I don’t think I will ever completely remove my Assets Protection hat, no matter how long I am out of the field. Any time I am in a store I find I am looking to see if I can spot a shoplifter, or I am evaluating security measures or retail theft prevention strategies. I bring this up because just the other day I was in a grocery store picking up a few things as I waited for my son to get off of work. As I was walking by the meat department I noticed another shopper walk by me with his own shopping cart and he had a single large piece of meat in his cart. The gentleman also had on a rather heavy jacket for the type of day we were experiencing. The temperature required no more than a medium weight jacket. The alarm bells in my head went off and I couldn’t resist following this gentleman. This customer walked a little further and turned down the dish detergent aisle. I walked up behind him as he was adjusting his jacket and I could see that the shopping cart was empty. It was clear that my fellow shopper was not shopping for dish detergent and had not put the meat anywhere but under his clothing. Now, I do know my limitations and I am not one to take a risk for a store I do not work for, but I do confess I can have a sarcastic wit when I want to. As this ‘customer’ started to walk away I loudly asked him if the meat was cold. He turned and looked at me, obviously startled and sped up his pace. I made several more comments about the meat under his coat and reminded him as he went through the checkout lanes that he should not forget to pay for the hidden meat. I will admit I was somewhat disappointed at my inability to shame him into dropping the stolen merchandise. The thing that caught my attention most was the failure of the electronic article surveillance antennas to alarm as the guy left the store. I was puzzled that there appeared to be a security system in place to stop shoplifting but it did not work, at least in this instance.
This incident made me wonder if the store uses Checkpoint labels for their meat products. The Checkpoint EP 4210 food label is compatible with all Checkpoint electronic article surveillance systems so if protected merchandise goes through an electronic article surveillance antenna it will activate the alarm and alert personnel of an attempted theft. These particular Checkpoint labels are able to be placed on meat packaging and can even be placed under the meat soaker pad inside the packaging. The labels are food safe so there is no concern about whether they will damage food product or not.
After we got home, I asked my son about the store alarm system at the door and if he knew whether the store uses Checkpoint labels on the meat. He was not sure about what was or was not tagged but he did mention he could not recall the alarm ever sounding. In his position I am certain he is not familiar with all the security systems of his store, but it disturbed me that he could not recall the alarm ever sounding. The purpose of an electronic article system is to stop shoplifting from happening. Thieves pay attention to whether a store’s system is operational and they also watch to see how personnel respond to alarms. If a store is not keeping their system turned on, testing the systems daily or training personnel on proper alarm response, the electronic article surveillance system becomes useless.
Theft from retailers hurts not only the business, but customers as well. We all pay more for merchandise and groceries because of pilferage. Stop shoplifting from taking place in your store by installing an electronic article surveillance system and using Checkpoint labels on your products.
For more information on Checkpoint labels contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
Auto Peg Tag – 4 WC Blog 113
EAS tags-3
Lock Up Cases Are Crazy When You Can Use The Auto Peg Tag!
I have noticed in a number of stores, especially drug store chains, there is a tendency to lock up items that are high theft and also high dollar (or high dollar for the item being secured). I am thinking specifically of razor blade boxes in these businesses. Go into the local store and you will be likely to find that the razor blade aisle has security lock-ups that prevent you from accessing the merchandise or make it difficult to remove a box. I am not against limited access to merchandise, as long as the customer has access. From the perspective of someone who believes in driving profitable sales, I want customers to have the ability to grab onto a piece of merchandise and take it to a checkout lane. Using a locking display case, especially in a smaller retailer, often results in lost sales. A compromise to the locking display case for some peg hook items is the use of the Auto Peg Tag.
There are a number of benefits to using the Auto Peg Tag to protect merchandise from shoplifting. First, the tags are easy to apply and snap over the peg hole of the packaging. This allows the merchandise to be protected without interfering with the branding of the packaging. It also allows the shopper to read package information that might be important for their purchase. For example, a customer may need to be able to read all of the model numbers a particular brand of razor blades will fit. Soft EAS tags (Electronic Article Surveillance) placed on the package may cover up important information or even cautions or warnings to consumers, such as may be found on lithium battery packages. These Checkpoint tags, like the soft tags are EAS compatible and will activate EAS antennas if someone were to try to walk out without paying.
Other benefits to using the Auto Peg Tag are the ease of removal at the point of sale, as well as the re-usability of the devices. From a sustainability perspective, it is always beneficial if something does not have to be one-time use. The tags are also very visible. I recently visited a big box retailer which has started to use the tags on their razor blades. They popped out immediately to me, and I am constantly assessing the security measures in a store. I know that the tags were not in use a few months ago. If I noticed it, I am certain the bad guys who frequent the store did as well. Finally, by using these tags there is accessibility to patrons, there is no need to wait around looking for a store associate with a key to unlock a security case in order to buy the package of $19.99 razor blades.
There is concern about the boosters, the professional shoplifters who clean peg hooks off and then resell the merchandise? My years of experience in retail loss prevention convinced me that there is a threat from boosters, BUT they tend not to want to steal merchandise that is clearly protected with anti-theft devices such as EAS tags. Additionally, consider what is your store is selling. If you are selling $19.99 razor blades then you are probably selling other items, like health and beauty aids that sell for a significantly higher price point. Are you locking up all of these items too? When merchandise is available for a shopper to pick up and examine without the hassle of waiting for someone to unlock a case they are more inclined to make a purchase. Access leads to increased sales.
You can stop shoplifting by deterring it in the first place with EAS tags. Using the Auto Peg Tag on your peg hook merchandise will allow you to get rid of those pesky lock up cases and increase sales. Boosters will find somewhere else to go.
Need information on Auto Peg Tag? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
I have noticed in a number of stores, especially drug store chains, there is a tendency to lock up items that are high theft and also high dollar (or high dollar for the item being secured). I am thinking specifically of razor blade boxes in these businesses. Go into the local store and you will be likely to find that the razor blade aisle has security lock-ups that prevent you from accessing the merchandise or make it difficult to remove a box. I am not against limited access to merchandise, as long as the customer has access. From the perspective of someone who believes in driving profitable sales, I want customers to have the ability to grab onto a piece of merchandise and take it to a checkout lane. Using a locking display case, especially in a smaller retailer, often results in lost sales. A compromise to the locking display case for some peg hook items is the use of the Auto Peg Tag.
There are a number of benefits to using the Auto Peg Tag to protect merchandise from shoplifting. First, the tags are easy to apply and snap over the peg hole of the packaging. This allows the merchandise to be protected without interfering with the branding of the packaging. It also allows the shopper to read package information that might be important for their purchase. For example, a customer may need to be able to read all of the model numbers a particular brand of razor blades will fit. Soft EAS tags (Electronic Article Surveillance) placed on the package may cover up important information or even cautions or warnings to consumers, such as may be found on lithium battery packages. These Checkpoint tags, like the soft tags are EAS compatible and will activate EAS antennas if someone were to try to walk out without paying.
Other benefits to using the Auto Peg Tag are the ease of removal at the point of sale, as well as the re-usability of the devices. From a sustainability perspective, it is always beneficial if something does not have to be one-time use. The tags are also very visible. I recently visited a big box retailer which has started to use the tags on their razor blades. They popped out immediately to me, and I am constantly assessing the security measures in a store. I know that the tags were not in use a few months ago. If I noticed it, I am certain the bad guys who frequent the store did as well. Finally, by using these tags there is accessibility to patrons, there is no need to wait around looking for a store associate with a key to unlock a security case in order to buy the package of $19.99 razor blades.
There is concern about the boosters, the professional shoplifters who clean peg hooks off and then resell the merchandise? My years of experience in retail loss prevention convinced me that there is a threat from boosters, BUT they tend not to want to steal merchandise that is clearly protected with anti-theft devices such as EAS tags. Additionally, consider what is your store is selling. If you are selling $19.99 razor blades then you are probably selling other items, like health and beauty aids that sell for a significantly higher price point. Are you locking up all of these items too? When merchandise is available for a shopper to pick up and examine without the hassle of waiting for someone to unlock a case they are more inclined to make a purchase. Access leads to increased sales.
You can stop shoplifting by deterring it in the first place with EAS tags. Using the Auto Peg Tag on your peg hook merchandise will allow you to get rid of those pesky lock up cases and increase sales. Boosters will find somewhere else to go.
Need information on Auto Peg Tag? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
Retail Theft prevention – 3 WC blog 45
stop shoplifting-3
Electronic Article Surveillance Buying Guide
Electronic Article Surveillance systems were created in 1966 by Arthur Minasy in order to prevent thieves from shoplifting from stores. Over the years the industry has grown and with it systems have improved from types of antennas used to detect EAS protected merchandise to the variety of EAS tags used in the industry today. The use of the technology has also grown from being retail theft prevention oriented to having an impact in businesses, libraries, and even into the medical field.
Knowing what you need to secure
It is important to know what it is you want to protect before making a purchasing decision. Are you a small retailer that sells clothing and need to stop shoplifting? Perhaps you own a wine specialty shop and want a retail theft prevention system to protect higher priced wines or other spirits from theft. Many businesses, including medical practices, have adopted newer mobile technologies in the workplace and use tablets and i-pads. Due to the information contained on these devices there is a need to ensure the devices don’t leave the building. While Electronic Article Surveillance systems all work on the same basic principle of a radio frequency reading tags that pass through antennas and alarm if the tag is not deactivated, there are various types of tags and devices that can be used based on the item(s) to be protected.
• Electronic Article Surveillance Tags – These are considered “soft” tags and generally can be applied to cardboard, plastic and ceramic surfaces. They may be purchased in rolls and applied by hand or they can be applied by vendors in a source tagging situation.
• EAS labels – Labels can be custom designed on different materials, for example denim, leather or plastic and vendor source applied. This method conceals the EAS tag, while maintaining the brand and appearance of the merchandise.
• Hard Tags – These tags come in a range of models and types. They can be applied by adhesives, clamps, pins or cables depending on the type of tag being used. Hard tags can be versatile and used on a variety of merchandise and property, including portable office electronics.
• Security boxes – Security boxes allow merchandise to be placed in the box for display purposes and then displayed on a shelf. They are clear so customers can look at the contents and read packaging and carry it around the store until they are ready to check out at a register. These boxes will alarm if tampered with or if someone were to try to exit with the box.
Within the range of available retail theft prevention supplies there are other factors to take into consideration such as whether a 2 alarm device or 3 alarm device makes more sense to meet your demands. The 2 alarm devices alarm if tampered with and activate an EAS antenna alarm if someone attempts to exit with an item that is tagged. The 3 alarm devices add another layer of security by activating not only the antennas, but the alarm device itself if someone were to attempt to exit with tagged product. A new product on the market allows merchandise that is tagged with the appropriate device to be tracked if it leaves a zone it is designated to be in. The merchandise tracking feature will alert store or office staff via mobile devices or computers (even P.A. announcements) if a device is tampered with or moved out of its’ designated zone.
A company specializing in merchandise protection, such as Checkpoint Systems, can provide suggestions on how best to stop shoplifting and/or protect the merchandise or equipment you are selling or using in your business.
Electronic Article Surveillance Antennas
Store or business space can also be a factor when looking at EAS systems. Antennas are the pedestal looking devices you most frequently recognize when you enter or exit a store. These are the devices most people will associate with a system, and may be a concern if your location is not very big. An example might be a small jewelry store that you see in a mall. They don’t tend to have a lot of sales floor space and that space can be constricted. Small medical practices, such as a doctor’s office may not have a lot of space for the lobby and entry ways are tight, allowing only the necessary room for a wheelchair. These situations may not seem suitable for EAS antennas which appear to take up a considerable amount of entry way space. At one time this may have been true, however there are antennas on the market now that take up considerably less space than you might imagine and are compatible with the smaller waiting room or limited sales floor footprint. For locations where space is not a factor, antennas on the market are stylish and have a sleek design. There are also antennas that provide for customer counting options for analyzing traffic data through a store. Some now integrate signing capability that allows a business to incorporate advertising opportunities in the antenna.
Electronic Article Surveillance is continually growing in the scope of businesses that can benefit from installing a system. Whether you are running a small business and need to stop shoplifting or a large medical facility and seek to prevent theft of equipment, electronic article surveillance can be designed to fit your business model.
For more information on retail theft prevention, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
Electronic Article Surveillance systems were created in 1966 by Arthur Minasy in order to prevent thieves from shoplifting from stores. Over the years the industry has grown and with it systems have improved from types of antennas used to detect EAS protected merchandise to the variety of EAS tags used in the industry today. The use of the technology has also grown from being retail theft prevention oriented to having an impact in businesses, libraries, and even into the medical field.
Knowing what you need to secure
It is important to know what it is you want to protect before making a purchasing decision. Are you a small retailer that sells clothing and need to stop shoplifting? Perhaps you own a wine specialty shop and want a retail theft prevention system to protect higher priced wines or other spirits from theft. Many businesses, including medical practices, have adopted newer mobile technologies in the workplace and use tablets and i-pads. Due to the information contained on these devices there is a need to ensure the devices don’t leave the building. While Electronic Article Surveillance systems all work on the same basic principle of a radio frequency reading tags that pass through antennas and alarm if the tag is not deactivated, there are various types of tags and devices that can be used based on the item(s) to be protected.
• Electronic Article Surveillance Tags – These are considered “soft” tags and generally can be applied to cardboard, plastic and ceramic surfaces. They may be purchased in rolls and applied by hand or they can be applied by vendors in a source tagging situation.
• EAS labels – Labels can be custom designed on different materials, for example denim, leather or plastic and vendor source applied. This method conceals the EAS tag, while maintaining the brand and appearance of the merchandise.
• Hard Tags – These tags come in a range of models and types. They can be applied by adhesives, clamps, pins or cables depending on the type of tag being used. Hard tags can be versatile and used on a variety of merchandise and property, including portable office electronics.
• Security boxes – Security boxes allow merchandise to be placed in the box for display purposes and then displayed on a shelf. They are clear so customers can look at the contents and read packaging and carry it around the store until they are ready to check out at a register. These boxes will alarm if tampered with or if someone were to try to exit with the box.
Within the range of available retail theft prevention supplies there are other factors to take into consideration such as whether a 2 alarm device or 3 alarm device makes more sense to meet your demands. The 2 alarm devices alarm if tampered with and activate an EAS antenna alarm if someone attempts to exit with an item that is tagged. The 3 alarm devices add another layer of security by activating not only the antennas, but the alarm device itself if someone were to attempt to exit with tagged product. A new product on the market allows merchandise that is tagged with the appropriate device to be tracked if it leaves a zone it is designated to be in. The merchandise tracking feature will alert store or office staff via mobile devices or computers (even P.A. announcements) if a device is tampered with or moved out of its’ designated zone. A company specializing in merchandise protection, such as Checkpoint Systems, can provide suggestions on how best to stop shoplifting and/or protect the merchandise or equipment you are selling or using in your business.
Electronic Article Surveillance Antennas
Store or business space can also be a factor when looking at EAS systems. Antennas are the pedestal looking devices you most frequently recognize when you enter or exit a store. These are the devices most people will associate with a system, and may be a concern if your location is not very big. An example might be a small jewelry store that you see in a mall. They don’t tend to have a lot of sales floor space and that space can be constricted. Small medical practices, such as a doctor’s office may not have a lot of space for the lobby and entry ways are tight, allowing only the necessary room for a wheelchair. These situations may not seem suitable for EAS antennas which appear to take up a considerable amount of entry way space. At one time this may have been true, however there are antennas on the market now that take up considerably less space than you might imagine and are compatible with the smaller waiting room or limited sales floor footprint. For locations where space is not a factor, antennas on the market are stylish and have a sleek design. There are also antennas that provide for customer counting options for analyzing traffic data through a store. Some now integrate signing capability that allows a business to incorporate advertising opportunities in the antenna.
Electronic Article Surveillance is continually growing in the scope of businesses that can benefit from installing a system. Whether you are running a small business and need to stop shoplifting or a large medical facility and seek to prevent theft of equipment, electronic article surveillance can be designed to fit your business model.
For more information on retail theft prevention, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
Checkpoint Hard Tags-5 WC blog 78
Electronic Article Surveillance-5
EAS tags-3
Checkpoint Hard Tags – A Profitable Investment
According to the 2014-2015 Global Retail Theft Barometer report, total retail shortage globally was approximately 123.39 billion dollars. North American reported shortage for the year was approximately 36.79 billion dollars. For stores that specialize in clothing and accessories the shrinkage percent was the second highest category, at 1.98% following only behind pharmacies/drugstores at a whopping 2.25% shrinkage rate. Within the Apparel and Fashion Accessories category, the most stolen items were footwear, sports-related clothing and fashion accessories. Employee theft and shoplifting are estimated to have been the cause of 85% of the shrinkage for Apparel Specialist Retailers and of this amount it was almost evenly divided between shoplifting and dishonest employees. There are steps apparel retailers can take to stop shoplifting and prevent some employee theft from draining profits from their business. One of the most effective steps is to install an electronic article surveillance system and then use the Checkpoint mini hard tag on merchandise.
The electronic article surveillance system (EAS) will include an antenna system that alarms when merchandise protected with EAS tags or Checkpoint hard tags is carried within the range of the antennas. The system also includes deactivation pads that deactivate EAS tags and removal devices to take Checkpoint hard tags off of merchandise when it is purchased. Training is also provided so store managers and personnel know how to test the system and respond to EAS alarms appropriately in order to prevent a theft.
Why do I suggest using the Checkpoint mini hard tag, especially if a clothing retailer is just starting to use an electronic article surveillance system? There are a number of Checkpoint hard tags a retailer can choose from to protect softlines products, but the mini tag provides flexibility to tag not only clothing but accessories too. The mini hard tag can be pinned directly to a piece of clothing providing both a visual deterrent to prevent shoplifting and alarm protection if someone tried to exit with a garment that still had the tag on it. This Checkpoint tag can be pinned to clothing accessories, such as ties, scarves, gloves, hats and even belts so the store is not limited in what it can protect. The same can be done with purses and handbags. The Checkpoint mini hard tag makes it simple to select one protective device to secure a wide range of products and eliminates the need to have multiple checkpoint hard tags being used in one store.
For a clothing store that is already using electronic article surveillance products, but has reduced the amount of items being tagged due to cost reduction efforts, let me point out another fact from the Global Retail Theft Barometer. In 2014-2015, for stores that participated in the prior year survey, clothing retailers reduced spending on loss prevention measures, including EAS technology, by .15 percentage points. Shrinkage rates in these stores increased 1.68 percentage points! It may be possible that in some instances stores were using too many different EAS tags, or they may have been attempting to save payroll by reducing the number of sku’s being tagged so tagging did not take as long. I have two suggestions that can help achieve either objective. First, using the mini tag would eliminate some of the need for employing a variety of Checkpoint tags, while still being able to tag nearly all clothing lines carried in the store. The alternative to save payroll would be to look into apparel source tagging options offered by Checkpoint. These options give the store the protection of EAS tagging but the actual tagging of merchandise is done elsewhere, no additional payroll is spent in the store!
Don’t allow theft to shrink your profits. Invest in electronic article surveillance and Checkpoint hard tags to keep your merchandise in the store and available for sale. If you have an EAS system and are looking for new ways to save payroll without degrading clothing security, find out more about source tagging from Checkpoint.
Get more information on Checkpoint hard tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
According to the 2014-2015 Global Retail Theft Barometer report, total retail shortage globally was approximately 123.39 billion dollars. North American reported shortage for the year was approximately 36.79 billion dollars. For stores that specialize in clothing and accessories the shrinkage percent was the second highest category, at 1.98% following only behind pharmacies/drugstores at a whopping 2.25% shrinkage rate. Within the Apparel and Fashion Accessories category, the most stolen items were footwear, sports-related clothing and fashion accessories. Employee theft and shoplifting are estimated to have been the cause of 85% of the shrinkage for Apparel Specialist Retailers and of this amount it was almost evenly divided between shoplifting and dishonest employees. There are steps apparel retailers can take to stop shoplifting and prevent some employee theft from draining profits from their business. One of the most effective steps is to install an electronic article surveillance system and then use the Checkpoint mini hard tag on merchandise.
The electronic article surveillance system (EAS) will include an antenna system that alarms when merchandise protected with EAS tags or Checkpoint hard tags is carried within the range of the antennas. The system also includes deactivation pads that deactivate EAS tags and removal devices to take Checkpoint hard tags off of merchandise when it is purchased. Training is also provided so store managers and personnel know how to test the system and respond to EAS alarms appropriately in order to prevent a theft.
Why do I suggest using the Checkpoint mini hard tag, especially if a clothing retailer is just starting to use an electronic article surveillance system? There are a number of Checkpoint hard tags a retailer can choose from to protect softlines products, but the mini tag provides flexibility to tag not only clothing but accessories too. The mini hard tag can be pinned directly to a piece of clothing providing both a visual deterrent to prevent shoplifting and alarm protection if someone tried to exit with a garment that still had the tag on it. This Checkpoint tag can be pinned to clothing accessories, such as ties, scarves, gloves, hats and even belts so the store is not limited in what it can protect. The same can be done with purses and handbags. The Checkpoint mini hard tag makes it simple to select one protective device to secure a wide range of products and eliminates the need to have multiple checkpoint hard tags being used in one store.
For a clothing store that is already using electronic article surveillance products, but has reduced the amount of items being tagged due to cost reduction efforts, let me point out another fact from the Global Retail Theft Barometer. In 2014-2015, for stores that participated in the prior year survey, clothing retailers reduced spending on loss prevention measures, including EAS technology, by .15 percentage points. Shrinkage rates in these stores increased 1.68 percentage points! It may be possible that in some instances stores were using too many different EAS tags, or they may have been attempting to save payroll by reducing the number of sku’s being tagged so tagging did not take as long. I have two suggestions that can help achieve either objective. First, using the mini tag would eliminate some of the need for employing a variety of Checkpoint tags, while still being able to tag nearly all clothing lines carried in the store. The alternative to save payroll would be to look into apparel source tagging options offered by Checkpoint. These options give the store the protection of EAS tagging but the actual tagging of merchandise is done elsewhere, no additional payroll is spent in the store!
Don’t allow theft to shrink your profits. Invest in electronic article surveillance and Checkpoint hard tags to keep your merchandise in the store and available for sale. If you have an EAS system and are looking for new ways to save payroll without degrading clothing security, find out more about source tagging from Checkpoint.
Get more information on Checkpoint hard tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
CP Systems-3 , CP Tags-2 , Retail Theft Prevention-3 , Stop Shoplifting-2
Stop Shoplifting With EAS 2.0
I read an article from Checkpoint recently that was very informative and also made me think about all the amazing advances made over the last twenty years. The article is titled: It’s EAS, But Not As You Know It. As you know, current retail theft prevention tools are leaps and bounds beyond the original pedestal system. (I’ve been with my current company for almost fifteen years, and I’ve seen many of these changes first hand.) Back when it was first introduced, the detection rate was about 50%, and that could even be determined by the day’s weather. Thieves learned which stores were equipped with EAS and simply targeted stores that were not. Over time, retail loss prevention departments and the makers of Checkpoint Systems alike, have been able to watch and learn. They’ve looked at what worked and what did not, and they’ve been able to work together and make the necessary improvements.
The article referred to the importance of employees using the retail theft prevention tools that are available. One factor of employee compliance pointed out in the article was ensuring the use of Alpha Keepers and the adherence of Checkpoint tags to the predetermined merchandise. (I always walk the sales floor after our weekly delivery to validate my standards have been met.)
Are they deactivating Checkpoint tags and removing the hard tags to prevent false alarms? Those are both imperative to maintain the integrity of the system. It’s much harder to get all your employees to buy in to the importance of the system if it keeps going off when it’s not supposed to. That could also be a big turn-off to your honest cash paying customer.
Another key item reported in this piece was the many advances made in EAS. It’s not just about detection and deterrence now; It’s about selling more and losing less. Checkpoint Systems now have the capabilities to count the people coming in the door. We as retailers can see the days and even the times of the day when we have the most shoppers in the store, and then we can compare that to our sales. If there was a big advertising campaign launched, we can now see the effects with the data provided. For example, specific items can be tracked with the Checkpoint tags. Their movement throughout the store can be seen in real time. Store staff can step in and help make a sale or they could be alerted to the fact they need to step in to prevent a theft. How many times have you discovered a theft has occurred and not one employee can even say they knew the person or group was in the store? EAS is the answer to the reactive retailer. It can show them how to actually proactively manage their inventory and make the most of their retail theft prevention investment.
I definitely encourage you to take a look at this Checkpoint Systems article and read more about all the advances and improvements made over the years. This could be the perfect time to make that change from the sign that says “No Large Bags” to a real detection and deterrence system. Track your inventory, monitor your merchandise, and stop shoplifting.
For more information on the advances of Checkpoint Systems, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547.
I read an article from Checkpoint recently that was very informative and also made me think about all the amazing advances made over the last twenty years. The article is titled: It’s EAS, But Not As You Know It. As you know, current retail theft prevention tools are leaps and bounds beyond the original pedestal system. (I’ve been with my current company for almost fifteen years, and I’ve seen many of these changes first hand.) Back when it was first introduced, the detection rate was about 50%, and that could even be determined by the day’s weather. Thieves learned which stores were equipped with EAS and simply targeted stores that were not. Over time, retail loss prevention departments and the makers of Checkpoint Systems alike, have been able to watch and learn. They’ve looked at what worked and what did not, and they’ve been able to work together and make the necessary improvements.
The article referred to the importance of employees using the retail theft prevention tools that are available. One factor of employee compliance pointed out in the article was ensuring the use of Alpha Keepers and the adherence of Checkpoint tags to the predetermined merchandise. (I always walk the sales floor after our weekly delivery to validate my standards have been met.) Are they deactivating Checkpoint tags and removing the hard tags to prevent false alarms? Those are both imperative to maintain the integrity of the system. It’s much harder to get all your employees to buy in to the importance of the system if it keeps going off when it’s not supposed to. That could also be a big turn-off to your honest cash paying customer.
Another key item reported in this piece was the many advances made in EAS. It’s not just about detection and deterrence now; It’s about selling more and losing less. Checkpoint Systems now have the capabilities to count the people coming in the door. We as retailers can see the days and even the times of the day when we have the most shoppers in the store, and then we can compare that to our sales. If there was a big advertising campaign launched, we can now see the effects with the data provided. For example, specific items can be tracked with the Checkpoint tags. Their movement throughout the store can be seen in real time. Store staff can step in and help make a sale or they could be alerted to the fact they need to step in to prevent a theft. How many times have you discovered a theft has occurred and not one employee can even say they knew the person or group was in the store? EAS is the answer to the reactive retailer. It can show them how to actually proactively manage their inventory and make the most of their retail theft prevention investment.
I definitely encourage you to take a look at this Checkpoint Systems article and read more about all the advances and improvements made over the years. This could be the perfect time to make that change from the sign that says “No Large Bags” to a real detection and deterrence system. Track your inventory, monitor your merchandise, and stop shoplifting.
For more information on the advances of Checkpoint Systems, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547.
