What is a lanyard or cable tag?

Hardware tools

A series of recent data has revealed just how much the retail landscape has improved since the doom and gloom that came with shutdowns this time last year.

Census data reveals year-over-year spending growth of 51.1 per cent in April, while retail cargo imports have hit record levels, and the National Retail Federation has tipped the US economy could see its fastest growth in more than three decades.

So, with a welcome abundance of good news currently circulating, let’s break down the data to gain a full picture of what’s currently happening in US retail.

April sales illustrate ‘off the chart’ annual growth

Record retail imports

In a bid to cater to the increased product demand, retail cargo imports have hit record levels.

Data from March indicates US ports covered by Global Port Tracker handled 2.27 million twenty-foot equivalent containers that month.

The NRF explains this was 21.2 per cent higher than February and set a new record for the number of containers seen during a single month since NRF began tracking imports in 2002.

They also note volume during the first half of 2021 is expected to be a third higher than last year.

Fastest economic growth since the ‘80s

With businesses reopening and increased consumer confidence, the NRF says the economy is now on firm footing and could see its fastest growth since the 1980s.

“While there is a great deal of uncertainty about how fast and far this economy will grow in 2021, surveys show an increase in individuals being vaccinated, more willingness to receive a vaccination, increased spending intentions and comfort with resuming pre-pandemic behaviours like shopping, travel and family gatherings,” NRF Chief Economist Jack Kleinhenz said.

“This feel-better situation will likely translate into higher levels of household spending, especially around upcoming holidays like the Fourth of July and spending associated with back-to-work and back-to-school.”

You can learn more about current trends emerging in US retail here. Or if you’re restocking your store and looking to protect your merchandise against theft, see our range of security tags and security 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

Type, size and strength matters

Tags and labels come in different types and sizes.

Security tags

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

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.

Not knowing their numbers

You cannot manage what you do not measure, so it’s imperative retailers understand exactly where loss is occurring and when it is most likely to happen.

Loss can be attributed to a number of factors in-store, including malicious threats like shoplifting and employee theft. It can also come down to non-malicious problems like human error. Loss may also occur in the supply chain, or via e-commerce.

Only when a retailer delves into the big picture of where their store’s weaknesses lie, are they able to develop the right strategies to combat that loss.

Failing to get back to basics

Although some of the tactics involved in shoplifting, theft and fraud may have changed, the battle remains the same.

For retailer’s, it’s about getting back to basics and protecting their store, their products, and their bottom line.

Individual items should be protected at a product-based level, using tools like electronic article surveillance, security tags, and security labels.

The store should be protected via CCTV or perhaps security personnel. It should also be protected with policies and procedures that help eliminate theft and inadvertent loss.

Not involving staff in the fight

Staff are the first line of defence when it comes to minimizing loss at all levels in-store, and they should be actively involved in the fight.

Again, that comes down to systems, procedures and also staff training. Staff should be fully abreast of best practice for returns and gift cards. They should be screened during the employment process to help minimize employee theft, and then trained regarding the signs of shoplifting.

They should be aware of stock reconciliation procedures and inventory counting that help identify both in-store loss and loss in the supply chain.

Most importantly, they should be fully cognizant of how loss impacts them personally as employees, affecting the retail bottom line and therefore putting their employment at risk.

Underestimating their opponent

Contrary to popular belief, shoplifters do not fit one single profile. They come from all walks of life, all age brackets and all demographics.

The methods they use to shoplift also vary, ranging from concealment of small items to complex pre-planned thefts involving groups.

The mistake many retailers make is to believe they can easily spot a shoplifter and to assume theft will not happen to them.

On average, each retailer takes a 1.62 per cent hit to the bottom line due to retail loss, with shoplifting the primary suspect.

Not investing in loss prevention

To fight loss in store, retailers need to invest in loss prevention, and this is an ongoing investment where technology and tools need to be regularly updated.

The reality is, what worked five or 10 years ago may no longer suffice in terms of security. The internet means thieves are now more savvy, and have a wealth of information at their fingertips.

For retailers, combatting this evolving threat requires them to consistently evaluate their loss prevention measures and upgrade them where required, looking at new and improved ways to mitigate potential loss.

For more information about the latest loss prevention strategies and tools, see here. Or head directly to our catalogue or state-of-the-art security tags and security labels.

When it comes to security tags, where you position them is almost as important as the type and size you select.

Why? Because all these factors affect the customer’s experience of the product and also impact the speed at the Point of Sale.

So as a quick recap, here’s a pro’s guide to selecting and positioning security tags.

Size

The size of the tag you opt for will be dependent on the type of product you are protecting.

For example, lingerie requires a smaller tag type than denim jeans, due to the delicate nature of the fabric used.

Meanwhile, bulky overcoats would be better suited to a larger tag with a longer pin, but footwear that uses a lanyard to secure a tag to the product benefits from smaller or pencil-shaped tags as this is less obtrusive.

Size also impacts the customer experience, which is why optical tags are designed to be small, liquor tags are designed not to obscure brand labels etc.

Position

Tags should be positioned with four factors in mind:

• How well they protect the product. i.e. they should be positioned so they cannot be ripped or cut off without significantly damaging the item and rendering it useless

• How they affect the look of the product on display

• How they impact the customer’s experience of the product when trying it on or interacting with it

• How easy they are for the staff member to find and detach at the Point of Sale

Where possible, tags should be positioned on products in a uniform manner. This affects the look of a store and how visually appealing it is when a customer is shopping.

Uniformity also allows a staff member to quickly locate the tag at the Point of Sale.

Pro tips for products

When it comes to electronic article surveillance, people most often associate security tags with protecting clothing from theft.

And it’s true, in the past, apparel protection was indeed a popular use for security tags.

But over the years the design and technology of security tags has extended to encompass far more than just clothing, and now they can be applied to bottle tops, eyewear, electronics, fashion accessories and so much more.

So, let’s look to the other uses for security tags and how they’ve come to protect far more than apparel.

A little history

When it comes to electronic article surveillance, people most often associate security tags with protecting clothing from theft.

And it’s true, in the past, apparel protection was indeed a popular use for security tags.

But over the years the design and technology of security tags has extended to encompass far more than just clothing, and now they can be applied to bottle tops, eyewear, electronics, fashion accessories and so much more.

So, let’s look to the other uses for security tags and how they’ve come to protect far more than apparel.

Popular option for apparel

The simple design of security tags makes them a natural loss prevention strategy for apparel. Each tag features a transmitter which communicates with an antenna at the entryway of the store.

The tag is affixed to clothing via a pin that passes through the item and locks into the transmitter housing.

Easy to attach, the system provides a simple and effective option for protecting clothing. Tags can also be quickly removed at the point of sale using a specialised detacher and then re-used.

Over the years, however, innovation and design refinements have enabled the security tag to protect far more than just clothing.

Lanyards and cables

The addition of lanyards and cables allows security tags to be affixed to products including fashion accessories, handbags, and even shoes.

This simple fixture sees the cable lock into the tag where the transmitter is housed and offers a wealth of flexibility in terms of products it can be applied to.

Importantly, the lanyard or cable removes the need for a pin to pass through a product, making this method ideal for high-value products made of materials like leather.

Liquor bottles and eyewear

In addition to hard tags, lanyards and cables, security tags have also been developed for specific purposes.

These include tags which protect liquor, eyewear, and even baby formula from theft.

For example, liquor bottle tags affix to the cap of a bottle and stop the product being stolen or consumed in-store, while optical tags grip firmly onto the arm of eyewear, but are small enough not to interfere with the customer experience of the product.

Spider wraps

Another innovation of the security tag is the spider wrap, which sees expandable cables wrap around a product then lock into a tag. The tag sounds an alarm when a product is being removed from a store or when the cables are tampered with.

Security labels

Meanwhile, EAS has also evolved to include security labels, which are often used for low value, high volume products.

These work on the same principle as security tags, but are deactivated, rather than detached at the point of sale, and are used to protect products like books, CDs, pharmaceuticals and more.

For more information on finding the right tag or label to suit your loss prevention needs, see here, or contact our team directly for further advice.

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?

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.