Blog

For years, stores relied on a simple model: put a tag on an item, install pedestals at the door, and react when something beeped. That traditional EAS model no longer holds up against today's environment — where theft is faster, more organized, and often intentional.

In the battle against retail shrinkage, the method used to apply Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) tags is as important as the technology itself. Source tagging—the process of applying security labels or EAS tags at the point of manufacture or packaging—offers retailers a way to enhance their existing in-store tagging programs by improving consistency, reducing labor requirements, and ensuring products arrive floor-ready.

What makes retail security different and tougher for small businesses? You’re fighting chain-level theft with a smaller team and a tighter budget. That means your plan has to be simple and surgical: a visible EAS entrance system, protection on the few SKUs that walk most, and just enough video to validate incidents and coach staff.

Retail theft is at an all-time high, costing U.S. businesses over $112 billion annually, according to the National Retail Federation. For store owners, even a small percentage of shrinkage can erase profits, hurt staff morale, and damage customer trust.

Retail staff don’t need to be experts to improve EAS. Discover 5 ways employees can strengthen retail security daily. Contact Global Security Solutions today.

An Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) system helps prevent retail theft by detecting tags or labels on merchandise at store exits. If a tag hasn't been removed or deactivated, the system may trigger an alarm as the item passes through a detection zone.

Retail shrinkage is an ongoing challenge for retailers, cutting into profits and disrupting operational efficiency. In 2022, shrinkage in the retail sector reached nearly $100 billion, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF), largely due to theft, administrative errors, and fraud.