AA Blog 51
Clothing Security Tags: 5
Checkpoint Tags: 3
Clothing Security: 3
Don’t Be Like Those Other Guys; Choosing The Right Clothing Security Tags Will Improve Sales And Reduce Theft.
I have a love hate relationship with summer, which may sound odd, but it is true. I love the outdoors; and summer provides me the opportunity to do the things I love to do like camping, fishing, kayaking, hiking, swimming, playing softball etc. I do not like cold weather, which also plays a big factor in the appeal of summer, but there is one particular thing I hate about summer. As an almost 40 year old female I am not a fan of swimsuit season. I am not sure about the rest of you, but it is a little intimidating. I wouldn’t say I hate the way I look in a swimsuit but I definitely have my reluctance to being half naked in front of the entire world. For me it isn’t necessarily an age thing because I have always been this way even when I was 20 and in pretty good shape. I think women tend to be a little insecure, which is why it takes me forever to find the right swimming suit. It is that season again and I am due for a new one, but I am not the size or shape that allows me to go out and buy an off the rack swimsuit, with the standard S-XL sizing. I have to shop at the larger department stores that offer swimsuits with actual bra sizes and the ability to purchase the pieces separately. This probably means nothing to you men out there, but for us women it makes a huge difference when finding the right fit. My daughter and I were discussing this topic recently and she mentioned how hard it was to find stores that even sold swimsuits with these sizing options, so when you do find a good one you can’t pass it up. This I have found also means higher prices and fewer options. Higher prices and reduced availability also means a higher level of security, which often results in large bulky security devices that can be cumbersome to the customer. While shopping recently I noticed that some of the stores were using much smaller clothing security tags than I had seen in the past.
Clothing security is a standard practice in today’s retail industry and can’t be avoided, but finding the right product can be easier than you think. Checkpoint tags provide a wide range of options when it comes to clothing security. They provide clothing security tags that are much smaller and won’t damage the fabric, providing a safe and friendly security option for you and your customers. Checkpoint tags are equipped with EAS technology, which provides an audible alarm for attempted breaches or theft of merchandise from your store. These clothing security tags are made of durable material that makes tampering extremely difficult, and their improved technology increases detection, compared to other products on the market. These tags provide a cost-efficient means to protect your property without inconveniencing your customer.
Checkpoint tags are versatile, and their various options provide a means to secure a wide range of products. Unfortunately in this day and age, clothing security is a necessity that can’t be avoided. The clothing industry loses billions of dollars a year to theft, and protecting yourself is critical, but don’t do it at the expense of your honest hard working customers. Clothing security tags have come a long way since their inception and there are more viable options available. Don’t rely on antiquated devices that are bulky and uncomfortable to your customers and don’t provide the best protection for your business. Having the right products will improve sales, reduce theft and increase profit.
For more information about clothing security tags contact us or call 1.770.426.0547.
I have a love hate relationship with summer, which may sound odd, but it is true. I love the outdoors; and summer provides me the opportunity to do the things I love to do like camping, fishing, kayaking, hiking, swimming, playing softball etc. I do not like cold weather, which also plays a big factor in the appeal of summer, but there is one particular thing I hate about summer. As an almost 40 year old female I am not a fan of swimsuit season. I am not sure about the rest of you, but it is a little intimidating. I wouldn’t say I hate the way I look in a swimsuit but I definitely have my reluctance to being half naked in front of the entire world. For me it isn’t necessarily an age thing because I have always been this way even when I was 20 and in pretty good shape. I think women tend to be a little insecure, which is why it takes me forever to find the right swimming suit. I am not the size or shape that allows me to go out and buy an off the rack swimsuit, with the standard S-XL sizing. I have to shop at the larger department stores that offer swimsuits with actual bra sizes and the ability to purchase the pieces separately. This probably means nothing to you men out there, but for us women it makes a huge difference when finding the right fit. My daughter and I were discussing this topic recently and she mentioned how hard it was to find stores that even sold swimsuits with these sizing options, so when you do find a good one you can’t pass it up. This I have found also means higher prices and fewer options. Higher prices and reduced availability also means a higher level of security, which often results in large bulky security devices that can be cumbersome to the customer. While shopping recently I noticed that some of the stores were using much smaller clothing security tags than I had seen in the past.
Clothing security is a standard practice in today’s retail industry and can’t be avoided, but finding the right product can be easier than you think. Checkpoint tags provide a wide range of options when it comes to clothing security. They provide clothing security tags that are much smaller and won’t damage the fabric, providing a safe and friendly security option for you and your customers. Checkpoint tags are equipped with EAS technology, which provides an audible alarm for attempted breaches or theft of merchandise from your store. These clothing security tags are made of durable material that makes tampering extremely difficult, and their improved technology increases detection, compared to other products on the market. These tags provide a cost-efficient means to protect your property without inconveniencing your customer.
Checkpoint tags are versatile, and their various options provide a means to secure a wide range of products. Unfortunately in this day and age, clothing security is a necessity that can’t be avoided. The clothing industry loses billions of dollars a year to theft, and protecting yourself is critical, but don’t do it at the expense of your honest hard working customers. Clothing security tags have come a long way since their inception and there are more viable options available. Don’t rely on antiquated devices that are bulky and uncomfortable to your customers and don’t provide the best protection for your business. Having the right products will improve sales, reduce theft and increase profit.
For more information about clothing security tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547.
Clothing Security-5 WC Blog 297
Security Tags on Clothes-4
Checkpoint Tags-4
Clothing Security Audits Aid In Identifying Merchandise Protection Opportunities And Theft Prevention
In Loss Prevention we regularly talk about inventory and auditing of merchandise. We check on hand counts of high theft products to ensure we aren’t missing any. We participate in store inventories to help make sure counting is accurate and the best results possible are achieved. In my store we used to audit such things as i-pods, big ticket vacuums, video game consoles, certain cold medicines and when we started carrying them, leather coats and jackets. Auditing helped to identify theft issues quickly and correct deficiencies in our theft strategy. Areas that can be easily overlooked but are just as important to audit are clothing security measures. Management and Loss Prevention can count high dollar items all day long, but identifying that something is missing does not help the shortage that has been incurred. A regular audit of security tags on clothes is more helpful in preventing theft in the first place.
Checkpoint tags on clothing deter shoplifting since most thieves don’t want to chance activating electronic article surveillance (EAS) alarm antennas. Located at the front doors of a store as part of a Checkpoint system, the EAS antennas receive the radio frequency signals emitting from clothing security tags. This initiates an alarm and flashing LED lights built into the antenna, alerting store staff that someone is attempting to exit with unpaid merchandise. A thief doesn’t want that attention and often times avoids stores when they see EAS antennas as they walk in. The more daring shoplifter may try to walk out with security tags on clothes but as the alarm sounds these crooks frequently drop the merchandise and run. Finally, there are the shoplifters who will try to locate Checkpoint tags on garments. If they don’t find tags they will put on the clothing or conceal it in a bag, purse or on their person and walk out. If these folks do find tags they try to remove them and then exit the store to avoid alarms.
Some of those reading this article may be asking how a shoplifter knows if clothing is tagged. Security tags on clothes can be hard tags that are pinned to the item in a prominent location so it CAN be seen and deter theft. Then there are soft tags that come on a roll and can be peeled off and stuck to a manufacturer hang tag. Some companies have Checkpoint tags embedded in the hang tag so it can’t be seen. There are shoplifters who have become educated on this and will take off manufacturer labels just in case there might be clothing security tags hidden in them. In order to be one step ahead of the bad guys there are Loss Prevention teams that will put a hard tag on a piece of clothing, in addition to a soft tag that is embedded in the label. Another trick is to hide a second soft clothing security tag inside a coat or pants pocket. If one label is discovered it is unlikely the second one will be.
As I discussed at the beginning of my article, auditing of security tags on clothes can be a missed opportunity to be sure merchandise is protected against shoplifters. I recommend deciding how frequently you want to check for tagging accuracy and then divide the store in sections and audit a section a day. Checkpoint has two portable verifiers that are excellent for scanning merchandise and determining if it has an active tag on it, even an embedded or hidden tag. Auditing provides an opportunity to tag merchandise that is not protected or has been deactivated, say for instance when a customer rings up an item and changes their mind and the cashier has already run it over a deactivation pad. Auditing also helps to locate areas of the store that may not be getting tagged properly and can be an area of focus for a shortage reduction plan.
Checkpoint tags are an effective means of reducing clothing shortage and improving store profits. The flip side is they are only as effective as the tagging program is that you have in place. Be sure you are protecting all of your merchandise and enjoying the benefits of clothing security. Audit your merchandise on a regular basis and keep your store on track for fantastic inventory results.
Clothing security is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
In Loss Prevention we regularly talk about inventory and auditing of merchandise. We check on hand counts of high theft products to ensure we aren’t missing any. We participate in store inventories to help make sure counting is accurate and the best results possible are achieved. In my store we used to audit such things as i-pods, big ticket vacuums, video game consoles, certain cold medicines and when we started carrying them, leather coats and jackets. Auditing helped to identify theft issues quickly and correct deficiencies in our theft strategy. Areas that can be easily overlooked but are just as important to audit are clothing security measures. Management and Loss Prevention can count high dollar items all day long, but identifying that something is missing does not help the shortage that has been incurred. A regular audit of security tags on clothes is more helpful in preventing theft in the first place.
Checkpoint tags on clothing deter shoplifting since most thieves don’t want to chance activating electronic article surveillance (EAS) alarm antennas. Located at the front doors of a store as part of a Checkpoint system, the EAS antennas receive the radio frequency signals emitting from clothing security tags. This initiates an alarm and flashing LED lights built into the antenna, alerting store staff that someone is attempting to exit with unpaid merchandise. A thief doesn’t want that attention and often times avoids stores when they see EAS antennas as they walk in. The more daring shoplifter may try to walk out with security tags on clothes but as the alarm sounds these crooks frequently drop the merchandise and run. Finally, there are the shoplifters who will try to locate Checkpoint tags on garments. If they don’t find tags they will put on the clothing or conceal it in a bag, purse or on their person and walk out. If these folks do find tags they try to remove them and then exit the store to avoid alarms.
Some of those reading this article may be asking how a shoplifter knows if clothing is tagged. Security tags on clothes can be hard tags that are pinned to the item in a prominent location so it CAN be seen and deter theft. Then there are soft tags that come on a roll and can be peeled off and stuck to a manufacturer hang tag. Some companies have Checkpoint tags embedded in the hang tag so it can’t be seen. There are shoplifters who have become educated on this and will take off manufacturer labels just in case there might be clothing security tags hidden in them. In order to be one step ahead of the bad guys there are Loss Prevention teams that will put a hard tag on a piece of clothing, in addition to a soft tag that is embedded in the label. Another trick is to hide a second soft clothing security tag inside a coat or pants pocket. If one label is discovered it is unlikely the second one will be.
As I discussed at the beginning of my article, auditing of security tags on clothes can be a missed opportunity to be sure merchandise is protected against shoplifters. I recommend deciding how frequently you want to check for tagging accuracy and then divide the store in sections and audit a section a day. Checkpoint has two portable verifiers that are excellent for scanning merchandise and determining if it has an active tag on it, even an embedded or hidden tag. Auditing provides an opportunity to tag merchandise that is not protected or has been deactivated, say for instance when a customer rings up an item and changes their mind and the cashier has already run it over a deactivation pad. Auditing also helps to locate areas of the store that may not be getting tagged properly and can be an area of focus for a shortage reduction plan.
Checkpoint tags are an effective means of reducing clothing shortage and improving store profits. The flip side is they are only as effective as the tagging program is that you have in place. Be sure you are protecting all of your merchandise and enjoying the benefits of clothing security. Audit your merchandise on a regular basis and keep your store on track for fantastic inventory results.
Clothing security is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
Checkpoint tags-5 WC Blog 284
Clothing Security Tags-4
Security Tags On Clothes-3
Protecting Clothes From Theft By Storing It In Stockrooms? Protect Them With Checkpoint Tags And Then Fill Your Floor!
Looking back on my career in Retail Loss Prevention I can see how my perspective on the role of Loss Prevention has changed. When I first started out working in a department store, I had prior experience as an Air Force Law Enforcement Specialist. In fact one of my co-workers had been a former supervisor from my old unit and had seen my application and recommended me for the job when I applied. I loved what I was doing. I was able to stop shoplifting. I assisted with internal investigations and I was learning about the use of Checkpoint tags and clothing security. I perceived the job as more of a law enforcement function than support for a retail business and I think it would be fair to say that was sort of the mindset in those days. We built some strong bonds with our local police department. Police officers knew if they got a call from our store operator that the Loss Prevention officers had a shoplifter in custody or were chasing a shoplifter and it would be a solid arrest. When we started putting out more high ticket merchandise we used clothing security tags I only saw it as an opportunity for shoplifters to steal more valuable merchandise. I did not see that security tags on clothes could drive sales AND prevent shoplifting.
Clothing security tags come in soft tag form that can be peeled from a roll and applied to packages of socks, underwear and packaged shirts. Hard Checkpoint tags are also available and these are great for pinning directly to merchandise. Hard tags are reusable, two-piece, anti-theft devices that are nearly impossible to forcibly remove without causing damage to the merchandise. They are a visual deterrent to would-be thieves who don’t want to hassle with trying to get them off or risk exiting a door and setting off an electronic article surveillance (EAS) alarm. Both the soft and hard clothing security tags are designed with radio frequency technology so they will activate EAS antennas if the merchandise they are attached to is carried too close to the doors where the antennas are located.
So what changed for me over time? When I eventually became a Loss Prevention Manager I still saw the job as “getting the bad guys”. I had more exposure to Checkpoint tags and used them on more merchandise including clothing. My perspective changed slowly, perhaps as I learned about what the other store executive jobs involved. The Logistics Manager worked to keep merchandise on the sales floor for customers to purchase rather than in a stockroom. Bare shelves resulted in lost sales opportunities. Sales floor Managers had to ensure merchandise presentations were appealing to customers and they worked hand in hand with the Logistics Manager to move merchandise out of the stockroom and fill clothing racks, tables and gondolas. I began to refocus the way my Loss Prevention staff looked at their jobs. Yes, they were to prevent theft and when possible catch shoplifters. I did continue to develop and train those employees who wanted to go into police work or advance in Loss prevention. I helped them develop skills such how to properly write reports, interact with shoplifting suspects and develop an investigation. I also taught them how to take the skills they learned into other careers. But, I began to show them that they work for a retail business and our job was to keep shortage low and profits high, we were NOT a mini-police department.
With the change in perspective, I saw the advantages of using security tags on clothes to improve sales and still protect goods. Limiting the number of expensive jackets on the floor so they wouldn’t be stolen was less of a risk with Checkpoint tags on them. Having more jackets on the floor ensured customers had easier access to merchandise to purchase and reduced risk of running out of product on the floor and waiting for replenishment from the stockroom. Today, I am a fervent believer that a store is much better off financially by using clothing security tags to prevent theft and at the same time filling the floor for the consumer. You can’t sell merchandise from your stockroom.
Let Checkpoint tags work for you. Use security tags on clothes, then keep your product on the sales floor where customers can pick them up, try them on and purchase them. Along with an EAS antenna and outstanding customer service you will drive up profits and significantly reduce shortage.
Need information on Checkpoint tags? Contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
Looking back on my career in Retail Loss Prevention I can see how my perspective on the role of Loss Prevention has changed. When I first started out working in a department store, I had prior experience as an Air Force Law Enforcement Specialist. In fact one of my co-workers had been a former supervisor from my old unit and had seen my application and recommended me for the job when I applied. I loved what I was doing. I was able to stop shoplifting. I assisted with internal investigations and I was learning about the use of Checkpoint tags and clothing security. I perceived the job as more of a law enforcement function than support for a retail business and I think it would be fair to say that was sort of the mindset in those days. We built some strong bonds with our local police department. Police officers knew if they got a call from our store operator that the Loss Prevention officers had a shoplifter in custody or were chasing a shoplifter and it would be a solid arrest. When we started putting out more high ticket merchandise we used clothing security tags I only saw it as an opportunity for shoplifters to steal more valuable merchandise. I did not see that security tags on clothes could drive sales AND prevent shoplifting.
Clothing security tags come in soft tag form that can be peeled from a roll and applied to packages of socks, underwear and packaged shirts. Hard Checkpoint tags are also available and these are great for pinning directly to merchandise. Hard tags are reusable, two-piece, anti-theft devices that are nearly impossible to forcibly remove without causing damage to the merchandise. They are a visual deterrent to would-be thieves who don’t want to hassle with trying to get them off or risk exiting a door and setting off an electronic article surveillance (EAS) alarm. Both the soft and hard clothing security tags are designed with radio frequency technology so they will activate EAS antennas if the merchandise they are attached to is carried too close to the doors where the antennas are located.
So what changed for me over time? When I eventually became a Loss Prevention Manager I still saw the job as “getting the bad guys”. I had more exposure to Checkpoint tags and used them on more merchandise including clothing. My perspective changed slowly, perhaps as I learned about what the other store executive jobs involved. The Logistics Manager worked to keep merchandise on the sales floor for customers to purchase rather than in a stockroom. Bare shelves resulted in lost sales opportunities. Sales floor Managers had to ensure merchandise presentations were appealing to customers and they worked hand in hand with the Logistics Manager to move merchandise out of the stockroom and fill clothing racks, tables and gondolas. I began to refocus the way my Loss Prevention staff looked at their jobs. Yes, they were to prevent theft and when possible catch shoplifters. I did continue to develop and train those employees who wanted to go into police work or advance in Loss prevention. I helped them develop skills such how to properly write reports, interact with shoplifting suspects and develop an investigation. I also taught them how to take the skills they learned into other careers. But, I began to show them that they work for a retail business and our job was to keep shortage low and profits high, we were NOT a mini-police department.
With the change in perspective, I saw the advantages of using security tags on clothes to improve sales and still protect goods. Limiting the number of expensive jackets on the floor so they wouldn’t be stolen was less of a risk with Checkpoint tags on them. Having more jackets on the floor ensured customers had easier access to merchandise to purchase and reduced risk of running out of product on the floor and waiting for replenishment from the stockroom. Today, I am a fervent believer that a store is much better off financially by using clothing security tags to prevent theft and at the same time filling the floor for the consumer. You can’t sell merchandise from your stockroom.
Let Checkpoint tags work for you. Use security tags on clothes, then keep your product on the sales floor where customers can pick them up, try them on and purchase them. Along with an EAS antenna and outstanding customer service you will drive up profits and significantly reduce shortage.
Need information on Checkpoint tags? Contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
AA blog 10
Clothing security: 5
Security tags on clothes: 3
Checkpoint tags: 5
Clothing Security Is An Important Part Of Your Loss Prevention Program
Like most girls I like to shop, especially with my daughters. Shopping is a woman’s way of boosting her self-esteem by finding clothing and other accessories that makes them feel good about themselves. My husband, much like yours I would bet, thinks spending hours at the mall is absurd. My husband doesn’t even try on his pants he just picks his size and buys them. He doesn’t care what they look like; his only concern is functionality and price. Don’t get me wrong, I am sure there are plenty of men out there that enjoy fashion and dress for success at work, but for women it is more like a hobby. It is how we identify ourselves and our personality. Clothes provide a means to individualize ourselves and provide us a freedom of expression that you can’t find in any other way. Because of this, and access to our husband’s paycheck, the clothing and fashion industry is one of the fastest growing markets in the world. The global fashion industry is averaging over a Billion in annual revenue with some of the high end fashion brands producing revenues between 10-35 million annually. The popularity of this particular market results in high levels of theft. Working in loss prevention I am very familiar with the various ways people try and steal these types of items and the best ways you can protect your merchandise. In my experience clothing security is best accomplished by adding security tags on clothes, but not just any tag, quality is extremely important.
As a shopper I have on more than a few occasions found security tags in dressing rooms or concealed in various locations throughout the store. As a loss prevention professional I will tell you that not all tags are made the same. Just like anything else you get what you pay for, except in the case of Checkpoint tags, which provide unparalleled clothing security at a reasonable price. Placing security tags on clothes is an imperative part of any loss prevention program and is worth their weight in gold! Checkpoint tags are different from other hard tags, as they are built from a strong plastic that is extremely difficult to remove without tools or damaging the product. It would be very difficult to conceal that type of attempt in store and Checkpoint tags are equipped with RFID alarm technology to prevent removal of the merchandise from the store. There are various types of Checkpoint tags designed for any product regardless of size, material or design. They can service all of your clothing security needs, whether you want to protect your high line clothing brands, shoes, purses or other items. Not only are these tags strong they are also designed to prevent damage to your merchandise, due to their sleek design, and provide quality detection for all your retail needs. Don’t skimp on quality when it comes to clothing security, because a shoplifter will go to great lengths to steal your property. The last thing you want is to locate damaged tags, knowing you have lost inventory and profit retrofitting your products with inadequate protection.
In this day and age you can’t risk going without clothing security as it has become such a valuable industry. The best way for you to protect your interests, deter and detect theft, and increase profit is to add security tags on clothes and other high priced items that have a high theft rate. Checkpoint tags can provide the level of quality you are looking for to protect your merchandise at a reasonable price. They are easily attached to any product without damaging the item, are re-useable, and provide the level of detection you will come to expect in a retail theft prevention product. If you are interested in testing the product, Checkpoint will even provide a sample of their product, so you can compare it to the other brands, and see the difference first hand. Take it from me once you see and feel the difference you will never go back to the other guy.
Need information on clothing security? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
Like most girls I like to shop, especially with my daughters. Shopping is a woman’s way of boosting her self-esteem by finding clothing and other accessories that makes them feel good about themselves. My husband, much like yours I would bet, thinks spending hours at the mall is absurd. My husband doesn’t even try on his pants he just picks his size and buys them. He doesn’t care what they look like; his only concern is functionality and price. Don’t get me wrong, I am sure there are plenty of men out there that enjoy fashion and dress for success at work, but for women it is more like a hobby. It is how we identify ourselves and our personality. Clothes provide a means to individualize ourselves and provide us a freedom of expression that you can’t find in any other way. Because of this, and access to our husband’s paycheck, the clothing and fashion industry is one of the fastest growing markets in the world. The global fashion industry is averaging over a Billion in annual revenue with some of the high end fashion brands producing revenues between 10-35 million annually. The popularity of this particular market results in high levels of theft. Working in loss prevention I am very familiar with the various ways people try and steal these types of items and the best ways you can protect your merchandise. In my experience clothing security is best accomplished by adding security tags on clothes, but not just any tag, quality is extremely important.
As a shopper I have on more than a few occasions found security tags in dressing rooms or concealed in various locations throughout the store. As a loss prevention professional I will tell you that not all tags are made the same. Just like anything else you get what you pay for, except in the case of Checkpoint tags, which provide unparalleled clothing security at a reasonable price. Placing security tags on clothes is an imperative part of any loss prevention program and is worth their weight in gold! Checkpoint tags are different from other hard tags, as they are built from a strong plastic that is extremely difficult to remove without tools or damaging the product. There are various types of Checkpoint tags designed for any product regardless of size, material or design. They can service all of your clothing security needs, whether you want to protect your high line clothing brands, shoes, purses or other items. Not only are these tags strong they are also designed to prevent damage to your merchandise, due to their sleek design, and provide quality detection for all your retail needs. Don’t skimp on quality when it comes to clothing security, because a shoplifter will go to great lengths to steal your property. The last thing you want is to locate damaged tags, knowing you have lost inventory and profit retrofitting your products with inadequate protection.
In this day and age you can’t risk going without clothing security as it has become such a valuable industry. The best way for you to protect your interests, deter and detect theft, and increase profit is to add security tags on clothes and other high priced items that have a high theft rate. Checkpoint tags can provide the level of quality you are looking for to protect your merchandise at a reasonable price. They are easily attached to any product without damaging the item, are re-useable, and provide the level of detection you will come to expect in a retail theft prevention product. If you are interested in testing the product, Checkpoint will even provide a sample of their product, so you can compare it to the other brands, and see the difference first hand. Take it from me once you see and feel the difference you will never go back to the other guy.
Need information on clothing security? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
Checkpoint tags-4 WC blog 243
clothing security tags-3
Clothing security-4
Security tags on clothes-3
Employee Theft Of Clothes Can Be Curtailed With Checkpoint Tags
Apparel store owners and managers, where do you think the majority of your store shrinkage is occurring? Your first reaction may be shoplifters and that would be a good guess. It would also be the wrong guess. According to the 2014-2015 Global Retail Theft Barometer, North American Apparel Specialist Retailers experienced 44% of their losses from dishonest employees (pg. 54). Shoplifting did follow at a close 41% as a cause of shrinkage with vendor/supplier fraud and administrative and non-crime losses accounting for the remaining 16% of losses. Total shortage for Apparel Retailers during this time frame equaled 1.98% so if your store is trending with the national average, how are you addressing the almost 45% of losses in your store taking place due to employee theft? What steps are you taking to address clothing security and protect your bottom line? If you aren’t using Checkpoint tags on apparel you are doing a disservice to your business.
What are Checkpoint tags for clothing? Clothing security tags by Checkpoint are radio frequency sensitive devices that are clipped to garments. When a protected item is carried near a door with a Checkpoint antenna the tag causes the antenna alarm to activate. Lights flash and a loud noise will draw the attention of employees. An employee who responds to an alarm determines the cause of the alarm and can recover merchandise that has not been paid for by the customer/thief. Clothing security tags are a visible deterrent to anyone who may consider trying to steal an item. Most people are familiar with security tags on clothes and will try to find an unprotected item rather than take a chance with setting off the antenna when they are ready to leave. One other advantage of clothing security devices is that they require a special detachment tool to remove them. If someone forcibly removes a tag it damages the garment. If damaged, the merchandise loses its appeal to the thief.
Returning to the point I made at the beginning of the article, can Checkpoint tags prevent that 45% of the losses employee theft may be costing your business? The answer is yes, they can. There are several things to keep in mind to ensure that clothing security is not compromised when it comes to preventing employee theft. One thing I saw during a few of my internal employee investigation cases was that electronic article surveillance antenna alarm activations by an employee were often shrugged off. All alarm activations should be treated with the same response. There is a tendency for co-workers to bond and in doing so there is an inherent trust that forms. Dishonest employees will use this trust to engage in dishonest activity. All employees should understand how to respond to respond to an alarm and how to look for security tags on clothes that may set off that alarm. The same level of response applies to customers and employees with thorough bag checks and receipt inspections.
Clothing security detachment tools must also be properly controlled and accounted for daily. The easiest method is to use the detachment tool that can be secured to the counter and make a check of it part of the daily opening tasks. If you have portable detachers for your employees who stock freight and attach tags to new merchandise, require them to sign their device in and out and a supervisor or manager locks them away. Dishonest employees may try to steal a detachment tool and use it to remove Checkpoint tags and then the clothes they were protecting.
Finally, a daily check of the Checkpoint system should be documented. This inspection does not take long, but it verifies that deactivation units are working, as are the antennas. If an employee knows the antennas are not working the dishonest one will use this knowledge as an opportunity to get merchandise with clothing security tags on them out of the store without creating an alarm.
Security tags on clothes are an effective method of significantly reducing shortage due to employee theft. If you haven’t invested in Checkpoint tags yet, check out what you may be costing yourself.
Clothing Security is important and we can help you with that. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
Apparel store owners and managers, where do you think the majority of your store shrinkage is occurring? Your first reaction may be shoplifters and that would be a good guess. It would also be the wrong guess. According to the 2014-2015 Global Retail Theft Barometer, North American Apparel Specialist Retailers experienced 44% of their losses from dishonest employees (pg. 54). Shoplifting did follow at a close 41% as a cause of shrinkage with vendor/supplier fraud and administrative and non-crime losses accounting for the remaining 16% of losses. Total shortage for Apparel Retailers during this time frame equaled 1.98% so if your store is trending with the national average, how are you addressing the almost 45% of losses in your store taking place due to employee theft? What steps are you taking to address clothing security and protect your bottom line? If you aren’t using Checkpoint tags on apparel you are doing a disservice to your business.
What are Checkpoint tags for clothing? Clothing security tags by Checkpoint are radio frequency sensitive devices that are clipped to garments. When a protected item is carried near a door with a Checkpoint antenna the tag causes the antenna alarm to activate. Lights flash and a loud noise will draw the attention of employees. An employee who responds to an alarm determines the cause of the alarm and can recover merchandise that has not been paid for by the customer/thief. Clothing security tags are a visible deterrent to anyone who may consider trying to steal an item. Most people are familiar with security tags on clothes and will try to find an unprotected item rather than take a chance with setting off the antenna when they are ready to leave. One other advantage of clothing security devices is that they require a special detachment tool to remove them. If someone forcibly removes a tag it damages the garment. If damaged, the merchandise loses its appeal to the thief.
Returning to the point I made at the beginning of the article, can Checkpoint tags prevent that 45% of the losses employee theft may be costing your business? The answer is yes, they can. There are several things to keep in mind to ensure that clothing security is not compromised when it comes to preventing employee theft. One thing I saw during a few of my internal employee investigation cases was that electronic article surveillance antenna alarm activations by an employee were often shrugged off. All alarm activations should be treated with the same response. There is a tendency for co-workers to bond and in doing so there is an inherent trust that forms. Dishonest employees will use this trust to engage in dishonest activity. All employees should understand how to respond to an alarm and how to look for security tags on clothes that may set off that alarm. The same level of response applies to customers and employees with thorough bag checks and receipt inspections.
Clothing security detachment tools must also be properly controlled and accounted for daily. The easiest method is to use the detachment tool that can be secured to the counter and make a check of it part of the daily opening tasks. If you have portable detachers for your employees who stock freight and attach tags to new merchandise, require them to sign their device in and out and a supervisor or manager locks them away. Dishonest employees may try to steal a detachment tool and use it to remove Checkpoint tags and then the clothes they were protecting.
Finally, a daily check of the Checkpoint system should be documented. This inspection does not take long, but it verifies that deactivation units are working, as are the antennas. If an employee knows the antennas are not working the dishonest one will use this knowledge as an opportunity to get merchandise with clothing security tags on them out of the store without creating an alarm.
Security tags on clothes are an effective method of significantly reducing shortage due to employee theft. If you haven’t invested in Checkpoint tags yet, check out what you may be costing yourself.
Clothing Security is important and we can help you with that. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
