EAS Label-3 WC Blog 312
Checkpoint Labels-4
Electronic Article Surveillance-5
Stop Shoplifting-4
Be Aware Of Merchandise Your Store Sells That Interfere With The Optimum Performance Of Checkpoint Labels.
Recently, LPMINSIDER magazine had an article that focused on the potential shoplifting tools stores may be unwittingly carrying on store shelves that could be used by professional boosters or shoplifters. In his article, “Are Retailers Selling Shoplifting Tools?” by Scott Womack, December 21, 2016, Mr. Womack describes an insulated can cooler he found on a store shelf that was aluminum lined. He discusses several types of EAS labels and tag he had tested when placed in the bag to see if the bag would disrupt the alarm. He found the cooler did make it more difficult for the towers to detect tags concealed in this particular bag. The writer did not say the merchandise should not be carried but possible merchandising alternatives could be considered. In order to stop shoplifting, it is sometimes necessary for retailers to evaluate how they merchandise some items and to consider if specific merchandise could contribute to theft.
Checkpoint labels are soft tags that have coils designed into them that operate on a specific radio frequency (rf) wave. This tag, when carried within range of electronic article surveillance pedestals, causes the pedestal to sound an alarm or loud beeping noise that attracts the attention of store associates. Associates or managers respond to the alarm and usually stop shoplifting from taking place, though on occasion it may be an EAS label was not properly deactivated at a point of sale. While electronic article surveillance towers continue to get better with improved range detection fields and their detection abilities they can have limitations when thieves try to use devices to interfere with the signals, particularly aluminum or foils.
One type of device professional shoplifters or boosters will use to try to defeat Checkpoint labels and an electronic article surveillance tower is the foil lined shopping bag, often called a booster bag. This was the concern noted by the author of the article. The cooler Mr. Womack found was almost a ready-made booster bag since aluminum was one of the materials used to keep product cold when placed in the bag. His article reminded me of another product I had an issue with during an encounter with a razor blade booster. In my situation, the criminal took a box of roasting bags, removed one of the bags and took it to our health and beauty department where he filled it with packages of razor blades. The roasting bags are made of aluminum foil by the same company that makes rolls of aluminum foil. I had a tussle with the criminal and did stop shoplifting of the blades but only because I had observed the theft take place, in this situation the roasting bag did defeat any EAS label and towers. Unfortunately, there was not a lot we could do about product placement because it would have required a shift of all aluminum foils and removed them from the aisle with bakeware, plastic wrap, etc.
In spite of the occasional use of shoplifting tools by professionals and the rare instance when merchandise your store sells can be used to try to defeat an electronic article surveillance system; Checkpoint labels are still one of the best means of preventing theft. It takes a lot of time to make a booster bag that doesn’t look obvious. Additionally, finding those few items a store sells that might be used to try to defeat a system can be difficult. While some product placement may be in order, an alternative is to make sure employees know to offer exceptional customer service in those areas. If your store uses closed circuit television a camera on these aisles could be of assistance.
As I mentioned earlier, electronic article surveillance pedestals are far better than when I used them. Systems have been upgraded and are better able to pick up hidden tags and defeat efforts to disrupt radio frequency signals. Find out for yourself just how effective Checkpoint labels and EAS pedestals can be to stop shoplifting in your business.
Need information on Checkpoint labels? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
LPMINSIDER magazine had an article that focused on the potential shoplifting tools stores may be unwittingly carrying on store shelves that could be used by professional boosters or shoplifters. In his article, “Are Retailers Selling Shoplifting Tools?” by Scott Womack, December 21, 2016, Mr. Womack describes an insulated can cooler he found on a store shelf that was aluminum lined. He discusses several types of EAS labels and tag he had tested when placed in the bag to see if the bag would disrupt the alarm. He found the cooler did make it more difficult for the towers to detect tags concealed in this particular bag. The writer did not say the merchandise should not be carried but possible merchandising alternatives could be considered. In order to stop shoplifting, it is sometimes necessary for retailers to evaluate how they merchandise some items and to consider if specific merchandise could contribute to theft.
Checkpoint labels are soft tags that have coils designed into them that operate on a specific radio frequency (rf) wave. This tag, when carried within range of electronic article surveillance pedestals, causes the pedestal to sound an alarm or loud beeping noise that attracts the attention of store associates. Associates or managers respond to the alarm and usually stop shoplifting from taking place, though on occasion it may be an EAS label was not properly deactivated at a point of sale. While electronic article surveillance towers continue to get better with improved range detection fields and their detection abilities they can have limitations when thieves try to use devices to interfere with the signals, particularly aluminum or foils.
One type of device professional shoplifters or boosters will use to try to defeat Checkpoint labels and an electronic article surveillance tower is the foil lined shopping bag, often called a booster bag. This was the concern noted by the author of the article. The cooler Mr. Womack found was almost a ready-made booster bag since aluminum was one of the materials used to keep product cold when placed in the bag. His article reminded me of another product I had an issue with during an encounter with a razor blade booster. In my situation, the criminal took a box of roasting bags, removed one of the bags and took it to our health and beauty department where he filled it with packages of razor blades. The roasting bags are made of aluminum foil by the same company that makes rolls of aluminum foil. I had a tussle with the criminal and did stop shoplifting of the blades but only because I had observed the theft take place, in this situation the roasting bag did defeat any EAS label and towers. Unfortunately, there was not a lot we could do about product placement because it would have required a shift of all aluminum foils and removed them from the aisle with bakeware, plastic wrap, etc.
In spite of the occasional use of shoplifting tools by professionals and the rare instance when merchandise your store sells can be used to try to defeat an electronic article surveillance system; Checkpoint labels are still one of the best means of preventing theft. It takes a lot of time to make a booster bag that doesn’t look obvious. Additionally, finding those few items a store sells that might be used to try to defeat a system can be difficult. While some product placement may be in order, an alternative is to make sure employees know to offer exceptional customer service in those areas. If your store uses closed circuit television a camera on these aisles could be of assistance.
As I mentioned earlier, electronic article surveillance pedestals are far better than when I used them. Systems have been upgraded and are better able to pick up hidden tags and defeat efforts to disrupt radio frequency signals. Find out for yourself just how effective Checkpoint labels and EAS pedestals can be to stop shoplifting in your business.
Need information on Checkpoint labels? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
Stop shoplifting-4 WC blog 288
Electronic Article Surveillance-4
Checkpoint Security Tags-5
EAS labels-5
Using Checkpoint Security Tags Helps Stop Shoplifting And Prevent Theft On Inventory Night (And Other Tips For A Successful Inventory)
It seems like only a few months ago when I was helping out with inventory at the store I currently work for! Having nearly 26 years of retail and inventory experience to draw from, I frequently help identify potential problem areas and provide suggestions to my current store manager to try to make the inventory process easier and more accurate. Right now I work for an office supply store but I have experience in department stores and big box retail stores as well. There are tips and strategies I have incorporated over the years that can be useful in preparing for inventory in almost any situation. For example, all stores I have worked for have used Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) tags or EAS labels to stop shoplifting. Prep time is the time to ensure all merchandise has the appropriate Checkpoint security tags on them whether it is clothing, electronics, toys or a combination of those products your store sells. Using the time leading up to inventory to apply EAS labels and Checkpoint security tags not only helps to stop shoplifting later on, it helps to prevent theft by inventory counters or your own staff on inventory night.
I tend to forget that not all of the readers are familiar with electronic article surveillance or how Checkpoint security tags or EAS labels work or stop shoplifting. Let me give a brief explanation. Electronic article surveillance uses radio frequency emitting tags and radio frequency receiver antennas to create an alarm system. When an EAS label (usually a soft-style tag) or Checkpoint security tag (which can be a hard tag or soft label) is carried into the receiving range of an electronic article surveillance antenna, an alarm in the antenna is activated. Usually this is a loud, audible alarm accompanied by flashing LED lights. The alarm alerts employees and they can respond and conduct receipt checks and recover unpaid merchandise. Often simply having the EAS labels on merchandise is enough to deter a thief from stealing but when it isn’t, the antenna alarm and employee response does result in preventing merchandise from being stolen.
Here are some other things to watch for that can make your inventory process easier or more accurate. Again, these are lessons I have learned over the many years I have in preparing stores for inventory:
• When prepping in a stockroom, watch out for items that may be multiple items in a package. An example would be socks. Some socks are sold as multiple pairs in a package, perhaps a package of 10 socks for $14. Other packages are shipped with multiple socks that are intended to be separated as individual units. Not catching this can result in counting a package of 10 socks intended to be sold individually as 1 unit. The store “loses” 9 pair of socks. Make sure packages are properly marked by how many units are in them OR separate out the package.
• Boxes of batteries may be shipped to a store and although a box may contain 20 individual packages, I have seen the shipping box counted as 1 unit. Had I not caught the error, due to poor prep or an inventory counter error, we would have “lost” 19 packages of batteries.
• Look for merchandise that gets stocked on the floor in a manner that can confuse an inventory counter. An example of this we have to watch for at an office supply store is 3-ring binders. They are often stocked so that two are inserted into each other to allow more merchandise to be on the floor. The issue at inventory time is it can look like one selling unit. Be sure to show this to your inventory representative during a pre-inventory walk-through so they can make a note of it for their plans. On inventory night audit this area well.
• Train employees to look for and report mis-ticketed items shipped to the store from a warehouse. In one store I worked for we called these mis-picks. This should be a year round practice that can significantly hurt inventory. Recently I found a chair shipped to the store with the wrong SKU number. This threw off our counts and impacted replenishment and would have impacted inventory had I not noticed the error and reported it so management could correct the counts.
These are just a few tips that can make a BIG impact on inventory. Stop shoplifting and operational shortage and see how profitable your store can be!
Get more information on Checkpoint Security Tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
It seems like only a few months ago when I was helping out with inventory at the store I currently work for! Having nearly 26 years of retail and inventory experience to draw from, I frequently help identify potential problem areas and provide suggestions to my current store manager to try to make the inventory process easier and more accurate. Right now I work for an office supply store but I have experience in department stores and big box retail stores as well. There are tips and strategies I have incorporated over the years that can be useful in preparing for inventory in almost any situation. For example, all stores I have worked for have used Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) tags or EAS labels to stop shoplifting. Prep time is the time to ensure all merchandise has the appropriate Checkpoint security tags on them whether it is clothing, electronics, toys or a combination of those products your store sells. Using the time leading up to inventory to apply EAS labels and Checkpoint security tags not only helps to stop shoplifting later on, it helps to prevent theft by inventory counters or your own staff on inventory night.
I tend to forget that not all of the readers are familiar with electronic article surveillance or how Checkpoint security tags or EAS labels work or stop shoplifting. Let me give a brief explanation. Electronic article surveillance uses radio frequency emitting tags and radio frequency receiver antennas to create an alarm system. When an EAS label (usually a soft-style tag) or Checkpoint security tags (which can be a hard tag or soft label) is carried into the receiving range of an electronic article surveillance antenna, an alarm in the antenna is activated. Usually this is a loud, audible alarm accompanied by flashing LED lights. The alarm alerts employees and they can respond and conduct receipt checks and recover unpaid merchandise. Often simply having the EAS labels on merchandise is enough to deter a thief from stealing but when it isn’t, the antenna alarm and employee response does result in preventing merchandise from being stolen.
Here are some other things to watch for that can make your inventory process easier or more accurate. Again, these are lessons I have learned over the many years I have in preparing stores for inventory:
• When prepping in a stockroom, watch out for items that may be multiple items in a package. An example would be socks. Some socks are sold as multiple pairs in a package, perhaps a package of 10 socks for $14. Other packages are shipped with multiple socks that are intended to be separated as individual units. Not catching this can result in counting a package of 10 socks intended to be sold individually as 1 unit. The store “loses” 9 pair of socks. Make sure packages are properly marked by how many units are in them OR separate out the package.
• Boxes of batteries may be shipped to a store and although a box may contain 20 individual packages, I have seen the shipping box counted as 1 unit. Had I not caught the error, due to poor prep or an inventory counter error, we would have “lost” 19 packages of batteries.
• Look for merchandise that gets stocked on the floor in a manner that can confuse an inventory counter. An example of this we have to watch for at an office supply store is 3-ring binders. They are often stocked so that two are inserted into each other to allow more merchandise to be on the floor. The issue at inventory time is it can look like one selling unit. Be sure to show this to your inventory representative during a pre-inventory walk-through so they can make a note of it for their plans. On inventory night audit this area well.
• Train employees to look for and report mis-ticketed items shipped to the store from a warehouse. In one store I worked for we called these mis-picks. This should be a year round practice that can significantly hurt inventory. Recently I found a chair shipped to the store with the wrong SKU number. This threw off our counts and impacted replenishment and would have impacted inventory had I not noticed the error and reported it so management could correct the counts.
These are just a few tips that can make a BIG impact on inventory. Stop shoplifting and operational shortage and see how profitable your store can be!
Get more information on Checkpoint Security Tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
AA Blog 24-Checkpint labels
Checkpoint labels: 5
EAS labels: 3
Don’t Let Food Theft Get You Down In The Dumps, Protect Yourself With Checkpoint Labels
A couple of weeks ago we were out with some friends for a birthday party. We were at a local bowling alley and sat down to get some food. The waitress had yet to grab the last customer’s check, which had cash in it. We started to discuss how easily someone could take that money without anyone noticing. Not that we would ever do that, but this resulted in a subsequent discussion about theft in general. We all agreed on the prevalence of shoplifting and theft in general. Most of my friends are in law enforcement and we tend to all run in similar circles, so we all have various experience on the subject. One of the guys there, who isn’t in law enforcement, said that his brother is a habitual shoplifter. He said that his brother has, on multiple occasions, walked into a grocery store, filled a cart completely full with food, and just walked out the door with it. Of course he didn’t condone the activity and was not present when it happened, but apparently his brother is pretty proud of the behavior, gloating about it often. His brother stated that he has only been stopped by a store employee once because the items were not bagged. His brother said he just shrugged it off and left the cart and walked away. Nobody tried to stop him, nor was he ever prosecuted for the attempted theft. I have actually been called to these types of calls, when I worked in law enforcement, and I am sure they happen rather frequently. As a business owner it is important to protect your property and take appropriate action to stop shoplifting. The best way to do that is by using Checkpoint labels on your merchandise.
Checkpoint labels are an effective way of securing your property and alerting associates of potential theft. These labels are equipped with Electronic Article Surveillance technology, which sound an audible alarm, when someone attempts to remove the product from the store. Food production, shipping and weather conditions continue to affect grocery costs in the United States. Food has become an inherent part of the holiday season and higher food prices result in increased theft. EAS labels can be used on any product, to include food. Checkpoint labels, for food items, are specifically designed so there is no risk of contamination if direct contact is made. They are also microwave safe so they won’t damage your customer’s property and won’t degrade causing issues with the food integrity. Not all labels meet those stringent food safety standards. These EAS labels are a high quality product at a reasonable price, which ensures they activate and deactivate effectively, to minimize errors and loss. Using these labels on all of your high line food products, such as prime cuts of meat, coffee, alcohol and other items can help reduce your loss and increase profits.
Checkpoint labels can provide the added security you need to protect your valuable commodities. I think about my friend’s brother, and how easy it was for him to just walk out the door with hundreds of dollars in food, without any detection. Obviously those stores were not equipped with EAS labels or a retail anti-theft system in general. It is unfortunate that retailers and grocers think they are immune to theft, when in fact they are extremely vulnerable. We can’t rely solely on our associates to recognize and intervene in these types of incidents. We as an industry must look towards a multi-faceted approach to loss prevention, and EAS labels can help you reduce overhead and reduce theft.
Checkpoint labels are important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
A couple of weeks ago we were out with some friends for a birthday party. We were at a local bowling alley and sat down to get some food. The waitress had yet to grab the last customer’s check, which had cash in it. We started to discuss how easily someone could take that money without anyone noticing. Not that we would ever do that, but this resulted in a subsequent discussion about theft in general. We all agreed on the prevalence of shoplifting and theft in general. Most of my friends are in law enforcement and we tend to all run in similar circles, so we all have various experience on the subject. One of the guys there, who isn’t in law enforcement, said that his brother is a habitual shoplifter. He said that his brother has, on multiple occasions, walked into a grocery store, filled a cart completely full with food, and just walked out the door with it. Of course he didn’t condone the activity and was not present when it happened, but apparently his brother is pretty proud of the behavior, gloating about it often. His brother stated that he has only been stopped by a store employee once because the items were not bagged. His brother said he just shrugged it off and left the cart and walked away Nobody tried to stop him, nor was he ever prosecuted for the attempted theft. I have actually been called to these types of calls, when I worked in law enforcement, and I am sure they happen rather frequently. As a business owner it is important to protect your property and take appropriate action to stop shoplifting. The best way to do that is by using Checkpoint labels on your merchandise.
Checkpoint labels are an effective way of securing your property and alerting associates of potential theft. These labels are equipped with Electronic Article Surveillance technology, which sound an audible alarm, when someone attempts to remove the product from the store. Food production, shipping and weather conditions continue to affect grocery costs in the United States. Food has become an inherent part of the holiday season and higher food prices result in increased theft. EAS labels can be used on any product, to include food. Checkpoint labels, for food items, are specifically designed so there is no risk of contamination if direct contact is made. They are also microwave safe so they won’t damage your customer’s property and won’t degrade causing issues with the food integrity. Not all labels meet those stringent food safety standards. These EAS labels are a high quality product at a reasonable price, which ensures they activate and deactivate effectively, to minimize errors and loss. Using these labels on all of your high line food products, such as prime cuts of meat, coffee, alcohol and other items can help reduce your loss and increase profits.
Checkpoint labels can provide the added security you need to protect your valuable commodities. I think about my friend’s brother, and how easy it was for him to just walk out the door with hundreds of dollars in food, without any detection. Obviously those stores were not equipped with EAS labels or a retail anti-theft system in general. It is unfortunate that retailers and grocers think they are immune to theft, when in fact they are extremely vulnerable. We can’t rely solely on our associates to recognize and intervene in these types of incidents. We as an industry must look towards a multi-faceted approach to loss prevention, and EAS labels can help you reduce overhead and reduce theft.
Checkpoint labels are important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
EAS Labels-3 WC Blog 313
Stop Shoplifting-3
Checkpoint Security Tags-3
Are Professional Boosters Bugging You With Theft? Checkpoint Security Tags Have A Solution To Help “SWAT” Them Away
Back in the days when I was a Loss Prevention Manager we had theft issues involving certain items we suspected were being stolen by Organized Retail Crime (ORC) groups. These groups would target specific items that had high resale value on the black market and they were being sold for under the retailer prices. Items at that time included DVD’s, CD’s, Cosmetics, a number of Health and Beauty items and even boxed sets of ball cards. The stores in our market took a number of steps to try to stop shoplifting from taking place but we also wanted to identify our merchandise if it got to certain locations notorious for dealing in stolen goods. Flea markets and mom and pop shops were two notable locations where we suspected our merchandise was ending up. In order to try to identify our products from items that may have been taken from other retailers we used a number of tricks. We began marking product with store stamps that included the store number and stickers with a logo and even EAS labels that we marked. In some cases these tactics proved useful but as any good investigator knows you don’t assume a tactic can’t be defeated, you try to find ways to get by a tactic before the bad guys do. We found that often we could find ways around some of our own strategies and if we could then thieves could as well, that’s how they make a living. Those days may be behind retailers now. New Checkpoint security tags are on the market that will defeat even the most stubborn criminal.
The 2928 S Micro “SWAT” Tag is the latest member in the family of Checkpoint security tags. This tag is a tiny 1.1” diameter circle in size. It helps stop shoplifting and reduces shortage due to the visible circuitry that potential shoplifters can see when they look at the tag. The clear viewing window helps keep product information easy to read and gives the store flexibility in the placement of EAS labels on merchandise. The feature that I am most excited about with this new product is an indelible, leave-behind layer that will stymie some boosters and help aid Loss Prevention and police efforts to shut down Organized Retail Theft rings. It works like this; the booster sees the “SWAT” Tag and forcibly removes it from the package. An indelible graphic is left behind on the package that cannot be removed! This means that if the booster sells it to their buyer and it is on a store shelf or flea market booth, the merchandise is marked and risky for resale or easy to identify in a sting operation. Just when you think it can’t get any better, the leave behind layer is customizable if a retailer chooses to do so. A custom QR code can be included making it easy for ORC investigators to scan the code and identify where the product originated. The second option is for a custom layer that has a company logo on it. If no customizing is to be done, a black lock logo is the default, warning away thieves.
You may be wondering if this works on product that is shrink-wrapped. What happens when the bad guys tear off the plastic wrap that seals so many items, doesn’t the logo go away? When boosters steal, the merchandise has to be in the condition that it is sold. For example, if a video game software item is stolen and the shrink wrap is removed, it will not have the same resale value to the buyer. Boosters make about .25 cents on the dollar so if they make $10 on a $40 video game, that amount will go down significantly if they remove the cellophane wrapper, if they can sell it at all. The risk/reward ratio is not in the booster’s favor so they have to keep packaging intact. You can see then how the 2928 S Micro “SWAT” Tag is superior to other EAS labels in terms of preventing ORC theft.
Checkpoint security tags can stop shoplifting and reduce store shortage. The Checkpoint “SWAT” Tag can prevent ORC theft and help law enforcement break up the groups that are plaguing your store and other retailers. Start enjoying the benefits of reduced theft and improved profits today by ordering the 2928 S Micro “SWAT” Tag for ALL of your merchandise.
Get more information on Checkpoint Security Tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
Back in the days when I was a Loss Prevention Manager we had theft issues involving certain items we suspected were being stolen by Organized Retail Crime (ORC) groups. These groups would target specific items that had high resale value on the black market and they were being sold for under the retailer prices. Items at that time included DVD’s, CD’s, Cosmetics, a number of Health and Beauty items and even boxed sets of ball cards. The stores in our market took a number of steps to try to stop shoplifting from taking place but we also wanted to identify our merchandise if it got to certain locations notorious for dealing in stolen goods. Flea markets and mom and pop shops were two notable locations where we suspected our merchandise was ending up. In order to try to identify our products from items that may have been taken from other retailers we used a number of tricks. We began marking product with store stamps that included the store number and stickers with a logo and even EAS labels that we marked. In some cases these tactics proved useful but as any good investigator knows you don’t assume a tactic can’t be defeated, you try to find ways to get by a tactic before the bad guys do. We found that often we could find ways around some of our own strategies and if we could then thieves could as well, that’s how they make a living. Those days may be behind retailers now. New Checkpoint security tags are on the market that will defeat even the most stubborn criminal.
The 2928 S Micro “SWAT” Tag is the latest member in the family of Checkpoint security tags. This tag is a tiny 1.1” diameter circle in size. It helps stop shoplifting and reduces shortage due to the visible circuitry that potential shoplifters can see when they look at the tag. The clear viewing window helps keep product information easy to read and gives the store flexibility in the placement of EAS labels on merchandise. The feature that I am most excited about with this new product is an indelible, leave-behind layer that will stymie some boosters and help aid Loss Prevention and police efforts to shut down Organized Retail Theft rings. It works like this; the booster sees the “SWAT” Tag and forcibly removes it from the package. An indelible graphic is left behind on the package that cannot be removed! This means that if the booster sells it to their buyer and it is on a store shelf or flea market booth, the merchandise is marked and risky for resale or easy to identify in a sting operation. Just when you think it can’t get any better, the leave behind layer is customizable if a retailer chooses to do so. A custom QR code can be included making it easy for ORC investigators to scan the code and identify where the product originated. The second option is for a custom layer that has a company logo on it. If no customizing is to be done, a black lock logo is the default, warning away thieves.
You may be wondering if this works on product that is shrink-wrapped. What happens when the bad guys tear off the plastic wrap that seals so many items, doesn’t the logo go away? When boosters steal, the merchandise has to be in the condition that it is sold. For example, if a video game software item is stolen and the shrink wrap is removed, it will not have the same resale value to the buyer. Boosters make about .25 cents on the dollar so if they make $10 on a $40 video game, that amount will go down significantly if they remove the cellophane wrapper, if they can sell it at all. The risk/reward ratio is not in the booster’s favor so they have to keep packaging intact. You can see then how the 2928 S Micro “SWAT” Tag is superior to other EAS labels in terms of preventing ORC theft.
Checkpoint security tags can stop shoplifting and reduce store shortage. The Checkpoint “SWAT” Tag can prevent ORC theft and help law enforcement break up the groups that are plaguing your store and other retailers. Start enjoying the benefits of reduced theft and improved profits today by ordering the 2928 S Micro “SWAT” Tag for ALL of your merchandise.
Get more information on Checkpoint Security Tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
AA blog 07: Electronic Article Surveillance
Electronic Article Surveillance: 4
EAS Labels: 5
Stop Shoplifting: 3
Where’s the Beef? Why Electronic Article Surveillance is a Necessary Part of Any Business.
If you have been in the local grocery store lately or if you happen to own one, you are very well aware of the constant inflation of food prices. I notice when prices are fluctuating, especially when I go to buy my favorite Honeycrisp apples, that are running anywhere from $2.00-$3.00 a pound, or a nice juicy steak that can cost me upwards of $15.00. Unfortunately for us consumers, we can’t do anything to reduce these costs, aside from comparative shopping and looking for local discounts. There are many reasons why our agricultural market continues to increase consumer prices by an average of 2-3% a year. Many variables contribute to this rate, which can fluctuate depending on the weather and other economic variables. The cost of oil is a huge factor in the cost of food products. This is due the rising price of gas, which affects delivery costs and can limit resource availability. Droughts in states such as California and Texas can affect crop and meat production and availability, which increase prices due to supply and demand issues. This also presents a problem for grocery store owners because they continue to mark-up prices in order to provide these products and maintain profits. As prices continue to rise we are also seeing higher theft rates in the food industry. So what are these companies doing to help secure their products and stop shoplifting? Many businesses are utilizing Electronic Article Surveillance solutions to label and detect theft.
If you aren’t familiar with EAS Labels or how Electronic Article Surveillance works to reduce shrinkage, let me be the first to tell you what an important role they can play for you and your company. As a loss prevention manager I have seen the positive impact this system has had on businesses of all types and sizes. EAS labels come in various types and sizes to accommodate various products. They provide a discreet means to apply EAS technology to a product, which can be detected by EAS antennas, to stop shoplifting. Specially designed Checkpoint labels have been created specifically for the food industry. They are FDA approved and do not impact the integrity of the product. This allows them to be placed directly on fresh meat or frozen product packaging and is microwave safe. They are small sticker tags that are equipped with EAS technology. This technology is compatible with various checkout systems, which provide for a convenient way to deactivate the EAS signal at the time of checkout, with no added effort. These EAS labels can be printed at the store level, making the process simple and efficient. There are various other soft labels that are equipped with EAS that can be used for non-food products as well. This can be a benefit to those grocery stores that sell other products such as cosmetics, medicine and vitamins, jewelry and other high priced items such as electronics. These clear adhesive labels contain a small bar code that can be printed and affixed to products, without reducing the visibility of the product. These EAS labels will substantially reduce shoplifting through deterrence and detection.
If you want to stop shoplifting in your stores, reduce overhead cost, improve customer relations and increase profit, consider upgrading your security to include Electronic Article Surveillance. Adding EAS labels to your high valued items is imperative to reduce theft. As a consumer I will continue to look for lower prices and shop in stores that don’t over-stretch my budget. Pricing, quality and convenience will continue to drive purchasing preferences, so do yourself a favor and protect your merchandise, so you can remain competitive in the market.
Get more information on Electronic Article Surveillance, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547, now.
If you have been in the local grocery store lately or if you happen to own one, you are very well aware of the constant inflation of food prices. I notice when prices are fluctuating, especially when I go to buy my favorite Honeycrisp apples, that are running anywhere from $2.00-$3.00 a pound, or a nice juicy steak that can cost me upwards of $15.00. Unfortunately for us consumers, we can’t do anything to reduce these costs, aside from comparative shopping and looking for local discounts. There are many reasons why our agricultural market continues to increase consumer prices by an average of 2-3% a year. Many variables contribute to this rate, which can fluctuate depending on the weather and other economic variables. The cost of oil is a huge factor in the cost of food products. This is due the rising price of gas, which affects delivery costs and can limit resource availability. Droughts in states such as California and Texas can affect crop and meat production and availability, which increase prices due to supply and demand issues. This also presents a problem for grocery store owners because they continue to mark-up prices in order to provide these products and maintain profits. As prices continue to rise we are also seeing higher theft rates in the food industry. So what are these companies doing to help secure their products and stop shoplifting? Many businesses are utilizing Electronic Article Surveillance solutions to label and detect theft.
If you aren’t familiar with EAS Labels or how Electronic Article Surveillance works to reduce shrinkage, let me be the first to tell you what an important role they can play for you and your company. As a loss prevention manager I have seen the positive impact this system has had on businesses of all types and sizes. EAS labels come in various types and sizes to accommodate various products. They provide a discreet means to apply EAS technology to a product, which can be detected by EAS antennas, to stop shoplifting. Specially designed Checkpoint labels have been created specifically for the food industry. They are FDA approved and do not impact the integrity of the product. This allows them to be placed directly on fresh meat or frozen product packaging and is microwave safe. They are small sticker tags that are equipped with EAS technology. This technology is compatible with various checkout systems, which provide for a convenient way to deactivate the EAS signal at the time of checkout, with no added effort. These EAS labels can be printed at the store level, making the process simple and efficient. There are various other soft labels that are equipped with EAS that can be used for non-food products as well. This can be a benefit to those grocery stores that sell other products such as cosmetics, medicine and vitamins, jewelry and other high priced items such as electronics. These clear adhesive labels contain a small bar code that can be printed and affixed to products, without reducing the visibility of the product. These EAS labels will substantially reduce shoplifting through deterrence and detection.
If you want to stop shoplifting in your stores, reduce overhead cost, improve customer relations and increase profit, consider upgrading your security to include Electronic Article Surveillance. Adding EAS labels to your high valued items is imperative to reduce theft. As a consumer I will continue to look for lower prices and shop in stores that don’t over-stretch my budget. Pricing, quality and convenience will continue to drive purchasing preferences, so do yourself a favor and protect your merchandise, so you can remain competitive in the market.
Get more information on Electronic Article Surveillance, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547, now.
