retail theft

Checkpoint security systems annual report on retail theft

October 29, 2010 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

Released by checkpoint security systems and the Center for Retail Research on October 19th, 2010, the Global Retail Theft Barometer reports on several factors of retail theft around the globe. I was surprised by one statistic that was almost a complete flip of the US numbers.

In the US employee theft accounts for about 43% of the retail loss numbers and shoplifting about 36%. Globally the numbers are 43% shoplifting and 35% employee theft according to the University of Florida’s National Retail Security Survey which is considered to be the most comprehensive and accurate in the industry. A variable that is unknown in the US is how employee involvement in aiding shoplifters affects the numbers.

One interesting finding that the global study highlighted was the apparent correlation between increased spending in security measures and a decrease in theft. Solutions such as checkpoint security systems will deter theft both externally and internally. Installing a checkpoint security system creates awareness among all employees due to the use of the anti theft devices such as clothing security tags or other security tags on merchandise that are either deactivated or removed for reuse at the cash register. Using a system involves training on how to handle shoplifters as well which increases awareness on what to look for and how to “service” potential thieves out of the store.

For more info on how to solve retail theft issues including employee theft and shoplifting problems visit: checkpoint security systems

Filed Under: antishoplifting Tagged With: anti-theft devices, checkpoint security system, checkpoint security systems, retail theft, shoplifting

Checkpoint Systems Academy The New Retail On-line Training

October 21, 2010 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

Checkpoint Systems has released a new on-line training program. This program is designed for retail end users. Now store management can train employees in a consistent manner. Training is designed for you to get more out of your checkpoint systems systems.

When you sign up for this program your employees will log on from any computer 24/7 and progress through the course as work commitments permit. The training can be completed all at once or in stages. What ever suits your needs.

The program trains you and your employees on:

What EAS is and why it is so important to the health of the business and bottom line
The impact shoplifting has on everyone in the store, and in the community.
Which components make up an EAS anti shoplifting program.
Best practices for handling Checkpoint tags , Checkpoint labels , and product protection solutions at the checkout.
How to effectively deal with EAS activations to deter shoplifting and increase sales opportunities.

The anti shoplifting program consists of audio and visual aids that make the training come alive. It is easy to follow in simple and relevant terms. The interactive and informative content ensures that users are fully engaged. The scored training (SCORM compliant) helps store management and Human Resources identify areas for improvement.

What we like about this program is that there is consistency in the training. It also insures that all of your employees become Checkpoint systems knowledgeable to make your EAS program successful. This in turn reduces shoplifting and increases customer service. All of which contributes to a better bottom line.

You invest a lot of labor and expense in your checkpoint systems , applying checkpoint labels and checkpoint tags . Do not waste your investment or bottom line because of a lack of training.

By the way the pricing for Checkpoint Systems Academy by Loss Prevention Systems, Inc is astonishingly reasonable!

For more information about Checkpoint Systems Academy, anti shoplifting programs, checkpoint labels , checkpoint tags or retail theft contact us at Checkpoint Systems or call 1.770.426.0547

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

Retail Theft In Europe

October 19, 2010 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

From the amount of retail theft controls I saw in a recent visit to France and Germany retail theft must be alive and well there. I saw extensive use of Checkpoint security systems and some CCTV. In major department stores there are Checkpoint security systems at every customer entrance and exit.

What I also found very interesting is that they had Checkpoint systems at the escalator on each floor. This seems to be an attempt to keep the shoplifting public from taking merchandise to areas that may provide more concealment.

Retail theft there has as much impact if not more in Europe than in the U.S. Prices there are very high and are set to go higher with the addition of more taxes assessed by the governments. Does this sound familiar of what?

Over all anti shoplifting awareness seems to be extensive in Europe. I saw a considerable amount of signage that talked about what legal actions would be take with a person caught shoplifting . The signs were all in one language. Because those countries have an official language they did not seem to feel compelled to print them in other languages even though there are a considerable amount of people from all over the world living and working there.

In one case several years ago on another visit to Germany I saw a person who had been caught shoplifting being handled very sternly by the German Police. I have a lot of respect for the German Police and have worked with them on a number of occasions. They are not to be toyed with. The average citizen there avoids contact with them as the laws are very strict and they treat criminals like a criminal. How refreshing and what better anti shoplifting program could you ask for?

For more information on shoplifting , checkpoint security systems or retail theft contact us at anti shoplifting or call 1.770.426.0547

Filed Under: antishoplifting Tagged With: Anti-Shoplifting, checkpoint security system, checkpoint security systems, checkpoint systems, retail theft, shoplifting

Checkpoint security tags send shoplifters away

October 1, 2010 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

Using anti theft devices and loss prevention security such as checkpoint security tags sends a message to shoplifters that studies show will simply send them elsewhere to unprotected targets. This is a win, win, win, win situation.

Win number one; the presence of the anti theft devices means less retail theft, reducing shrinkage. Typically retailers see a reduction in inventory losses of over 50% when implementing systems such as a checkpoint security system.

Win number two; the reduction in losses will translate over to boosted profits. Losing product directly affects net margins. A $10 item lost will take $200 to replace in a 2% net margin situation. Keep that $10 item and you just added $200 to the available profit & net margin.

Win number three; less retail theft means more stock on the shelves available for sale. Retailers using products such as checkpoint security tags see a measurable increase in sales. Price Waterhouse Coopers recently studies a chain of supermarkets over a fourteen week period and found that after the implementation of the checkpoint security system the net sales increase by over 9%.

Win number four; less riff raff in the store. Sending shoplifters elsewhere and keeping them out of your store creates a better environment for staff and customers.

For more information visit: checkpoint security tags or call Loss Prevention Systems at 1-770-426-0547

Filed Under: antishoplifting Tagged With: anti-theft devices, checkpoint security system, Checkpoint security tags, retail theft

Checkpoint labels create win, win, win, win for retailers

October 1, 2010 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

Using checkpoint labels with your checkpoint security system delivers a quadruple win situation in the battle against retail theft.

(In no particular order) we have win number one. The reduction in inventory shrinkage will translate over to boosted profit margins. Losing inventory directly affects net margins. A $10 item lost will take $200 to replace in a 2% net margin situation. Keep that $10 item and you just added $200 to the available profit & net margin.

Second win on the list would be less retail theft means more stock on the shelves available for sale. Retailers often do not consider how using products such as checkpoint security tags deliver a measurable increase in sales. Price Waterhouse Coopers recently studies a chain of supermarkets over a fourteen-week period and found that after the implementation of the checkpoint security system the net sales increase by over 9%.

Again in no particular order let’s take a look at another win; sending shoplifters (thieves) elsewhere and keeping them out of your store creates a better environment for staff and customers.

Last but certainly not least the presence of the anti theft devices means less retail theft, reducing shrinkage. Typically retailers see a reduction in inventory losses of over 50% when implementing systems such as a checkpoint security system.

For more information on using anti theft devices go to: checkpoint labels

Filed Under: antishoplifting Tagged With: anti-theft devices, Checkpoint labels, checkpoint security system, Checkpoint security tags, retail theft

Checkpoint security tags fit into the profit puzzle

September 22, 2010 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

The use of checkpoint security tags play an important role in the retail world other than protecting merchandise from theft. The use of anti theft devices such as a checkpoint security system will significantly reduce retail theft and just as significantly if not more significantly boost profit margins.

Think about this if you are a retailer. If you lose a $10 item, what is the effect that has? Did you just lose $10? Or if your net profit margin is 3% did you lose $7? That is the thinking we hear from our clients when we first discuss this with them.

Think about this. If the net margin on a $10 item is 3% then in order to produce $10 of profit to replace the stolen item you need to divide $10 by 3%. That number is $333.33. So if you lose $100 the sales required to replace that would be $3,333.33 and the numbers go from there.

According to the University Of Florida’s National Retail Security Survey large national retailers average about 2% net profit and lose around 2%. These retailers typically have well managed Loss Prevention departments managing inventory and cash losses daily.

So an average retailer doing $1 mil will loose $20,000 if they have the same loss prevention program in place, most do not and lose double, triple, quadruple that and more. Many do not really know what they are losing because they do not have programs in place to watch loss.

Back to boosting profits…you can easily cut your losses in half by using checkpoint security tags so let’s look at the effect on margin. Go from a 5% loss to a 2.5% loss in a $1mil retail business that has a net margin of 3% before using checkpoint systems anti shoplifting solutions then the $25,000 you saved bumps the net margin from 3% to 5.5% which is a 54% increase in net margin.

For more info on how you can boost profits by incorporating loss prevention solutions go to: checkpoint security tags

Filed Under: antishoplifting Tagged With: Anti-Shoplifting, anti-theft devices, checkpoint security system, Checkpoint security tags, checkpoint systems, retail theft, shoplifting

Training Is A Key Component In Atlanta Anti Shoplifting Programs

September 20, 2010 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

As an LP professional and the former Director of Loss Prevention for several large companies I figured out pretty quickly that if the only solution I had to an anti shoplifting program was apprehension that I would not be around long.

Why? It goes back to the old saying: “Once the horse is out of the barn…” Prevention is the solution to any anti shoplifting program. To get there we have to look at what is the most cost effective approach…Training. By training yourself and your staff you will deter shoplifting no mater which way you take you’re anti shoplifting program.

Retail theft in the form of shoplifting is dependent on your ability to convince the shoplifter to go elsewhere. Training your employees in the art of using customer service as an anti shoplifting tool is a cost effective approach. Shoplifters hate attention so let’s give them a lot of it. In fact once an employee is trained to actually spot a shoplifter they can go into the customer service attack mode. Customer service them to death!

Of course people who are shoplifting come in many types. Training will help even your newest employee to become a retail theft deterrence very quickly. In most cases once you have a core of people trained they can then train others.

What should comprise a great anti shoplifting training program? There should be amongst other topics training on: How to identify a person who is shoplifting. How shoplifters steal, how to shut down the shoplifter and actually frustrate them (that way they go elsewhere, maybe your competitor) and apprehension (if necessary).

Train your people correctly and reinforce the training in an ongoing manner and you will see your retail theft losses drop like a stone.

For more information: anti shoplifting training in Atlanta or call 1.770.426.0547

Filed Under: antishoplifting Tagged With: Anti-Shoplifting, retail theft, shoplifting

Anti Theft Devices That Make A Difference In Shoplifting

September 13, 2010 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

If you are looking for an immediate impact on your retail theft shoplifting problems you want to attack it with anti theft devices head on. To do this you must understand the difference between active and passive systems.

An example of a passive system is Closed Circuit TV (CCTV). Retailers install CCTV cameras through out the store. The cameras are recording on a DVR. The manager may even have a monitor in their office. But unless the cameras are watched at all time the system is passive. It is for after the fact. Some who is shoplifting knows this. They will even test it by concealing an item, move to another location and dump the item to see if anyone reacts. If not, the next time they come in the shoplifting begins.

An example of active anti theft devices is an Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) system such as Checkpoint security systems. Checkpoint tags are placed on merchandise and when someone who is shoplifting attempts to steal tagged merchandise the Checkpoint security systems at the customer doors alarm. Even better than this when someone who is shoplifting sees an EAS system they most likely will simply go elsewhere like your unprotected competitor.

Why is this? It is because an EAS system is active and “watching” all the time. The Checkpoint security tags are always on the merchandise 24/7. They cannot be removed without staff intervention. As long as the retailer keeps the Checkpoint security systems in good working order they are always guarding the merchandise that is tagged.

Other anti theft devices could include glass cabinets or other locking devices to lock up merchandise. That is not as desirable since it does not allow the customers to handle merchandise and then decide at their own pace. In addition customers become frustrated quickly when staff is not right there to unlock merchandise.

Retail theft is tough enough to control without having the correct tools. Checkpoint tags on your merchandise keep your profits on your bottom line.

For more information contact us at retail theft or call 1.770.426.0547

Filed Under: antishoplifting Tagged With: anti-theft devices, checkpoint security system, checkpoint security systems, Checkpoint security tags, Checkpoint tags, retail theft, shoplifting

Retail Theft: The Scourge Of Business

September 10, 2010 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

Shoplifters and employees that steal are about the lowest forms of life. They cause retail businesses billions of dollars in retail theft. There are several entire industries devoted to anti shoplifting and employee theft. Still these people cause us headaches. As a former Director of Loss Prevention for several major companies I have found that much of the problem of anti shoplifting and employee theft falls with the retailers themselves.

Theses types of retail theft must be attacked daily. You cannot let your guard down. You must have loss prevention program than focuses on prevention. Take shoplifting as an example. Anti shoplifting programs such as Checkpoint security tags do little if the employees are not supporting the program. Seek out employees that are enthusiastic about prevention and their jobs. Use incentives such as bonuses or contests. Make those employees the core of your retail theft prevention effort. If they are into it then others will come along.

One of the key issues that retailers must keep in the forefront of their over all plan is training. Training that is focused on prevention pays dividends beyond just shoplifting prevention. One of the key prevention tactics in anti shoplifting is customer service. Shoplifters hate customer service. They want to blend into your “normal” customer base. They do not want to stand out in any way. If your employees emphasize customer contact and follow up this in itself will shut off a portion of your retail theft. This in turn benefits your overall sales because your good customers like the attention. To stop more hard-core shoplifters you need to practice stronger anti shoplifting techniques.

Another area that is often overlooked is the use of a tag alarm system such as Checkpoint security tags. Again, it goes back to training and management’s enforcement. How many times have you see a tag alarm go off at the front door and the employee simply waves the customer through? Do you think that this is company policy? Very unlikely. The employee is thinking that they just rang up the customer. They know that they got everything the customer put on the POS. So it must just be the Checkpoint security tags that did not get deactivated right? Wrong, what the employee did not think about is the item that the “customer” had concealed on their person. The tag alarm caught it, the employee didn’t. Training, training and more training. Then hold employees to the standard!

For more information: shoplifting or call 1.770.426.0547

Filed Under: antishoplifting Tagged With: Anti-Shoplifting, Checkpoint security tags, retail theft, shoplifting, tag alarm

Checkpoint Systems leads the anti shoplifting technology market

August 27, 2010 by Staff Editor Leave a Comment

Checkpoint Systems out of New Jersey is the world’s leading manufacturer of Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) systems helping retailers all over the globe reduce retail theft and increase profits.

The reason lies in the technology. Checkpoint systems are based on radio frequency (RF) vs. the older accousto magnetic (AM) technology used by Tyco’s Sensormatic systems. The RF system offers multiple advantages, one of the most used is the virtually unlimited use of labels.

Many retailers buy blank labels and print their pricing information directly on the checkpoint labels. This reduces labor and increases security at the same time.

Checkpoint systems labels can be custom printed in bulk to include logo art, safety instruction or just about anything you could want, which disguises the security tag.

RF technology is the leading technology in retail inventory management as well with the increasing use of RFID. Retailers are currently using RFID to scan/ read product as it enters the dock and it immediately gets logged into inventory. The technology exists to read the RF labels on products while on the shelf which will allow retailers to do instant store wide inventory or automate ordering based on shelf stock.

Checkpoint systems also can integrate into POS systems for various benefits, one being only deactivating labels that are actually scanned into the register. This eliminates thieves running merchandise over an unoccupied counter to deactivate a labels and steal the product.

To learn more go to checkpoint systems

Filed Under: antishoplifting Tagged With: Anti-Shoplifting, Checkpoint labels, checkpoint systems, retail theft, shoplifting