According to Hayes International’s 32nd Annual Retail Theft Survey, there are up to 1 million shoplifting incidents happening around the world each day. In fact, loss prevention professionals have determined that shoplifting is the biggest reason behind retail shrinkage, or the loss of products due to theft, damage or administrative error.

Since the COVID pandemic broke, shoplifting has more than tripled across the country. This is why now, more than ever, retail managers and leadership teams should focus on choosing the right EAS tags for retail stores to help deter and prevent shoplifting. When choosing the right EAS tags to protect your merchandise it all comes down to some specific factors, including the product types you sell and the existing electronic article surveillance (EAS) system you have set up in your store.

In addition to finding the right solution for your business, systems deployment is one of the most crucial parts of adding EAS or RFID technology to your operations. At CONTROLTEK, we provide a holistic approach to managing system installation. With over 45 years of experience in product and technology deployments across multiple industries, from retail and supply chain management to aerospace and manufacturing, we are striving to perfect the process.

Experts predict that for the first time in over a century, the United States will no longer be the largest retail market in the world. The United States and China were both deeply impacted by the COVID­19 pandemic, but the Chinese retail sector has been able to bounce back much faster, giving them a long-term advantage in growth.

It’s not news that 2020 has been a chaotic year. From the global COVID-19 pandemic beginning in March to the protests across the country in response to the death of George Floyd, a Black man who died in police custody in Minneapolis at the end of May, it seems impossible to predict what might happen next. But as we’ve seen so many times in the past, history often repeats itself. And this isn’t the first time that widespread civil unrest has taken hold of our country—with long-lasting results.

Meehan is chief strategy officer and chief information security officer for CONTROLTEK. In his dual role, he leads the company’s solutions development strategy and retail-specific strategic initiatives, while championing information security technologies and protocols for CONTROLTEK and its partners. He is an LP expert in cyber security, retail technology, and information technology. He currently serves as Innovation Team Chair with the Loss Prevention Research Council, retail technology editor at LP Magazine, and cohost of the LPRC podcast.

Cyber crime has always been an issue, and the era of COVID-19 is no exception. In recent months, bad actors have been taking advantage of both individuals and businesses during this vulnerable time through phishing scams with COVID-specific themes, anything from fake websites to access your coronavirus stimulus check or impersonating regional health authorities to share fake news.

Electronic article surveillance, or EAS, is a type of technology that prevents shoplifting. EAS is most often used in anti-theft systems in retail stores but can also be found in libraries and office buildings. EAS usually involves three components:

The holidays can be stressful in retail, to state the obvious. With crowded stores, frazzled employees, and grouchy customers, there may be days when you want to go hide. They can also be a lot of fun as we try to close out our year with great results, using our groups’ collective energy to power through to the end.

For many clothing retailers, the fitting room is one of the biggest challenges in the battle against shoplifting. One of the best ways you can enhance your retail security is by adding a fitting room security solution to your arsenal.