Retail Security

The five layers of retail loss prevention

The five layers of loss prevention Page 4

Whether your store is combating shoplifting, employee theft or miscellaneous loss in the supply chain and administration, preventing retail shrink always involves a multi-pronged approach.

By looking at this approach as layered, a retail outlet can mitigate theft, address errors and then identify areas which need greater attention.

So, working our way from the product level to the greater retail outlet, here’s an insight into the five layers of loss prevention.

Layer 1 – Product protection

Shoplifting consistently accounts for the greatest volume of retail loss, and the best way to mitigate this theft is at a product-based level.

That’s where strategies like electronic article surveillance (encompassing security tags, labels and antenna) and other strategies like lockable displays come in, as they protect individual items which are likely to be prone to theft.

The balance here has to be carefully navigated, treading a fine line between security and an appealing environment. That means products should be protected appropriately, using the right label or tag for the job, and the right type of lockable displays that still encourage customer interaction.

Meanwhile, EAS isn’t just something retailers can set and forget. Every now and then the system should be assessed to ensure the right strength tags are in use and are being correctly applied.

Layer 2 – Display and layout

The five layers of retail loss prevention

The physical layout and lighting of a store, along with how a retailer displays items plays a role in how successfully thieves can circumvent security and even how likely a retail outlet is to be targeted for theft.

Stores should be well-lit to eliminate dark, discreet places, have a line of sight from the POS across the floor, and be kept neat and tidy.

A tidy, organized retail outlet helps staff better monitor stock, while this line of sight from the POS helps them keep a watchful eye on the floor.

Layer 3 – Staff and training

Solid hiring procedures and consistent staff training work to reduce both shoplifting and employee theft. All staff should be screened prior to induction and should then be trained consistently in what to watch out for when it comes to shoplifting.

Even simple customer service protocols like meeting and greeting customers have been shown to reduce instances of theft, while staff who are valued and respected are far less likely to steal from an employer.

Good training and procedure like inventory counting and stock reconciliation also help to reduce instances of administrative error while identifying any issues in the supply chain.

Layer 4 – Surveillance

The five layers of retail loss prevention

Surveillance, including CCTV and the appointment of loss prevention professionals, helps protect a retail outlet at a store-based level. This level of loss prevention deters would-be thieves from committing a crime and also helps identify shoplifting or theft that’s occurring.

Importantly, it can also be useful in identifying trends, including areas of a store which might be more prone to shoplifting and people acting suspiciously prior to a possible theft.

Layer 5 – Analytics

Analytics like traffic counting, inventory management, staff rosters, and sales records paint a detailed picture of what’s going on within a store.

These can then be used to identify times when a theft is most likely to occur, products which most frequently go missing, or shifts when cash registers fall short or excessive returns are made.

This data is critical in determining where loss prevention strategies need to be tightened up within a store.

Then retailers can work back through the levels of loss prevention to further protect their store.

For further tips on improving your retail security, see here, or go directly to our security labels and security tags to protect your store at a product-based level.

EAS security labels

When to choose EAS security labels Page 4

Security tags and labels offer a host of benefits in the fight against shoplifting and theft.

As part of the loss prevention strategy that is Electronic Article Surveillance, tags and labels are employed by 80.9 per cent of US retailers resulting in an estimated 60-80 per cent decrease in external theft.

But how do you know which option is right for you? When is a tag required to safeguard a product and when is an adhesive security label enough?

The difference

Both EAS tags and EAS security labels work on the same premise; a receiver is housed within the tag or label and it remains in communication with an antenna at the entrance to a store.

When that tag or label comes into proximity of that antenna (usually within a distance of about 3-feet) it causes an alarm to sound, alerting retail staff a theft is taking place.

While tags are visually obvious, labels tend to be more discreet and they also lend themselves to a range of different products including high-volume goods.

That’s partly because labels are deactivated very differently to tags, which are detached. When a label passes over a deactivator located at the Point of Sale, the transmitter circuit is broken and the item no longer sounds an alarm.

Meanwhile, labels are highly affordable and single-use only, while tags are reused.

Here’s a quick retail guide on when to choose security labels…

When the product is high-volume

As labels are deactivated rather than detached, they are ideally suited to high-volume items such a non-perishable groceries or packaged produce like meat.

The label ensures the product remains protected but it can be deactivated as part of the scanning process at the checkout.

EAS Security labels

When the products is low-value but prone to theft

As labels are deactivated rather than detached, they are ideally suited to high-volume items such a non-perishable groceries or packaged produce like meat.

The label ensures the product remains protected but it can be deactivated as part of the scanning process at the checkout.

When the product isn’t suited to a tag

Security tags come in a range of shapes and sizes and also feature different ways that they can be affixed to a product. For example, there are tags suited specifically to liquor bottles and tags designed for high-value eyewear, while cables and lanyards also enable tags to be affixed to merchandise like handbags and shoes.

However, sometimes it just isn’t feasible to employ tags or the shape and packaging of the product doesn’t allow for it.

This is where labels come into play. Used to protect items like games, electronic accessories, perfumes, books and CDs, labels provide streamlined, discreet protection.

Importantly, labels can also be affixed at the point of manufacture, or secreted within the product or its packaging, which helps eliminate the chance of removal.

Things to consider

Security labels are available to suit either RF or AM electronic article surveillance systems, but there are slight differences in the shape and profile of the labels used for each system, along with the types of products they suit best.

RF labels

RF securityl abels

RF labels are flat and are even available as a paper label that can be printed on.

Supermarkets, discount stores, and video stores often favour RF systems, but caution should be applied when using for RF labels with metallic or foil products or packaging due to tag detuning and reduced detection.

RF labels are commonly found in:

  • Grocery stores
  • Video stores
  • Book stores
  • Discount stores

Security labels are available to suit either RF or AM electronic article surveillance systems, but there are slight differences in the shape and profile of the labels used for each system, along with the types of products they suit best.

AM labels

AM security lables

AM labels offer a slightly raised profile, but the technology provides major benefits when it comes to protecting metallic goods.

AM labels are well-suited to the protection of merchandise with a high metal/foil content such as consumer electronics, cosmetics, hardware and pharmaceuticals.

AM labels are commonly found in:

  • Drug stores
  • Cosmetic stores
  • Electronics retailers
  • Hardware outlets

You can learn more about security labels here, or head straight to our security labels product page where you can place your order directly.

Employee theft header

Employee theft expected to rise post Covid-19 Page 4

Experts have widely tipped that retailers can expect a rise in shoplifting as the sector attempts to rebound from Covid-19. Now, they further predict employee theft may also see a spike, as staff grapple with tough economic conditions and the retail industry focusses on getting back to business.

So how can you safeguard your store against malevolent acts by your own employees?

A little context

After both the Global Financial Crisis and September 11, retail crime in the US increased. That was largely due to tough economic conditions and lower employment rates, which saw some people turn to crimes of opportunity in order to make a little cash on the side.

Loss Prevention Magazine previously noted shoplifting and Organized Retail Crime were among the areas likely to see a spike. Now they also predict retailers may additionally have to deal with greater instances of employee theft.

They note that’s due to several factors, including:

  • Staff hours being cut
  • A reduced retail focus on loss prevention and fraud controls
  • Staff feeling owed for their contribution

“After the financial crisis in 2009, most businesses reported that employee theft increased—in both number of incidents and amount per incident—compared to the year prior to the recession, according to a survey by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE),” LP Magazine reports.

“In one typical case, four employees of a home improvement retailer were caught conspiring to defraud the company in a vendor kickback scheme. In a weakened economy, the threat of fraud rises, ACFE analysts concluded, and ‘employees pose the greatest fraud threat’.”

Strategies to reduce the risk

Strategies to mitigate employee theft include zero tolerance of theft events, staff education, proper employee screening and loss prevention measures within a business.

Zero tolerance

Between staff layoffs, Covid-19 social distancing and a push to see retail gear up after the pandemic, staff may get the sense a retailer’s eye is not quite so firmly focussed on loss prevention and employee theft.

Now’s the time to educate and illustrate that’s absolutely not the case, ensuring staff members are aware:

  • There are checks and balances in place
  • Theft is everyone’s problem, affecting the viability and profitability of a retailer, and therefore job opportunities
  • Instances of theft will be pursued and prosecuted where necessary

Staff education and screening

Proper employee screening goes a long way to reducing the likelihood of employee theft. All employers should ensure new staff members are effectively vetted and screened by conducting interviews, checking them on the internet and contacting previous employers along with referees.

Meanwhile, ongoing education and the culture of an organisation also play a role. Staff should be educated with clear policies and procedures on day to day operations.

In doing so, retailers should foster a positive working environment where employees are treated fairly and with respect to ensure there are fewer or no incidents of stealing out of revenge.

Monitoring

Employee theft 2

Whether it’s CCTV, the reporting features on the mobile Point of Sale, or general supervision of staff by management, monitoring plays a key role in reducing employee theft.

Monitoring all levels of a store ensures management is aware of gaps in staff knowledge, customer service improvements that can be made and potential security threats which might make a retailer more prone to employee theft.

Technology

Whether it’s CCTV, the reporting features on the mobile Point of Sale, or general supervision of staff by management, monitoring plays a key role in reducing employee theft.

Monitoring all levels of a store ensures management is aware of gaps in staff knowledge, customer service improvements that can be made and potential security threats which might make a retailer more prone to employee theft.

The final word

After the huge financial impact of Covid-19, many retailers will be looking to get back to business as quickly and effectively as possible.

To do so, they’ll need their staff to come along for the ride, while also ensuring those valued staff aren’t a threat to a retail resurgence.

You can view our range of security tags and labels which are designed to minimise both shoplifting and employee theft here.

loss prevention matters

Why loss prevention matters now more than ever Page 4

With US retail enduring one of the worst economic landscapes witnessed in recent years, it’s easy to imagine that loss prevention and other standard store practices may fall by the wayside.

But in a time when retailers are being called on to innovate and adapt, theft prevention, accurate stock-taking and shrink mitigation have never been more critical to protecting retail’s bottom line.

Here are five reasons why loss prevention matters now more than ever…

Shoplifting may increase

With household income dropping, experts have indicated shoplifting may increase in the months ahead. Research shows that after both the GFC and September 11, retail experienced an increase in employee theft and shoplifting as desperate times resulted in increasingly desperate measures.

That makes now the time for retailers to brace for a rise in theft, ensuring their loss prevention strategies are ready to weather a possible storm.

Reducing out of stocks to accommodate online retail

loss prevention matters

The past few months have required retailers to innovate and adapt to changing consumer habits. One big area which has emerged a winner is online retail.

For bricks and mortar retailers embracing the e-commerce arena, loss prevention pays a crucial role in reducing out of stocks.

Accurate stock counting and loss mitigation work hand-in-hand with retail trends like Buy Online Pick Up Instore (BOPIS), ensuring retailers have sufficient stock available when the customer orders.

Improving the customer experience

Retail loss affects the customer in a host of different ways – from the out of stocks mentioned above to increased product costs.

It can also impact the customer experience in other ways, including the delivery of good customer service.

When your staff are busy protecting a store against loss and keeping a watchful eye out for shoplifters, they are being taken from the key role that offers real-world retail a distinct advantage over online stores – face-to-face customer service.

Theft prevention measures like EAS and lockable product displays allow store associates to continue catering to the customer without the distraction of remaining hyper-vigilant against shoplifting.

While staff engage with the consumer, they can rest assured the EAS system will be monitoring items and alerting them to potential thefts, while the displays will physically prevent thieves from taking goods.

At a time when consumers are increasingly anxious about entering the real-world environment, customer service and the customer experience are critical to drawing people into a store.

Safety instore

loss prevention matters

Safety is now front of mind for all consumers entering populated environments. This encompasses both their health in terms of hygiene measures and social distancing, and their physical safety in terms of how secure they generally feel within the retail environment.

Loss prevention tools play an important role in this perception of safety and security. Many strategies employed in loss prevention, like traffic counting, heat mapping and CCTV, can assist retailers to manage crowd numbers in-store, while theft prevention like EAS helps mitigate the risk of crime.

The bottom line is crucial

Retail has been one of the sectors hit hardest by this recent pandemic, with many stores seeing their profits fall away dramatically.

That means every dime counts now and will continue to matter in the months ahead. Importantly, the cost of shrink affects retailers far beyond just the $50 billion in lost sales.

It affects the customer experience in-store, the price of products, and ultimately a brand’s reputation. In a time of crisis, no retailer can afford that cost.

You can learn more about the role EAS plays in loss prevention here, or contact our friendly team to order your tags and labels here.

common shoplifting questions

Five common shoplifting questions answered Page 4

As US retailers prepare to reopen their doors to the public, the sector is bracing for a spike in shoplifting. With that in mind, let’s go back to basics, providing the answers to five common shoplifting questions.

How much does shoplifting cost retailers?

Each year, US retailers lose over $50 billion in revenue to retail shrink. An estimated 35.7 per cent of that is attributed directly to shoplifting. That means about $17.55 billion worth of products simply walks out the door in the hands of individual thieves or Organized Retail Crime.

To put that in perspective, on average every retailer loses 1.38 per cent of their sales to shrink.

What are the most common items stolen?

Items that are easily concealed or are high in re-sale value are often the most commonly targeted products for theft.

Across the verticals, the latest Global Retail Theft Barometer indicates the following products are most often stolen:

  • Apparel and Fashion accessories – Footwear, sports related clothing, fashion accessories, sunglasses, jewelry,
  • DIY/Home improvement – Power tools, batteries, outdoor plants, screws and washers, building supplies and timber/cables.
  • Electronics – Mobile devices/accessories, iPad/tablets, movies and music (DVD format), video games, laptops.
  • Food and beverage – Wines and spirits, baby formula, fresh meat, cheese, coffee.
  • Health and beauty – Perfumes and fragrances, makeup products, OTC drugs, razor blades, electric toothbrushes.

You can learn more about the recommended strategies for protecting each of these products here

How can you spot a shoplifter?

When it comes to shoplifter profiles, there’s no one size fits all approach. Shoplifters come from all walks of life, all nationalities and steal for a variety of reasons. For some, it’s compulsion, for others it’s organized crime, but the key indicator a shoplifter is in your store is suspicious activity.

This includes:

  • Avoidance – where potential shoplifters avoid eye contact and interaction with staff, and may appear nervous, or fidget
  • Excess baggage
  • Excess clothing
  • Regular visits with few purchases – which indicates they may be casing a store
  • Distraction – where the customer asks a lot of unusual questions
  • Examining, but not buying
  • Exiting quickly
  • Too many people in the change room
  • Loose price tags on an item being purchase (which can indicate tampering)

Which are the best theft prevention methods?

common shoplifting questions

Most retailers use a variety of theft prevention strategies focussing on both a product and store-wide level. These encompass staff training, bag checks, good store layout, security personnel, CCTV, and electronic article surveillance (EAS).

Of those strategies, EAS is considered one of the most effective. Comprising security tags, labels and antenna, it protects items at a product-based level, sounding an alarm when an item is stolen.

Used by over 80 per cent of US retailers, security tags and labels are found in large and small retail outlets, spanning all verticals.

Meanwhile, statistics indicate security tags and labels can reduce theft by up to 80 per cent.

Security tag or label?

In most cases, the value of the item, its size and the volume it is sold at determines whether you should be looking at tags or labels.

As a rough guide:

Tags – Are suited to clothing, apparel, fashion accessories, handbags, shoes etc  (you can learn more about selecting the right tag here)

Labels – Are suited to non-perishable groceries, pharmaceuticals, electronic accessories, perfumes, small items etc (You can learn more about selecting the right label here)

The final word

As retailers prepare to re-embrace consumers, there’s never been a better time to get back to the basics of loss prevention. You can learn more about the role EAS plays in shoplifting mitigation here, or contact our friendly team to order your tags and labels here.

retail reopening

Loss prevention a priority for retail reopening Page 4

Retailers and consumers aren’t the only ones looking forward to a restart of the US economy. As shops begin to reopen their doors, Loss Prevention Magazine is predicting a rise in both Organized Retail Crime and general shoplifting.

They note a slump in employment may see crime on the up at a time when retailers are also navigating a revenue downturn and restricted supply line.

So how can retailers best prepare to welcome back shoppers yet ward off crime?

Desperate times, desperate measures

According to statistics, economic downturns often result in a spike in retail crime. LP Magazine notes after both September 11 and the Global Financial Crisis there was a “significant increase in theft and ORC activity”.

With the US economy hit hard by Covid-19, that trend could again resurface in 2020, especially with so many people facing unemployment.

Meanwhile, after a national shutdown, the retail sector is looking to make up for lost economic ground, hoping consumers will re-embrace spending with renewed confidence.

The last thing the sector needs in the wake of Covid-19 is to lose further revenue due to preventable shrink.

Theft prevention measures

retail reopening

As retailers look to reopen their doors with new social distancing rules in play, attention should also be firmly focused on loss prevention.

This should include a multifaceted strategy that encompasses an audit of the store’s layout and lighting, staff training, surveillance, and implementing available technology like Electronic Article Surveillance featuring security tags and labels.

Staff training

Now is the time to re-educate staff about what to look for in terms of shoplifting and Organized Retail Crime, along with the process of dealing with a suspected incident.

This will be particularly critical in retail outlets where new staff members may be joining the team.

Store layout

retail reopening

As retail managers take a cold hard look at their stores to reconfigure them for better social distancing, attention should also be paid to the role that layout and lighting plays in shoplifting.

This involves considering questions like:

  • Are there dimly lit areas or sections of a shop which are out of view of staff?
  • Are high-value items secured or positioned within view of the POS?
  • Are sales tables enticing enough to lure shoppers in, but far enough from the entry to deter incidents of snatch and grab?
  • Is your stock protected at a product-based level against theft?

Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS)

Comprising fashion tags, security labels, and purpose-designed tags like liquor bottle caps, EAS remains one of the most effective theft prevention strategies within the retail sector. The reopening of stores is the ideal time to audit your system and gauge its effectiveness.

Now is the time to ensure:

  • Tags are of a sufficient magnetic strength to reduce elicit removal (Superlock tags are the minimum magnetic locking strength recommended)
  • The right type of tags and labels are fitted to the right products
  • Tag pins are large enough to reduce the likelihood of illicit tag removal
  • Your EAS system is operating properly
  • Staff are educated on tag and label application, along with correct removal, and handling any alarms

You can read more about improving your EAS security in-store here.

Surveillance

retail reopening

In addition to EAS, many stores employ loss prevention personnel and technology like CCTV to guard against Organized Retail Crime and theft.

These strategies will be increasingly important as the retail sector opens for a number of reasons.

Security personnel will now also be largely responsible for handling social distancing in-store, in addition to their loss prevention duties.

That means they will require additional training and support in the form of technology.

The road ahead

The reopening of US retail outlets is welcome news for both the sector and the national economy. But if history is anything to go by the tough economic times could see a spike in crimes that are both organized and increasingly desperate.

For retailers, the key is to be ready, to be prepared and to leave nothing to chance when it comes to loss prevention.

You can view our range of security tags here and see our lineup of labels here.

Bottle cap tag

Spotlight on the bottle cap tag Page 4

Security tags come in a range of sizes and shapes, with some designed to accommodate specific purposes and products. One such security tag is the bottle cap tag.

Designed to guard against the shoplifting and theft of liquor, bottle cap tags are available in a series of sizes to accommodate both RF and AM electronic article surveillance systems.

Here’s how they work and the benefits they offer.

Some facts about liquor theft

According to the most recent Global Retail Theft Barometer, wines and spirits rank as the most commonly stolen items in the US food and beverage vertical.

And in many ways the reason for their pilfering popularity is obvious. Not only are wines and spirits sought after for personal consumption, but high-end brands also command a high resale value.

That makes liquor a target for casual shoplifters stealing out of addiction, opportunistic juvenile thieves stealing for the thrill and also organized retail crime, who steal to re-sell the items.

The Global Retail Theft Barometer also explains spirits and wines are relatively easy to conceal, making them a natural target for shoplifting and theft.

In North America, that’s resulted in a spike in liquor thefts in recent years, especially in Canada where liquor theft has been labelled an epidemic in areas like Winnipeg and Alberta.

CBC news recently reported robberies at liquor stores in Winnipeg had been spiking for more than a year, “with thieves boldly swarming the aisles and filling backpacks and other bags with armloads of bottles before walking past staff, who have been warned not to intervene out of fear of attacks”.

“At times, staff have been threatened with weapons, including knives and pepper spray. In other cases, thieves have picked up bottles and used them as weapons, too”.

And it’s not just north of the Canadian border where an increase in thefts is occurring.

On March 2, sheriffs in Baton Rouge, Louisiana put out a call for public assistance after a couple went on a shoplifting spree, stealing liquor from multiple retailers throughout the capital area.

And that’s where targeted loss prevention strategies like bottle cap tags come into their own.

What is a bottle cap tag?

Bottle cap tag

Suited to a range of bottle sizes, bottle cap tags fit over the cap of the liquor or wine bottle and lock into position. They can only be removed with a specialist magnetic detacher.

Each tag is also fitted with a receiver that will alarm when in the proximity of the store’s electronic article surveillance (EAS) during an attempted theft.

Together, these two strategies ensure the bottle cannot be opened for the contents to be consumed instore, while any attempted theft of the bottle will cause an alarm to sound.

Bottlecap tags are available to suit both AM (acousto magnetic) and RF (radio frequency) EAS systems, making them compatible with existing EAS systems that are likely to be on the premises.

They are available in both small and large sizes to suit wine and spirits including top-shelf liquors, champagnes and standard wine bottle openings.

Advantages

Easy to fit and reusable, bottle cap tags offer a host of benefits, including:

  • Eliminating alcohol consumption instore
  • Activating an alarm during a theft
  • Easy to apply
  • Reusable
  • Available for RF or AM EAS systems
  • Available in a range of sizes
  • Easy to remove at the Point of Sale
  • Act as a deterrent to liquor theft
  • Available in bulk
  • Cost effective to implement

You can order the Bottle Cap tag here.

High-shrink stores

The common denominators of high-shrink stores Page 4

Costing the US retail sector almost $50 Billion a year, shoplifting, high-shrink and loss is an issue familiar to all retailers. But as a recent article by Loss Prevention Magazine highlights, for some retailers it’s more familiar than others.

They note, while some sectors such as apparel, might be more attractive to shoplifters than others, often the real issue of shrink comes down to 10 common denominators instore.

Here’s an insight into what LP Magazine describes as the 10 common characteristics of high-shrink retail stores.

Poor customer service

Retail starts and ends with customer service, and a lack of emphasis on this critical arena has far-reaching impacts for a store, not least of which is the potential it offers possible thieves.

In an environment where staff are inattentive, where they fail to meet and greet customers or there aren’t enough staff available, shoplifting and theft have the opportunity to thrive.

The takeaway

Ensure your store is adequately staffed and employees are trained in welcoming customers, making eye contact and offering service assistance.

Poor store cleanliness

High-shrink stores

Often when retailers consider shrink, they fail to take a close look at the physical state of their store. Attention to store cleanliness sets the tone for the experience customers will enjoy instore and the level of customer service they will receive

The takeaway

Organised, clean retail outlets are a deterrent to theft, but also help retail staff identify when theft is occurring.

Lack of operational controls

Process and procedure ensure a retail outlet runs efficiently, with controls to mitigate mistakes and eliminate errors.

This control not only helps a store run more effectively, but it also improves the service of the staff and creates an environment where theft is less likely to occur.

The takeaway

Implement processes and procedures that guide every task within your retail outlet – from inventory counting to merchandising, store layout and customer service.

Inferior merchandising practices

Merchandising plays a similar role to store cleanliness. Proper merchandising and use of displays, cabinets, sales tables and fixtures makes an outlet more appealing to clientele. It draws customers to the areas a retailer wants by showcasing products, and therefore increases sales.

Proper merchandising also makes items easier to find for retail staff and acts as a deterrent to theft.

The takeaway

Consider the look, feel and lighting of your store including where high-value items are positioned and how they are showcased. Is the area warm and inviting, are customers drawn in and to popular products?

Disorganized storerooms

High-shrink stores

Front of house might be the focus for selling and customer service, but the storeroom and stock area is no less important when it comes to ensuring a store is organised and offers less potential for shrink. Disorganised storerooms create opportunity for employee theft but are also more prone to mistakes and miscellaneous loss.

The takeaway

Ensure your retail outlet has adequate storage, that there are guidelines for receiving inventory and storing it, and that the storeroom is kept clean and tidy.

Poor hiring

Retail staff are the frontline of customer service. They are ambassadors for a brand, and the first line of defence against theft. These staff can make or break the customer experience, they can also potentially be perpetrators of employee theft.

The takeaway

Have a hiring policy that adequately screens potential employees for previous experience and previous poor behaviour. Ensure references are checked and staff are adequately trained.

Insufficient attention to detail

It’s the little things that make a truly memorable customer experience. It’s also the little things that can lead to shrink, loss and shoplifting.

The takeaway

Look at your store with a critical eye while envisaging yourself in the position of the customer. Is the store welcoming? Is it well-lit? Is it organised, tidy, and is the merchandise positioned in an appealing way? Together these and other factors create the respect that customers should have for your store.

Disengaged employees

High-shrink stores

Employees who do not feel connected with the brand or well-treated by their employer are not only more likely to be perpetrators of theft, they are also less likely to care about a store’s shoplifting and loss.

The takeaway

Ensure staff feel part of a larger group and perhaps even a greater purpose that collectively they are trying to achieve. Offer ongoing raining, and above all treat staff with the respect and value that they should in turn have for your store and brand.

Closed minds

As Loss Prevention Magazine notes: Closed minds, close doors. Shoplifting and theft is always a crime of opportunity. It is also a battle that continually evolves.

The takeaway

Be willing to embrace new loss prevention methods, to consider your store critically and to understand shrink cannot be viewed in isolation, it is often the symptom of a greater issue.

To learn more about protecting your store against shoplifting see here, or view our range of security tags and security labels as part of Electronic Article Surveillance that can assist in reducing shoplifting by up to 80 per cent.

Hidden EAS

Hidden EAS – Could it benefit your store? Page 4

As retailers look to embrace a positive customer experience, Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) has evolved over recent years to accommodate the trend.

Now the antenna and pedestals which are a major component of EAS can be seamlessly concealed, offering a welcome entry to a retail outlet yet still protecting valuable items instore.

Here’s the lowdown on hidden Electronic Article Surveillance and why it’s quickly gaining popularity.

What is hidden EAS?

Antennas are a key component of the loss prevention technology that is EAS. Guarding the entryway to the retail outlet, these antennas remain in constant communication with security tags and labels affixed to products.

When a tagged or labelled product comes into proximity of these antennas, an alarm sounds, alerting staff that an item could potentially be leaving the store.

Up until recently, antennas were fairly obvious, but now retailers have a choice. Improvements to EAS technology mean antenna can be concealed within the doorframe of the store, under the floor of the entryway or even overhead, allowing store design rather than security to dominate the initial experience for the customer.

So, who does hidden EAS suit and what are the options involved?

Hidden EAS options

Hidden EAS

Hidden EAS takes a number of forms. It can go under the entryway floor, be concealed within the doorframe or be positioned overhead. Some of the hidden EAS technology also accommodates emerging trends like RFID. So let’s take a closer look at each common type.

Under floor

Taking up no retail space and offering ultimate discretion, under floor EAS involves burying the EAS antenna in a concealed cavity at the doorway.

Not all stores have this available depth beneath their flooring and this may affect whether this system is suitable for you, but under floor EAS is available in brands such as FloorGuard which operates on the acousto magnetic (AM) frequency.

Overhead

If beneath the floor doesn’t suit, then further technology offers the ability to monitor and track items from overhead. iDTop by Nedap is among the leaders in this field.

This system utilises a small, square, overhead antenna that is positioned near the doorway. It is an RFID system that is compatible with coded RFID frequency tags and offers the capability to not only alert staff to theft, but also track items and assist with inventory management.

This system offers the benefit of being easy to install, it caters to both small and wide entrances and takes up no retail floor space. Its suitability may, however, be impacted by the height of your ceiling.

 Within the doorframe

Available for various size door frames, another option is to conceal your EAS within a store’s entrance, without greatly impacting the floor.

Options like SkyGuard operate using an antenna system housed inside or around the door of an entrance.

The technology works via two small receivers that are concealed within the sides of the doorway, and small cables that run around the doorframe.

What to consider

Hidden EAS

While each system offers the benefit of improved aesthetics, the physical design of your store may impact which option is right for you.

Items to consider include:

  • The frequency of your EAS tags – whether you use RF or AM.
  • The width of your doorway – some systems are limited to smaller openings, while others require the installation of further modules to attain a greater width.
  • The height of your ceiling – An overhead antenna will need to be positioned low enough to have products within the range.
  • The depth beneath your floor – If you’re looking at an underfloor system you will require the construction of a concealed 20mm cavity to house the antenna. Not all stores have this depth.
  • The look of your entrance – While they are not pedestals, some systems require the installation of panels to house the concealed antenna.

Gaining popularity

Hidden EAS is gaining popularity in an era where retail is all about the customer experience. That said, it’s not an option all retailers may wish to employ.

For some the obvious presence of antenna helps act as a deterrent to theft. For others, the physical layout of their entryway may not cater to hidden EAS.

But for retailers where the look and feel of the entryway is a major priority, hidden EAS can offer a wealth of benefits.

You can learn more about hidden EAS here, or find out range of security tags and labels that are compatible with a variety of hidden EAS systems here.

Security tags

15 facts about security tags Page 4

In the ever-evolving world of loss prevention, one tool remains perennially popular in the fight against shrink – security tags.

Since they were first introduced in the the 1960s, security tags have become the go-to option to prevent shoplifting at a product-based level.

Widely used for apparel and items including eyewear, liquor bottles, and even shoes, security tags protect an item by causing an alarm to sound when a product is being stolen from a store.

Here are 15 facts you should know about security tags…

Part of EAS

Security tags are part of a loss prevention strategy known as electronic article surveillance (EAS). The system sees products affixed with tags or labels which then communicate with an antenna at the entrance of a store.

This antenna causes an alarm to sound when a tag is leaving the store, thereby alerting staff that theft is taking place.

Widely used

Mid last year, the National Retail Security Survey found 80.9 per cent of US retailers used EAS, with 46 per cent of retailers utilizing merchandise alarms/electronic security tags, and 34.9 per cent of retailers using acousto magnetic/electronic security tags.

Highly effective

Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) is considered the most successful, effective and scalable anti-shoplifting system available. After implementing an EAS system, retailers can expect an estimated 60-80 per cent decrease in external theft.

Two frequencies

Security tags

EAS and its accompanying security tags are available in two frequencies – Acousto Magnetic (AM) and radio frequency (RF).

AM (Acousto Magnetic) systems operate at 58 kHz, which means a signal is sent out in pulses or bursts between 50 and 90 times a second while (RF) Radio Frequency or RF operates in a sweep at 8.2 MHz.

60 years of security

Electronic article surveillance has been around since the 1960s, with the first ever electronic security tag invented in 1964.

Continually improving

In the years since security tags and EAS first hit the shop floor, they have continually improved. Now antennas are more accurate and more discrete, while security tags have evolved to suit almost any purpose.

Popularity rising

Security tags

The constant evolution of EAS and security tags has seen the popularity of this loss prevention system steadily increase.

In 2019, the National Retail Security Survey found US retail use of merchandise alarms/electronic security tags increased by 25.4 per cent since 2018, while adoption of acousto magnetic/electronic security tags rose by increase of 12.7 per cent.

Different strengths

Security tags are available with magnetic locking mechanisms that offer different strengths – standard, superlock, hyperlock and multi-polar. The higher the strength the harder it is for criminals to thwart them.

Magnet resistant

In addition to different strength locking mechanisms, magnet resistant options are also available.

Different purposes

When first developed, security tags were primarily used by apparel retailers due to the fact they could easily be affixed to clothing. Now tags have been purpose-designed to protect items like eyewear, liquor, and even golf clubs, while tags with lanyards or cables are frequently affixed to accessories like shoes and designer handbags.

Different shapes

Security tags

Tags come in a variety of shapes and sizes. This includes pencil-shaped tags, round tags, and square tags. Round tags are considered one of the hardest tags to remove because their circular shape resists being forced open.

Different pinheads

In addition to different shapes, different sized pinheads are also available to stop thieves forcing the pinhead through a clothing item. Larger pinheads are considered more secure because illicitly removing them involves cutting or ripping an item.

Ink dye options

Security tags can often be used in conjunction with ink dye. Available as part of the tag or in the pinhead, ink dye is a benefit denial strategy that reduces the likelihood of shoplifters tampering with tags.

All-in-one

One of the latest innovations in security tags is an all-in-one solution known as the Alligator Tag. This tag features a receiver in one end, a pin in the other and a hinge in between. It snaps shut to protect apparel and other clothing items like bras.

A label alternative

Security tags

Security tags are also complemented by security labels, which can be adhered to products or concealed within the packaging. Security labels are also available in AM and RF frequencies and are commonly used for items like non-perishable groceries, pharmaceuticals, books and CDs.

You can learn more about the common questions people have regarding security tags and electronic article surveillance here, or alternatively contact our friendly staff to see which options suit your retail outlet best.