While no one ever plans on having an employee steal, it is an unfortunate reality of the retail environment. Take a look at the following suggestions. There are no sure fire ways to avoid theft. Implementing some of these strategies will reduce your exposure to the criminal element.

First, are you running background checks on your employees? That will help reduce the bad apples from the start.

Next, understand that the honest employees you do hire may not always remain so. Be watchful of signs of financial stress or alcohol abuse. Both situations could lead to cash or liquor theft.

The next part is to implement some form of bottle security. Alpha Security has a truly comprehensive line of products specifically for liquor bottle security. Their EASy Bottle is a quick fix to prevent theft. It is a cap that is placed over the top of a bottle that has an embedded alarm tag. Too close to the doors without being removed will sound the audible alarm on your towers.

Keep in mind that Bottle locks are great to guard against both employee theft and external theft (shoplifters).

If you can, include some camera equipment at your store. Common points of view would be over the registers and at the entrance/ exit doors. Make sure that your cameras are visible to anyone who enters. As a general rule, people are less likely to do something bad if they are aware of being filmed.

This is a great start to protecting your employee’s good name and your good profits. Keep your eyes open and your employees will be more likely to stay honest.

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

There are two types of liquor bottle security: Passive and Assertive. When one starts to look at how to protect the investment of liquor and wine inventory, it is important to take a dual approach. While there are many different components to passive and assertive theft prevention, here are a few examples of each one.

A passive form of bottle security is one that leaves an impression in someone’s mind that there is more to your liquor bottle security program. It can be as simple as taking inventory on a daily basis. That doesn’t mean you have to count every bottle every day. It could just mean you pick a select grouping to count. Anyone who is watching (employee or customer) will have the impression that if something is missing, you will know immediately. They will be less likely to steal.

An assertive form of bottle security would be the use of an anti theft device such as the EASy bottle by Alpha security. This is a product that attaches over the mouth of a bottle. It prevents the contents from being consumed prior to purchase. The EASy Bottle Bottle lock will also sound an alarm at the doors if the lock gets too close.

These bottle locks are visual deterrents against shoplifting. It is a more in your face approach, as anyone who enters your establishment will take note of their presence.

Being passive and assertive in your shrink reduction will lend to consistent levels of profit. Taking a dual approach will strengthen your rate of success.

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

 

As of late I have been contacted by a few potential business owners who are eyeing up the latest trends by states to get out of the state run liquor store business. These potential business owners contacted me as a lp consultant to go over a way to move from a government run entity to a privately run business. We all know that the private sector is more conscious of protecting the bottom line.

My initial move was to go to a few of the proposed state run locations to see what bottle security measures, if any, they had in place. Besides CCTV I did not see any additional liquor bottle security. I was troubled at the lack of urgency to secure the inventory. I spoke to a couple of the managers regarding my research into their loss prevention techniques and they confirmed that the only bottle security measures they had in place was their inventory counts and CCTV.

My second step in the process was to research any company that touted liquor bottle security as one of their fortes’. I came across a company called Alpha Security. I was duly impressed with Alpha Security’s EASy Bottle system which employed an alarmed bottle lock as the key to its success. There were several different types of bottle locks offered within the EASy bottle system. All of the bottle locks were alarmed and if tampered with would render the product in-consumable. My only concern was that the bottle lock would be too cumbersome for proper marketing and storage. I was delighted to see that not only were the bottle locks not too big or gaudy but that they were in fact lean and aesthetically pleasing while clearly denoting its purpose to deter theft.

Armed with this research regarding Alpha Security’s EASy bottle system I sat down with several of these potential business owners. Liquor bottle security was the topic of discussion. They were duly impressed with the dual purpose of the bottle lock, excellent bottle security and storage/marketing capability. The business owners saw the weakness of the government run facilities attempt at loss prevention and the strength of Alpha Security’s solutions to those loss prevention opportunities. An overall strategy was formulated that I believe will give these business owners a fighting chance to facilitate a seamless change from the government sector to the private sector.

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 

I was consulting for a gentleman that owns three liquor store locations in urban markets. He was having significant shrink in all of his locations. He had only been in business for about two years and although sales were healthy his losses were eroding most of the profits he was acquiring. I asked him what type of loss prevention tools he had, CCTV, EAS, bottle locks, lockable cases etc. I was trying to gauge what type of liquor bottle security he had started out with and find out if those tools were being utilized correctly. The owner stated that the only loss prevention tool he had purchased was CCTV in all three locations. I told him I wanted to visit all three locations, meet the staffs and review each store from top to bottom as well as view the books and sample some video. This would give me a closer insight as to the source of his losses.

Not surprisingly the source of shrink for all three stores was a combination of blatant shoplifting and employee indifference to the thefts. I found no evidence of employee theft but definitely a frustration among the staffs that they were helpless to catch the thieves. They all expressed a need for additional liquor bottle security. The business was on the brink of failure and was looking over a bottomless pit. I had my work cut out for me.

I found a company called Alpha security that specifically dealt with liquor bottle security via a system they called EASy Bottle which employed the use of actual bottle locks. Each bottle lock was alarmed and if attempts were made to defeat the tag it would render the contents of the bottle inconsumable. I was impressed with the bottle locks dual purpose. I was equally impressed with lean sleekness of the bottle lock which allowed the bottles to be stored on shelves without affecting marketing or storage. Alpha Security has successfully applied RF technology to their EASy Bottle system. This type of bottle security would be the cornerstone of my strategy to help the business owner.

I sat down with the business owner and reviewed the results of my overall audit. He was a bit surprised at the employee indifference but otherwise was very open to the results. The next step was to discuss my thoughts to improve bottle security within his stores. I laid out Alpha Security’s EASY Bottle system. I was sure to bring a few bottle locks with me to show him how the bottle lock worked with his product. The owner was extremely excited about the EASy bottle system as being the main focus of bottle security in his three stores.

We sat down we each store staff laid out the plan to protect the company’s assets and explained that they would have to work diligently to implement and interact with the system to ensure success. Training was a huge key in this business’s success story. Within 3 months of employing the EASy Bottle system the company’s shrink was on a sharp decline. By the end of the year the shrink had been reduced by more than 60%. Needless to say both I and the business owner were very happy with Alpha Security’s system.

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 

While previously working as an agent, my location was seeing an increase shrinkage from theft in our liquor department and needed to tackle the issue of bottle security. The store I was working in was one of many locations for a national corporation and based on shortage and locality we had been classified as a “low-exposure” store. Consequently, merchandise protection strategies such as EASy Bottle and bottle locks were not available to our location, which were reserved for “high-exposure” stores.

Due to the absence of a bottle lock solution, liquor bottle security incidents were occurring daily. One subject regularly came into the store on her lunch break to drink a couple of bottles of high-priced wine before returning to work. A group began targeting Hennessy liquor, which disappeared off the shelves and into their pant legs and jackets. My team dedicated our efforts to reducing this loss even if the company wasn’t providing us with solutions from Alpha security. We performed perpetual inventory of “hot” liquor items twice a day and spent the majority of our shifts monitoring the aisle via CCTV.

Our efforts resulted in the reduction of theft in the liquor department, but other departments were now seeing an increase. There just weren’t enough agents to dedicate their shifts to sitting in front of monitors and staring at the cameras of high theft areas. I believe our liquor bottle security dilemma could have been avoided had the company been willing to provide all of its stores with EASy Bottle bottle locks, a theft solution from Alpha security. Whether a store is able to have a security team on its payroll or not, a bottle lock prevents the item from being opened before they are removed at the point of sale. With this peace of mind, store personnel can keep their merchandise on an open display without worrying about bottle security.

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.

The State of Washington is in the process of privatizing liquor sales. This means there is a huge opportunity for retailers in the state! It also means that shoplifters are looking forward to new opportunities. Liquor bottle security is critical from the start. Retailers that take bottle security serious before they open their doors to liquor sales customers this year will be ahead of the pack.

Bottles locks such as EASy Bottle, EASy Guarde, Crystal Guarde and Steel Grip by Alpha Security will keep your profits in store by denying shoplifters the ability to steal your product. Bottle locks can even deny shoplifters the ability to open and consume or pour off your merchandise into a flask before they even leave the store.

Washington State retailers will be facing these same issues just like other states have. The great news is that the bottle lock solution works and works very well. Alpha Security basically invented the bottle lock and produces the highest quality bottle locks made. They are built to stand up to wear and tear in a retail environment. A bottle lock is simple and easy to apply and remove, by store staff.

A bottle security program is easy to set up and maintain. It is clearly cost effective. Consider the loss of one bottle of Grey Goose. Shoplifters do not target less expensive brands they go right for the expensive stuff. Securing these bottles behind a counter has a negative effect on your good customers. They cannot shop and compare as easily. Keeping all product on the sales floor and available it the principal behind a wine and liquor bottle security program.

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 – Atlanta Georgia

Being a mentor to several managers and loss prevention employees within my company, I seem to field a lot of problem solving questions. Some of the questions that pop up are about liquor bottle security. What’s the best solution? What is cost effective? Will it be a drain on my payroll to implement and then maintain? I usually recommend the use of bottle locks for all around bottle security.

Alpha Security has a nice assortment of EASy Bottle Bottle Locks. They are designed to fit a variety of sizes and types of liquor bottles. By protecting the contents inside, the locks create an easy solution to liquor bottle theft and unauthorized usage. It’s a great addition to protecting your investments in both the retail sector and in restaurants or bars.

The bottle locks are easy to apply, easy to maintain, and easy to get results. I always recommend to my trainees that sometimes it is the easiest solution to a problem that garners the best results.

I know that cost effective liquor bottle security will always be a question. When you use a bottle lock, not only will it save countless hours of misspent payroll, but also it saves the headache of worrying about bottle security.

There are enough challenges out there that take up our time when it comes to customer service, merchandising, and driving sales. When you can eliminate the problems associated with shrink, it’s a snap to say EASy Bottles really are easy!

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

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

One of the best parts about my job is being sent around the country to conduct training classes. It’s a chance for me to break out of my normal routine and see how regional differences shape our outlooks. I gain valuable insight into loss prevention tactics and methods that are often very different from my own.

One of the topics that often come up is liquor bottle security. Where and how alcohol is sold varies by law from state to state. Some states only allow sales in certain stores marked only for the sales of wine and spirits. Other states allow anyone from the convenience store to the local big box chain to grocery stores to sell any time of day or night.

While state laws differ drastically, the fact that liquor is a high theft item is pretty universal. The need for liquor bottle security is across the board. One of the major players in bottle security is a company called Alpha Security. Their line of bottle locks like the EASy Bottle is top notch.

It’s a universal solution to a universal problem. The Bottle locks are great for not only preventing liquor bottle theft, but also for wine bottles. As I continue to travel and compare notes with my trainees, I always mention this line of products to them. It might just be the solution they have been waiting for to protect their top shelf.

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

Bottle locks have become a very popular device for preventing shoplifting. These bottle locks prevent the opening of a bottle of liquor in the store and the thief either pouring it off into another container or drinking it there. A bottle lock can either be a device that goes on the neck of the bottle or in the form of a cap that goes over the top of the bottle. Consideration must also be given to whether or not the retailer has an Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) system or not. Let me explain all three of these issues as it pertains to liquor bottle security.

First, an EAS system is a set of antennas that are placed at customer entry/exits. If a shoplifter attempts to remove any liquor bottle that has liquor bottle security on it, it activates the system and lets staff know. These systems such as a Checkpoint system are professionally installed and have a 15+ year life span if maintained. Their cost is nominal especially when you consider that they deter the theft of expensive bottles of liquor or wine.

Next, the first kind of bottle security is the Bottle cap. The very first version of this is the EASy Bottle by Alpha Security. The latest model is the EASy Guarde also by Alpha Security. There are several models of bottle locks in between that provide different features. A bottle lock cap fits over the top of the bottle and covers the bottles cap completely. It locks onto the neck of the bottle. This keeps anyone from removing it or opening the bottle. Built into the bottle lock is an EAS tag. So if a shoplifter approaches the doors it will notify staff. The beauty of bottle lock caps is that they can be used without an EAS system. This is called product denial. If a shoplifter does steal the bottle chances are that the bottle will shatter before the shoplifter gets the cap off.

The second kind of bottle security is the Steel Grip also by Alpha Security. The Steel Grip fits around the neck of the bottle only. It locks in place. If a shoplifter tries the steal the bottle the built in EAS hard tag sets the system off. The steal grip must be used in conjunction with an EAS system and does not provide product denial. However, Steel Grip is less expensive.

Both types of bottle locks require a special S3 key to remove them. These keys are controlled and only sold to verified retailers. Bottle locks are reusable over and over.

 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 – Atlanta Georgia