John Lewis steps up security

Having completed the roll-out of a high-end electronic article surveillance (EAS) system to its fashion offering last year, John Lewis is to extend the use of security tags in other product categories including electricals, and is also considering increasing the practice of tagging products earlier in the supply chain, before they reach stores.

John Lewis development manager business protection Mike Gleeson said:

“John Lewis is looking at the extension of this carefully targeted sourced tagging- in other areas not just in fashion.

“We do some of it already- not here, but abroad. This will improve stock availability for customers by making sure stock isn’t lost or stolen in the supply chain.”

The developments come after John Lewis completed the introduction of a new high-end  tagging system on its branded fashion products, during the roll-out of its EAS system that began in 2008 and was completed in in November last year.  [[2 in 2008 8 in 2009, 19 in 2010]] As part of the rollout, the department store retailer introduced specifically-designed green tags, matching the John Lewis branding, to improve the appearance of products.

Gleeson said:  “Our womenswear concept means that we have to up our game.”

Since September, the department store group has been introducing a new womenswear concept to 20 stores using upmarket fixtures and greater focus on brands.

The security tags, Alpha 3 Alarm Cableloks from Checkpoint Systems, allow John Lewis to sell high-value items from open displays without obscuring the product or hindering customers.

The tags feature three separate alarms. An early detection alarm alerts staff if the product is being tampered with in-store. In addition, they sound an EAS alarm as they leave the store and can sound a 95-decible alarm for ten minutes after leaving the store.

Other department stores that use the tagging system include House of Fraser.