People Counting Systems – 4 WC Blog 733
Retail Traffic Counting – 3
Combining Retail Traffic Counting Devices With Other Technologies
I was looking at technology on the Sensormatic.com website for information on people counting systems because I like to see what is new as well as how different technology can be tied together. It is my opinion that frequently retailers do not use the systems they install to the fullest potential. For example, I understand the advantages a door counting sensor can provide to help boost sales. Sometimes this is called measuring the conversion rate for the retailer. This measurement is useful to know how many people have walked through the doors and how many transactions were completed. A big difference in those numbers indicate something in the store is not right, whether it is poor customer service or a lack of products that shoppers came in to purchase. In this sense I see how retail traffic counting can be related to Loss Prevention. I have been in retail a LONG time so I recognize that shoplifting does impact merchandise in-stocks and product availability. What I am looking for when I am researching information on different websites is how various technologies complement each other so store owners and managers can leverage more out of their Loss Prevention systems.
It was during the course of my searching that I found something that could be quite useful from Sensormatic if paired together. This company offers a Sensormatic Synergy Camera that I believe could be coupled with their people counting device to make a giant leap for retailers, especially small and medium sized stores. The company information on this camera is that it “provides clear, high-definition video recordings or snapshots of loss events at the storefront”. The camera is mounted to a Sensormatic electronic article surveillance pedestal and captures video when alarms are detected which includes systems that can detect booster foil-lined bags. It will also capture video when a Sensormatic tag or label sets off the alarm. Now, I want you to picture this in conjunction with the pedestals that are fitted with people counting systems. You track how many customers are entering your store AND you are capturing video when alarm activations take place. You can get high-definition video and pictures of potential shoplifters who are visiting your business. If you have high foot traffic counts compared to sales as I mentioned earlier and you start to view images from your camera when alarms are set off you can begin to identify who the regular shoplifters are visiting your store. Along with the losses they are causing you through their theft activity they may be the ones causing empty spaces on your shelves. This could be why sales are low compared to your retail traffic counting numbers.
Another advantage for store management if they combine the people counting systems with the Synergy Camera is that they can view how their teams are responding to electronic article surveillance alarms. It is one thing to know how many alarms are sounding and who the people are who are causing activations but the response to those alarms is just as important if not more so. If alarms are activated and employees are simply waving people out the door without conducting proper package and receipt checks thieves are going to take advantage of this and steal even more. From my personal experiences as a Loss Prevention Manager I have seen employees who do not address alarms properly. Some of those are theft related and those people return to your store over and over until something is done to address how responses are handled. Again, I believe combining the videos with numbers from your retail traffic counting data can aid in improving sales by identifying issues taking place in the store.
Like so many other processes in a retail environment, one process has a direct impact on other areas of the business. If data itself is gathered and you are only counting patrons with people counting systems and you are not tying that information into other areas it becomes useless. Tie it into a Sensormatic Synergy Camera and you can begin to improve shortage numbers through suspect identification AND alarm response training. Do that and you begin to improve on hand quantities and improve sales and that should be your ultimate goal.
Retail Traffic Counting is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
I was looking at technology on the Sensormatic.com website for information on people counting systems because I like to see what is new as well as how different technology can be tied together. It is my opinion that frequently retailers do not use the systems they install to the fullest potential. For example, I understand the advantages a door counting sensor can provide to help boost sales. Sometimes this is called measuring the conversion rate for the retailer. This measurement is useful to know how many people have walked through the doors and how many transactions were completed. A big difference in those numbers indicate something in the store is not right, whether it is poor customer service or a lack of products that shoppers came in to purchase. In this sense I see how retail traffic counting can be related to Loss Prevention. I have been in retail a LONG time so I recognize that shoplifting does impact merchandise in-stocks and product availability. What I am looking for when I am researching information on different websites is how various technologies complement each other so store owners and managers can leverage more out of their Loss Prevention systems.
It was during the course of my searching that I found something that could be quite useful from Sensormatic if paired together. This company offers a Sensormatic Synergy Camera that I believe could be coupled with their people counting device to make a giant leap for retailers, especially small and medium sized stores. The company information on this camera is that it “provides clear, high-definition video recordings or snapshots of loss events at the storefront”. The camera is mounted to a Sensormatic electronic article surveillance pedestal and captures video when alarms are detected which includes systems that can detect booster foil-lined bags. It will also capture video when a Sensormatic tag or label sets off the alarm. Now, I want you to picture this in conjunction with the pedestals that are fitted with people counting systems. You track how many customers are entering your store AND you are capturing video when alarm activations take place. You can get high-definition video and pictures of potential shoplifters who are visiting your business. If you have high foot traffic counts compared to sales as I mentioned earlier and you start to view images from your camera when alarms are set off you can begin to identify who the regular shoplifters are visiting your store. Along with the losses they are causing you through their theft activity they may be the ones causing empty spaces on your shelves. This could be why sales are low compared to your retail traffic counting numbers.
Another advantage for store management if they combine the people counting systems with the Synergy Camera is that they can view how their teams are responding to electronic article surveillance alarms. It is one thing to know how many alarms are sounding and who the people are who are causing activations but the response to those alarms is just as important if not more so. If alarms are activated and employees are simply waving people out the door without conducting proper package and receipt checks thieves are going to take advantage of this and steal even more. From my personal experiences as a Loss Prevention Manager I have seen employees who do not address alarms properly. Some of those are theft related and those people return to your store over and over until something is done to address how responses are handled. Again, I believe combining the videos with numbers from your retail traffic counting data can aid in improving sales by identifying issues taking place in the store.
Like so many other processes in a retail environment, one process has a direct impact on other areas of the business. If data itself is gathered and you are only counting patrons with people counting systems and you are not tying that information into other areas it becomes useless. Tie it into a Sensormatic Synergy Camera and you can begin to improve shortage numbers through suspect identification AND alarm response training. Do that and you begin to improve on hand quantities and improve sales and that should be your ultimate goal.
Retail Traffic Counting is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
Employee theft reduction training-3 WC Blog 643
Stop Shoplifting -3
Profit From Employee Theft Reduction Training
Recently the store where I work had a scam pulled on a cashier and it caused me to think about employee theft reduction training to stop shoplifting and prevent fraud. It also prompted me to think about how managers train employees and where do store owners get their expertise to train managers to prevent employee theft? There were two incidents on back to back nights that involved fraud attempts and actual fraud that got me going on this subject. The first incident involved a couple attempting to purchase several gift cards and prepaid gift cards with different credit cards. Each of the credit cards they put into the credit card reader prompted a decline message and the cashier asked for another form of payment. After three or four attempts the cashier finally called a manager to the counter. At that point the customers decided they had to contact the bank and walked out. It bothered me that the cashier was not suspicious about the purchase in the first place considering the items the couple were trying to purchase were only gift cards and prepaid cards. The next day that I worked the store manager told me about a scam pulled by a customer the day after that incident. A customer came to the register and had around $400 loaded onto prepaid cards and told the cashier she was paying with “Apple-Pay”. Apparently the customer made her phone sound like it had paid and the cashier said the transaction had not gone through. My understanding is that somehow this customer convinced the cashier that her phone showed her the transaction HAD gone through and did this two more times and then left. She scammed the store of over $1,000 in theft/fraud. The manager learned that the suspect had done this same scam in another one of our stores a few days prior to this. If this can happen in a national chain store with a Loss Prevention department that provides employee training videos to stop shoplifting and fraud, what is your training program?
Training on theft related issues is not an automatic program when someone opens their own new store. I could open a business and understand selling techniques, know how to order merchandise and I might even be versed in proper hiring practices. I would need help with property rental, business contracts and how to handle payroll. I would have to seek out business resources and advisors to help me establish my company. Likewise, few owners are going to know all about Loss Prevention practices and how it can impact the store. How can anyone be expected to train others in an area they are not familiar with? You certainly wouldn’t want me teaching your staff how to work in Quickbooks for your business finances and payroll. If you are going to prevent thieves from taking advantage of your employees you need a company specializing in employee theft reduction training and other Loss Prevention related training programs. Bill Bregar, former Director of Loss Prevention for several national retail chains and President of Loss Prevention Systems Inc., has created the essential training programs that are proven to reduce theft and fraud in stores that have no Loss Prevention teams of their own. These sessions are invaluable and teach the necessary skills that will help stores improve sales through the deterrence of theft and fraud from shoplifters AND dishonest employees.
Scammers and thieves will pull all kinds of tricks to pull off their crimes. While it would be nearly impossible for someone to keep up with all of the methods the criminals will employ there are ways to counter them. The employee theft reduction training conducted by Bill teaches managers the signals that can tip you and your team that someone may be intent on committing a crime. For example, a short change artist will seem to be a legitimate customer as they make a purchase but then they start asking for different change or denominations. At that point there are different methods the scam could be completed but the trained associate knows to close the register drawer and call for a manager. Training simply increases awareness and THAT can make the difference between stopping a loss or incurring one.
Stop shoplifting, employee theft and other criminal activity from draining your store profitability. Let Loss Prevention Systems Inc. train your management team on theft identification and reduction techniques. You will be surprised at how much you didn’t know and more surprised at how much you can save!
Employee theft reduction training is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
Recently the store where I work had a scam pulled on a cashier and it caused me to think about employee theft reduction training to stop shoplifting and prevent fraud. It also prompted me to think about how managers train employees and where do store owners get their expertise to train managers to prevent employee theft? There were two incidents on back to back nights that involved fraud attempts and actual fraud that got me going on this subject. The first incident involved a couple attempting to purchase several gift cards and prepaid gift cards with different credit cards. Each of the credit cards they put into the credit card reader prompted a decline message and the cashier asked for another form of payment. After three or four attempts the cashier finally called a manager to the counter. At that point the customers decided they had to contact the bank and walked out. It bothered me that the cashier was not suspicious about the purchase in the first place considering the items the couple were trying to purchase were only gift cards and prepaid cards. The next day that I worked the store manager told me about a scam pulled by a customer the day after that incident. A customer came to the register and had around $400 loaded onto prepaid cards and told the cashier she was paying with “Apple-Pay”. Apparently the customer made her phone sound like it had paid and the cashier said the transaction had not gone through. My understanding is that somehow this customer convinced the cashier that her phone showed her the transaction HAD gone through and did this two more times and then left. She scammed the store of over $1,000 in theft/fraud. The manager learned that the suspect had done this same scam in another one of our stores a few days prior to this. If this can happen in a national chain store with a Loss Prevention department that provides employee training videos to stop shoplifting and fraud, what is your training program?
Training on theft related issues is not an automatic program when someone opens their own new store. I could open a business and understand selling techniques, know how to order merchandise and I might even be versed in proper hiring practices. I would need help with property rental, business contracts and how to handle payroll. I would have to seek out business resources and advisors to help me establish my company. Likewise, few owners are going to know all about Loss Prevention practices and how it can impact the store. How can anyone be expected to train others in an area they are not familiar with? You certainly wouldn’t want me teaching your staff how to work in Quickbooks for your business finances and payroll. If you are going to prevent thieves from taking advantage of your employees you need a company specializing in employee theft reduction training and other Loss Prevention related training programs. Bill Bregar, former Director of Loss Prevention for several national retail chains and President of Loss Prevention Systems Inc., has created the essential training programs that are proven to reduce theft and fraud in stores that have no Loss Prevention teams of their own. These sessions are invaluable and teach the necessary skills that will help stores improve sales through the deterrence of theft and fraud from shoplifters AND dishonest employees.
Scammers and thieves will pull all kinds of tricks to pull off their crimes. While it would be nearly impossible for someone to keep up with all of the methods the criminals will employ there are ways to counter them. The employee theft reduction training conducted by Bill teaches managers the signals that can tip you and your team that someone may be intent on committing a crime. For example, a short change artist will seem to be a legitimate customer as they make a purchase but then they start asking for different change or denominations. At that point there are different methods the scam could be completed but the trained associate knows to close the register drawer and call for a manager. Training simply increases awareness and THAT can make the difference between stopping a loss or incurring one.
Stop shoplifting, employee theft and other criminal activity from draining your store profitability. Let Loss Prevention Systems Inc. train your management team on theft identification and reduction techniques. You will be surprised at how much you didn’t know and more surprised at how much you can save!
Employee theft reduction training is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
Retail Theft Prevention – 3 WC Blog 711
Sensormatic security system – 3
Retail Theft Prevention – Lessons For Those Considering A Career In Loss Prevention Part 2
In Part 1 I talked about lessons I had to pick up about retail theft prevention as I transitioned into a career of Loss Prevention. I came into the job having been a U.S. Air Force Law Enforcement Specialist and after leaving the service attended college. I was hired and after a brief training period I was starting to catch shoplifters. I got pretty good at it and found I liked the adrenaline rush of watching a suspect as he/she started giving the signals they might steal. There were very few rules other than don’t make a bad stop. We were able to give chase and do what needed to be done to apprehend a bad guy. I made a lot of friends and contacts on the police department. They would race to get to where I was if I was chasing a shoplifter because they knew the cases we called them for were going to be solid. We didn’t call them just because someone set off our Sensormatic security system and got away.
Unfortunately all I really learned in this first job was how to catch a shoplifter primarily using closed circuit television. I learned a little about employee theft, setting up a covert camera and some signals to look for to identify a dishonest worker. I did not learn about the part retail theft prevention plays in store profitability. I also didn’t learn about managing a team or managing a schedule. I had experience in the Air Force training others and a little supervisory background but I chose to leave before I had a significant amount of supervisory training. Four and a half years later I was hired as a Loss Prevention Manager for a big box retail store and though I thought I was ready I was in for a rude awakening my first year. I had no real idea what it was to interview people to work for me. I also had a rookie District Manager who was new to his job which was not very helpful to me. He had stores to supervise up to 4 hours distant from my store which was in a new market for this company. Yes, I had gone through several weeks of training but I didn’t learn about interviewing a team. In hindsight here are some of the things I would like to have known if I had it to do over again:
• Don’t necessarily hire people with a background in Loss Prevention. Some of the best people I hired later were those I could train from scratch. That does not mean I would not consider someone with an L.P. background. Unfortunately some had ways of doing things that were not in our best practices. An example might be they make apprehensions based on a Sensormatic security system alarm only. They could be harder to train and some had bad or risky behaviors they brought with them.
• Surround yourself with people who have skill sets different from your own. Don’t be afraid to hire someone who may surpass you. Hire great people that can help you be better.
• Don’t allow others to push a candidate on you. They may give you an opinion but ultimately you have to supervise that person.
There were mistakes I made in my hiring decisions and I own that but if I had some choices to do over again I guarantee I would.
I mentioned a Sensormatic security system so let me add this to my tips for those considering a career in Loss Prevention. If you work in a store that doesn’t have one ask the store owner or manager to consider installing a system. If the store does have a system, learn how it operates and how to troubleshoot it. Be able to teach associates how to respond to electronic article surveillance alarms because they will be the first ones to conduct the receipt checks. A well-trained associate can save a store a LOT of money by properly answering alarms.
Retail theft prevention can be rewarding. You must be aware that there is more to it than just watching cameras and “catching bad guys”. A good Associate or Manager will learn the operational side of the store business and become a partner to the store manager. You can be worth your weight in gold to a management team but you have to see the role as bigger than just preventing shoplifting. In the next installment I will cover a few more tips I wish someone had given me as I embarked on my Loss Prevention journey.
Retail theft prevention is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 for more information.
In Part 1 I talked about lessons I had to pick up about retail theft prevention as I transitioned into a career of Loss Prevention. I came into the job having been a U.S. Air Force Law Enforcement Specialist and after leaving the service attended college. I was hired and after a brief training period I was starting to catch shoplifters. I got pretty good at it and found I liked the adrenaline rush of watching a suspect as he/she started giving the signals they might steal. There were very few rules other than don’t make a bad stop. We were able to give chase and do what needed to be done to apprehend a bad guy. I made a lot of friends and contacts on the police department. They would race to get to where I was if I was chasing a shoplifter because they knew the cases we called them for were going to be solid. We didn’t call them just because someone set off our Sensormatic security system and got away.
Unfortunately all I really learned in this first job was how to catch a shoplifter primarily using closed circuit television. I learned a little about employee theft, setting up a covert camera and some signals to look for to identify a dishonest worker. I did not learn about the part retail theft prevention plays in store profitability. I also didn’t learn about managing a team or managing a schedule. I had experience in the Air Force training others and a little supervisory background but I chose to leave before I had a significant amount of supervisory training. Four and a half years later I was hired as a Loss Prevention Manager for a big box retail store and though I thought I was ready I was in for a rude awakening my first year. I had no real idea what it was to interview people to work for me. I also had a rookie District Manager who was new to his job which was not very helpful to me. He had stores to supervise up to 4 hours distant from my store which was in a new market for this company. Yes, I had gone through several weeks of training but I didn’t learn about interviewing a team. In hindsight here are some of the things I would like to have known if I had it to do over again:
• Don’t necessarily hire people with a background in Loss Prevention. Some of the best people I hired later were those I could train from scratch. That does not mean I would not consider someone with an L.P. background. Unfortunately some had ways of doing things that were not in our best practices. An example might be they make apprehensions based on a Sensormatic security system alarm only. They could be harder to train and some had bad or risky behaviors they brought with them.
• Surround yourself with people who have skill sets different from your own. Don’t be afraid to hire someone who may surpass you. Hire great people that can help you be better.
• Don’t allow others to push a candidate on you. They may give you an opinion but ultimately you have to supervise that person.
There were mistakes I made in my hiring decisions and I own that but if I had some choices to do over again I guarantee I would.
I mentioned a Sensormatic security system so let me add this to my tips for those considering a career in Loss Prevention. If you work in a store that doesn’t have one ask the store owner or manager to consider installing a system. If the store does have a system, learn how it operates and how to troubleshoot it. Be able to teach associates how to respond to electronic article surveillance alarms because they will be the first ones to conduct the receipt checks. A well-trained associate can save a store a LOT of money by properly answering alarms.
Retail theft prevention can be rewarding. You must be aware that there is more to it than just watching cameras and “catching bad guys”. A good Associate or Manager will learn the operational side of the store business and become a partner to the store manager. You can be worth your weight in gold to a management team but you have to see the role as bigger than just preventing shoplifting. In the next installment I will cover a few more tips I wish someone had given me as I embarked on my Loss Prevention journey.
Retail theft prevention is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 for more information.
Electronic Article Surveillance – 3 WC Blog 735
Sensormatic Tags – 3
Optimize Endcap Space When You Use Sensormatic Tags
Have you ever stopped to think that the use of electronic article surveillance can help drive sales? What I mean is that the use of anti-theft devices to protect merchandise gives managers of businesses the flexibility to move merchandise closer to store entrances than they may have considered doing in the past. You may be wondering, what does moving merchandise have to do with driving sales? I thought about this recently after I made a suggestion to the store manager where I work to move some merchandise. The merchandise (retro video game systems and hand held games) were located on an endcap in the back of the store where they were not selling. I suggested we move them to a main aisle endcap near the front of the store. The manager approved the move and I changed out the endcap in about a half hour. When I returned to work a few days later, sure enough we had sold through some of the merchandise. Because I work part-time for this retailer, it was several days before I returned again but when I did I noted that more units had sold through. Major retailers I have worked for are pretty good about changing endcap planograms but it can be easy to get comfortable and leave them as they are. Since smaller, independent owners have control over their own business they decide when and if they are going to change anything. If a store isn’t using Sensormatic tags to protect merchandise it can be risky to keep higher dollar products near the front where customers can see them. In fact many owners choose to lock up these pieces but that can discourage shoppers from ever buying these items.
Using Sensormatic tags on merchandise allows customers the freedom to pick up and examine merchandise without jeopardizing the security of the item. There are so many different electronic article surveillance hard tags and labels available from Sensormatic that there is something out there that can protect virtually anything a retailer can sell, including foods. One example of a food safe tag, the Sensormatic APX Microwavable Roll Labels are available for use in grocery stores. The message I want to convey is that there is no reason for retailers to relegate higher dollar merchandise to locking showcases. All that does is tie up store payroll requiring an employee to be available to show merchandise that may or may not be sold. When customers can select what they are interested in and walk around a store to continue shopping they are probably going to purchase that item. Make them wait for service at a locking display case and you could very well lose a sale.
This brings us full circle back to the movement of merchandise. Endcaps are great for getting products into the view of the customer that might not be seen if it is stocked in-line in an aisle among other merchandise. Seasonal products, promotional items and slow-moving items (such as I noted with our videogames) can be overlooked if they are not placed where customers can see them. Quite often these products may be impulse buys that will add to the sales dollars/transaction since the customer did not come in for the item in the first place. It also helps to reduce the potential for lost margin as products have to be marked down when they don’t sell. Getting the biggest bang for the buck for each item should be your objective. High dollar items can be included on these endcap displays with the use of electronic article surveillance anti-theft devices. Without a Sensormatic security system store management does have their hands tied and have to restrict endcaps to lower dollar products to minimize losses if theft takes place.
If you own prime beach front real estate you don’t build a shack on it, you build condos or hotels and earn money from it. Endcaps are considered prime real estate in a store for a reason. These locations drive impulse buys and add-on sales for retailers. Don’t build shacks on the beach when you can build hotels. Use this real estate to sell higher end merchandise and protect those items with Sensormatic tags.
Sensormatic tags are important and we can help you with them. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
Have you ever stopped to think that the use of electronic article surveillance can help drive sales? What I mean is that the use of anti-theft devices to protect merchandise gives managers of businesses the flexibility to move merchandise closer to store entrances than they may have considered doing in the past. You may be wondering, what does moving merchandise have to do with driving sales? I thought about this recently after I made a suggestion to the store manager where I work to move some merchandise. The merchandise (retro video game systems and hand held games) were located on an endcap in the back of the store where they were not selling. I suggested we move them to a main aisle endcap near the front of the store. The manager approved the move and I changed out the endcap in about a half hour. When I returned to work a few days later, sure enough we had sold through some of the merchandise. Because I work part-time for this retailer, it was several days before I returned again but when I did I noted that more units had sold through. Major retailers I have worked for are pretty good about changing endcap planograms but it can be easy to get comfortable and leave them as they are. Since smaller, independent owners have control over their own business they decide when and if they are going to change anything. If a store isn’t using Sensormatic tags to protect merchandise it can be risky to keep higher dollar products near the front where customers can see them. In fact many owners choose to lock up these pieces but that can discourage shoppers from ever buying these items.
Using Sensormatic tags on merchandise allows customers the freedom to pick up and examine merchandise without jeopardizing the security of the item. There are so many different electronic article surveillance hard tags and labels available from Sensormatic that there is something out there that can protect virtually anything a retailer can sell, including foods. One example of a food safe tag, the Sensormatic APX Microwavable Roll Labels are available for use in grocery stores. The message I want to convey is that there is no reason for retailers to relegate higher dollar merchandise to locking showcases. All that does is tie up store payroll requiring an employee to be available to show merchandise that may or may not be sold. When customers can select what they are interested in and walk around a store to continue shopping they are probably going to purchase that item. Make them wait for service at a locking display case and you could very well lose a sale.
This brings us full circle back to the movement of merchandise. Endcaps are great for getting products into the view of the customer that might not be seen if it is stocked in-line in an aisle among other merchandise. Seasonal products, promotional items and slow-moving items (such as I noted with our videogames) can be overlooked if they are not placed where customers can see them. Quite often these products may be impulse buys that will add to the sales dollars/transaction since the customer did not come in for the item in the first place. It also helps to reduce the potential for lost margin as products have to be marked down when they don’t sell. Getting the biggest bang for the buck for each item should be your objective. High dollar items can be included on these endcap displays with the use of electronic article surveillance anti-theft devices. Without a Sensormatic security system store management does have their hands tied and have to restrict endcaps to lower dollar products to minimize losses if theft takes place.
If you own prime beach front real estate you don’t build a shack on it, you build condos or hotels and earn money from it. Endcaps are considered prime real estate in a store for a reason. These locations drive impulse buys and add-on sales for retailers. Don’t build shacks on the beach when you can build hotels. Use this real estate to sell higher end merchandise and protect those items with Sensormatic tags.
Sensormatic tags are important and we can help you with them. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
Sensormatic Labels – 5 WC Blog 731
Stop Shoplifting – 3
When To Choose Between Sensormatic Labels and Hard Tags
When is it better to use Sensormatic labels versus hard tags? I encountered an incident at work the other night that is a prime example of when one can be chosen over the other. I was on the salesfloor of the store where I work answering questions for a customer over the telephone. As I was trying to explain information on a specific computer monitor I happened to glance over my shoulder and saw a shopper closing up a cardboard box that a certain computer charging cable is carried in. All of the other laptop chargers are in thick plastic blister packages and have electronic article surveillance tags source tagged in them. I was suspicious of the customer as he closed up the box and placed it back on the peg hook but I was also busy with the customer on the telephone. I saw no way to interrupt the phone conversation to check on a suspicious action without potentially hurting the reputation of the store with that customer. The only other people in the store were tied up with their own customers so there was no one to call for assistance. When I did finally finish helping the customer on the phone I checked on the box that had been rehung and it was indeed empty.
Sensormatic labels and the hard tags will stop shoplifting but there are differences in how they are placed on merchandise that should influence what products store managers choose to put them on. If merchandise is protected in a hard, plastic blister package a label will provide the protection needed to sound the electronic article surveillance alarm. With ample customer service on the floor, criminals will not have the opportunity to cut into packages to remove the contents. So in these cases packaging and labels work in unison to deter theft. If presented with a choice the other merchandise I like to see labels used to protect are small easy to conceal items such as you find in the health and beauty department. These are too small for hard tags but are still in high demand by thieves and should be protected. Cosmetics are one of the top categories for theft in shrinkage analysis reporting among stores that sell cosmetics. Often store managers that don’t protect these items don’t understand that there are Sensormatic labels designed for this purpose. The HBC (Health, Beauty and Cosmetic) Sheet Label is a narrow label specifically for this category of product. As an ardent supporter of tagging as much as possible in a store, labels are the perfect solution for protecting large quantities of merchandise in a cost effective manner.
Hard tags are reusable and dependable in merchandise protection but there are limitations on what they can be used on and may not make sense for everything. Do you need to put every deck of “Old Maid” children’s cards in Flexible Safers when they pose little if any theft risk? Probably not but what you can do is tear off a label from a sheet and slap it on a box. It may be low risk but now you have virtually eliminated that threat, regardless of how minor, to keep your cards from being stolen. Sensormatic labels are versatile and can be used on almost any product sold in stores. From a deck of “Old Maid” cards to a computer printer to placement on a garment manufacturer hang tag, labels can give more flexibility for store managers in order to stop shoplifting. When a store has both the labels and the hard tags I do suggest using the hard tags when possible on the higher price point goods. If we use the theft incident I referenced earlier a Sensormatic Magnetic Alarming 3-Tone Wrap or Flexible Safer would have been a better option for the Powercord. Either of these would have prevented the crook from easily getting into the box and stealing the contents. IF a store has no other options a label on a high dollar product is better than a lock up case or no tag at all.
As much as we would like to have a one to one employee/customer ratio in our stores we know that is not an option. Sometimes we are pulled in all different directions and shoplifters take advantage of it. Using a Sensormatic security system and the best anti-theft devices for a particular product you can stop shoplifting in your store(s). When the merchandise itself seems too small or too insignificant or you simply don’t keep hard tags on hand, Sensormatic labels are a wonderful all-purpose way to keep products secure. Stay in-stock and making money by using electronic article surveillance devices on ALL your merchandise.
Sensormatic labels are important and we can help you with them. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
When is it better to use Sensormatic labels versus hard tags? I encountered an incident at work the other night that is a prime example of when one can be chosen over the other. I was on the salesfloor of the store where I work answering questions for a customer over the telephone. As I was trying to explain information on a specific computer monitor I happened to glance over my shoulder and saw a shopper closing up a cardboard box that a certain computer charging cable is carried in. All of the other laptop chargers are in thick plastic blister packages and have electronic article surveillance tags source tagged in them. I was suspicious of the customer as he closed up the box and placed it back on the peg hook but I was also busy with the customer on the telephone. I saw no way to interrupt the phone conversation to check on a suspicious action without potentially hurting the reputation of the store with that customer. The only other people in the store were tied up with their own customers so there was no one to call for assistance. When I did finally finish helping the customer on the phone I checked on the box that had been rehung and it was indeed empty.
Sensormatic labels and the hard tags will stop shoplifting but there are differences in how they are placed on merchandise that should influence what products store managers choose to put them on. If merchandise is protected in a hard, plastic blister package a label will provide the protection needed to sound the electronic article surveillance alarm. With ample customer service on the floor, criminals will not have the opportunity to cut into packages to remove the contents. So in these cases packaging and labels work in unison to deter theft. If presented with a choice the other merchandise I like to see labels used to protect are small easy to conceal items such as you find in the health and beauty department. These are too small for hard tags but are still in high demand by thieves and should be protected. Cosmetics are one of the top categories for theft in shrinkage analysis reporting among stores that sell cosmetics. Often store managers that don’t protect these items don’t understand that there are Sensormatic labels designed for this purpose. The HBC (Health, Beauty and Cosmetic) Sheet Label is a narrow label specifically for this category of product. As an ardent supporter of tagging as much as possible in a store, labels are the perfect solution for protecting large quantities of merchandise in a cost effective manner.
Hard tags are reusable and dependable in merchandise protection but there are limitations on what they can be used on and may not make sense for everything. Do you need to put every deck of “Old Maid” children’s cards in Flexible Safers when they pose little if any theft risk? Probably not but what you can do is tear off a label from a sheet and slap it on a box. It may be low risk but now you have virtually eliminated that threat, regardless of how minor, to keep your cards from being stolen. Sensormatic labels are versatile and can be used on almost any product sold in stores. From a deck of “Old Maid” cards to a computer printer to placement on a garment manufacturer hang tag, labels can give more flexibility for store managers in order to stop shoplifting. When a store has both the labels and the hard tags I do suggest using the hard tags when possible on the higher price point goods. If we use the theft incident I referenced earlier a Sensormatic Magnetic Alarming 3-Tone Wrap or Flexible Safer would have been a better option for the Powercord. Either of these would have prevented the crook from easily getting into the box and stealing the contents. IF a store has no other options a label on a high dollar product is better than a lock up case or no tag at all.
As much as we would like to have a one to one employee/customer ratio in our stores we know that is not an option. Sometimes we are pulled in all different directions and shoplifters take advantage of it. Using a Sensormatic security system and the best anti-theft devices for a particular product you can stop shoplifting in your store(s). When the merchandise itself seems too small or too insignificant or you simply don’t keep hard tags on hand, Sensormatic labels are a wonderful all-purpose way to keep products secure. Stay in-stock and making money by using electronic article surveillance devices on ALL your merchandise.
Sensormatic labels are important and we can help you with them. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
Drug Testing-5 WC Blog 636
Employment Drug Screening-5
Overcoming Objections To Employment Drug Screening Part 1
Did you know that drug testing job applicants is legal under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)? https://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/publications/ada18.cfm According to their website, “The ADA does not prevent employers from testing applicants or employees for current illegal drug use.” Were you also aware that there can be pitfalls if an employer is not careful about the way they administer workplace employment drug screening. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) the following are 10 steps to avoid legal problems:
• Consult an employment attorney
• Set clear penalties (for policy violations)
• Put it in writing – Every employee should receive and sign a written copy of your drug-free workplace policy
• Provide Training – They recommend all supervisors are trained on how to detect and respond to workplace drug and alcohol misuse.
• Document employee performance – A documented performance issue often provides a basis for referring workers to employee assistance programs
• Don’t rush to judgement – In the case of behavior that seems impaired they recommend if drug testing is a part of your workplace policy obtaining a verified test result before taking any action.
• Protect privacy – Hold conversations in private away from co-workers.
• Be consistent – Inconsistencies in administration of policies could be considered discrimination.
• Know your employees – When you know your employees it can be easier to identify problems at an early stage.
• Involve employees – Reduce misunderstandings about your drug policy by involving employees in developing a program.
It may seem like a lot for an employer to manage in addition to just running a business but there are multiple reasons in favor of running a drug-free workplace.
Before continuing with the potential pitfalls in an employment drug screening process some of you may be concerned with how you would even start one. Maybe you never thought about it or perhaps you did not think you could afford to test all of your applicants. First, let me clear up one thing you don’t have to drug test all of your job applicants. You only need to do conduct drug testing for those candidates to whom you are ready to make a conditional job offer. The conditional offer then allows you to say you want to hire that person but they must pass, X, Y, or Z which could be a background investigation or drug screening. Hint: always have more than one person in your pool of applicants you are interested in, just in case they don’t pass the investigation or check. Second, employment drug screening is affordable especially when it is conducted with Loss Prevention Systems Inc. as part of their Applicant Management Center. Business owners that use LPSI and the Applicant Management Center have the benefit of a company that has already established a drug testing process for your candidates. There is no need for you to start a new program or try to figure out what paperwork you legally need to complete or where to send someone for testing. As a matter of fact LPSI can assist you in your complete application process and maintain it securely so there no longer a need to create paper files and keep them in order. Rather than worrying about the legal aspects and logistics of testing candidates owners can spend time focused on running a successful store.
So when I look at the potential pitfalls of an employment drug screening program as listed above, what would my biggest concerns be? Well, if LPSI is conducting my program for me I would not feel a need to consult with an employment attorney, cross that off the list. Having everything in writing is also covered by LPSI so that would not be an issue. I would not need to involve my employees in creating a program, LPSI has done that already. My personal concern would be to be consistent in administering corrective actions or discipline, up to and including termination of employment. I would also focus on supervisor training to detect workplace drug and alcohol misuse and not rushing to judgement when a suspicion arises but rather requiring drug testing of the employee if there is reasonable cause.
In part 2 of this article we will explore some of the top reasons employers would and should implement an employment drug screening process. If Loss Prevention Systems Inc. can cover the majority of the legal minefields that could be problematic then all you need to understand is the reasons why you should test candidates before you bring them on your job.
Drug testing is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
Did you know that drug testing job applicants is legal under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)? https://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/publications/ada18.cfm According to their website, “The ADA does not prevent employers from testing applicants or employees for current illegal drug use.” Were you also aware that there can be pitfalls if an employer is not careful about the way they administer workplace employment drug screening. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) the following are 10 steps to avoid legal problems:
• Consult an employment attorney
• Set clear penalties (for policy violations)
• Put it in writing – Every employee should receive and sign a written copy of your drug-free workplace policy
• Provide Training – They recommend all supervisors are trained on how to detect and respond to workplace drug and alcohol misuse.
• Document employee performance – A documented performance issue often provides a basis for referring workers to employee assistance programs
• Don’t rush to judgement – In the case of behavior that seems impaired they recommend if drug testing is a part of your workplace policy obtaining a verified test result before taking any action.
• Protect privacy – Hold conversations in private away from co-workers.
• Be consistent – Inconsistencies in administration of policies could be considered discrimination.
• Know your employees – When you know your employees it can be easier to identify problems at an early stage.
• Involve employees – Reduce misunderstandings about your drug policy by involving employees in developing a program.
It may seem like a lot for an employer to manage in addition to just running a business but there are multiple reasons in favor of running a drug-free workplace.
Before continuing with the potential pitfalls in an employment drug screening process some of you may be concerned with how you would even start one. Maybe you never thought about it or perhaps you did not think you could afford to test all of your applicants. First, let me clear up one thing you don’t have to drug test all of your job applicants. You only need to do conduct drug testing for those candidates to whom you are ready to make a conditional job offer. The conditional offer then allows you to say you want to hire that person but they must pass, X, Y, or Z which could be a background investigation or drug screening. Hint: always have more than one person in your pool of applicants you are interested in, just in case they don’t pass the investigation or check. Second, employment drug screening is affordable especially when it is conducted with Loss Prevention Systems Inc. (LPSI) as part of their Applicant Management Center. Business owners that use LPSI and the Applicant Management Center have the benefit of a company that has already established a drug testing process for your candidates. There is no need for you to start a new program or try to figure out what paperwork you legally need to complete or where to send someone for testing. As a matter of fact LPSI can assist you in your complete application process and maintain it securely so there no longer a need to create paper files and keep them in order. Rather than worrying about the legal aspects and logistics of testing candidates owners can spend time focused on running a successful store.
So when I look at the potential pitfalls of an employment drug screening program as listed above, what would my biggest concerns be? Well, if LPSI is conducting my program for me I would not feel a need to consult with an employment attorney, cross that off the list. Having everything in writing is also covered by LPSI so that would not be an issue. I would not need to involve my employees in creating a program, LPSI has done that already. My personal concern would be to be consistent in administering corrective actions or discipline, up to and including termination of employment. I would also focus on supervisor training to detect workplace drug and alcohol misuse and not rushing to judgement when a suspicion arises but rather requiring drug testing of the employee if there is reasonable cause.
In part 2 of this article we will explore some of the top reasons employers would and should implement an employment drug screening process. If Loss Prevention Systems Inc. can cover the majority of the legal minefields that could be problematic then all you need to understand is the reasons why you should test candidates before you bring them on your job.
Drug testing is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
