Month: April 2021

things-you-need-to-know-about-security-tag-alarms

Four things you need to know about security tag alarms

By far the most effective feature of electronic article surveillance (EAS) is the fact it alerts your staff to a potential theft occurring.

This allows retail staff to get on with the job at hand, without being overly distracted watching the shop floor for shoplifters.

However, there are a series of hints to ensure alarms only sound when they should, and your staff understand exactly what each alarm means.

So here are four things you need to know about security tag alarms…

The importance of EAS best practice

EAS as a retail loss prevention solution is hugely popular and extremely effective. The system sees security tags and/or security labels affixed to products and when they enter a zone near the store exit, an alarm automatically sounds to alert staff a theft may be occurring.

That said, the system is only as good as the policies, procedures and education that surround it.

That means your staff should be educated in how EAS works and follow the correct protocols when it comes to an alarm and its meaning.

Tag pollution

Tag pollution occurs when another retailer fails to properly deactivate a label or remove a tag. When a shopper carrying that item enters your retail environment, it may cause your EAS system to activate.

These days most EAS antenna have a lighting system that indicates whether an alarm is sounding due to an inbound tag, or an outbound tag.

Staff should be educated on what the lighting means on the EAS antenna.

They should also be given protocols to follow when it is likely a tag from another store has activated your alarm, for example, perhaps checking the shopper’s bag.

Alarm fatigue

Every time an EAS antenna sounds an alarm, it means something. But sometimes stores fail to follow EAS best practice and the alarm sounds so often that staff begin to ignore its potential meaning.

This usually comes down to one of four issues:

  • Tag pollution.
  • Tags in the no-go zone.
  • Failure to properly detach tags or deactivate labels.
  • Incorrect checks and inadequate EAS system maintenance.

So, what do each of those mean?

The no-tag zone

The area between and around the EAS antenna is considered a no-tag zone. This an area that should be kept free of tagged or labelled products and even decorations with a high foil content.

If tagged or labelled items are positioned in this area, it is likely to cause the EAS antenna to sound.

The “No Tag” zone is generally within six feet of the EAS system.

As a simple check, stretch your arms out like you are doing a star jump, and make sure there are no security tags within, or just out of your reach, all around each pedestal.

In over 90 per cent of reported cases of false alarming, alarms are caused by a tag within the vicinity of the antenna.

Failure to properly detach tags or deactivate labels

Failure to properly detach tags or deactivate labels

In order to stop the EAS system from sounding an alarm when an item exits the store, security tags need to be detached at the point of sale, while labels need to be deactivated.

Staff should be properly trained on exactly how to do this effectively, and should also be given adequate tools to do so.

Detachers are usually anchored to the POS, while deactivators can be incorporated into the scanning area of the checkout so that the label is deactivated at the same time as the barcode is processed during a sales transaction.

Daily checks

As a valuable piece of equipment that is designed to protect a retailer from loss, your EAS system should be checked daily and serviced when required.

Your manufacturer likely has guidelines for exactly what checks and servicing needs to occur, but as a minimum, the system should be checked prior to store opening each morning to ensure the system is powered up and working correctly.

At the same time, staff should also ensure the label deactivator is switched on.

You can learn more about EAS best practice to reduce false alarms here, or view our range of security tags here, and security labels here.

top 10 global retailers 2021

The top 10 global retailers 2021

The list of the top global retailers in 2021 has been released, with the impacts of COVID-19 altering the results compared to previous years.

Although big US names like Walmart and Amazon continue to reign supreme, new entrants also grace this year’s top 10 as online retailers with massive merchandise volumes make their presence felt.

Here’s an insight into the top 10 global retailers for 2021, along with changes occurring in the top player landscape.

This year’s results

Compiled by Kantar, this year’s list of top global retailers drew on slightly different criteria from previous years.

To make the cut, retailers were assessed on their direct selling in at least three countries, franchise sales where applicable, and marketplace sales and sourcing alliances.

Kantar’s Senior Vice President of Global Insights & Technology, David Marcotte, noted 2020 provided numerous challenges to retailers as they adapted to changing consumer demands and delivery methods.

“Counterintuitively for many retailers, it was the best year in their history as shoppers had a range of new needs resulting from working from home and various levels of lockdowns,” he noted.

“However, for other retailers, primarily those in malls, urban areas or in countries with strict lockdown orders, it was a year of major sales losses.”

Here’s who made the cut when it came to the top 10…

No 1 – Walmart (USA)

wallmart

Retail type: Mass/hyper
Total revenue: $519.93 billion

Walmart’s omnichannel shift continued to pay off throughout 2020, with an expansion into marketplaces and services seeing it retain pole position, despite the fact the company shed assets in several countries.

Kantar notes Walmart’s lead has shrunk this year, although the next top 50 will likely see it retain its top position.

No 2 – Amazon.com (USA)

amazon

Retail type: Ecommerce
Total revenue: $280.52 billion

Amazon’s continued expansion over the past year was evident in the company’s results, with core markets like the US, Canada and Europe also performing well.

No 3 – Schwarz Group (Germany)

Schwarz Group

Retail type: Discount grocery
Total revenue: $133.89 billion

Kantar notes Schwarz’s grocery formats dominate retail in Europe, but as a privately held retailer, it has previously missed the global list rankings.

In recent times its discount banner Lidl has seen the company enjoy growth in markets like the US, while its online operations within existing markets have also enjoyed significant growth.

No 4 – Aldi (Germany)

aldi

Retail type: Discount grocery
Total revenue: $116.06 billion

Building on its success in Central Europe, Aldi is now also one of the fastest-growing retailers in the US. The retailer is also expanding into markets like China, which has seen it jump from No 8 on the global retailer list last year to No 4 in 2021.

No 5 – Alibaba (China)

Alibaba

Retail type: Ecommerce
Total revenue: $71.99 billion

Alibaba has enjoyed rapid expansion in recent years, transforming from a business-to-business retail model into an ecommerce giant who also has a foothold into physical stores, courtesy of Hema and Freshippo.

Kantar notes its purchase of Auchan RT-Mart’s operations in China “made it effectively the largest physical retailer in the market”.

No 6 – Costco (USA)

Costco

Retail type: Club
Total revenue: $163.22 billion

Offering a very different retail model to others on the list, Costco has been steadily expanding outside the US into places like Canada (where it recently became the second biggest retailer), Australia and Europe.

“Having finally moved into ecommerce, it is positioned for fast growth in existing markets with its unique value proposition,” Kantar says.

No 7 – Ahold Delhaize (Netherlands)

Ahold Delhaize

Retail type: Grocery
Total revenue: $78.17 billion

Courtesy of a strong in-store experience and best-in-class online grocery capabilities, Ahold Delhaize has recently refreshed its image and is enjoying significant growth in both Europe and the US.

No 8 – Carrefour (France)

Carrefour

Retail type: Mass/hyper
Total revenue: $82.60 billion

Carrefour’s recent growth has centred around additional franchises in regions like the Middle East and Africa.

“The Latin American ‘atacado’ format continues to be the retailer’s largest growth engine as smaller express stores expand in all of its existing markets,” Kantor explains.

No 9 – IKEA (Netherlands)

Ikea

Retail type: Furniture
Total revenue: $45.18 billion

With its highly unique model, IKEA has firmly cemented its position as the largest furniture retailer in the world.

In addition to its existing presence, it is now expanding into Latin America.

No 10 – JD.com (China)

Jd.com

Retail type: Ecommerce
Total revenue: $82.86 billion

Kantar explains “JD.com continues to surprise even the jaded Chinese market” through its rapid diversification and growth.

Its strengths lie in its operational competence and customer service, along with its strategic partnerships with retailers, including minority owner Walmart.

You can read the full list of Kantar’s top 50 global retailers here, or compare it to the results from last year.

Best practice tips for security tags and labels

Electronic article surveillance consistently ranks as one of the most effective strategies in the fight against retail shoplifting and employee theft.

Comprising security tags, security labels and antenna, the system sees merchandise protected at a product-based level, acting as a system that alerts retailers to incidents of theft.

But like all technology and indeed all loss prevention strategies, it is only as good as the practices, procedures and training that support it.

So here are our top best practice tips for security tags and labels…

Train your staff

An EAS system is designed to support your staff in the fight against shoplifting, but to do so it needs to be working effectively and staff should understand exactly how it functions.

Your EAS antenna should be checked daily to ensure the power is switched on, the antenna is working, and the label deactivators are also powered up and functioning correctly.

Meanwhile, staff should also be trained in the tag ‘no go’ zone around the antenna. This is the zone that should be kept clear of tagged merchandise, EAS labels, or even foil decorations that could interfere with the functioning of the antenna.

They should also be made aware of tag pollution that sometimes occurs when a tag has not been detached at another store and enters theirs.

Type, size and strength matters

Tags and labels come in different types and sizes.

Security tags

Security tags - Vitag - EAS
Featured products: Bosstag Super D Tag and Shell Ink Tab

When it comes to tags, there are different magnetic strengths and there are different types of tags suited to specific uses.

Strength

Security tags come in different strengths, including standard, super strength, hyper-strength and multi-polar. This strength impacts how easy it is for shoplifters to force the tag apart. Super strength is the minimum tag strength recommended with strengths above that offering additional security.

Types

In addition to clothing tags, there are also tags that are purpose-designed to protect items like liquor and eyewear.

Meanwhile, tags can be affixed to products in different ways as an alternative to having the tag pin pass through the product. Options include lanyards and cable tags which are suited to products like handbags or sports shoes.

Size

Tags are also available in different sizes and shapes, including circular, pencil-shaped, and square. Circular shapes where the size of the front of the tag corresponds with the back are often considered best as they are harder to prise apart.

Pinhead size

There are also different sizes available for the pinheads that secure a tag to a product. The larger the pinhead, the harder it is for a shoplifter to illegally force the pinhead through the product to remove it.

Security labels

security labels
Featured products: Sensormatic APX AM labels and Dummy barcode labels 30×30

Like tags, security labels come in either RF or AM frequencies. RF labels tend to be flat and can be printed on if required. AM labels have a slightly raised profile and are better suited to products with metal or foil in them.

Position is a priority

Where you position tags and labels on products matters in the interests of the look of your merchandise and also ease at the checkout when it comes to detaching tags and deactivating labels.

Tags

Security tags should be positioned so as not to interfere with the customer’s experience of the product. That positioning should also be uniform across similar products.

For example, tags might be positioned on the rear waistband of denim jeans, or the rear pocket. On shirts or blouses, they might be positioned on the back of the item, just below the collar.

Positioning tags uniformly looks neater in-store but also allows the sales associate to quickly find and detach them.

 

Labels

Labels should be positioned near the product barcode. This allows the label to be swiftly deactivated at the point of sale when the item is scanned.

Looking for more tips? You can learn more about the different types of security tags here, or view the different types of security labels and stickers here.

retail-beyond-the-pandemic-where-to-from-here

Retail beyond the pandemic – where to from here?

A new report has defined five key areas bricks and mortar retailers can focus on in a bid to improve the bottom line as the COVID recovery for the retail sector increases in momentum.

Artificial Intelligence company Olvin recently released their ‘Retail Statistics, Trends, and Forecasts For 2021’, noting there is exciting opportunity for real-world retail in the years ahead, but only if they capitalise on lessons learned in 2020.

Here’s an insight into what they found…

The fallout from 2020

Olvin minced a few words when it came to outlining just how tough 2020 was on retailers.

They noted 90 per cent of consumers said their shopping habits had been impacted by COVID, while bricks and mortar shopper volume was down by a third compared to 2019 in October alone.

Of the verticals affected, fashion was among the hardest hit, with revenues in 2020 down 27 per cent to 30 per cent compared with 2019.

Still, it wasn’t all bad news.

Some areas of retail actually grew, with food and beverage sales up 8.5 per cent, general retail increasing by 7.8 per cent, and cleaning products alone seeing a spike in sales of up to 40 per cent.

Meanwhile, omnichannel retail was of course a clear winner.

“Around 15 per cent of consumers that responded to an online survey said that as of June 2020, they were using online, pickup, or in-store services more often,” Olvin reported.

“And that’s partly because of the increase in businesses that are investing in omnichannel – the use of omnichannel approaches has risen by 80 per cent since the start of 2020.

“It makes sense – retailers have to adapt, and there has probably never been a time that they have needed to adapt faster than during a global pandemic.”

The road ahead

Alibaba

The retail sector rebounded over the holiday season with record spending also extending into Valentine’s Day and Easter.

That said, Olvin notes around 40 per cent of Americans don’t expect their finances to return to normal until late 2021 or even 2022 and beyond.

Despite this, there is a widespread sense of optimism in the recovery of the economy. Forty-one per cent of people in the US said they were optimistic about the economic future.

And, as a result, 12,200 stores have revised their plans to close.

But how can retailers maximise that optimism and translate it to the opportunity ahead?

Bricks and mortar potential

Olvin said despite a tough 2020, there is hope for the future of real-world retail based on the recent resurgence in both sales and optimism.

But they note it will centre around four key trends emerging post-COVID.

A focus on the consumer

More than ever before, the customer experience will be critical in the months ahead.

“Knowing your customers might be one of the first rules of retail, but after setting up, many businesses lose sight of what their customers want…,” Olvin said.

Ethical activity

The conscious consumer has steadily been shaping retail in recent years. The period ahead sees this trend likely to strengthen.

“The increase in the amount of information that is available about companies means that consumers are also becoming increasingly conscious of the power their purchases have,” Olvin said.

“Customers are not only choosing the products they buy much more consciously, but they are also deciding which businesses they are prepared to buy from much more carefully too.”

Cost-cutting

The retail bottom line is increasingly becoming the differentiator between the stores that thrive and those who fail to survive. And shoring up this bottom line through cost-cutting is essential.

“To remain competitive, retailers are likely to be cutting their costs significantly in 2021 – and will need to do so while keeping the right balance with their ethical credentials,” Olvin noted.

Creative use of space

The traditional bricks and mortar could well be a thing of the past, with retailers reconsidering exactly how they utilise their physical real estate.

That’s seeing an increase in alternative uses of retail space, whether it’s a dispatch outlet, an immersive experience, coffee outlets, or in-store recycling facilities.

The final word

When it comes to where people intend to purchase their Easter-related items, discount stores are the most popular choice, with 43 per cent of survey respondents noting they intended to shop there.

Discount stores are followed by:

  • Department stores – 35 per cent.
  • Online – 35 per cent (the highest percentage in the survey’s history and up from 28 per cent last year).
  • Specialty stores – 23 per cent.
  • Small businesses or local stores – 23 per cent.

Meanwhile, as vaccination rates increase, celebrations are also on the rise.

easter-tipped-to-see-highest-retail-spending-on-record

Easter tipped to see highest retail spending on record

A year after COVID plunged the US retail sector into chaos, Easter 2021 is expected to see the highest spending on record, according to the National Retail Federation.

On March 24, the NRF released the findings of their annual Easter survey, noting consumers are predicted to spend $21.6 billion collectively.

Here’s what else they anticipate will occur in retail this Easter…

Many to celebrate

After a tough 12 months, the majority of Americans are tipped to celebrate Easter this year, with 79 per cent of survey respondents indicating they are looking to mark the holiday.

On average they are predicted to spend $179.70 each, with the total likely to be in the vicinity of $21.6 billion.

The NRF notes this is down slightly on the $21.7 billion consumers were expected to outlay in 2020, but these predictions missed the mark slightly after COVID-19 emerged as a major threat.

“With new stimulus funds from the President’s American Rescue Plan, positive trends in vaccinations and growing consumer confidence, there is a lot of momentum heading into the Spring and holiday events like Easter,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said.

“Many have figured out how to celebrate holidays safely with family and that is reflected in consumer spending this Easter.”

Higher than previous years

If the forecast turns out to be accurate, this year’s Easter spending will be the highest on record.

The NRF’s data indicates, while lower than predicted, consumers last year spent $175.85 each, and this year’s spending is tipped to see each fork out $3.95 more.

Prior to last year, the previous record was $151.90 in 2017, and before that, it was $145.28 in 2012.

What people will buy

What people will buy in easter

The NRF notes Easter gifts, food and candy are the biggest drivers of growth this year.

Their data indicates consumers plan to spend an average of:

  • $31.06 on gifts (up from $27.91 in 2020).
  • $52.50 on food (up from $51.76).
  • $25.22 on candy (up from $23.30).

Where people will shop

When it comes to where people intend to purchase their Easter-related items, discount stores are the most popular choice, with 43 per cent of survey respondents noting they intended to shop there.

Discount stores are followed by:

  • Department stores – 35 per cent.
  • Online – 35 per cent (the highest percentage in the survey’s history and up from 28 per cent last year).
  • Specialty stores – 23 per cent.
  • Small businesses or local stores – 23 per cent.

Meanwhile, as vaccination rates increase, celebrations are also on the rise.

How people will celebrate

How people will celebrate easter

After a year in which many people self-isolated, Easter sees them looking to spend time with family and friends in accordance with CDC guidelines.

The NRF notes:

  • 59 per cent of consumers plan to mark the holiday by cooking a holiday meal.
  • 43 per cent are looking to visit with family and friends.
  • 43 per cent will spend the holiday watching TV.
  • 31 per cent are planning an Easter egg hunt.
  • 28 per cent intend to go to church.

“However, not everyone is ready to resume in-person activities,” the NRF states, “with 22 per cent indicating they will attend church virtually and 24 per cent saying they will connect with their loved ones by phone or video.”

Follows a bumper Christmas

The expected record spending this Easter follows a bumper festive season. Final numbers indicate holiday spending for 2020 was well above expected, with $789.4 billion injected into the retail economy.

That figure was 8.3 per cent above the same period in 2019 and was more than double the 3.5 per cent average holiday increase over the previous five years, including 2019’s 4 per cent gain.

You can learn more about the trends emerging in retail here, or see our security tags and security labels for all the latest products to protect items in-store.