There
are two new ideas on the horizon that will probably
change the way electronic article surveillance
(EAS) protection is applied to apparel and accessories.
One is a disposable (throw away) EAS tag, but
the other - “EAS tag recycling”
– could revolutionize the tag business. Both methods
save money by moving the tagging process from the retail
store to the apparel manufacturing plant. But only recycling
combines the best security with the lowest cost per
tagging.
Until now, the only other viable
source tagging alternative for apparel was a fabric “pouch” containing
an EAS circuit. This pouch is sewn into the garment
at the factory. At the point of sale, circuits are
deactivated, but the consumer must cut off the pouch
before the garment is worn. Introduced in the late
nineties, these tags may be less expensive than the
original reusable EAS tags, but may not be as effective
at thwarting shoplifters because they are easy to
spot and remove.
In 2003, the first disposable plastic
EAS tags were tested on apparel and handbags. Although
the tags were affixed in the stores rather than at
the factory, the
“throw away” concept proved interesting.
Since then, a group of department store and specialty
apparel store loss prevention executives has been
trying to persuade other retailers and apparel manufacturers
to embrace the idea.
EAS tag recycling is potentially
the more cost effective and environmentally sound
method of source tagging. Based upon the model successfully
implemented for clothes hangers, apparel manufacturers
will affix the tags, and retailers will remove them
at the point-of-sale. The tags and pins will be collected
from stores and sent to a central location where
they will be refurbished and recycled to apparel
manufacturers. Subsequently, retailers will be rewarded
with a rebate for each returned tag and pin. J.C.
Penney & Co. applied this concept by recycling
ink tags on fashion jeans. There are a number of
advantages to recycling:
- Apparel arrives at the store
with a fully operational EAS tag affixed in the
proper location.
- Retailers no longer must use
capital to acquire tags.
- Retailers save money by
drastically reducing in-store tagging labor
costs, and transferring the cost to its cheapest
location – at the
apparel factory.
- Recycling is less expensive
than disposable tags. Tags with a multi-year life
cycle cost less per use. The rising cost of plastic
will have a significant impact on disposable tag
prices.
- Plastic tags offer a higher
level of security than sewn-in security labels.
- Recycling is flexible! Retailers
can include existing tag inventories – including
ink tags - into the recycling program.
- Recycling offers some immunity
to the impact of high plastics prices because
the retailer neither owns nor buys tags.
- Environmental issues are minimized
compared with disposable tags.
E-Tag™ is a revolutionary
product that offers these great benefits associated
with source tagging apparel with a recyclable hard
tag.
Patent Pending |
Patent Pending |
- Lightweight (1/2 ounce)
- Small (length = 2.5”,
width = 1.2”, height = 1”)
- 58kHz acousto-magnetic or 8.2
MHz RF versions available
- Removable with any style
SuperTag™ detacher
- Lock strength is comparable
to the most popular EAS tags.
In addition to manufacturing the
E-Tag™, E-Tag™
established a recycling service bureau to manage
the tag collection, administer the rebates to retailers,
refurbish tags and redistribute them to apparel manufacturers
worldwide. By manufacturing top quality EAS tags
and managing the recycling process from beginning
to end, E-Tag™ is the perfect choice for retailers
wishing to escape from the expensive cycle of in-store
tagging, and maximize their benefits from EAS.
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