Is Locking Up Products Hurting Sales? Walgreens Says It Sure Does!

As we speak Walgreens studies that locking up merchandise is hurting their gross sales. Is anybody shocked? I’m not! As you recognize Walmart began the development of locking up quite a lot of merchandise to discourage shoplifters from stealing them and afterward have been allegedly sued due to it.

Quickly after the pandemic ended and lockdown was lifted we noticed increasingly shops doing the identical. Walmart, Goal, Walgreens, everybody was locking up a collection of merchandise like deodorant, toothpaste, physique lotions, skincare, and extra. I all the time discovered it relatively ironic that they’d lock up the extra random objects and the whole 4 or extra aisles of make-up by no means had a lock in place at any of my shops. I suppose on a regular basis necessities are extra well-liked with shoplifters.

I’m certain they’re shops are dropping quite a bit much less cash now that this stuff are locked up however I totally anticipated them lose extra from the common, on a regular basis buyer who had little to not endurance to browse objects that have been locked behind plexiglas. And let’s not overlook having to really wait for somebody to come back and unlock the case…! That’s a complete different drama. I dunno how your shops are however I actually have to attend 10 minutes or longer to get toothpaste. As soon as it was so long as twenty minutes at Goal. I by no means went again to that specific Goal as a result of time is one thing you possibly can by no means get again. Use it correctly and ready for toothpaste for twenty minutes just isn’t a clever use of your time.

Again in November I do know Walmart was enjoying with the thought of permitting clients to unlock instances with their mobile phone. I personally by no means noticed that possibility obtainable at my shops. I do know that I’m one of many clients that simply isn’t eager about procuring at a retailer the place a majority of what I want is below lock and key. I both go to a unique retailer or purchase it on-line.

Apparently, Walgreens reported an working lack of $245 million for the quarter compared to $39 million for a similar quarter one 12 months earlier. Granted, this isn’t all loss as a result of locked up merchandise however that’s a serious loss and will account for the rationale Walgreens has plans to shut a whole bunch of shops this 12 months.

It simply doesn’t shock me that locking merchandise up would lead to loss gross sales and I don’t perceive how retailers didn’t assume that might be a problem. Shoppers need to expertise of procuring and meaning touching an merchandise, perhaps even stealing somewhat sniff of the shampoo they need to purchase, or studying the again of the label. That’s not possible to do with merchandise locked up. To not point out individuals who work at these shops are already tremendous busy! Having them race round attempting to unlock instances plus do one million different issues is loopy. Is it any surprise shops are dropping gross sales due to this?

What do you assume of the present lockdown state of affairs in shops? I personally hate it.