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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
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Patent Pending
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- 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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