TruAge is an innovative, universally accepted age-verification system that makes it more accurate to verify an adult customer’s age when purchasing age-restricted products, and at the same time makes identity theft difficult. One-time-use digital tokens are used to share only the most important elements to confirm the purchaser is of legal age, which also protects the user’s privacy. Since 2021, the product has grown, receiving support from 120 retailers, 11 POS vendors and counting,...
By Maggie Paulk
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Shoplifting Prevention Tips for Your Store
Shoplifting is a big problem for a variety of retailers, but especially for retailers like grocery stores and convenience stores that have products with lower margins. According to FBI crime data, there were 548K shoplifting cases in 2021. Additionally, the Annual Retail Theft Survey reported that retailers lose $15-$20B annually to shoplifters, up 26.6% from 2020. Taking measures to prevent shoplifting can save you a lot of money each year, so here are a few tips to prevent loss in your store…
TRAIN YOUR EMPLOYEES THOROUGHLY
According to the Grocery Store Guy, “Well-trained employees are the number one way used by grocery stores to protect stolen goods.” A few ways you can train your employees is by…
- Encouraging them to provide hands-on customer service
- By offering a basket or cart to prevent common shoplifting tactics like hiding items in their pockets or in reusable grocery bags
- Making sure they actively engage with customers
- By asking them if they are finding everything okay
- By interacting with customers while they shop
- Having them be vigilant
- By actively looking out for suspicious activity
- Greeting every customer that walks in
- Adding a layer of excellent customer service while also deterring shoplifters
CONSIDER USING SECURITY TAGS
Consider placing security tags on items to prevent stealing as well as alert the store by triggering an alarm when stolen items pass through the door. Especially these most commonly stolen goods…
- From grocery stores, according to Finance Buzz
- Alcohol
- Baby formula
- Chocolate
- Seafood
- OTC medicine
- Personal care items
- Family planning products
- From convenience stores, according to Petro Soft
- Razors
- Energy drinks
- Cigarettes
- OTC medicine
- Alcohol
- Cosmetics
- Batteries
INCREASE THE NUMBER OF CAMERAS IN YOUR STORE
In case an incident does occur, you will be able to review camera footage to see what happened to provide information to police so that, hopefully, the suspect can be caught and inventory can be returned. Additionally, when people see cameras or feel like they are being watched/monitored, they are less likely to steal. Plus, if an employee is monitoring the cameras, they could potentially spot odd customer behavior prior to an incident occurring.
Want more retailer tips? Check out the latest goEBT blog posts on retailer trends
