Part 1: Alpha Technology S3i – Taking Alpha Security To A New Level

February 10, 2016 by Leave a Comment

 

 Alpha Security-3                                                                                                              WC blog 27
Retail Anti Theft Devices-3
Alpha Technology-3
Alpha Hard Tags-3
Part 1: Alpha Technology S3i – Taking Alpha Security To A New Level
When we discuss merchandise protection the first thought is always towards preventing theft and fraud.  The same thing can be said in discussing Alpha Technology; our initial thought turns to security devices such as bottle locks, Alpha hard tags and Alpha Keeper boxes.  There is nothing wrong with this, the purpose of retail anti-theft devices is to prevent shoplifting, but, what if it is combined with smart intelligence?  What benefits could your store(s) see by incorporating tools that not only enhance theft prevention but also provides inventory management data?  Alpha Security S3i technology takes merchandise protection to a new level, bringing Loss Prevention and store operations together to optimize store profitability.  In part one of this article, I want to cover the impact Alpha S3i can have on Loss Prevention tactics to save you money.  In part 2 we will review the benefits of S3i from an operations and inventory control perspective.
     It used to be that the primary purpose of retail anti-theft devices like Alpha hard tags and electronic article surveillance systems was to prevent shoplifting. EAS tagging or placing alarmed hard tags was going to deter theft or it was going to sound an alarm when someone attempted to sneak out of the store with product.  Alpha S3i uses the advancements in mobile and cloud based technologies to now make it possible to track merchandise as it is removed from a shelf and moved through a store.  Working with Alpha Technology, monitoring zones will be created for areas that are designated as high risk.  For example, perhaps your store has an aisle or two dedicated to just high risk electronics such as computer routers and hard drives.  That area can be set up as a zone and if merchandise tagged with Alpha S3i alarm devices is moved out of that zone, a real time alert can be sent to store radios, smart phones, tablets, or computers.  These alerts can prompt personnel to offer customer service to the patron who has selected the merchandise and walked out of the area.  Perhaps your business is not large enough to justify a Loss Prevention officer, so alerting store personnel or managers may be your only immediate responder.  Getting that customer service to the individual walking away with the merchandise may be your best means of preventing a loss.
     For Loss Prevention personnel, the benefits are even more pronounced.  In-Store Loss Prevention teams can receive an alert and immediately respond to a signal on their radio or smart device.  Monitoring cameras has always been a hit or miss proposition.  Even with multiple digital cameras hooked up to a closed circuit television system, one person can only see so much at one time.  Alpha Security S3i technology can make security teams smarter in how they focus their efforts.  For smaller stores that may not have the benefit of in-store Loss Prevention, but may be monitored from a district or regional level, S3i still provides alerts and time stamps provide the ability to narrow CCTV review time down to a specific event.  This data may provide information needed to track an organized theft ring or even dishonest employee activity.  I recall my own experiences of video review for missing merchandise.  Sometimes I did not have any more information than what sales tracking reports could provide on merchandise, such as when an item was last received in the store.  Video review could be time consuming and did not always provide the results I was looking for in an investigation.  With Alpha Technology S3i, investigation time for missing merchandise can be reduced to minutes versus hours.
     Make your security system work smarter not harder.  Leverage the advantages of Alpha security S3i technology to keep your merchandise where you want it, in the store or at a point of sale. Checkout what the next generation of retail anti- theft devices such as S3i Alpha hard tags and spider wrap can do to protect your assets. 
For more information on Alpha Security, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547

When we discuss merchandise protection the first thought is always towards preventing theft and fraud. The same thing can be said in discussing Alpha Technology; our initial thought turns to security devices such as bottle locks, Alpha hard tags and Alpha Keepers. There is nothing wrong with this, the purpose of retail anti-theft devices is to prevent shoplifting, but, what if it is combined with smart intelligence? What benefits could your store(s) see by incorporating tools that not only enhance theft prevention but also provides inventory management data? Alpha Security S3i technology takes merchandise protection to a new level, bringing Loss Prevention and store operations together to optimize store profitability. In part one of this article, I want to cover the impact Alpha S3i can have on Loss Prevention tactics to save you money.  In part 2 we will review the benefits of S3i from an operations and inventory control perspective.

 

It used to be that the primary purpose of retail anti-theft devices like Alpha hard tags and electronic article surveillance systems was to prevent shoplifting. EAS tagging or placing alarmed hard tags was going to deter theft or it was going to sound an alarm when someone attempted to sneak out of the store with product. Alpha S3i uses the advancements in mobile and cloud based technologies to now make it possible to track merchandise as it is removed from a shelf and moved through a store. Working with Alpha Technology, monitoring zones will be created for areas that are designated as high risk. For example, perhaps your store has an aisle or two dedicated to just high risk electronics such as computer routers and hard drives. That area can be set up as a zone and if merchandise tagged with Alpha S3i alarm devices is moved out of that zone, a real time alert can be sent to store radios, smart phones, tablets, or computers. These alerts can prompt personnel to offer customer service to the patron who has selected the merchandise and walked out of the area. Perhaps your business is not large enough to justify a Loss Prevention officer, so alerting store personnel or managers may be your only immediate responder. Getting that customer service to the individual walking away with the merchandise may be your best means of preventing a loss.

 

For Loss Prevention personnel, the benefits are even more pronounced. In-Store Loss Prevention teams can receive an alert and immediately respond to a signal on their radio or smart device. Monitoring cameras has always been a hit or miss proposition. Even with multiple digital cameras hooked up to a closed circuit television system, one person can only see so much at one time. Alpha Security S3i technology can make security teams smarter in how they focus their efforts. For smaller stores that may not have the benefit of in-store Loss Prevention, but may be monitored from a district or regional level, S3i still provides alerts and time stamps provide the ability to narrow CCTV review time down to a specific event. This data may provide information needed to track an organized theft ring or even dishonest employee activity. I recall my own experiences of video review for missing merchandise. Sometimes I did not have any more information than what sales tracking reports could provide on merchandise, such as when an item was last received in the store. Video review could be time consuming and did not always provide the results I was looking for in an investigation. With Alpha Technology S3i, investigation time for missing merchandise can be reduced to minutes versus hours.

 

Make your security system work smarter not harder. Leverage the advantages of Alpha security S3i technology to keep your merchandise where you want it, in the store or at a point of sale. Checkout what the next generation of retail anti- theft devices such as S3i Alpha hard tags and spider wrap can do to protect your assets. 

 

For more information on Alpha Security, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547

 

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: , ,

Clothing Security Tags – A Hard Or Soft Approach To Preventing Theft, The Choice Is Yours

February 3, 2016 by Leave a Comment

Have you ever had a problem with clothing theft and found yourself frustrated by empty clothes hangers on the sales floor rack or lying in a fitting room? Maybe you found price tags and manufacturer labels lying on the floor and you are at your wits end trying to combat the shoplifting you know is taking place but can’t seem to prevent. I remember the frustration of finding multiple hangers in the fitting room of one department store I worked for and wishing there was a solution that would deter more of the theft activity. I liked the satisfaction of catching shoplifters, but I was also aware we were only able to scratch the surface of the theft that was taking place.  When we did use security tags on clothing, it was limited to placing hard tags on high end coats and jackets we carried.

 

Several years later I worked for a big box retailer and we did use a combination of clothing security tags. In some instances we placed soft Checkpoint tags on clothing hang tags and went as far as to hide the tags in the pockets of items to try to keep the tags from being found and removed. In other situations when we had a higher priced item, or when we saw a theft trend on merchandise such as denim jeans, we began enhancing clothing security with hard tags. The hard tags were extremely difficult for shoplifters to defeat, requiring them to damage the merchandise the majority of the time in their efforts to remove the tags. Both styles of tags were compatible with the store Electronic Article Surveillance system. Any attempt to exit the store with security tags on clothing that had not been deactivated or removed would activate the alarm.    

 

Over the years I have seen changes in the industry as electronic article surveillance tags have been embedded in manufacturer hang tags and UPC codes have been printed on the EAS tags themselves. Shoplifters were becoming adept at identifying the soft clothing security tags and were removing them more frequently. Others who were in a position to make changes were seeing the same problem we faced in the field. They figured out that if we could identify clothing security tags, so could the shoplifters and they were determined to find new ways to disguise tags. Steps were taken in the clothing security business to stay one step ahead of the bad guys. The results are seen in the current styles of soft tags and hard tags on the market today.

Another major advancement in checkpoint tags is the development of the “Gen 3” Hard Tag. This tag is round and is more pleasing to the eye than the “Gen 2” Hard Tag, and yet has the same capabilities as the “Gen 2” model. The previous version is effective and provides a strong visual deterrent effect but the “Gen 3” has a look that is more upscale and sleek in my opinion. Security tags on clothing can also be source tagged so that a store owner does not need to have staff take the time to do the work. Payroll is used to run the store so staff can focus on customer service and other tasks. These advancements in clothing security should be reason enough to encourage businesses to invest in these security devices.  

Checkpoint tags have become versatile enough that they are no longer easy to identify on merchandise. With soft tags embedded in hang tags or having printed information on them, shoplifters fail to realize a tag is a security tag, and are more prone to leaving tags on when they attempt to steal. Hard tags make both a visual deterrent and strong defense against shoplifting. Using security tags on clothing will go a long way in preventing those empty hangers and torn tags from cluttering your floors.        

 

For more information on clothing security tags contact us or call 1.770.426.0547                

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: , ,

Everybody Likes To Get Something For Nothing

January 9, 2016 by Leave a Comment

 

(Alpha Hard Tag) Prevent Shoplifting-2,Retail Anti Theft Devices-2, Alpha Jewel Lok-2,  Alpha Thunder Tag-1, Alpha Hang Tag-1
Everybody Likes To Get Something For Nothing
Shoplifters, whether they are professionals or just stealing on a whim, cost retailers millions of dollars every year.  Many blogging sites and web pages are dedicated to educating others on how to get away with merchandise and avoid loss prevention personnel.  They share information they have gathered: which stores utilize retail anti theft devices, where cameras are located, whether or not there are plain-clothes detectives working in the store, and even when shifts change.  (When employees are coming in for the day they are busy and distracted, and those that are leaving generally have zero interest in dealing with a shoplifter.)  There are even articles on which stores will prosecute and which will just let you go.  Sadly, in the age of camera phones and over the top surveillance, many retailers have steered away from the zero tolerance theft policies of the past.  I still believe in having someone arrested and letting the officer handcuff them and parade them through the store all the way to the front door.  Then I want them stuffed in a patrol car, taken downtown for fingerprinting, and held in a cell for a few hours.  In my mind, that’s how you prevent shoplifting from happening again.  
Of course, the more important issue is to stop it from happening in the first place and not ever worrying with the repeat offender.  That’s where the tools like Alpha Keepers, Alpha Hang Tags, Alpha Thunder Tags, and Alpha Jewel Loks come in.  These prevent shoplifting through deterrence, which is paramount to any shrink reduction plan.  If a shoplifter comes in the store and approaches the targeted items, they will walk back out the door, shoulders slumped, and empty handed since they know they most likely cannot defeat the tools that are protecting the inventory.
I live in a super small town where nothing really exciting really happens.  However, about an hour away is a big city where we just had a very well-known jewel thief hit three different stores.  Her plan is the same in every store.  She is an older woman, and dresses in designer dresses and carries a very expensive purse.  She actually wants the staff to notice her and give her attention.  She asks the clerk to show her something with massive diamond first, acts mildly disinterested, and then asks for several other items.  She uses bait and switch tactics, and confuses the clerk with all her choices from the cases.  At some point she slips on the original ring with the bigger than life diamond, and walks out the door before the staff ever notices.  This is a seventy-something year old woman, and she has been stealing jewelry all her life and all over the world.  The one thing the three stores had in common was that none of them employ any type of retail anti theft devices, like Alpha Jewel Loks.  One of the employees that got duped by this old lady was the manager of the jewelry store.  He should have been setting the example and not pulling out another piece until she had given back the first one.  Instead, he fell right in her trap and was blinded by her appearance of having an elite status.  
Appearances can certainly be deceiving, but the truth is anyone can be a thief.  Most of it happens due to greed and not need.  They figure your store has fifty of something and you won’t miss that one.  
For more information on Alpha Hard Tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 

Shoplifters, whether they are professionals or just stealing on a whim, cost retailers millions of dollars every year. Many blogging sites and web pages are dedicated to educating others on how to get away with merchandise and avoid loss prevention personnel. They share information they have gathered: which stores utilize retail anti theft devices, where cameras are located, whether or not there are plain-clothes detectives working in the store, and even when shifts change. (When employees are coming in for the day they are busy and distracted, and those that are leaving generally have zero interest in dealing with a shoplifter.) There are even articles on which stores will prosecute and which will just let you go. Sadly, in the age of camera phones and over the top surveillance, many retailers have steered away from the zero tolerance theft policies of the past. I still believe in having someone arrested and letting the officer handcuff them and parade them through the store all the way to the front door. Then I want them stuffed in a patrol car, taken downtown for fingerprinting, and held in a cell for a few hours. In my mind, that’s how you prevent shoplifting from happening again.  

Of course, the more important issue is to stop it from happening in the first place and not ever worrying with the repeat offender.  That’s where the tools like Alpha Keepers, Alpha Hang Tags, Alpha Thunder Tags, and Alpha Jewel Loks come in. These prevent shoplifting through deterrence, which is paramount to any shrink reduction plan. If a shoplifter comes in the store and approaches the targeted items, they will walk back out the door, shoulders slumped, and empty handed since they know they most likely cannot defeat the tools that are protecting the inventory.

I live in a super small town where nothing really exciting really happens. However, about an hour away is a big city where we just had a very well-known jewel thief hit three different stores. Her plan is the same in every store. She is an older woman, and dresses in designer dresses and carries a very expensive purse. She actually wants the staff to notice her and give her attention. She asks the clerk to show her something with massive diamond first, acts mildly disinterested, and then asks for several other items. She uses bait and switch tactics, and confuses the clerk with all her choices from the cases. At some point she slips on the original ring with the bigger than life diamond, and walks out the door before the staff ever notices. This is a seventy-something year old woman, and she has been stealing jewelry all her life and all over the world. The one thing the three stores had in common was that none of them employ any type of retail anti theft devices, like Alpha Jewel Loks. One of the employees that got duped by this old lady was the manager of the jewelry store. He should have been setting the example and not pulling out another piece until she had given back the first one. Instead, he fell right in her trap and was blinded by her appearance of having an elite status.  

Appearances can certainly be deceiving, but the truth is anyone can be a thief. Most of it happens due to greed and not need. They figure your store has fifty of something and you won’t miss that one.  

For more information on Alpha Hard Tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 

 

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: , , ,

No More Secrets With Visual Merchandise Protection

January 2, 2016 by Leave a Comment

 

CP Labels-3 , Alpha Keepers-3 , Bottle Locks-1 , Stop Shoplifting-1, CP Systems-1
No More Secrets With Visual Merchandise Protection
I read a recent article by the people at Checkpoint, titled Visual Merchandise Protection Helps Keep The Customer Coming Back.  There were several great points made, but some really spoke to me.  I am a store manager for a small retail pharmacy and I’ve been with the company for nearly fifteen years.  I have seen the transformation in our journey of shrink reduction and ways to stop shoplifting.  We’ve always had Checkpoint Systems installed, but over time we’ve introduced new tools to the stores.  Those changes have made major differences and improvements to my daily activities and my work day.
Visual merchandise protection, or VMP, is the new way to attract honest cash paying customers to your store and help make your store less appealing to criminals.  In the old days stores would conceal Checkpoint Labels inside the packages and shoplifters would just take the chance on getting away.  Hiding the labels was a way to catch a thief, not deter one.  That’s the genius of VMP.  You and your staff want your efforts to be seen.  
First of all, when inventory is all locked up behind glass cases, you take away from the shopping experience.  Customers can’t pick up what they want, actually turn it over in their hands, and feel the connection to the item if they can’t touch it.  Store managers should know their demographics and what their customers want.  I know in my old store in a lake community, wine, electronics and cosmetics needed to be readily available for customers to pick up and browse.  In my inner city location, many of those things needed to have extra added protection.  There was a lot of foot traffic and the store was a hot spot for boosters and simple petty theft.  But, I did not choose to keep everything behind the counter for customers to have to ask for them.  I used tools like Alpha Keepers and Spider Wraps on high retail items that had the potential to be targeted for theft.  I installed Bottle Locks on all the top shelf wines and spirits we sold.  
If you’ve ever caught a thief and pressed charges, you’ve likely also been through the hassle of the court system over it.  Even if they get caught red-handed, the thief is still entitled to a trial in district court in most states.  They ask for a continuance over and over, and the company keeps paying to send someone to court until they finally go before a judge.  That’s one of the things that makes VMP so cost effective.  Checkpoint Labels and Alpha Keepers send a clear message that the store takes security seriously.  These tools are known to criminals and when interviewed, many have said they would rather steal from stores that don’t employ them on their inventory.  The labels are placed directly on the package, and since most customers are familiar with them they do not detract from the brand’s image.  Your staff does need to ensure that the Checkpoint Labels do not cover vital information like expiration dates, directions for use, and other pertinent details about the product.  When using Alpha Keepers, the employees should know that the product should fit comfortably in the box and should never crush or damage the product appearance.  VMP is intended to keep your inventory in stock for the customer and keep those shoppers coming back to shop your store.  The strategy plays an important role in helping your loyal shoppers feel welcome and safe in your building.  
For more information about Checkpoint and Alpha products, contact us or call: 1.770.426.0547

I read a recent article by the people at Checkpoint, titled Visual Merchandise Protection Helps Keep The Customer Coming Back. There were several great points made, but some really spoke to me. I am a store manager for a small retail pharmacy and I’ve been with the company for nearly fifteen years. I have seen the transformation in our journey of shrink reduction and ways to stop shoplifting. We’ve always had Checkpoint Systems installed, but over time we’ve introduced new tools to the stores. Those changes have made major differences and improvements to my daily activities and my work day. 

Visual merchandise protection, or VMP, is the new way to attract honest cash paying customers to your store and help make your store less appealing to criminals. In the old days stores would conceal Checkpoint Labels inside the packages and shoplifters would just take the chance on getting away. Hiding the labels was a way to catch a thief, not deter one. That’s the genius of VMP. You and your staff want your efforts to be seen.  
First of all, when inventory is all locked up behind glass cases, you take away from the shopping experience. Customers can’t pick up what they want, actually turn it over in their hands, and feel the connection to the item if they can’t touch it. Store managers should know their demographics and what their customers want. I know in my old store in a lake community, wine, electronics and cosmetics needed to be readily available for customers to pick up and browse. In my inner city location, many of those things needed to have extra added protection. There was a lot of foot traffic and the store was a hot spot for boosters and simple petty theft. But, I did not choose to keep everything behind the counter for customers to have to ask for them. I used tools like Alpha Keepers and Spider Wraps on high retail items that had the potential to be targeted for theft. I installed Bottle Locks on all the top shelf wines and spirits we sold.  

If you’ve ever caught a thief and pressed charges, you’ve likely also been through the hassle of the court system over it. Even if they get caught red-handed, the thief is still entitled to a trial in district court in most states. They ask for a continuance over and over, and the company keeps paying to send someone to court until they finally go before a judge. That’s one of the things that makes VMP so cost effective. Checkpoint Labels and Alpha Keepers send a clear message that the store takes security seriously. These tools are known to criminals and when interviewed, many have said they would rather steal from stores that don’t employ them on their inventory. The labels are placed directly on the package, and since most customers are familiar with them they do not detract from the brand’s image. Your staff does need to ensure that the Checkpoint Labels do not cover vital information like expiration dates, directions for use, and other pertinent details about the product. When using Alpha Keepers, the employees should know that the product should fit comfortably in the box and should never crush or damage the product appearance. VMP is intended to keep your inventory in stock for the customer and keep those shoppers coming back to shop your store. The strategy plays an important role in helping your loyal shoppers feel welcome and safe in your building.  

For more information about Checkpoint and Alpha products, contact us or call: 1.770.426.0547

 

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized

STOP SHOPLIFTING WITH A SOLID PLAN AND RETAIL THEFT PREVENTION PROGRAM

December 9, 2015 by Leave a Comment

 

BF04
Stop Shoplifting- 3
Anti-shoplifting- 4
Retail theft prevention- 3
STOP SHOPLIFTING WITH A SOLID PLAN AND RETAIL THEFT PREVENTION PROGRAM
Okay, let’s be realistic, ceasing shoplifting altogether is completely impossible. However there is no reason you can’t be on the front line and ready to wage war against these profit robbing bandits! If you truly want to stop shoplifting or at least make an impact in reducing it, you have to arm your store with the appropriate anti-shoplifting tools to combat it. Retail theft prevention is not only your responsibility but significantly impacts your bottom line.
The first and most important element to putting the brakes on shoplifters is putting a solid loss prevention program in place. A good program will consist of a sound policy, knowledge of local petit theft laws, trained personnel, anti-theft device systems and cross training of all store associates to make sure everyone is familiar with the your retail theft prevention policies.
Be sure all associates, members of management and employees understand why it is important to not only stop shoplifting but why your loss prevention program will benefit the consumer and company bottom line too.
All personnel should be knowledgeable about how to identify a potential shoplifter as well as your company policy regarding apprehending or approaching shoplifters. For instance, some companies will only allow trained Loss Prevention Detectives or Asset Protection Specialists to handle shoplifters. Your regular hourly associates need to understand whether or not you have a policy like this in place. Not having everyone onboard with total comprehension of your retail theft prevention program could be a massive legal liability. 
Ultimately though, being proactive with good anti-shoplifting measures is essential to preventing loss. A good loss prevention plan will include the use of anti-theft security devices like EAS (Electronic Article Surveillance) tags and other mechanisms that make it difficult for shoplifting to occur. These products are vastly inexpensive when compared with the amount of loss your likely incurring on a daily basis.
Anti-shoplifting devices also play a key role in deterring ‘would be’ thieves from even bothering with stealing your product. A lesser seasoned or amateur shoplifter often times never bother planning to steal at a store if they know beforehand that the store has EAS tagged products in place. It’s just not worth the time, hassle or risk to deal with them in most cases.
So making sure your loss prevention plan includes the use of these effective measures, to ward off potential thieves and make it difficult for shoplifters who tempt fate anyways. 
Everyone who works for you should be trained on how these devices work as well. They should be aware of not only how they work but what they can and cannot do too. Additional training should be given to show associates how to properly affix, remove and store these anti-shoplifting tags.
A good loss prevention plan should not lack cooperative communication between store management and if available, loss prevention personnel. The more open and communicative you are with your loss prevention team, the better chance you will have to stop shoplifting in your store(s).  Management should fully support loss prevention operations, as should loss prevention support store management reciprocally. 
As long as you have a solid plan and written and distributed program, everyone should be on the same page and you will be well on your way to stop shoplifting. Make sure you have the proper tools in place with an informed staff and you will cut your losses significantly. 
Lastly remember that shoplifting is only part of the problem when it comes to reducing shrink in your retail stores. Other areas such as paperwork errors and internal theft weigh into the equation as well. So a portion of your loss prevention program should focus on these things as well, in addition to the aforementioned plans to stop shoplifting. 
For more information on how to bump up your anti-shoplifting awareness, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547.

Okay, let’s be realistic, ceasing shoplifting altogether is completely impossible. However there is no reason you can’t be on the front line and ready to wage war against these profit robbing bandits! If you truly want to stop shoplifting or at least make an impact in reducing it, you have to arm your store with the appropriate anti-shoplifting tools to combat it. Retail theft prevention is not only your responsibility but significantly impacts your bottom line.

The first and most important element to putting the brakes on shoplifters is putting a solid loss prevention program in place. A good program will consist of a sound policy, knowledge of local petit theft laws, trained personnel, anti-theft device systems and cross training of all store associates to make sure everyone is familiar with the your retail theft prevention policies.

Be sure all associates, members of management and employees understand why it is important to not only stop shoplifting but why your loss prevention program will benefit the consumer and company bottom line too.

All personnel should be knowledgeable about how to identify a potential shoplifter as well as your company policy regarding apprehending or approaching shoplifters. For instance, some companies will only allow trained Loss Prevention Detectives or Asset Protection Specialists to handle shoplifters. Your regular hourly associates need to understand whether or not you have a policy like this in place. Not having everyone onboard with total comprehension of your retail theft prevention program could be a massive legal liability. 

Ultimately though, being proactive with good anti-shoplifting measures is essential to preventing loss. A good loss prevention plan will include the use of anti-theft security devices like EAS (Electronic Article Surveillance) tags and other mechanisms that make it difficult for shoplifting to occur. These products are vastly inexpensive when compared with the amount of loss your likely incurring on a daily basis.

Anti-shoplifting devices also play a key role in deterring ‘would be’ thieves from even bothering with stealing your product. A lesser seasoned or amateur shoplifter often times never bother planning to steal at a store if they know beforehand that the store has EAS tagged products in place. It’s just not worth the time, hassle or risk to deal with them in most cases.
So making sure your loss prevention plan includes the use of these effective measures, to ward off potential thieves and make it difficult for shoplifters who tempt fate anyways. 

Everyone who works for you should be trained on how these devices work as well. They should be aware of not only how they work but what they can and cannot do too. Additional training should be given to show associates how to properly affix, remove and store these anti-shoplifting tags.

A good loss prevention plan should not lack cooperative communication between store management and if available, loss prevention personnel. The more open and communicative you are with your loss prevention team, the better chance you will have to stop shoplifting in your store(s). Management should fully support loss prevention operations, as should loss prevention support store management reciprocally. 

As long as you have a solid plan and written and distributed program, everyone should be on the same page and you will be well on your way to stop shoplifting. Make sure you have the proper tools in place with an informed staff and you will cut your losses significantly. 

Lastly remember that shoplifting is only part of the problem when it comes to reducing shrink in your retail stores. Other areas such as paperwork errors and internal theft weigh into the equation as well. So a portion of your loss prevention program should focus on these things as well, in addition to the aforementioned plans to stop shoplifting. 

For more information on how to bump up your anti-shoplifting awareness, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547.

 

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized

CLAMP DOWN ON RETURN FRAUD WITH SHARK TAGS

December 1, 2015 by Leave a Comment

 

CLAMP DOWN ON RETURN FRAUD WITH SHARK TAGS
For all of you who pay much attention to high school, you probably are well aware that winter formals are just around the corner for schools across the country. Yes, that starry time where the winter formal court walk across the gymnasium floor. Her in a stunning dress (that she will only wear once) and him in his rented tuxedo. Yes, a magical night for all indeed. If that ice queen is like thousands of teenage girls out there, your store could end up renting her that dress; unless your store is using Alpha Shark Tags. 
When you think of return fraud, what do you think of? Is it a booster stealing some high end product, then returning it for store credit? Perhaps a dishonest employee comes to mind. The suburban teenage girl and her soccer mom probably don’t register too much with you. Well, I’m here to tell you that they should!
This very popular form of return fraud is quite common this time of year. A dress will be purchased for a one time venue. The wearer will carefully and meticulously hide and cover all store tags, which remain on the dress. After the venue is over, the dress, since it still has the original tags attached will be returned to your store for a refund. Often you will hear an excuse that the dance was cancelled, or maybe they found a better dress down the road. Bottom line here, you were scammed. 
There is a very simple solution. Alpha Shark Tags are small, bright red devices that you can apply to any piece of clothing. It’s best to clamp the tag on a very, very visible location of the dress. Remember, they skirt around the return policy by hiding the store tags with accessories. So if you place the tag in a position where it cannot be hidden, you will thwart their attempt at return fraud. The tags are removed at home with a pair of scissors. Once removed, the dress cannot be return to the store. 
Do you really need to take these measures; it’s only a few returns, right? Wrong. Let’s say you sell 100 dresses over a 6 month period. Each dress retails for $200. That’s $20,000 in sales. Of those 100 dresses, let’s say that 50% come back as return fraud. Your net sales decreased to $10,000 and you may now be in possession of inventory that will no longer sell (depending on current style trends). Why would you ever want to give away half of your profits? Remember that you are in business to sell product, not rent it. Take control of your return policy and clamp down on these losses with Alpha Shark Tags!  
For more information about Shark Tags contact us or call 1.770.426.0547.
Do you really need to take these measures; it’s only a few returns, right? Wrong. Let’s say you sell 100 dresses over a 6 month period. Each dress retails for $200. That’s $20,000 in sales. Of those 100 dresses, let’s say that 50% come back as return fraud. Your net sales decreased to $10,000 and you may now be in possession of inventory that will no longer sell (depending on current style trends). Why would you ever want to give away half of your profits? Remember that you are in business to sell product, not rent it. Take control of your return policy and clamp down on these losses with Alpha Shark Tags! 

For all of you who pay much attention to high school, you probably are well aware that winter formals are just around the corner for schools across the country. Yes, that starry time where the winter formal court walk across the gymnasium floor. Her in a stunning dress (that she will only wear once) and him in his rented tuxedo. Yes, a magical night for all indeed. If that ice queen is like thousands of teenage girls out there, your store could end up renting her that dress; unless your store is using Alpha Shark Tags. 

When you think of return fraud, what do you think of? Is it a booster stealing some high end product, then returning it for store credit? Perhaps a dishonest employee comes to mind. The suburban teenage girl and her soccer mom probably don’t register too much with you. Well, I’m here to tell you that they should!

This very popular form of return fraud is quite common this time of year. A dress will be purchased for a one time venue. The wearer will carefully and meticulously hide and cover all store tags, which remain on the dress. After the venue is over, the dress, since it still has the original tags attached will be returned to your store for a refund. Often you will hear an excuse that the dance was cancelled, or maybe they found a better dress down the road. Bottom line here, you were scammed. 

There is a very simple solution. Alpha Shark Tags are small, bright red devices that you can apply to any piece of clothing. It’s best to clamp the tag on a very, very visible location of the dress. Remember, they skirt around the return policy by hiding the store tags with accessories. So if you place the tag in a position where it cannot be hidden, you will thwart their attempt at return fraud. The tags are removed at home with a pair of scissors. Once removed, the dress cannot be return to the store. 

Do you really need to take these measures; it’s only a few returns, right? Wrong. Let’s say you sell 100 dresses over a 6 month period. Each dress retails for $200. That’s $20,000 in sales. Of those 100 dresses, let’s say that 50% come back as return fraud. Your net sales decreased to $10,000 and you may now be in possession of inventory that will no longer sell (depending on current style trends). Why would you ever want to give away half of your profits? Remember that you are in business to sell product, not rent it. Take control of your return policy and clamp down on these losses with Alpha Shark Tags!  

For more information about Shark Tags contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 

 

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Big Solutions Sometimes Come in Small Packages: Introducing the Classic N10 by Checkpoint

November 20, 2015 by Leave a Comment

 

RWHBLOG26
Big Solutions Sometimes Come in Small Packages:  Introducing the Classic N10 by Checkpoint
Extra!  Extra!  Read all about it and hopefully you might be reading it here first.  If I sound excited, it is because I am!  Checkpoint just released a new product that is worth raising your blood pressure over.  One of the biggest complaints by retailers when it comes to retail anti-shoplifting strategies that utilize electronic article surveillance (EAS) has been the size of the antennae.  The large antennae take up a large amount of floor space that is valuable in the retail store environment.  Some retailers have buried the antennae so that the floor space is retained but this option isn’t available to convenience stores and small footprint retailers as it is expensive to bury the antennae and it is not practical to stick the antennae on the floor, cutting the floor space available for merchandise significantly.  That is no longer the case.
According to Uwe Sydon, Senior Vice President of Innovation, Checkpoint Systems, “We’ve researched and worked with convenience stores that have many of the same requirements for loss prevention solutions as larger outlets, but often have neither the floor space nor the budget for standard traditional floor mounted, free-standing EAS antennas. With the introduction of the N10 – featuring one of the smallest EAS antennas on the market — those limitations are gone.”
Sydon further notes that the Classic N10 uses the latest in technology that includes anti-jamming capability which is becoming the method of operation for the organized retail criminal (ORC).  It also has the latest noise filtering and reduction software to reduce false alarms and misses.  The N10 also has a flashing LED that acts as a strong deterrent to the opportunistic shoplifter.  One of the best features of the N10 is its flexibilty.  This antenna is not stuck with a large floor mounted antennae that takes up floor space and makes customer ingress and egress difficult or cumbersome.  The small footprint store and convenience stores require this flexibility to utilize electronic article surveillance (EAS).  Many such retail stores have opted not to have the advantage of merchandise shelf availability and reduced shrink afforded by EAS due to these limitations.  No more!  The Classic N10 gives the small footprint store or convenience store the same capability as their big brothers without the reduced floorspace.  The Class N10’s flexibility includes the ability to either wall or door-frame mount the single antenna or it can be sited on an optional free-standing floor mount.  Regardless, when merchandise is being moved and there is a need to move the antenna, the retailer can swivel the antenna in any directions, as well as just spin it and tuck it out of the way.
Wow!  This solution has been needed for a long time.  Convenience stores have been asking for a more flexible EAS system so they could realize the same benefits of EAS that other retailers enjoy and now they have it.  The Classic N10 is one of the smallest antennae on the market but don’t let that small size fool you.  It has the same capability as it larger brothers in the industry thus proving that sometimes big things do come in small packages.
For more information on Checkpoint Systems contact us or call 1.770.426.0547. 

Extra! Extra! Read all about it and hopefully you might be reading it here first. If I sound excited, it is because I am! Checkpoint just released a new product that is worth raising your blood pressure over. One of the biggest complaints by retailers when it comes to retail anti-shoplifting strategies that utilize electronic article surveillance (EAS) has been the size of the antennae. The large antennae take up a large amount of floor space that is valuable in the retail store environment. Some retailers have buried the antennae so that the floor space is retained but this option isn’t available to convenience stores and small footprint retailers as it is expensive to bury the antennae and it is not practical to stick the antennae on the floor, cutting the floor space available for merchandise significantly. That is no longer the case.

 According to Uwe Sydon, Senior Vice President of Innovation, Checkpoint Systems, “We’ve researched and worked with convenience stores that have many of the same requirements for loss prevention solutions as larger outlets, but often have neither the floor space nor the budget for standard traditional floor mounted, free-standing EAS antennas. With the introduction of the N10 – featuring one of the smallest EAS antennas on the market — those limitations are gone.”

 Sydon further notes that the Classic N10 uses the latest in technology that includes anti-jamming capability which is becoming the method of operation for the organized retail criminal (ORC). It also has the latest noise filtering and reduction software to reduce false alarms and misses. The N10 also has a flashing LED that acts as a strong deterrent to the opportunistic shoplifter. One of the best features of the N10 is its flexibilty. This antenna is not stuck with a large floor mounted antennae that takes up floor space and makes customer ingress and egress difficult or cumbersome. The small footprint store and convenience stores require this flexibility to utilize electronic article surveillance (EAS). Many such retail stores have opted not to have the advantage of merchandise shelf availability and reduced shrink afforded by EAS due to these limitations. No more! The Classic N10 gives the small footprint store or convenience store the same capability as their big brothers without the reduced floorspace. The Class N10’s flexibility includes the ability to either wall or door-frame mount the single antenna or it can be sited on an optional free-standing floor mount. Regardless, when merchandise is being moved and there is a need to move the antenna, the retailer can swivel the antenna in any directions, as well as just spin it and tuck it out of the way.

 Wow! This solution has been needed for a long time. Convenience stores have been asking for a more flexible EAS system so they could realize the same benefits of EAS that other retailers enjoy and now they have it. The Classic N10 is one of the smallest antennae on the market but don’t let that small size fool you. It has the same capability as it larger brothers in the industry thus proving that sometimes big things do come in small packages.

For more information on Checkpoint Systems, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547

 

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Space And Security – You Can Have Them Both With The Classic N10 EAS Antenna

November 7, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Checkpoint Classic N10 EAS Antenna – 4                                                                             WC blog 03
Anti-Shoplifting -4
Space And Security – You Can Have Them Both With The Classic N10 EAS Antenna
     Big Box retailers have always had an edge in the ability to add security measures to their stores to the disadvantage of their smaller competitors.  The bigger budgets of big box stores allows for the addition of digital, closed circuit television systems, dedicated loss prevention teams and Anti-Shoplifting systems.  Not only do the large corporations have the budget advantages, but they also have the space. Space is often NOT a luxury available to the small business owner. Checkpoint’s Classic N10 EAS Antenna may provide a viable solution for the business on a budget and struggling to optimize space.
      When the small retailer, fixed for space and money loses merchandise to theft, it is much more difficult to recover those dollars through sales.  It may come down to a very difficult choice to make, protect merchandise at the cost of losing selling space or increase selling space and lose the benefit of security.  Checkpoint systems has a solution with a new product they have developed called the Classic N10 EAS Antenna.  I believe this could be exactly what the doctor ordered for the small retailer and “mom and pop shops” out there.  This will be an affordable system designed to reduce the space requirements of more traditional antennas and still provide the protections afforded by those bigger antennas.  The Classic N10 EAS antenna will work with all of the existing Checkpoint Tags already on the market so there is no concern for reduced protection.  
      My background in loss prevention has always been in large department stores and big box retail.  Space was never an issue for these stores when it came to the placement of Electronic Article Surveillance equipment.  We have all become accustomed to walking past antennas when we enter and exit stores.  They come in various shapes and sizes, from tall, plastic encased pillars to the sleek, clear, acrylic models.  Each in their own way does exactly what it is designed to do, it makes the potential shoplifter consider the fact there is some form of Anti-Shoplifting effort being made by that particular location and sends them elsewhere.   Electronic Article Surveillance systems are also a deterrent to potential employee theft.  While not a cure, they are helpful in removing the temptation from the employee who might otherwise test an employer with lax or no security measures in place.
      A disadvantage to having such a system is the space required to install these EAS antennas.  In a large store there is ample room to set up these devices, especially when most of these stores have spacious entry ways and shopping cart corrals at the front.  For the smaller retailers, every square foot of sales floor space is critical.  Fixtures and displays are often located next to the doors in order to take advantage of selling area.  Space not used can often equate to potential loss of sales.  I am reminded of a store manager I once worked for who used to tell me, “You can’t sell airspace”.  He was referring to excess space between shelves on an endcap, but the same principle applies.  You can’t sell from an unused piece of real estate in a store.  When a store is not going to install an Anti-Shoplifting system, it becomes the one that other retailers are driving their shoplifters to go to. The idea behind deterrence is to send the bad guys to an easier target.  Don’t believe me?  Consider how many robberies occur in gas stations versus big box stores. Big box stores have more money, but they also have more protection in place.
          The future is bright for small stores that previously wanted to install Anti-Shoplifting measures but could not, whether due to space constraints or prohibitive costs. With the incorporation of a Checkpoint Classic N10 EAS antenna system, I cannot see profits going anywhere but up. Keep sales floor space full by using ALL available square footage and shelves full through theft deterrence.  Paying customers will appreciate it and return to buy more!  
For more information about the Checkpoint Classic N10 EAS Antenna contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
      

Big Box retailers have always had an edge in the ability to add security measures to their stores to the disadvantage of their smaller competitors. The bigger budgets of big box stores allows for the addition of digital, closed circuit television systems, dedicated loss prevention teams and Anti-Shoplifting systems. Not only do the large corporations have the budget advantages, but they also have the space. Space is often NOT a luxury available to the small business owner. Checkpoint’s Classic N10 EAS Antenna may provide a viable solution for the business on a budget and struggling to optimize space.

When the small retailer, fixed for space and money loses merchandise to theft, it is much more difficult to recover those dollars through sales. It may come down to a very difficult choice to make, protect merchandise at the cost of losing selling space or increase selling space and lose the benefit of security. Checkpoint systems has a solution with a new product they have developed called the Classic N10 EAS Antenna. I believe this could be exactly what the doctor ordered for the small retailer and “mom and pop shops” out there. This will be an affordable system designed to reduce the space requirements of more traditional antennas and still provide the protections afforded by those bigger antennas. The Classic N10 EAS antenna will work with all of the existing Checkpoint Tags already on the market so there is no concern for reduced protection.  

My background in loss prevention has always been in large department stores and big box retail. Space was never an issue for these stores when it came to the placement of Electronic Article Surveillance equipment. We have all become accustomed to walking past antennas when we enter and exit stores. They come in various shapes and sizes, from tall, plastic encased pillars to the sleek, clear, acrylic models. Each in their own way does exactly what it is designed to do, it makes the potential shoplifter consider the fact there is some form of Anti-Shoplifting effort being made by that particular location and sends them elsewhere. Electronic Article Surveillance systems are also a deterrent to potential employee theft. While not a cure, they are helpful in removing the temptation from the employee who might otherwise test an employer with lax or no security measures in place.

A disadvantage to having such a system is the space required to install these EAS antennas. In a large store there is ample room to set up these devices, especially when most of these stores have spacious entry ways and shopping cart corrals at the front. For the smaller retailers, every square foot of sales floor space is critical. Fixtures and displays are often located next to the doors in order to take advantage of selling area. Space not used can often equate to potential loss of sales. I am reminded of a store manager I once worked for who used to tell me, “You can’t sell airspace”. He was referring to excess space between shelves on an endcap, but the same principle applies. You can’t sell from an unused piece of real estate in a store. When a store is not going to install an Anti-Shoplifting system, it becomes the one that other retailers are driving their shoplifters to go to. The idea behind deterrence is to send the bad guys to an easier target. Don’t believe me? Consider how many robberies occur in gas stations versus big box stores. Big box stores have more money, but they also have more protection in place.

The future is bright for small stores that previously wanted to install Anti-Shoplifting measures but could not, whether due to space constraints or prohibitive costs. With the incorporation of a Checkpoint Classic N10 EAS antenna system, I cannot see profits going anywhere but up. Keep sales floor space full by using ALL available square footage and shelves full through theft deterrence. Paying customers will appreciate it and return to buy more!  

For more information about the Checkpoint Classic N10 EAS Antenna contact us or call 1.770.426.0547

      

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With:

STOP MAKING YOUR CUSTOMERS WAIT! USING ALPHA HANG TAGS CAN SAVE TIME AND MONEY!

October 17, 2015 by Leave a Comment
STOP MAKING YOUR CUSTOMERS WAIT! USING ALPHA HANG TAGS CAN SAVE TIME AND MONEY!
It wasn’t but two years ago that I decided that I was going to let my beard grow out. It wasn’t “No Shave November”, nor was I going through any Hipster phase. No, I simply no longer felt it was worth my time to deal with retailers and the ridiculous ways they were locking up razor blades. As a long time loss prevention professional, I completely understand that you have to prevent shoplifting if you want to stay in business. You also need to have the product accessible and inviting to your customers, or they will in fact, go somewhere else. 
I’m not kidding about the beard, or the reason behind it. I go to the grocery store and I would have to go to customer service if I wanted razor blades. This meant I had to stand in another line, after I had already checked out (10 items or less…). If I went down to the world’s largest retailer, I was faced with even more challenges just to find a simple razor blade. First, if they were in stock, they were in some ridiculous, overbearing case. Again, once I stood in the only line open, of 385 possible registers, I had to again wait for a manager to unlock the little case. Seriously? Who has time for this? The same thing went for the corner drug store. They may be on the corner of Happy, but I sure wasn’t when I had to wait 20 minutes for a manager to come open the giant glass case. Has no one heard of Alpha Hang Tags?
I get it folks. These are super popular with the thieves and bands of organized criminal groups. They’re expensive, small and can be resold in minutes. Yes, as retailers we have to prevent shoplifting. We also have to actually sell the product as well. It may look great in that glass case where it’s sure as heck is not going to be stolen, but what’s that doing to your sales? You should probably look into Alpha Hang Tags. 
Again, I can hear your grumblings from behind my keyboard. “Grab and run shoplifters don’t care about EAS devices!” You are correct. They are concerned about a quick resell. When they are reselling stolen goods, it can’t look like it was stolen, especially if they are trying to sell at a flea market, online or in another brick and mortar store location. The Alpha Hang Tag would have to be destroyed in order for it to come off the product. This would damage/blemish the case of razors, thus diminishing the chances of an easy resell. The tag alone is a great physical deterrent and will stop most organized criminals. 
Take in mind that the Alpha Hang Tag isn’t used exclusively on razors. It can help you to prevent shoplifting on virtually all product that comes in a blister pack, or clamshell. That’s a lot of product protection. Its sleek design allows it to integrate almost seamlessly into the product packaging to a point where most customers aren’t aware that it’s an active EAS device. These really are a great solution to some of the highest theft items out there. I just wish more retailers thought about them… or the collective hours their customers wait for locked up merchandise. 
 
For more information, contact us: Alpha Hard Tags, or call 1.770.426.0547

It wasn’t but two years ago that I decided that I was going to let my beard grow out. It wasn’t “No Shave November”, nor was I going through any Hipster phase. No, I simply no longer felt it was worth my time to deal with retailers and the ridiculous ways they were locking up razor blades. As a long time loss prevention professional, I completely understand that you have to prevent shoplifting if you want to stay in business. You also need to have the product accessible and inviting to your customers, or they will in fact, go somewhere else. 

I’m not kidding about the beard, or the reason behind it. I go to the grocery store and I would have to go to customer service if I wanted razor blades. This meant I had to stand in another line, after I had already checked out (10 items or less…). If I went down to the world’s largest retailer, I was faced with even more challenges just to find a simple razor blade. First, if they were in stock, they were in some ridiculous, overbearing case. Again, once I stood in the only line open, of 385 possible registers, I had to again wait for a manager to unlock the little case. Seriously? Who has time for this? The same thing went for the corner drug store. They may be on the corner of Happy, but I sure wasn’t when I had to wait 20 minutes for a manager to come open the giant glass case. Has no one heard of Alpha Hang Tags?

I get it folks. These are super popular with the thieves and bands of organized criminal groups. They’re expensive, small and can be resold in minutes. Yes, as retailers we have to prevent shoplifting. We also have to actually sell the product as well. It may look great in that glass case where it’s sure as heck is not going to be stolen, but what’s that doing to your sales? You should probably look into Alpha Hang Tags. 

Again, I can hear your grumblings from behind my keyboard. “Grab and run shoplifters don’t care about EAS devices!” You are correct. They are concerned about a quick resell. When they are reselling stolen goods, it can’t look like it was stolen, especially if they are trying to sell at a flea market, online or in another brick and mortar store location. The Alpha Hang Tag would have to be destroyed in order for it to come off the product. This would damage/blemish the case of razors, thus diminishing the chances of an easy resell. The tag alone is a great physical deterrent and will stop most organized criminals. 

Take in mind that the Alpha Hang Tag isn’t used exclusively on razors. It can help you to prevent shoplifting on virtually all product that comes in a blister pack, or clamshell. That’s a lot of product protection. Its sleek design allows it to integrate almost seamlessly into the product packaging to a point where most customers aren’t aware that it’s an active EAS device. These really are a great solution to some of the highest theft items out there. I just wish more retailers thought about them… or the collective hours their customers wait for locked up merchandise. 

For more information about Alpha Hard Tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With:

Using Checkpoint hard tags for Physical Security

October 9, 2015 by Leave a Comment
JD-Blog-008 Keyword: Checkpoint hard tags-5 (Secondary: hard tags-4)
Using Checkpoint hard tags for Physical Security
I use Checkpoint hard tags for more than just merchandise.  They can be a total physical security solution.  Since we already the tags and pedestals in place, we thought about what else we could use the tags for and came up with several great areas where the hard tags can help.  
The most natural transition was for key control.  Losing register keys, Electronics cage keys, dock door keys, and cash office keys becomes very expensive since not only do you need to replace the missing keys, you need to have those locks re-keyed.  That’s not a cheap fix.  We attached every key ring in the building to a lanyard with a hard tag attached.  That way, whenever someone left with the keys the pedestals would alarm, reminding them that they have the key set.  When combined with a simple sign in/sign out log and daily key inventory, the loss of keys has been eliminated, helping us save a lot of money on the physical security budget.  Another benefit was time savings in two different ways.  First, we reduced the time spent looking for missing keys.  Second was the unexpected side benefit of faster key sign outs because the tags enabled us to label the keys better.  For example, there is enough room on the tag to write what area the keys go to right on the tag itself.  Keys bearing a Checkpoint hard tag are also less attractive to external parties who may be considering stealing a set of keys.
We decided then to look into other, non-traditional uses for the Checkpoint hard tags.  Our next use was to secure register cash bags used to transport cash from the register to the cash office.  We put the pin of the hard tag through the outside of the bag itself, not on the zipper pull.  We decided against the zipper pull because it is easily pulled off by a dishonest employee.  Putting it right through the bag eliminates the ability to defeat it.  We also tagged the bag used for cash pickups and the one used for change runs.  Since we have registers throughout the store and not just in the front end, this made sense.  The use of Checkpoint hard tags to secure the cash bags makes prefect sense whether you have perimeter registers or a front end set up.  Placing the tags made internal theft of a cash bag a little more risky, and it does the same for snatch and run type robbery exposure.
The final area we deployed the Checkpoint hard tags in was fixed asset control.  We placed tags and lanyards on our remote data handheld units throughout the store and implemented the same sign in/sign out protocol.  This eliminated the loss of these expensive items.   Hard tags were also put on ticketing guns, label printers, and mobile devices (tablets) intended for use in-store by our sales team to place online orders.  These fixed assets that were subject to both internal and external theft were much better protected and less attractive to thieves.  One of the concerns was that the tags would get in the way, but we used a few different sizes and there have been no problems at all.  
A lot of loss can be prevented by using Checkpoint hard tags for more than just merchandise.
For more information about Checkpoint hard tags contact us at losspreventionsystems.net or call 1.770.426.0547.

I use Checkpoint hard tags for more than just merchandise. They can be a total physical security solution. Since we already the tags and pedestals in place, we thought about what else we could use the tags for and came up with several great areas where the hard tags can help.  

The most natural transition was for key control. Losing register keys, Electronics cage keys, dock door keys, and cash office keys becomes very expensive since not only do you need to replace the missing keys, you need to have those locks re-keyed. That’s not a cheap fix. We attached every key ring in the building to a lanyard with a hard tag attached. That way, whenever someone left with the keys the pedestals would alarm, reminding them that they have the key set. When combined with a simple sign in/sign out log and daily key inventory, the loss of keys has been eliminated, helping us save a lot of money on the physical security budget. Another benefit was time savings in two different ways. First, we reduced the time spent looking for missing keys. Second was the unexpected side benefit of faster key sign outs because the tags enabled us to label the keys better. For example, there is enough room on the tag to write what area the keys go to right on the tag itself. Keys bearing a Checkpoint hard tag are also less attractive to external parties who may be considering stealing a set of keys.

We decided then to look into other, non-traditional uses for the Checkpoint hard tags. Our next use was to secure register cash bags used to transport cash from the register to the cash office. We put the pin of the hard tag through the outside of the bag itself, not on the zipper pull. We decided against the zipper pull because it is easily pulled off by a dishonest employee. Putting it right through the bag eliminates the ability to defeat it. We also tagged the bag used for cash pickups and the one used for change runs. Since we have registers throughout the store and not just in the front end, this made sense. The use of Checkpoint hard tags to secure the cash bags makes prefect sense whether you have perimeter registers or a front end set up. Placing the tags made internal theft of a cash bag a little more risky, and it does the same for snatch and run type robbery exposure.

The final area we deployed the Checkpoint hard tags in was fixed asset control. We placed tags and lanyards on our remote data handheld units throughout the store and implemented the same sign in/sign out protocol. This eliminated the loss of these expensive items. Hard tags were also put on ticketing guns, label printers, and mobile devices (tablets) intended for use in-store by our sales team to place online orders. These fixed assets that were subject to both internal and external theft were much better protected and less attractive to thieves. One of the concerns was that the tags would get in the way, but we used a few different sizes and there have been no problems at all.  

A lot of loss can be prevented by using Checkpoint hard tags for more than just merchandise.

For more information about Checkpoint hard tags contact us or call 1.770.426.0547.

 

Filed Under: Uncategorized
« Previous Page
Next Page »