How to Stock Product to Deter Shoplifters

Product display is an important part of any business, both in promoting stock as well as managing it so that it is not easily shoplifted. There are many traditional and novel ways to stock products to reduce the risk of shoplifting within a storefront.

1. First: Place small, expensive items behind counters out of reach

   One time-honored way of stocking products to reduce shrinkage includes making product less available to shoplifters by moving it behind a register counter or inside of a pharmacy. Traditionally, smaller expensive items are the domain of shoplifters looking to easily pick up and remove items without getting seen. By placing the items generally threatened by shrink (including electronics, batteries, cigarettes and brand-name over-the-counter medications) under the control of your store associates, there is less chance of a shoplifter removing them.

2. Second: Invest in dispensing shelf displays

   One of the newest options available to shop-owners for preventing loss are displays that attach to your shelving and dispense the product to customers. These displays are either manual, allowing only one product at a time to get removed from the case by customers, or electronic, chiming a call to associates in the area to open the display up and bring the items to the counter for the customer. Both are inexpensive options when you consider the cost of losing stock in volume. Traditional sliding glass displays are also a feasible option for most shop-owners looking to keep specific items under lock and key, requiring only an associate to open them when needed.