Retail theft totaled $107.3 billion in 2010, according to the Global Retail Theft Barometer report by Centre for Retail Research. But there are ways for retailers to fight back. And Troyer Country Market is doing just that.

John Troyer, co-owner of the family-run grocery store and food processing facility, recently opted to install an end-to-end retail Panasonic system to reduce theft and manage inventory. The system includes Point-of-Sale (POS) workstations, scales/scanners, POS Printers, video surveillance cameras, network recording devices, digital signage and retail management software.

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Implementing the security system was achieved in two phases. The first step involved having video surveillance and POS system installed by Genesis POS. The second step included installing a video surveillance system in the warehouse/manufacturing facility and integrating it with the store’s system.

With the project complete, Troyer can view camera images from the store office or remotely from an iPad or his smartphone.

“There are so many things about this system that I like,” said Troyer. “It is tailored to our needs rather than being a cookie-cutter, one-size-fits-all solution. The equipment is easy to use and the staff was up to speed very quickly. We are moving customers much faster through the check out and there is improved management control of the store.”

At the check-out isle, customers are greeted with a digital screen at the register that can be used to up-sell merchandise or feature other store announcements.

Joshua Bamfield, director of the Centre for Retail Research, says using security systems like this has been shown to reduce theft.

“The correlation between increased security spending and a global 5.6 percent decrease in theft is very significant,” said Bamfield. “It highlights the importance of continued advancement and improvement of loss prevention programs, as reducing theft is key to the success and growth of retailers’ businesses.”

About the author

Maxine Giza

Maxine is an assistant web editor for commercialintegrator.com. She graduated from Emerson College with a M.A. in journalism and Endicott College with a B.S. in communications. She joined EH Publishing in 2011.

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