tagged these did absolutely nothing to prevent shoplifting. How ridiculous (and frustrating I may add) was it for me to see this? I know some of you are laughing a bit at this because you’ve been in the exact same boat. Well, there is a solution.
If you’re using the Versalok to secure a boxed item, here’s a novel idea. Place the trace over the seams of the box. This way, the box can’t simply be opened and the merchandise taken out. If someone attempts to open the packing, or cut the trace, the product will alarm. It’s so very simple, yet effective against a thief. I heard a lot of my peers say how ineffective these tags are, but I think they are just mis-understood. If used correctly and with just a bit of common sense, they’re as good as any other tag on the market.
Taking this a step further, since we’re talking about the uses of this particular tag, it’s also great on display product. How often do we fail to prevent shoplifting on single item displays? Probably more often than we are comfortable saying out loud. These are a great solution to various items that may be difficult to secure with more traditional tagging devices. Perfect for high end baseball bats displays, electronics and so much more.
There are hundreds of different products out there that all promise to prevent shoplifting. As a retailer, you can spend hundreds and even thousands of dollars on EAS systems, cameras and state of the art technology. None of it is any good if the tools aren’t used as they are designed. You wouldn’t load ammo backwards into a firearm and expect it to take down a 10 point buck, would you? Why misfire when it comes to your product protection strategies either?
For more information about Alpha Technology, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
I’m not a salesperson. That’s not what I do. By day, I’m a Regional Loss Prevention Manager for a big box retailer. At night, I try to provide you all with some tricks of the trade to, hopefully, make your work life a little easier. I like to tell you how certain products have had a financial impact on my stores and the occasional funny shoplifter story. I think today, I’m going to do something a bit different. I’m going to talk directly about a great product that I see so many retailers use incorrectly and in-effectively, including my own. I’m talking about the Alpha Versalok.
A few years ago, we purchased these tags as we were having some serious shrink issues with toner and ink. We tried a few different tags and nothing really fit well, so we went with these. The Versalok is easy to use. You simply slide a disposable trace through the main tag and stick it to whatever you don’t want stolen. Here was our problem, and it’s the same problem that I’ve seen at countless other stores.
The associate tagging the merchandise simply stuck the tag on top of the box, or on the side. Well it doesn’t take a criminal with half a brain to realize this. What we found was copious amounts of empty boxes where our toner and ink cartridges were once merchandise. The associates and managers who tagged these did absolutely nothing to prevent shoplifting. How ridiculous (and frustrating I may add) was it for me to see this? I know some of you are laughing a bit at this because you’ve been in the exact same boat. Well, there is a solution.
If you’re using the Versalok to secure a boxed item, here’s a novel idea. Place the trace over the seams of the box. This way, the box can’t simply be opened and the merchandise taken out. If someone attempts to open the packing, or cut the trace, the product will alarm. It’s so very simple, yet effective against a thief. I heard a lot of my peers say how ineffective these tags are, but I think they are just mis-understood. If used correctly and with just a bit of common sense, they’re as good as any other tag on the market.
Taking this a step further, since we’re talking about the uses of this particular tag, it’s also great on display product. How often do we fail to prevent shoplifting on single item displays? Probably more often than we are comfortable saying out loud. These are a great solution to various items that may be difficult to secure with more traditional tagging devices. Perfect for high end baseball bats displays, electronics and so much more.
There are hundreds of different products out there that all promise to prevent shoplifting. As a retailer, you can spend hundreds and even thousands of dollars on EAS systems, cameras and state of the art technology. None of it is any good if the tools aren’t used as they are designed. You wouldn’t load ammo backwards into a firearm and expect it to take down a 10 point buck, would you? Why misfire when it comes to your product protection strategies either?
For more information about Alpha Technology, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
If EVER there was a department that posed more headaches and frustrations for me as an Assets Protection Manager it had to be the jewelry department. I cannot begin to count the number of shoplifters I apprehended who had stolen jewelry. That number multiplies significantly when I take into account the stops by my Assets Protection Team Members. I also know the inherent risk in stopping a shoplifter who steals such small items. The Alpha Jewel Lok is one of those retail anti-theft devices that can help prevent shoplifting while allowing store security or management to focus attention on shortage control to other departments.
Jewelry is so small that it can be easily concealed in the palm of a hand, in a pocket, in a purse or just about anywhere a person can imagine. It can often be easily removed from packaging and worn on the body. It is easy to drop when a loss prevention associate is about to make an apprehension. I recall one instance when I apprehended a shoplifter with a pair of earrings she had removed from the backing. She concealed the earrings in her pants pocket and proceeded to the front exit. As she walked out of the store, I stopped her, escorted her back to the security office and asked for the earrings I knew she had in her pocket. The would-be thief reached in, pulled out the pair of earrings, promptly placing them, not on the desk, but in her mouth! Already chewing a piece of gum, she mixed the earrings in the gum and swallowed them. Yes, she did go to jail and no, I did not ask for the return of the evidence. The point is, jewelry is very small, but, for the size of the merchandise, it can often carry a significant price tag. It can also be an area in which it is difficult to prevent shoplifting.
An Alpha Jewel Lok is a small, retail anti-theft device that can free up a lot of resources for not only a security department but for store management as well. The device attaches directly on the jewelry via a small hook and clips together in a plastic casing, allowing it to be removed only at the register. Should a shoplifter attempt to remove the device, the jewelry will be more likely to break than the device, rendering the jewelry valueless. The hardware works with the store EAS system and will sound the alarm if someone attempts to leave the store with the tagged jewelry. From a loss prevention point of view, the risk in the department drops dramatically and efforts to prevent shoplifting can be shifted areas that may be high risk, but are not as difficult to impact. For store management, more merchandise can be taken out of lock up cases thereby reducing the need to have a key carrying employee restricted to one small area. It allows management to reallocate some of the store payroll where it may be more impactful. The benefit for the customer is that these retail anti-theft devices allow stores to have more open displays. Customers can look at jewelry and handle it without feeling like someone is hovering over them. They also benefit by not having to wait for a salesperson with a display case key to unlock a showcase. Oh, and did I mention, while it may be called an Alpha Jewel Lok, it can be used on other merchandise such as wallets, purses or any merchandise that has a small loop or strap the device can close around?
Consider the options that an Alpha Jewel Lok could open to a business. More merchandise could be removed from locking display cases, reducing the amount of time an associate has to spend in the area. Customers would experience the freedom to view jewelry and make a selection and continue shopping. Loss prevention teams could devote less time and energy trying to deter or catch shoplifters in jewelry and minimize the chances of a bad stop.
For more information about Alpha Jewel Lok, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
