I read about a new people counting system called VisiPlus today and I was impressed to say the least. I have long talked about the benefits of Big data and its uses in LP. You cannot have useful data when you do not have accurate data. This is as true in LP as it is for business in general. The system is a door counting sensor that connects seamlessly with the existing suite of entrance technologies that many of us in retail already use for LP purposes. Here is one more piece of that big data puzzle.
How can a door counting sensor, a people counting system, really have that big of an impact on analytics or operations? Pattern recognition. Operations has long been using sales data, volume of sales and scans per minute to determine the traffic patterns and busy times in their buildings. This data allows for them to schedule enough staff to meet demand and plan out other aspects of the day efficiently. Sales data is a part of the picture but it isn’t wholly accurate. Say you had a giant sale come in on a Tuesday at 3 pm. The sales data looks like you were super busy and if you reacted to that information alone you will find yourself overstaffed the following Tuesday, burning payroll chasing dollars that are just the ghosts of sales past.
Having a people counting system also provides data that you can apply directly to productivity. I learned a valuable lesson about productivity and management when I was young and in my first supervisor position. I worked all day and felt that, while certainly hectic at times, my day was a great and productive one. When my store manager called me into his office at the end of the day I couldn’t wait to hear how great I had done. That was not the conversation we had. My boss asked me to tell him all I had accomplished today which I did, with great enthusiasm and reference to how busy it was all day. After I gave him the list he did some quick math and pointed out that my total tasks accomplished would take 2 hours to complete, what did I do with the other 6?
Needless to say I was stunned and that conversation stuck with me. I had never realized how busy but unproductive I could be. I have used that lesson countless times and teach it to managers who struggle with productivity. How does that relate to the door counting sensor though? With accurate data on the number of people entering and exiting the building you will have a truly accurate picture of how “busy” it was.
It’s a common tale told by the unproductive. They tell management how much they tried to do but they were swamped with customers. Even when there are no sales to back that up they tell you of all the people they helped who didn’t end up buying anything. With a people counting system in place you will know exactly how many people came and went and exactly when. The door counting sensor produces data that can be applied in countless ways to improve a variety of aspects of your business.
As LP I think of other expanded uses. Tracking various exit points and paths to determine if everyone who came in exited, if people utilized a secured point of entry more than it was logged being open. The potential applications of a people counting system are endless as its impact on your business. Big Data and Analytics are the way of the future for Ops and for LP. You wouldn’t paint a picture without all the colors of paint, why would you build plans for your business without all the data?
Need information on the VisiPlus people counting systems? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now
When small business owners are looking for ways to improve profitablility, one area that may be too easily dismissed is spending on merchandise protection. Why would that be? In part, because it is seen as an additional expense rather than a savings. When we think of improving profit there is a tendency to think of things such as raising prices on goods and services. Some stores keep longer hours or stay open on holidays when they may have once been closed. I have seen a retailer reduce the amount of merchandise carried in order to reduce the amount being spent on product that was sitting on the shelf not selling. Another method of reducing spending and trying to improve profit is to reduce payroll by cutting back on full time employees and increasing part-time employees. It may even be that positions are eliminated altogether. While there may be a limited Return On Investment (ROI) by taking any one of these measures, there may also be consequences to those choices. An owner would be foolish not to calculate those costs before implementing a change. On the other hand, what if an investment could save you money? Can Loss Prevention be free? There is a tool available to help you answer those questions. The Free Loss Prevention Calculator can show you how much an investment in anti-theft equipment can save you in merchandise shortage and how fast it can pay for itself.
The Free Loss Prevention Calculator is an investment tool offered by Loss Prevention Systems, inc. that provides retailers a way to see what they may save by purchasing retail loss prevention equipment. By going to their website and clicking on the link to the Loss Prevention ROI Calculator, a business owner can enter their actual or projected annual sales and the amount of money they may want to invest in Checkpoint equipment. Using an average 1.2% merchandise shrinkage figure, and an estimated shortage reduction amount to .65%, the user will get a snapshot of costs/savings in a generated PDF document. The Free Loss Prevention Calculator does all of the work for you and none of the information is sent anywhere or shared. Once you realize the answer to the question, “Can Loss Prevention Be Free?” is, “ Yes, it can be!”, you can contact Loss Preventions Systems, inc. staff to discuss solutions to your shortage problems.
I noted earlier that there could be a negative Return On Investment if cost savings initiatives are not well thought out. You may decide that cutting staff will save you money. You look at what your saving will be, dollars/hour in payroll, benefits not having to be paid, training time, etc. The flip side to that coin you must consider is what will the impact be to the morale of the remaining employees? Who picks up the additional workload? Do you as the store owner now have to fill that role? If so, what will THAT effect be on your effectiveness at managing the operation of your store and ensuring all of your work continues to get done? Purchasing retail anti-theft equipment will improve profits and has been proven to reduce shortage for stores. To give you an example of a negative result of reducing an “expense”, according to the 2014-2015 Global Retail Theft Barometer, Apparel Specialty stores saw an increase in stock shortage from .60% in 2013-2014 to 2.28% in 2014-2015 (pg. 52). Spending on Loss Prevention during these time periods declined from .39% as a percent of total sales in 2013-2014 to just .24% in 2014-2015 (pgs. 56-57). Bottom line, less spending on Loss Prevention resulted in increased shrink and that is a poor ROI. The Loss Prevention ROI Calculator shows you how you can save money by making a smart purchasing decision in Loss Prevention Equipment.
Business owners need to always look at operations and find ways to improve results. Eliminating waste, streamlining how things are done and being open to new ideas are essential and must be done with consideration to what the Return On Investment will be. Investing money can ultimately lead to saving money too. Can Loss Prevention be free? Use the Loss Prevention ROI Calculator and see the impact Loss Prevention equipment can have for your business and how it can pay for itself.
Get more information on the Free Loss Prevention Calculator, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
AA Blog 14
Checkpoint tags: 5
Retail Theft Prevention: 3
Don’t Let Shoplifters Run Your Business Into The Ground, Get Checkpoint Tags And Shoplifters Will Run To Your Competitors
When it comes to shoplifting loss prevention employees have some of the craziest stories. It continues to amaze me that there are so many people out there that not only shoplift, but do it on a regular basis, and have for many years. It almost becomes a sport for them. I have found that many of them have no remorse at all for stealing and do not see it as a negative thing. They are only disappointed when they get caught. I imagine there are plenty out there that never do get caught. Some of them are professionals who really educate themselves on retail theft prevention and what methods work best to avoid detection. They learn how particular stores operate and respond to shoplifting, so they can hone their skills, and remain undetected. Although, the majority of shoplifters, are typically normal people some of which have no intent to steal when they enter the store. They come from all different demographics and vary in age, shape and size. Even the rich, like Wynona Ryder or Lindsey Lohan, among others, have been caught shoplifting. This implies that money and necessity are not always the driving factor in these cases. Some shoplifters are less proficient than others and some use their age to their advantage. I have seen people try and conceal products such as large DVD players or other electronic devices in their clothes, as if the square shape of their body is normal. I have seen older people try and walk out with cases of beer, thinking that their age would deter employees from contacting them or trying to prevent them from leaving. I have also seen skilled shoplifters specifically go for items that were not tagged because they knew they could avoid detection. When it comes to shoplifting there is no perfect equation, no specific formula, we can use to identify shoplifters and or stop theft entirely. That is why it is so important for us in the retail theft prevention business to take action to protect our merchandise by using Checkpoint tags and labels.
Checkpoint tags are versatile, in that they provide security for many different products within the industry. They are a leader in retail theft prevention because they not only provide a physical deterrent they are also equipped with EAS technology. The EAS technology is coupled with EAS antennas to allow signaling and detection when they attempt to remove the merchandise from the store. They are easily deactivated at the time of sale, allowing for a smooth transaction and pleasant shopping experience. Checkpoint tags come in various sizes and types to include: hard tags, shackle tags and the auto peg tags. These tags can be attached to any product whether it is clothing, purses and bags, electronics, sporting goods and other household items. The auto peg hook protects peg hook merchandise such as razors, cosmetics or other display type items. These tags are made of a high quality and durable plastic that is difficult to damage or remove without being detected. So regardless of where the person is trying to conceal the product or even if they just try and walk out with it, the tags will alert loss prevention or other employees of the theft.
Checkpoint tags will deter and prevent shoplifting without the added cost of additional loss prevention manpower, video surveillance, or other equipment. These tags are reusable and easy to attach, resulting in a low cost means to improve security and increase profit. Every time someone manages to shoplift from you they are not only hurting your bottom line they are subsequently hurting your customers and the economy through price increases, unpaid taxes, and product availability. That’s why it is important to take the proper steps to protect yourself and ensure your customers are receiving the best products at the lowest prices.
Checkpoint tags are important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
When it comes to shoplifting loss prevention employees have some of the craziest stories. It continues to amaze me that there are so many people out there that not only shoplift, but do it on a regular basis, and have for many years. It almost becomes a sport for them. I have found that many of them have no remorse at all for stealing and do not see it as a negative thing. They are only disappointed when they get caught. I imagine there are plenty out there that never do get caught. Some of them are professionals who really educate themselves on retail theft prevention and what methods work best to avoid detection. They learn how particular stores operate and respond to shoplifting, so they can hone their skills, and remain undetected. Although, the majority of shoplifters, are typically normal people some of which have no intent to steal when they enter the store. They come from all different demographics and vary in age, shape and size. Even the rich, like Wynona Ryder or Lindsey Lohan, among others, have been caught shoplifting. This implies that money and necessity are not always the driving factor in these cases. Some shoplifters are less proficient than others and some use their age to their advantage. I have seen people try and conceal products such as large DVD players or other electronic devices in their clothes, as if the square shape of their body is normal. I have seen older people try and walk out with cases of beer, thinking that their age would deter employees from contacting them or trying to prevent them from leaving. I have also seen skilled shoplifters specifically go for items that were not tagged because they knew they could avoid detection. When it comes to shoplifting there is no perfect equation, no specific formula, we can use to identify shoplifters and or stop theft entirely. That is why it is so important for us in the retail theft prevention business to take action to protect our merchandise by using Checkpoint tags and labels.
Checkpoint tags are versatile, in that they provide security for many different products within the industry. They are a leader in retail theft prevention because they not only provide a physical deterrent they are also equipped with EAS technology. The EAS technology is coupled with EAS antennas to allow signaling and detection when they attempt to remove the merchandise from the store. They are easily deactivated at the time of sale, allowing for a smooth transaction and pleasant shopping experience. Checkpoint tags come in various sizes and types to include: hard tags, shackle tags and the auto peg tags. These tags can be attached to any product whether it is clothing, purses and bags, electronics, sporting goods and other household items. The auto peg hook protects peg hook merchandise such as razors, cosmetics or other display type items. These tags are made of a high quality and durable plastic that is difficult to damage or remove without being detected. So regardless of where the person is trying to conceal the product or even if they just try and walk out with it, the tags will alert loss prevention or other employees of the theft.
Checkpoint tags will deter and prevent shoplifting without the added cost of additional loss prevention manpower, video surveillance, or other equipment. These tags are reusable and easy to attach, resulting in a low cost means to improve security and increase profit. Every time someone manages to shoplift from you they are not only hurting your bottom line they are subsequently hurting your customers and the economy through price increases, unpaid taxes, and product availability. That’s why it is important to take the proper steps to protect yourself and ensure your customers are receiving the best products at the lowest prices.
Checkpoint tags are important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
What are some of the things that used to drive me crazy as a Retail Loss Prevention Manager and A Manager On Duty that I would like to clear up for people:
- No, the “sampler” chocolates with a cellophane wrap and a price tag on them are not free samples.
- Yes, we have a cooler of drinks at the checklanes and bags of chips, and no they are not complimentary to start your shopping journey as you enter the store.
- Yes, the size small shirt that is blue at the bottom of the stack is the same size small as the small red one you looked at on the top of the stack. And no, the shirts are not self-folding after you toss it back on the fixture.
- Yes, the price you see is the best price you will get, and no we are not a yard sale where you can dicker on a price.
- No, we don’t have a service to pick up the shopping cart you rolled all the way home and left there.
- Yes, a limit of six items at a time in the fitting room means six and not twenty.
- Oh, the lawnmower you want to return three months after buying it that has grass, dirt, scratches and dents doesn’t work so you want your money back? Gee, I don’t see why that would be a problem, and you say it hasn’t worked right since you bought it?
Finally; Yes, I see the tags are on the bathing suit you are returning and yes you have a receipt, and while I am sure that you bought it with sand already in it, I still can’t believe you are returning this! It was true I had people return swim wear they had obviously worn to the beach and at the end of their vacation return to the store. Tags were put back on the merchandise, they had receipts and policy dictated I had to accept the returns. Had Alpha Shark Tags been available to us, we would not have had those problems.
Why would Alpha Shark Tags have helped to prevent the return of used swim wear (or any other clothing for that matter)? These tags work because they are attached to clothing and not removed until the purchaser does so when they get home and decide to keep the item. Unlike manufacturer labels and price tickets that are attached by a plastic hang tag, the Alpha Shark Tag is clipped together and must be cut off to be removed. Once removed the tag cannot be reattached and is rendered useless. What does this matter? There are customers that commit return fraud by wardrobing. Wardrobing is the act of purchasing merchandise with the intention of wearing it once or twice and returning it. By using Shark Tags on garments a store is able to prevent wardrobing.
Wardrobing requires a customer to keep receipts and often they reattach price tags and merchandise tickets. With Alpha Shark Tags stores can enforce a policy requiring a tag to be on the merchandise in order to return it to the store. Yes, the clothing can still be tried on without any problems and a customer can know exactly what it will look like when they wear it. Clothes can even be given as a gift along with a gift receipt and then returned if the item doesn’t fit, as long as the tag is in place. For retailers, the beauty of the Shark Tag is that without the tag in place and attached, they can deny the return. The clothes that are returned will still be new and ready for resale, there is no necessity to markdown the garment due to wear.
Don’t lose profits due to wardrobing return fraud, use Alpha Shark Tags and have confidence that returned clothes are new and unused. You can also avoid some of those pet peeves that I was forced to endure.
Need more information on Alpha Shark Tags? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
AIn this series I am discussing the dangers of data breaches to the reputation of a business, specifically medical care providers and how using Alpha Thunder Tags can help protect against medical tablet theft or i-pad theft. In 2014 and 2015 we saw a number of large retailers that were hacked and customer data exposed to potential criminal activity. It seemed that not a day went by when there wasn’t another story in the news about these cyber attacks. Hospitals experienced similar data breaches in addition to reports of stolen medical laptops and computers. Consumers were concerned that their personal information would be used for identity theft purposes and their credit history would be ruined. Does all of this exposure damage a company’s reputation? You bet it does. In an Aug 23, 2016 article in www.computerworld.com titled, “19% of shoppers would abandon a retailer that’s been hacked”, by Matt Hamben, the author writes, “The 2016 KPMG Consumer Loss Barometer report surveyed 448 consumers in the U.S. and found that 19% would abandon a retailer entirely over a hack. Another 33% said that fears their personal information would be exposed would keep them from a breached retailer for more than three months.”
You might be thinking I am comparing apples to oranges. How does a retail store data breach compare to a hospital or medical data breach? Consumer concerns with a retail store being hacked tend to revolve around the chance that credit card information could be stolen and used by criminals to open new accounts. When patient information is exposed, more is at stake than just credit card data. Medical history, prescriptions, addresses, billing information are all susceptable to fraudulent use. Both situations result in lowered consumer confidence. As clinics, hospitals and doctor offices are relying more on mobile technology such as tablets and i-pads, the chances of a device being stolen grows. Medical tablet theft or i-pad theft can lead to stored patient information being accessed by unauthorized users. If an Alpha Thunder Tag is attached to these devices the opportunity for theft is signifcantly reduced. A medical facility can install electronic article surveillance (EAS) antennas at entrance/exits and if someone tries to smuggle a protected device out of that door, the antenna alarm is activated. The Alpha Thunder Tag also has a built in alarm that sounds if someone gets out the door and refuses to stop for those responding to the antenna alarm. The tags are built with tamper-proof protection to prevent a thief from removing the tag then leaving the building with the device. By protecting devices, you will protect the patient information contained in the device, or even the ability for someone to gain access to other client databases.
Interestingly, a data breach for a healthcare provider has a greater negative impact than a breach of a retailer. In a March 25, 2015 story on acainternational.org titled, “Most Patients Would Avoid Healthcare Providers After a Data Breach”, the article states, “More than half of recent hospital patients are willing to switch healthcare providers if their current provider undergoes a data breach, according to a TransUnion Healthcare report on results of a new survey.” http://www.acainternational.org/healthcaremarket-most-patients-would-avoid-healthcare-providers-after-a-data-breach-35518.aspx If a greater percentage of patients are concerned with a data breach of a healthcare provider than customers are with retail breaches, then one must consider the financial impact to the facility that loses potentially half of their patients. Hospitals and medical offices must do all they can to avoid losing such a significant portion of their clients. Protecting against medical tablet theft and i-pad theft is a step in the right direction.
Don’t risk losing your patient’s data or your patients due to the theft of mobile medical devices. Use Alpha Thunder Tags and retain your customer’s confidence and their information.
Need more information on Alpha Thunder Tags? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
