Anti Theft Device

Four Reasons You Need More Than a Great Retail Security Team

Having a competent security team is always a good idea – but is it really enough? Probably not. Find out why below:

The physical impossibility of watching everything at all times

Retail stores, especially those with a huge following, can get really busy, and unless you have a battalion of security personnel to cover every inch of your store, there’s just no way you’ll be able to keep track of everything that happens throughout the day. Needless to say, this provides an opening for shoplifters to strike – which brings us to the next point:

Crafty shoplifters

Seasoned shoplifters would use a wide variety of techniques, like misdirection, teamwork and even persuasion, to get to your products. Unfortunately, even the most experienced security personnel could still fall for these tricks, especially on a very busy day.

The need for evidence in case a theft actually happens

Whenever a theft does actually occur, it means that the culprit managed to get past your security team and staff undetected so it becomes virtually impossible to track them down. No one would know what they look like or what time the incident happened. In fact, no one would even be aware that a theft occurred until someone starts comparing the day’s sales to the number of stocks left. By the time they’re done, the thief would be long gone.

The need for non-intrusive security measures

Sure, you can ask your security team and staff to watch customers more closely, but do you really want to make everyone who comes into your store feel like they’re being suspected of something? Would you be willing to risk driving customers who are actually looking to shop in your store away just to prevent theft?

The solution

All you really need to beef up your store’s security without alienating your customers is a little technology. It doesn’t even matter whether you’re running a clothing store or a general merchandise shop, a good electronic surveillance system (EAS) and some CCTVs would go a long way in keeping would-be shoplifters at bay.

Products with EAS security tags or labels attached to them would automatically trigger an alarm whenever anyone tries to take them out of your store without paying for them first. CCTVs would provide you with video recordings, which you can use as evidence, in case someone manages to actually take an unpaid item out.

At the end of the day, the more varied your security measures are, the better equipped you’ll be at preventing retail theft.

Four Practical Applications of EAS Security Labels

Bulky EAS tags are a great way to prevent theft, but in some cases, smaller, more non-intrusive alternatives like security labels and hang tags work so much better. Let’s take a look at some of the most common examples below:

Tiny items

Small merchandise like eyewear, accessories or even pens obviously cannot accommodate a huge RFID tag. In fact, using huge tags for products like these could actually be counter-productive because they would give anyone trying the merchandise out a hard time – which could ultimately lead to you losing the sale. A small security label or lightweight hang tag is your best bet in this case.

Lightweight packaging

While it’s possible to attach huge and heavy EAS tags onto products with lightweight packaging, like chips and other snack items, it would not be practical. Not only will the tags serve as weights that could deform the packaging, they would also take up a whole lot of extra shelf space that could otherwise be used to display more items.

Books

Whether you’re running a bookstore or a library, you also can’t go wrong with security labels. In either case, you’ll need to stack books on top of each other or display them upright on shelves – which would be very difficult to do if each book had a bulky tag attached to it.

Keep in mind, however, that if you are running a library, then you’d need an EAS label that you can deactivate when someone borrows a book and then reactivate as soon as the book is returned.

Clothing

Whenever a customer tries a piece of clothing in a store, their primary goal is to see how well it fits. Attaching a bulky tag that constantly pulls down on the fabric prevents this from happening, which ultimately also prevents you from making a sale. You can prevent this by simply using a security label or hang tag instead.

Knowing when to switch to EAS security labels and hang tags could help you improve your customers’ shopping experience, maximize shelf space, better showcase your products’ features and ultimately make the sale.

Five Types of Retail Security Systems You Should Consider for Your Store

 Losses due to theft can seriously hurt your bottom line if left unchecked. This is why it is crucial that you invest in some form of security system for your store. But since no security measure has a 100% success rate, mixing and matching different options is your best bet.

Read on to see what options are available to you:

Mechanical

Mechanical security systems include things like display cabling, recoilers and any other type of device that prevents people from taking merchandise too far away from your shelves or display cases. They generally cost less than other more sophisticated alternatives but they do get the job done just the same.

Tool-based

Want to make your store even more theft-proof?  Use locked display cases and cash registers to secure your products and money, and install concave mirrors to eliminate any blind spots. The harder you make it for shoplifters to steal your products, the more unlikely it is that they would try.

Electronic

Of course, electronic systems like CCTVs and EAS tools would further beef up your store’s defenses against theft. The former allows you to monitor everything that happens inside your store and then keep a video record of it for future reference in case any untoward incidents happen. The latter, on the other hand, while also another form of surveillance technology, needs close to zero monitoring because it uses some sort of signal to keep track of all the items in your store. If anyone ever tries to take any unpaid merchandise out, the system triggers an alarm.

Another good example would be alarm-equipped display cables and racks that are typically used for items like smart phones and laptops.

Human

Of course, having an experienced security team and well-trained employees makes a huge difference too. By making sure that everyone on your team knows how to identify and assess potential threats and how to act when someone actually tries to steal something (or simply cause trouble), you further increase your chances of successfully keeping security threats at bay.

The more varied the security tools you use are, the more difficult they are to beat. So, while a single type of security system is better than nothing, getting more significantly increases your chances of success.

Five Things to Consider in Choosing an EAS Security Sensor

No EAS system would ever be complete without a good EAS security sensor. But before you pull out your wallet, here are some things to take into account first:

Compatibility

Let’s start with the most important thing: you need a sensor that works with the type of EAS system that you want to you put up. If you’re planning on using electro-magnetic tags, for instance, then you’ll need electro-magnetic sensors. If you want RF tags, then get RF sensors as well. Keep in mind that different tags get detected in different ways. Think of it as each tag type having its own unique language that only its corresponding sensor would understand.

Looks

Your store should be a reflection of your brand, so all the elements you put in it must work toward that goal. Fortunately, EAS security sensors come in a variety of shapes and sizes, so there’s a huge possibility that you’ll find something that fits in perfectly with your store’s overall look and feel.

Durability and reliability

You’re putting up an entire EAS system to strengthen your store’s security. The last thing you want is to have one component constantly breaking down and putting your entire inventory in jeopardy. So, don’t skimp on these things. After all, a good EAS system is definitely a worthwhile investment because every product you protect from thieves becomes a sale sooner or later.

Features

If you want to get more bang for your buck, then look for sensors that come with other useful features like motion detection so you can do foot traffic monitoring as well. Just put your sensors on every door and watch them do the counting for you. The data they provide could help you make operational changes that could ultimately lead to happier customers and more sales.

Cost

Of course, budget is also a consideration. You’ll need to find something that does not require you to shell out a fortune and put your company’s finances at risk. The good news is that there are a lot of service providers that offer affordable and flexible packages that you can choose from.

Choosing an EAS security sensor shouldn’t involve any guesswork. Make sure you know exactly what to look for before beginning your search so you can get the most value out of your investment. And contact different suppliers so you can compare different deals.