Staff Editor — Page 149

Don’t put your Loss Prevention Strategy on Hold

December 24, 2012 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

Have you ever had to call a customer service line to try and fix a problem? Just about everyone has at some point or another right?. I recently spent two days trying to get a hold of a company regarding a service issue on a product. Most of that time was spent on hold.

Eventually I did manage to get a live human and after all of that, there wasn’t even anything they could do about it.

It reminds me a lot of trying to fix an employee theft or shoplifting issue in my store. You spend a lot of time looking in the wrong places for solutions to fix your problem. All the while your time and money is going down the garbage.

If you or your staff has limited knowledge or limited loss prevention training, maybe it is time to call in the experts. Enroll in a loss prevention workshop that will help you actually fix your inventory losses and not just put you on hold.

For more information on Loss Prevention Seminar, Loss Prevention Workshop, or Loss Prevention Training contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 – Atlanta Georgia

Visit the Loss Prevention Systems website for more information on Retail Shoplifting and Retail Employee Theft problems and view the Retail Loss Prevention Seminar, Retail Loss Prevention Training and Retail Loss Prevention Workshop we offer to help with your Employee Theft and Shoplifting problems.

Filed Under: Seminar Tagged With: Employee Theft, Loss Prevention Seminar, Loss Prevention Training, Loss Prevention Workshop, shoplifting

Anti-Theft Devices work in Conjunction with Customer Service

December 24, 2012 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

The crime of shoplifting occurs daily and industry analysts believe thieves steal nearly $25 million in stolen merchandise each day. In order to prevent shoplifting retailers must be armed with the information and equipment to combat the rising shrink numbers. Retail anti-theft devices such as Alpha 2Alarm, Alpha 3Alarm, Alpha Fashion2, Alpha Jewel Lok, Alpha Jewel Lock, Alpha Nano Gate, Alpha Shark Tag, Alpha Spider Wrap and other retail anti-theft devices from Alpha Security prevent shoplifting through deterrence by creating an unattractive environment for shoplifting to fester and thrive. Furthermore, loss prevention professionals believe good customer service is the best deterrent and will prevent shoplifting by enhancing the shopping experience.

A company I once worked for always trained its loss prevention personnel that deterrence is the best policy and to focus more on eliminating opportunities for shoplifters. Customer theft accounts for less than 40% of annual shrink and the rest comes from employee theft or administration lapses. If you can control your merchandise you can control your shrink number. Retail anti-theft devices are easy to use and do not adversely impact your commitment to outstanding customer service because they can be removed conveniently during the checkout process.

Retailers are now learning to adapt to the emerging trends and many large department store chains have been redesigned to accommodate best practices for retail anti-theft devices. Most shoplifters are opportunists so reducing your merchandise’s exposure should be a priority and is a proven method in mitigating annual shortage.

Visit the Loss Prevention Store for Alpha 2Alarm, Alpha 3Alarm, Alpha Fashion2, Alpha Jewel Lok, Alpha Jewel Lock, Alpha Nano Gate, Alpha Shark Tag, Alpha Spider Wrap and other retail anti-theft devices from Alpha Security to use in conjunction with your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system that can help you prevent shoplifting in your business.

For more information on how you can use Alpha Security retail anti-theft devices and your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system to prevent shoplifting contact us or call 1.770.426.0547

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Alpha Fashion2, Alpha Jewel Lok, Alpha Nano Gate, Alpha Shark Tag, Alpha Spider Wrap, Fashion2, Jewel Lok, Nano Gate, Prevent Shoplifting, Shark Tag, Spider Wrap

Do all the pieces fit together?

December 24, 2012 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

I loved putting together puzzles when I was a kid. It started out with the small little three or four piece baby puzzles. After many years I evolved into some of the hardest puzzles I could find- the ones where all the pieces look the same and have very few distinguishing characteristics.

While it has been many years since I tried to put a puzzle together, I have moved on to different types of puzzles, the kind you find working in the retail security and loss prevention field.

When I work a case, I still take the same approach I did when I worked a puzzle, start out with the easy corners and the edges. Once I get the frame built, I can then start putting the little details together to form the whole picture. Sometimes it might be an employee theft case; sometimes it might be an organized ring stealing particular items.

In all of my experiences, I know that retail anti-theft devices have always been important pieces I have used to solve the puzzle laid out before me.

Visit RBC Security Solutions for retail Anti-Shoplifting or retail Anti-theft Devices that can help you with your Retail Security needs like Cheap Tags and Cheap Labels. Our Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS Tags and Labels are not cheap they are inexpensive and made in the U.S.

For more information on how you can use retail Anti-theft Devices in conjunction with your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system to help you prevent retail theft in your business with products like Cheap Tags and Cheap Labels contact us.

Click here for your Free Sample of these new Cheap Tags and Cheap Labels for your Retail Security and retail Anti-Shoplifting needs!

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Anti-Shoplifting, anti-theft devices, Cheap Labels, Cheap Tags, Retail Anti Theft Devices, retail security

“It’s just a Penny!?!”

December 24, 2012 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

The title itself led to one of the largest employee theft cases I have ever taken in a small box electronics retailer. One of the most frustrating things any executive can encounter is when money is spent on tools and training and the employees completely ignore them. One of those tools that many retailers have is the ability to track daily cash shortages. In fact many retailers have the capability to track the shortages to the exact register and employee. This is no easy task; it is a combination of technology and register handling policies that allow a business to track not only the overall daily cash shortages but to also track each employee’s cash shortages. The reason for this is two fold, one it will potentially catch internal theft and two it will pinpoint training opportunities for those having difficulties handling transactions. The company I worked for had a great way to track the cash shortages down to the employee which allowed loss prevention and district sales managers’ easy access to audit any potential employee theft trends.

A disturbing trend I began to notice in several stores was the “give a penny, take a penny” slush fund. I would conduct a loss prevention audit and when I came to the cash handling part of the audit I would review the cash shortages for the past quarter. A red flag would immediately go up when there were no cash shortages or overages at all. At that point I would go on the hunt for the “cup” or “dish” of change that ultimately was being used to cover losses or overages in the store. The management always viewed it as a minor issue saying “what does it matter if we were short a bit of change any way?? What’s a penny?” I would then have to sit down and counsel the staff on the pitfalls of covering even the smallest of losses.

I would start with “the case” example which began with a store bleeding massive amounts of product. Since this retailer’s losses were mostly a result (about 75%) of internal theft we knew it was more than likely an internal job. We began our employee theft investigation by auditing daily and weekly inventory counts as well as the over/short cash logs. We were attempting to narrow the focus of the employee theft investigation to ascertain how the product was leaving the store as well as who was responsible. We had to stop the bleeding as well as pinpoint the thief before they realized we were on to them. One thing this store manager made sure to do was to keep very detailed inventory counts and logs. There was no “slush” fund in this store. A review of the cash over/short log showed a very interesting trend. One employee was having consistent small shortages, a few pennies here, a little change there. This was nothing that an untrained eye would view as anything other than a training opportunity.

Another interesting fact was the inventory losses tended to happen when this employee was working. There were other employees in the store that also worked consistently when the inventory losses occurred. We knew this was a case of internal theft. I also had a very good idea of what was happening but decided to install a pinhole camera over the register to confirm my suspicions. Three days later the employee theft investigation was over. The employee in question was caught red handed doing what is typically called “drop sales”. He would sell an unsuspecting customer product for cash, accept the cash, use a “no sale” to open the cash register drawer issue change then close the cash drawer and never give the customer a receipt. After the customer left the store the employee did another no sale and took the cash the customer had given him for the product.

So I asked the store manager after he saw an example of this on video, “what are we short?” He immediately stated “the product”, I asked “what else?” , he was confused for a bit and then the light bulb went on over his head “We are short the change he gave the customer”. I asked the store manager how we would have been able to narrow the focus of the employee theft investigation to the product leaving via the register area if we had not had the cash over/short log. He had no answer. I assured him we would have been able to figure it out but the investigation would have gone on a heck of a lot longer and the losses would have been piling up while the investigation continued. The employee admitted to several thousand dollars in product theft via the drop sale method. This example of employee theft proved to be a very good training example for the entire company. “What’s a penny?” is a question store management learned NEVER to ask.

For more information on internal theft, employee theft investigation or employee contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 – Atlanta Georgia

Visit the Loss Prevention Store to purchase CCTV Systems that can help you stop Employee Theft and Internal Theft problems and help with your Employee Theft Investigation.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: employee theft, employee theft investigation, internal theft

Keeping your Clothing on a Leash…

December 24, 2012 by Staff Editor

When you think of clothing security, you generally think about retail anti-theft devices like the hard EAS tags, or the soft labels. Both are commonplace in retail.

The soft tags are generally embedded into a price label, or might be slid into the pocket of a wallet, or adhered to the brim of a ball cap.

The hard tags are a little more bulky, and are made in two parts. There is the tag and the pin, which needs to pierce the garment or accessory to attach.

Sometimes, neither of these are good retail anti-theft device options for clothing security. Soft tags can be removed depending upon placement. Hard tags can rip and snag delicate or stretchy fabrics.

Having a third option is ideal for getting the most usage out of your cheap labels and cheap tags. A lanyard attachment can loop around these problematic pieces of merchandise.

Lanyards can keep your clothes on a leash without the risk of damage or having a defeated EAS soft tag.

Visit RBC Security Solutions for Checkpoint Compatible Clothing Security retail Anti-theft Devices that can help you protect your clothes and prevent retail theft in your business with products like Cheap Tags and Cheap Labels. Our Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS Labels and Tags are not cheap they are inexpensive and made in the U.S.

For more information on how you can use Clothing Security retail Anti- theft Devices in conjunction with your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system to protect your Clothes and help you prevent retail theft in your business with products like Cheap Tags and Cheap Labels contact us.

Click here for your Free Sample of these new Checkpoint Compatible Cheap Tags and Cheap Labels for your retail Clothing Security needs!

Filed Under: clothing alarm Tagged With: Cheap Labels, Cheap Tags, Clothes, Clothing Security

Going Above and Beyond

December 21, 2012 by Staff Editor

Success is achieved not just by meeting the status quo; it is by going above and beyond those expectations. Anyone who has worked hard for success knows that there is always something a little bit more that can be given or done in any situation. It is really about giving it your all, and then some.

As a small business owner, you are probably no stranger to giving that “and then some” to ensure your business’s success. Long hours, detailed bookkeeping, scouring applications to find just the right employees are all just part of the daily grind.

What about your liquor bottle security? Have you found something that gives it it’s all to make your store more profitable? If you haven’t already, try out the Alpha Security liquor bottle locks.

A liquor bottle lock is a cap that goes over the bottle to eliminate access to its contents. These liquor bottle locks are also fitted with an EAS tag that will sound the alarm if a bottle goes out the door prior to the lock being removed.

They are also compact in design to allow for maximum inventory placement on the shelves. There is no need to sacrifice your visual displays for unsightly and cumbersome lock boxes. Your customers will still have their full range of access to your liquor bottles to peruse and purchase.

It sounds to me like liquor bottle security, and then some!

Visit the Loss Prevention Store to purchase EASy Bottle liquor bottle locks by Alpha Security and your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system.

For more information on Alpha Security, Liquor Bottle Lock, Liquor Bottle locks, Liquor Bottle Security, EASy Bottle or Liquor Bottle Security and how they can work with your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system contact us or call 1.770.426.0547

Filed Under: Security Tagged With: Alpha Security, bottle lock, bottle locks, bottle security, easy bottle, liquor bottle lock, liquor bottle locks, liquor bottle security

Cheap labels and Cheap tags that are Checkpoint Compatible?

December 21, 2012 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

It seems like everyone has his or her own version of products these days. Every name brand has a store brand counterpart. Well, up until recently, it seems like if you wanted an item, or system, you had to pick who you wanted to go with, there was no intermingling of products.

If you got an air freshener, for example, you could only buy that particular brand’s refills. Well it seems like people are starting to wizen up. Now I am seeing air fresheners marketing that their brand is compatible with other maker’s fresheners and refills.

Retail anti-theft devices are the same way. Not all anti-shoplifting tags can be used with other manufacturer’s products. This is not the case here. These EAS tags are compatible with the Checkpoint’s retail security systems. No more worrying about having to get a completely different system just to have access to cheap labels and cheap tags.

Click here for your Free Sample of these new Cheap Tags and Cheap Labels for your Retail Security and retail Anti-Shoplifting needs!

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Anti-Shoplifting, anti-theft devices, Cheap Labels, Cheap Tags, Retail Anti Theft Devices, retail security

Protect your clothes and accessories!

December 21, 2012 by Staff Editor

I have a friend who is an absolute clothes nut. She loves to shop, she loves to buy, and she loves to accessorize. It’s a good thing that she also works in a retail environment where she gets to sell clothes on a daily basis.

I was talking to her recently when she confided that they were having an issue with their accessories department. They keep finding empty packages, but they aren’t sure what to do about it. They never seem to see anyone suspicious lurking about.

I asked what type of clothing security they have in place. She said they have the standard retail anti-theft devices on all of their clothes. When I asked about the accessories, she paused, and realized there wasn’t any in place.

I told her, one of the easiest things to do was to make it as obvious as possible that there was some sort of retail anti-theft devoces, even if it was just a camera. I also told her this would be a great area to use some cheap labels and cheap tags to drive the point home.

Click here for your Free Sample of these new Checkpoint Compatible Cheap Tags and Cheap Labels for your retail Clothing Security needs!

Filed Under: clothing alarm Tagged With: Cheap Labels, Cheap Tags, Clothes, Clothing Security

Selling yourself short is never a good idea.

December 19, 2012 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

One of the fundamentals of consumer choice is that one product can easily be substituted in for another one. There is always a choice of products to choose from at competing or comparable price points.

You know that your customers have a choice to come in and shop at your store, so why would you sell yourself short by giving them a reason to shop elsewhere. You want the right products in at the right time for the right price.

Why would you not want the same choices when it comes to your own purchases? When you decide to invest in retail security, why not make the best choices and get the most for your money?

Don’t sell yourself short and get inferior retail anti-theft devices because that’s all you think you can afford.

Get cheap labels and cheap tags that are worth something. Retail anti-shoplifting tools are diverse in quality and content. Use your power of choice and get the ones that are worth your time, money and effort. You wouldn’t sell your customers an inferior product, so don’t buy one yourself.

Click here for your Free Sample of these new Cheap Tags and Cheap Labels for your Retail Security and retail Anti-Shoplifting needs!

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Anti-Shoplifting, anti-theft devices, Cheap Labels, Cheap Tags, Retail Anti Theft Devices, retail security

Are you Elastic?

December 19, 2012 by Staff Editor

In economics, there is a definition of elasticity that talks about how a reduction in the price of an item (say clothes) is reduced, and the seller’s revenue increases. It sounds kind of crazy until you understand how it works. How can you make more money by lowering your prices right?

Basically, it explains how a retailer can make more money by putting an item on sale if they then sell more of the item than they normally would.

What if you don’t have the clothes to sell because they keep walking out the door? Are you still elastic? The answer is probably not, because you won’t have the quantity of clothes in place to make the sales worthwhile.

Retail anti-theft devices are a great way to utilize clothing security methods to help you stay elastic. There is nothing worse than a customer specifically going to a store looking for a specific sales item and finding out that they are all sold out.

It’s even more disappointing, as an owner or manager to realize you have lost out on those precious sales because you no longer have the items in, due to theft.

Visit RBC Security Solutions for Checkpoint Compatible Clothing Security Anti- theft Devices that can help you protect your clothes and prevent retail theft in your business with products like Cheap Labels and Cheap Tags. Our Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS Labels and Tags are not cheap they are inexpensive and made in the U.S.

For more information on how you can use Clothing Security Anti- theft Devices in conjunction with your Electronic Article Surveillance or EAS system to protect your Clothes and help you prevent retail theft in your business with products like Cheap Labels and Cheap Tags contact us.

Click here for your Free Sample of these new Checkpoint Compatible Cheap Labels and Cheap Tags for your Clothing Security needs!

Filed Under: clothing alarm Tagged With: Cheap Labels, Cheap Tags, Clothes, Clothing Security