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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