The Alarmingly High Cost of Retail Theft
Shoplifting remains a significant concern for businesses, impacting not only profits but also customer safety and overall shopping experience. The mere presence of security measures can act as a deterrent, and this is where the power of anti-theft tagging comes into play.
Theft and shoplifting is a major concern in the lead-up to Christmas, as we often see an increase in goods and products walking out the door without being paid for. According to Paul Zahra, chief executive of the Australian Retailers Association (ARA), shoplifting costs the retail industry upwards of $9 billion a year. It’s little wonder more and more retailers are looking towards the best way to reduce theft.
Understanding Anti-Theft Technology
Anti-theft tags are electronic tags or stickers attached to products and are designed to safeguard them from theft. These small, inconspicuous devices are attached to wide variety of products – particularly high-risk items like clothing, meat, razors, etc.
They are equipped with technology that triggers a retail security alarm system if someone attempts to walk out of the store without the tag being deactivated.
Source Tagging: Strengthening the Chain of Security
Source tagging involves applying anti-theft labels to products at the point of production or manufacture. This is a strategic approach taken by many product producers to protect their products from the beginning of its journey in the factory to being on the shelves, providing a seamless and comprehensive security solution.
How Source Tagging Works
Source tagging (sometimes called factory tagging) employs various technologies, including radio-frequency (RF) and acousto-magnetic systems. These tags are discreetly embedded or attached to products during the manufacturing process.
The benefits to this approach are twofold: it provides robust protection against theft and also streamlines the retail process, eliminating the need for in-store tagging (which many large retailers love).
Walking Through the Gate: A Secure Shopping Experience
The walk-through gate component of retail security, equipped with advanced sensors, often serves as the final defence against shoplifting. As customers exit the store, the system will search for tagged products and if found, an immediate alert is generated, allowing store personnel to intervene swiftly to ensure products have been paid for before they leave the store.
Guarding Against Shoplifters with Electronic Vigilance
In the bustling and busy holiday season, the risk of shoplifting skyrockets; however, it’s worth mentioning that with source tagging, businesses can confidently counteract this risk. The anti-theft benefits of EAS labelling acts as an electronic guard, tirelessly monitoring merchandise 24/7 and providing a heightened level of security without compromising the shopping experience for customers.
Beyond Prevention: Streamlining Business Operations
Source tagging not only helps prevent theft but also streamlines your business operations. When you can provide merchandise already tagged at the source, large retailers can focus on providing excellent customer service rather than allocating resources to in-store tagging, meaning they’re more likely to stock your product if EAS labels have already been applied before they hit the stores.
Embracing the Future of Retail Security
As security technology continues to evolve, so does the landscape of retail security. Source tagging is a forward-thinking approach that aligns with the growing trends in not only e-commerce but also brick-and-mortar retail. This creates a more efficient and secure retail environment for major retailers, which is an attractive prospect when choosing which products to stock on their shelves.
A Tagged Future for Retail
This Christmas season, businesses can fortify their defence against theft by embracing the power of source tagging with anti-theft EAS labels. This combination of advanced technology and wireless surveillance ensures a secure shopping experience for customers and peace of mind for retailers.
