A retail people counter can point you in the direction of shoplifters, provided you know how to read a little further into your reports. In order to understand the report, you have to know how they work in general.
Retail people counters are devices that track how many potential customers are coming into your store. Most devices are set up to differentiate a one-way passage. That means the retail people counters will count the people coming inside, but not leaving the store. That prevents your data from being falsely inflated. Otherwise the device would trigger once when someone enters, and again, once when this same person left.
Now that your customer traffic has been counted, you can view your report. If you are using the VisiPlus system, you will have a report generated by hour of the day, for each day. When you divide your sales by customers, you can see what your average for the day is, and can further break those numbers down by hour. Over the course of time, you should be able to establish a baseline sales average.
Now, here’s how you spot a shoplifter by looking at your report.
Let’s say on a Saturday morning your VisiPlus report shows you (on average) have 20 people in between 10AM and 11AM. Your sales average about $200.00, for the hour leaving you with a $10.00 dollar ticket average.
You start to notice a trend on your VisiPlus report that you are consistently showing 30 people during this same time slot, but your sales are still only about $200.00. If you start to investigate, you might notice one person coming in and out several times, driving up your VisiPlus report.
Here is why: shoplifters are very nervous about getting caught. They will come in and out of a store frequently as they decide to steal, and then second guess themselves and decide not to steal. They are also looking to see who is paying attention as they go in and out. If no one pays attention, it boosts their confidence that they will not be caught.
If you see a spike in your retail people counter, but no corresponding sales, be on the lookout for potential shoplifters.
If your store is prone to large-scale thefts, such as ones from push outs, grab and runs, or booster bags, it might be partly due to the ease that they can pick up large quantities of merchandise. When retailers merchandise arms of clothing the hangers typically face in one direction. That means a shoplifter can grab an entire sales arms full of product in mere seconds. Did you know that alternating the direction of your hangers is a clothing security technique designed to prevent this specific issue?
Try to start with the hangers holding the smallest size facing right, the mediums facing left, larges facing back towards the right, etc.
This provides a visual pattern to the hangers and eliminates a haphazard look and feel to your store. By setting a standard for the direction the hangers need to face, you can keep your merchandising racks looking neat and organized.
When you alternate the direction of the hangers the shoplifters have to stop and put in some extra effort to get all of the items, instead of just a few at a time. This method keeps your sales floor stocked at levels that allow customers to quickly find what they are looking for- in the sizes they need- while reducing your risk of a large scale theft. It is a more practical and customer friendly clothing security move compared to reducing sales floor stock levels or hiding merchandise behind a locked case.
Visit the Loss Prevention Store to purchase Checkpoint Tags, a Clothing Alarm, Clothing Security or Clothing Security Tags to put Security Tags on Clothes and an Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system.
For more information on Checkpoint tags, clothing security, clothing alarm, or clothing security tags how they can work with your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system contact us at security tags on clothes or call 1.770.426.0547
If your store is prone to large-scale thefts, such as ones from push outs, grab and runs, or booster bags, it might be partly due to the ease that they can pick up large quantities of merchandise. When retailers merchandise arms of clothing the hangers typically face in one direction. That means a shoplifter can grab an entire sales arms full of product in mere seconds. Did you know that alternating the direction of your hangers is a clothing security technique designed to prevent this specific issue?
Try to start with the hangers holding the smallest size facing right, the mediums facing left, larges facing back towards the right, etc.
This provides a visual pattern to the hangers and eliminates a haphazard look and feel to your store. By setting a standard for the direction the hangers need to face, you can keep your merchandising racks looking neat and organized.
When you alternate the direction of the hangers the shoplifters have to stop and put in some extra effort to get all of the items, instead of just a few at a time. This method keeps your sales floor stocked at levels that allow customers to quickly find what they are looking for- in the sizes they need- while reducing your risk of a large scale theft. It is a more practical and customer friendly clothing security move compared to reducing sales floor stock levels or hiding merchandise behind a locked case.
Visit the Loss Prevention Store to purchase Checkpoint Tags, a Clothing Alarm, Clothing Security or Clothing Security Tags to put Security Tags on Clothes and an Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system.
For more information on Checkpoint tags, clothing security, clothing alarm, or clothing security tags how they can work with your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system contact us at security tags on clothes or call 1.770.426.0547
A retailer’s decision to purchase an Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) system can seem to be a simple one. However, we have encountered many retailers who have made serious and usually costly mistakes. With a little knowledge and planning, an EAS system can be an excellent return on investment, simple to use and maintain.
Make sure you understand what you are getting into. There are several choices and terms you should be aware of as part of the buying decision and they are as follows:
- RF vs AM– There are two different types of systems on the market: Acousto Magnetic (AM) and Radio Frequency (RF). These systems operate very differently and do not work together although both technologies have been around for many years. Each has its pluses and minuses.
Acousto Magnetic (AM) systems such as Sensormatic Systems have a robust electronic field that is not subject to many of the issues that RF has. You find AM labels on or in most everything you purchase in major retail stores as a result of Sensormatic’s Source Tagging Program. Although many previous AM systems required a 220V electrical power supply, most now are 110V which is a cost saving to the retailer. Hard tags and labels are robust and difficult for a shoplifter to remove without drawing attention to themselves.
Radio Frequency (RF) systems such as Checkpoint Systems or Checkpoint Compatible Systems are also very good systems that have thinner labels and tags. Tuning these systems can be tricky and it is not a good idea for the retailer to do this themselves.
A special note about Radio Frequency Identification (RFID). We frequently have retailers contact us and are confused by RF and RFID. Although they work in similar ways, they are very different. RF (and AM) is for shoplifting prevention ONLY. RFID is for both inventory control and tracking. RFID is available with both AM and RF systems
- System Quality– Like anything else in electronics, you get what you pay for. There are many knock off type systems out of Asia available. The problem with them is quality control in the manufacturing process, lack of good research and development and support. Many times these systems work for a short period of time and then break down. Lack of support or parts become an issue at that point. Small retailers have found themselves with a non-working system that has to be completely replaced. You should look for a 10 to 15 year life expectancy out of an EAS system. Yes, new models and features come along but a system you purchase should be able to go the distance. Remember, an EAS system is never turned off. It works 24/7. Make sure your selection is supported to go the distance. Warranty should be at a minimum 1 year.
- Support– Look into this in advance. Otherwise your support will consist of you on the phone with someone, while on your knees with a screwdriver making adjustments. Does the vendor have nationwide or even worldwide Techs in the field? This in itself says something for the manufacturer. Major Retailers like Walmart, Home Depot, Lowe’s…. are not interested in having their staff even tinkering with sophisticated equipment. It takes away from what they are supposed to be doing and ultimately the systems would not be working. In some cases we have seen that the “Tech” is a local sub-contracted Electrician. Electricians are generally very unfamiliar with low voltage equipment. It is not anything against a professional, licensed Electrician. They are highly skilled in high voltage but generally know nothing or very little about low voltage. It would be like asking a Railroad Engineer to fly a Boeing 747 (or the reverse). Probably not a good idea! Something else to consider: most new Sensormatic systems have the ability to be connected to your high speed internet connection. This allows Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. to do service remotely. In many cases this will eliminate an onsite service call and reduce your costs.
- New-vs-Used Systems– There are a lot of used systems available. What you have to ask yourself is where did they come from? This is not like buying a used car. With a car you can have it examined and see the wear and tear. Not so with EAS systems. Like I mentioned before these systems, once installed are rarely turned off. Most of the used systems you see come from two places. First, a store that has closed. So if the equipment at say a Home Depot store that is being closed and moved to a new location is in good enough shape, why would they not have it moved? It is probably because it is at the end of life or is somehow defective. These systems are sold to companies that remove fixtures from stores that are closing. They are not handled by Certified Tech’s and so the possibility for damage or the weakening of the electronics is likely. Companies then bring them in and “refurbish” them. This basically means that they take the parts from several systems and make a working system. Again, how good are these parts? On top of this the other possibility is that they are being sold by someone whose store has gone out of business. Again, ask yourself “Was this system de-installed properly so the very valuable electronic boards were not destroyed”? How long was it sitting on someone’s garage floor? Lastly think about warranty. New equipment generally includes full parts and labor warranties.
- Tags and Labels– Both AM and RF systems have labels that are placed on merchandise and are “deactivated” at your checkout. AM systems use a label that is thicker than an RF label. However, an AM label generally has a smaller footprint over an RF label. Certain RF labels can be printed on with your Thermal Transfer (TT) printer. You can print your barcode, logo, pricing, description or anything else you want. This in turn helps disguise and hide the EAS label form shoplifters. AM labels are not printable.
Both AM and RF system labels can be defeated in certain ways. That is why hiding or disguising the label is helpful. Labels are “deactivated” by a deactivation unit at the point of sale. This “kills” the label so when the legitimate customer goes out with their purchases, they do not cause an alarm. Cheap labels tend to reactivate up to twenty percent of the time between the point of sale and the exit door.
Hard Tags are the plastic tags that go on to mainly fabric type merchandise like clothing, accessories and shoes. Hard tags are always the best option to use if your product mix allows for it. Hard Tags are reusable and more importantly give off a stronger signal than any label.
- Training– EAS equipment will not solve your shoplifting problem alone. Many retailers I have worked with over the years have expressed dismay that they spent the money putting the system in and shoplifting did not decrease as much as they expected. You have to have a different mind-set and set your expectations correctly. The system is a support tool for you and your staff. Many times because of poor training and turnover of staff what happens is that a customer causes an alarm and the staff just waves them though. If that is what you are going to allow, then do not spend the money to put an EAS system in. Your training program should be two-fold: first – training on the system i.e. how it works, tag and label placement, what is a phantom alarm, when there is a problem what are they to do and so on. Second is antishoplifting training that has nothing to do with the EAS system. This training involves topics like approaching a customer that I am suspicious of and what can I say or do? What are the laws of my State? What are the policies of my company? And most importantly, how can I deter a shoplifter in the first place while creating a super environment for my good customers? Once you do that then you should see a considerable decrease in your losses. An ROI at about 3-5 months, if you follow this program would not be unusual. Again, ask yourself whether the vendor provides this type of training (we do with all system sales including unlimited follow up training) and has that level of experience dealing with shoplifters or do they just sell the equipment?
An EAS system should be looked at as any other equipment or tool you need to operate and ultimately turn a profit in your retail store. It is as necessary to any retailer as freezers are to grocers or clothing racks to a ladies clothing store.
Contact us at: 770-426-7593 or www.LossPreventionSystems.com or www.RetailLossPreventionStore.com
The Checkpoint Classic Street System is part of the Classic line. The Classic Street is feature packed with Checkpoints advanced electronics at a value price. This 8.2 MHz Radio Frequency (RF) system can be used in either a single or double door configuration.
Street can be utilized by any type and size retailer. Clothing, shoes, books, grocery, boutiques just to name a few. Both hard tags and labels can be used either separately or together. The Classic Street has clean lines and complements any retail environment look.
Classic Street benefits include:
– Up to a 5’9″ open doorway width with no antenna in the center.
– Strong, robust design made to last for years in a challenging retail environment.
– Checkpoint bumper guards and deflectors can be added to protect against impacts from shopping carts.
– Installed by Checkpoint Factory Techs.
Checkpoint Classic Street product DISCOUNTED pricing is available by contacting Loss Prevention Systems.
Classic Street can be utilized in wider door way configurations by simply adding antennas.
If you are interested in obtaining a custom quote for your retail store please contact us at 1-770-426-0547.
The Checkpoint Classic Street System is part of the Classic line. The Classic Street is feature packed with Checkpoints advanced electronics at a value price. This 8.2 MHz Radio Frequency (RF) system can be used in either a single or double door configuration.
Street can be utilized by any type and size retailer. Clothing, shoes, books, grocery, boutiques just to name a few. Both hard tags and labels can be used either separately or together. The Classic Street has clean lines and complements any retail environment look.
Classic Street benefits include:
– Up to a 5’9″ open doorway width with no antenna in the center.
– Strong, robust design made to last for years in a challenging retail environment.
– Checkpoint bumper guards and deflectors can be added to protect against impacts from shopping carts.
– Installed by Checkpoint Factory Techs.
Checkpoint Classic Street product DISCOUNTED pricing is available by contacting Loss Prevention Systems.
Classic Street can be utilized in wider door way configurations by simply adding antennas.
If you are interested in obtaining a custom quote for your retail store please contact us at 1-770-426-0547.
Library theft detection systems do not need to rely on integration into an electronic or digital check out system to be effective. These are systems that can run independently. This way, regardless of whether your library is highly digitized, or is still doing paper and stamp checkouts, you don’t have to sit idly by without any library theft prevention.
Since you can run Checkpoint systems on it’s own, you eliminate the expense of having to add more complicated total library integration. This is where the biggest cost savings occurs. Larger, or more well funded libraries might push the benefits of using technology that fully integrates library theft prevention with their inventory and asset tracking, as well as through the patron check in and check out process.
Even though these are all great and important features to have, they are not a necessity to be effective. Don’t let the size of your funding prevent your library from putting an end to missing magazines and resource materials.
It is easy to let the comparatively minimal investment in Checkpoint Systems work for you. It is one system to use, and one system to maintain. If there is ever damage or other issue with the library theft detection system, you do not risk the entire library operations shutting down in the process.
Visit the Loss Prevention Store to purchase Library Theft Detection System devices and your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system from Checkpoint Systems to stop inventory losses.
For more information on a Library Theft Detection System, Library Theft Prevention, or a Checkpoint System and how they can work with your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system contact us at Retail theft prevention to stop inventory losses in your library or call 1.770.426.0547
