It’s getting darker earlier: how to keep customers and employees safe

October 1, 2018 by Leave a Comment

Now that fall is upon us it is getting darker earlier. These hours of darkness can bring unique challenges for retail owners. Have you ever considered that it is your responsibility to help keep customers and employees remain safe while they are on your property? It may make sense that you are responsible for employee safety but you are also obliged to help keep customers safe as well. This includes your parking lot and the exterior areas around the building. How do you do this? What do you have to protect against? Good questions and hopefully we can provide you with answers to those questions and suggestions to make your business safer.

     What is it that you need to protect against as the daylight hours become shorter?

  • The potential for robberies increases in the hours of darkness.
  • Slip/trip/fall accidents in the parking lot can increase when it is dark as hazards are more difficult to see.
  • Car break-ins can increase.
  • Working at night can have an impact on your employees.
  • The risk of violence can increase.

Planning for operating a store during extended hours of darkness can help prevent problems that could arise.  According to an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) power point presentation, “Recommendations for Workplace Violence Prevention Programs in Late-Night Retail Establishments” one of the panels states”; “Late-night retail businesses such as convenient stores, liquor stores, and gasoline stations have experienced high homicides and assault rates”. The same power point on panel 5 goes on to mention the following as risk factors for late-night retail workers:

  • Exchange of money
  • Solo work and isolated work sites
  • Sale of alcohol
  • Poorly lit stores and parking lots
  • Lack of staff training in recognizing and managing escalating hostile and aggressive behavior

There are things store owners can do to mitigate the risks to their employees and patrons.

  • Inspect parking lots and sidewalks now for potential trip hazards. Have curbs painted yellow to make them fire lanes as well as making them brighter to reduce the chance someone trips on them. Paint parking stops or blocks a reflective white or yellow again to lower the risk of tripping.
  • Cracked or raised sidewalks should be repaired or reported to a landlord.
  • Check the parking lot light timers to ensure they turn on as it becomes dusk.
  • Inspect all parking lot lights and have burned out lamps replaced.
  • Add extra exterior building security lights.
  • If you have not installed them, have night vision security cameras set up to monitor the parking lot, sidewalks, entrances, and corners that may be out of view.
  • Install interior cameras and Public View monitors. These cameras should be at the front entrance and exits, cameras that capture activity at and around cash registers and a camera in a cash office that can see the safe and as much of the office as possible.
  • Have a cash drop at each register for $50 and $100 bills.
  • Keep register positioned away from customers so they cannot reach over the counter into the till.
  • Always have at least two people working in a store and never allow one person to close or open alone.
  • If you have two people working consider having an employee offer to watch a patron walk to their car when they leave. Patrons will appreciate it and it will make them feel safer.
  • If your credit machine accepts debit cards think about refusing cash back transactions after 6 pm. You won’t have to make as many trips to the safe to refill the register after dark.
  • Use a counterfeit bill detector for all $20, $50 and $100 bills.
  • Train each employee on how to recognize and de-escalate aggressive situations. This is also a good reason to have a second person working.
  • If you can only afford one employee at a time and your business is in a strip mall partner with a neighboring business to work together to provide mutual security/support at opening and closing.
  • Employees may get tired more easily as the daylight decreases. Be aware that it can lower their alertness while working and when they drive home. Encourage workers to be careful so they don’t hurt themselves or others.

Operating stores can be different when darkness comes along earlier. Taking the right precautions, being aware of potential issues and planning ahead can make that transition easier. Don’t take hours of darkness lightly.

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Prevent Shoplifting As Part Of A Strategy To Fill Shelves And Attract Shoppers Part 1

September 19, 2018 by Leave a Comment
Prevent shoplifting-4                                                                                                                 WC Blog 516
Alpha Security-4
Retail anti-theft devices-3


Prevent Shoplifting As Part Of A Strategy To Fill Shelves And Attract Shoppers Part 1

     Brick and mortar stores are closing up at alarming rates and part of the issue is losses incurred due to failures to prevent shoplifting and return fraud.  I heard a radio news report just the other day reporting that Sears would be closing another 100 Sears and K-Mart stores in the coming months. There are people who will say that the closing of traditional stores is due to the changing buying habits of customers. People can order something simply by tapping their smartphone or clicking a few keyboard strokes and there you go your purchase is on the way, to you or to the person you want it sent to. Some people say that retailers aren’t adjusting their business models to keep up with changing times. I have my own thoughts on the situation. I shop a bit online but not nearly to the extent others do. I may purchase dvd’s (yeah, I know why do it when you can stream it? THAT is part of my pet peeves with today’s generation. I have a hard copy, I can watch when I want to. Your choices may not always be readily available on a streaming service) I have bought cd’s and I have made a book purchase or two. HOWEVER, when it comes to clothing, furniture and even most technology I prefer to buy in a store. I hear it now, the groans and moans of some readers who just think I am so passé and old fashioned. I’m just not hip, is it because my flip phone won’t allow me the ‘convenience’ of online shopping? Brick and mortar store owners, there is some responsibility on your part too to adapt. You HAVE to get customers to want to shop in your stores and you can’t afford to have thieves shoplifting and stealing profits. Bill Bregar and Loss Prevention Systems Inc. can help you with methods to prevent shoplifting including the use Alpha Security retail anti-theft devices on merchandise.

      If you own a store and are not using retail anti-theft devices to prevent shoplifting I am going to explain what you are missing out on. Alpha Security products are designed to use electronic article surveillance technology to sound an alarm if someone tries to remove a tagged device from a store. Relying on radio waves transmitted by anti-theft devices stores set up pedestals near the building entrances and exits that can pick up these radio waves. Tagged merchandise carried close to the pedestals initiates an alarm that blares across a store. Lights also flash and attract attention to the pedestals as a security tagged item is carried too close. Alarms sounding and lights flashing are not exactly the ideal situation for shoplifters and the majority of the time merchandise is dropped at the doors or a responding employee conducts a receipt check and recovers the merchandise. When products are not stolen they are available for customers to buy and that increases sales not to mention reduces shortage. The truth of the matter is a customer comes to a store to find something to purchase and bare shelves is a sure way to drive them away. Loss Prevention Systems Inc. has the Alpha Security products you need to keep merchandise from being stolen and ready to sell.

     If you aren’t convinced that a lack of merchandise will lead to lost customers I would remind readers to look at some of the traditional big name stores that have struggled. In a Wall Street Journal article, “Retailers Rethink Inventory Strategies” by Paul Ziobro, June 27, 2016, the story discusses how many retailers are trying to reduce on hand inventory to increase profit but as the author writes, “But Destocking isn’t without risk. Bare shelves are a major annoyance to shoppers who take the time to go into stores to shop.” Quoting Rodney Sides, Vice Chairman of the retail practice at Deloitte LLP, “If I hold too much inventory out of the stores, then I look like I’m out of business.” Too little inventory can be the result of planned reductions but it can also be the result of theft and thus it is necessary to take appropriate steps to prevent shoplifting.

     Use Alpha Security retail anti-theft devices and keep shelves full for customers. While you are at it is there anything else you can do to bring in customers? Are you trying to reach out to the online shoppers as well as the walk-in customers like me? How do you keep things fresh and new? In part 2, I will discuss some things that can help in your efforts to attract more customers and increase sales while deterring shoplifters in the process.
Alpha Security is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
    

Brick and mortar stores are closing up at alarming rates and part of the issue is losses incurred due to failures to prevent shoplifting and return fraud. I heard a radio news report just the other day reporting that Sears would be closing another 100 Sears and K-Mart stores in the coming months. There are people who will say that the closing of traditional stores is due to the changing buying habits of customers. People can order something simply by tapping their smartphone or clicking a few keyboard strokes and there you go your purchase is on the way, to you or to the person you want it sent to. Some people say that retailers aren’t adjusting their business models to keep up with changing times. I have my own thoughts on the situation. I shop a bit online but not nearly to the extent others do. I may purchase dvd’s (yeah, I know why do it when you can stream it? THAT is part of my pet peeves with today’s generation. I have a hard copy, I can watch when I want to. Your choices may not always be readily available on a streaming service) I have bought cd’s and I have made a book purchase or two. HOWEVER, when it comes to clothing, furniture and even most technology I prefer to buy in a store. I hear it now, the groans and moans of some readers who just think I am so passé and old fashioned. I’m just not hip, is it because my flip phone won’t allow me the ‘convenience’ of online shopping? Brick and mortar store owners, there is some responsibility on your part too to adapt. You HAVE to get customers to want to shop in your stores and you can’t afford to have thieves shoplifting and stealing profits. Bill Bregar and Loss Prevention Systems Inc. can help you with methods to prevent shoplifting including the use retail anti-theft devices on merchandise.
     

If you own a store and are not using retail anti-theft devices to prevent shoplifting I am going to explain what you are missing out on. Retail anti-theft devices are designed to use electronic article surveillance technology to sound an alarm if someone tries to remove a tagged device from a store. Relying on radio waves transmitted by anti-theft devices stores set up pedestals near the building entrances and exits that can pick up these radio waves. Tagged merchandise carried close to the pedestals initiates an alarm that blares across a store. Lights also flash and attract attention to the pedestals as a security tagged item is carried too close. Alarms sounding and lights flashing are not exactly the ideal situation for shoplifters and the majority of the time merchandise is dropped at the doors or a responding employee conducts a receipt check and recovers the merchandise. When products are not stolen they are available for customers to buy and that increases sales not to mention reduces shortage. The truth of the matter is a customer comes to a store to find something to purchase and bare shelves is a sure way to drive them away. Loss Prevention Systems Inc. has the retail anti-theft products you need to keep merchandise from being stolen and ready to sell.
     

If you aren’t convinced that a lack of merchandise will lead to lost customers I would remind readers to look at some of the traditional big name stores that have struggled. In a Wall Street Journal article, “Retailers Rethink Inventory Strategies” by Paul Ziobro, June 27, 2016, the story discusses how many retailers are trying to reduce on hand inventory to increase profit but as the author writes, “But Destocking isn’t without risk. Bare shelves are a major annoyance to shoppers who take the time to go into stores to shop.” Quoting Rodney Sides, Vice Chairman of the retail practice at Deloitte LLP, “If I hold too much inventory out of the stores, then I look like I’m out of business.” Too little inventory can be the result of planned reductions but it can also be the result of theft and thus it is necessary to take appropriate steps to prevent shoplifting.
     

Use retail anti-theft devices and keep shelves full for customers. While you are at it is there anything else you can do to bring in customers? Are you trying to reach out to the online shoppers as well as the walk-in customers like me? How do you keep things fresh and new? In part 2, I will discuss some things that can help in your efforts to attract more customers and increase sales while deterring shoplifters in the process.

 

Retail anti-theft devices are important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.    

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With:

RFID Technology

September 17, 2018 by Leave a Comment

For a small business owner, bringing sales to their business is not an easy feat.  It requires lots of hard work and diligence.  For an owner or manager of a retail store, it requires a lot of hard work to be profitable and to prevent shrink and losses in their stores. 

For them, the acquisition of affordable technology and software to help them prevent losses due to shoplifting, shrinkage, clerical or merchant errors is instrumental in having a successful and profitable business.

For many years now, the increased use of technology and the benefits associated with it has been self-evident in many industries, and the retail industry is no exception.

The value and transformation technology has brought to retailers, merchants and customers have been invaluable to them and to their bottom line. Technology usage has allowed them to decreased costs while maintaining better data and solutions that allow them to target specific areas within their business.

RFID systems and software have been around for many years now, but the adoption rates have increased considerably over the last few years due the lower cost and ease of use. Still, small retailers that are struggling financially will be less inclined to invest in an RFID system or any other type of loss prevention system despite needing it most.

The cost associated with acquiring a system that will help prevent losses, and help you target issues in your retail store can help you recover the cost associated with the system within a year in many cases.

Loss prevention systems and the costs associated with them can vary considerably, but businesses have many options depending on what they want the system to accomplish. Here is a technology linked with the retail industry that may be gaining ground with many benefits associated with its adoption.

RFID technology

  • RFIDs systems usage has provided many merchants great ROI and revenue increase within the first year of usage. The capabilities of this system to provide accurate inventory to the store owner or manager of the stores has seen an increase in their revenues while providing customers the merchandise they need and want.
  • RFID technology will allow businesses across industries up to the minute data and reliable inventory data.
  • RFID technology will save expenses where inventory related labor is concerned while achieving better and more accurate inventory data.

Acquiring a  loss prevention system can be daunting in the beginning due to the financial expense the business has to go through, but it is necessary if the business wants to stay competitive and profitable.

Filed Under: Shoplifting Prevention Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Auto Peg Tag Is The Ingredient You Need To Stop Battery Theft

September 11, 2018 by Leave a Comment

With the recent focus in the news on the opioid crisis you may not realize that it is still important for retailers to stop shoplifting of one particular item, lithium batteries. Used in the manufacture of methamphetamine these batteries are a highly sought after ingredient and therefore a target of criminals. Aside from the cost alone, which makes them easy to resell on the internet or through those mom and pop shops that deal in stolen merchandise, they are an essential ingredient in making methamphetamine. According to the website narcononarrowhead.org, there are two methods to making methamphetamine and one of those methods requires the use of lithium extracted from lithium batteries. Hopefully retail owners will be good stewards and choose to protect against theft for the good of the communities they serve. If for no other reason they should want to prevent theft for the impact it has on the bottom line of the stores. By employing a theft prevention strategy that includes the retail anti-theft device can deter attempts to shoplift. They can also detect those situations when shoplifters choose to attempt to leave with tagged goods.

 

 The question left hanging out there may be can a retail anti-theft device such as an Auto Peg Tag actually stop shoplifting? It can but it is not going to do it on its own. It will require a concerted effort on the part of those who tag merchandise and the people trained on responding to a electronic article surveillance (EAS) tower alarm. If only part of a category of merchandise is tagged then dishonest patrons are going to steal untagged goods, in this case lithium batteries. As a Loss Prevention Manager I was tasked from time to time with auditing other stores in our district and this was an issue. I would find for example medicines that were supposed to have EAS labels on them and when I would dig into the products on the back of the shelf I would locate unprotected items. I believe in the concept of Shortage Action Plans that include protecting high shrink merchandise with retail anti-theft devices but the tagging MUST be consistent.

 

 I do want to briefly tell those readers who may not be familiar with the Auto Peg Tag what it is and how it can deter the theft of Lithium batteries (and other pegged products). This tag is a pinless, one-piece design tag that is clamped over the peghole of merchandise packaging. They come designed for single and double peghole packages for maximum protection. The design allows has little, if any impact on the amount of product that can be placed on a peghook. They do not interfere with the packaging information or appearance key elements that aid in shopper choices. They come to you built to work with electronic article surveillance towers. They even have a security warning and a lock symbol on them to warn ne’er-do-wells that the merchandise is protected and to leave it alone.

 

With all of that said I found I was still curious as to how methamphetamine makers are still able to make their drugs since pseudoephedrine products have been moved behind pharmacy counters. I thought this was going to quell that epidemic and therefore lithium battery theft would be in decline. I did some research and found that “cooks” are still able to get their hands on cold medicine containing pseudoephedrine through some creative methods. They do find ways to circumvent laws intended to restrict how much a person can buy in a month. It is not my intent to go into those details. Suffice it to say there is ample evidence that in spite of restrictions on the primary ingredient the bad guys are getting their hands on it. Lithium batteries will continue to be a target for criminals unless you stop shoplifting by tagging them.

 

Retailers, keep control of your battery inventory. They are easy for bad guys to re-sell on the internet or out of a flea market, warehouse or mom and pop shop. For the illegal drug manufacturers they are easy pickings unless protected with the Auto Peg Tag. Remember that there are customers who prefer lithium batteries to alkaline batteries so you don’t want to lose that shopper. Don’t lock up your batteries; protect them from theft while making profitable sales.

 

Need information on Auto Peg Tag? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.    

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: antishoplifting Tagged With:

20 WAYS TO STOP SHOPLIFTING AND OTHER COMMON FORMS OF LOSS – PT3

September 4, 2018 by

 

20 WAYS TO STOP SHOPLIFTING AND OTHER COMMON FORMS OF LOSS – PT3
11. Know the peaks 
You know when your sales peak for the month. You know when sales will be tight. You know the exact time of day that you better have more than 3 cashiers on a register, so why don’t you know when the peak times for shoplifting are? Knowing when your thieves are striking can help you to be more proactive and Stop Shoplifting. In general (and this changes with tides) thieves will target a store early in the morning, late at night, or when it’s very busy. Each of those scenarios holds one thing in common; less staff to see their acts. By knowing when you’re most likely to experience a loss from shoplifting, you’re more likely to prevent it. Knowing your business is a key trait to any successful Retail Theft Prevention strategy.
12. Spot the Symptoms
What does a shoplifter look like? That’s a tough egg to break. Since a shoplifter can be virtually anyone, you have to look for the signs. Things such as out of season clothing, large flat purses, and those that go through great lengths to avoid staff can be big clues to one’s intentions. You can also look for people who grab clothing off the racks without looking at sizes, or colors. Customers that grab all the expensive items and walk towards the rear of the store should also warrant a little extra attention. Any type of unusual behavior should pique your interest. Being observant of your customers can help you to Stop Shoplifting.
13. Floor Coverage
In order to provide great, engaging customer service, you have to staff your floor appropriately. This is a basic function for any meaningful Retail Theft Prevention program. If you’re busy from 11-2, then you shouldn’t allow the majority of the staff to take a lunch at noon. This is retail, you should schedule to meet the needs of your customers and your employees should understand that when they are hired. You can’t provide great service, deter thieves and stock the shelves if you don’t have the proper coverage. Pay attention to your scheduling and make sure that you’re meeting the expectations of the business. 
14. Create a Policy to Deal with Shoplifters when they are Caught
So, you have a shoplifting problem. You’ve tried cameras, Checkpoint Systems, locked showcases and none of that has worked on this guy. So, you catch him in the act and call the police. Now what? If you don’t have a written policy on how to handle this situation, you need one yesterday! Having a policy allows you to treat every offender the same, keep you out of any potential legal liability and ensures that the message is clear. You won’t tolerate theft. Not only will you work tirelessly to Stop Shoplifting, you will prosecute to the fullest those that test you.
15. Prosecute Everyone, no Matter how Sappy their Story is
This goes along with the above. If you catch someone stealing, whether they be 16, 60, white, black, orange, tall, short, etc.. they all get treated the same. With jail. You can’t say that you’re going to prosecute criminal “A”, but criminal “B” comes along and you don’t call the cops. If criminal “A” finds out how inconsistent you are, it could spell trouble for your case in court. This is why it’s so important to set a clear standard and stick to it. Now, it is wise to establish a dollar amount that you’ll prosecute. (You won’t be popular with law enforcement if you’re calling them out on a $1 shoplifting case.) In my stores, anything over $10 gets you a free ride downtown, with the exception of multiple offenders. Retail Theft Prevention doesn’t have to be hard. You just have to set a standard, and stick to it. 
 
Need information on Retail Theft Prevention? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now. 

11. Know the peaks 

You know when your sales peak for the month. You know when sales will be tight. You know the exact time of day that you better have more than 3 cashiers on a register, so why don’t you know when the peak times for shoplifting are? Knowing when your thieves are striking can help you to be more proactive and Stop Shoplifting. In general (and this changes with tides) thieves will target a store early in the morning, late at night, or when it’s very busy. Each of those scenarios holds one thing in common; less staff to see their acts. By knowing when you’re most likely to experience a loss from shoplifting, you’re more likely to prevent it. Knowing your business is a key trait to any successful Retail Theft Prevention strategy.

12. Spot the Symptoms

What does a shoplifter look like? That’s a tough egg to break. Since a shoplifter can be virtually anyone, you have to look for the signs. Things such as out of season clothing, large flat purses, and those that go through great lengths to avoid staff can be big clues to one’s intentions. You can also look for people who grab clothing off the racks without looking at sizes, or colors. Customers that grab all the expensive items and walk towards the rear of the store should also warrant a little extra attention. Any type of unusual behavior should pique your interest. Being observant of your customers can help you to Stop Shoplifting.

13. Floor Coverage

In order to provide great, engaging customer service, you have to staff your floor appropriately. This is a basic function for any meaningful Retail Theft Prevention program. If you’re busy from 11-2, then you shouldn’t allow the majority of the staff to take a lunch at noon. This is retail, you should schedule to meet the needs of your customers and your employees should understand that when they are hired. You can’t provide great service, deter thieves and stock the shelves if you don’t have the proper coverage. Pay attention to your scheduling and make sure that you’re meeting the expectations of the business. 

14. Create a Policy to Deal with Shoplifters when they are Caught

So, you have a shoplifting problem. You’ve tried cameras, electronic article surveillance (EAS) systems, locked showcases and none of that has worked on this guy. So, you catch him in the act and call the police. Now what? If you don’t have a written policy on how to handle this situation, you need one yesterday! Having a policy allows you to treat every offender the same, keep you out of any potential legal liability and ensures that the message is clear. You won’t tolerate theft. Not only will you work tirelessly to Stop Shoplifting, you will prosecute to the fullest those that test you.

15. Prosecute Everyone, no Matter how Sappy their Story is

This goes along with the above. If you catch someone stealing, whether they be 16, 60, white, black, orange, tall, short, etc.. they all get treated the same. With jail. You can’t say that you’re going to prosecute criminal “A”, but criminal “B” comes along and you don’t call the cops. If criminal “A” finds out how inconsistent you are, it could spell trouble for your case in court. This is why it’s so important to set a clear standard and stick to it. Now, it is wise to establish a dollar amount that you’ll prosecute. (You won’t be popular with law enforcement if you’re calling them out on a $1 shoplifting case.) In my stores, anything over $10 gets you a free ride downtown, with the exception of multiple offenders. Retail Theft Prevention doesn’t have to be hard. You just have to set a standard, and stick to it.  

Need information on Retail Theft Prevention? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now. 

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Clamp Down On Organized Retail Crime With EAS Tags

September 2, 2018 by Leave a Comment
Clothing Security-3                                                                                                                         WC Blog 566
Checkpoint Tags-4


Clamp Down On Organized Retail Crime With Checkpoint Tags

     The idea of purchasing a clothing security system may seem to be an expensive prospect for smaller retailers. Before writing it off owners and managers should consider the impact Organized Retail Crime groups can have on a clothing store. Organized Retail Crime (ORC) is not the impulse shoplifter, this is a group of people who plan and target specific merchandise and retailers. The groups seek merchandise that is hard to track, easy to steal and easy to re-sell at a significant profit. They will pay people cents on the dollar to go into stores with “shopping lists” to steal specific merchandise. While the amateur shoplifter does financial harm to a store, it is usually in smaller doses and often it is done on an impulse, like a teenager stealing on a dare from friends. I am not marginalizing this group of thieves but compared to what ORC groups are doing is a drop in the bucket. Let me give you a two examples of Organized theft activity:
• Patch.com March 9, 2018, by Neal McNamara, “Downtown Seattle Thieves Stole Liquor, Clothes – And Tide Pods” the reporter writes, “Police recovered over $160,000 worth of goods and cash…They also found clothing, perfume, and those notorious Tide Pods.”
• Mypanhandle.com Jan 12, 2018, “WCSO: Retail Theft Ring Busted in Walton County”. “Investigators found more than $6,000 in stolen merchandise inside of the car from several different stores including Victoria’s Secret, Bath & Body Works, Justice, Michael Kors and Tommy Hilfiger.” 
These are examples of Organized Retail Crime thefts and as you can see the dollar values of such cases go into the thousands and even hundreds of thousands of dollars. In light of these numbers it is imperative that all retailers have a clothing security plan in place that incorporates the use of Checkpoint tags to protect clothing and softlines goods.

     What are Checkpoint tags and how do they protect clothes from being pilfered? You have probably encountered them in your own shopping sprees. These are usually the hard plastic tags that you find attached to garments in addition to the manufacturer hang tags on sleeves or waistbands of a shirt or slacks. The security tags are two-piece designs, a main tag with a pin and a clip piece to keep it in place. Checkpoint tags are designed to create an almost seamless connection that prevents them from being pried apart. It is not uncommon for a shoplifter to see a tag and put an item down. Rather than risk trying to pull apart a tag which would take too much time and probably result in an alarm activation, thieves just move on to other merchandise or other stores. Speaking of alarm activations I should mention that these tags, both the hard and soft label versions are built with electronic article surveillance (EAS) technology imbedded in them. This means that if a criminal decides to try to just conceal an item and walk out of the store with it they will set off EAS pedestals near the front doors. Trained employees will quickly respond and check receipts and get unpaid merchandise back.

     Returning to the initial question of whether a small business owner can afford to purchase a clothing security system to prevent ORC there are two considerations, cost of a system and space. Loss Prevention Systems Inc. (LPSI) founder Bill Bregar knows that this is not an easy decision since many small clothing retailers are operating on a shoestring budget. There also may not be a lot of room in a store and selling space is at a premium. Taking away space for EAS pedestals may not seem to be a viable option. To answer the concern over price LPSI has provided the means for owners and managers to see how a system can pay for itself through shortage reduction in a matter of months. This is done through a ROI calculator on their web page. Everyone is free to use it with no obligation. 

     The issue of lost salesfloor space with the setup of EAS pedestals is not a concern either. By installing a Checkpoint Classic N10 pedestal or an overhead EAS System minimal to zero floor space is lost to anti-theft equipment.  ORC groups won’t be able to fill bags or roll shopping carts out the doors without being detected by a Checkpoint Security system.

     All shoplifting is criminal and a drain on finances but ORC groups are particularly harmful. Don’t allow amateurs or professionals to walk out with your profits. Apply Checkpoint Tags to all of your goods and install a Checkpoint EAS pedestal or overhead system today!

Need information on Checkpoint tags? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now. 

The idea of purchasing a clothing security system may seem to be an expensive prospect for smaller retailers. Before writing it off owners and managers should consider the impact Organized Retail Crime groups can have on a clothing store. Organized Retail Crime (ORC) is not the impulse shoplifter, this is a group of people who plan and target specific merchandise and retailers. The groups seek merchandise that is hard to track, easy to steal and easy to re-sell at a significant profit. They will pay people cents on the dollar to go into stores with “shopping lists” to steal specific merchandise. While the amateur shoplifter does financial harm to a store, it is usually in smaller doses and often it is done on an impulse, like a teenager stealing on a dare from friends. I am not marginalizing this group of thieves but compared to what ORC groups are doing is a drop in the bucket. Let me give you a two examples of Organized theft activity:

• Patch.com March 9, 2018, by Neal McNamara, “Downtown Seattle Thieves Stole Liquor, Clothes – And Tide Pods” the reporter writes, “Police recovered over $160,000 worth of goods and cash…They also found clothing, perfume, and those notorious Tide Pods.”

• Mypanhandle.com Jan 12, 2018, “WCSO: Retail Theft Ring Busted in Walton County”. “Investigators found more than $6,000 in stolen merchandise inside of the car from several different stores including Victoria’s Secret, Bath & Body Works, Justice, Michael Kors and Tommy Hilfiger.” 

These are examples of Organized Retail Crime thefts and as you can see the dollar values of such cases go into the thousands and even hundreds of thousands of dollars. In light of these numbers it is imperative that all retailers have a clothing security plan in place that incorporates the use of electronic article surveillance (EAS) tags to protect clothing and softlines goods.

 

 What are EAS tags and how do they protect clothes from being pilfered? You have probably encountered them in your own shopping sprees. These are usually the hard plastic tags that you find attached to garments in addition to the manufacturer hang tags on sleeves or waistbands of a shirt or slacks. The security tags are two-piece designs, a main tag with a pin and a clip piece to keep it in place. EAS tags are designed to create an almost seamless connection that prevents them from being pried apart. It is not uncommon for a shoplifter to see a tag and put an item down. Rather than risk trying to pull apart a tag which would take too much time and probably result in an alarm activation, thieves just move on to other merchandise or other stores. Speaking of alarm activations I should mention that these tags, both the hard and soft label versions are built with electronic article surveillance technology imbedded in them. This means that if a criminal decides to try to just conceal an item and walk out of the store with it they will set off EAS pedestals near the front doors. Trained employees will quickly respond and check receipts and get unpaid merchandise back.

     

Returning to the initial question of whether a small business owner can afford to purchase a clothing security system to prevent ORC there are two considerations, cost of a system and space. Loss Prevention Systems Inc. (LPSI) founder Bill Bregar knows that this is not an easy decision since many small clothing retailers are operating on a shoestring budget. There also may not be a lot of room in a store and selling space is at a premium. Taking away space for EAS pedestals may not seem to be a viable option. To answer the concern over price LPSI has provided the means for owners and managers to see how a system can pay for itself through shortage reduction in a matter of months. This is done through a ROI calculator on their web page. Everyone is free to use it with no obligation. 
     

The issue of lost salesfloor space with the setup of EAS pedestals is not a concern either. ORC groups won’t be able to fill bags or roll shopping carts out the doors without being detected by a EAS security system.
     

All shoplifting is criminal and a drain on finances but ORC groups are particularly harmful. Don’t allow amateurs or professionals to walk out with your profits. Apply EAS Tags to all of your goods and install a EAS pedestal or overhead system today!

 

Need information on EAS tags? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now. 

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: ,

Sensormatic & Loss Prevention Systems Join Forces

August 31, 2018 by Leave a Comment

We are excited to announce our partnership with Johnson Controls/Sensormatic. Sensormatic is one of the oldest and largest Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) manufactures in the world. Loss Prevention Systems has deep loss prevention and EAS experience.

We are offering the entire Sensormatic line of Acousto Magnetic (AM) products to our customers. We will still carry RF products such as hard tags, labels and high theft product protection. Acousto Magnetic systems by Sensormatic give us solutions to fix a number of issues that traditional RF cannot handle. This includes labels applied directly to metal and systems that can handle wider door widths.

Do you have a single doorway, double doorway or a mall entrance? Sensormatic can cover it. Tired of shoplifters taking merchandise into your restrooms and concealing it? We can fix that problem also. From an EAS standpoint, there is not much we cannot do. Challenge the Loss Prevention Systems team to design a system to fit your needs and budget.

Loss Prevention Systems’ choice of Sensormatic is also based on the quality of the systems. Sensormatic systems are extremely robust. They include features such as low power consumption, door frame and hidden systems that keep the Retailers’ storefront looking neat and clean while protecting your merchandise 24/7.

Pricing is also a factor. Sensormatic line of systems will fit a wide range of budgets depending on the features you select. We also have people counting, and data reporting. This gives the Retailer important intelligence on customer traffic and flow. We have seen many of our customer’s significantly reduce expenses in both payroll and operating costs by having this data. Store hours can be adjusted and you can adjust staffing to fit the real world.

Want more? How about having your Sensormatic EAS systems online and monitored at all times? This allows us to know if the system has been turned off or if it has maintenance or other issues. We then notify you. You no longer have to solely rely on your staff to discover that the system has an issue sometimes days or weeks later. By that time shoplifters have had a party on your dime.

On top of this Loss Prevention Systems now has a free shipping program for the purchase and installation of a Sensormatic system. One more way we are saving you money.

A typical Sensormatic system can be installed in one day. This minimizes the interruption in your store.

Of course, Loss Prevention Systems still provides free, live loss prevention training to our customers for the life of your EAS system. We will conduct any of our live sessions as often as you reasonably need them. Staff turnover? Promotions? Changes in product lines? Our training sessions include the following.  

     

We include so many other services that Loss Prevention Systems can be your one stop shop for loss prevention support. So experience our award-winning service and support. Our goal is to keep your hard earned money on your bottom line, not the shoplifters.

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Lighten Your Load With Applicant Management Center

August 31, 2018 by Leave a Comment

National retail chain stores often rely on a management team to handle all of the daily operations of a business. These positions vary from company to company but depending on the size and sales volume of that retailer there are different managers to oversee diverse functions. There may be soft lines and hardlines department managers, a freight manager, Human Resource Manager and a store manager. Some stores might only have a sales floor manager, freight manager, and a store manager who also functions as the human resources manager. For an independent business owner, these sub-managers might be a luxury that is not affordable to them. That means it is up to the store manager to oversee all store functions and if an employee calls out that may be one more job the manager fills for a day. This takes me back to an old saying I have heard, “Work smarter, not harder”. It is not possible for a store owner or a single manager to effectively perform all of the tasks associated with running a store every single day. Finding ways to lighten the load and improve efficiency can make life much better for a retail owner.

     One of the areas of business that can take up a significant portion of time is the hiring process and tracking all the paperwork that goes with it. From the Society for Human Resource Management (shrm.org) 2017 Talent Acquisition Benchmarking some statistics related to hiring and recruiting that are pertinent to this topic:

  • 22% of organizations used automated prescreening to review job applicants’ resumes in 2016
  • The average time to fill a position was 36 days in 2016
  • The average cost- per- hire was $4,425 in 2016
  • Employees within their first year of employment accounted for 26% of all separations
  • Position responsible for recruiting applicants for nonexecutive openings: HR Generalist 48%, in-house recruiter 25%, Hiring Manager 16%, Third-Party recruiter/staffing agency 3%, Other 8%
  • Selection Techniques Used to Assess Candidates (non-exempt ( hourly) Nonmanagement), references 65%, phone screening 65%, one-on-one interview 68%, In-person screening 50%, structured interview 32%

As we look closer at these statistics it is important to note 89% of recruiting for nonexecutive openings is conducted by a Human Resources Manager, Hiring Manager or In-House Recruiter. Bigger retail stores may be able to afford a position to conduct this workload but in your case, that obligation falls to you. Now take that workload and consider that 26% of separations from your company are likely to happen within an employee’s first year AND it takes 36 days on average to fill that position. Over 1/12th of your year is tied up with extra work associated with an open position for just 1 vacancy. This is not taking into account the time you will spend training the new employee when you do get them hired.  In your hiring process, you are going to contact references, phone screen with an applicant, conduct a one-on-one interview and there may well be some type of structured interview. Don’t forget you will still be running the store as you go through this process. It only makes sense that an alternative resource has to be out there that can ease this burden.

      Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. offers just such a solution with the Applicant Management Center. This system allows you to post job ads and applicants can apply for them 24/7. Rather than having to comb through stacks of applications you have the ability to set up screening questions that will eliminate many unqualified applicants, saving you valuable time. Not only will unqualified candidates be weeded out of your hiring pool, you also cut down on the time you spend interviewing applicants who don’t meet your minimum job requirements. It is important to recognize that if you can get the right people on your team in the first place you are unlikely to lose them within that 1-year window. That means not spending time hiring, not spending $4,425 hiring and not spending hours training a new employee. There is a myriad of benefits when managers are using the Applicant Management System.

     One final thought to share. Turnover can have a dramatic impact on a business as can drug use and prior criminal history that often lead to employee theft issues and losses leading to turnover. The Applicant Management System provides the ability to initiate drug screening and background checks which helps managers protect their stores from undesirable employees. In turn, owners improve retail shrinkage, cash losses, store safety and profits. Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. can lighten your workload and improve profits all with the help of the Applicant Management System.  Work smarter, not harder.

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Suspect Signs Of Employee Theft? What Is Your Next Step?

August 31, 2018 by Leave a Comment

Maybe you have seen it before and never gave it much thought, you walked by a cash register and saw a gift card lying next to it. A customer probably just changed their mind, right? Perhaps you saw your salesfloor person wearing a heavy jacket while working but you just attributed it to them being cold all the time. You may notice cash shortages periodically but they are under $10 and some people get busy and make little mistakes, it happens. Then there is the cashier that seems to be really interested in the store and always reports suspicious people he sees. He even asks managers if there might be security camera footage that could be reviewed to see the “suspect” in case they return. There is the saleswoman who finds a lot of empty packages on the floor and reports them to the manager and where she found them so managers would know about theft taking place in the store. These each seem like harmless issues on the surface but could there be something more nefarious going on under your nose? Is something starting to seem a bit curious after all? If you are suspecting something dishonest may be going on in your store what is your next step?

     You may be thinking this would be the time to call the police and report your suspicions. Hold your horses, what are you reporting, a gift card tucked next to a register? A couple of low dollar cash shortages? You won’t get very far with the police and they certainly aren’t going to do any investigation for you. The appropriate step is to contact Bill Bregar at Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. He will walk you through the next stages of what you need to do to look into this further. Sure you are busy and have a million things to do each day but if you suspect theft is taking place something has to be done before it gets out of hand. Then again maybe there is another way to tackle this. Yes, Bill will be happy to talk to you and discuss your case but it might be in your best interest to let Bill conduct the investigation for you.

     Why hire Bill to do the investigation for you? Well for starters Bill served in the U.S. Army as a Military Policeman, a Military Intelligence Officer and he was a police officer.  He is no stranger to conducting investigations. He is a trained and licensed private investigator, skills that are well suited to a successful retail investigation. Bill has also been a Retail Loss Prevention Director at the national level which makes him uniquely qualified to conduct store-level dishonest employee investigations. Who better to have on your side as a detective unless you could hire Sherlock Holmes and I hear he is currently unavailable?

      Are there other signals you might be overlooking that may indicate dishonest activity other than those touched upon earlier? Do you know where to begin looking? Do you know how to look for indications of employee’s conducting fraudulent refunds? What are the signals of sweetheart deals taking place under your nose? You can have an inkling that theft is happening in your store but if you know what signals to look for you can be sure when it takes place. The critical piece to getting your merchandise and/or cash back and restitution is a successful investigation. Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. has training seminars and workshops that can educate you on how employee theft takes place, signs to look for and how you can prevent it. When it does take place you will know what is going on and can call on Bill to be your personal gumshoe.

     Investigating employee theft is no game. Private investigators are a dime a dozen but finding a reputable company that is experienced in retail theft investigations is a more difficult task. Hiring an investigator with the background Bill has may seem to be an unattainable goal. Fortunately for the small and medium-sized retailers searching for a sleuth is simplified with a single stop at Loss Preventions Systems, Inc. Theft is probably happening in your store, the question is, what are you going to do about it?

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

What is Shrink And What Does It Mean For Your Profit And Bottom Line?

August 31, 2018 by Leave a Comment

 What is shrink? Obviously, that will depend on the context in which you are referencing it. It may be what happens when we wash a new pair of jeans in hot water. Maybe it is what happens to our household budget when our children get older and require more food, clothing, and school supplies. In retail, it has a different meaning altogether. Shrink is not a downsizing of a store or reduction of staff (although it can lead to those things if not addressed). Retail shrink is merchandise we cannot account for due to any number of reasons. It impacts the profit margin of a store and since those losses directly affect the retailer there are usually steps the store owner takes to try to offset those lost dollars. If not well thought out those measures the store owner takes could hurt the business further. There is a vicious circle that follows and can lead to a store closing down.

     In Retail Loss Prevention we generally identify four primary causes of shrink, shoplifting, employee theft, vendor shortage/fraud and administrative errors. According to the 2017 National Retail Security Survey, approximately 66.5% of shrink is attributable to shoplifting and employee theft combined. 21.3% of shrink is due to administrative and paperwork errors, 5.4% is related to vendor fraud or error and 6.8% was unknown (pg. 8). The same report states that the average retail shrink rate in the U.S. was 1.44% in 2017 (pg. 6). Since this is an average that means there are industry sectors that are higher and others that are a bit lower so where your store may fall can depend on what you sell.

     What mistakes do retailers make when trying to cover the profit losses from shrink? Often they increase prices on merchandise. Those price changes may be a few cents per item or a few dollars but no matter how small the increase regular customers notice those hikes. There comes a point when customer loyalty takes a backseat to customer’s budgets. No matter how minute you may feel a price increase is there is a threshold that customers will finally say enough is enough and they relent and shop at a big box retail store. Some store owners will make up for the lost revenue through reduced payrolls. This may include getting rid of full-time positions and making them part-time positions saving on benefit expenses. Employee hours may be reduced all around with the store owner picking up more of the workload themselves. The impact of this strategy is a blow to employee morale and loyalty. It can also lead to increased employee theft as those employees feel the financial pinch of the reduced hours and feel cheated. Reduced employee hours also means fewer people on the salesfloor providing customer service which results in more shoplifting, ergo more shrink. As you can see taking the wrong steps to address shrink can lead to a cycle that is hard to break and can lead to a store shut down.

     So if a retailer opts not to raise prices what is the resolution to solving the problem of shrink? Retailers cannot afford to continuously bear the costs of shrink. Assuming over 60% of a store’s shrink is incurred through theft then anti-theft measures are a logical starting point. Sensormatic security systems and tags play a critical role in theft prevention. They are proven to significantly cut into theft related shortage. They also help reduce a portion of administrative shortage. If it is tagged, merchandise overlooked in a shopping cart will activate an alarm and be paid for or returned to the store. Requiring vendors to check in and out of the store on a sign in sheet and making them talk to a manager about what they have done that day holds them accountable. Store managers should be doing weekly reviews of vendor credits to ensure they are not losing money for product removed from the store.

     Shrink can cut into your profit margin and if that isn’t bad enough addressing it improperly can make the situation for your store worse. Taking positive steps to address each of the areas where losses occur will improve shortage results. It will make you, your employees and your customers happier when your actions are directed towards the real culprits of shortage.

     

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
« Previous Page
Next Page »