Sensormatic Safers are nothing new. Safers have been around for a long time. But, they have evolved! Basically you use a safer to protect goods that are not easily protected by alarming wraps, hard tags or a label. Sometimes very small merchandise items work well in a safer. High value items are another prospect for a safer.

 So what is a Safer? In the traditional form a safer is a strong plastic box with a special locking device. It allows you to place merchandise items in it and still display them. Your customer can pick them up and take them up to the cashier who unlocks the box and rings up the merchandise. The safer is reused over and over. Safers can sit on a shelf or be hung from a peg hook. Safers come in hundreds of sizes. If a shoplifter attempts to steal merchandise inside a Flexible Safer, then the Sensormatic system at the customer doors goes into alarm.

Sensormatic has a new twist on the traditional safer with the Flexible Safer. This item has a secure, locking zipper type closure and is constructed out of heavy duty materials. It could not be torn open with your hands. It would require a tool of some sort to defeat. The Sensormatic Flexible Safer is not for every piece of merchandise. In many cases there are much better ways to secure products. 

However, the Flexible Safer can help solve certain problems with merchandise that cannot take a hard tag or label and must be displayed regardless. It gives us another tool to discourage shoplifting. I do not see this product being used on a wide scale basis but I do see it used for a specific, problem merchandise item.

Flexible Safers come in three sizes.  Small is ideal for SD Cards, Razor Blades, Cosmetics, Ear Buds, Batteries, Boxed Apparel and more. Height 208mm (8.19in) Width 200mm (7.87in).

Medium is best with Printer Ink Cartridges, Cosmetic Moisturizer, Baby Formula, Perfumes and similar sized items. Height 260mm (10.24in) Width 250mm (9.84in).

And lastly the large is perfect for HDMI Cables, Stereo Headphones, Game Controllers and Health & Beauty merchandise. Height 338mm (13.3in) Width 325mm (13.85in).

All Safers including the Flexible Safer are clear. Flexible Safers are available in both AM and RF technologies allowing you to open merchandise with confidence. They are very thin and will take up less room on your displays than a traditional safer. 

Flexible Safers are constructed from three clear, strong and lightweight plastics laminated together to form a strong, yet flexible, composite product. It is extremely easy to use and available in various magnetic strengths to work with the full line of Sensormatic magnetic detachers. They are reusable and will hold up in a busy retail environment.

The design is actually very pleasant to look at. In addition to being clear it has green and grey trim. I could easily see them on an endcap with higher dollar merchandise such as batteries or razor blades that a customer wants to compare without having to touch the merchandise. The customer can still pick them up, compare and select the item right for themselves without having staff nearby to help or unlock them.

Again, this is not a solve all for every piece of merchandise you carry. Like with any Sensormatic hard tag or label you need to have small quantities of several sizes to fit your needs.

Would you like a sample of Flexible Safers or ask questions? Please contact us by calling Loss Prevention Systems at 1-770-426-0547. We are ready to help you have a more profitable year.

Using your Sensormatic hard tags to stop apparel shoplifting is the clear and established way to attack the scourge of shoplifting. But many Retailers believe that one size fits all. Not true. You may find that you need a selection of several types of Sensormatic hard tags instead of just one. 

The same tag you would place on a heavy coat is not necessarily a good choice for swimwear or lingerie and visa-versa. Sensormatic hard tags that are designed for lighter fabrics may not have the ability to be placed on heavier fabrics. 

Another consideration is Sensormatic tag placement. It is important that your store places hard tags in consistent locations. This is critical for staff at the cash/wrap. A Cashier that has to search for a tag will slow down the customer experience and may result in a Sensormatic security tag being missed. This will lead to an alarm at the exit and a customer that is less than happy. To avoid this, tag in a consistent location known to all. For example, you may decide to tag all shirts on the rear seam of shirts below the collar. This is not only an easy location but it is also out of the customer’s way when they are trying on the shirt. On jeans you may want to place Sensormatic security tags on the outside seam of the right leg. It could be at knee level or at the ankle always on the right leg vs left. Sensormatic tags should always be placed with the tag on the outside of the garment with the pin on the inside. Again, this will help Cashiers quickly locate a Sensormatic tag.

Pins are another item that you may want in several types;  longer pins may be needed for thick fabric. But that same pin used on a thin fabric may result in the pin not fully seating in the Sensormatic tag. Some pins have serrated shafts to allow the Sensormatic tag clutch to more securely hold the pin. However, serrated pins are not a good choice for delicate fabrics as they may snag, ruining the merchandise.

The length of the pin is only one consideration. The head of the pin is also something you should pay attention to. Most pins are about half the size of a dime. This could allow a thief to simply stretch the fabric of a swimsuit over the pin with little or no damage. We have pins that have large heads that are about the size of a silver dollar. This type of pin is usually matched to a specific Sensormatic security tag.

There is also a choice with magnetic Sensormatic hard tags. This one is clutch strength. There are two overall choices. 5kG (standard) or 9kG (super). We strongly recommend that you only use 9kG hard tags. The clutch strength is very hard to defeat by a shoplifter. 5kG tags which will look identical are easily defeated by shoplifters with easily obtained and concealable tools. Many Sensormatic security tags come in both strengths. 

There is another choice in magnetic hard tag clutches. That is “S3” or the Commander detacher. This takes the clutch up even another notch. Loss Prevention Systems carries this line and it is extremely hard to defeat. Hard tags are available in both AM and RF versions.

One more area of Sensormatic hard tags worth mentioning are the alarming tags. These Sensormatic tags have a sounder built into the tag itself. If a shoplifter attempts to remove the hard tag, the built-in sounder goes into alarm. These are available in both 2-tone and 3-tone models. Both models will cause the Sensormatic system at the customer exit to go into alarm. However, the built-in sounder in the 3 tone will also go into alarm when the Sensormatic system does. This makes it very easy for the Retailer to locate the stolen merchandise, if it is hidden on the shoplifter.

Get more information on Sensormatic hard tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547

It’s been a while since I went on a rant about the mechanisms retailers put in place to stop shoplifting that drive me up the wall. After my shopping trip to a store to purchase a computer monitor because mine went kaput I got annoyed. This store puts security wraps around $80 routers and even some landline telephone systems but on an open shelf they had a computer monitor that was on sale normally priced around $119. There were no Sensormatic tags or other protection on it to prevent someone from picking it up and walking out the doors with it. Are You KIDDING ME? This same company has jump drives in security boxes. Good Grief! With the price points of some of the items that are protected with anti-theft devices to stop shoplifting it makes no sense to me that a computer monitor that WOULD be a target for shoplifters would be left unprotected.
     

This isn’t my only rant on merchandise protection in stores. It wasn’t long ago that I was in another retail store that carries infant formula. This store was securing the baby formula cans in a type of security box device that appeared designed specifically for the formula cans in much the same way as Sesnormatic Magnetic Infant Formula Tags are designed to protect baby formula and similarly shaped cans. The protection of the cans is a great idea but what I found silly was the baby formula was then placed behind a security display that restricts the cans to being removed one at a time. I know why they are doing this. Baby formula is a high theft item for Organized Retail Crime groups. These are groups of professional shoplifting rings that are adept at stealing large quantities of merchandise and reselling them to mom and pop shops and through the internet. The thing that drives me crazy is the electronic article surveillance devices are supposed to be the deterrent to theft while making merchandise more accessible to the shoppers. Trust the tags, they work.
     

Even Bill Bregar the CEO of Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. a former National Director of Loss Prevention recognizes that Sensormatic Tags and other retail anti-theft devices provide protection AND improve sales for stores. Use of electronic article surveillance systems gives retailers the ability to make merchandise more available to customers. Customers are more apt to purchase something they can pick up and carry rather than having to wait for assistance at a showcase. They also don’t like to feel restricted when they want more than one item from a shelf. Trusting in the Sensormatic system to do what it is intended to do improves sales and decreases shortage. Doubling security in my opinion only negates the purpose of using anti-shoplifting devices by impeding sales not enhancing them.
     

Another rant I have involves security display cases and this directly impacts me because I work in a store that uses these monstrosities. Our store uses a new style of lock-up case that requires an electronic key to open. Now I already hate display cases because of how they are NOT customer friendly. The type our store uses are not employee or customer friendly. The key is held next to a place on the door and when the button on the key is held down a metal door pin is retracted and the door can be opened. The problem is the key has to be “recharged” or it does not retract the pin or the key works but the pin simply doesn’t respond. I have had to make customers wait for up to 10 minutes to get a key recharged (that is uncomfortable). Also when I went to look for my computer monitor another employee stopped me and asked if I knew how to make the key work because the managers were all busy and no one else was available to assist her. I showed her how to open the case and then I went shopping. If we just relied on Sensormatic tags and had enough employees on the floor we would avoid this issue.
     

Electronic Article Surveillance can stop shoplifting and increase sales if it is managed properly. Not trusting a system once it is in place is counterproductive and results in lost sales as customers get annoyed at waiting. Invest in a Sensormatic security system and trust it to work in your favor. You will be happy with the results and you will stay off of my rant list.

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

I was aware that there are poor quality electronic article surveillance labels on the market but I had no idea that there are actually fake labels too. After a bit of searching I found a website that sells fake labels to retailers to give the impression that their store is using an electronic article surveillance system to prevent theft. This particular site even says about their product, “Gives the visual illusion you have a working EAS system at your door that will beep if the product is removed.” If you know my investigative nosiness then you would know that this just led me to another search. Yup, I had to know if there are fake EAS towers on the market somewhere. Guess what, I found one on a popular online shopping site. A fake tower was for sale for $199.00! What a bargain, fake tower and fake labels all for less than $250. This is awesome for a retailer looking for a false sense of security.

Look I get it, Sensormatic systems and Sensormatic labels may seem like they would an out-of-reach investment for a small business owner. Maybe you have even thought about purchasing a system but talked yourself out of it or a friend convinced you that it would be too expensive. Let me ask you a question, what is theft costing your store? I guarantee it is a lot more than you imagine. If shoplifting is taking place you are probably seeing more fraudulent merchandise returns than other retailers with similar size stores. This means you are paying for your own merchandise twice. Even if you give a giftcard instead of cash that dollar value is still going to ultimately come back to cost you when you sell the merchandise paid for with that card. Shoplifting empties your clothes racks or gondola shelves so honest customers can’t buy those goods. Do your employees work on commission? Lose merchandise to theft so it can’t be sold and their paychecks are hurt. Lose too much merchandise and those same employees may lose their jobs as you have to find ways to save money. Payroll is almost always the first place business owners look for expense savings. Tighten up payroll, lose employees and you lose salesfloor coverage. Lose salesfloor coverage and shoplifting increases further as fewer people are available to offer customer service that can deter a significant amount of crime.

This brings us back to the issue of electronic article surveillance and why anyone would consider purchasing a fake anti-theft system and the fake tags. A real system that includes real, active Sensormatic labels that can protect your investment is not a pie-in-the-sky dream. And let me add I am not even suggesting a second hand or knock-off system. Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. offers store owners the opportunity to own a brand new system within their budgets. They even provide the option of financing a system through Navitas Credit Corp.      

You can buy your faux system for under $300 if you like but I promise you shoplifters are smart. To borrow a phrase, you may fool some of the shoplifters some of the time but you can’t fool all of the shoplifters all of the time. Eventually those crooks are going to figure out that you have a non-functioning system and then I assure you you’re going to pay for your system. Ultimately it will cost you a lot more to purchase a fake system when you could have paid for one that really does the job. Don’t play with fire, buy real Sensormatic labels and real Sensormatic towers and reap real results that will keep registers ringing.

Get more information on Sensormatic labels, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.

16. Do your Cashiers Leave the Register Unattended? Don’t. 

This is a basic Retail Theft Prevention practice that needs to be talked up daily. Cashiers should never leave their registers unattended. If they need to stock the impulse racks, or use the restroom, their register should be locked and the POS shut down and logged out. Every, single time. There should be no excuse for this not to happen, and as the CEO of your store, it’s up to you to set this standard and adhere to it. You do everything in your power to Stop Shoplifting, so take this little step to prevent cash theft. 

17. Do you Leave your Backdoor Open? Close it. 

Do you know how much product I’ve seen walk out of an open, unattended back door in my career? Hundreds of thousands of dollars. Back doors can be one of the biggest points of loss for any retail store. Sure, customers don’t necessarily have access to this area, but your employees DO, and newsflash, your employees will steal from you. Probably more so than your customers. In my stores, the policy is clear: If the back door is open, a manager is standing in the doorway. No deviation, no excuse. This is a part of our LP audits in store. Managers have lost their jobs for not following this very basic and very simple Retail Theft Prevention policy. It’s that important to us. It should be that important to you. 

18. Are you Verifying that PO?

I don’t think I write about paper shrink enough. I have a lot to say on the topic, and I guess I’ll save it for a rainy day, but let’s talk about direct-to-store shipments. You may get a few, you may get a lot, or you might not get any at all. If you do receive product like this, it is so incredibly important that you verify the purchase order to what you physically received. Chances are, the vendor isn’t trying to get over on you, however everything is run by people, and people make mistakes. If you ordered 200 T-Shirts and were charged for that, make sure you have all 200. Little shortages add up to big dollars throughout the year. While this doesn’t directly Stop Shoplifting, it ensures that you’re not suffering losses in other forms, such as paper shrink, or lost sales opportunities. 

19. Are you Rotating Those Consumables?

I hate when I buy a candy bar only to find that it expired 4 weeks ago. That’s just poor retailing. Rotating your stock is the absolute most basic retail process. I once had a girl work for me in my restaurant that just could not get it. Every night I would catch her filling the cooler with drinks. She’d put the cans from the store room in front of the ones already in the cooler. No matter how many times I corrected this, she would still do it her way. So, I fired her. It’s as important as any other policy, or Retail Theft Prevention method. Consumables usually have a short shelf-life. You can’t throw money out. 

20. Do you Put Stuff Outside? 

If you do, that’s OK! A lot of retailers will put product outside for several reasons. It’s either big and bulky, you have a lot of it, or you’re trying to move through it. Whatever the case, make sure that it is secured in some manner in order to Stop Shoplifting. Nothing is more frustrating than losing an entire pallet of patio furniture because it wasn’t secured. For example, if you put a line of bikes outside in the middle of the summer, that’s a great way to increase sales. Not putting a lock and chain on those bikes is an even better way to increase shrink. Using a little common sense will go a long way. If it goes outside, lock it up. 

Retail Theft Prevention is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk. 

In the first installment of this series we talked about how an employee’s feelings can have a negative effect on the amount of customer service they deliver to stop shoplifting. Rather than focus on signals that may indicate someone could be in the store with the intent of ripping it off, they feel sorry for the person. This can be especially true if the person looks like they may be a drug addict or experiencing economic hardship or homelessness. Customer service is one of the top methods of theft deterrence and sometimes that service has to be extreme. It can be multiple employees constantly coming up and offering help or one person just being so sicky-sweet and overly helpful that the crook gets exasperated and leaves. Smaller retailers don’t always have the luxury of enough staff to cashier, provide service covering the entire sales floor and focus on one suspicious person. That is where Sensormatic labels can play an important role in theft deterrence.

In Part 1 I talked specifically about how the Sensormatic HBC Sheet Label can protect many small cosmetic and health and beauty items previously considered too tiny to tag. Sensormatic labels aren’t restricted to protecting small merchandise alone. Sensormatic also has the APX Sheet Label. This label is larger than the HBC Sheet Label but still small enough to have a minimal footprint on packaging so they won’t cover warning labels or important product information such as ingredients. These tags provide reliable protection on foils and in metal shopping carts, features not all electronic article surveillance labels can claim. They are a cost-effective means of tagging THOUSANDS of pieces of merchandise in a store. One additional feature that makes them a valuable asset is that when properly processed at the point of sale for deactivation there are virtually no nuisance alarms for managers to deal with!

Tagging merchandise with anti-theft devices should not take the place of customer service to stop shoplifting even in small retail stores.  But as I was discussing earlier sometimes the feelings of a staff member can interfere with their judgement. They may not want to appear judgmental of a customer or they may feel sorry for the shopper based on how they are dressed. With this in mind I want to share tips that I found useful as a Loss Prevention Manager to identify suspicious persons.

• Look at how people are dressed. If they come in wearing unseasonable clothing, a heavy jacket on a warm day or sunglasses on a rainy, overcast day be suspicious. The glasses could be meant to conceal identity from security cameras. The coat has nothing to do with their income it is a means of concealing merchandise.

• Watch for people walking in with a ball cap pulled low and they are looking down at the floor. It is also a method of obscuring their identity. 

• If you greet a customer and offer assistance and they are quick to dismiss you be on your toes. If someone appears to be looking at merchandise and you offer assistance and they seem to become nervous or put the product down, be wary.

• Be alert to customers walking past a checkout lane and grabbing shopping bags. More often than not they intend to fill them with merchandise.  

• When a customer is shopping look for the one pushing a shopping cart and draping clothing over the sides of it. It is a clever way to conceal what they are doing in the buggy. Opening packages, filling purses or bags with merchandise or pulling tags off of items.

• Look for the shopper that seems to be looking around while holding a piece of merchandise. They could be looking for nearby associates or spying out where closed circuit television cameras are located.

• Train associates to be aware of the customer who stays in one area for an extended length of time. This is frequently seen in health and beauty product aisles and in electronics near videogames and DVD’s.

Keep in mind that it is only good customer service to greet everyone who enters the store and offer assistance. The people described above are the characters most likely to steal. If your store has a tight payroll budget Sensormatic labels will help in fighting theft, especially if staffing is stretched.

It is one thing to care about people it is another thing when employees permit it to interfere with the need to stop shoplifting. If you need assistance training employees about shoplifting prevention or have questions yourself contact Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. They have training seminars that will help you and your teams learn how to quell crime and improve profits.

Need information about Sensormatic labels, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547  now.