ARE RETAIL ANTI THEFT DEVICES THE BEST STRATEGY FOR LOSS PREVENTION?
As an LP Manager for a rather large company, I often find myself in meetings with other retailers and our law enforcement partners. These “networking” meetings bring together a lot of good information, but it also shows the vulnerabilities of smaller stores in our communities and the necessity for even the smallest of retailers to Prevent Shoplifting.
Just last week, I was invited to a merchant/law enforcement meeting that was hosted by a local Sheriff’s Office. There were the big retailers represented, but what surprised me was the shear amount of smaller, “mom and pop” store managers and owners that came out. I had learned that over the last couple of weeks, several detectives had been making contact with these smaller stores and getting them onboard to come to our meeting, as they continued to express great frustration to the police regarding shoplifters in the area. If anyone can give you advice on how to Prevent Shoplifting, it’s a room full of career Loss Prevention guys and girls.
As it normally does, the questions normally drift to people asking what Retail Anti Theft Device is going to stop people from stealing out of their store. For me, that’s always such a hard question to answer; I know, from my years of experience, there is nothing out there, short of locking everything behind glass, that will completely Prevent Shoplifting. So, just like a shoplifter, I approach this question with caution.
First, you have to understand that in order to be effective against criminals; you have to take a multi-pronged approached. Having one singular Retail Anti Theft Device on a hot product probably isn’t going to make much impact. Now, combine that device with a solid EAS tower, good cameras, with public view monitors, a culture of great customer interaction and service and you’ve got the makings of a winning combination.
That’s the biggest challenge I face with smaller business owners. They don’t have the years of LP experience that I do. It’s almost like when I’m explaining a case to my grandmother. I’ll tell her that someone stole from my store, but they got away. She’ll ask if the car was on video and then will be flabbergasted that I can’t zoom in on the license plate from 2 blocks away like she saw on last week’s episode of Law and Order.
So yes, your store absolutely needs to have the latest in EAS technology to help stem those external losses. Just remember that a well-trained and attentive employee who engages every, single customer can be just as, if not more effective to your loss prevention strategy than any one Retail Anti Theft Device.
Get more information on Alpha Tech, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
As an LP Manager for a rather large company, I often find myself in meetings with other retailers and our law enforcement partners. These “networking” meetings bring together a lot of good information, but it also shows the vulnerabilities of smaller stores in our communities and the necessity for even the smallest of retailers to Prevent Shoplifting.
Just last week, I was invited to a merchant/law enforcement meeting that was hosted by a local Sheriff’s Office. There were the big retailers represented, but what surprised me was the shear amount of smaller, “mom and pop” store managers and owners that came out. I had learned that over the last couple of weeks, several detectives had been making contact with these smaller stores and getting them onboard to come to our meeting, as they continued to express great frustration to the police regarding shoplifters in the area. If anyone can give you advice on how to Prevent Shoplifting, it’s a room full of career Loss Prevention guys and girls.
As it normally does, the questions normally drift to people asking what Retail Anti Theft Device is going to stop people from stealing out of their store. For me, that’s always such a hard question to answer; I know, from my years of experience, there is nothing out there, short of locking everything behind glass, that will completely Prevent Shoplifting. So, just like a shoplifter, I approach this question with caution.
First, you have to understand that in order to be effective against criminals; you have to take a multi-pronged approached. Having one singular Retail Anti Theft Device on a hot product probably isn’t going to make much impact. Now, combine that device with a solid EAS tower, good cameras, with public view monitors, a culture of great customer interaction and service and you’ve got the makings of a winning combination.
That’s the biggest challenge I face with smaller business owners. They don’t have the years of LP experience that I do. It’s almost like when I’m explaining a case to my grandmother. I’ll tell her that someone stole from my store, but they got away. She’ll ask if the car was on video and then will be flabbergasted that I can’t zoom in on the license plate from 2 blocks away like she saw on last week’s episode of Law and Order.
So yes, your store absolutely needs to have the latest in EAS technology to help stem those external losses. Just remember that a well-trained and attentive employee who engages every, single customer can be just as, if not more effective to your loss prevention strategy than any one Retail Anti Theft Device.
Get more information on Alpha Tech, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
Applicant Management System – 3 WC Blog 543
Applicant Tracking System – 4
Losing Patience With Lost Paperwork? Try An Applicant Tracking System
Where is an applicant tracking system when I need one?! I found myself asking this very question the other day as I was trying to find out where a job applicant’s paperwork had gone to. I work for a state agency and while I love my job I get super annoyed at how slow our hiring process tends to be. When we have an open position it seems like we have to jump through all kinds of hoops to get the applicant on board once we choose our top candidate. Oh, did I mention that much of our process is still paper-based? This means we are printing papers, completing them and sending them to several different locations in our bureaucracy for further processing. On this particular occasion our paperwork got lost somewhere and I had to work with my supervisor and our department’s administrative assistant to find out where it was. In the meantime our candidate was on hold, we couldn’t make a formal job offer until the paperwork was approved. It turned out the paperwork was sitting on someone’s desk waiting for an approval signature and then it would be sent back to our Human Resource Department. At that point we could make our offer and set a start date for our new hire. Had we been using an Applicant Management System the “missing” paperwork would never have been an issue.
An Applicant Management System is a service offered by Loss Prevention Systems Inc. (LPSI) that helps retailers take the headache out of the hiring process. LPSI founder Bill Bregar has held positions as a National Director of Loss Prevention for retail chains and is also a Licensed Private Investigator. He has been involved in all levels of the hiring process and understands the challenges of hiring new employees. It is for this reason LPSI offers an applicant tracking system, pre-employment screening and a drug test panel for small and medium sized retailers. The time spent keeping track of files and documents can be better spent on other areas of the business. In many situations the store owner and manager also serves as the human resources and hiring manager. With no one else to take care of all that hiring a new employee involves finding a solution to make the task easier is essential. The applicant tracking system keeps all of the hiring forms and background check releases in one electronic location eliminating the need for paper files. All relevant documentation is in a convenient location so there is no need to worry about lost papers or wondering whose desk a form may be sitting on.
As former Loss Prevention Manager and an employee in an academic environment I am also keenly aware of the need to keep personal information secure. In my Loss Prevention role I had to keep investigation records locked up and information was on a need to know basis. In an academic job I have to be cognizant of FERPA (Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act) regulations regarding the protection of student privacy rights. Mishandling of papers with personal or private information could land me in hot water. The same protections must be given to sensitive information your applicants give you. You may be handling social security numbers, dates of birth, phone numbers and addresses. You have an obligation to keep this secure and electronic documents in an applicant management system are the surest method of protection.
There is an old saying I like to quote, “Don’t work harder work smarter.” Why make the hiring process more difficult than it needs to be when you can keep everything in one easy to manage location? You may not be able to hire a Human Resources Manager to keep up with your hiring process but you CAN afford to use an Applicant Tracking System. Try it out and then start thinking about how you can use that extra time to increase your sales!
Need information on an Applicant Tracking System? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
Where is an applicant tracking system when I need one?! I found myself asking this very question the other day as I was trying to find out where a job applicant’s paperwork had gone to. I work for a state agency and while I love my job I get super annoyed at how slow our hiring process tends to be. When we have an open position it seems like we have to jump through all kinds of hoops to get the applicant on board once we choose our top candidate. Oh, did I mention that much of our process is still paper-based? This means we are printing papers, completing them and sending them to several different locations in our bureaucracy for further processing. On this particular occasion our paperwork got lost somewhere and I had to work with my supervisor and our department’s administrative assistant to find out where it was. In the meantime our candidate was on hold, we couldn’t make a formal job offer until the paperwork was approved. It turned out the paperwork was sitting on someone’s desk waiting for an approval signature and then it would be sent back to our Human Resource Department. At that point we could make our offer and set a start date for our new hire. Had we been using an Applicant Management System the “missing” paperwork would never have been an issue.
An Applicant Management System is a service offered by Loss Prevention Systems Inc. (LPSI) that helps retailers take the headache out of the hiring process. LPSI founder Bill Bregar has held positions as a National Director of Loss Prevention for retail chains and is also a Licensed Private Investigator. He has been involved in all levels of the hiring process and understands the challenges of hiring new employees. It is for this reason LPSI offers an applicant tracking system, pre-employment screening and a drug test panel for small and medium sized retailers. The time spent keeping track of files and documents can be better spent on other areas of the business. In many situations the store owner and manager also serves as the human resources and hiring manager. With no one else to take care of all that hiring a new employee involves finding a solution to make the task easier is essential. The applicant tracking system keeps all of the hiring forms and background check releases in one electronic location eliminating the need for paper files. All relevant documentation is in a convenient location so there is no need to worry about lost papers or wondering whose desk a form may be sitting on.
As former Loss Prevention Manager and an employee in an academic environment I am also keenly aware of the need to keep personal information secure. In my Loss Prevention role I had to keep investigation records locked up and information was on a need to know basis. In an academic job I have to be cognizant of FERPA (Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act) regulations regarding the protection of student privacy rights. Mishandling of papers with personal or private information could land me in hot water. The same protections must be given to sensitive information your applicants give you. You may be handling social security numbers, dates of birth, phone numbers and addresses. You have an obligation to keep this secure and electronic documents in an applicant management system are the surest method of protection.
There is an old saying I like to quote, “Don’t work harder work smarter.” Why make the hiring process more difficult than it needs to be when you can keep everything in one easy to manage location? You may not be able to hire a Human Resources Manager to keep up with your hiring process but you CAN afford to use an Applicant Tracking System. Try it out and then start thinking about how you can use that extra time to increase your sales!
Need information on an Applicant Tracking System? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
Retail Theft Prevention-5 WC Blog 458
Checkpoint System-5
Attitude And Store Culture Contribute To Retail Theft Prevention And Reduced Shortage
Store managers, I am going to relate a story that happened to me in a grocery store during a recent shopping trip I made with my wife. It was my turn to check out. The cashier and the bagging clerk were chit chatting. I was barely acknowledged as I pulled out my customer loyalty card, I think I interrupted a conversation between these two clerks. I stood at the credit card reader and watched my items being scanned while the cashier continued to chit chat with her friend. I found myself getting irritated as these two employees were conversing and seemingly ignoring me. As the clerk scanned a piece of meat and started to place it in the bag my wife pointed out that she had overlooked a coupon on the packaging. The employee removed the coupon scanned it and completed the sale, handed me the receipt with a half-hearted thank-you. She never pointed out our accumulated “rewards” points or the survey we could take. As a former Retail Loss Prevention Manager and currently still working part-time in retail I found I was irritated not only at the lack of customer service but the lack of attention to retail theft prevention. I have little doubt in my mind that had I been trying to sneak merchandise out on the bottom of my cart the cashier would not have caught it and the bagger may not have done so either.
Retail theft prevention is more than just having a Loss Prevention employee working for your store it is a culture that is embraced by store employees. In fact there are many stores that cannot afford any type of Loss Prevention person in the building but what they can afford is a Checkpoint System. Employees who possess customer service skill can deter a significant amount of theft. Stores using a Checkpoint System have employees trained to properly tag merchandise and respond to Checkpoint pedestal alarms. This training can make an even bigger impact on stock shortage.The fact is shoplifters don’t want attention and don’t want to hassle with anti-theft devices. Theft Prevention begins with a store culture that emphasizes customer service and a willingness to make some type of investment in anti-theft technology.
My encounter with the cashier and the bagger was a glimpse into a store with bigger issues. I shop at this store frequently and I don’t encounter many smiling faces. One of the newer managers smiles and greets guests but many of those who have been in this store for a lengthy period of time fail to exhibit outgoing personalities. This starts to influence the new and younger employees and becomes infectious. When employees aren’t engaging customers shoplifters notice and get comfortable stealing from these locations. Happy staff members greet people, engage in conversation or maybe just look someone in the eye and smile but all of these demonstrate recognition. Recognition is a deterrent to thieves and therefore it a method of retail theft prevention.
The other piece to this puzzle is the Checkpoint System. The pedestal alarms require a quick and effective response from a worker who is willing to interact with people and do so with a positive attitude. A staff member who responds to an alarm with a lackadaisical attitude or an overly aggressive or accusatory disposition is going to be ineffective at recovering merchandise. A shoplifter is going to respond in kind to an angry employee and if the responder is unconcerned or shrugs off the alarm the shoplifter is going to continue out the door. The employee with the negative attitude is going to be less than thorough in tagging merchandise and that also hinders the effectiveness of a Checkpoint System. If a tagger is only tagging half of the merchandise they are supposed to tag the shoplifters will find the half that are not protected and steal those and that is a blow to the retail theft prevention plans of a store.
It is the role of store leaders and owners to hire the right people and ensure a work environment is one that is enjoyable to be in. Leading by example and modeling those attitudes lends credibility to those leaders and increases their effectiveness when they talk to an employee about their impact on retail theft prevention when they don’t meet expectations. Drive great shortage results with a Checkpoint System and superior customer service.
A Checkpoint System is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
Store managers, I am going to relate a story that happened to me in a grocery store during a recent shopping trip I made with my wife. It was my turn to check out. The cashier and the bagging clerk were chit chatting. I was barely acknowledged as I pulled out my customer loyalty card, I think I interrupted a conversation between these two clerks. I stood at the credit card reader and watched my items being scanned while the cashier continued to chit chat with her friend. I found myself getting irritated as these two employees were conversing and seemingly ignoring me. As the clerk scanned a piece of meat and started to place it in the bag my wife pointed out that she had overlooked a coupon on the packaging. The employee removed the coupon scanned it and completed the sale, handed me the receipt with a half-hearted thank-you. She never pointed out our accumulated “rewards” points or the survey we could take. As a former Retail Loss Prevention Manager and currently still working part-time in retail I found I was irritated not only at the lack of customer service but the lack of attention to retail theft prevention. I have little doubt in my mind that had I been trying to sneak merchandise out on the bottom of my cart the cashier would not have caught it and the bagger may not have done so either.
Retail theft prevention is more than just having a Loss Prevention employee working for your store it is a culture that is embraced by store employees. In fact there are many stores that cannot afford any type of Loss Prevention person in the building but what they can afford is a Checkpoint System. Employees who possess customer service skill can deter a significant amount of theft. Stores using a Checkpoint System have employees trained to properly tag merchandise and respond to Checkpoint pedestal alarms. This training can make an even bigger impact on stock shortage.The fact is shoplifters don’t want attention and don’t want to hassle with anti-theft devices. Theft Prevention begins with a store culture that emphasizes customer service and a willingness to make some type of investment in anti-theft technology.
My encounter with the cashier and the bagger was a glimpse into a store with bigger issues. I shop at this store frequently and I don’t encounter many smiling faces. One of the newer managers smiles and greets guests but many of those who have been in this store for a lengthy period of time fail to exhibit outgoing personalities. This starts to influence the new and younger employees and becomes infectious. When employees aren’t engaging customers shoplifters notice and get comfortable stealing from these locations. Happy staff members greet people, engage in conversation or maybe just look someone in the eye and smile but all of these demonstrate recognition. Recognition is a deterrent to thieves and therefore it a method of retail theft prevention.
The other piece to this puzzle is the Checkpoint System. The pedestal alarms require a quick and effective response from a worker who is willing to interact with people and do so with a positive attitude. A staff member who responds to an alarm with a lackadaisical attitude or an overly aggressive or accusatory disposition is going to be ineffective at recovering merchandise. A shoplifter is going to respond in kind to an angry employee and if the responder is unconcerned or shrugs off the alarm the shoplifter is going to continue out the door. The employee with the negative attitude is going to be less than thorough in tagging merchandise and that also hinders the effectiveness of a Checkpoint System. If a tagger is only tagging half of the merchandise they are supposed to tag the shoplifters will find the half that are not protected and steal those and that is a blow to the retail theft prevention plans of a store.
It is the role of store leaders and owners to hire the right people and ensure a work environment is one that is enjoyable to be in. Leading by example and modeling those attitudes lends credibility to those leaders and increases their effectiveness when they talk to an employee about their impact on retail theft prevention when they don’t meet expectations. Drive great shortage results with a Checkpoint System and superior customer service.
A Checkpoint System is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
