Walgreens CEO Distressed to Learn That Locking Everything Up Keeps People From Buying It
American pharmacy store chain Walgreens has discovered that locking its wares behind lock and key in an apparent effort to stop shoplifters has backfired spectacularly. As Fortune reports, the company has been battling with a major year-over-year decline in earnings and announced it would close an additional 450 stores across the country this year.
Locking up products to combat shoplifting is bad for business, drugstore CEO reports
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- While many big-box chains now lock up merchandise as a means of combatting theft -- requiring shoppers to buzz for help in releasing a stick of deodorant or pack of disposable razors -- at least one retailer has publicly admitted that the practice is bad for business.
Walgreens CEO reveals anti-theft measures of locking up products had the opposite effect
CEO Tim Wentworth admitted in a recent fiscal report call that combatting shoplifting by locking up items has led to customer dissatisfaction.
Walgreens CEO Admits Locking Up Products Backfired, Sales Decreased
In a Q1 2025 earnings call, Walgreens Boots Alliance CEO Tim Wentworth admitted that its approach to tackling shoplifting at its stores has backfired. Per Fortune, Wentworth spoke about the state of the company,
Walgreens CEO says locking up merchandise harmed sales
"When you lock things up … you don't sell as many of them. We've kind of proven that pretty conclusively," Wentworth said. "I don't have anything magnificent to share with you today. It is a hand-to-hand combat battle still,
Walgreens CEO: Stopping shoplifting is a "hand-to-hand combat battle"
Walgreens is struggling to deter shoplifting at its stores, according to CEO Tim Wentworth, who described it as "a hand-to-hand combat battle still, unfortunately."
Walgreens CEO Says Locking up Items to Deter Theft Not Effective
Walgreens CEO discusses the ongoing struggle with theft prevention in stores, citing locking items as ineffective.
Walgreens says locking up products to prevent shoplifting hurts sales
Keeping products under lock and key dissuaded customers from purchasing them, Walgreens said in earnings call.
Walgreens CEO just now realizes locked shelves were a bad idea
Walgreens’ strategy of locking up merchandise — from deodorants to bags of M&M’s — to deter theft has backfired, according to CEO Tim Wentworth. “It is a hand-to-hand combat battle still, unfortunately,
Walgreens CEO on shoplifting strategy: 'Lock things up ... you don't sell as many'
Retailers have been faced with increases in shoplifting and retail theft. But anti-theft prevention can hurt retail sales, says the CEO of Walgreens.
Walgreens CEO Admits Locking Up Products Had Negative Effects
Despite efforts to prevent retail theft, Walgreens reported a 32% in "shrink," or a loss of inventory that can’t be accounted for through sales.
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