EAS REUSE: TRANSFORMING RETAIL LOSS PREVENTION AND LOGISTICS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) Source Tagging and EAS Tag Reuse are reshaping retail logistics and loss prevention. Traditional in-store tagging is costly, labor-intensive, and inefficient. By shifting EAS tagging to the manufacturing source and implementing a reuse model, retailers can achieve significant cost savings, operational efficiency, and sustainability improvements. Early adopters have demonstrated that EAS Reuse delivers competitive advantages, including predictable expenses, reduced shortage, and enhanced customer experience.
KEY BENEFITS
Ready-to-Sell Merchandise
Source-tagged products arrive at stores floor-ready, speeding up product availability and eliminating missed tagging.
Reduced Tagging Costs
Tagging expenses become more predictable, with opportunities to reinvest savings elsewhere.
Maximum Protection
EAS Reuse ensures optimal loss prevention, by ensuring all merchandise is properly tagged before it is merchandised on the selling floor.
Enhanced Productivity
Store associates can focus on sales and service, not tagging, leading to productivity and revenue gains.
Optimised Inventory
Full visibility of tag inventories and locations minimises the need for new tags and capital investment.
Consistency & Safety
Centralised tagging ensures uniform placement, reduces merchandise damage, and minimises unnecessary handling.
Improved Customer Experience
Fewer false alarms and less “tag pollution” from non-deactivated sewn-in labels.
HOW EAS REUSE WORKS
1. Procurement & Application
Retailers partner with Pact Retail Solutions to supply reusable EAS tags to apparel manufacturers. Tags are attached at the source and garments are shipped to stores ready for sale.
2. Collection & Processing
After sale, tags and pins are removed at the point of sale, boxed, and collected from stores or distribution centers. Tags are shipped to a central facility for inspection, cleaning, and repackaging.
BUSINESS CASE & CONSIDERATIONS
Asset Security
Reusable EAS tags are highly effective for theft prevention. The reuse model reduces tagging costs, which allows for enhanced tagging categories.
Merchandising
Source tagging eliminates delays in getting products to the sales floor and ensures compliance with tagging standards, to maximise sales and reduce theft opportunities.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How do I ensure vendors attach tags?
Work with vendors to include tags as part of the garment’s trim on purchase orders. Most manufacturers are familiar with this process
Who owns the tags?
Ownership depends on the agreement— either the retailer or Pact.
CONCLUSION
3. Recirculation
Inspected tags are reintroduced into the supply chain for reuse by manufacturers, creating a continuous, efficient loop.
4. Reporting
Retailers receive detailed reports on tag volumes and locations, ensuring transparency and control.
Cost Efficiency
The cost of acquiring and attaching tags is significantly lower than in-store tagging. Labor hours are reduced, which can be reinvested into customer facing sales driving opportunities.
Shrinkage Reduction
Uniform tagging and adherence to standards minimises theft opportunities and can positively impact shortage.
Can specialty tags be reused?
Yes, but fees vary by tag type.
What’s the best way to collect tags?
Collection can be tailored to the retailer’s operations, often using reverse logistics processes for cost efficiency.
EAS Reuse is a proven, scalable solution that delivers efficiency, cost savings, shortage reduction and sustainability for modern retail. By partnering with a global leader like Pact Retail Solutions, retailers can streamline operations, enhance the loss prevention program and demonstrate environmental leadership.