2013 Year in Review

As we ring out 2013 let's reflect on what a busy year we had at KJB Security! We continually introduced new or updated products, we added productmarketing materials to your Dealer Dashboards, and we implemented online ordering!

Several of our products were reviewed by The Honest Reviews and the Gadgeteer and scored very well. We ramped up our social media efforts and created lots of relevant content for our Dealers to use in their marketing efforts, including the successful Market Pro program.

Over 60 new products were introduced and we said the words Zone Shield®, Xtreme Life™, and SleuthGear® in our sleep!

Just a few of the best sellers from 2013 were:

• In the SleuthGear® line the Xtreme Life Smoke Detectors were the product of the year! 

• Our new Zone Shield® Clock Radio, introduced in September, has set records for clock radio sales.

• From the Tracking line we were very pleased with how end users chose LandAirSea's SilverCloud GPS Tracker and theTracking Key Pro.

• From the Detection and Audio Surveillance lines the Cell Phone Detector and the Rabbler Noise Generator were top selling items.

Get a list of all 60 products introduced in 2013 from the Dealer Dashboard where you can also click the tab to see Best Sellers.

Tune in in 2014 as we report from CES and launch mysleuthgear.com!

Sometimes Too Much Choice Is A Bad Thing

We all do it. We stand frozen in the grocery aisle overwhelmed by our choices. “Should I buy the whole wheat bread with fiber, the low fat honey wheat, the multigrain, plain white?” We stand there pondering and finally grab something so that we can simply move on. If toothpaste is next on your list, you should consider simply closing your eyes and pointing to a brand on the shelf. Not that some aren’t better than others, but even Proctor and Gamble’s director of global oral-care research and development stated, “We’ve come to realize that fewer is better.” The company (makers of Crest toothpaste) slowed down their production of oral-care products worldwide.

Fewer is better
An over-abundance of consumer options is not confined to bricks and mortar retailers; it’s a factor for internet shoppers as well. If your business is web based, you can and should be more picky about what “goes on your shelves.” Don’t clutter your site with any and every gadget or gizmo available. When you spend time reviewing and selecting the best product options to place on your site, look at it through the eyes of the buyer. If buyers have too many choices, they often make no choice at all. This study actually found that cutting product options by 75% resulted in more sales regardless of price.

Delete information overload
According to this study 'website navigation problems' and 'process was taking too long' are in the top 10 reasons shoppers abandon their cart. Fight information overload with these ideas:

• Consider “landing pages"  to promote a specific product line or special. Landing pages are easy to set up within the confines of the site and are easy to promote well qualified, limited options to customers. Landing pages also give online businesses the ability to test market certain products to see what is attractive to shoppers.

• Differentiate products but don’t go crazy. For example, when delineating Zone Shield® products use phrases like EASY TO SET UP or BATTERY OPERATED for Xtreme Life™. These phrases are easy to understand and set the product apart - but you can't use it on every other hidden camera on your page or it means nothing.

• Give top listing to products that do the most. Do your buyers have to wade through pages of hidden cameras that may be cheaper but also do less? If they have to decide which features they want on their camera then you are using up their patience and maybe losing your sale. Instead present your customer with the product that does the most. Think about that toothpaste aisle again - the whitening, brightening,  straightening, tartar busting, gum disease fighting super hero toothpaste is always right at eye level.

• List first the products that do the most for you. If your profit margin is higher or a returns lower on a specific model then throw down a bright shiny red carpet for your customer to stroll up and buy it. In the end time is money for both you and your customer. The less time they spend shopping for a good product or that you spend supporting their purchase the better the experience is for everyone.

Make MAP Pricing Work for Your Business

Feeling limited by MAP? Don’t be. Minimum Advertised Price (MAP) protects the market for everyone and keeps the profit margins high. MAP also reinforces branding, quality, and perceived value. A creative strategy can result in a win for you and for your customers. When thinking of successful retailers who adhere to MAP, think of none other than Apple. From the beginning Apple stuck to one price for their products though they occasionally ran specials on included software and hardware. And Apple's branding strategy was apparent - create demand for the product and don't devalue the brand by competing on price. Today, consumers will never find an Apple product pricing difference when shopping various retailers. Today their brand is one of the most recognized in the world and the perceived value of Apple products is off the charts.

If your budget is limited, no worries, your brand is limitless. No matter the size of your business, MAP is an integral part of retail sales. But it is not something dealers can type into a CMS and then be lazy about strategizing around. It just take a little creative energy to make it work for you!

5 Suggestions for Making MAP Pricing Work for You:

· Offer free shipping. Perhaps the biggest online draw is a break on shipping. With large retailers offering free shipping under certain conditions it's almost imperative that all online businesses do this on occasion.

· Offer free accessories. An example is LandAir Sea's current offer of a vehicle power adaptor with every purchase of the Tracking Key Pro.

· Offer a gift with purchase. Think gift cards from a retailer who may want to partner with you, subscriptions to print or electronic content that may support your industry or brand. Often you will receive reciprocal exposure from the company or product you partner with.

· Offer a discount on an additional item. Even if you can't discount the MAP item, chances are there is something on your site, related to the MAP item, that you can offer a discount on... even a steep discount in order to pique the customer's interest.

· Offer coupon codes on your website. Coupons for future purchases are a good way to get customers back to your site. Investigate coupon clearing house sites like RetailMeNot.com. Coupon codes are also good for occasional social media content. (To be safe, if you’re offering a coupon code, always mention which items are excluded from the promotion.)

What Dealers Need To Know: Why can I record audio on my iPhone but not on a hidden camera?

In October, we talked about the Wiretap Act and the due diligence that is required as a dealer in the sale of personal security products.

This month, we are going to address a question we hear all the time. And as dealers, we suspect you too, are asked to address this with your customers.

There are various forms of the question: Why doesn’t my hidden camera record audio? Can’t I simply record a conversation from my iPhone? Why can I record audio on my iPhone but not my hidden camera?

The answer varies when you consider Federal versus state laws, and when you take into consideration the design and purpose of the device. As long as one party consents to the recording of a conversation, you are not breaking any Federal laws. It gets stickier when you talk about state-by-state laws.

If you live in a one-party consent state, then the state law mirrors the Federal law. Though the person not giving consent must also live in a one-party state. And even so, your recording may not be admissible in a court of law. Two party consent states require both individuals to be aware that they are being recorded.

Thirty-eight states and the District of Columbia are one party consent states. In the other 12 states, you must have consent of all parties to a conversation in order to make a recording.

The Intent of Design Is What Matters

You may record with an iPhone because it is not designed to be hidden. A phone is just that – it’s used for audio purposes and also has recording capabilities.

A hidden camera is designed to be hidden and therefore falls under laws governing surreptitious recording. Let’s say there was a voice recorder sitting on the table between two people. It’s not disguised; it looks like a tape recorder. You wouldn't have to be told that it could record something - that's what it's designed to do.

Now what if there was a plant sitting between the same two people. Anyone can see it’s a plant. What do you think might be happening? Well, nothing. Because it’s a plant. The intent of its design is not to record anything. But what if the customer slipped the tape recorder inside the plant? Now it's a hidden recorder! Simply by putting the recorder inside, out of sight, the intent has changed. That intent is what makes that recorder suddenly fall under the jurisdiction of privacy and wiretap laws. What if it were a video recorder that just happened to also record audio? It doesn't matter. If it records audio and is hidden in any way it falls under the jurisdiction of privacy and wiretap laws.

Dealers can sell tape recorders all day long and encourage people to record conversations with them. They cannot encourage customers to put audio recorders in plants and record conversations. Customers can buy tape recorders and record conversations with them. But when customers put recorders in plants their intent of use has changed. At that point they are intending to make a hidden recording. By selling any recorder already hidden in a plant, dealers are acknowledging that the use of the device is to record something without another person’s knowledge. In the US it is never legal for a civilian to make a surreptitious audio recording, even if the audio is just being picked up on video.

So, as law-abiding dealers, you certainly don’t want to sell hidden devices that could record audio. Customers should be aware of the implications should they choose to purchase one. If you do sell audio recoding devices, the products must be designed and clearly marketed as an audio recorder.

At KJB Security Products, we do not sell hidden audio recording equipment domestically, except to law enforcement. Only law enforcement can use audio/camera recording. Additionally, we include the following disclaimer on all marketing materials:

Some of the Product(s) purchased/sold by KJB are subject to the jurisdiction of the U.S. Wire and Communications Act (18 United States Code §§ 2510-2522) (Act). The products include those with surreptitious listening devices, which are regulated by the Act. Additionally, the laws of some states, counties, cities or localities may prohibit the possession and/or use of some of the these products. It is the responsibility of the buyer to ascertain, understand, and obey any and all applicable local, state, and federal laws regarding possession and/or use of any KJB product. Diversion or re-export contrary to U.S. law is prohibited. ALL OFFERS VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW

This article is in no way to be considered legal advice. Please review the laws in your own state and seek professional legal consultation as needed.

Honest Reviews Gives Recluse XT a Huge Thumbs Up

Read the complete review here! Plus check out their contest for the Recluse XT in the review here:

UnderCoverHiddenCameras.com Is Our Latest Market Pro

Proving that consistent blogging gets results KJB is happy to feature Undercoverhiddencameras.com as our latest Market Pro. In October they began a series of blogs about SleuthGear products, singling out particular lines and products such as the entire Zone Shield line, including Night Vision, and the new Recluse XT.

See the blog on SleuthGear's American designed quality click here.

Read how they helped spread the word about Zone Shield Clock Radio's positive review at The Honest Reviews.

And, while we're talking about positive reviews, it's always nice to share when our dealers believe the same things we do. When asked why undercoverhiddencameras.com was featuring SleuthGear products so prominently, principal Todd Karl said:

"I want and will continue to feature the KJB SleuthGear line mostly because your company has the same business values as I do, to give superior customer service along with superior products that are designed and born here in the USA. Not only do you offer these things but back it up daily."

Our Security Gear Can Save Thanksgiving: How To Be A Relevant Tweeter

Whether or not you've commenced eye rolling at investors rushing to buy shares in Twitter's IPO, you should be using its service. Recently KJB has introduced hashtags to help dealers tap into the rapid flow of conversation happening on the fastest growing social media site (read more here and here.) We know Dealers use hashtags for our brand names such #Sleuthgear and #ZoneShield and that's great, but it's not enough. So we thought a little Hashtag 101 was in order. First, to answer the question, "what is a hashtag?" A hashtag is a search term. Like when you surf Google and type in "Chicken and biscuits near Nashville," Twitter users are searching for their breakfast by typing in the hashtag "#chickenandbiscuitsnearnashville" The '#' tells Twitter to consider the following unbroken line of characters (i.e. no spaces) a searchable term. 

A Twitter search will net a user a lot more truth. While the chicken and biscuit place has more control over what's said on Google (especially if they advertise with search words) they have almost no control over the unvarnished opinions rolling from a tweeter's fingertips. That sounds scary right? Not really… consider the fact that customers were already talking about you behind your back. Words over water coolers have about the same shelf life as random tweets. Now you just know what they are saying. 

So how do you make this conversation work for you? Thats where KJB's hashtag campaign comes in. By all means, keep tagging Zone Shield and SleuthGear but realize it's only reaching the eyeballs of people who already know the product. The goal is to snag the attention of new people. Pretend you're at a Superbowl party thrown by a guy you'd really like to impress. Marching up to the dude and name dropping your brand is probably not an effective way to impress him. Instead you'd find out what he's talking about, simultaneously sort your thoughts, then relevantly inject your products into the conversation. In this analogy Twitter is the Superbowl party, all of its users are the guy throwing the party, and the hashtag is the conversation. 

Here's an example, instead of the Superbowl it's the Thanksgiving table: About a week before Thanksgiving everyone in America is going to vent their frustrations with impending family visits on social media. They'll most likely tweet about it with some version of the hashtag #ThanksgivingHassle. How do you make yourself relevant in that conversation? 

Like this:

Now a significant chunk of people tweeting #ThanksgivingHassle have just seen that you offer a product that might help them… at the very least it'll make them smile. Congratulations, you got the eyeballs of the people who didn't already know about your products - which is what the most effective marketing does. 

By the way, even if you cut out loudmouth sales tweeting don't decide that your new strategy is to type a constant stream of consciousness. This makes you the Twitter equivalent of the weird Thanksgiving relative muttering in the corner. 

Use these wider hashtags to get into the conversation and out of the corner. In addition to reminding our Dealers about relevant conversations, KJB also promises to retweet at least two of your own tweets every time you use the hashtags we suggest. The value here is that your feed becomes more relevant and stays higher in the larger conversation. All of sudden everyone at the table starts listening to you. Be relevant, be funny, be conversational and everyone on Twitter will keep listening. 

Now pass those chicken and biscuits down here please.

For news and tips on the evolving world of social marketing check out these links:
Four Tips for Tapping Into Twitter Conversations
How To Be Relevant On Twitter Without The Help Of Influencers

What Dealers Need To Know About The Wiretap Act

Due diligence required in the sale of personal security products

Are you well versed in the ins and outs of the federal Wiretap Act? Do you clearly apprise customers of the legalities of using the products you sell? Is there a prominently displayed disclaimer on your website and marketing materials regarding proper usage of hidden cameras and other devices?

If your customer plans to record telephone calls or in-person conversations without consent by the person they are recording, they should also be aware that doing so is illegal.

Let’s start with the definition of the law, which is aimed at protecting citizens’ privacy in communications with other persons. Typically, when you think of a "wiretap," the first thing that comes to mind is someone listening to your telephone calls. However, the Act protects more than that.

Under the Act, it is illegal to intentionally, or purposefully, intercept, disclose, or use the contents of any wire, oral, or electronic communication through the use of a "device." The Act contains specific language prohibiting the manufacture, distribution/sale, possession, and/or use to secretly intercept or record someone’s communications without their knowledge.

You should also be aware that hidden video devices with audio capabilities are also covered under the Wiretap Act and selling the devices is a violation of the law. It’s particularly important to know the features and capabilities of any hidden camera product you import, as there may be an audio recording feature.

Further, be cognizant of your advertising practices. Video recording and audio devices may not be marketed as covert or hidden recording products. Remember, only law enforcement may purchase and use hidden audio devices.

With regards to our company, it is KJB Security Products’ policy not to sell audio/video equipment domestically, except to law enforcement. Additionally, we include the following disclaimer on all marketing materials:

Some of the Product(s) purchased/sold by KJB are subject to the jurisdiction of the U.S. Wire and Communications Act (18 United States Code §§ 2510-2522) (Act). The products include those with surreptitious listening devices, which are regulated by the Act. Additionally, the laws of some states, counties, cities or localities may prohibit the possession and/or use of some of the these products. It is the responsibility of the buyer to ascertain, understand, and obey any and all applicable local, state, and federal laws regarding possession and/or use of any KJB product. Diversion or re-export contrary to U.S. law is prohibited. ALL OFFERS VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW

So, what are you doing to protect yourself, your company, your customers and the public? Are you doing enough? We’ll dive deeper into the legalities of hidden camera use as well as examine specific cases affecting not only the end user, but the dealers as well.


This article is in no way to be considered legal advice. Please review the laws in your own state and seek professional legal consultation as needed.

JLM Security Products Becomes Our Newest Market Pro Dealer

We're happy to give a Market Pro high five to JLM Security Products. After creating a nice video for the redesigned Zone Shield Clock Radio hidden camera DVR, they also participated the most in our #zoneshield Twitter campaign.

• Check out their blog for up to date articles on surveillance and covert security.

• Follow their branded Twitter, You Tube, and Facebook feeds for special news about SleuthGear® products.

• Watch their video about the Zone Shield Clock Radio. Simple, but hits the high notes:

Lighting conditions for optimal video quality

If you’re the first time owner of a hidden camera, there are several things you should know about lighting conditions and camera positioning before you begin recording footage.

Hidden surveillance cameras feature a pinhole camera, which due to the physical size of the lens, require well lit rooms for optimal image quality.

The good news is that many hidden cameras feature night vision technology, which is best when lighting conditions are not monitored and controlled, such as when you are away and lights are turned off, or overnight. Overall, night vision works better than non-night vision options even under typical household lighting conditions.

And when it comes to the positioning of a night vision camera, think of it like a flashlight. You aim your flashlight beam directly towards what you want to see. You may still see what is just on the edges of the beam, though it is more difficult to see. So, if you’re recording in the dark, be sure to point the camera lens’ “beam” to the area you wish to view best.

So, while night vision offers the best video quality in all lighting environments, keep in mind that while hidden surveillance cameras by their nature may not pick up the finest details of a subject, they will pick up the most important ones like male vs. female, ethnicity, type of clothing, physical activity of the person being recorded, etc.

Let’s take a look at a few images pulled from video footage. The images below show color video taken in well-lit and low light conditions using both non-night vision and night vision cameras. Notice the dramatic improvement in quality on the images done in house, especially the “well lit” conditions.

Non Night Vision recording in average lighting, notice the halo on the package:

Recording in average lighting with Night Vision:

Night Vision recording in complete darkness:

Lighting conditions are just one factor to consider when selecting the best hidden camera for your business or personal surveillance needs. The overall quality of the camera itself will play a large role in video quality – no matter the lighting conditions. If you want to ensure you’re selecting a higher quality device, we highly recommend looking for products designed in the U.S.

Meet our first Market Pro Dealer

We are happy to introduce our Market Pro Dealer program. As a wholesale distributor of spy and surveillance equipment, we depend on Dealers understanding our products enough to create engaging and timely content them. Home Security Store has done just that with a video blog detailing why you should choose a SleuthGear® hidden camera over the cheaper Chinese-made variety.

Click below to watch the video, then stay on their site to shop all the different SleuthGear cameras available.

The Honest Reviews calls the Zone Shield Night Vision Clock Radio DVR “a great product”

Tech expert Tony Tran with The Honest Reviews recently reviewed our new Zone Shield Night Vision Clock Radio DVR and we’re pleased that he rated the camera four out of five stars – and even higher on the design and ease of use. We’ve pulled out a few excerpts from the review below.

Here’s what Tony had to say about the design:
“The clock radio is light and the design is very stylish which makes it great to look at. It feels and weight similar to my real alarm clock, so there is no way to tell that it’s a hidden camera unless you open it up and look inside.”

And the video quality:
“I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the video in complete darkness. You can even read some of the text on the box shown in the image” 

Screen capture from video in a well lit room.

Screen capture from video with Night Vision working in total darkness.

Tony’s final thoughts:
“Overall, the Zone Shield Night Vision Clock Radio DVR is a great product as it was easy to setup, easy to use, very stylish design, and comes with a lot of features. If you are shopping for a nanny camera or hidden camera that is built into a working household appliances, then the Zone Shield Night Vision Clock Radio DVR SC8000 is definitely recommended. This device was assembled in America using high quality video surveillance components which makes it even more reliable as a hidden camera.”

Visit The Honest Review and read the full review as well as see pictures from the review process and enter for a chance to win a Clock Radio DVR!

Dealer Strategies: How To Newsjack

If you’re active in social media, then you’ve likely employed a strategy content marketing strategists call newsjacking. If you follow our Facebook page, then you’ve seen our “Caught on Camera” posts that show video footage of actual crimes taking place and reported in the news. In most cases, these posts show our products in action, most often capturing burglaries or abuse. This is the most basic form of newsjacking.

The term newsjacking refers to the process of attaching your brand, ideas or angles into breaking news, in real-time, in order to generate media coverage and engagement among your customers and prospects. In simpler terms: finding digital angles to major news events. The concept, when correctly executed, may also be employed in email marketing and may be reinforced with a clear call-to-action on your website.

The benefits of newsjacking include boosting SEO, engaging readers with timely commentary, sharing a new angle on a timely topic, and positioning yourself as a thought leader in your industry.

 

Whether you’re already doing this, or looking for new ways to reach potential customers, it’s important to note that you walk a fine line when you newsjack. This is especially true in our industry when readers might view it as fear-mongering or taking advantage of tragic news stories, so we urge you to be sensitive and use sound judgment. 

Before sharing a few tips, we thought we’d share a few examples of newsjacking done right – and wrong:

First, the Good

Police Newsjacking – Urgent Genius’ Jon Burkhart shares his thoughts on the Seattle Police Department’s use of “planned spontaneity” when they handed out Doritos at Hempfest with a sticker attached advising Hempfesters of the do’s and don’ts of the new marijuana laws. “Operation Orange Fingers” attracted global news coverage.

And one of the most famous examples to date of timely newsjacking is when Oreo Cookie used the Superbowl power outage to cleverly capitalize on the event with their Twitter post.

Then, the Bad and the Ugly

Newsjacks in poor taste include Kenneth Cole who Tweeted during the Arab Spring uprising in Egypt: "Millions are in uproar in #Cairo. Rumor is they heard our new spring collection is now available online... -KC.", and Kentucky Fried Chicken in Thailand who posted a Facebook update after an earthquake stating “Let’s hurry home and follow the earthquake news. And don’t forget to order your favorite KFC menu.’”

Stay One Of The Good Guys

So, when you see a story in the news that you think you might be able to leverage, we encourage you to review the following tips courtesy of Content Marketing Institute’s “Newsjacking: 6 Tips to Help Your Branded Content Use the News.”

• Stay tuned: You have to know what’s going on in the world if you want to newsjack. It’s crucial to plug in. 
• Be very discerning: A military coup, the death of a celebrity, a natural disaster — these are not events of which you should take advantage. 
• Act fast: To get the most traction; hop on news as soon as you can. 
• Make a natural connection 
• Take a constructive angle especially in the case of a disaster or tragedy. 

Sources: Content Marketing Institute’s “Newsjacking: 6 Tips to Help Your Branded Content Use the News.” For the complete post, visit: http://contentmarketinginstitute.com/2013/01/help-branded-content-use-news/

Redesigned for Good: The Evolution of the Zone Shield® Night Vision Clock Radio DVR

The Zone Shield Clock Radio sports branded packaging.

There is history behind every redesigned product. 

 KJB’s newly designed Zone Shield® Night Vision Clock Radio DVR was the result of repeated attempts to provide a reliable clock radio DVR that would not have to be tweaked, fitted, or modified. Years in the making, working with products off the shelf of Walmart, and several visits to China still had not resulted in what KJB considers to be an acceptable surveillance device. We finally determined that a retrofitted product would just never be good enough.

Working with our partner in Taiwan, we designed the new clock radio specifically to fit a hidden camera and DVR or wireless transmitter. No more futzing with the inner wires or power supply, no more glue joints. Nothing to give away that the clock had been modified. 

A wireless QUAD and QUAD LCD version
available in September, 2013

In this new design, the IRs are invisible, completely undetectable from the face of the clock and can capture action up to 20 feet away in almost total darkness. The SD card slot is completely hidden under something that looks like a normal part of a clock and is much easier to access. It’s hard to tell if we’ve designed a hidden camera to operate as a clock or a clock designed to operate as a hidden camera.

Clock radio DVRs are a dime a dozen. But the Zone Shield® Night Vision Clock Radio DVR is in a class by itself.

Body worn police cameras decrease officer complaint cases

We’ve been talking a lot about the use of video surveillance in aiding law enforcement lately. And that’s because we hear so many stories from our law enforcement customers about the benefits they’ve realized. The latest comes from our neighbors in Mt. Pleasant, Tenn., a community approximately 60 miles south of Nashville.

The police department in Mt. Pleasant has seen an 80 percent reduction in frivolous officer complaints since all 14 officers began wearing our DVR90 ProGrade Mini Camcorder last year. In addition to decreasing complaints, the video has proved valuable in prosecuting cases.

See for yourself:
WKRN, Nashville News, Nashville Weather and Sports

See the original story

To catch a thief: the increasing role of private surveillance cameras in aiding law enforcement

Last week’s $136 million jewelry heist at the Carlton Hotel in Cannes, France played out as life imitating art as the very same hotel was featured in Alfred Hitchcock’s 1955 romantic thriller, “To Catch A Thief,” starring Cary Grant and Grace Kelly.

And while investigators are reviewing surveillance video footage from the “Heist of the Century” as some in the French media are dubbing it, last week’s news cycle here in the U.S. continues coverage on the debate over privacy vs. security in the wake of the NSA leaks scandal.

These stories are certainly worthy of the attention they are receiving, though what I’m thinking about are events over the past several months that affect real people and their sense of security and safety – oftentimes in their very own homes.

I’m thinking about the June beating of a Millburn, New Jersey woman in her home as her three-year-old daughter watched, the July hit-and-run involving a mother watching helplessly as her 18-month-old was dragged in his stroller, and most recently the Washington couple that watched live on their iPhone as their home was being robbed.

I’m reflecting on these cases and others that I hear every day working in the personal security industry and I’m even more convinced of the growing need for families to protect themselves and their property in a matter that does not put them in harm’s way.

The use of surveillance cameras in the each of these cases has played a crucial role in aiding law enforcement. In the case of the New Jersey woman, the suspect has been arrested. A warrant has been issued in the hit-and-run incident and the quick action of the Washington homeowners led police to the home where the thief dropped stolen items as he ran off.

While the use of home security cameras is not a new phenomenon, the quality of the devices, including hidden camera forms, infrared capabilities, wireless, and motion activated options, and the use of real-time technologies and ability of footage to go viral instantly, have changed the way law enforcement catch the bad guys. I predict that this will only increase as individuals become more aware of the many cost-effective and easy-to-use monitoring systems available to them. And don’t we all feel more secure when we’re proactively taking steps to protect our loved ones and home?

This post also appeared in Security Products Reaction Blog. Jill Johnston is president of KJB Security Products, a Nashville, Tenn.-based wholesale manufacturer and distributor of security and surveillance products.

Our Summer Spy Gadget Round Up

We've rolled out the following new products over the past few weeks! Read on for more on these great summer surveillance gadgets:

D1305 - The world’s smallest digital voice recorder for smart phones:

DVR505 - Experience true high definition recording at an unbeatable price. This HD DVR comes with interchangeable wide angle and standard lens:

DVR259 - Quick install for easy home video surveillance. This DVR Clock is motion activated with a pinhole camera built into the clock face:

DVR009 - Action Bullet Camera DVR is easy, simple and fast. Get all the important action shots you need with a single on/off button. Carry it on the go or mount it for stationary use:

DVR240 - Works with most 5V cameras and includes a battery pack that allows for a connection of a 12V video camera. The AC adaptor powers the camera and the DVR for instant covert video recording. Pair the DVR240 with our Covert Camera Handbag to perfectly hide the adaptor cord:

Small And Versatile, New Products for DIY Sleuths

Power adaptors occupy the landscape of any home or office in the world. What better electronic device to use for installing a hidden camera DVR? This AC Adaptor Video Recorder works with most 5V cameras and includes a battery pack that enables connection of a 12V video camera. The AC adaptor powers the camera and the DVR for instant covert video recording. Pair this DVR240 with our Covert Camera Handbag to perfectly hide the adaptor cord. Use the included remote control to set the DVR and rely on its motion detection functionality to capture footage exactly when you need it.

Get ready to order the new Action Bullet Camera with built- in DVR HD recording. Use it as a carry-camera or mount it for stationary use. High-end hidden video surveillance is as easy as the push of a button. The included accessories enable you to use it for action shots, as a sports camera, covert surveillance camera, stationary surveillance camera, head cam/helmet cam or as a car camera video recorder. All these possibilities from one little bullet camera!

Get Body Worn Surveillance with New Wide Angle HD DVR

The wait is over for high definition at a low price! In stock now, the DVR505 comes with wide angle camera lens as well as a standard lens each capable of recording 848 x 480 - 1920 x 1080 resolution. This is a gem of a surveillance device thanks to true high definition recording and an unbeatable price. 

Slip the wired remote and DVR in your pocket and get easy body worn surveillance. The extra wide field of view with the included camera makes the Wide Angle HD DVR a great choice for law enforcement.

Why Made In Tennessee Matters For Hidden Cameras

For many years open tooling has been the bane of companies attempting to manufacture goods in Asia. Bait and switch or smoke and mirrors, call it what you want, but open tooling means that two devices may look the same on the outside but are actually different on the inside. In some of China’s tooling shops, components are purchased and assembled without regard to quality standards. Malfunctions, limited performance, and lack of compatibility with add-ons products may all be a result of slip-shod tooling.

While developing the SleuthGear® line of hidden cameras we encountered the frustration of inconsistent quality and duplicate poor performance products too many times. So we decided to assemble our devices at our warehouse in Nashville, Tennessee. One hundred percent of our SleuthGear® products are quality tested, including the Zone Shield®, Xtreme Life™, and Recluse® line. We are the only manufacturer in the industry making trips to China to visit vendors where we test for quality. You may notice that while searching online for hidden cameras, identical products from various vendors can have significant price differences. Most likely, the least expensive device is the result of open tooling…cheaper assembly and less attention to detail.

A very popular surveillance devices that is rampant on Chinese-import sites such as Amazon is a Clock Radio Hidden Cam. But a cheap version could have a hidden camera that is not centered correctly resulting in a smaller field of view and consequently, you risk not capturing enough important footage. Some of these imported wireless cameras also have deficient transmitting ability resulting in footage with static interference.

The video below shows actual video footage examples taken from competing Chinese imported cameras. At the end you see how their footage compares to SleuthGear's hidden camera footage. Now which one of these cameras do you want watching your babysitter?

Recommend These DVRs to First Time Covert Security Users

Surveillance devices can be life savers. They can also be intimidating. If you are new to the world of hidden cameras, consider a built-in self- recording DVR. If you select a battery powered device, it will be as simple as plug and play. KJB’s removable SD cards make it easy to capture video and quickly retrieve it for viewing. A battery powered device with a removable SD card is a user friendly first step into the world of DIY surveillance. Here are a few popular and easily handled styles:

The Xtreme Life Smoke Detector DVRs come in either side view or bottom view camera mounts and they all feature Night Vision for low light conditions.

The Zone Shield Clock Radio DVR is KJB's most popular hidden camera. This simple clock blends into just about any household or business setting. While it is not battery powered, it does feature a Night Vision version.

Need covert surveillance outside the home or office such as a coffee shop, client's building or principal's office? Consider the DVRs hidden inside these common personal accessories. Both the Insulated Mug DVR and the Key Chain DVR have easy on/off switch operation.

Finally it's hard to know when you might need to record footage around your home or business but having a weather resistant hidden camera means you've at least got a plan. The Xtreme Life Landscape Stone DVR has a heat sensor that conserves battery life and also has a quick auto start. 

No Wires. No Worries.

Reliable long life batteries bring peace of mind to your surveillance efforts. Because there are no visible wires, battery operated devices give you the flexibility of placing your equipment anywhere rather than having to stay close to outlets. The Recluse and Xtreme Life line of products are powered by long life batteries and many have PIR sensors to extend the life of the battery. We discussed the Xtreme Life advantage in this post.

In addition to being built into larger household devices, powering up from a battery means that a hidden camera and DVR can be worn on the body or carried for mobile surveillance, person to person. Here are some of KJB's most popular portable styles (left to right): Bluetooth Headset Cam, Insulated Mug, Stylish Glasses

What if you could just set the camera, sensors, DVR and battery on a shelf or table and have no one notice it . . . even if it wasn't "built in" to anything?  That's our Recluse Black Box DVR. Designed inside a plain black box, it uses the same PIR and Night Vision technology as Xtreme Life. The unobtrusive design blends into any environment allowing the user to set it up and walk away:

Battery life matters in audio recorders too. Many of KJB's digital voice recorders can capture hours of conversation - either paired with high capacity SD cards or using flash memory. Here are some of our more popular recorders (left to right): Slim Memo Pen, Mini Voice Recorder, Flashdrive Recorder

Are you a security and electronics dealer? Remember to download and post our Battery Operated Symbol to direct customers easily to devices featuring the flexibility of battery power.

Night Vision At Work

Tell your customers that a Night Vision wall clock in a darkened office or conference room can clearly capture any suspicious behavior of a late night cleaning crew. Our extensive line of Night Vision products are available in both Zone Shield and Xtreme Life devices. As we stated in this blog, KJB goes to great lengths to make sure all our Night Vision products are capturing video in even the most challenging lighting situations. Whether it's a clock, smoke detector, or fan our hidden camera forms will blend into any small business or home environment.

The Night Vision wireless cameras in Xtreme Life and Zone Shield can be integrated into the same system. For example, if you started with a Zone Shield Night Vision Clock Radio in the conference room, then an Xtreme Life Night Vision Smoke Detector is a great addition to the office hallway. 

Not every camera in a Night Vision system needs to be hidden. This Indoor/Outdoor Camera sports IRs and is a great addition as a third or fourth camera. Use it to monitor an entrance hallway or warehouse.

If you are a Dealer, download the IR symbol from our site to indicate that a product has night vision. No need for your customer to get overwhelmed by choices. If they are seeking a Night Vision product, the IR symbol will help to quickly identify the best device for them.

A Long Life Battery Makes All The Difference In Security

Xtreme Life Teddy Bear available
either wireless or with a built in DVR

Hardly a day goes by without hearing the words, “Caught on Camera.” News stories from around the world report on surveillance and hidden cameras capturing lightweight crooks and dangerous criminals. Maybe the perpetrator you catch on camera won’t make national news, but the security and peace of mind provided by your personal surveillance equipment is equally if not more important to you.

Proper surveillance should allow you to install it, trust it, and forget about it. That’s why powerful long life batteries and no visible wires come standard in Xtreme Life devices. Seconds count when capturing criminals in the act. Make sure your covert devices are equipped with a state-of-the-art PIR sensor. This lightning speed sensor kicks in to action the moment body heat is detected and therefore extends the life of the batteries.

Wall clocks, smoke detectors and teddy bears are common household items but when equipped with hidden cameras, they are transformed in to possible life saving surveillance devices. Many models are capable of recording in complete darkness with (IR) Night Vision cameras. A wall clock  in your home or office is as covert as it gets. Place it anywhere and capture a nanny, house-keeper or robber stealing valuables or endangering your family. A smoke detector placed above an entry way or over a cash register is not only impossible to detect but easy to install. A teddy bear can be both cuddly and covert when equipped with an Xtreme Life DVR. Set the bear anywhere in your home and decide how and when to view the captured footage.   

Many Xtreme Life hidden camera systems offer the option of remote viewing from your iPad or smart phone. Simply download this free EZ-See app and experience yet another way to monitor your home or office. 

KJB offers a bottom view and side view
smoke detector, both with Night Vision

Utilizing a QUAD LCD receiver allows you to record on up to 4 cameras and monitor remotely. LCD models offer the convenience of monitoring from a different room in your home on the included 7’ LCD screen.

LUX and FOV – What you and your customers should know about these hidden camera specifications

Take every opportunity to shed some light on product details to your customers.

A little known light measurement called LUX rating is important when selecting the right hidden camera. A higher LUX rating is actually a poorer quality camera. Simply stated, the LUX is the metric unit for measuring the amount of light that falls on an object. A camera with a 1-LUX rating claims to be able to produce an image by the light of one candle that is about three feet away from the subject. Many cameras on the market today can do just that. The problem is that the resulting image may be of very poor quality. A grainy, monochrome image is probably not what your customers wanted when they purchased their “low light” hidden camera. Your customers will appreciate your expertise when you advise them on LUX ratings. Let them know that they should select a camera with a rating of .01 or lower to achieve a high quality image especially in average household lighting. SleuthGear hidden cameras sport a LUX rating of .01 to .0001.

The average consumer knows a camera's resolution affects image quality but many are not aware of another factor: field of view (FOV). It is the area of the inspection captured on the camera’s imager. The size of the field of view and the size of the camera’s imager directly affect the image resolution (one determining factor in accuracy). Working distance is the distance between the back of the lens and the target object. A camera with a wide FOV is more likely to capture an accurate image. Consider that a bird has an almost 360 degree field of view and humans, almost 180 degree. If a customer purchases a hidden camera with a 70 degree FOV (which is fairly standard for many hidden cameras) they should expect the FOV to be extremely narrow. KJB’s standards are above average in the industry. That is why many of our hidden cameras have an FOV of 92 degrees – the highest standard for pinhole cameras.

Congrats to Our Winners!

These winners tested their security smarts and WON in our online quiz contest. To see the answers and check your scores scroll to the bottom:

Jim Chatel won a basket overflowing with Tennessee made goodies!

Gary Doda won a very cool MP4 watch with 2GB memory, 1.5 inch color screen and more!

Darrell Ringhand won this very cool, big kid toy RC Helicopter!

How smart were you? Here are the questions and answers from our quiz:

1. What percentage of burglars use Facebook, Twitter and Foursquare to target potential properties_____? 78%

2. The most common entry point for a break-in is the______:  Front Door 

3. Burglaries by age are the highest for______?  Students

4. One in every______ children ages 10-17 have been solicited sexually online.  Five

5. A vehicle is stolen every_____seconds in the U.S.; ______out of 10 vehicles equipped with GPS are recovered: 24 seconds and 9 vehicles

6. Which states allow for security cameras in nursing homes?
Maryland
New Mexico
Texas

New Partnership with LandAirSea, makers of GPS and tracking devices

We are pleased to announce that we have been named exclusive worldwide distributor for LandAirSea Systems’ GPS tracking devices. As KJB makes the transition to their products, we want to share a number of benefits for dealers and consumers:

Product benefits include:
• All GPS devices are manufactured in the USA, continuing KJB's trend of high standards for quality
• Unlimited historical playback
• iPad and iPhone software apps offering side-by-side 2D and 3D display providing overhead map view while simultaneously providing street level view
• Multiple real-time tracking speed options and pay as you go month-to-month service (see the chart below, click for a larger view)

KJB will carry four GPS trackers: two live trackers and two passive trackers. Click on the pictures below to read more about each one:

SilverCloud® Sync Fleet GPS Tracking System

SilverCloud® Live GPS Tracker

GPS Tracking Key

GPS Tracking Key Pro