Identify Your Thief-Use Clothing Security Tags Effectively

I talk about boosters a lot in my posts; that is the type of thief I deal with the most, and the ones that drive me the craziest.  They constantly change their methods and targets, so my entire staff has to be on alert at all times.  In the drug store business, we know our over-the-counter health and beauty products are the most commonly stolen items.  If you are in the clothing and accessory business, you have a whole different line of merchandise, but you still likely battle the same groups I do.  Whether or not to utilize clothing security tags on your products can be a big decision.   In the small clothing business world, you have to keep costs down, both for your own bottom line and for the customer.  If you are having a problem with theft, you either have to sell more to make up for it, or raise your prices.   In the long run, putting security tags on clothes can make a big impact in stopping the losses you incur, and you will see the return on your investment.  Let’s take a look at some of the more common types of shoplifters.

First there are the boosters or professionals, of course.  These people steal for a living.  They are usually very skilled at avoiding detection.  They take great pains to fit in with your normal customer base.  Their targets are generally high retail, high demand, and easy to resell.  So they will go after the most trendy styles.  They hate excellent customer service.  They do not want to be seen or recognized, so they generally avoid eye contact with associates.  They also hate to see any type of clothing security tags attached in prominent places on the garments.  They know that at the resale point, they will receive less money for the merchandise because now the buyer will need to “clean” the items.  The best way to defeat boosters is to deter them.  Highly visible clothing security is a very effective way to encourage them to go somewhere else.

Next up you have the juveniles and minors.  They are actually responsible for a large part of theft in this country.  They may not really know the consequences for their actions, or they think they will get off easy if they are caught.  They may attempt the theft on a dare, or they may just do it because they think they can get away with it.  I dealt with a couple of middle school girls last summer that were stealing cosmetics.  These two thought they were slick.  They gathered up arm loads of lipsticks, fake nails, and other items and took turns going into the restroom.  We found the empty packages in the garbage later that evening.  They returned the following week.  We let them “shop” while we waited on the police to arrive, and when we went to approach them, their eyes got huge and they knew their goose was cooked.  They said they stole from us because they didn’t think we had cameras.  (We do.)  Again, the best way to deter juveniles is to have your clothing security tags  and any other anti-shoplifting measures in plain sight.  You want them to see there is a risk of being caught.

The last group is the regular customer.  I mean you see these people in your store on a frequent basis, and you never give them a second thought.  Their first time is usually on impulse, meaning they just see an opportunity and go for it.  They will usually steal something they would not normally buy for themselves.  Clothing security measures are paramount for this group.  If your “regulars” start successfully stealing from you, it will happen over and over again and regular theft means your business cannot survive.  Whether you go with the obvious ones on the outside of the garment, or even the ones sewn into hidden pockets and seams, clothing security tags are the best way to stop this group.  These are members of your community and their biggest fear is being caught stealing and ultimately recognized by their neighbors for their crime.

Identify whether your store is experiencing loss, what exactly you are losing, and who is responsible for it.  Then take a look at what clothing security tags can do for you.

For more information contact us at Clothing Security or call 1.770.426.0547