AA Blog 15
Customer Counting Device: 5
Door Counting Sensor: 4
Avoid the Headache of Resource Management By Using The Visiplus Customer Counting Device
Working as a supervisor in retail I have come to learn that managing employees is a tedious and difficult task at times. Between dealing with their personal issues, vacations and sick days; while trying to balance store activity levels, I sometimes wish I had some genie in a bottle to help me sort it all out. Don’t get me wrong we can typically discern when our peak days are, as most people shop in our store on the weekends or weekdays during lunch time, but it definitely isn’t an exact science. We also have store sales and promotions that obviously increase our customer base during that timeframe, but that also results in a wide variation of shopping times. I find that sales and promotions always increase the number of shoppers, but they also tend to make the timing more sporadic. I am not sure if that is affected by the means and timing of the media delivery or if other factors outside of my control are involved. Either way it causes my stress levels to rise exponentially. I start to question what level of staff I need on any given day and whether I have enough loss prevention on duty to cover the anticipated increase in sales. Just when I think I have it all figured out, I discover I have way too many employees, and I am wasting money watching my employees stand around trying to see what their employee discount will buy them. Then I send half my staff home and the next thing we know we are swamped with customers. It is very frustrating and time consuming for me to try and manage this, especially when this is not my only job. If any of you have been or are currently in my position you know exactly what I am talking about. Just when I thought I would never get it figured out, all my prayers were answered! I discovered the Visiplus customer counting device and it literally saved my life.
The Visiplus customer counting device is installed at your main entry points and counts people coming in and exiting your store. This customer counting device downloads data daily to provide current and accurate customer information. The data is broken down by hour so you can critically analyze your customer traffic to identify strengths and weaknesses for all aspects of your business. From this information I am able to look at customer activity and trends to better evaluate my resources. Since I have had the door counting sensor installed, I have substantially reduced my overhead cost by improving my employee management. I have also received positive feedback from my staff, as it has also improved their moral and overall satisfaction. The Visiplus customer counting device significantly reduces my call in rates, improves scheduling consistency, and reduces the need for overtime situations. I think my employees appreciate the improvements as much as I do. During sales and promotions my door counting sensor can help me evaluate which promotions or sales are more lucrative and allows me to manage the timing of those promotions based on historical information, as I have learned from this system, that some promotions produce higher sales numbers during specific times of the year. This allows me to plan accordingly so I can avoid those timeframes that aren’t as productive. The door counting sensor can also be integrated into your existing Checkpoint system to provide a multi-faceted device. By integrating the EAS into the door counting sensor you get specific data on your alarms and EAS activity rates by the hour. This has been beneficial when determining whether I have employee training issues in regards to EAS de-activation or removal, or if I have any EAS devices that are not functioning properly. It can also provide a detailed view of my attempted shoplifting rates and whether those incidents are being handled properly and by policy.
I could probably go on for days about how great the Visiplus customer counting device is and what it has done for me and my company, but please check it out for yourself! It has significantly reduced the amount of time it takes to manage and schedule my resources, which has decreased my overhead, increased profit, and improved employee satisfaction. Having the appropriate resources available has significantly improved our customer satisfaction and helped us better manage our loss prevention program in order to reduce theft.
Need more information on the Visiplus customer counting device? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
Working as a supervisor in retail I have come to learn that managing employees is a tedious and difficult task at times. Between dealing with their personal issues, vacations and sick days; while trying to balance store activity levels, I sometimes wish I had some genie in a bottle to help me sort it all out. Don’t get me wrong we can typically discern when our peak days are, as most people shop in our store on the weekends or weekdays during lunch time, but it definitely isn’t an exact science. We also have store sales and promotions that obviously increase our customer base during that timeframe, but that also results in a wide variation of shopping times. I find that sales and promotions always increase the number of shoppers, but they also tend to make the timing more sporadic. I am not sure if that is affected by the means and timing of the media delivery or if other factors outside of my control are involved. Either way it causes my stress levels to rise exponentially. I start to question what level of staff I need on any given day and whether I have enough loss prevention on duty to cover the anticipated increase in sales. Just when I think I have it all figured out, I discover I have way too many employees, and I am wasting money watching my employees stand around trying to see what their employee discount will buy them. Then I send half my staff home and the next thing we know we are swamped with customers. It is very frustrating and time consuming for me to try and manage this, especially when this is not my only job. If any of you have been or are currently in my position you know exactly what I am talking about. Just when I thought I would never get it figured out, all my prayers were answered! I discovered the Visiplus customer counting device and it literally saved my life.
The Visiplus customer counting device is installed at your main entry points and counts people coming in and exiting your store. This customer counting device downloads data daily to provide current and accurate customer information. The data is broken down by hour so you can critically analyze your customer traffic to identify strengths and weaknesses for all aspects of your business. From this information I am able to look at customer activity and trends to better evaluate my resources. Since I have had the door counting sensor installed, I have substantially reduced my overhead cost by improving my employee management. I have also received positive feedback from my staff, as it has also improved their moral and overall satisfaction. The Visiplus customer counting device significantly reduces my call in rates, improves scheduling consistency, and reduces the need for overtime situations. I think my employees appreciate the improvements as much as I do. During sales and promotions my door counting sensor can help me evaluate which promotions or sales are more lucrative and allows me to manage the timing of those promotions based on historical information, as I have learned from this system, that some promotions produce higher sales numbers during specific times of the year. This allows me to plan accordingly so I can avoid those timeframes that aren’t as productive. The door counting sensor can also be integrated into your existing Checkpoint System to provide a multi-faceted device. By integrating the EAS into the door counting sensor you get specific data on your alarms and EAS activity rates by the hour. This has been beneficial when determining whether I have employee training issues in regards to EAS de-activation or removal, or if I have any EAS devices that are not functioning properly. It can also provide a detailed view of my attempted shoplifting rates and whether those incidents are being handled properly and by policy.
I could probably go on for days about how great the Visiplus customer counting device is and what it has done for me and my company, but please check it out for yourself! It has significantly reduced the amount of time it takes to manage and schedule my resources, which has decreased my overhead, increased profit, and improved employee satisfaction. Having the appropriate resources available has significantly improved our customer satisfaction and helped us better manage our loss prevention program in order to reduce theft.
Need more information on the Visiplus Customer Counting Device? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
Tablet Theft: 3
Alpha Thunder Tag: 5
Protect Your Most Sensitive Information With An Alpha Thunder Tag
As the manager of a security and loss prevention program we commonly use third party vendors to provide services for our company. We have one company that we use that does all of our background checks for pre-employment screening. We recently were notified of a possible data breach involving some of our employees as well as some applicants that were not hired. An employee of this third-party company had taken their company tablet or IPad home, and had subsequently left it in their car. The car was burglarized and the tablet was stolen. Although the tablet was encrypted, which reduces the likelihood of an actual breach of client PPI; it is not a failsafe means to protect the device. This theft resulted in a required mass notification to all of the personnel possibly affected, additional credit reporting protection, and increased liability to that company. This can result in increased costs and possible litigation if PPI information is released. It also caused us to be concerned about the vendors’ credibility and their ability to safeguard our employee’s personal confidential information. We are in a technological world and we can’t presume to think that we can work without the use of computers or technology to store and secure personal information, but we can expect a certain level of protection as a consumer and as a company. This applies to most companies irrespective of the services they provide, because everyone has employee information and some professions have increased liability due to the very nature of their profession. That is why it is important for everyone to take an active role in protecting this type of information to avoid breaches in personal data and to avoid increased liability. The best way to protect computer equipment that contains personal information is through the use of an Alpha Thunder Tag.
The Alpha Thunder Tag can reduce your risk of tablet theft, or theft of other devices, thus reducing the risk of losing sensitive data. This can be very effective in areas such as the medical field, or in similar areas that maintain large amounts of client or patient data. It can also be effective in fields that have sensitive information or want to protect their intellectual property. The Alpha Thunder Tag is a hard tag that can be placed on any computer related device, and is equipped with EAS technology, in order to prevent tablet theft. This provides protection against anyone trying to remove the tag from the device and prevents someone from leaving the building with the computer, tablet or other device. A company simply adds EAS antennas at all of the entrance/exits, and if the tag comes in close proximity to the antennas it will make an audible signal, so staff can prevent a breach of information and protect their property. These tags are attached with a strong adhesive and allow you to turn them on or off, depending on your needs. It also provides a red indicator light that works as a deterrent but also shows you when the device is activated. When it comes to protecting sensitive information in a technological world, it is imperative that we take additional precautions to prevent identity theft and unlawful disclosure of personal data.
Technology has resulted in an increase in the use of computer related equipment to maintain records and track data. Patient records are now kept electronically and are updated and maintained on various types of computer devices, which creates a liability for those associated with protecting it. That is why Alpha Thunder Tags are an important resource to assist with protecting sensitive information, regardless of what that might be. Tablet theft can be more than just the loss of a device it can involve the disclosure of sensitive information, which leads to future litigation and increased costs.
Alpha Thunder Tags are important and we can help with it. Call 1.770.426.0547.
As the manager of a security and loss prevention program we commonly use third party vendors to provide services for our company. e have one company that we use that does all of our background checks for pre-employment screening. e recently were notified of a possible data breach involving some of our employees as well as some applicants that were not hired. n employee of this third-party company had taken their company tablet or IPad home, and had subsequently left it in their car. he car was burglarized and the tablet was stolen. Although the tablet was encrypted, which reduces the likelihood of an actual breach of client PPI; it is not a failsafe means to protect the device. This theft resulted in a required mass notification to all of the personnel possibly affected, additional credit reporting protection, and increased liability to that company. This can result in increased costs and possible litigation if PPI information is released. It also caused us to be concerned about the vendors’ credibility and their ability to safeguard our employee’s personal confidential information. We are in a technological world and we can’t presume to think that we can work without the use of computers or technology to store and secure personal information, but we can expect a certain level of protection as a consumer and as a company. This applies to most companies irrespective of the services they provide, because everyone has employee information and some professions have increased liability due to the very nature of their profession. That is why it is important for everyone to take an active role in protecting this type of information to avoid breaches in personal data and to avoid increased liability. The best way to protect computer equipment that contains personal information is through the use of an Alpha Thunder Tag.
The Alpha Thunder Tag can reduce your risk of tablet theft, or theft of other devices, thus reducing the risk of losing sensitive data. This can be very effective in areas such as the medical field, or in similar areas that maintain large amounts of client or patient data. It can also be effective in fields that have sensitive information or want to protect their intellectual property. The Alpha Thunder Tag is a hard tag that can be placed on any computer related device, and is equipped with EAS technology, in order to prevent tablet theft. This provides protection against anyone trying to remove the tag from the device and prevents someone from leaving the building with the computer, tablet or other device. A company simply adds EAS antennas at all of the entrance/exits, and if the tag comes in close proximity to the antennas it will make an audible signal, so staff can prevent a breach of information and protect their property. These tags are attached with a strong adhesive and allow you to turn them on or off, depending on your needs. It also provides a red indicator light that works as a deterrent but also shows you when the device is activated. When it comes to protecting sensitive information in a technological world, it is imperative that we take additional precautions to prevent identity theft and unlawful disclosure of personal data.
Technology has resulted in an increase in the use of computer related equipment to maintain records and track data. Patient records are now kept electronically and are updated and maintained on various types of computer devices, which creates a liability for those associated with protecting it. That is why Alpha Thunder Tags are an important resource to assist with protecting sensitive information, regardless of what that might be. Tablet theft can be more than just the loss of a device it can involve the disclosure of sensitive information, which leads to future litigation and increased costs.
Alpha Thunder Tags are important and we can help with it. Call 1.770.426.0547.
95 BILLION Dollars, that is the estimated cost of what shoplifting and dishonest employee theft cost retailers worldwide in 2014-205, according to the 2014-2015 Global Retail Theft Barometer (pg. 25). Just as disturbing for clothing retailers, their total shrinkage was 1.80% globally. In North America clothing retail shortage as a percent to sales was even higher at 2.28%. With these kinds of numbers it is important for retailers who carry any type of clothing merchandise to use Checkpoint tags to protect against theft. Clothing security tags along with electronic article surveillance (EAS) antennas can provide the protection needed to curb theft. Once a clothing alarm system is in place, there will be training provided on how to maintain equipment and also how to respond to alarms. Once that training is complete, it is the responsibility of the owner or managers to conduct ongoing training of new employees. I was a Retail Loss Prevention Manager for a long time and a part of my job was to train front end employees as well as Loss Prevention staff how to properly respond to a clothing alarm. Take my word for it there is a right and wrong way to do it. In part 1 I covered what NOT to do in response to an EAS alarm. In this article I will give tips on what should be done when a Checkpoint tag activates an alarm.
For some readers who may have missed the first part of this series, I will briefly review what clothing security tags and EAS antennas are. Clothing security tags are radio frequency tuned, anti-theft devices that are pinned on softlines merchandise. EAS antennas are the towers that you frequently see located at store entrances/exits. When an item protected by a Checkpoint tag is near the antenna a loud 95 decibel alarm sounds and lights on the antenna flash. It is this alert signal that store employees respond to in order to recover merchandise.
How your employees respond to the clothing alarm activation can determine how effective your system will be. A proper response can also keep your employees safe and keep merchandise in the building. These are my tips for properly responding with clothing security tags cause an alarm activation.
DO:
- Respond immediately. When a customer has to wait they become agitated or walk out. Agitated customers are more difficult to work with and those that walk out provide no opportunity to recover merchandise.
- Be polite. Assuming someone has stolen something and being terse or accusatory will probably cause a defensive response, even if the person did not do anything dishonest or illegal. A smile goes a long way in disarming a grouch.
- Ask if you can assist in determining what may have caused the alarm activation. Provide possible solutions. Did the cashier overlook something? Did you purchase something at another store that may be causing the alarm? Would you mind if I looked at your receipt to see if any Checkpoint tags were not removed? When you give suggestions you give “outs”. Many times someone who is trying to steal will be willing to give up merchandise if they have an excuse made for them.
- Do ask to look at a receipt and check inside a bag or purse or backpack. If the patron refuses you can go back to giving some “outs”, suggesting an error may have been made, removing fault from the shopper.
- If merchandise is found that was not paid for DO treat it as an oversight and Do offer to have the item rung at a register or the customer may “choose” not to purchase the item.
- IF there were Checkpoint tags not removed and it was the fault of the cashier, be sure to apologize for the inconvenience and follow up with the cashier so they are aware of the oversight.
I dislike a thief and spent many years working to deter or catch and prosecute them. I also learned that there were times when it was better to be nice, no matter how suspicious the circumstances and get merchandise back. Clothing alarm activations should be your opportunity to get your product back, keeping profits in the store. Purchase a clothing security tags and EAS antennas and watch how much of your shortage you can shrink, adding profits to your bottom line.
Need information on Clothing security tags? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
