Stop shoplifting – 3 wc blog 698
Electronic Article Surveillance – 3
Subscribe To New Retail Ideas But Don’t Give Up Electronic Article Surveillance Security In The Process
I am a strong proponent of retailers being adaptable and trying new things to increase sales and as I see these efforts I also consider whether it will slow or stop shoplifting or internal theft. One trend I have looked at is the online ordering and shipping phenomenon. I am referring to retail orders being sent directly to stores where the order is filled and shipped out or gathered and ready for a customer pick-up. Another trend that I am seeing is retail stores getting customers signed up for subscriptions or auto refills. For the customer these programs make it easy to sign up for auto replenishment of office supplies or ink for printers. The retailer waives shipping fees and the customer sets up a reorder/replenishment schedule. As a sales strategy I think it is a smart method to ensure your customers will continue being supplied by your store. For the customer it is convenient and can save time on making a trip to the store that they may prefer not to make. This can be valuable to the small business owner who can focus on running the business and worry less about running out of paper, pencils, file folders, ink, etc. I would give one word of caution to those business owners thinking this would be a great way to reduce electronic article surveillance tagging, don’t do it. Small retailers that do something like this will still need to use security tags on merchandise.
A question some may ask is, “If my store is able to cater more to auto refill sales can’t I reduce my inventory to a certain extent and worry less about the need to stop shoplifting?” The answer is no, you should not reduce your inventory or your electronic article surveillance tagging. Let’s be clear if you open your doors to the public your store is susceptible to shoplifting. The only difference you should see if subscriptions are to be a part of your sales strategy is an increase in sales. I say this out of concern an owner might consider turning their store(s) into a showroom type of retailer. I know of one retailer that used this business model many years ago and they could not survive in that time and place. The idea was customers would go in and browse, and many items were displayed in showcases. If you decided you wanted something it was either ordered for you then delivered to the store for pick up OR it was in stock and the clerk had to go to a stockroom and pick the item. The mode of operation was different and worked for a time but the retailer did eventually go out of business. Don’t try to go a similar route.
There is a drawback I see to the auto reorder process for stores. The convenience may ensure a certain level of consistency in customer purchases but the subscriptions aren’t a guarantee of sales or orders. Patrons are able to decline a delivery before it is shipped out if they don’t feel they are ready for the merchandise yet. For larger companies this may not be too big an issue since many of their subscriptions will be sent from warehouses anyways. For the small store that product is going to have to come out of the store. If you are having to order to maintain product levels to meet subscriptions it could present a problem of storage space and stock levels. If you have the on-hand units so you are ready for that subscription and it is cancelled it is going to fill up stockroom space. You may also have to fill your floor with that product which means you need to be ready to protect it with electronic article surveillance labels and tags. One final thing to think about with subscription orders is that those customers are not walking into your store(s). You lose the opportunity to engage your customers and the personal touch that can build a great relationship. You also miss the opportunity for add-on sales and impulse buys.
Be ready to look at new trends and determine if they might work for your business model. If you can fit subscription sales into your store plan try it out and see if it works. Be willing to acknowledge if it doesn’t and move on to another idea. As you try new ideas don’t lose sight of theft and shortage concerns. Partner with Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. as you consider new options and get their analysis of risks you may encounter. They can help you stop shoplifting, employee theft and even operational issues that may result. Take calculated risks that don’t increase losses.
Get more information on how to stop shoplifting. Contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
I am a strong proponent of retailers being adaptable and trying new things to increase sales and as I see these efforts I also consider whether it will slow or stop shoplifting or internal theft. One trend I have looked at is the online ordering and shipping phenomenon. I am referring to retail orders being sent directly to stores where the order is filled and shipped out or gathered and ready for a customer pick-up. Another trend that I am seeing is retail stores getting customers signed up for subscriptions or auto refills. For the customer these programs make it easy to sign up for auto replenishment of office supplies or ink for printers. The retailer waives shipping fees and the customer sets up a reorder/replenishment schedule. As a sales strategy I think it is a smart method to ensure your customers will continue being supplied by your store. For the customer it is convenient and can save time on making a trip to the store that they may prefer not to make. This can be valuable to the small business owner who can focus on running the business and worry less about running out of paper, pencils, file folders, ink, etc. I would give one word of caution to those business owners thinking this would be a great way to reduce electronic article surveillance tagging, don’t do it. Small retailers that do something like this will still need to use security tags on merchandise.
A question some may ask is, “If my store is able to cater more to auto refill sales can’t I reduce my inventory to a certain extent and worry less about the need to stop shoplifting?” The answer is no, you should not reduce your inventory or your electronic article surveillance tagging. Let’s be clear if you open your doors to the public your store is susceptible to shoplifting. The only difference you should see if subscriptions are to be a part of your sales strategy is an increase in sales. I say this out of concern an owner might consider turning their store(s) into a showroom type of retailer. I know of one retailer that used this business model many years ago and they could not survive in that time and place. The idea was customers would go in and browse, and many items were displayed in showcases. If you decided you wanted something it was either ordered for you then delivered to the store for pick up OR it was in stock and the clerk had to go to a stockroom and pick the item. The mode of operation was different and worked for a time but the retailer did eventually go out of business. Don’t try to go a similar route.
There is a drawback I see to the auto reorder process for stores. The convenience may ensure a certain level of consistency in customer purchases but the subscriptions aren’t a guarantee of sales or orders. Patrons are able to decline a delivery before it is shipped out if they don’t feel they are ready for the merchandise yet. For larger companies this may not be too big an issue since many of their subscriptions will be sent from warehouses anyways. For the small store that product is going to have to come out of the store. If you are having to order to maintain product levels to meet subscriptions it could present a problem of storage space and stock levels. If you have the on-hand units so you are ready for that subscription and it is cancelled it is going to fill up stockroom space. You may also have to fill your floor with that product which means you need to be ready to protect it with electronic article surveillance labels and tags. One final thing to think about with subscription orders is that those customers are not walking into your store(s). You lose the opportunity to engage your customers and the personal touch that can build a great relationship. You also miss the opportunity for add-on sales and impulse buys.
Be ready to look at new trends and determine if they might work for your business model. If you can fit subscription sales into your store plan try it out and see if it works. Be willing to acknowledge if it doesn’t and move on to another idea. As you try new ideas don’t lose sight of theft and shortage concerns. Partner with Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. as you consider new options and get their analysis of risks you may encounter. They can help you stop shoplifting, employee theft and even operational issues that may result. Take calculated risks that don’t increase losses.
Get more information on how to stop shoplifting. Contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
