AM labels

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.

AM labels

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.

RF labels

RF labels are well suited to retailers with high volumes of packaged products which require a flat paper label that can even 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.

They may not be the most glamorous side of retail, but the right EAS security tags and labels go a long way to protecting merchandise against theft.

If your store is on the lookout for new tags or labels, here’s what you need to know…

What frequency?

Frequency is the first thing you need to factor in when considering which tags and labels will serve you best.

Electronic Article Surveillance operates on one of two frequencies; acousto magnetic (AM) and radio frequency (RF), and tags and labels are available to suit each.

You can learn more about the differences between RF and AM here, but the type of system your store has installed will dictate whether you need to be looking at RF or AM labels and tags.

Tag or label?

While fashion items and their accessories like handbags and shoes are natural candidates for hard security tags, other lower value items are better suited to adhesive security labels.

These labels are deactivated at the point of sale as part of the sales transaction, rather than detached.

In most cases it’s the value of the item, its size and the volume it is sold at that 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)

Which strength tag?

When it comes to security tags, the magnetic locking mechanism that secures them to a product is available in a variety of strengths.

That strength ranges from standard to superlock, hyperlock and multipolar. The stronger the magnetic strength, the harder it is for thieves to remove a tag illicitly. We recommend superlock as the minimum strength, with anything above that offering additional security.

In a nutshell, that means if you’re a high value fashion retailer, you should be looking at the stronger tag options to protect items from theft.

What pinhead size?

The pin is the part of a security tag that passes through the merchandise and into the locking mechanism where the EAS transmitter is housed.

The size of its pinhead affects how easy it is to illegally remove the tag by pushing it through or cutting a small hole in the product.

Round pin heads that are large or correspond in size with the security tag are considered the hardest to remove.

What type of label?

As we mentioned, the frequency of the label (RF or AM) depends on the system you have installed, however, some frequency labels are better suited to specific product types than others.

RF labels:

• Are well-suited to retailers with high volumes of packaged products which require a flat paper label that can even be printed on

• Are often favored by supermarkets, discount stores, book stores and video stores

• Caution should be applied when using for RF labels with metallic or foil products or packaging due to tag detuning and reduced detection

AM labels:

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

• Offer a slightly raised profile

• Are often favored by drug stores, cosmetic stores, electronics retailers, and hardware outlets

What tag or label for what product?

In addition to offering tags for clothing and fashion merchandise, and labels for low value, high frequency items, there are also specific tags available for specific products like eyewear and liquor bottles.

You can learn more about selecting the right tags and labels for specific products here.

Should I buy in bulk?

Bulk purchases of both tags and security labels allow a retail outlet to enjoy economies of scale.

However, the volume of tags and labels you need to purchase should be carefully weighed against the volume of stock you have, the age of security tags and whether they are due for an upgrade with improved strength.

You can view our complete range of tags here and our lineup of labels here. We are also available to assist with any questions you may have about purchasing the right tags and labels for your store, and you can speak to our staff directly.

Whether it’s non-perishable groceries, DVDs, cosmetics or pharmaceuticals, security labels are the ideal way of protecting high-volume, low-value stock from theft.

Simple to affix, security labels are used by large and small retailers worldwide, offering an affordable product-based security option that is seamlessly deactivated at the Point of Sale.

However, like all areas of Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) there are choices to be made when it comes to which label is best suited to what product. So, here’s a quick guide to choosing the right security labels.

Security label basics

Security labels are one of the many options available when it comes to protecting stock at a product-based level using Electronic Article Surveillance.

These labels house a small receiver within an adhesive sticker that can easily be affixed to products.

The receiver remains in constant communication with an EAS antenna, and when that label comes too close, an alarm sounds, alerting staff that an item is passing through the entryway.

Labels are deactivated using a deactivator that breaks the circuit in the receiver, so they no longer communicate with the antenna. They can then pass an antenna without sounding an alarm.

This affordability, disposability and simple deactivation makes security labels the go-to option for small items like groceries or hardware.

So, what do you need to consider when selecting the right label for your store?

EAS antenna frequency – RF or AM?

Like security tags, security labels are available in either the RF or AM frequencies to suit whichever EAS system you have in store.

Each technology offers slightly different features and specific benefits for particular products.

RF labels:

• Are well-suited to retailers with high volumes of packaged products which require a flat paper label that can even be printed on

• Are often favored by supermarkets, discount stores, book stores and video stores

• Caution should be applied when using for RF labels with metallic or foil products or packaging due to tag detuning and reduced detection

AM labels:

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

• Offer a slightly raised profile

• Are often favored by drug stores, cosmetic stores, electronics retailers, and hardware outlets

Label size and colour

Security labels are available in a wide range of colours, sizes and shapes, including round, square and rectangular with semi-transparent options also available to ensure they do not obscure vital information on the packaging.

Generally, RF labels have a slightly larger footprint than AM labels, but offer a lower, flat profile.

AM labels have a slightly raised profile but a smaller footprint than RF labels.

Security labels are designed to be discreet yet feature strong adhesives to ensure they cannot be easily removed by shoplifters.

Alternatively, non-adhesive labels can be inserted into the packaging of a product.

Barcoded?

In a bid to offer greater efficiency at the Point of Sale, security labels are also available with the barcode pre-printed, so product information and security is catered to easily in a single label.

Printable?

Plain RF labels can also be printed on, allowing information or barcodes to be added. This makes them an ideal option for source tagging at the point of manufacture.

Deactivation

Unlike security tags which are detached and removed at the Point of Sale, security labels are deactivated.

This involves using technology to break the transmitter circuit within the sticker. As a result, labels cannot be reused, but the method does allow for quick disarming at the Point of Sale.

Deactivators can be built into the Point of Sale scanner or incorporated beneath the countertop to ensure scanning and deactivation occurs in one swift maneuver.

Positioning

The ideal place for a security label is near a product barcode. This allows the product to be scanned and the label deactivated at the same time.

Meanwhile, positioning the security label near the barcode also ensures essential product packaging information is not obscured.

Electronic Article Surveillance, including security tags, labels and antenna, has been a staple of retail loss prevention since the 1960s, and like all technology, it has improved dramatically over the years.

If you’re wondering what’s evolved in the decades since EAS first revolutionized product-level security, here’s an insight into just some of the improved features EAS now offers.

Increased accuracy

Over the years the accuracy of EAS has improved remarkably with a dramatic reduction in false alarms.

Antenna systems can be better tuned to the retail environment, while acousto magnetic technology has resulted in less interference from metallic product packaging, and also works to thwart shoplifters using booster bags.

In fact, recent statistics indicate EAS reduces theft by an estimated 60-80 per cent.

Increased strength

EAS systems have constantly evolved to keep pace with the shoplifters who try to circumvent them. And one of the major innovations has been the improved strength of tag locking systems.

Now security tags are available in a variety of magnetic strengths, ranging from standard to superlock, hyperlock and multi-polar.

These higher-strength tags offer unprecedented security, with the premium options like multi-polar near impossible to force open or unlock without a specialist detacher.

Wider applications

It’s no longer a case of one size fits all when it comes to tags, labels, and even antenna. Over the years hard tags have been honed to suit specific purposes like optical wear, liquor bottles and high-end accessories like shoes and handbags.

In terms of labels, they have also improved. Now labels come in a range of sizes to suit both acousto magnetic and radio frequency systems, meaning they can be applied to a wider range of products.

RF labels, in particular, can now be printed on, allowing retailers to incorporate a barcode and product security into the one neat label.

More discreet antenna

The antenna systems that monitor a retail outlet have also improved dramatically over time. Antennas are available as pedestals and can now also be discreetly hidden in door frames, beneath the floor or even overhead at a retail outlet.

Less intrusive

The bulky plastic hard tags of the 1960s, 70s and 80s are long gone, with EAS security tags and labels available in a variety of sizes and dimensions.

This ensures tags no longer interfere with the customer’s experience of a product but still protect the item. In the meantime, retailers should note EAS tags are designed to act as a deterrent, meaning that should be visible to customers in a bid to put them off any attempt at theft.

Greater adoption

All these features have led to greater adoption of EAS technology. The National Retail Security Survey recently noted 80.9 per cent of US retailers now employ EAS.

They further found in the past year alone:

• Use of merchandise alarms/electronic security tags had increased by 25.4 per cent to 46 per cent adoption.
• Use of acousto magnetic/electronic security tags had increased by 12.7 per cent to 34.9 per cent adoption.

Meanwhile, a recent survey of loss prevention professionals found 68 per cent believe EAS and other security measures “are truly effective in deterring theft in retail stores”.

If you’re looking to understand which EAS security tags and labels would best suit your store, more information is available here, or contact our friendly staff for further assistance.

In the highly effective world of Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS), security tags and labels are available to suit all sorts of products, meaning there’s a wealth of choice for retailers looking to harness the power of product-based security.

But with so many options available, it begs the question, what tag or label would I use for that?

Here’s a quick guide to when a tag or label suits best and what type of tag or label should be employed to best protect a product against theft.

Tags or labels?

Whether you opt for a hard tag or adhesive security label depends on a range of factors including the type of product you are looking to protect, its value and the volume sold.

As a general rule of thumb, hard tags are used to protect high-value items like clothing, fashion accessories, and electronics. These items tend to command a higher price and are sold in single transactions or transactions involving only a few items.

This allows the tag to be detached at the point of sale without causing undue delay to the consumer or an excessive impost on the sales associate.

Obvious to the consumer, the tags also act as a deterrent against shoplifting. Tags are then available with further deterrents like ink-dye pins, which discharge indelible ink into a product when the tag is tampered with, thereby rendering the item useless.

In contrast, labels are used for low-value, high-volume items like non-perishable groceries, hardware and pharmaceuticals.

These are the types of items that might be sold in bulk transactions, and the labels allow for easy deactivation at the point of sale, with a deactivator often incorporated into the POS scanner.

AM or RF?

In the world of EAS, there are two major types of labels and tags available – Acousto Magnetic (AM) and Radio Frequency (RF). The type of tag or label you select will depend on whether you have an RF or AM EAS detection system installed.

Radio Frequency

RF tags and labels range from an array of small ultra-thin adhesive labels through to a variety of hard tags and are suitable for numerous applications, including clothing, food and pharmaceutical products. RF labels can be printed on.

Historically RF has been considered more affordable to install and is often most popular with retailers who use adhesive security labels over security hard tags

Who uses RF?

Radio Frequency EAS is perfectly suited to retailers with a high volume of packaged products due to the convenience of adhesive, flat tags.

That makes RF the system of choice for supermarkets, discount stores, chemists and video stores.

That said, the ability to upgrade some RF EAS systems to RFID means its usage has recently grown in apparel stores.

Acousto Magnetic

AM hard tags are also available in a range of sizes. When it comes to labels, AM options are often smaller than RF labels, but are not paper thin and instead have a raised profile.

The raised profile of AM labels is sometimes considered a drawback for retailers like grocery stores who sell small, high-turnover goods.

In the past, AM was traditionally more expensive to install than RF, however, due to increased competition, system costs have come down in recent years.

Who uses AM?

AM is more often seen in small to large clothing apparel outlets, large department stores, DIY shops, electronic shops, and pharmaceutical retailers where products have metallic components in their packaging.

What style of tag?

If a security tag is the option of choice, there are also additional factors to consider, like what type of product you are protecting.

While clothing lends itself to hard tags with pinheads, accessories like handbags and shoes often utilize lanyards or cables and tags so the tag can be affixed without needing to pass through the product.

Meanwhile, there are additional tag types for specific high-value products.

For example, optical items like sunglasses and reading glasses can be protected using purpose-made optical tags that are designed not to interfere with the consumer’s experience of a product yet protect each item individually.

In recent years bottle tags have also been developed which are designed to protect high-value liquor against theft. These tags sit snugly over the lid of the bottle, preventing it from being opened instore or stolen.

If you’re looking to better understand which type of tag or label best suits your retail environment, our friendly Security Tags staff are available to assist and can be contacted here.

When it comes to identifying a shoplifter, there is no single type. Shoplifters come from all demographics and may steal for a variety of reasons, whether that’s poverty, an adrenaline rush, or because the opportunity arises.

But according to a recent article in Business Insider, staff are often the first to notice specific behaviors that indicate an offence is about to take place.

Here are the key shop theft clues often noticed by retail staff…

Body language

The way a customer conducts themselves instore is a major indicator as to whether their intentions are genuine or more devious.

The retail staff interviewed by Business Insider note a customer who appears too nervous or overly relaxed is often trying to conceal their real motive for entering a retail outlet.

“Some shoplifters often try ‘harder than normal to blend in’,” one US retail employee said. Other customers might appear more on edge, hurrying through a store without making eye contact with staff.

Head down, no contact

This lack of eye contact is a suspicious sign many retail employees believe raises an immediate red flag.

Often this failure to interact with either staff or other consumers extends right through the shoplifter’s entire visit to a store, seeing them avoid any meaningful contact or conversations with sales associates.

It might be because they feel guilty, are preoccupied with the intended theft at hand or don’t wish to be remembered, but patrons who avoid interaction often indicate something’s amiss.

Assessing the store, not the products within it

When a customer looks around more at the shop than the merchandise, it can also be a key clue a person is scoping the store rather than looking to enjoy the retail experience within it.

They may be seeking clues on security systems in place or assessing their ease of exit. But either way a customer who is looking up and around rather than at the products on offer may not be visiting for entirely legitimate reasons.

Importantly, this potential thief may not be seeking to steal during their initial visit, but might actually be marking a target for future theft.

Oversized clothes and excessive bags

Unseasonal or overly large clothing is often touted as a signal a shopper might be considering concealing merchandise. The anecdotal evidence from retail associates confirms this is a definite clue.

“Customers with ‘baggier clothing’ sometimes stick out, given that sagging garments offer shoplifters more room to hide stolen goods,” Business Insider reflects.

Meanwhile, large bags can also be employed to conceal items, and some are even designed to interfere with older-style Electronic Article Surveillance systems.

A target in mind

Whether it’s electronic accessories, top shelf liquor, or clothing, a shopper who makes a beeline for a specific area of the store could also offer a clue they have something in mind to steal.

Meanwhile, some products and departments of a retail outlet are more prone to theft than others.

“Shoplifters ‘usually go straight to electronics, cosmetics, or clothing’,” one retail employee noted, while another agreed “someone with their ‘head down’ walking straight towards electronics could raise some red flags”.

The regular offender

The biggest clue of all comes in the form of the frequent offender who regularly steals from an outlet and whose suspicious behaviour has previously been noticed by staff.

“We usually know who our thieves are,” one retail employee told Business Insider.

Offenders often visit a location or chain of outlets more than once, especially if they identify flaws in their security and surveillance.

Best prevention strategies

The best loss prevention involves using multiple strategies and having a comprehensive approach to product security.

It includes:

• Educating staff as to the behaviour of shoplifters and suspicious activity to watch out for
• Utilising electronic article surveillance like security tags and labels to monitor stock
• Implementing regular stock takes and RFID inventory tracking to ascertain whether items are stolen and what stock is most at risk
• Creating good store layout to eliminate hidden areas, and position high value stock/commonly stolen items within view of staff
• Offering good customer service
• CCTV monitoring
• Using tethered cables, lockable displays and cabinet locks for high-value and frequently stolen items

You can learn more about selecting the right EAS security options like security tags and labels for your retail environment, or contact our friendly staff for further advice.