MAKING INVENTORY GREAT AGAIN
Inventory doesn’t have to be pain, I promise. If you know what to do, are well prepared and have a good team in place, inventory can actually be fun! Every year I lend my advice to my 25 stores in the form of a conference call and since you’re smart enough to be reading this, I’ll let you in on the secrets to a smooth night as well. Not is inventory time a perfect opportunity to clean your on-hand counts, it’s also a great time to ensure your checkpoint system is at the top of its game.
Prep and Prep Early
There’s a whole lot that goes into inventory prep and isn’t something you can just do in one or two days. Prepping for inventory should be a year-round task. This includes keeping your warehouses organized, back-stock constantly purged and commons areas cleared out on a normal basis. If you’re a clothing store, it should be a daily task to ensure all garments have barcodes/pricing indicators. This helps with selling the item and help in the counting process. This also goes for your checkpoint tags. While you’re out checking each and every rack for barcodes, make sure your team has a box full of checkpoint tags to snap on any garments that don’t have them. You’re already going through every piece of clothing; why not use this time to your advantage?
Have a plan
Inventories follow a basic routine. Lay area tickets, scan. Variances. When you first lay your area tickets, do so in a logical manner. Each part of the store should be assigned a numbered group depending on your specific set-up (clothing – 3000, shoes – 2000, etc). This way, if you are missing an area ticket late in the count, you can easily identify where in the store it should be. Also, when laying tickets, do them in numerical order and every 4 – 8 feet of shelf space. Try to stay consistent on each aisle so the counting team doesn’t get confused and miscount. Again, incorporate your checkpoint system into this process. There aren’t too many times a year that you put your hands on each and every piece of inventory. Make it count!
Top-Stock/Back-stock/warehouse
A day prior to counting, it’s a wise idea to “pre-count” your back-stock and warehouse merchandise. This will save you tons of time during the actual count. You’ll have to manage this a little so when items are sold during the day, they are removed from your pre-count sheet. Don’t forget about any outside containers, or off-site storage areas. If you store clothing in your warehouses, I’d suggest pre-counting this a day or so before inventory as well. The more you pre-count, the easier the actual inventory night is. You know what else you can do while you’re counting your warehouse? Yep, you guessed it! Use this time to apply some checkpoint tags to those items you hadn’t gotten to yet!
Overnight
I can’t stress this enough. Do your count overnight, when there are no customers in the store. I hate when I see stores trying to conduct inventory during the day. There are just too many distractions to contend with during business hours. At night, there are no customers, no checkpoint system alarms,no phone calls, no drama and no fussing. It allows you and your counters to focus 100% to the task at hand – getting your inventory correct.
Variances
Once you count your store, the computer probably gives you a variance report. This generally shows you what you counted and what the books showed you should have in the store. So, at what variance do you spend time and research the discrepancies? Well, it depends and you have to use some common sense. Most big-box stores don’t chase anything less than $250. You may want to set that threshold a little lower or higher.
Mistakes do happen during inventory and you’ll never, ever, no matter what anyone tells you, or what a third-party business may try to sell you, get an inventory 100% accurate. Humans conduct the count. Humans conduct the variance. There will always exists the inherent human error, but by following some of these tips, you could save yourself a good deal of grief, heartache and a few sleepless nights.
Need information on Checkpoint Systems? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
Inventory doesn’t have to be pain, I promise. If you know what to do, are well prepared and have a good team in place, inventory can actually be fun! Every year I lend my advice to my 25 stores in the form of a conference call and since you’re smart enough to be reading this, I’ll let you in on the secrets to a smooth night as well. Not is inventory time a perfect opportunity to clean your on-hand counts, it’s also a great time to ensure your Checkpoint System is at the top of its game.
Prep and Prep
Early There’s a whole lot that goes into inventory prep and isn’t something you can just do in one or two days. Prepping for inventory should be a year-round task. This includes keeping your warehouses organized, back-stock constantly purged and commons areas cleared out on a normal basis. If you’re a clothing store, it should be a daily task to ensure all garments have barcodes/pricing indicators. This helps with selling the item and help in the counting process. This also goes for your Checkpoint tags. While you’re out checking each and every rack for barcodes, make sure your team has a box full of Checkpoint tags to snap on any garments that don’t have them. You’re already going through every piece of clothing; why not use this time to your advantage?
Have a plan
Inventories follow a basic routine. Lay area tickets, scan. Variances. When you first lay your area tickets, do so in a logical manner. Each part of the store should be assigned a numbered group depending on your specific set-up (clothing – 3000, shoes – 2000, etc). This way, if you are missing an area ticket late in the count, you can easily identify where in the store it should be. Also, when laying tickets, do them in numerical order and every 4 – 8 feet of shelf space. Try to stay consistent on each aisle so the counting team doesn’t get confused and miscount. Again, incorporate your Checkpoint System into this process. There aren’t too many times a year that you put your hands on each and every piece of inventory. Make it count!
Top-Stock/Back-stock/Warehouse
A day prior to counting, it’s a wise idea to “pre-count” your back-stock and warehouse merchandise. This will save you tons of time during the actual count. You’ll have to manage this a little so when items are sold during the day, they are removed from your pre-count sheet. Don’t forget about any outside containers, or off-site storage areas. If you store clothing in your warehouses, I’d suggest pre-counting this a day or so before inventory as well. The more you pre-count, the easier the actual inventory night is. You know what else you can do while you’re counting your warehouse? Yep, you guessed it! Use this time to apply some Checkpoint tags to those items you hadn’t gotten to yet!
Overnight
I can’t stress this enough. Do your count overnight, when there are no customers in the store. I hate when I see stores trying to conduct inventory during the day. There are just too many distractions to contend with during business hours. At night, there are no customers, no Checkpoint system alarms,no phone calls, no drama and no fussing. It allows you and your counters to focus 100% to the task at hand – getting your inventory correct.
Variances
Once you count your store, the computer probably gives you a variance report. This generally shows you what you counted and what the books showed you should have in the store. So, at what variance do you spend time and research the discrepancies? Well, it depends and you have to use some common sense. Most big-box stores don’t chase anything less than $250. You may want to set that threshold a little lower or higher.
Mistakes do happen during inventory and you’ll never, ever, no matter what anyone tells you, or what a third-party business may try to sell you, get an inventory 100% accurate. Humans conduct the count. Humans conduct the variance. There will always exists the inherent human error, but by following some of these tips, you could save yourself a good deal of grief, heartache and a few sleepless nights.
Need information on Checkpoint Systems? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
AA Blog 13
Checkpoint labels: 5
Retail Theft Prevention: 3
Checkpoint Systems: 3
Checkpoint Labels Provide An Innovative Way To Protect All Your Products
Do you ever feel like you are struggling to stay relevant in the loss prevention community? Do you struggle to prevent shoplifting and increase profit? As a member of the Loss Prevention Community, I have done my fair share of research on the topic and the products available to mitigate my risk. I have come to realize that our economy has a direct correlation with our shoplifting rates. According to the National Association for Shoplifting Prevention, there are approximately 27 million shoplifters in our Nation and more than ten million shoplifters have been caught in the last 5 years. More than likely these statistics are based on arrest records, and considering shoplifters acknowledge that they are only caught 1 out 48 times and only prosecuted 50% of the time, that number is probably not an accurate representation of the true problem facing our Nation. As our economy suffers, it increases the need for retail theft prevention, in order to detect this type of activity. Desperate people are more likely to steal out of necessity and will take anything that is essential to improving their personal situation. This results in the theft of items you wouldn’t normally see as high risk such as: medicine, food, or personal hygiene items. That is why it is so important for those of us in loss prevention to adapt to market changes and trends so we can continue to expand our loss prevention programs, through the use of innovative products. Checkpoint Labels can provide the added security you need for a reasonable price.
If you want to enhance your retail theft prevention program Checkpoint labels are a convenient way to protect all of your products. Checkpoint Systems have created Enhanced Performance Labels that serve multiple purposes and can provide coverage for any item regardless of type or size. Checkpoint labels have EAS integration and are designed to improve your detection capability. They offer round labels for your medicine, vitamins, cosmetics and hygiene products; or small square or rectangular labels as small as a postage stamp, to cover any size item. In our retail store we use these labels on everything. We started using these on our vitamins and high end medicine after we had a large influx of theft of these products. Checkpoint Systems also produce a clear label that can be affixed directly over the product’s barcode. The clear labels can be easily affixed without obscuring the product while maintaining a level of discretion for better detection capability. We use the clear labels on our cosmetics because they are difficult to detect by the average shoplifter and provide the added security we need. The Enhanced Performance labels are printer ready so you can customize them with your specific business logo or pricing barcode. This allows for a multifaceted label that can serve all your needs in one product. We specifically like the printing capability because it saves us money to print them ourselves and allows us to customize them to meet our business needs. So do yourself a favor do some research of your own so you can better prepare yourself and your business for the escalating theft plaguing our society.
Checkpoint Systems provide various options when it comes to retail theft prevention, all of which can help reduce shrinkage, and increase profit. I know in our store, Checkpoint labels are an integral part of our loss prevention program. I have seen the results first hand. Our fluctuating economy will continue to impact our industry and how we do business, which is why our knowledge of how to mitigate our risk is equally important. Technology is ever-changing, and requires continuous education on the resources available, so we can protect our businesses and improve customer satisfaction.
Need information on Checkpoint Labels? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
Do you ever feel like you are struggling to stay relevant in the loss prevention community? Do you struggle to prevent shoplifting and increase profit? As a member of the Loss Prevention Community, I have done my fair share of research on the topic and the products available to mitigate my risk. I have come to realize that our economy has a direct correlation with our shoplifting rates. According to the National Association for Shoplifting Prevention, there are approximately 27 million shoplifters in our Nation and more than ten million shoplifters have been caught in the last 5 years. More than likely these statistics are based on arrest records, and considering shoplifters acknowledge that they are only caught 1 out 48 times and only prosecuted 50% of the time, that number is probably not an accurate representation of the true problem facing our Nation. As our economy suffers, it increases the need for retail theft prevention, in order to detect this type of activity. Desperate people are more likely to steal out of necessity and will take anything that is essential to improving their personal situation. This results in the theft of items you wouldn’t normally see as high risk such as: medicine, food, or personal hygiene items. That is why it is so important for those of us in loss prevention to adapt to market changes and trends so we can continue to expand our loss prevention programs, through the use of innovative products. Checkpoint Labels can provide the added security you need for a reasonable price.
If you want to enhance your retail theft prevention program Checkpoint labels are a convenient way to protect all of your products. Checkpoint Systems have created Enhanced Performance Labels that serve multiple purposes and can provide coverage for any item regardless of type or size. Checkpoint labels have EAS integration and are designed to improve your detection capability. They offer round labels for your medicine, vitamins, cosmetics and hygiene products; or small square or rectangular labels as small as a postage stamp, to cover any size item. In our retail store we use these labels on everything. We started using these on our vitamins and high end medicine after we had a large influx of theft of these products. Checkpoint Systems also produce a clear label that can be affixed directly over the product’s barcode. The clear labels can be easily affixed without obscuring the product while maintaining a level of discretion for better detection capability. We use the clear labels on our cosmetics because they are difficult to detect by the average shoplifter and provide the added security we need. The Enhanced Performance labels are printer ready so you can customize them with your specific business logo or pricing barcode. This allows for a multifaceted label that can serve all your needs in one product. We specifically like the printing capability because it saves us money to print them ourselves and allows us to customize them to meet our business needs. So do yourself a favor do some research of your own so you can better prepare yourself and your business for the escalating theft plaguing our society.
Checkpoint Systems provide various options when it comes to retail theft prevention, all of which can help reduce shrinkage, and increase profit. I know in our store, Checkpoint labels are an integral part of our loss prevention program. I have seen the results first hand. Our fluctuating economy will continue to impact our industry and how we do business, which is why our knowledge of how to mitigate our risk is equally important. Technology is ever-changing, and requires continuous education on the resources available, so we can protect our businesses and improve customer satisfaction.
Need information on Checkpoint Labels? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
Checkpoint Security System-4 WC Blog 309
Checkpoint Tags-3
Stop Shoplifting-3
A Checkpoint System Delivers Shortage Reduction And Increased Sales Simultaneously
I recently read an article that made me want to shout “HALLELUJAH!” The article was discussing the suggestion some make that they can cover store merchandise shrinkage with increased sales. The writer did not discount the value of increasing sales to reduce the impact of shortage, but he made several cogent points that I found myself nodding in agreement to. In the article, “Relying on Sales Won’t Eliminate Causes of Shrinkage”, by Adam Smith, CFE, CFI, dated Feb 16, 2017 in LPMINSIDER magazine, Mr. Smith uses an illustration of a store with $1 million dollars in sales and a 2% shrinkage as a percent to sales. He demonstrates how an increase in sales does in fact reduce shrink, but likewise a store with declining sales sees an increase in shrink. A little further in the article he points out that it took “a 9% sales increase to break a .1% reduction in shrink” (emphasis mine). His overall point is that there has to be balance between increasing sales and a continued focus on shortage reduction. I agree with a strategy of driving sales and improving shrinkage and I would argue that stores can impact both when they invest in a Checkpoint Security System.
Retail theft prevention includes the deterrence of employee theft and efforts to stop shoplifting. A Checkpoint Security System involves the use of Checkpoint tags on products making it clear to would-be thieves that attempting to take an item will cause an alarm at a Checkpoint electronic article surveillance (EAS) tower near the front doors of a store. Since store associates are generally responsible for more theft than shoplifters, the tags act as a deterrent to them as much as they do to shoplifters. The EAS towers activate a loud alarm signal and flashing lights when Checkpoint tags are carried close to them. This alarm provides warning to sales associates that an attempt to steal may be in process and they can conduct receipt checks to recover merchandise before it is walked out the door. In this way they do stop shoplifting and demonstrate to criminals that the store takes theft seriously.
A Checkpoint security system is as much a sales driver as it is a reducer of shrink. Often stores lock up merchandise in display cases or reduce quantities of merchandise on a store shelf and it does work. It is more difficult to steal merchandise when it is in a showcase and limiting quantities on a shelf does reduce how much can be stolen at one time, however I can tell you from experience neither one will completely stop shoplifting or employee theft. It also hinders the customer’s access to merchandise and therefore has a negative impact on sales. Customers don’t want to wait for employees to come to their assistance to open a display case in order to browse merchandise. Often it is annoying to have to point to something, ask to look at it, then have it put back so you can look at the next item. Usually retailers allow no more than two items out of a lockup case at any given time so it is a back and forth game. When that locked up merchandise can be protected with retail theft prevention tags and devices and removed from a lock up display customers can browse at their convenience and carry items with them while they continue to shop. When they are ready they check out without waiting for an associate to bring an item to the checkout counter.
Reduced merchandise facings or quantities to deter theft can also limit the customer who may want more of an item but chooses not to look for help. Few people will wander through a store to find assistance to find out if there is more of an item in a stockroom. Today’s consumer tends to want in and out of a store in a hurry and has little patience for waiting. If the consumer sees they have picked up the last item, even if they wanted another they don’t wait to see if someone will check on it for them and the store loses that sale.
A Checkpoint Security System can stop shoplifting from taking place and reduce shortage in the process. Checkpoint tags can give you confidence to fill the salesfloor, improve store in-stocks and make merchandise accessible, leading to increased sales and profit.
Get more information on Checkpoint Systems, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
I recently read an article that made me want to shout “HALLELUJAH!” The article was discussing the suggestion some make that they can cover store merchandise shrinkage with increased sales. The writer did not discount the value of increasing sales to reduce the impact of shortage, but he made several cogent points that I found myself nodding in agreement to. In the article, “Relying on Sales Won’t Eliminate Causes of Shrinkage”, by Adam Smith, CFE, CFI, dated Feb 16, 2017 in LPMINSIDER magazine, Mr. Smith uses an illustration of a store with $1 million dollars in sales and a 2% shrinkage as a percent to sales. He demonstrates how an increase in sales does in fact reduce shrink, but likewise a store with declining sales sees an increase in shrink. A little further in the article he points out that it took “a 9% sales increase to break a .1% reduction in shrink” (emphasis mine). His overall point is that there has to be balance between increasing sales and a continued focus on shortage reduction. I agree with a strategy of driving sales and improving shrinkage and I would argue that stores can impact both when they invest in a Checkpoint Security System.
Retail theft prevention includes the deterrence of employee theft and efforts to stop shoplifting. A Checkpoint Security System involves the use of Checkpoint tags on products making it clear to would-be thieves that attempting to take an item will cause an alarm at a Checkpoint electronic article surveillance (EAS) tower near the front doors of a store. Since store associates are generally responsible for more theft than shoplifters, the tags act as a deterrent to them as much as they do to shoplifters. The EAS towers activate a loud alarm signal and flashing lights when Checkpoint tags are carried close to them. This alarm provides warning to sales associates that an attempt to steal may be in process and they can conduct receipt checks to recover merchandise before it is walked out the door. In this way they do stop shoplifting and demonstrate to criminals that the store takes theft seriously.
A Checkpoint security system is as much a sales driver as it is a reducer of shrink. Often stores lock up merchandise in display cases or reduce quantities of merchandise on a store shelf and it does work. It is more difficult to steal merchandise when it is in a showcase and limiting quantities on a shelf does reduce how much can be stolen at one time, however I can tell you from experience neither one will completely stop shoplifting or employee theft. It also hinders the customer’s access to merchandise and therefore has a negative impact on sales. Customers don’t want to wait for employees to come to their assistance to open a display case in order to browse merchandise. Often it is annoying to have to point to something, ask to look at it, then have it put back so you can look at the next item. Usually retailers allow no more than two items out of a lockup case at any given time so it is a back and forth game. When that locked up merchandise can be protected with retail theft prevention tags and devices and removed from a lock up display customers can browse at their convenience and carry items with them while they continue to shop. When they are ready they check out without waiting for an associate to bring an item to the checkout counter.
Reduced merchandise facings or quantities to deter theft can also limit the customer who may want more of an item but chooses not to look for help. Few people will wander through a store to find assistance to find out if there is more of an item in a stockroom. Today’s consumer tends to want in and out of a store in a hurry and has little patience for waiting. If the consumer sees they have picked up the last item, even if they wanted another they don’t wait to see if someone will check on it for them and the store loses that sale.
A Checkpoint Security System can stop shoplifting from taking place and reduce shortage in the process. Checkpoint tags can give you confidence to fill the salesfloor, improve store in-stocks and make merchandise accessible, leading to increased sales and profit.
Get more information on Checkpoint Systems, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
Checkpoint System-4 WC Blog 307
Retail Theft Prevention-3
Stop Shoplifting-3
Responding To A Checkpoint System EAS Alarm Can Be Intimidating; Train Your Employees How To Approach Customers With Confidence And A Smile
There are many situations in retail where employees have encounters that can be uncomfortable, especially when they aren’t trained on how to approach people. I have seen customers become defensive when a cashier catches a ticket switch while ringing a sale. The employee became intimidated by the customer’s attitude. As a Manager On Duty I have had to deal with customers who have become angry when I wouldn’t allow a full refund for an item because they had no receipt. I have seen employees wave at a customer who set off an electronic article surveillance (EAS) pedestal rather than have to try to resolve the cause of an alarm. There have also been instances where an employee did approach a shopper who set off a tower alarm and the employee’s attitude created a tense situation. For retail theft prevention to be effective store owners and managers need to conduct ongoing training with staff on how to effectively handle conflict or de-escalate situations appropriately, especially with regard to events involving Checkpoint Systems.
A Checkpoint System is a tool that is only as effective as the store team using it. The retail theft prevention system itself is a combination of EAS pedestals installed at entry/exit doors and other key locations in a store, and the use of protective EAS tags and labels placed on merchandise. There are also deactivation pads located at checkout lanes and detachment tools to remove hard tags from merchandise. The pedestals alarm when tagged merchandise is carried near them and alert employees that a possible theft is taking place. Tags and labels provide the protection for merchandise ensuring that if a shoplifter attempts to steal product the tower alarm will be activated. Deactivation pads and detachment tools remove hard tags or “de-tune” soft tags to ensure paid merchandise won’t inadvertently cause an alarm and be a customer distraction. If your team isn’t properly trained to use this tool you degrade the effectiveness of your system to deter theft and prevent shoplifting in your store.
What do I mean? Isn’t a retail theft prevention system going to stop shoplifting once it is installed? Just having a system will deter a certain amount of shoplifting theft, the casual shoplifter generally doesn’t want to risk setting off an EAS pedestal alarm and chance being caught. It is crucial that your employees are trained in properly responding to pedestal alarm activations to get the most out of your system and that means knowing how to approach customers and resolve alarm events. Training will also make approaching customers who have set off an alarm much easier to do.
Frequently, the EAS tower alarm sound will stop shoplifting by startling a dishonest customer and they drop the goods they had and run. But not every thief runs and not every alarm is due to an attempted theft. Employees who are not properly trained to respond can be uncomfortable or even scared to have to interact with the customer who caused the event. Spend time teaching associates to walk to the doors, smile and begin a conversation with a “hello”. They can then ask about the customer’s purchases, did they buy something that may not have deactivated at the register properly? Follow-up with the question, “Do you mind if I see your receipt to try to figure out what’s causing this alarm?” By not sounding like an accusation is being made, it de-escalates the situation by making it appear an error has taken place. By showing concern that an error may have taken place I have even been able to help a customer find that tags from a prior purchase at another store were never deactivated. I have found hidden tags in wallets and the customer said they regularly were setting off alarms and never knew why. For the person who WAS trying to shoplift, giving them a potential way out by approaching and suggesting maybe they forgot to have something rung up removes the suggestion they had the intention of stealing (even if that was their intent). This is an effective method of getting the merchandise back (which is what the tower is supposed to do) and getting the crook out of your building.
Give your employees the proper training and they can stop shoplifting when the Checkpoint system alarms go off. You also give your employees the confidence that interactions at the doors don’t have to be confrontational and they will be more willing to step up and respond to those alarms.
Need information on a Checkpoint system? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
There are many situations in retail where employees have encounters that can be uncomfortable, especially when they aren’t trained on how to approach people. I have seen customers become defensive when a cashier catches a ticket switch while ringing a sale. The employee became intimidated by the customer’s attitude. As a Manager On Duty I have had to deal with customers who have become angry when I wouldn’t allow a full refund for an item because they had no receipt. I have seen employees wave at a customer who set off an electronic article surveillance (EAS) pedestal rather than have to try to resolve the cause of an alarm. There have also been instances where an employee did approach a shopper who set off a tower alarm and the employee’s attitude created a tense situation. For retail theft prevention to be effective store owners and managers need to conduct ongoing training with staff on how to effectively handle conflict or de-escalate situations appropriately, especially with regard to events involving Checkpoint Systems.
A Checkpoint System is a tool that is only as effective as the store team using it. The retail theft prevention system itself is a combination of EAS pedestals installed at entry/exit doors and other key locations in a store, and the use of protective EAS tags and labels placed on merchandise. There are also deactivation pads located at checkout lanes and detachment tools to remove hard tags from merchandise. The pedestals alarm when tagged merchandise is carried near them and alert employees that a possible theft is taking place. Tags and labels provide the protection for merchandise ensuring that if a shoplifter attempts to steal product the tower alarm will be activated. Deactivation pads and detachment tools remove hard tags or “de-tune” soft tags to ensure paid merchandise won’t inadvertently cause an alarm and be a customer distraction. If your team isn’t properly trained to use this tool you degrade the effectiveness of your system to deter theft and prevent shoplifting in your store.
What do I mean? Isn’t a retail theft prevention system going to stop shoplifting once it is installed? Just having a system will deter a certain amount of shoplifting theft, the casual shoplifter generally doesn’t want to risk setting off an EAS pedestal alarm and chance being caught. It is crucial that your employees are trained in properly responding to pedestal alarm activations to get the most out of your system and that means knowing how to approach customers and resolve alarm events. Training will also make approaching customers who have set off an alarm much easier to do.
Frequently, the EAS tower alarm sound will stop shoplifting by startling a dishonest customer and they drop the goods they had and run. But not every thief runs and not every alarm is due to an attempted theft. Employees who are not properly trained to respond can be uncomfortable or even scared to have to interact with the customer who caused the event. Spend time teaching associates to walk to the doors, smile and begin a conversation with a “hello”. They can then ask about the customer’s purchases, did they buy something that may not have deactivated at the register properly? Follow-up with the question, “Do you mind if I see your receipt to try to figure out what’s causing this alarm?” By not sounding like an accusation is being made, it de-escalates the situation by making it appear an error has taken place. By showing concern that an error may have taken place I have even been able to help a customer find that tags from a prior purchase at another store were never deactivated. I have found hidden tags in wallets and the customer said they regularly were setting off alarms and never knew why. For the person who WAS trying to shoplift, giving them a potential way out by approaching and suggesting maybe they forgot to have something rung up removes the suggestion they had the intention of stealing (even if that was their intent). This is an effective method of getting the merchandise back (which is what the tower is supposed to do) and getting the crook out of your building.
Give your employees the proper training and they can stop shoplifting when the Checkpoint System alarms go off. You also give your employees the confidence that interactions at the doors don’t have to be confrontational and they will be more willing to step up and respond to those alarms.
Need information on a Checkpoint System? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
Checkpoint Systems-3 WC Blog 264
Checkpoint Security System-5
Checkpoint Tags-5
Stop Shoplifting-3
Checkpoint Security Systems Are Key To Your Inventory Control: Part 2
In Part 1 of this series on Inventory Control, I discussed my definition of what Inventory Control is and how it can be confused with the different strategies used by stores to keep control over inventory. I examined how the use of Checkpoint Tags are a strategy to exert control as soon as merchandise is received by a store and can stop shoplifting and deter internal and vendor theft. In Part 2 I will be going over other parts of a Checkpoint Security System that play a role in retail theft prevention and inventory control.
A Checkpoint Security System includes the Checkpoint Tags and labels as I mentioned, but aside from deterrence without the other components of the system, Checkpoint Tags are not extremely helpful. A primary component of Checkpoint Systems is the electronic article surveillance (EAS) antennas. Antennas are usually placed near the main entry and exit points of a store in order to detect merchandise that is protected with Checkpoint Tags that have not been deactivated or removed at a point of sale. The tags and labels are structured so that they transmit a specific radio frequency. When the antennas detect this radio frequency an alarm built into the antennas activates and warns staff that merchandise not yet paid for is leaving the store. This means an item has a Checkpoint Tag that has not been detuned at the register or a hard tag that has not been removed by a cashier. When employees are alerted by the alarm they respond to the doors to conduct a receipt check and determine the cause for the activation. Usually the alarm will result in recovered merchandise as a result of the check, such as a customer carrying out merchandise they “forgot” they had with them. An alarm may stop shoplifting when a criminal panics and drops the goods they were attempting to steal, a result I frequently witnessed as a Loss Prevention Manager.
When a Checkpoint Security System is installed, there are a variety of EAS antennas that a store owner can choose from to stop shoplifting, internal theft and vendor theft. Checkpoint systems include antennas that can be installed in the floor during store construction, antennas that can help showcase merchandise with advertising panels (the Evolve iRange P30) and smaller antennas that take up minimal space at doorways, like the Classic N10 antenna. No matter which type of antenna is chosen, the inventory control strategy is making sure merchandise is accounted for through the point of sales or proper execution of vendor return processes or vendor credit/destroy processes.
If a store owner wants to be serious about inventory control and theft prevention, it would be wise to consider putting Checkpoint Security System antennas in other areas and not limited to just the front doors. EAS antennas can be placed at employee entrances and vendor/receiving doors. Antennas located at front doors stop shoplifting and may deter some employee theft and vendor theft, but if there are alternate exits employees and vendors may take advantage of those doors to avoid the detection of Checkpoint tags and labels. In rare instances I have observed Checkpoint Systems antennas located at a hallway entrance leading to store restrooms. I applaud this step. I can recall several employee theft investigations I conducted that involved the employee taking concealed merchandise into a restroom and later I would find the empty packaging. Again, I stress that inventory control is control over the movement of product in the building. Well placed antennas can control the areas people are able to carry merchandise into.
Make inventory control a reality by implementing effective merchandise protection strategies that limit the ability of customer, employees or vendors to steal. Control what happens within your building by installing a Checkpoint Security System.
Get more information on Checkpoint Security Systems, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
In Part 1 of this series on Inventory Control, I discussed my definition of what Inventory Control is and how it can be confused with the different strategies used by stores to keep control over inventory. I examined how the use of Checkpoint Tags are a strategy to exert control as soon as merchandise is received by a store and can stop shoplifting and deter internal and vendor theft. In Part 2 I will be going over other parts of a Checkpoint Security System that play a role in retail theft prevention and inventory control.
A Checkpoint Security System includes the Checkpoint Tags and labels as I mentioned, but aside from deterrence without the other components of the system, Checkpoint Tags are not extremely helpful. A primary component of Checkpoint Systems is the electronic article surveillance (EAS) antennas. Antennas are usually placed near the main entry and exit points of a store in order to detect merchandise that is protected with Checkpoint Tags that have not been deactivated or removed at a point of sale. The tags and labels are structured so that they transmit a specific radio frequency. When the antennas detect this radio frequency an alarm built into the antennas activates and warns staff that merchandise not yet paid for is leaving the store. This means an item has a Checkpoint Tag that has not been detuned at the register or a hard tag that has not been removed by a cashier. When employees are alerted by the alarm they respond to the doors to conduct a receipt check and determine the cause for the activation. Usually the alarm will result in recovered merchandise as a result of the check, such as a customer carrying out merchandise they “forgot” they had with them. An alarm may stop shoplifting when a criminal panics and drops the goods they were attempting to steal, a result I frequently witnessed as a Loss Prevention Manager.
When a Checkpoint Security System is installed, there are a variety of EAS antennas that a store owner can choose from to stop shoplifting, internal theft and vendor theft. Checkpoint systems include antennas that can be installed in the floor during store construction, antennas that can help showcase merchandise with advertising panels (the Evolve iRange P30) and smaller antennas that take up minimal space at doorways, like the Classic N10 antenna. No matter which type of antenna is chosen, the inventory control strategy is making sure merchandise is accounted for through the point of sales or proper execution of vendor return processes or vendor credit/destroy processes.
If a store owner wants to be serious about inventory control and theft prevention, it would be wise to consider putting Checkpoint Security System antennas in other areas and not limited to just the front doors. EAS antennas can be placed at employee entrances and vendor/receiving doors. Antennas located at front doors stop shoplifting and may deter some employee theft and vendor theft, but if there are alternate exits employees and vendors may take advantage of those doors to avoid the detection of Checkpoint tags and labels. In rare instances I have observed Checkpoint Systems antennas located at a hallway entrance leading to store restrooms. I applaud this step. I can recall several employee theft investigations I conducted that involved the employee taking concealed merchandise into a restroom and later I would find the empty packaging. Again, I stress that inventory control is control over the movement of product in the building. Well placed antennas can control the areas people are able to carry merchandise into.
Make inventory control a reality by implementing effective merchandise protection strategies that limit the ability of customer, employees or vendors to steal. Control what happens within your building by installing a Checkpoint Security System.
Get more information on Checkpoint Security Systems, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
