What dollar level should you tag and label?

This question comes up frequently. Your Checkpoint systems are very effective anti shoplifting devices. But you must use them in a well thought through, deliberate way. You should establish and write down what items you are going to put checkpoint labels and checkpoint tags on. Look at this plan once a month. Compare your employee’s feedback about what items seem to be shoplifted and what items you have protected. Then make changes.

1. Consider conducting a “cycle count” on an item or two that you are concerned with. A cycle count is simply doing a count of how many of one item you have on hand. Add in what you have replenished of that item. Then subtract what you have sold of that item. Your POS/cash register should help you with this last part. Even if you do not track items normally set it up to track this one item you are watching. Instruct your employees to ring that item up that way. This will tell you if you need to include that item in you’re anti shoplifting plan.

2. Set a dollar value threshold. For example if you sell items priced from $0.75 to $250 then you want to look at what items are cost effective to cover. If your margin on the $.075 item is 300% and the thefts have been low then it may not be a good candidate to place checkpoint tags or checkpoint labels on. But if that same item is a high theft item then the amount that you budget or feel is acceptable to absorb in loss may warrant protection.

Many retailers keep it simple and tag/label everything over a certain dollar amount such a $5.00. This approach is fine but could make your cost of labels higher that it could be. However, the trade off with tracking losses and the labor to do it may be worth it.

3. What merchandise items are hot right now? For example in Atlanta and other places in the US there are problems with “Blue Jeans Bandits”. These shoplifters come into a store and scoop up large quantities of higher end jeans and try to run out. In this case good quality hard tags or even Alpha 3 Alarm Hard Tags would be warranted.

Remember, just because you installed checkpoint systems does not mean you will stop shoplifting and the problem is solved. You must take ongoing action to keep the thieves out. Plan for what merchandise you want to use your checkpoint labels and checkpoint tags on. Then revisit this anti shoplifting plan monthly and make modifications. That keeps you on the offence not the defense!

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