Large groups of people using flash mob‑style strategies enter stores selling designer outerwear, handbags, and clothing. They rush in through the doors and grab as much as they can hold in their arms or stuff into bags, then rush out again to scatter in every direction, not caring about the damage they left behind—organized retail crime. They scored! In and out in under two minutes, and the store has lost thousands of dollars or more. Those stolen items are going to a black market operation somewhere. How can we stop this, or at least slow them down?
Design, Develop, Deliver
Design: In 2019, we asked our engineers: Can we make a padlock tag that our Gen5 alarming tether could plug into? Could we deactivate the alarming tether and release the tag itself at the same time with one push of a button, from the tag? Answer: Technology needs time to catch up to this idea.
Develop: During 2022-2023, we developed the Gen6 SP with a pin end that plugged into the padlock tag’s side and sent it to clients for multi-store testing. We needed ease of use and dual technology.
Redesign: By changing the design to the Slide padlock tag, there were no pins to insert or get bent, preventing false alarms. The lock end of the Gen6 SP tether slides into a slot in the Smart padlock tag and locks in. It is protected from unauthorized detachers with an IR signal, so if someone tries to use their own detacher, the Gen6 SP will alarm. The tethers connect to a Smart Padlock slide tag that is a dual-frequency EAS tag. This allows the associate to remove the item from the tether with ease but keep it protected with the padlock tag while in the store.
Using our all-in-one decoder, the Gen6 SP Slide deactivates the alarm, releases the tag with the push of a button, and reactivates when it is plugged into the next tag, making it easy to remove and replace merchandise. It allows the customer to feel, try on, and still have a positive shopping experience while the individual item is secure.
Deliver: We delivered to several stores for testing proof of concept in various ways. Approved! No more false alarms.
Now, How to Lock Multiple Tethers to a 4-Way Rack?
Design: We asked our engineer to help design a bracket that securely holds several tethers on a rack. They produced a prototype called The Boot. The Boot locks around the leg of a fixture and can hold ten Gen6 SP Slide alarming tethers.
Develop: Our first design looked very Steampunk with metal plates, brackets, and LOTS OF SCREWS! We provided protection for our clients, and it provided ROI for one store within 24 hours, but it was laborious to apply. Proof of concept testing in stores was completed in a very short time.
Result: Huge success against grab-and-runs, great ROI, but needs a redesign, requiring less labor.
Redesign: We redesigned the Boot to be a solid piece that fits around the legs of 4-way racks with a swivel lock at the top and bottom of the Boot, locking it onto the leg of the rack. Only two security screws were needed.
Deliver: The new design was tested on 4-way racks and H-racks in 100-plus stores and has since been deployed to over 1,000 stores in the US and Canada, with more scheduled in the near future. Design, develop, deliver.
For more information on our products, pricing, and services, please call 772-287‑7999 or contact us at info@cisssinc.com.
