Bottle Loss Got You Blue? Battle Back With Bottle Locks

Liquor bottle security-4                                                                                                                       WC blog 12
Alpha Security-4
bottle locks-5
Bottle Loss Got You Blue?  Battle Back With Bottle Locks
     In a June 6 , 2015 Washington post story, a man stole nearly $2,000 worth of alcohol in under 8 minutes from a liquor store.   July 8, 2015 Jackson Hole News & Guide had story on a man who stole 3 bottles of top shelf liquor, “Grey Goose” (price range $20 – $60 a bottle). Malt Beverage Distributors Association of Pennsylvania in an April 21, 2014 story reported on a distributor in Wray, Washington State that installed locking cabinets due to thefts they were experiencing of $800 – $1,000 a week.  As I considered the last story, I wanted to tell the store owner, there are alternatives to a locking cabinet!  Did you even consider looking into liquor bottle security products?
     Alpha Security products offer bottle locks that are easy to install and remove for a retailer and provide a deterrent to shoplifting.  Locks can come in adjustable bottle collars, “Steel Grip” collars with a metal band, clear bottle caps that permit viewing of labels, as well as other designs.  The removal of the lock at the point of sale is easy and will not significantly add to the time of checkout.  Business owners are well aware that in today’s fast paced world of mobile technology, and immediate accessibility, customers do not want to be slowed down in a checkout line.  
     How important is it for a business to consider using Alpha Security products?  Consider this, according to the 2014 Global Retail Theft Barometer, retail shortage in North America equated to 1.48% of sales.  In 2014 38% of shortage was attributable to shoplifting.  The report also states that one of the most stolen categories of merchandise overall is wine and spirits and not only that, in the grocery category it is the number one shortage item.  When employee theft is added to the equation, over 65% of shortage incurred by retailers is due to theft!  What would it mean to your bottom line if you could reduce your losses by well over 50%?  How much could you reduce that amount simply by using liquor bottle security in your store?  
          Recently I was in a major retail store and I was curious to see what kind of Alpha Security devices, if any, they were using.  I was shocked to see that despite carrying wines and champagnes ranging in price from $10 to $60 a bottle, there were no bottle locks on any of the products.  Knowing that this retailer uses Alpha Security devices on other items to decrease the opportunity for theft, I was surprised to see no steps had been taken in regard to bottle security. If a big box retailer fails to protect their wine section what are smaller liquor stores doing to prevent theft?  
     If the stories I referred to in the beginning of this article are any indicator, it would seem liquor stores may be taking the wrong steps or worse no steps at all to protect product.  Liquor bottle security does not mean putting everything under lock and key, bottle locks are a far better solution.  Lock- up cases requires an associate to be readily available with a key.  Customers don’t like to wait for service and if you operate a smaller store, you may not have the staff to run a register and open showcases for multiple patrons.  When customers feel they are going to have to wait for a long time, whether or not they really will, those customers will go elsewhere.  Your merchandise may be protected, but if you aren’t selling anything then what’s the point?  
     Liquor bottle security is a problem that can be solved without hindering your honest customers.  Using bottle locks permits the customer to select merchandise and take what they want to the register.  You have the peace of mind knowing that the locks are extremely difficult to tamper with and can work with an EAS system if you have one installed.  You don’t need to go to extremes to prevent shortage, just use bottle locks.
For more information about bottle locks contact us or call 1.770.426.0547

In a June 6 , 2015 Washington post story, a man stole nearly $2,000 worth of alcohol in under 8 minutes from a liquor store. July 8, 2015 Jackson Hole News & Guide had story on a man who stole 3 bottles of top shelf liquor, “Grey Goose” (price range $20 – $60 a bottle). Malt Beverage Distributors Association of Pennsylvania in an April 21, 2014 story reported on a distributor in Wray, Washington State that installed locking cabinets due to thefts they were experiencing of $800 – $1,000 a week. As I considered the last story, I wanted to tell the store owner, there are alternatives to a locking cabinet! Did you even consider looking into liquor bottle security products?
     

Alpha Security products offer bottle locks that are easy to install and remove for a retailer and provide a deterrent to shoplifting. Locks can come in adjustable bottle collars, “Steel Grip” collars with a metal band, clear bottle caps that permit viewing of labels, as well as other designs. The removal of the lock at the point of sale is easy and will not significantly add to the time of checkout. Business owners are well aware that in today’s fast paced world of mobile technology, and immediate accessibility, customers do not want to be slowed down in a checkout line.  

How important is it for a business to consider using Alpha Security products? Consider this, according to the 2014 Global Retail Theft Barometer, retail shortage in North America equated to 1.48% of sales. In 2014 38% of shortage was attributable to shoplifting. The report also states that one of the most stolen categories of merchandise overall is wine and spirits and not only that, in the grocery category it is the number one shortage item. When employee theft is added to the equation, over 65% of shortage incurred by retailers is due to theft! What would it mean to your bottom line if you could reduce your losses by well over 50%? How much could you reduce that amount simply by using liquor bottle security in your store?  
         

Recently I was in a major retail store and I was curious to see what kind of Alpha Security devices, if any, they were using. I was shocked to see that despite carrying wines and champagnes ranging in price from $10 to $60 a bottle, there were no bottle locks on any of the products. Knowing that this retailer uses Alpha Security devices on other items to decrease the opportunity for theft, I was surprised to see no steps had been taken in regard to bottle security. If a big box retailer fails to protect their wine section what are smaller liquor stores doing to prevent theft?  
     

 If the stories I referred to in the beginning of this article are any indicator, it would seem liquor stores may be taking the wrong steps or worse no steps at all to protect product. Liquor bottle security does not mean putting everything under lock and key, bottle locks are a far better solution. Lock- up cases requires an associate to be readily available with a key. Customers don’t like to wait for service and if you operate a smaller store, you may not have the staff to run a register and open showcases for multiple patrons. When customers feel they are going to have to wait for a long time, whether or not they really will, those customers will go elsewhere. Your merchandise may be protected, but if you aren’t selling anything then what’s the point?  

     Liquor bottle security is a problem that can be solved without hindering your honest customers. Using bottle locks permits the customer to select merchandise and take what they want to the register. You have the peace of mind knowing that the locks are extremely difficult to tamper with and can work with an EAS system if you have one installed. You don’t need to go to extremes to prevent shortage, just use bottle locks.

For more information about bottle locks contact us or call 1.770.426.0547