Clothing Security Puts A Stop To Shrinking Clothes

Let’s assume that everyone reading this article owns or manages a clothing and fashion store and no one is using any type of clothing security tags on merchandise. Rather than ask you why you are not doing it, I would like to know what it would take to get you to change your mind. Would you have to be losing 1% in shortage to convince you that merchandise protection is important? Would an average of 1.5% shrink make you reconsider a decision not to put Sensormatic tags on merchandise? If you still don’t see it as extremely important then maybe this fact from the Sensormatic Global Shrink Index will jolt you a bit. On page 43 of their report the shrinkage rate in the U.S. for 2017-2018 in Fashion and Accessory stores was a whopping 2.43% ranking #1 (worst) among the 12 vertical store categories listed. I don’t know how much clearer the facts can be that clothing has to be protected and for most small or even medium sized stores a Loss Prevention Associate is out of the question. What isn’t out of your price range is a Sensormatic security system and the use of Sensormatic tags.

In their global analysis of retailers, the Global Shrink Index says that 62% of respondents indicate EAS (Electronic Article Surveillance) investment is increasing (pg. 23). The report also says that external theft/shoplifting in the U.S. accounted for over 1/3 of retail shortage or 35.55%. Why are retailers investing more in EAS technology? Because the major retailers recognize that Sensormatic tags and labels can have a significant impact on theft reduction and especially shoplifting. Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. (LPSI) believes EAS can reduce store inventory shrinkage by about half. If you go to their Loss Prevention Calculator (tabbed as ROI Calc. on their home page), you can see that the figure they give if you purchase a Sensormatic system from them is a reduction in shrink of approximately .55%. They project retailer’s average shortage is 1.2% and with the installation of a Loss Prevention system it would reduce shortage  to a .65%. The evidence is clear that clothing security will be improved if a store begins to use EAS tags and labels.

LPSI founder Bill Bregar also knows that while purchasing a security system is going to help reduce theft there has to be proper training on how to test equipment, respond to alarm activations and how customer service all make a system more effective. This company won’t abandon you after a sale. Purchase a Sensormatic system from LPSI and you receive “free, live shoplifting prevention training for the life of your Sensormatic…system.” That is correct, clothing security isn’t just about installing a system and forgetting about it. There are best practices to get the most out of a system and Bill wants you to get every dollar’s worth out of a new one and also learn how to prevent shoplifting.

Clothing security also requires a store to put in measures to control employee theft as well as shoplifting. While employees can steal in ways that are not necessarily stopped by Sensormatic tags, for example the passing of merchandise at the checkout lane, tags DO prevent employees from outright theft. I have witnessed employees hiding merchandise in purses and under their clothing and then walking out of a store. As long as they do not have access to detachment tools or deactivation pads and they have to exit through EAS pedestals, employees with concealed, tagged items are going to set off the alarms. Store procedural controls such as mandatory bag checks before leaving and requiring employees to keep coats and purses in lockers can help further reduce opportunities for dishonest workers to steal.

With the addition of a Sensormatic system and tags, training from LPSI and sensible store policies regarding employee expectations, store owners can dramatically reduce shrinkage. Fashion retailers don’t have to feel the pain of 2.43% shrink. Contact Bill and his team and get the resources that can cut that number in half and then some.

For more information about clothing security, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547