Alpha Shark Tags – 3 WC Blog 367
Wardrobing -3
Return Fraud -4
You May Feel Embattled By Theft And Return Fraud; A Good Shortage Action Plan That Includes Alpha Shark Tags Can Help You Overcome The Opposition
I am a military history buff therefore I have certain quotes that I find I like that can be applied to both life and war.
Sun Tzu – Know your enemy and know yourself and you can fight a hundred battles without disaster
Napoleon Bonaparte – You must not fight too often with one enemy or you will teach him all your art of war.
Sun Tzu – He who will win knows how to handle both superior and inferior forces.
General George Patton Jr. – A good plan executed today is better than a perfect plan executed at some indefinite point in the future.
General George Patton Jr. – You’re never beaten until you admit it.
Dwight D. Eisenhower – What counts is not necessarily the size of the dog in the fight –it’s the size of the fight in the dog.
What in the world does this have to do with retail and especially preventing theft, fraud and shortage?! I’m glad you asked. Shoplifters and those committing fraud are the enemies of retailers. The business owner can sit by and be the victim or they can know their enemy and to paraphrase Sun Tzu, subdue the enemy without fighting them, winning the battles because they know the enemy and their strategies. Part of retail theft and fraud prevention is having a good action plan. Those who commit return fraud and shoplift CAN be beaten, when a store owner or manager has the tools and knowledge to deter or prevent their activity.
What tools are available to business owners to prevent return fraud? How about Alpha Shark Tags to start with? While shoplifters are out to just steal merchandise for personal use or to sell, the fraudster is often using store policies against the store to purchase clothes, wear them and bring the items back for a full refund. It is so prevalent that it has the name wardrobing attached to it. Tags and receipts are retained and often tags are re-attached to the merchandise and after being worn out a time or two, all items are returned for a full refund. The clothing sometimes is returned with small stains, or body odors, make-up stains or cologne smells. Retailers take the hit by selling the merchandise and then taking it back but often reducing the price or having to get rid of it and marking it out-of-stock. If a retailer uses Alpha Shark Tags, they defeat wardrobing fraud before it can happen. These tags are pinned on clothes with the stipulation that if the clothes are returned the pin has to be in place and intact. When properly placed, these brightly colored tags stand out like a sore thumb and someone used to committing fraud can’t wear the merchandise or people will be aware it is going to be returned. Rather than try to get away with the activity they shop elsewhere.
How else does a retailer defeat the enemy that would put them out of business if their crime is left unchecked? By creating shortage action plans focused on addressing weaknesses in return policies, identifying high merchandise shrinkage areas and making it an area of customer service focus. I have been part of creating large, unwieldy action plans that were detailed, long, filled with deadlines and due dates that have totally fallen apart within a few months of being finalized. The most effective plans are short, direct, have specific objectives and can be executed quickly, for example placing a security camera and dome over a high theft area. It may be as easy as starting an electronic article surveillance (EAS) tagging program and having EAS pedestals installed. Remember Patton’s quote? Execute a good plan today rather than a perfect plan at some point in the future.
I know you aren’t going into combat you are selling merchandise. It’s your business and hopefully your passion. There’s a saying in sports, “Protect This House”. Protect YOUR house against theft. Use Alpha Shark Tags to stop return fraud, EAS tags to prevent theft and customer service to deter theft and increase sales and attachment rates. You could be suffering at the hands of thieves right now but, “You’re never beaten until you admit it”. Let Loss Prevention Systems Inc. (LPSI) help you turn things around with our expert advice about wardrobing return fraud, shoplifting, planning and hiring practices, our website and monthly newsletter. We also offer training seminars on employee theft, shoplifting and pre-employment hiring. We CAN help your business thrive.
Need information on Alpha Shark Tags? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
I am a military history buff therefore I have certain quotes that I find I like that can be applied to both life and war.
Sun Tzu – Know your enemy and know yourself and you can fight a hundred battles without disaster.
Napoleon Bonaparte – You must not fight too often with one enemy or you will teach him all your art of war.
Sun Tzu – He who will win knows how to handle both superior and inferior forces.
General George Patton Jr. – A good plan executed today is better than a perfect plan executed at some indefinite point in the future. You’re never beaten until you admit it.
Dwight D. Eisenhower – What counts is not necessarily the size of the dog in the fight –it’s the size of the fight in the dog.
What in the world does this have to do with retail and especially preventing theft, fraud and shortage?! I’m glad you asked. Shoplifters and those committing fraud are the enemies of retailers. The business owner can sit by and be the victim or they can know their enemy and to paraphrase Sun Tzu, subdue the enemy without fighting them, winning the battles because they know the enemy and their strategies. Part of retail theft and fraud prevention is having a good action plan. Those who commit return fraud and shoplift CAN be beaten, when a store owner or manager has the tools and knowledge to deter or prevent their activity.
What tools are available to business owners to prevent return fraud? How about Alpha Shark Tags to start with? While shoplifters are out to just steal merchandise for personal use or to sell, the fraudster is often using store policies against the store to purchase clothes, wear them and bring the items back for a full refund. It is so prevalent that it has the name wardrobing attached to it. Tags and receipts are retained and often tags are re-attached to the merchandise and after being worn out a time or two, all items are returned for a full refund. The clothing sometimes is returned with small stains, or body odors, make-up stains or cologne smells. Retailers take the hit by selling the merchandise and then taking it back but often reducing the price or having to get rid of it and marking it out-of-stock. If a retailer uses Alpha Shark Tags, they defeat wardrobing fraud before it can happen. These tags are pinned on clothes with the stipulation that if the clothes are returned the pin has to be in place and intact. When properly placed, these brightly colored tags stand out like a sore thumb and someone used to committing fraud can’t wear the merchandise or people will be aware it is going to be returned. Rather than try to get away with the activity they shop elsewhere.
How else does a retailer defeat the enemy that would put them out of business if their crime is left unchecked? By creating shortage action plans focused on addressing weaknesses in return policies, identifying high merchandise shrinkage areas and making it an area of customer service focus. I have been part of creating large, unwieldy action plans that were detailed, long, filled with deadlines and due dates that have totally fallen apart within a few months of being finalized. The most effective plans are short, direct, have specific objectives and can be executed quickly, for example placing a security camera and dome over a high theft area. It may be as easy as starting an electronic article surveillance (EAS) tagging program and having EAS pedestals installed. Remember Patton’s quote? Execute a good plan today rather than a perfect plan at some point in the future.
I know you aren’t going into combat you are selling merchandise. It’s your business and hopefully your passion. There’s a saying in sports, “Protect This House”. Protect YOUR house against theft. Use Alpha Shark Tags to stop return fraud, EAS tags to prevent theft and customer service to deter theft and increase sales and attachment rates. You could be suffering at the hands of thieves right now but, “You’re never beaten until you admit it”. Let Loss Prevention Systems Inc. (LPSI) help you turn things around with our expert advice about wardrobing return fraud, shoplifting, planning and hiring practices, our website and monthly newsletter. We also offer training seminars on employee theft, shoplifting and pre-employment hiring. We CAN help your business thrive.
Need information on Alpha Shark Tags? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
