Electronic Article Surveillance

What is electronic article surveillance?

Electronic article surveillance (EAS) is a solution for retail inventory security and management. Most EAS systems currently are deployed in protecting against retail theft.

What is an EAS system?

An EAS system is comprised of the following components:

  1. An electronic 'tag' that is attached to the merchandise at some point during the supply chain, usually at point of retail or at point of manufacture ('source tagging').
  2. Detection systems, or 'gates', either at the checkout or at the stores exit.
  3. Tag deactivation or removal tools at point of sale.

How does an EAS System work to prevent retail theft?

An item of merchandise that is targeted for theft will not have had the associated EAS tag either removed or deactivated. When the article is taken through the 'gates' at the stores exit, the live tags activate an audible alarm within the store.

What are the main EAS technologies?

There are two main EAS technologies in retail applications, Radio Frequency (RFID) and Acoustic Magnetic (AM).

What are the main types of tags used in EAS systems?

There are two main 'groups' of tags used:

  1. Hard Tags: larger tags with a strong plastic outer, designed for repeat use, and considered an overt antitheft device.
  2. Soft Tags: smaller, lower cost, single use tags, designed for more covert applications.

What solutions does Image Label Systems offer?

Image Label Systems has developed innovative solutions for the delivery of soft tags, either RFID or AM, into standard brand or compliance labels for application to the final article. This is achieved by:

  1. The integration of single tags into a woven or fabric label. The tag is effectively hidden inside the label, which can be directly visible, e.g. a brand label in apparel merchandise, or contained somewhere within the article, e.g. a plain label sewn into a jacket pocket.
  2. The integration of a single tag into a hang tag/swing ticket. In this case the tag is sandwiched between two layers of board, the intention being that the tag is difficult, although not impossible, to detect. The hang tag/swing ticket can also be used to carry decorative branding and also merchandising information such as pricing, styles, bar codes and sizing.
  3. The integration of a single tag onto a hang tag/swing ticket. In this case the tag is placed on one side of a standard hang tag/swing ticket, and is therefore a more overt sign of an antitheft system. As with 2.above, the hang tag/swing ticket can be used to carry decorative branding and also merchandising information such as pricing, styles, bar codes and sizing.
  4. Supply of self adhesive RFID tags on rolls, incorporating printed merchandising information, e.g. pricing, bar codes, on the tag. These tags can then be applied at any stage within the supply chain, either directly onto the merchandise itself, or via an attached label, such as a hang tag/swing ticket.

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