Checkpoint Systems Partners With Books-A-Million to Reduce Shrink, Enhance Customer Experience in its US Retail Stores

Checkpoint Systems, Inc. (NYSE:CKP), a leading global supplier of shrink management, merchandise visibility and apparel labeling solutions for the retail industry, today announced that it is partnering with Books-A-Million, Inc. and has already begun improving the retailer’s loss prevention program and enhancing its customers’ shopping experiences through its electronic article surveillance (EAS) solution.

Books-A-Million is the country’s second largest book retailer with 230 stores in 29 states and the District of Columbia and, after the opening of several planned new stores, the retailer will operate over 250 stores in 31 states and the District of Columbia.

Checkpoint's antennas are advanced EAS solutions for retailers that want a reliable RF-based (Radio Frequency) system. By combining RF technology with ECO electronics (offering reduced energy consumption), robust communications and remote alarm data-capture capabilities, these antennas maximize loss-prevention effectiveness in any store environment. In addition, by reducing losses, retailers also provide customers with a better shopping experience, because the products they seek are more often on shelves.

According to Chad Tice, vice president of Loss Prevention at Books-A-Million, "Our mix of legacy loss prevention systems wasn’t well suited for books and didn’t enable us to utilize source tagging for greater efficiencies and a better customer experience. We made a capital investment with Checkpoint because it provided a superior plug and play solution, has a national footprint and offers dedicated in-house experts who provide quality implementation results on a consistent basis. In fact, we’ve already seen an immediate impact by generating merchandise recoveries and expect a positive impact on shrink.”

Checkpoint is currently implementing its EAS antennas in about 90 Books-A-Million stores (including 40 newly opened stores) and will begin a second phase in an additional 50 stores in the first quarter of 2012.

"We are excited to partner with Books-A-Million and we are delighted that it has already begun realizing immediate benefits in shrink reduction,” said Farrokh Abadi, president Shrink Management Solutions, Checkpoint Systems. "In addition, we admire Books-A-Million’s forward-looking strategy of source tagging, which can now be deployed to reduce tagging costs and provide a less intrusive protection method – and better shopping experience for its valued customers.”

About Checkpoint Systems, Inc.

Checkpoint Systems is a global leader in shrink management, merchandise visibility and apparel labeling solutions. Checkpoint enables retailers and their suppliers to reduce shrink, improve shelf availability and leverage real-time data to achieve operational excellence. Checkpoint solutions are built upon 40 years of RF technology expertise, diverse shrink management offerings, a broad portfolio of apparel labeling solutions, market-leading RFID applications, innovative high-theft solutions and its Web-based Check-Net data management platform. As a result, Checkpoint customers enjoy increased sales and profits by improving supply-chain efficiencies, by facilitating on-demand label printing and by providing a secure open-merchandising environment enhancing the consumer’s shopping experience. Listed on the NYSE (NYSE: CKP), Checkpoint operates in every major geographic market and employs 5,500 people worldwide. For more information, visit www.checkpointsystems.com.

Twitter: @checkpointsys