I don’t think I will ever completely remove my Assets Protection hat, no matter how long I am out of the field. Any time I am in a store I find I am looking to see if I can spot a shoplifter, or I am evaluating security measures or retail theft prevention strategies. I bring this up because just the other day I was in a grocery store picking up a few things as I waited for my son to get off of work. As I was walking by the meat department I noticed another shopper walk by me with his own shopping cart and he had a single large piece of meat in his cart. The gentleman also had on a rather heavy jacket for the type of day we were experiencing. The temperature required no more than a medium weight jacket. The alarm bells in my head went off and I couldn’t resist following this gentleman. This customer walked a little further and turned down the dish detergent aisle. I walked up behind him as he was adjusting his jacket and I could see that the shopping cart was empty. It was clear that my fellow shopper was not shopping for dish detergent and had not put the meat anywhere but under his clothing. Now, I do know my limitations and I am not one to take a risk for a store I do not work for, but I do confess I can have a sarcastic wit when I want to. As this ‘customer’ started to walk away I loudly asked him if the meat was cold. He turned and looked at me, obviously startled and sped up his pace. I made several more comments about the meat under his coat and reminded him as he went through the checkout lanes that he should not forget to pay for the hidden meat. I will admit I was somewhat disappointed at my inability to shame him into dropping the stolen merchandise. The thing that caught my attention most was the failure of the electronic article surveillance antennas to alarm as the guy left the store. I was puzzled that there appeared to be a security system in place to stop shoplifting but it did not work, at least in this instance.
This incident made me wonder if the store uses Checkpoint labels for their meat products. The Checkpoint EP 4210 food label is compatible with all Checkpoint electronic article surveillance systems so if protected merchandise goes through an electronic article surveillance antenna it will activate the alarm and alert personnel of an attempted theft. These particular Checkpoint labels are able to be placed on meat packaging and can even be placed under the meat soaker pad inside the packaging. The labels are food safe so there is no concern about whether they will damage food product or not.
After we got home, I asked my son about the store alarm system at the door and if he knew whether the store uses Checkpoint labels on the meat. He was not sure about what was or was not tagged but he did mention he could not recall the alarm ever sounding. In his position I am certain he is not familiar with all the security systems of his store, but it disturbed me that he could not recall the alarm ever sounding. The purpose of an electronic article system is to stop shoplifting from happening. Thieves pay attention to whether a store’s system is operational and they also watch to see how personnel respond to alarms. If a store is not keeping their system turned on, testing the systems daily or training personnel on proper alarm response, the electronic article surveillance system becomes useless.
Theft from retailers hurts not only the business, but customers as well. We all pay more for merchandise and groceries because of pilferage. Stop shoplifting from taking place in your store by installing an electronic article surveillance system and using Checkpoint labels on your products.
For more information on Checkpoint labels contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
50 PRODUCTS THAT SHOULD BE PROTECTED WITH CHECKPOINT LABELS – PT 4
You know, I’m really enjoying this series. I wish when I first started in the retail Management and LP business, someone would have put together a list like this for me. I still find items almost weekly that should be secured with Checkpoint Labels, or other security measures, and I’m sure that’s the case with most in my position. We all want to be as proactive to loss reduction as possible, so we’ll continue the series with some more commonly stolen; and even more commonly not-protected items.
16. Toothpaste
If you recall in part 3 of the series, we talked a lot about those home care product and how they are just so appealing to boosters. Toothpaste ranks as one of the top 10 commonly stolen personal use products and again it’s due to the easy of concealment and the large market that exists for the stolen goods. That couple with a lack of EAS labels on most brands, you have a perfect storm brewing for massive losses. You can deter this type of theft with a simple Checkpoint Label. I would suggest placing the label directly on the tube of toothpaste, in lieu of the box, as thieves have gotten pretty wise and I’ve seen an increase in cases where they meticulously remove the tubes from boxes to avoid detection going out the door.
17. Lipstick
From teens, to the elderly that are going play a round of bingo, lipstick is a very popular cosmetic. It’s also incredibly easy to steal, due to the size. Did you know that Checkpoint Labels come in a variety of sizes that can fit just about every need? There are some simple EAS Labels that can be applied to these items to discourage anyone from slipping a tube in their pocket.
18. Headphones
Headphones come in so many shapes and sizes. Whether you carry the large, over the ear line, or the slim in-ear buds, these are popular amongst a wide variety of demographics. They are even more popular amongst the thieves. Fear not, Checkpoint Labels make a great physical deterrence to any would be thief.
19. Cookware
Not too long ago, my girlfriend and I walked into a speciality cookware store, looking for some inexpensive dinnerware. I enjoy cooking, and most of my meals during the week are home cooked, so I don’t mind spending a bit of money on an item that I know will last me several years. If you’ve ever found yourself in the same store, you already know just how expensive some cookware can be! $150 for on pan! That’s a bit much and for that price, it better cook my egg for me… As with any retailer that sells high end items, the risk for shoplifting incidents is always higher, just due to the value of the product. If you sell cookware that is commonly stolen, try using Checkpoint Label to help deter the thieves. Knowing that they will set off the alarm at the exit will usually deter most opportunistic thieves.
20. Thermos Mugs
Yes, believe it or not, I see these get stolen from my stores quite a few times a week. I think mainly the cause is they are not protected in any way shape or form. My particular company doesn’t see the need to use an EAS Label here, so I have to battle the thieves pretty often. You, however, most likely own your store, or at least are a decision maker when it comes to product protection. If you’re struggling with missing inventory, it could be a theft problem. A simple label to the bottom of the mug will prevent most theft.
For more information about Checkpoint Labels, contact us or call 1.8.66.426.0547
You know, I’m really enjoying this series. I wish when I first started in the retail Management and LP business, someone would have put together a list like this for me. I still find items almost weekly that should be secured with Checkpoint Labels, or other security measures, and I’m sure that’s the case with most in my position. We all want to be as proactive to loss reduction as possible, so we’ll continue the series with some more commonly stolen; and even more commonly not-protected items.
16. Toothpaste
If you recall in part 3 of the series, we talked a lot about those home care product and how they are just so appealing to boosters. Toothpaste ranks as one of the top 10 commonly stolen personal use products and again it’s due to the easy of concealment and the large market that exists for the stolen goods. That couple with a lack of EAS labels on most brands, you have a perfect storm brewing for massive losses. You can deter this type of theft with a simple Checkpoint Label. I would suggest placing the label directly on the tube of toothpaste, in lieu of the box, as thieves have gotten pretty wise and I’ve seen an increase in cases where they meticulously remove the tubes from boxes to avoid detection going out the door.
17. Lipstick
From teens, to the elderly that are going play a round of bingo, lipstick is a very popular cosmetic. It’s also incredibly easy to steal, due to the size. Did you know that Checkpoint Labels come in a variety of sizes that can fit just about every need? There are some simple EAS Labels that can be applied to these items to discourage anyone from slipping a tube in their pocket.
18. Headphones
Headphones come in so many shapes and sizes. Whether you carry the large, over the ear line, or the slim in-ear buds, these are popular amongst a wide variety of demographics. They are even more popular amongst the thieves. Fear not, Checkpoint Labels make a great physical deterrence to any would be thief.
19. Cookware
Not too long ago, my girlfriend and I walked into a speciality cookware store, looking for some inexpensive dinnerware. I enjoy cooking, and most of my meals during the week are home cooked, so I don’t mind spending a bit of money on an item that I know will last me several years. If you’ve ever found yourself in the same store, you already know just how expensive some cookware can be! $150 for on pan! That’s a bit much and for that price, it better cook my egg for me… As with any retailer that sells high end items, the risk for shoplifting incidents is always higher, just due to the value of the product. If you sell cookware that is commonly stolen, try using Checkpoint Label to help deter the thieves. Knowing that they will set off the alarm at the exit will usually deter most opportunistic thieves.
20. Thermos Mugs
Yes, believe it or not, I see these get stolen from my stores quite a few times a week. I think mainly the cause is they are not protected in any way shape or form. My particular company doesn’t see the need to use an EAS Label here, so I have to battle the thieves pretty often. You, however, most likely own your store, or at least are a decision maker when it comes to product protection. If you’re struggling with missing inventory, it could be a theft problem. A simple label to the bottom of the mug will prevent most theft.
For more information about Checkpoint Labels, contact us or call 1.8.66.426.0547
50 PRODUCTS THAT SHOULD BE PROTECTED WITH CHECKPOINT LABELS – PT3
Let’s step out of the grocery store arena for just a minute. What about small convenience stores? Surely they have tons of merchandise that are appealing to both the professional shoplifter and the opportunist, right? Of course they do! This is another set of product that the use of Checkpoint Label is an absolute must if you want to keep profits high.
I’ve compiled several items that are popular amongst criminals; how many of these are un-protected in your stores?
11. Razor Blades
Every booster loves unsecured razor blades. These expensive retail items are incredibly easy ton conceal and are even easier to resell once lifted. This is why you see such extreme measures taken by the large retailers. I personally can’t stand the amount of time it takes me to buy razors sometimes… Due to the high volume of theft in this particular category, you should not rely on one single security measure, in my opinion. You should approach this in stages. I would definitely recommend using Checkpoint Labels as a first step, with more security added, such as locking pegs, or Alpha Keepers. I say this because some groups of boosters will not be deterred by one measure. Keep that in mind the next time you are stocking your razor section.
12. Detergent
I still can not believe that detergent is such a heavily boosted item; but it is. Again, the ability for a booster to easily resell this item, and the large demand it carries makes it a prime target for organized groups. Just as we see with razor blades, it is often not enough to solely rely on EAS labels alone to combat theft here. You should use a mixture of hard and soft tags to convince the criminal that the risk is to great. Trust me, boosters are like water; they will go through the path of least resistance, and that’s usually the store with the more lax security system.
13. Soap
Soaps, to include body wash, are again in the category of easily concealable, less likely to be protected and easily resold items. I’ve seen boosters literally empty an entire soap aisle before. The product usually ends up in flea markets and “corner stores”, which give the thieves an easy way to make quick cash. What I’ve found that discourages this is a Checkpoint Label that also contains your store name and store number. Most fences will be unwilling to accept goods if they can be traced back to a specific store where the theft took place. This leaves the individual booster with nowhere the fence the goods, making the theft of the product less desirable.
14. Shampoo
Same as soaps and detergent, an EAS label, especially if you have the store name and number printed on it will discourage a good majority of shoplifters from cleaning you out. :)
15. Deodorant
This one historically hasn’t been that big of an issue for me, however I have many industry peers that say this is there most commonly stolen personal use product. It makes perfect sense. Everybody stinks, but who wants to pay the outrageous prices for deodorant when you can just steal it, or buy it heavily discounted at the flea market. A good EAS label again, can discourage shoplifting.
For more information about Checkpoint Labels, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
Let’s step out of the grocery store arena for just a minute. What about small convenience stores? Surely they have tons of merchandise that are appealing to both the professional shoplifter and the opportunist, right? Of course they do! This is another set of product that the use of Checkpoint Labels is an absolute must if you want to keep profits high. I’ve compiled several items that are popular amongst criminals; how many of these are un-protected in your stores?
11. Razor Blades
Every booster loves unsecured razor blades. These expensive retail items are incredibly easy ton conceal and are even easier to resell once lifted. This is why you see such extreme measures taken by the large retailers. I personally can’t stand the amount of time it takes me to buy razors sometimes… Due to the high volume of theft in this particular category, you should not rely on one single security measure, in my opinion. You should approach this in stages. I would definitely recommend using Checkpoint Labels as a first step, with more security added, such as locking pegs, or Alpha Keepers. I say this because some groups of boosters will not be deterred by one measure. Keep that in mind the next time you are stocking your razor section.
12. Detergent
I still can not believe that detergent is such a heavily boosted item; but it is. Again, the ability for a booster to easily resell this item, and the large demand it carries makes it a prime target for organized groups. Just as we see with razor blades, it is often not enough to solely rely on EAS labels alone to combat theft here. You should use a mixture of hard and soft tags to convince the criminal that the risk is to great. Trust me, boosters are like water; they will go through the path of least resistance, and that’s usually the store with the more lax security system.
13. Soap
Soaps, to include body wash, are again in the category of easily concealable, less likely to be protected and easily resold items. I’ve seen boosters literally empty an entire soap aisle before. The product usually ends up in flea markets and “corner stores”, which give the thieves an easy way to make quick cash. What I’ve found that discourages this is a Checkpoint Label that also contains your store name and store number. Most fences will be unwilling to accept goods if they can be traced back to a specific store where the theft took place. This leaves the individual booster with nowhere the fence the goods, making the theft of the product less desirable.
14. Shampoo
Same as soaps and detergent, an EAS label, especially if you have the store name and number printed on it will discourage a good majority of shoplifters from cleaning you out. :)
15. Deodorant
This one historically hasn’t been that big of an issue for me, however I have many industry peers that say this is there most commonly stolen personal use product. It makes perfect sense. Everybody stinks, but who wants to pay the outrageous prices for deodorant when you can just steal it, or buy it heavily discounted at the flea market. A good EAS label again, can discourage shoplifting.
For more information about Checkpoint Labels, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
50 ITEMS THAT SHOULD BE PROTECTED WITH CHECKPOINT LABELS – PT2
We started our last segment with 5 common grocery items that should be protected with Checkpoint Labels in order to deter shoplifting. I’m going to continue on that theme with several more commonly stolen grocery items that retailers often overlook with developing their product protection strategies.
6. Bacon
Yes, the almighty bacon. You may not think twice, but the higher quality packs can sell upwards of $10-$15 and higher. That’s a lot of scratch for a bit of fat. A strategically placed Checkpoint Label will deter any would-be thief from attempting to steal your bacon.
7. Prepared Foods
Most grocers have a prepared food section. Small plate lunches, packaged sides such as red beans and rice, or Mac and Cheese are staples of this area. Most are prepared in house and displayed in plastic containers. These are great money making items and can really increase margins in your store, as they appeal to hungry customers who pass by and smell the deliciousness. If you’re not using EAS labels here, you are opening yourself up to a ton of loss. These items are incredibly easy to swipe.
8. Pet Food
Let’s not forget about our four legged friends. They have to eat too! While I’ve never run across a shoplifting basset hound, or a true cat burglar, I can guarantee some dishonest owners are swiping your pet food, especially the more expensive, organic varieties. The most common form of theft I’ve seen here is the old bottom of the basket trick. This can easily be detected and stopped by using Checkpoint Labels on your stock. This will sound the alarm at the doors and keep the kibble in your pockets.
9. Alcohol Gift Sets
I’m in a rather unique area of the world. Here in southern Louisiana, I can walk into any grocery store, big box retailer or corner pharmacy and purchase hard liquor. Yep, that’s right, there are no such things as liquor stores around here. It is still strange to me when I travel out of state and can’t go down to the pharmacy and buy a bottle of spirits. You’ve all probably seen those gift sets that are most prevalent during the holidays. Choice alcohol that comes packaged in a box, usually with a few shot glasses. It’s impossible to secure these with bottle locks, or similar items, but a Checkpoint label works wonders. The EAS Label can be easily applied to both the inside of the box, as well as directly on the bottle, to discourage any type of theft.
10. High End Chocolate
Ever walk into one of those speciality chocolate stores in the mall, and wonder who in their right mind is paying $35 for a bar of candy? Me too… I’m also positive that those stores see a ton of shoplifting as a result of those values. EAS Labels make for an outstanding deterrent to theft here. A thief isn’t going to risk removing the chocolate from its protective packaging, decreasing the likelihood of a theft.
For more information about Checkpoint Labels, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
We started our last segment with 5 common grocery items that should be protected with Checkpoint Labels in order to deter shoplifting. I’m going to continue on that theme with several more commonly stolen grocery items that retailers often overlook with developing their product protection strategies.
6. Bacon
Yes, the almighty bacon. You may not think twice, but the higher quality packs can sell upwards of $10-$15 and higher. That’s a lot of scratch for a bit of fat. A strategically placed Checkpoint Label will deter any would-be thief from attempting to steal your bacon.
7. Prepared Foods
Most grocers have a prepared food section. Small plate lunches, packaged sides such as red beans and rice, or Mac and Cheese are staples of this area. Most are prepared in house and displayed in plastic containers. These are great money making items and can really increase margins in your store, as they appeal to hungry customers who pass by and smell the deliciousness. If you’re not using EAS labels here, you are opening yourself up to a ton of loss. These items are incredibly easy to swipe.
8. Pet Food
Let’s not forget about our four legged friends. They have to eat too! While I’ve never run across a shoplifting basset hound, or a true cat burglar, I can guarantee some dishonest owners are swiping your pet food, especially the more expensive, organic varieties. The most common form of theft I’ve seen here is the old bottom of the basket trick. This can easily be detected and stopped by using Checkpoint Labels on your stock. This will sound the alarm at the doors and keep the kibble in your pockets.
9. Alcohol Gift Sets
I’m in a rather unique area of the world. Here in southern Louisiana, I can walk into any grocery store, big box retailer or corner pharmacy and purchase hard liquor. Yep, that’s right, there are no such things as liquor stores around here. It is still strange to me when I travel out of state and can’t go down to the pharmacy and buy a bottle of spirits. You’ve all probably seen those gift sets that are most prevalent during the holidays. Choice alcohol that comes packaged in a box, usually with a few shot glasses. It’s impossible to secure these with bottle locks, or similar items, but a Checkpoint label works wonders. The EAS Label can be easily applied to both the inside of the box, as well as directly on the bottle, to discourage any type of theft.
10. High End Chocolate
Ever walk into one of those speciality chocolate stores in the mall, and wonder who in their right mind is paying $35 for a bar of candy? Me too… I’m also positive that those stores see a ton of shoplifting as a result of those values. EAS Labels make for an outstanding deterrent to theft here. A thief isn’t going to risk removing the chocolate from its protective packaging, decreasing the likelihood of a theft.
For more information about Checkpoint Labels, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
THE GREAT DEBATE – CHECKPOINT SYSTEMS
I often hear the same questions from managers. “Should I used a hard tag, or label to secure product x?” Sometimes it is a no brainer depending on the item in question. The greatest debate I have internally is on securing apparel merchandise. What is more effective, a checkpoint tag, or a checkpoint label?
Remember that I am only speaking to apparel in this instance. For me, personally, I always go with the checkpoint tag. I can easily apply/remove the tag to whatever I want. I can recycle them in store and I can always “up” the level of security on certain high risk items by using something like an ink tag. It’s cost effective since I don’t have to keep re-ordering supplies, since we just reuse them in the store. I find that the hard tag is more visible, which provides a better deterrent to would-be thieves. The hard tags also come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors, meaning I can always find a solution that blends in with the store merchandising plan.
Checkpoint labels are great in their own respect as well. One thing the tags can’t do is be priced and marked with a barcode. This ability, when paired with source tagging, really can help the store cut down on overhead costs. I can also covertly place labels on product, like inside the pockets of denim jeans, or under the brim of a hat.
The draw back on the Checkpoint tags is that if you’re not careful, you can wind up damaging the garment. If you have lazy employees who are careless, you will have some very unhappy customers. A thief with a descent set of pliers can easily defeat the tags if given enough opportunity. The tags are also very visible. While this has never been an issue for me, I know some retailers don’t like to have visible security measures, as they feel as it detracts from their branding and image.
Likewise, with Checkpoint labels, there are some points to consider as well. If a thief spots the tag, it can be removed rather easily. Unlike hard tags, they cannot be recycled in store. I’ve never had this be an issue for me, but for a smaller store it could be something to consider. The labels, however are a great “gateway” device into the world of physical security measures. For some stores, the labels alone will dry up most of their thefts. If they don’t, you can always look to upgrade to a different tool for any specific problems you may be having.
It is important for you, as a retailer to secure your apparel merchandise. Clothing is a magnet for thieves and if you’re un-protected, you will likely be seen as a soft target. While I don’t think there is a right or wrong answer to the proper tagging of clothing, I think any good manager will see that a good product protection strategy would include both types of tags. You may get into a situation where a hard tag may not be appropriate, or won’t make sense. Likewise for a soft tag. That shouldn’t mean that the product goes unprotected, though. You have to do what makes sense in your store, for the specific merchandise that you carry. I hope you’ve found these points to be helpful as you continue to build your protection strategy and seek to eliminate losses caused by external theft.
For more information about Checkpoint Systems, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
I often hear the same questions from managers. “Should I used a hard tag, or label to secure product x?” Sometimes it is a no brainer depending on the item in question. The greatest debate I have internally is on securing apparel merchandise. What is more effective, a checkpoint tag, or a checkpoint label?
Remember that I am only speaking to apparel in this instance. For me, personally, I always go with the checkpoint tag. I can easily apply/remove the tag to whatever I want. I can recycle them in store and I can always “up” the level of security on certain high risk items by using something like an ink tag. It’s cost effective since I don’t have to keep re-ordering supplies, since we just reuse them in the store. I find that the hard tag is more visible, which provides a better deterrent to would-be thieves. The hard tags also come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors, meaning I can always find a solution that blends in with the store merchandising plan.
Checkpoint labels are great in their own respect as well. One thing the tags can’t do is be priced and marked with a barcode. This ability, when paired with source tagging, really can help the store cut down on overhead costs. I can also covertly place labels on product, like inside the pockets of denim jeans, or under the brim of a hat.
The draw back on the Checkpoint tags is that if you’re not careful, you can wind up damaging the garment. If you have lazy employees who are careless, you will have some very unhappy customers. A thief with a descent set of pliers can easily defeat the tags if given enough opportunity. The tags are also very visible. While this has never been an issue for me, I know some retailers don’t like to have visible security measures, as they feel as it detracts from their branding and image.
Likewise, with Checkpoint labels, there are some points to consider as well. If a thief spots the tag, it can be removed rather easily. Unlike hard tags, they cannot be recycled in store. I’ve never had this be an issue for me, but for a smaller store it could be something to consider. The labels, however are a great “gateway” device into the world of physical security measures. For some stores, the labels alone will dry up most of their thefts. If they don’t, you can always look to upgrade to a different tool for any specific problems you may be having.
It is important for you, as a retailer to secure your apparel merchandise. Clothing is a magnet for thieves and if you’re un-protected, you will likely be seen as a soft target. While I don’t think there is a right or wrong answer to the proper tagging of clothing, I think any good manager will see that a good product protection strategy would include both types of tags. You may get into a situation where a hard tag may not be appropriate, or won’t make sense. Likewise for a soft tag. That shouldn’t mean that the product goes unprotected, though. You have to do what makes sense in your store, for the specific merchandise that you carry. I hope you’ve found these points to be helpful as you continue to build your protection strategy and seek to eliminate losses caused by external theft.
For more information about Checkpoint Systems, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
