Chirp Protect, a leading provider of innovative security tag solutions, has announced it has been approved as the British Independent Retailers Association’s (Bira’s) preferred service partner for retail security tag solutions. This new partnership will provide Bira’s extensive network of independent retailers with streamlined access to Chirp Protect’s advanced product protection systems.
Retailers across the UK are facing unprecedented challenges. The latest figures from the British Retail Consortium reveal a staggering 20 million shoplifting incidents in 2023/24 – over 55,000 per day – the highest on record. The direct cost of theft reached £2.2 billion, and with prevention efforts pushing total costs to £4.2 billion, every shopper is silently paying a 10p crime tax per transaction.
The collaboration will enable Chirp Protect to leverage Bira's expertise and long-standing relationships within the independent retail sector, helping to bring its security tag solutions to a wider range of companies across various industries.
“While shoplifting is a well-known threat to profit margins, it's also a deeply damaging problem for staff welfare,” said Alex Ledsham, COO at Chirp Protect. “The constant stress and potential for confrontation can create a challenging and unsafe environment. Our goal is to provide a reliable solution that not only protects a retailer's bottom line but also gives staff the peace of mind to focus on what they do best: providing an excellent customer experience.”
The patented Chirp Protect tags are tamper-proof and alarm at the first sign of a theft attempt. The system offers seamless integration with existing store technology or a stand-alone setup, allowing retailers to sync tags with CCTV to time-stamp theft attempts for evidence and connect to audio devices to alert staff instantly. This proven solution has delivered an average 70 per cent drop in shoplifting for retailers who have implemented it.
Andrew Goodacre, CEO at Bira said, “We are delighted to welcome Chirp Protect as a preferred partner. Independent retailers face unique challenges with retail crime - they often can't afford the comprehensive security systems that large chains use. We selected Chirp Protect after extensive evaluation because their technology works for independent businesses, and our partnership ensures members get preferential pricing and dedicated support to help protect their products and staff. This demonstrates how Bira delivers practical solutions that make a real difference to our members' operations.”