In part 1 of this discussion, I covered the value of Alpha Security S3i technology to enhance retail anti-theft devices already in a store. The system can take the capabilities of electronic article surveillance, Alpha locks, and 3 alarm Alpha hard tags and add intelligence tracking that can follow merchandise through zones that have been created to track tagged items. Loss Prevention isn’t the only beneficiary of Alpha S3i, store operations benefits as well. Businesses that upgrade their systems to include the S3i technology can enjoy inventory management information that can improve merchandise replenishment.
Alpha Security S3i allows tracking of merchandise but consider what this can do for driving profitable sales. Smaller stores (and in many cases even large ones) cannot always staff to cover all departments all the time. I know from experience that this can result in lost sales for a store. I have seen customers select merchandise and walk around looking for someone that can answer a question about the product. If they cannot find that sales person, the customer gets aggravated and puts the merchandise down and leaves. They WILL get what they are looking for but it won’t be at your store. No matter how small that sale may seem at the time, you can never measure what the long term impact will be to your business. Does that customer decide it isn’t worth the time to bother returning in the future? What do they tell their friends about their experience? Alpha Security S3i will send store employees real time alerts when a product secured with S3i Alpha hard tags or spider wrap is taken from a designated zone. The alert can come over a radio, a smart device such as a tablet or phone or even a PA system. How great would it be for a store that may have tight payroll budgets to be able to have staff receive an alert and they can immediately respond to assist that customer? By having a quick response to a customer in need of help, the sales associate can answer questions, make suggestions for upselling, and close the sale.
Alpha Technology S3i can also assist in inventory management information. Larger companies have the resources to afford automated replenishment orders based on sales information. For example, if there are 5 bottles of detergent on the shelf, the system may trigger an order based on the number of units sold. Once it gets to a certain point the distribution center may get a replenishment request. Smaller stores often cannot afford the same type of replenishment systems and may have to rely on manual counts, adjustments, and even guessing to determine how much of an item they need to order or when to order. Alpha security S3i can provide sales data that can assist in analyzing when merchandise is being sold and how much is sold by tracking when S3i devices are removed. It also provides tamper information and while this is a Loss Prevention issue, from an in-stocks perspective it helps identify merchandise that may need to be replenished quickly. Remember, if an item is stolen it still has to be replenished for the honest customer to buy. Delays in restocking can result in lost sales. Faster identification means faster replenishment for your store.
Finally, S3i Alpha technology allows stores to put more merchandise on open display. Electronics that may have been kept locked in a display case can be secured with S3i Alpha spider wrap and Alpha hard tags, high end purses can be secured with S3i Alpha cable locks. For increasing sales, taking more products out of showcases and providing access to customers should always be the preferred option. People want to select merchandise, exam it and take it to a register. Waiting for someone to show up with a key can be a cause for someone to simply leave. Call buttons do not necessarily mean immediate service and can lead to more aggravation when a customer pushes the button multiple times and receives no assistance. Allowing S3i to work for your store can boost your overall sales and improve customer satisfaction.
Improved replenishment capabilities, store staffing and customer access are some of the ways your business can benefit operationally from S3i service. Work smarter not harder by using S3i technology. See what Alpha Technology can do for you!
For more information on Alpha Security, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
Bottle Locks-6 . Liquor Bottle Security-2 , Alpha Security-2, Bottle Lock-2
Liquor Bottle Thefts On The Rise
It’s no surprise that alcohol gets stolen. Sometimes it’s a major burglary and other times it’s the invisible thefts committed by shoplifters. Either way, it’s going to have a negative effect on your store’s bottom line. The profit margin on alcohol is substantial, so these types of losses are a shrink budget killer. There is one sure fire way to deter thefts of your prized inventory: Bottle Locks. These tools, offered by Alpha Security, are the small answer to a big problem.
It’s not just alcoholics that steal liquors and spirits. Most often it’s just everyday people that fall for the temptation to steal what makes them feel good. The bad angel wins and they give in and try it. Sadly, once someone gets away with it, they come back and try it again. One couple was recently arrested for stealing thousands of dollars worth of bottles over a three month period. The store staff finally realized the inventory was off and they started closely monitoring the most commonly stolen items. The couple is facing jail time and some serious fines, but recovering any of that loss is unlikely for the store, even if restitution is ordered. Looking back to the first time the couple came and attempted their first theft, bottle locks could have alerted staff and prevented the whole fiasco.
Liquor bottle security should be concentrated on deterrence and detection. That’s why Alpha Security came up with bottle locks. They put a quick decisive stop to liquor theft. They are special locking caps that fit over the top of almost any size bottle you carry. They are extremely strong, and can only be removed with the proper tool. That said, the clerk can take them off with this tool in seconds. It’s not a complicated process. Unless you are the thief, that is. If a criminal tampers with the bottle lock or attempts to remove it while in the store, it will self alarm. If they decide to run and do manage to get out the door with a bottle that has a bottle lock still attached, they won’t get to enjoy it’s contents. You see, they are so strong that the bottle will more than likely shatter before the lock will come off.
From a single bottle valued at over $1,000 to one sold for a mere $3, bottle locks don’t discriminate; they will protect and secure anything you’ve got. Some people steal alcohol because they are collectors and they want those rare and vintage age bottles. Other times people steal the very low end stuff just because they want a quick buzz. Some teens steal liquor because they look at it as a rite of passage and they consider it a part of growing up. They like to say they’ve stolen a brand of bottle that was mentioned in a hip hop song. (It sounds crazy to me too!) Sometimes people steal novelty bottles; one brand is shaped like skulls. Bottle locks will fit on those too.
Liquor bottle security means whether your store is small for convenience or a warehouse, your staff will be able to better monitor and be aware of any theft attempts. There’s nothing worse than finding empty spaces on your shelves after you’ve been hit. Let bottle locks be the missing link to your asset protection plan.
For more information on bottle locks, contact us or call: 1.770.426.0547
It’s no surprise that alcohol gets stolen. Sometimes it’s a major burglary and other times it’s the invisible thefts committed by shoplifters. Either way, it’s going to have a negative effect on your store’s bottom line. The profit margin on alcohol is substantial, so these types of losses are a shrink budget killer. There is one sure fire way to deter thefts of your prized inventory: Bottle Locks. These tools, offered by Alpha Security, are the small answer to a big problem.
It’s not just alcoholics that steal liquors and spirits. Most often it’s just everyday people that fall for the temptation to steal what makes them feel good. The bad angel wins and they give in and try it. Sadly, once someone gets away with it, they come back and try it again. One couple was recently arrested for stealing thousands of dollars worth of bottles over a three month period. The store staff finally realized the inventory was off and they started closely monitoring the most commonly stolen items. The couple is facing jail time and some serious fines, but recovering any of that loss is unlikely for the store, even if restitution is ordered. Looking back to the first time the couple came and attempted their first theft, bottle locks could have alerted staff and prevented the whole fiasco.
Liquor bottle security should be concentrated on deterrence and detection. That’s why Alpha Security came up with bottle locks. They put a quick decisive stop to liquor theft. They are special locking caps that fit over the top of almost any size bottle you carry. They are extremely strong, and can only be removed with the proper tool. That said, the clerk can take them off with this tool in seconds. It’s not a complicated process. Unless you are the thief, that is. If a criminal tampers with the bottle lock or attempts to remove it while in the store, it will self alarm. If they decide to run and do manage to get out the door with a bottle that has a bottle lock still attached, they won’t get to enjoy it’s contents. You see, they are so strong that the bottle will more than likely shatter before the lock will come off.
From a single bottle valued at over $1,000 to one sold for a mere $3, bottle locks don’t discriminate; they will protect and secure anything you’ve got. Some people steal alcohol because they are collectors and they want those rare and vintage age bottles. Other times people steal the very low end stuff just because they want a quick buzz. Some teens steal liquor because they look at it as a rite of passage and they consider it a part of growing up. They like to say they’ve stolen a brand of bottle that was mentioned in a hip hop song. (It sounds crazy to me too!) Sometimes people steal novelty bottles; one brand is shaped like skulls. Bottle locks will fit on those too.
Liquor bottle security means whether your store is small for convenience or a warehouse, your staff will be able to better monitor and be aware of any theft attempts. There’s nothing worse than finding empty spaces on your shelves after you’ve been hit. Let bottle locks be the missing link to your asset protection plan.
For more information on bottle locks, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
I talk a lot about how to prevent shoplifting here. I’ve probably given you hundreds of tips, tricks and life hacks on how to properly secure your store’s merchandise. All of this knowledge is bestowed upon you for one reason and one reason only. I sincerely want your business to be successful. I want you to seek out and destroy a thief and I want you learn from mistakes that have happened to others. I’ve discussed with you nearly every imaginable way someone has stolen merchandise from me, but one thing that is not often discussed is how to secure our stores tools. I’m going to change that, starting today.
A few years ago, one of my stores went through a routine technology audit. We found out that the store was missing a single Texlon. For those that may be a bit foggy, those are those little hand-held computers that store associates use. They can print labels, change prices, order inventory, and pretty much anything else under the sun. Packed with our programs, the units are valued at nearly $7k. This missing unit was not missing; it had been stolen. Over the next several days, we found one or two missing at a total of 10 stores. Some sound investigating showed that one guy had made the rounds and helped himself to these units. Had I known about Alpha Thunder Tags back then, I wouldn’t have lost nearly $70,000.
Often, I find we are so involved and deeply concerned with preventing shoplifting, we overlook the incredibly expensive pieces of technology that we use in the course of daily business. Think of the last time you went to a coffee shop, or small boutique. Chances are that instead of a conventional POS system, they had an iPad. It probably wasn’t secured against a thief either. Using a device as simple as an Alpha Thunder Tag can guarantee that a customer with sticky fingers won’t be helping themselves to your store’s equipment.
Let’s say you use an i-Pad, or similar tablet for your POS. The Alpha Thunder Tag can be easily placed onto the back of the tablet. It’s held in place with adhesive that won’t damage or alter the equipment in any way, shape or form. There’s also this little plunger on the back that gives you some added protection from tampering. It’s a 3 alarm tag, so you’ll know if it goes out the door, if someone tries removing the tag and then if it’s not already great enough, the unit will continue to sound the alarm once it passes through your EAS towers. A thief will surely not want that sort of attention as they’re running down the street. 95dba will get everyone’s attention… trust me.
You’re probably having a V8 moment right now. Every manager at every store that I’ve talked to has never thought about their pieces of technology as a magnet for thieves. They’re so concerned about preventing shoplifting, that this is just completely overlooked. Well, I don’t want you to be the next victim. Be proactive; spend a few pennies so you can save thousands of dollars. The lesson here, ladies and gentlemen, is to not overlook commonly stolen items just because they’re not up for sale. To a thief, everything is up for grabs. Literally.
For more information about Alpha Hard Tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
