'Suppliers must source tag!'

"This is our sixth meeting and our largest so far," said King Rogers, chairman of the RF Users Group and vp of loss prevention for Minneapolis-based Target Stores. The expanding group meets to discuss radio-frequency (RF) electronic article surveillance (EAS) labeling for loss prevention and merchandising. Subcommittees representing various vertical markets, including automotive/hardware, drug/discount/ grocery and music/electronics, discussed the benefits they've gained from source tagging and methods for promoting it among vendors. Some of the results have been impressive. For example, stores that openly merchandise home diagnostic HIV test kits average sales four to five times higher than stores that keep them behind the counter, according to Jim Kammann of Home Access Health Inc., Hoffman Estates, IL, which inserts RF tags into HIV test kits. The next meeting of the RF Users Group is tentatively planned for February, 1998. For more information, phone 800/257-5540, ext. 2322.