Retail Anti-theft Devices-3 WC blog 279
Alpha Keepers-4
Gaming Keepers-5
prevent shoplifting-3
Display Case Dilemma; A Loss Prevention Manager’s Discourse On Why He Prefers Gaming Keepers To Prevent Shoplifting Part 2
In part 2 of my article on the pros of using gaming keepers versus display cases in order to prevent shoplifting, I want to visit some of less obvious issues that can and do arise when showcases are the primary means to deter theft. I am suggesting there are much better retail anti-theft devices called Alpha Keepers that can stop merchandise shrinkage AND improve other aspects of your business. I am also going to provide some suggestions for improving the customer’s shopping experience in your store which can drive up sales. The basis for these articles came from a recent shopping trip I made to a big box store and two big faux Pas I would like to see other stores avoid. The trip was made so that my son could purchase a video game for a game system he owns. The game he wanted was in a display case and required us to wait for help, until the game was removed from the showcase, handed to my son and the employee walked off. When my son said, “Thank You” the reply was “No problem”.
Display cases do prevent shoplifting but they can also impede sales. Customers have to wait or seek help in an effort just to LOOK at something in a case. People rarely look at something in a showcase without browsing other items before making a buying decision. Alpha Keepers, and specifically in this case, gaming keepers are designed of clear polycarbonate material that makes it easy for a shopper to see all of the packaging information. It’s sort of like having a mini display case in the palms of your hands. All Alpha Keepers lock so shoplifters can’t get to the product but honest customers can pick up the item, continue shopping and take it to the checkout line at their convenience. Alpha Keepers are also created so they will cause electronic article surveillance (EAS) antennas to sound if protected merchandise is carried too close to the antennas. The deterrence value of the gaming keepers and the potential of the EAS alarm serve to shift criminal activity to other stores and away from yours.
So how are you going to improve the shopping experience for your customers by going away from display cases in favor of Alpha retail anti-theft devices? I mentioned that the keepers are like a mini display case. What if I did not have to wait at that showcase for a sales person to open it? My son could have picked up the game he wanted and we could have continued shopping. While the delay was somewhat aggravating, having a long retail background helps me be a little more patient with such things. As a Manager On Duty, I had the fun experience of dealing with customers who do not have that same patience and will let you know it. There is also the potential for missed sales when a customer does not want to wait any longer for help and walks away. How much money have your display cases cost you?
How about showcase key security? As a Loss Prevention Manager I had to be concerned every time display keys were lost or missing. Sometimes it was a salesperson leaving with them for the day. Sometimes the keys were put down while in the process of helping a customer and then there were the times I would find keys still in the lock of the case. If keys are lost, security is compromised and locks have to be re-cored, a headache and a needless expense (take it from someone who has had to do it). Gaming keepers require only a detachment key, secured at the cash register. No need to carry them around and risk loss.
Another issue with display cases is the training of personnel on how to handle lock up merchandise. As in my situation, the employee simply removed the game from the case and handed it to my son. If it is locked up, it should only make sense it was not to be handed to the customer. Training and follow-up still does not ensure procedures are going to be followed.
Finally, a word on customer service. I would like to encourage store owners and managers, train your staff not to say, “No problem” to a customer. It may seem small but your customers were not a problem to begin with. Set expectations that you want from them. Be sure to treat customers with respect.
You can prevent shoplifting and improve the customer experience by using gaming keepers for your high value merchandise. Consider all the advantages you could have over your competition with new retail anti-theft devices.
Gaming keepers are important and we can help you with them. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
In part 2 of my article on the pros of using gaming keepers versus display cases in order to prevent shoplifting, I want to visit some of less obvious issues that can and do arise when showcases are the primary means to deter theft. I am suggesting there are much better retail anti-theft devices called Alpha Keepers that can stop merchandise shrinkage AND improve other aspects of your business. I am also going to provide some suggestions for improving the customer’s shopping experience in your store which can drive up sales. The basis for these articles came from a recent shopping trip I made to a big box store and two big faux Pas I would like to see other stores avoid. The trip was made so that my son could purchase a video game for a game system he owns. The game he wanted was in a display case and required us to wait for help, until the game was removed from the showcase, handed to my son and the employee walked off. When my son said, “Thank You” the reply was “No problem”.
Display cases do prevent shoplifting but they can also impede sales. Customers have to wait or seek help in an effort just to LOOK at something in a case. People rarely look at something in a showcase without browsing other items before making a buying decision. Alpha Keepers, and specifically in this case, gaming keepers are designed of clear polycarbonate material that makes it easy for a shopper to see all of the packaging information. It’s sort of like having a mini display case in the palms of your hands. All Alpha Keepers lock so shoplifters can’t get to the product but honest customers can pick up the item, continue shopping and take it to the checkout line at their convenience. Alpha Keepers are also created so they will cause electronic article surveillance (EAS) antennas to sound if protected merchandise is carried too close to the antennas. The deterrence value of the gaming keepers and the potential of the EAS alarm serve to shift criminal activity to other stores and away from yours.
So how are you going to improve the shopping experience for your customers by going away from display cases in favor of Alpha retail anti-theft devices? I mentioned that the keepers are like a mini display case. What if I did not have to wait at that showcase for a sales person to open it? My son could have picked up the game he wanted and we could have continued shopping. While the delay was somewhat aggravating, having a long retail background helps me be a little more patient with such things. As a Manager On Duty, I had the fun experience of dealing with customers who do not have that same patience and will let you know it. There is also the potential for missed sales when a customer does not want to wait any longer for help and walks away. How much money have your display cases cost you?
How about showcase key security? As a Loss Prevention Manager I had to be concerned every time display keys were lost or missing. Sometimes it was a salesperson leaving with them for the day. Sometimes the keys were put down while in the process of helping a customer and then there were the times I would find keys still in the lock of the case. If keys are lost, security is compromised and locks have to be re-cored, a headache and a needless expense (take it from someone who has had to do it). Gaming keepers require only a detachment key, secured at the cash register. No need to carry them around and risk loss.
Another issue with display cases is the training of personnel on how to handle lock up merchandise. As in my situation, the employee simply removed the game from the case and handed it to my son. If it is locked up, it should only make sense it was not to be handed to the customer. Training and follow-up still does not ensure procedures are going to be followed.
Finally, a word on customer service. I would like to encourage store owners and managers, train your staff not to say, “No problem” to a customer. It may seem small but your customers were not a problem to begin with. Set expectations that you want from them. Be sure to treat customers with respect.
You can prevent shoplifting and improve the customer experience by using gaming keepers for your high value merchandise. Consider all the advantages you could have over your competition with new retail anti-theft devices.
Gaming keepers are important and we can help you with them. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
Training to reduce employee theft-3 WC Blog 320
Stop shoplifting-4
Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. Provides Training To Stop Shoplifting And Reduce Employee Theft And Keep Your Employees Safe In The Process
Before I get too far into this article about the importance of training to stop shoplifting and training to reduce employee theft, I would ask you to take a few minutes to take a look at some of these headlines:
• Walmart loss prevention officer killed pursuing suspected shoplifter, WSB-TV, Apr 12,2016 http://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/gwinnett-county/loss-prevention-officer-killed-at-lilburn-walmart/207995435
• Loss prevention officers stabbed at JC Penney, Jan 24, 2013 http://www.wrcbtv.com/story/20700570/loss-prevention-officers-stabbed-at-jcpenney
• Kmart loss prevention officer killed by shoplifters, Jan 18, 2010, http://www.nbc-2.com/story/11839243/kmart-loss-prevention-officer-killed-by-shoplifters
• Police: Margate Walmart Employee Killed By Fleeing Thief, Sep 21, 2012 http://miami.cbslocal.com/2012/09/21/police-margate-walmart-employee-killed-by-fleeing-thief/
• Man wanted for fatally stabbing worker at Va. Burlington Coat Factory, March 4, 2017 http://wtvr.com/2017/03/04/burlington-coat-factory-employee-fatally-stabbed-potomac-mills/
• Police: Employee attacks manager, co-workers while being fired, Friday, November 8, 2013 http://komonews.com/news/local/police-employee-attacks-manager-coworkers-while-being-fired
• Prescott Walmart employee arrested after attempting to harm co-workers, December 05, 2016 http://www.12news.com/news/local/arizona/prescott-wal-mart-employee-arrested-after-attempting-to-harm-co-workers/362586930
What is my point in showing you these headlines? In the first 5 reports, trained Loss Prevention employees were injured or killed in their attempts to do their jobs and prevent criminals from stealing merchandise. Let me repeat that, they were attempting to stop shoplifting and preventing criminals from getting away. In the last 2 instance employees posed a danger and/or harmed co-workers and managers. Shoplifting is not a game and many of the people who perpetrate the crimes are dangerous. Employees who steal can be just as dangerous. How prepared are you to handle a shoplifting situation? Are you or your managers truly prepared for events that could get out of hand?
Training to reduce employee theft and stop shoplifting is important for all managers, especially those in stores with no Loss Prevention personnel available to prevent theft and help deter dishonest employees. Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. offers training sessions that can help you prevent shoplifting by teaching you about who it is that is stealing from your business, how to develop programs to deter criminals and how to approach them SAFELY. You will learn about anti-theft devices that make your store less appealing to thieves and send them elsewhere. Training programs are also available to help you with the methods of identifying employee theft and the various methods they use to steal. Were you aware that employee theft may include theft from your customers as well as your business? Employees may steal credit cards, gift cards, even receipts from your customers and in the process damage the reputation of your business. How do you repair that? Sometimes the best prevention is weeding out bad apples before they get a foot in the door. To that end, Loss Prevention Systems also has training available for teaching about pre-employment hiring and background checks. The potentially violent or dishonest employee can often be identified in a proper screening and avoided altogether.
If the stories I linked to do not persuade you of the real danger shoplifters can pose or that there are dangerous employees out there, then let me tell you about my personal experiences. I have nearly 20 years of Loss Prevention experience and 27 years of total retail experience. As a Loss Prevention manager for a major chain we went through training on how to properly approach shoplifters, how to detain them and if necessary physically restrain them. All of our L.P. personnel attended these sessions. While the training did prevent some dangerous situations my team and I still experienced being pushed, bitten, punched and verbal threats from thieves that they were in possession of a weapon. In some cases this was simply when we approached the suspect and hadn’t yet fully engaged in a stop. There are proper ways to try to approach shoplifters or deter them. Loss Prevention Systems Trainers can help keep you and your team safe.
Dangers from employees can be just as real. I have had an employee who was going to be fired and he threatened to kill himself. I have had employees who were terminated from their job and threatened to meet our Human Resources Manager in the parking lot when they got off of work. I have responded to the store in the early morning hours when a freight team member pulled a box cutter on a cleaning crew employee. Background checks, pre-employment screening and training on how to be ready for these situations should be required for your managers.
Don’t let criminals rip you off or employees steal your money and reputation. Let Loss prevention Systems, Inc. give your managers training to reduce employee theft and stop shoplifting.
Before I get too far into this article about the importance of training to stop shoplifting and training to reduce employee theft, I would ask you to take a few minutes to take a look at some of these headlines:
• Walmart loss prevention officer killed pursuing suspected shoplifter, WSB-TV, Apr 12,2016 http://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/gwinnett-county/loss-prevention-officer-killed-at-lilburn-walmart/207995435
• Loss prevention officers stabbed at JC Penney, Jan 24, 2013 http://www.wrcbtv.com/story/20700570/loss-prevention-officers-stabbed-at-jcpenney
• Kmart loss prevention officer killed by shoplifters, Jan 18, 2010, http://www.nbc-2.com/story/11839243/kmart-loss-prevention-officer-killed-by-shoplifters
• Police: Margate Walmart Employee Killed By Fleeing Thief, Sep 21, 2012 http://miami.cbslocal.com/2012/09/21/police-margate-walmart-employee-killed-by-fleeing-thief/
• Man wanted for fatally stabbing worker at Va. Burlington Coat Factory, March 4, 2017 http://wtvr.com/2017/03/04/burlington-coat-factory-employee-fatally-stabbed-potomac-mills/
• Police: Employee attacks manager, co-workers while being fired, Friday, November 8, 2013 http://komonews.com/news/local/police-employee-attacks-manager-coworkers-while-being-fired
• Prescott Walmart employee arrested after attempting to harm co-workers, December 05, 2016 http://www.12news.com/news/local/arizona/prescott-wal-mart-employee-arrested-after-attempting-to-harm-co-workers/362586930
What is my point in showing you these headlines? In the first 5 reports, trained Loss Prevention employees were injured or killed in their attempts to do their jobs and prevent criminals from stealing merchandise. Let me repeat that, they were attempting to stop shoplifting and preventing criminals from getting away. In the last 2 instance employees posed a danger and/or harmed co-workers and managers. Shoplifting is not a game and many of the people who perpetrate the crimes are dangerous. Employees who steal can be just as dangerous. How prepared are you to handle a shoplifting situation? Are you or your managers truly prepared for events that could get out of hand?
Training to reduce employee theft and stop shoplifting is important for all managers, especially those in stores with no Loss Prevention personnel available to prevent theft and help deter dishonest employees. Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. offers training sessions that can help you prevent shoplifting by teaching you about who it is that is stealing from your business, how to develop programs to deter criminals and how to approach them SAFELY. You will learn about anti-theft devices that make your store less appealing to thieves and send them elsewhere. Training programs are also available to help you with the methods of identifying employee theft and the various methods they use to steal. Were you aware that employee theft may include theft from your customers as well as your business? Employees may steal credit cards, gift cards, even receipts from your customers and in the process damage the reputation of your business. How do you repair that? Sometimes the best prevention is weeding out bad apples before they get a foot in the door. To that end, Loss Prevention Systems also has training available for teaching about pre-employment hiring and background checks. The potentially violent or dishonest employee can often be identified in a proper screening and avoided altogether.
If the stories I linked to do not persuade you of the real danger shoplifters can pose or that there are dangerous employees out there, then let me tell you about my personal experiences. I have nearly 20 years of Loss Prevention experience and 27 years of total retail experience. As a Loss Prevention manager for a major chain we went through training on how to properly approach shoplifters, how to detain them and if necessary physically restrain them. All of our L.P. personnel attended these sessions. While the training did prevent some dangerous situations my team and I still experienced being pushed, bitten, punched and verbal threats from thieves that they were in possession of a weapon. In some cases this was simply when we approached the suspect and hadn’t yet fully engaged in a stop. There are proper ways to try to approach shoplifters or deter them. Loss Prevention Systems Trainers can help keep you and your team safe.
Dangers from employees can be just as real. I have had an employee who was going to be fired and he threatened to kill himself. I have had employees who were terminated from their job and threatened to meet our Human Resources Manager in the parking lot when they got off of work. I have responded to the store in the early morning hours when a freight team member pulled a box cutter on a cleaning crew employee. Background checks, pre-employment screening and training on how to be ready for these situations should be required for your managers.
Don’t let criminals rip you off or employees steal your money and reputation. Let Loss prevention Systems, Inc. give your managers training to reduce employee theft and stop shoplifting.
Need information on training to reduce employee theft? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now
Pre-employment Screening-4 WC Blog 301
Background Check Company-4
Make Sure You Score Big With Your Next New Hire Use Pre-employment Screening To Verify Credentials
How many of you are sports fans out there? I happen to fall into the casual fan category. I like to watch the games and I know a little about my two favorite sports, football and baseball. On the other hand I’m not one of the fans who can quote every statistic about the team they love. What I do know is professional teams don’t just hire unknowns. Usually players are scouted out well in advance of any consideration for recruitment. This being said, wouldn’t it be great if an employer could hire their staff like the Pro’s scout and draft? You send scouts out, they watch the way your candidates perform. You sit in a room and watch tape of them to see for yourself how they did their job. Applicants go through skill tests to see just how they have mastered fundamental requirements for the position. We all know life doesn’t happen that way. Sometimes you can get lucky and run across someone doing their job and you try to steal them away for your own business but in general those are rare occasions. Usually you put out a job ad, get some applicants and take a chance on a few who “look good” on paper and you conduct interviews. Did they do well? Were you impressed at the answers they gave in response to our interview questions? You may not have a scout unit but a Pre-employment screening can be your scouting report on an applicant.
A background check company has the ability to dig into a job candidate’s background information in order to help you know who it is you are contemplating bringing into your business. You may be able to read information from a job application or a resume but can you be sure what you are reading is truthful? There are people who fluff up their resumes with achievements they never really earned or exaggerate the scope of the work they did. Employee background checks are run by experienced professionals who have the tools that are needed to verify the information a candidate provides to you. Criminal convictions, driving records, education background and validation of social security numbers are a few of the items a pre-employment screening can properly clear.
Think about it like this, just because a baseball player says he bats .400, has a 1.92 ERA or can play multiple positions on the field, would you as a manager hire him on his word? Absolutely not, you might be interested in his story, you might even hear through word of mouth that he has these skill sets but you are going to do your homework. You send your scouts out to his games to watch him. When they think he may have the abilities he says he has you may invite him to spring try-outs for one more look. When everything pans out and the player’s words match his actions THEN you make an offer. As I pointed out, business owners don’t have scouts so what is the next best solution? Businesses can hire a background check company to be the scout on behalf of retailers and other business owners. Need someone who can manage your company social media platforms? You may want a candidate with a computer science degree or marketing degree from an accredited college or university. Pre-employment screening can validate education information entered on an application. Need an experienced Loss Prevention agent to fill an Asset Protection Manager opening? An Employee background check company can verify any employment history a prospective hire has listed on a resume. Do you remember to ask former employers if an employee is re-hirable? A company that does pre-employment screening doesn’t forget to ask such a critical question. Someone may have worked as an L.P. Agent, but were they released for something that would prevent them from being re-hired such as theft or violations of company policies?
You may not be hiring to field a professional sports team but you certainly want a squad that you can trust and will keep you profitable. Don’t try to scout out the backgrounds of job prospects. Use a professional Background Check Company to help you hit home runs in your hiring decisions.
Need information on Pre-employment screening? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
How many of you are sports fans out there? I happen to fall into the casual fan category. I like to watch the games and I know a little about my two favorite sports, football and baseball. On the other hand I’m not one of the fans who can quote every statistic about the team they love. What I do know is professional teams don’t just hire unknowns. Usually players are scouted out well in advance of any consideration for recruitment. This being said, wouldn’t it be great if an employer could hire their staff like the Pro’s scout and draft? You send scouts out, they watch the way your candidates perform. You sit in a room and watch tape of them to see for yourself how they did their job. Applicants go through skill tests to see just how they have mastered fundamental requirements for the position. We all know life doesn’t happen that way. Sometimes you can get lucky and run across someone doing their job and you try to steal them away for your own business but in general those are rare occasions. Usually you put out a job ad, get some applicants and take a chance on a few who “look good” on paper and you conduct interviews. Did they do well? Were you impressed at the answers they gave in response to our interview questions? You may not have a scout unit but a Pre-employment screening can be your scouting report on an applicant.
A background check company has the ability to dig into a job candidate’s background information in order to help you know who it is you are contemplating bringing into your business. You may be able to read information from a job application or a resume but can you be sure what you are reading is truthful? There are people who fluff up their resumes with achievements they never really earned or exaggerate the scope of the work they did. Employee background checks are run by experienced professionals who have the tools that are needed to verify the information a candidate provides to you. Criminal convictions, driving records, education background and validation of social security numbers are a few of the items a pre-employment screening can properly clear.
Think about it like this, just because a baseball player says he bats .400, has a 1.92 ERA or can play multiple positions on the field, would you as a manager hire him on his word? Absolutely not, you might be interested in his story, you might even hear through word of mouth that he has these skill sets but you are going to do your homework. You send your scouts out to his games to watch him. When they think he may have the abilities he says he has you may invite him to spring try-outs for one more look. When everything pans out and the player’s words match his actions THEN you make an offer. As I pointed out, business owners don’t have scouts so what is the next best solution? Businesses can hire a background check company to be the scout on behalf of retailers and other business owners. Need someone who can manage your company social media platforms? You may want a candidate with a computer science degree or marketing degree from an accredited college or university. Pre-employment screening can validate education information entered on an application. Need an experienced Loss Prevention agent to fill an Asset Protection Manager opening? An Employee background check company can verify any employment history a prospective hire has listed on a resume. Do you remember to ask former employers if an employee is re-hirable? A company that does pre-employment screening doesn’t forget to ask such a critical question. Someone may have worked as an L.P. Agent, but were they released for something that would prevent them from being re-hired such as theft or violations of company policies?
You may not be hiring to field a professional sports team but you certainly want a squad that you can trust and will keep you profitable. Don’t try to scout out the backgrounds of job prospects. Use a professional Background Check Company to help you hit home runs in your hiring decisions.
Need information on Pre-employment screening? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
