Bottle security in the retail world can seem a daunting task. Some may even say downright difficult. It doesn’t have to be. I still walk into liquor stores, convenience stores, and others and see the lack of security and the frustrations on the faces of the managers and owners. Yet, relatively cheaply, the proper protection can be afforded.

Once, while working the salesfloor of a grocery store, I observed a customer enter the liquor department. This guy was on the hunt for “free” liquor or liquor without any sort of bottle security. He walked up and down the aisle, observing closely, the brands of his choice. He made a couple of looks up towards the ceiling, then back and forth down the aisle. Section after section, he found no bottle lock. He chose his brand, stuffed two bottles in his waistband and was off. Obviously at this store, bottle security was the last issue management wanted to deal with.

This particular store had suffered a whopping 30% loss in liquor sales directly related to “missing product”. Absolutely no form of bottle security was present in this enormous store. I spoke with the manager and asked him if he knew of the issues his store was having with missing items, he said yeah and assumed it was a receiving issue or that the vendor was not supplying him with the product ordered. We went back and reviewed that, yet the shipments were correct. After a more analysis, we could be certain the loss was directly related to theft. No where it was customer or employee, we weren’t sure.  We discussed his opportunities in the liquor aisle and I explained to him the benefits of bottle security and how a simple program like EASy bottle locks would greatly impact his losses.

After we go the go ahead, EASy bottle locks were installed on various price points throughout the department. Over a period of 6 months, the store noticed a considerable reduction in loss directly related to EASy bottle locks and security program.

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For more information about Alpha Security or liquor bottle security contact us at bottle lock or call 1.770.426.0547

Bottle security was on the mind of “Mike”, the loss prevention agent working this large store. Mike had just started his shift was he was confronted by the store manager. The manager told Mike that he felt bottle security in the store was lacking and he didn’t have enough payroll to execute the bottle security program as the company expected.

Mike is a well versed loss prevention agent. He enjoys his work and put all efforts into providing solid support for the store he works. Mike knew the store manager had a tight payroll budget but also knew the store manager was a little inexperienced in managing programs and staff. Bottle security was in the forefront of this manager mind, he was more concerned about the District Manager coming in and screaming about sales and his performance.

Liquor sales were suffering in this store. After looking at the recent performance and sales report, it was clear to Mike that the liquor dept suffered from poor sales.  Walking the liquor aisle, he immediately realized not one high theft liquor item had a bottle lock attached. A simple bottle lock would keep the item on the shelf longer than no bottle lock. Mike went in the back and grabbed a box of EASy bottle locks. EASy bottle locks and caps were designed specifically to help prevent and reduce theft and loss. Here, the manager was lacking in clearly explaining the need to his staff. Mike grabbed a store associate from the back and explained to him how to apply the EASy bottle locks and caps. The associate quickly understood the need and was able to cleanly install the appropriate EASy bottle locks onto the liquor bottles.

Mike brought the manager over to the liquor aisle and explained to him the program and showed him what his associate was able to do with EASy bottle locks, and what the store could expect from this form of bottle security.

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For more information about Alpha Security or bottle lock or bottle locks or liquor bottle security contact us at Bottle security or call 1.770.426.0547

EASy bottle locks are a great deterrence for the amateur shoplifter.
Recently, a loss prevention agent working at one of my stores shared with me a story of how EASy bottle locks help prevent and deter a couple of different shoplifters.

Working in high customer traffic store located opposite corner of a local High School, this loss prevention agent knew the peak hours of theft and also knew the hardest hit areas. Observing the liquor aisle, the loss prevention agent had found several missing bottles of liquor from the shelf. The store manager told the agent that he had just put 10 bottles out 2 days ago and did not put on any EASy bottle caps. The agent knew theft was the reason these bottle were missing. In his investigation, he discovered the manager had placed the bottles on the shelf at about noon on a Monday. Later that day, the manager noticed a couple of bottles missing but thought nothing of it. The next day, the manager again saw more bottles gone and assumed the items were sold. The loss prevention agent knew better and checked the sales on the items. Only one bottle of this liquor had been sold. The rest… just a guess, were stolen.

The loss prevention agent helped the manager cap a new supply of these liquor bottles with EASy bottle locks and merchandised them on the shelf. Over the next few shifts, the manager and loss prevention agent cycle counted and observed the items. At about 3pm on a Tuesday, the loss prevention agent witnessed a high school aged male enter the liquor dept with a backpack. The subject removed his backpack, looked around in all direction. He grabbed 2 bottles of liquor. He noticed something different. EASy bottle locks, he had not had to deal with before were now making his efforts difficult.

Remember, when you use a bottle lock in your bottle security program you will always frustrate the shoplifter. And your bottle lock is reusable over and over again. This keeps your costs down. A well established bottle security program will send the shoplifter packing…to your competitor.

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For more information about Alpha Security or bottle lock or bottle locks or bottle security or liquor bottle security contact us at EASy bottle or call 1.770.426.0547

In the liquor bottle security world Alpha Security is the top of the line. Alpha Security has released a new product in the continuing war of liquor and wine bottle theft and shoplifting. The EASy Guarde is a bottle lock designed to not only prevent shoplifters from removing the bottle from the store. It stops thieves from consuming the spirit on the property.

There are two earlier versions, which are still in production and have good features but Easy Guarde is the top-of-the line in liquor bottle security. The bottle lock top is clear so price labels; tax stamps and the like can be seen on the cap. The EASy Guarde contains either a RF or AM hard tag built right. This will trip your Checkpoint Security System if the shoplifter attempts to steal the bottle. The original Easy Bottle is a bulkier unit over the other bottle locks.

The locking mechanism is a very cool improvement over Crystal Guard. Instead of twisting to lock or unlock you press down on a button to lock and the spring release pops up when you press down again to release the EASy Guarde. These are bottle locks that make life simple and secure. The new locking style is a much tighter grip than the early Easy Bottle design.

Of course, the liquor bottle security cap will require a key to remove it. There have been some changes in that area also. The original Easy Bottle Cap used a very simple key that could not be used with any other Alpha Security product. The newer units use an S3 key. This is a special key made only by Alpha Security. It is not just for liquor bottle security or a bottle lock. The S3 can be used with the entire Alpha Security line. This includes other hard tags but also the Steel Grip bottle lock line.

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For more information about bottle locks or EASy Guarde or Easy Bottle contact us at bottle security or call 1.770.426.0547

When it comes to protecting your liquor stock the EASy bottle cap locks are well… easy. You simply select the appropriate size for the bottle you are trying to protect (they come in 3 different sizes: small, large and x-large) then just press it down on the top of the bottle and voila! You now have a bottle that cannot be opened and is therefore of absolutely no use to any criminal. The only way to gain access to the bottle at this point is with an EASy bottle key, which should be kept at your point of sale and removed only after payment has been rendered.

Not a day goes by that I don’t see at least one shady looking individual walk into one of our liquor departments. They decide what they want and then begin pulling on the caps to see if they can get them off. I’ve watched certain people walk around for up to a ½ hour fiddling around with the caps, trying to figure out how they work so they can defeat them. Finally they give up, put the bottle down and walk out empty handed. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out what their intentions were.

This is an effective deterrent for internal theft as well. I can’t tell you how many stories I’ve heard of management coming in and finding empty bottles in the garbage or hidden in out of the way places when they arrive first thing in the morning. Well, it’s obvious that the night crew had a bit of a party while they were stocking, cleaning, etc. Whether it be from external shoplifters or your own employee pilferage, the EASy bottle cap locks can help you protect your liquor stock and improve your bottom line.

Visit the Retail Loss Prevention Store

For more information about bottle security or liquor bottle security or bottle locks or bottle lock or Alpha Security contact us at EASy Bottle or call 1.770.426.0547