For many years I was a Retail Loss Prevention Manager and actively used Electronic Article Surveillance anti-theft devices to protect many high theft items. Two departments that we had an incredible amount of theft in were fragrances and skin care products. We tagged the boxes with security labels but found that we still were experiencing theft issues. The problem plagued most of the stores in the company and eventually Corporate Loss Prevention reviewed their strategy and worked with manufacturers to put the fragrances in blister packages. The packages were source tagged with security labels to stop shoplifting. The hard-nosed criminal didn’t want to fool with any kind of security device unfortunately they weren’t averse to using a knife or razor blade to circumvent the blister package to remove the product. Eventually individual security boxes became available to us to protect the merchandise. The boxes worked really well for the higher priced items. We were able to put more products on the shelf rather than limit the numbers on display. We also had the protection of electronic article surveillance with the security of a lock up showcase. A detachment key at the checkout lanes was required to open the boxes up in order to remove the product. So what could possibly be improved upon if we were seeing improvement in shortage numbers?
There is one area in which improvements could be made and it is an opportunity most people would not think about in a discussion on electronic article surveillance devices. The opportunity I am thinking of is flexibility of protection hardware. There are many different sized protection devices that help stop shoplifting but I have found that one size does not fit all. I have seen small packs of razor blades safely tucked away in a box that was also used for a large perfume bottle. I have personally had to use electronic article surveillance labels of one size to protect a compact disc and a label from the same roll to protect a box of medicine. It is a pain in the neck and if you take merchandise protection seriously it requires the purchase of a lot of different sized containers, wraps and labels to do it properly. Using a security box that is too large for the item being protected takes up unnecessary shelf space. This can limit the number of shelves or peg hooks you can use for merchandise displays and that cuts down on facings or varieties of products available to customers. Sensormatic has developed Adjustable Multi-Purpose Safers to make it easier to keep goods safe from criminals. These Safers give retailers more flexibility in the variety of devices that need to be purchased. One device can now protect a wider range of merchandise without requiring a planogram change to accommodate a bigger box than necessary.
The Adjustible Multi-Purpose Safers Can be raised and lowered to fit the height of the item you want to keep safe from criminals. Going back to my fragrance problem, I had to work with perfumes and cologne boxes of varying heights. Today’s merchants have the ability to stop shoplifting without having to buy nearly as many different anti-theft protection boxes as they once would have done. If you are one of those store owners who believes that locking or alarming display cases are the best protection for high theft items I have something for you to consider. I know that the perception is that lock-up cases are a guarantee against theft. Having worked in retail for over 28 years and over 17 of those years in Loss Prevention I know the problems showcases cause. They require an available associate to respond and unlock a case when a customer wants to look at an item. That isn’t even a sure sale. That employee is tied to that display case until the customer decides if they do or don’t want an item. IF the customer wants the item the employee has to take it to the checklane and ring it up or have a cashier hold it until the customer comes up to make the purchase. Safers allow customers to view a product and carry it around the store until they are ready to proceed to checkout. Managers get all of the security of a showcase and none of the hassle.
If you haven’t considered how you can save money through theft reduction and the use of electronic article surveillance equipment contact Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. If you are using Sensormatic equipment but need to find ways to save money or planogram changes due to protection devices talk to Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. about the Adjustable Multi-Purpose Safers from Sensormatic.
Electronic Article Surveillance is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
