Indyme creates sound solutions to aid LP efforts in a retail environment.

Some blame employee negligence. Others claim that the high cost of security equipment and the extensive manpower required to effectively monitor a complete system are not worth the hassle.

Whatever the excuse, shrink is a matter that can't be ignored.

While many stores have OTC drugs, the retailer doesn't dare carry higher counts of analgesics. Most of its stores lock up selected HBC items priced at more than $10. High-theft items like Tylenol PM are either under lock and key or heavily monitored by store personnel. Products routinely stolen goods lists include teeth whitening strips — especially those priced at $30 to $40 per box — OTC drugs like Prilosec, razor blades, condoms, pregnancy tests, and videos. 

Indyme is aware that shoplifters are pulling merchandise out of the aisle.  Shrink might go down 50%, but sales could also decline 50%. If by managing shrink you're eliminating sales, it's not a good thing.  Indyme is also aware that retailers fear that locking items up will kill their sales. Indyme has proven technology solutions that do more than just protect your merchandise behind a locked door. 

Look at it in another way

A large beverage retailer agreed to test the effectiveness of Indyme shopper callboxes around thier store.  Fear loomed among the retail decision-makers that locked merchandise would cause shoppers to take thier business elsewhere and sales would be lost.  The result was just the opposite.  Here's what ended up happening:

1.  Shoppers appreciated not having to look for an associate to unlock the cabinent.

2.  Shoppers received prompt, courteous service (in about 30 - 45 seconds after the callbox button was pressed).

3.  Associates were able to personally assist the shopper which presented the opportunity to upsell and cross sell other beverages and snacks.

4.  The retailer enjoyed an immediate and drastic reduction in stolen merchandise and shrink.

Callboxes work!

Callboxes provide an opportunity to personally serve a shopper, thus creating a higher sales ticket and protects your merchandise from shoplifters.  What's more, with higher sales tickets and less theft, it was calculated that the callboxes would pay for itself over a very short period of time.  Indyme can help! 

Theft From Within

Thieves aren't just coming from the outside. Employees are responsible for a significant portion of shrink in stores. They have the greatest access to products and tend to know a store's security methods — or lack thereof.  Employees can now be held accountable for missing products.

Sources of internal shrink include employee dishonesty and unintentional errors.It also results from cashier error and “sweethearting.” Sweethearting is when a cashier consciously undercharges, gives cash refunds that aren't deserved or allows a friend to walk away without paying for items.

Sometimes, thieves are in collusion with a store employee who simply walks product out the back door and loads it into a waiting vehicle. You've got to make the consumer, plus the employee, aware that you're watching, you're doing things to catch them. Upping the awareness is the way you reduce shrink, whether it is internal or external - Indyme can help! 

Retailers can use cameras and surveillance to watch employees and also implement technology that automatically tracks POS transaction reports and picks up suspicious patterns. A cashier who hands out cash refunds unnecessarily will surely be detected using this method - Indyme can help!

Retailers need to continue to look as an industry at ways to make sure we can get and keep our products on the shelf where they are available to the consumer.  Something needs to be done and Indyme is here to deliver positive shopping experiences, increase employee effectiveness and reduce shrink chain wide.

Visit our webpage explaining how Indyme can solve your LP dilemmas.  Click here to learn more.