The Challenge
Paul Smith, the clothing designer and retailer, has installed digital multiplex recorders from Dedicated Micros in nine of its UK shops.
The Solution
Among the installations, the company is using DM's new entry-level model, the 4-camera D4, specially designed for smaller retail environments.
The D4 has been used in six locations, including London's Covent Garden, Kensington, York, and Bicester. DM's D4 was considered ideal, as Paul Smith needed small and discreet security arrangements that would not intrude on the customers' shopping experience.
In addition, DM's Digital Sprite digital multiplex recorders have been specified for three of Paul Smith's larger stores. The design, installation and maintenance of the whole project was undertaken by the security division of the Bradford-based company, Southern and Redfern. The installer is a major player in the security installation market, implementing systems for many blue chip clients, including Paul Smith and TNT, on a national basis.
Gary Watson, general manager - security division at Southern and Redfern says: "The positioning of cameras was important, as well as ensuring that the equipment blended in with the shop door."
Equally, the company wanted a system that could manage itself negating the opportunity for human error and the need to store and manage video tapes.
"DM's Digital Sprite and D4 range was specified owing to their reliability and simplicity of operation, with a major advantage being Dedicated Micros trademark 'plug and play' installation ensuring minimal disruption to Paul Smith stores." Gary adds: "The digital multiplex recorders have been configured to store up to two weeks' pictures, and there is the facility for the Paul Smith head office to dial in and retrieve images in each of the stores."
"Digitally signed images of a given incident can be written to external CD-R at shop level or by head office, and supplied to the police for further investigation."
Pauline Norstrom, Marketing Manager at Dedicated Micros, says: "Both the D4 and Digital Sprite range provides a simple one box solution by combining digital recording, video multiplexing, network viewing and audio recording in a single easy-to-use and install package."
