Retail Anti-Theft Device-3 WC Blog 261
Alpha VersaLok-3
Alpha Cable Lock-3
Alpha Security-4
Prevent Shoplifting-3
Laundry Detergent Theft Is A Dirty Business; Clean Up Shoplifting In Your Store With Alpha Security Retail Anti-Theft Devices
Until I came across some recent news stories about counterfeit laundry soap becoming a major crime issue, I did not realize there was even a market for such a thing let alone stolen detergent. I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised considering all of the things I have seen stolen over my years in retail Loss Prevention but this one did catch me off guard. Could Alpha Security products be used prevent shoplifting of this item? First, I had to look a little more at the issue. I did some research and found a number of interesting stories on the subject of detergent theft:
• abc27.com, November 9, 2016, by Chris Eckstine, in a report titled, “Police Seek ID of detergent theft suspect”, “Police are investigating the theft of over a dozen bottles of detergent from a Dauphin County store.” http://abc27.com/2016/11/09/police-seek-id-of-detergent-theft-suspect/
• The Washington Post, June 5, 2016, “Detergent is stolen in four incidents in D.C.”, by Martin Weil, “The crimes are theft, and what was taken was detergent.” The report goes on; “In the first, police said, someone took “several bottles” of detergent March 10…” Further in the story; “Several bottles were taken May 13…and liquid detergent was again taken May 30…” The report lists the final theft; “In the latest theft, they said, several bottles were taken Friday…” https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/detergent-is-stolen-in-four-incidents-in-dc/2016/06/05/5b531882-2b76-11e6-9b37-42985f6a265c_story.html?utm_term=.2fd968342fda
• fox2detroit, Jan. 8, 2016, “Police Arrest 2 Man Accused of Stealing Laundry Detergent”, by Nathalie Pozo, “Two men are behind bars for stealing more than $2,000 in unusual items.” The story reports on two men who were stealing “laundry detergent, soap and personal hygiene items from several Dollar General stores.” http://www.fox2detroit.com/news/whats-hot/71228882-story
• Springfield News-Sun, Sept. 7, 2016, “Surveillance shows $420 laundry detergent theft” http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/news/crime-law/surveillance-shows-420-laundry-detergent-theft/nsSs8/?ref=cbTopWidget
I can’t say how many of these criminals made a “clean” getaway and I don’t know whether this is some kind of money “laundering” scheme. I couldn’t resist the puns, but the reality is this is potentially a big problem for any retailer that sells laundry soaps. Alpha Security does offer a solution to prevent shoplifting from taking place in this category of products. The Alpha Cable Lock and the Alpha VersaLok can be used to stop the loss of bottled detergents and other merchandise.
I normally only have one retail anti-theft device that I focus on, but in this case I have two products from Alpha Security that I feel can be used to complement each other. The Alpha Cable Lock is great for securing those bottles that have handles. The cable can be run around the handle and then cinched closed using the device’s housing unit that tightens and loosens the cables. This part of the anti-retail theft device also has electronic article surveillance technology in it that causes EAS antennas to alarm. Another plus is that it has an alarm that detects when someone tampers with the device by trying to cut it. This alarm is loud enough to let employees hear it and they can respond to the location where the attempted breach is occurring, and prevent shoplifting from taking place.
For those detergent bottles with no handle, but may still cost quite a bit of money, the Alpha VersaLok is useful. This retail anti-theft device can be directly attached to a product and when the product is carried to the register, the cashier removes the device as the item is rung up. The device is then placed in a holding bin so that it may be used later. The disposable adhesive that holds the VersaLock in place remains on the bottle and simply goes out with the purchase. Like the Alpha Cablelock, the Alpha VersaLok works with EAS antennas and causes them to alarm when merchandise is carried into the detection area of the antennas. This Alpha Security product also has tamper protection, preventing its removal without going through a checkout lane.
Your store may or may not have experienced the theft of laundry detergents yet, but you can prevent shoplifting of these items before it becomes a big mess for you. Don’t allow shortage to leave a stain on your profit margin, look into the benefits of using Alpha Security retail anti-theft devices on your laundry soaps.
Get more information on Alpha Security, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
Until I came across some recent news stories about counterfeit laundry soap becoming a major crime issue, I did not realize there was even a market for such a thing let alone stolen detergent. I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised considering all of the things I have seen stolen over my years in retail Loss Prevention but this one did catch me off guard. Could Alpha Security products be used prevent shoplifting of this item? First, I had to look a little more at the issue. I did some research and found a number of interesting stories on the subject of detergent theft:
• abc27.com, November 9, 2016, by Chris Eckstine, in a report titled, “Police Seek ID of detergent theft suspect”, “Police are investigating the theft of over a dozen bottles of detergent from a Dauphin County store.” http://abc27.com/2016/11/09/police-seek-id-of-detergent-theft-suspect/
• The Washington Post, June 5, 2016, “Detergent is stolen in four incidents in D.C.”, by Martin Weil, “The crimes are theft, and what was taken was detergent.” The report goes on; “In the first, police said, someone took “several bottles” of detergent March 10…” Further in the story; “Several bottles were taken May 13…and liquid detergent was again taken May 30…” The report lists the final theft; “In the latest theft, they said, several bottles were taken Friday…” https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/detergent-is-stolen-in-four-incidents-in-dc/2016/06/05/5b531882-2b76-11e6-9b37-42985f6a265c_story.html?utm_term=.2fd968342fda
• fox2detroit, Jan. 8, 2016, “Police Arrest 2 Man Accused of Stealing Laundry Detergent”, by Nathalie Pozo, “Two men are behind bars for stealing more than $2,000 in unusual items.” The story reports on two men who were stealing “laundry detergent, soap and personal hygiene items from several Dollar General stores.” http://www.fox2detroit.com/news/whats-hot/71228882-story
• Springfield News-Sun, Sept. 7, 2016, “Surveillance shows $420 laundry detergent theft” http://www.springfieldnewssun.com/news/news/crime-law/surveillance-shows-420-laundry-detergent-theft/nsSs8/?ref=cbTopWidget
I can’t say how many of these criminals made a “clean” getaway and I don’t know whether this is some kind of money “laundering” scheme. I couldn’t resist the puns, but the reality is this is potentially a big problem for any retailer that sells laundry soaps. Alpha Security does offer a solution to prevent shoplifting from taking place in this category of products. The Alpha Cable Lock and the Alpha VersaLok can be used to stop the loss of bottled detergents and other merchandise.
I normally only have one retail anti-theft device that I focus on, but in this case I have two products from Alpha Security that I feel can be used to complement each other. The Alpha Cable Lock is great for securing those bottles that have handles. The cable can be run around the handle and then cinched closed using the device’s housing unit that tightens and loosens the cables. This part of the anti-retail theft device also has electronic article surveillance technology in it that causes EAS antennas to alarm. Another plus is that it has an alarm that detects when someone tampers with the device by trying to cut it. This alarm is loud enough to let employees hear it and they can respond to the location where the attempted breach is occurring, and prevent shoplifting from taking place.
For those detergent bottles with no handle, but may still cost quite a bit of money, the Alpha VersaLok is useful. This retail anti-theft device can be directly attached to a product and when the product is carried to the register, the cashier removes the device as the item is rung up. The device is then placed in a holding bin so that it may be used later. The disposable adhesive that holds the VersaLock in place remains on the bottle and simply goes out with the purchase. Like the Alpha Cablelock, the Alpha VersaLok works with EAS antennas and causes them to alarm when merchandise is carried into the detection area of the antennas. This Alpha Security product also has tamper protection, preventing its removal without going through a checkout lane.
Your store may or may not have experienced the theft of laundry detergents yet, but you can prevent shoplifting of these items before it becomes a big mess for you. Don’t allow shortage to leave a stain on your profit margin, look into the benefits of using Alpha Security retail anti-theft devices on your laundry soaps.
Get more information on Alpha Security, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
AA Blog 24-Checkpint labels
Checkpoint labels: 5
EAS labels: 3
Don’t Let Food Theft Get You Down In The Dumps, Protect Yourself With Checkpoint Labels
A couple of weeks ago we were out with some friends for a birthday party. We were at a local bowling alley and sat down to get some food. The waitress had yet to grab the last customer’s check, which had cash in it. We started to discuss how easily someone could take that money without anyone noticing. Not that we would ever do that, but this resulted in a subsequent discussion about theft in general. We all agreed on the prevalence of shoplifting and theft in general. Most of my friends are in law enforcement and we tend to all run in similar circles, so we all have various experience on the subject. One of the guys there, who isn’t in law enforcement, said that his brother is a habitual shoplifter. He said that his brother has, on multiple occasions, walked into a grocery store, filled a cart completely full with food, and just walked out the door with it. Of course he didn’t condone the activity and was not present when it happened, but apparently his brother is pretty proud of the behavior, gloating about it often. His brother stated that he has only been stopped by a store employee once because the items were not bagged. His brother said he just shrugged it off and left the cart and walked away. Nobody tried to stop him, nor was he ever prosecuted for the attempted theft. I have actually been called to these types of calls, when I worked in law enforcement, and I am sure they happen rather frequently. As a business owner it is important to protect your property and take appropriate action to stop shoplifting. The best way to do that is by using Checkpoint labels on your merchandise.
Checkpoint labels are an effective way of securing your property and alerting associates of potential theft. These labels are equipped with Electronic Article Surveillance technology, which sound an audible alarm, when someone attempts to remove the product from the store. Food production, shipping and weather conditions continue to affect grocery costs in the United States. Food has become an inherent part of the holiday season and higher food prices result in increased theft. EAS labels can be used on any product, to include food. Checkpoint labels, for food items, are specifically designed so there is no risk of contamination if direct contact is made. They are also microwave safe so they won’t damage your customer’s property and won’t degrade causing issues with the food integrity. Not all labels meet those stringent food safety standards. These EAS labels are a high quality product at a reasonable price, which ensures they activate and deactivate effectively, to minimize errors and loss. Using these labels on all of your high line food products, such as prime cuts of meat, coffee, alcohol and other items can help reduce your loss and increase profits.
Checkpoint labels can provide the added security you need to protect your valuable commodities. I think about my friend’s brother, and how easy it was for him to just walk out the door with hundreds of dollars in food, without any detection. Obviously those stores were not equipped with EAS labels or a retail anti-theft system in general. It is unfortunate that retailers and grocers think they are immune to theft, when in fact they are extremely vulnerable. We can’t rely solely on our associates to recognize and intervene in these types of incidents. We as an industry must look towards a multi-faceted approach to loss prevention, and EAS labels can help you reduce overhead and reduce theft.
Checkpoint labels are important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
A couple of weeks ago we were out with some friends for a birthday party. We were at a local bowling alley and sat down to get some food. The waitress had yet to grab the last customer’s check, which had cash in it. We started to discuss how easily someone could take that money without anyone noticing. Not that we would ever do that, but this resulted in a subsequent discussion about theft in general. We all agreed on the prevalence of shoplifting and theft in general. Most of my friends are in law enforcement and we tend to all run in similar circles, so we all have various experience on the subject. One of the guys there, who isn’t in law enforcement, said that his brother is a habitual shoplifter. He said that his brother has, on multiple occasions, walked into a grocery store, filled a cart completely full with food, and just walked out the door with it. Of course he didn’t condone the activity and was not present when it happened, but apparently his brother is pretty proud of the behavior, gloating about it often. His brother stated that he has only been stopped by a store employee once because the items were not bagged. His brother said he just shrugged it off and left the cart and walked away Nobody tried to stop him, nor was he ever prosecuted for the attempted theft. I have actually been called to these types of calls, when I worked in law enforcement, and I am sure they happen rather frequently. As a business owner it is important to protect your property and take appropriate action to stop shoplifting. The best way to do that is by using Checkpoint labels on your merchandise.
Checkpoint labels are an effective way of securing your property and alerting associates of potential theft. These labels are equipped with Electronic Article Surveillance technology, which sound an audible alarm, when someone attempts to remove the product from the store. Food production, shipping and weather conditions continue to affect grocery costs in the United States. Food has become an inherent part of the holiday season and higher food prices result in increased theft. EAS labels can be used on any product, to include food. Checkpoint labels, for food items, are specifically designed so there is no risk of contamination if direct contact is made. They are also microwave safe so they won’t damage your customer’s property and won’t degrade causing issues with the food integrity. Not all labels meet those stringent food safety standards. These EAS labels are a high quality product at a reasonable price, which ensures they activate and deactivate effectively, to minimize errors and loss. Using these labels on all of your high line food products, such as prime cuts of meat, coffee, alcohol and other items can help reduce your loss and increase profits.
Checkpoint labels can provide the added security you need to protect your valuable commodities. I think about my friend’s brother, and how easy it was for him to just walk out the door with hundreds of dollars in food, without any detection. Obviously those stores were not equipped with EAS labels or a retail anti-theft system in general. It is unfortunate that retailers and grocers think they are immune to theft, when in fact they are extremely vulnerable. We can’t rely solely on our associates to recognize and intervene in these types of incidents. We as an industry must look towards a multi-faceted approach to loss prevention, and EAS labels can help you reduce overhead and reduce theft.
Checkpoint labels are important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
Retail Traffic Counting: 5
People Counting Systems: 4
How To Improve Your Marketing Capability Through The Use Of Retail Traffic Counting Technology.
I work in retail and part of my job involves advertising, managing store displays, and increasing revenue through effective marketing. This may not sound too tough for those who haven’t been tasked to complete it, but if you are involved in this process, you know how difficult this can be. Have you ever wondered whether your advertising or your displays are effective in drawing in customers or increasing sales? Obviously it is easy to calculate sales, but how do we measure the effectiveness of our displays? How do we determine what is working and what isn’t? Which displays do we bring back and which ones do we want to leave buried in the closet? I have also pondered placement of displays and other advertising and how that affects customer contacts and security. As a member of the retail industry, these are all questions I have asked myself a hundred times, but have never been able to answer until now. New innovations in retail traffic counting have offered us the ability to change how we do business.
People counting systems provide us with the information we need to make better marketing decisions. There are so many factors that go into these types of decisions, such as: visibility, close proximity to other related merchandise, high traffic areas, space limitations, and availability and security, among various other things. The Visiplus overhead people counting systems can be installed anywhere in your store to give you real time information on the effectiveness of your marketing and displays. This particular device measures people flow through thermal imaging to reduce unnecessary activity and provide concise data. Retail traffic counting can identify high traffic areas for you so you can better manage your merchandise placement and reduce missed opportunities. People counting systems can also help you address staffing needs and assist you in managing your resources more effectively. As the holiday’s approach, and our inventory more than doubles, I know that I will be relying heavily on the information I am gathering from my Visiplus people counting technology, to help me better manage my inventory and my resources. I have found that these systems have improved my sales and reduced my overhead, by providing me with the knowledge I need to better manage my employee effectiveness, and improve customer satisfaction.
Through the use of retail traffic counting devices, I have quickly learned what is working and what isn’t. We recently had a new videogame that we wanted to display, but we were limited on space, so we placed the display near the front of the store to increase initial visibility. It only took me one day to realize that the display location was not effective. As people entered the store they simply bypassed the display without much delay. We decided to rearrange inventory so we could place the item in the electronics department, near the other gaming devices and accessories. The following day we noticed a substantial increase in activity in that area, and a subsequent review of our sales showed not only a high number of sales for that item, but an increase in additional gaming related sales during the same timeframe. What would have normally taken me a week to determine, now only took a day to discover. This ultimately increased my sales and allowed for very little delay in making the adjustments needed to improve visibility and increase sales.
There are various types of people counting systems available to serve your retail needs. These retail traffic counting devices have saved me many headaches and hours of lost sleep. They are an inexpensive way to track activity, manage resources and identify missed opportunities. They have paid for themselves many times over, in my opinion, and I would highly recommend you look into these devices as a means to improve your sales and marketing capabilities.
Get more information on retail traffic counting devices, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
I work in retail and part of my job involves advertising, managing store displays, and increasing revenue through effective marketing. This may not sound too tough for those who haven’t been tasked to complete it, but if you are involved in this process, you know how difficult this can be. Have you ever wondered whether your advertising or your displays are effective in drawing in customers or increasing sales? Obviously it is easy to calculate sales, but how do we measure the effectiveness of our displays? How do we determine what is working and what isn’t? Which displays do we bring back and which ones do we want to leave buried in the closet? I have also pondered placement of displays and other advertising and how that affects customer contacts and security. As a member of the retail industry, these are all questions I have asked myself a hundred times, but have never been able to answer until now. New innovations in retail traffic counting have offered us the ability to change how we do business.
People counting systems provide us with the information we need to make better marketing decisions. There are so many factors that go into these types of decisions, such as: visibility, close proximity to other related merchandise, high traffic areas, space limitations, and availability and security, among various other things. The Visiplus overhead people counting systems can be installed anywhere in your store to give you real time information on the effectiveness of your marketing and displays. This particular device measures people flow through thermal imaging to reduce unnecessary activity and provide concise data. Retail traffic counting can identify high traffic areas for you so you can better manage your merchandise placement and reduce missed opportunities. People counting systems can also help you address staffing needs and assist you in managing your resources more effectively. I know that I will be relying heavily on the information I am gathering from my Visiplus people counting technology, to help me better manage my inventory and my resources. I have found that these systems have improved my sales and reduced my overhead, by providing me with the knowledge I need to better manage my employee effectiveness, and improve customer satisfaction.
Through the use of retail traffic counting devices, I have quickly learned what is working and what isn’t. We recently had a new videogame that we wanted to display, but we were limited on space, so we placed the display near the front of the store to increase initial visibility. It only took me one day to realize that the display location was not effective. As people entered the store they simply bypassed the display without much delay. We decided to rearrange inventory so we could place the item in the electronics department, near the other gaming devices and accessories. The following day we noticed a substantial increase in activity in that area, and a subsequent review of our sales showed not only a high number of sales for that item, but an increase in additional gaming related sales during the same timeframe. What would have normally taken me a week to determine, now only took a day to discover. This ultimately increased my sales and allowed for very little delay in making the adjustments needed to improve visibility and increase sales.
There are various types of people counting systems available to serve your retail needs. These retail traffic counting devices have saved me many headaches and hours of lost sleep. They are an inexpensive way to track activity, manage resources and identify missed opportunities. They have paid for themselves many times over, in my opinion, and I would highly recommend you look into these devices as a means to improve your sales and marketing capabilities.
Get more information on retail traffic counting devices, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
