retail theft prevention

Grocery store to increase anti shoplifting efforts

March 31, 2011 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

Anti shoplifting efforts really aren’t meant to be greatly publicized. Most businesses prefer to be low key when utilizing anti shoplift efforts and want to showcase merchandise and customer service instead.

A small, start up grocery chain I once worked was having a real tough time with shoplifters. They were very successful in the local community but were also a big target. Large stores, very busy, little to no obvious or visible security and/or protection… somewhat a thieves paradise.

The management wanted an anti shoplifting program that could go in unannounced, meaning that not even the regular store employees would be aware of the new store security features.

I introduced this store to an anti shoplifting program and showed them a Checkpoint Security system. Something the store had seen in other retailers but was unaware of the effectiveness of a Checkpoint Security system in the world of grocery retail. Since this store carried general merchandise as well as grocery, a Checkpoint Security System could do this business good.
Over 2 days, the Checkpoint security system was installed in the store, deactivation pads were placed at the checkstands, EAS antennas were placed at the exits and entrances to the restrooms and management was educated on the proper use of the checkpoint systems.

Over the next few months, a store that once suffered from the negative effects of shoplifting was seeing the benefits of their new checkpoint systems. As time went on, the checkpoint systems paid for themselves. The store saw an immediate decrease in grab and run type thefts, and other instances of customers simply leaving the store with unpaid merchandise and unchallenged. As the inventory cycle came around, the store saw a decrease in shrink taking the store from near 5% to less than 3% in just one year.

Are Checkpoint Systems good for your business? Do really wanna wait another inventory cycle to find out?

For more information about retail theft prevention or retail anti theft devices contact us at anti shoplifting or call us at 1.770.426.0547

Filed Under: antishoplifting Tagged With: Anti-Shoplifting, checkpoint security system, checkpoint systems, Retail Anti Theft Devices, retail theft prevention

Labels, Labels, Labels Everywhere…Which Checkpoint Labels Should I Use?

March 27, 2011 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

Need help deciding which Checkpoint Labels you should use to help retail theft prevention? Here are a few things to think about from a Checkpoint security system certified technician’s point of view. The first decision you will need to make is whether you need non-deactivating hard Checkpoint tags or deactivating Checkpoint labels.

Hard Checkpoint tags will be able to be detected better from a further distance than a Checkpoint labels. This does not mean that you have to have hard Checkpoint tags for your system to work properly. The system is designed and tuned to detect Checkpoint labels without a gap in the system. The benefits of using Checkpoint Tags are that they are a visual deterrent. When a customer picks up an article of clothing or a handbag and they see the tag they know that if they try to steal that item an alarm will sound. These tags are also more durable and reusable.

The downside of using Checkpoint tags is that they are easy to see. While it will help with retail theft prevention, it may also not be as aesthetically pleasing as some people would like. There are also some products that it is not logical or cost effective to use hard tags on.

The benefits of using Checkpoint labels are ease of use, cost effective and with a plethora of different shapes and sizes, are ideal for most applications. With the release of Checkpoint’s new EP (enhanced performance) label, you are able to receive the same detection capabilities that you would have gotten with a much larger tag in the past. Although the Checkpoint security system is the same, changes in the design of the label has improved the efficiency of the system. You can apply these sticker labels to almost anything that you want to keep from leaving the location without you knowing. Also, these tags will not have to be removed at the time of purchase. When the item is scanned at the point of sale the tag is automatically deactivated, causing a seamless transaction and not adding anytime to the routine of your cashier.

There are a few things to keep in mind when using Checkpoint labels. They are not as durable because they are in sticker form and are not in a hard case. The labels are also more prone to being tampered with. Also, for the label to be most effective it needs to be placed on a flat surface. If you place the sticker label on a significantly curved surface it can cause the tag to not be detected properly from the Checkpoint security system.

These are just a few retail theft prevention items to keep in mind when deciding what label or tag is right for you.

Visit the Retail Loss Prevention Store

For more information about Retail theft prevention, a Checkpoint security system or checkpoint security tags or retail anti theft devices contact us at retail theft prevention or call 1.770.426.0547

Filed Under: antishoplifting Tagged With: Checkpoint labels, checkpoint security system, Checkpoint security tags, Checkpoint tags, Retail Anti Theft Devices, retail theft prevention

Stop shoplifting and start profiting with Checkpoint systems

March 23, 2011 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

Business owners need an option to manage their shrink. If shrink is allowed to run rampant, then profit becomes non-existent. Retail theft prevention is necessary to keep shrink at bay.

Anti shoplifting devices are reliable options for protecting the merchandise you wish to have available for your customers. Shoplifters try to be one step ahead of our efforts, but with options like Checkpoint security systems available, business owners can win the war against shrinkage and theft, and help stop shoplifting within their business.

Recently I was told about an attempted theft at my employer in which a lady tried to walk out with an expensive craft machine. There was no concealing in her purse, or hiding merchandise in her jacket. She was simply going to walk out of the door. An alert employee noticed her and was able to prevent this theft before it happened.

An employee was able to prevent that theft, but what if all of the employees were busy helping other customers? A similar theft in your business could go unnoticed if employees happened to be busy. As much as we’d like to have plenty of employee coverage in order to prevent this type of theft, this is not realistic retail theft prevention. But if you use Checkpoint labels or Checkpoint tags, you can have that coverage to help protect your merchandise.

Checkpoint security systems alert employees when merchandise heads out the doors without being paid for. Checkpoint labels and checkpoint tags can act as those extra employees that you wish you had, preventing the shoplifting that you know is there. Retail theft prevention such as Checkpoint security systems is well worth the investment in order to stop shoplifting in your business.

An anti shoplifting will put money on your bottom line not the shoplifters!

Visit the Retail Loss Prevention Store

For more information about retail theft prevention or anti shoplifting or checkpoint security systems or stop shoplifting or checkpoint labels or contact us at checkpoint tags or call 1.770.426.0547.

Filed Under: antishoplifting Tagged With: Anti-Shoplifting, Checkpoint labels, checkpoint security system, checkpoint security systems, checkpoint systems, Checkpoint tags, retail theft prevention, stop shoplifting

Checkpoint Security Systems, beating the thieves

March 19, 2011 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

Checkpoint security systems have been around for years. Many companies use Checkpoint security systems to help protect merchandise. However, just as many companies using Checkpoint security systems are not using them properly or as effectively as they could.

Checkpoint security systems are for the benefit of the merchant. Protecting their profits, merchandise, employees… all of their assets, are their main function. Yet I have seen many instances where a checkpoint security system has gone unused or checkpoint labels left lying around backrooms and receiving areas. This drives me nuts. I see these examples sometimes even in stores I supervise. As a manager, how can you let an investment like checkpoint systems go unnoticed?

Just the other day, I walked a store that had poor inventory results. The store is now on our target store program for high shrink. In developing a shrink action plan for the store, I spoke with the store manager about tools or ideas he felt could benefit him and his store. He told me he needs help to shoplifting. I asked what kinds of tools he thinks he needs to stop shoplifting. He says, ideally, he’d like someone to stand at the front of the store and let him know of a potential shoplifter. I asked him what the person should do if he finds a shoplifter. The manager replies “let me or my other managers know”.

Ok, so this guy is a little out of it. A checkpoint security system has been installed in his store for over 2 years. He has been equipped with Checkpoint labels and checkpoint tags. These checkpoint labels and checkpoint tags have been sitting in his backroom unused for quite some time.

Could his checkpoint security system have helped control his high shrink number? Absolutely. Had this manager executed the checkpoint security system program the way it was designed to work, the inventory results certainly would have turned out differently.

Checkpoint systems are designed to send the shoplifter down the street…maybe to your competitor who is not protected!

Visit the Retail Loss Prevention Store

For more information about checkpoint systems or checkpoint tags or retail anti theft devices or retail theft prevention or stop shoplifting or anti shoplifting contact us at Checkpoint Security Systems or call 1.770.426.0547

Dream of profit, not loss, with Checkpoint systems

March 9, 2011 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

Wouldn’t we all like to stop shoplifting in our businesses? Could you imagine the profit to be made if there was no such thing as shrink? But unfortunately, such a thought is a dream. But there are anti shoplifting measures you can take to maximize your profits by significantly reducing your loss from theft. The next best thing to no shrink is reduced shrink by using retail anti theft devices.

Checkpoint security systems are an option you can use to reduce loss due to theft in your business. By having Checkpoint security tags on clothing, for example, you can send a clear message to potential thieves that may come into your business. That message is that you are serious about retail theft prevention, so you protect your merchandise from people just like them.

Checkpoint labels and Checkpoint tags can be placed on your merchandise so that if it leaves your business without being paid for, employees are alerted. These types of anti shoplifting devices are like having an employee guarding every item you sell, preventing shoplifters from taking the merchandise without paying for it. It’s a minimal investment that is well worth the expense in order to protect the merchandise you wish to sell.

The ability to stop shoplifting does not have to be a dream. You can make your anti shoplifting ideas a reality by investing in merchandise protection. Checkpoint systems can help you in this endeavor by being a deterrent to the would-be shoplifter, as well as an alert when theft does occur in your business.

Live the dream with a profitable business, not one that has to succumb to the loss caused by out of control shoplifting activity. Checkpoint security systems and retail anti theft devices will make that dream come true!

For more information about anti shoplifting or stop shoplifting or Checkpoint security systems or retail anti theft devices or Checkpoint labels or Checkpoint security tags or Checkpoint tags or Checkpoint systems contact us at retail theft prevention or call 1.770.426.0547.

Filed Under: antishoplifting Tagged With: Anti-Shoplifting, Checkpoint labels, checkpoint security system, checkpoint security systems, Checkpoint security tags, checkpoint systems, Checkpoint tags, Retail Anti Theft Devices, retail theft prevention, stop shoplifting

Anti Shoplifting – Is Your Return Policy Too Liberal?

March 8, 2011 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

In spite of anti shoplifting efforts, according to a recent survey merchandise returns amount to over $219 billion a year. Nearly $12 billion of this is fraudulent. This category of retail loss is significant.

Why has this category of retail loss kept increasing?

From the thief’s standpoint, obtaining full value of the goods is preferable to fencing the merchandise for cents on the dollar, or attempting to sell it on the brown market for less than the full retail price. There are so many ways to return stolen merchandise to the store: using duplicate or counterfeit receipts; legitimate receipts accompanying stolen merchandise; and buying merchandise from a discounter and returning to a full service retailer, are only some of them.

The source of the stolen merchandise brought back for return may be a result of internal theft, sweethearting, or more likely shoplifters.

It is doubly painful for the retailer to pay retail for his own merchandise that he usually buys wholesale from a vendor.

To become a harder target in this area of retail loss while maintaining great customer relations is a balancing act faced by retailers every day.

Shutting of the supply through anti shoplifting efforts is one way to tip the scales in the retailer’s favor.

Checkpoint Systems’ line of retail theft prevention products allows full access to the customer to inspect the merchandise, but prevents it from being stolen by detecting Checkpoint security tags attached to the merchandise as the shoplifter attempts to exit the store. This not only announces that merchandise is being taken, but serves as a deterrent to potential shoplifters who know why the Checkpoint security tags are attached.

For assistance with your anti shoplifting strategy, call the experts at Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. at 1-770-426-0547 or click here to contact us. Please visit our Online Retail Loss Prevention Store for the latest in Loss Prevention products.

Filed Under: antishoplifting Tagged With: Anti-Shoplifting, Checkpoint security tags, checkpoint systems, retail theft prevention

Checkpoint Systems Tagging Compliance

March 1, 2011 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

Consistency in tagging compliance is one of the most important factors in protecting your apparel and now Checkpoint Systems has made that easier. Gaps in your process can take place whenever the human element is involved. Maybe it’s Friday afternoon, the boss is gone and the associates in charge of tagging merchandise before it goes to the sales floor are in a rush to get out and start their weekend. Maybe you’ve got a new associate who doesn’t fully understand the tagging process. Whatever the reason the result is inconsistency in your tagged merchandise.

With Checkpoint Systems “@ Source” program you can eliminate this problem completely. Imagine a world where you don’t have to worry about associates doing a thorough job of ensuring the tagging compliance is met. Imagine how much money you can save on your bottom line because you don’t need to provide hours in your budget for this process at all. Imagine the peace of mind that comes with knowing, not just hoping, that all of your merchandise on the floor is properly protected.

When you use the @ Source Program your merchandise comes into the store already outfitted with hard tags and EAS tags on all of the appropriate merchandise. In other words you, the retailer, can simply take them out of the box and put them directly on your sales floor with no steps in between; no opportunity for screw ups and no extra payroll for associates needed to tag the merchandise. It’s a win-win situation for everyone, except of course the shoplifters. The @ Source program is just one of the reasons why Checkpoint Systems is a leader in the loss prevention industry.

For more information about anti shoplifting or checkpoint labels or checkpoint security system or checkpoint security systems or checkpoint security tags or checkpoint systems or checkpoint tags or retail anti theft devices or retail theft prevention or stop shoplifting contact us at Checkpoint Systems or call 1.770.426.0547

Checkpoint Systems New Checkpoint Academy

March 1, 2011 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

Checkpoint Systems has done it again! They are on the leading edge with a new on-line training program for the Checkpoint Systems Retailer. Checkpoint Security Systems Academy is designed for any size retailer large or small. One employee or thousands.

Here is how it works: You purchase a license from us at Loss Prevention Systems. An employee then logs on to the Checkpoint Systems Academy web site and after filling out some basic information begins. There are six modules and they each take about 10 min. There is a short quiz at the end of each module. The last module is a test. Once the employee completes the test and passes they can print out a certificate that proves they took and passed.

I personally took the course and found it to be very interesting and a good learning experience. The Checkpoint Systems Academy does not just cover the use of Checkpoint Security Systems. The course also discusses how shoplifters operate and how to respond to a potential shoplifter. It does not cover state laws or the apprehension of a shoplifter but focuses on prevention and customer service.

The course is comprised of computer graphics and real video. It shows a typical store layout and discusses why the employee should be actively involved in the prevention of shoplifting. The course also discusses alarms and how to respond to them. Checkpoint Security Systems makes this simple and easy for the newest employee. They can take the course from any PC with a high-speed connection, home or work.

This helps make the job of getting a new employee up to speed on your operations quickly and consistently.

The quiz at the end of each module will show you the correct answer if the student misses it.

For more information about Checkpoint Security Systems Academy or anti shoplifting or retail anti theft devices or retail theft prevention contact us at stop shoplifting or call 1.770.426.0547

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Filed Under: antishoplifting Tagged With: Anti-Shoplifting, checkpoint security system, checkpoint security systems, checkpoint systems, Retail Anti Theft Devices, retail theft prevention, stop shoplifting

Retailers Focus is on Selling

February 26, 2011 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

While retailers focus on selling their merchandise, which they should, they absolutely cannot ignore retail theft prevention. Retail theft takes a huge bite out of profits, which negates an enormous amount of sales. So the retailer has to budget time and money away from what’s most productive – merchandising and selling – and devote it to protecting his merchandise and his business.

All retailers know the formula that $1.00 in stolen merchandise equals the profit from $20.00 in sales at a 5% margin. A shoplifter who gets away with a jacket valued at $100.00 means the retailer has to sell the equivalent 20 more jackets ($2000.00) just to break even. A lot of sales effort walks out the door with the stolen merchandise.

But suppose instead of letting the merchandise walk out the door there was an anti shoplifting device that would figuratively blow the whistle when a stolen item was leaving the store.

Checkpoint Security Systems makes exactly such a device. In fact, there are several models of Checkpoint systems that may be used in any retail setting. Checkpoint tags and Checkpoint labels are available for application on almost any type of merchandise. The relatively small amount of time and money invested to stop shoplifting as a source of inventory loss is well worth it.

Checkpoint Security Systems is a leader in the manufacture and development of retail theft prevention devices, giving retailers the peace of mind to apply themselves toward the focus of the business – selling.

Retailers can free up time and get a quick return on investment by using Checkpoint Security Systems to guard the door to control or stop shoplifting and grow sales and profits.

A retail theft prevention self-assessment will show the improvement in day-to-day operations of any store.

Call 770-426-0547 to speak with an expert in retail theft prevention or get more information here: Stop Shoplifting. Click here to visit our Online Retail Loss Prevention Store.

Anti Shoplifting Measures – Atlanta Georgia

February 24, 2011 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

The most satisfying part of any anti shoplifting program is the actual apprehension and prosecution of a shoplifter. Although watching a shoplifter taken away in a police car with his hands shackled behind his back gives some of us a personal sense of accomplishment, in some ways it indicates a failure in our effort to stop shoplifting.

For every shoplifter who is caught, how many get away with stolen merchandise? I know that plenty do, because only the worst or most unfortunate shoplifters are generally caught. The others, the good ones, do all they can to reduce the chances of taking the sad ride down to the police station. They look carefully for CCTV cameras, covert lookouts, sales personnel, store loss prevention and any other hindrances to their endeavors that may be obvious.

Any and all these things designed for retail theft prevention may cause a shoplifter to rethink his intention, or move to a different location in the store, or find another store altogether. This is the purpose of retail loss prevention, to convince the shoplifter that he would be better served to go to an easier target to resupply his empty shopping bags or abandon the idea altogether.

One of the most efficient ways to get your anti shoplifting message across to the potential shoplifter is with the addition of a Checkpoint Security System. The antennas, though they are unassuming, stand at the entryway as a warning that the retailer at this location cares enough about his business to actively keep shoplifters out. Shoplifters tend to go to locations where they don’t have to work quite so hard to steal merchandise. Whenever merchandise with Checkpoint security tags attached passes the antennas, an alarm is sounded, an event the shoplifter had rather avoid.

Get out of the shoplifter business by taking a look at your anti shoplifting program.

For good advice on ways to prevent shoplifting in Atlanta Georgia and elsewhere, call 770-426-0547 or click here: Retail Loss Prevention. Visit our Online Retail Loss Prevention Store.

Filed Under: antishoplifting Tagged With: Anti-Shoplifting, checkpoint security system, Checkpoint security tags, retail theft prevention, stop shoplifting