2012 – The year of the good employee.

January 27, 2012 by

Have you ever hired a new employee and then 3 months later seriously questioned your interview skills and business judgment?  I know I have.  It is amazing how some people can look so good on paper and in an interview room, yet we get stuck with their evil twin once they punch into work.  One way to help weed out the bad apples from the proverbial bunch is to utilize employee background checks and a pre employment screening before making a job offer to a perspective candidate.

There are several different types of employee background checks that can be performed.  It really just depends on the type of company you run and the position being filled.  I recommend consulting a professional Background Check Company to conduct your checks.  A good Background Check Company should do several things.  First, they should be able to give reasonable recommendations as to what types of checks would be best for your business.  Secondly, a good Background Check Company will utilize licensed private investigators to oversee the background checks to make sure they are being done correctly and with integrity.

One of the common background checks is criminal background checks.  Criminal background checks look at relevant state and sometimes federal level criminal histories to help you ensure that your future employee is trustworthy and does not have any past inclinations that would put your company at risk for lawsuit, theft or violence.  Another pre employment screening that can be done is in the area of finances.  If the employee will be handling cash, bookkeeping, etc. it is important to make sure that person can manage their own finances first.  You would not put a crack addict in charge of the police drug unit because you know where all the evidence would go.  In that same theme you would not want to put someone in great financial disarray in a position to handle your money and then hope for the best.

For more information on, background checks, criminal background checks , background check experts, employee background checks or pre employment screening contact us at the background check company or call 1.770.426.0547 

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Liquor Bottle Security: A Package Deal!!

January 27, 2012 by

So a friend of mine decides he wants to open a “package store” which is essentially a liquor store. He is one of these guys that “sees” more on a big picture level as opposed to worrying about the details. We all know the saying “the devil is in the details”. Well one of those “devils” is liquor bottle security. This was a detail that he ignored wholeheartedly while planning his business. I don’t think my friend ever gave one thought to the fact I spent almost 15 years in the loss prevention field when he was setting up his business. In fact I don’t think he gave any thought to security at all in his “business plan”. He had the idea, he had money and away he went to open his business. That is where the trouble began.

I watched him from afar wondering how he would employ bottle security over his product. I secretly started doing my own research knowing eventually the flickering fluorescent light bulb over his head would eventually blink on and he would get the idea to call me for help. My research started with looking for a company that had some type of a bottle lock or bottle security device. I came across a company called Alpha Security that had created some pretty innovative products. They had the EASy bottle system which employed bottle locks that had their own alarms as well as an embedded rf chip that would alert the alarm pedestals at the front of the store if the product with alarm was removed from the store without deactivation. The bottle locks were impressive to say the least, strong, sleek and not cumbersome. I envisioned any attempt at bottle security would involve a big clunky piece that would inhibit any useful way of storing or marketing the bottles. I was thankfully wrong and with my initial research on Alpha Security being very promising I chose to delve deeper into the EASy bottle lock system.

At this point in time my friend was feeling the first pangs of inventory loss. Since he had almost no liquor bottle security tools he fast became the neighborhood’s easy theft target. His version of a bottle lock was to take all of his expensive bottles and lock them up in the storage room. This hurt him due to having limited representation of that product on the sales floor as well as needing additional personnel to pull the product from the stockroom when a customer did desire the product. Another form of liquor bottle security he employed was putting handwritten signs around the store which stated “If you steal you go to jail”.  Besides the fact they were handwritten they did not give the good customers a “warm fuzzy” feeling about shopping in his store.  My friend was really struggling trying to invent his own version of bottle locks when it finally dawned on him to call me to discuss a strategy to lower his shrink.

Knowing my friend and his stubbornness is why I let him finally get to the point of realizing he needed my help, otherwise anything I said would have fallen on deaf ears. Don’t we all know someone like that??  I quickly brought him up to speed about the EASy bottle system which was developed by Alpha Security. I showed him a picture of the bottle lock that I thought would best suit his business. He could not believe that this lean and sleek lock had an embedded alarm as well as the fact that if someone attempted to defeat the bottle lock it would render the product inconsumable. He immediately jumped at the idea and purchased the EASy Bottle system. I helped him set the system up as well as ensured that the staff was fully trained on how to install, audit, deactivate and remove the bottle locks. I also spent extra time training my friend and his staff on how to properly react when any alarms sounded.

Now my friends business is booming due to proper product representation, good marketing and fully secured product. I am just wondering when he will decide to cut me a check for helping him out!! Anyway I was glad to help out a friend in need.

Visit the Loss Prevention Store to purchase EASy Bottle bottle locks by Alpha Security.

 For more information on Alpha Security , Bottle Lock , Bottle locks , Bottle Security , liquor bottle security or EASy Bottle contact us or call 1.770.426.0547

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Clothing Security: Who Needs A Blanket??

January 27, 2012 by

In the old days of loss prevention before there was any type of clothing security attempts to limit loss fell to working the floor as undercover store detectives and remedial mirrors hung awkwardly from ceilings. The saying goes you can’t be in two places at the same time, a saying that was and is obviously studied by shoplifters. As time moved on however loss prevention professionals wanted a “better mouse trap” and longed for a technology that would help lower their shrink percentages. Some retailers limited the amount of expensive product on the sales floor, requiring constant recovery by employees, additional payroll and rigid auditing to ensure all product was represented on the sales floor. Let’s be honest, no matter how good your store staff can be, no one is perfect and this strategy is recipe for doomed sales. Good sales obviously affect the shrink percentage in a positive way, so if your shrink is rising and your sales have been limited then you are “burning the candle at both ends”. A company called Checkpoint made substantial clothing security innovations. They heard the call of the industry for a clothing alarm system, They devised a system that covered the whole store by placing security tags on clothes and placing sensor pedestals at the entrance/egress of the store. At this point you had the store covered and anyone attempting to leave the store with product that had clothing security tags would trigger the clothing alarm at the front of the store.

This was an excellent beginning to the world of clothing security, however, there were pitfalls if too much confidence was placed in the clothing alarm. When a checkpoint system was purchased you didn’t just buy checkpoint tags or checkpoint pedestals you purchased an interactive system that required very specific set up instructions. Installation of the system was merely the first step. The entire store staff including management needed to take part in a product orientation that instructed them on what clothing security tags were, how to place security tags on clothes and how to remove the checkpoint tags safely. Employees also had to learn how to audit the clothing security tags, were the checkpoint tags placed on the correct product, were the checkpoint tags placed correctly on the product so as not to damage the clothing? If the security tags on clothes were not placed consistently or in the right places the system would fail to deter or detect theft.

The last bit of training for all the employees is how to correctly react to a clothing alarm from the front checkpoint pedestals. If alarms are ignored then the system is a waste of money. Employees have to react to an alarm in a non-threatening way that promotes customer service but also lets a potential thief know that if they did not pay for product and attempted to leave with concealed product they would be caught in the act. Most alarms at the beginning will merely be employees forgetting to deactivate or remove security tags on clothes. This will serve as good practice for all employees to get comfortable with a confident customer service friendly response to a clothing alarm. The checkpoint system is an excellent tool that is literally a blanket of protection for your store if the employees all work together to implement and maintain the system to its fullest degree.

Visit the Loss Prevention Store to purchase a clothing alarm or clothing security tags.

For more information on Checkpoint tags, clothing security, clothing alarm, or clothing security tags contact us at security tags on clothes or call 1.770.426.0547

 

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New retail anti theft devices actually make protecting accessories more than a dream.

January 27, 2012 by Leave a Comment

For years I have suffered through the pain of shrink in my accessories department.  For many department stores the shrink percent of this department is the highest in the store.  It seems we lose almost as much as we sell.  The reason is fairly simple.  These items are very small, easy to conceal or wear, and cannot be protected.  Or should I say couldn’t be protected.  Alpha Security has a revolutionary set of retail anti theft devices aimed to help prevent shoplifting of these expensive little items.

 There are several Jewel Lok retail anti theft devices available.  There are two Jewel Lok options for earrings.  One is for hoop earrings and the other for stud earrings.  Both options help prevent shoplifting by applying the tag directly to the product and not just the packaging.  For years our only option was to put a soft tag on the jewelry packaging.  These were often torn off or the shoplifter would just remove the product from the package and the tag was ineffective at that point.  With the Jewel Lok tags the actual product is protected and the ability to prevent shoplifting becomes a reality.  There is also a Jewel Lok option that works with loose jewelry such as bracelets, necklaces, etc.

 Alpha also has retail anti theft devices for other accessories as well.  The Eyewear tag is designed to place a hard tag on the arm of sunglasses.  They are adjustable so they will fit most sizes of sunglasses.  The 2 Alarm and 3 Alarm cable locks are great for handbags.  The 2 Alarm and 3 Alarm cable locks will sound the EAS system if not removed and both have an alarm built into the tag that will sound if tampered with.  The 3 Alarm tag works with the Nano Gate and if the product leaves the store will set off the alarm on the tag which helps make apprehensions easy.

 Visit the Loss Prevention Store for retail anti theft devices that can help you prevent shoplifting in your business.

 For more information on how you can use retail anti theft devices to prevent shoplifting contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 

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The EAS Decision: “No Stone Left Unturned”

January 27, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Most large clothing retailers have an EAS system that aids them in the fight to stop shoplifting. They have the experience and the budgets to employ these systems company wide. It is the small to mid size clothing retailers that have the hardest time making the jump to employing a company wide EAS system. The thought of outfitting stores with the RF pedestals buying checkpoint security tags and checkpoint labels then ensuring the system is implemented correctly can send executives into a tailspin. That is why it is important for loss prevention executives to be able to communicate the cost effectiveness of making the right business decision.

Taking the first step is always the toughest. In my experience to research the possibility of installing checkpoint systems company wide I found that taking as many partners as possible from a variety of departments within the company allowed us to clearly define our wants and needs as goals to be achieved. One can’t just throw money at an issue by buying a bunch of RF security labels and RF security tags and hope to impact shrink in a positive way. Obviously when inventory numbers are trending higher than what the industry or the company deems acceptable people get nervous and the sense of urgency can tempt a person to cut corners. Many retailers immediately grasp at any straw to stop shoplifting.

I started with the internal audit and inventory control department heads when starting the process to research the possibility of a companywide roll out of checkpoint. I wanted a breakout of the company’s overall shrink by categories, by dollar and by percentage as well as a top ten category breakout detailing the exact skus being lost to ascertain the top loss skus. At that point we had the numbers and the information to take the next step to sit down with the checkpoint representative. I told him I wanted a detailed presentation of his product in a way that even my grandmother would understand. I was pleasantly surprised when he arrived with a wide array of checkpoint labels and checkpoint security tags as well as samples of the EAS pedestals to be installed. This is when I brought in the “bean counters” of the company to crunch the numbers to see if the money spent would be worth the savings gained. I do not think the finance guys were as impressed with the capabilities of the RF labels and RF security tags but the potential savings had them on the edge of their seats. One curve ball checkpoint had was the capability to source tag, which means they could set up a way to fix the RF security tags and the RF security labels to the product at the distribution center to arrive at the stores pre tagged thus saving payroll at the store level as well as the possibility of stores over buying checkpoint security tags or checkpoint labels.

I was duly impressed with how versatile the RF label was in how many different products it could protect. Watching the Checkpoint representative’s ability to interact and answer the questions of employees from multiple departments was very interesting and allowed me to expand my own horizons as far as the different concerns each department might entertain. I compiled the pros and cons of RF security labels and RF tags as well as the complete system itself. One thing all departments realized is no matter how “smart” an RF label is nor how many RF labels are purchased they themselves can not stop shoplifting. The most important point driven home by the checkpoint representative was the fact that the system is interactive. All employees must take part in the daily audits, theft detection and alarm reaction to ensure the system operates at peak performance.

In the end a comprehensive proposal was put together by checkpoint after having input from various department heads within the company that met all of our wants and needs as well as laid out a detailed plan as how to achieve our shrink goals while being cost effective. Let us say there were “no RF labels left unturned”. Business owners take note, the process can be lengthy but you will feel very comfortable that you have not been rushed into any decision since you are not just purchasing a system but forming an ongoing partnership.

Visit the Loss Prevention Store to purchase Checkpoint labels, Checkpoint security tags, and other RF labels that can help you stop shoplifting in your business.

For more information on Checkpoint labels, Checkpoint security tags, RF labels, RF security labels, RF security tags and how to stop shoplifting contact us at RF label or call 1.770.426.0547

 

 

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For Whom the Bell Curves

January 27, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Each employee theft investigation I have ever worked on has had its own very specific twists and turns. It sometimes took a lot of creativity on my part to figure out just what they were doing and how they would get away with it. In each case of employee theft there was always one common trait- The Curve.

The Curve is the point that an employee’s thefts swing upward in frequency, severity or both. While this is often the easiest time to identify an internal theft situation, it is also the most costly for a store.

When an employee first starts to steal they do it small. They will pick a low dollar amount of cash, or a single item to pocket or give to a friend. Then they wait. They wait to see if anyone notices, or calls them out on it. Once they realize that no one noticed, they are well onto the second step of employee theft.

This is the stage where they start to work out all the kinks in their plan. A change in how often they feel comfortable stealing. They will gradually increase the dollars of their losses to the stores. Still, they are tentative that someone may notice what is going on. This stage could last for weeks or months depending on how long it took them between their first and second thefts.

If they have yet to be questioned, The Curve is now in effect. This is the dangerous time where employee theft is rampant. They are comfortable in their MO and will steal with reckless abandon. They are confident that since they haven’t been caught yet, they have beaten the system.

It is here that they show up consistently on exception reporting. Their pattern has emerged and they are now the low hanging fruit of employee theft investigations.

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

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Anti Shoplifting: A Key To Retail Success.

January 25, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Checkpoint Security Systems is an industry leader in retail theft prevention.  This company is often looked toward for the leading technology in retail theft prevention.  Checkpoint security systems can provide any business with an appropriate retail theft prevention program.

Checkpoint Security Systems provides the retailer with both high technology integrated checkpoint systems, or basic proven systems for the budget minded business.  Checkpoint Security System distributes many different Checkpoint security tags to full-scale Checkpoint security systems.  Currently, Checkpoint Security Systems is offering anti shoplifting solutions for many facets of the retail industry.   For the retailer that has a high level of customer service or a particular visual store model, Checkpoint security systems offers the checkpoint security tag.  The checkpoint security tag allows a retailer to protect their merchandise without requiring the use of a larger plastic tag.  This retail theft prevention solution is perfect for the retailer that is trying to control loss and not have a visible distraction on their merchandise.  The Checkpoint security tags also allow the retailer to control the issue of return fraud.  The checkpoint security tag can also verify if, when and how the merchandise was purchased.

For the retailer that is looking for the impact of a soft tag, but the visual a stronger visual deterrent, the hard checkpoint security tag is for you.  These tags provide the retailer an enhanced anti shoplifting deterrent, as the plastic pin and lock device is visible to the shoplifter.  The hard checkpoint security tags can be interfaced with a checkpoint system’s security tower.   This system is often used in specialty and discount retailers that experience higher annual losses.

Visit the Loss Prevention Store to purchase retail anti theft devices from Checkpoint Systems.

For more information on Anti Shoplifting , Checkpoint Security System or Checkpoint Security Tags contact us at Retail theft prevention or call 1.770.426.0547

 

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Trusted Background Check Experts make all the difference.

January 25, 2012 by

Hopefully in this day and age you are aware that employee background checks are an option for employers before they make a job offer to a potential candidate.  I hope even more you are utilizing these background checks before you make said offer.  Modern technology has made conducting pre employment screening and employee background checks more accurate and affordable and our litigious society has made them that much more necessary.

Did you know that your business is liable for its employee’s actions?  If one of your employees injuries or commits a crime against a customer or fellow employee then you may get sued and end up paying big bucks.  Did you also know that it is harder than ever to get a reliable reference from past employers?  Try it sometime.  Due to lawsuits and claims of defamation of character, many companies will now only verify dates of employment.  That is fine and dandy if the employee was a good employee, but what if that last date of employment was because of theft?  Criminal background checks are the only way to really know what type of employee you are hiring.  Now, criminal background checks are hard to do yourself so I recommend getting your needed background checks done by a reliable Background Check Company.

There is more than one Background Check Company available for hire.  In fact, there are many.  What you may not know is that not every Background Check Company uses licensed and trained Background Check Experts to conduct the services they offer.  When you pay for employee background checks you expect the process to be thorough and complete.  This is hard to accomplish without trained background check experts conducting the pre employment screening.  My recommendation is to check out the credentials of the Background Check Company you are looking at before you sign the dotted line.

 For more information on employee background checks, background checks, background check experts, criminal background checks, or pre employment screening contact us at the background check company or call 1.770.426.0547 

 

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Is your bottle security program Super Bowl approved?

January 25, 2012 by

The days are closing in on a major party holiday.  The Super Bowl brings millions together for party and tailgating fun.  Obviously one of the main party ingredients (for a good party anyway) is the alcohol.  But what happens when funds are a little tight and $100’s for booze isn’t available?  Unfortunately, for many the answer is not cheaper beer.  It means theft.  I suggest using bottle security to protect your profits for those who aim to intercept your products.

One great bottle security option is to use bottle locks from Alpha Security.  There are several bottle locks that Alpha Security offers to aid your theft defense.  The most popular solution is the “EASy Bottle” bottle lock.  The “EASy Bottle” bottle lock is a cap that keeps the contents safe and works with your existing EAS system (both RF and AM systems) to sound the alarm if the product is being stolen.  Another type of bottle lock option is the Steel Grip.  For some champagnes and other large spout liquor bottles the bottle cap options won’t fit.  The Steel Grip is an EAS tag that is wrapped around the neck of the bottle and is tamper resistant.  This still gives good protection as it too will sound the alarm in the event of the theft.

Don’t rely on luck and a hail marry to score profits this year.  Hit the field with a game plan aimed at all phases of the game.  Using bottle locks (for your offense plan) allows open displaying of products which provides the customer the best access to buy their products and increase sales.  Bolster that defense with bottle security and protect those hard earned points.  You know what they say, “Defense Wins Championships”.

Visit the Loss Prevention Store to purchase EASy Bottle bottle locks by Alpha Security.

For more information on Alpha Security , Bottle locks , Bottle Security, Bottle Lock, liquor bottle security or EASy Bottle contact us or call 1.770.426.0547

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A New Tag for a Not So New Problem

January 25, 2012 by

Now that the holidays are over, most soft line retailers have entered into the Return season. We see everything from Halloween costumes, to holiday linens, and party dresses. While some items do have legitimate reasons for being returned, there is a growing number of customers who are guilty of “wardrobing”.

Wardrobing is when a customer buys an item for a specific use, such as a new designer dress for the office holiday party. They wear the item one time, keeping the tags handy. After the event, they put the tags back on and return the item with a receipt for full purchase price. While it is not technically stealing, no retailer is in the business of renting clothing.

Because the customer, and I use that term loosely, pays for the item, any clothing security tags are removed at the register. It will not set the clothing alarm off at the door. Checkpoint tags are not a deterrent to this shopper.

What Checkpoint does have is a new type of pin to deter this sort of event from happening. It is the Shark tag by Alpha Security. It attaches in a visible spot to the front of a garment. Once removed, the tag is unable to be reapplied, and cannot be accidentally removed. This signals usage of the garment at the returns desk.

It’s a new type of clothing security tag. It helps secure your sales stay as sales and not unnecessary returns.

Visit the Loss Prevention Store to purchase a clothing alarm or clothing security tags.

For more information on Checkpoint tags, clothing alarm, clothing security, or clothing security tags contact us at security tags on clothes or call 1.770.426.0547

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