Business

Theft-Proofing Retail: How TRACARTS Revolutionizes Cart Security

Published

1 year ago

July 29, 2024

The problem of shopping cart theft is as old as the shopping cart itself. According to the Food Marketing Institute, approximately 2 million shopping carts are stolen or simply go missing every year, leading to substantial monetary losses for retailers that trickle down to the everyday consumer.

The escalating cost of living is a growing concern not only for consumers but also for retailers. While stolen carts may not be making regular headlines, they are a costly issue that threatens to worsen the economic strain that has already taken hold, with entire municipalities now getting involved in the missing cart problem.

Recently, the city of Fayetteville, North Carolina, earmarked $78,000 of taxpayer funds to tackle the cart problem and used the money to round up as many missing carts as possible over a two-year period. Albuquerque, New Mexico, ran a similar program, retrieving over 1,800 carts in just two months.

Missing and stolen carts create economic hardship, issues for consumers, and blight for cities. Thankfully, TRACARTS is a company stepping forward with a technology-informed solution, working to significantly reduce the number of carts that are stolen or otherwise go missing every year and save retailers time and money.

The cost of wayward carts

With each cart taken from a retailer, that retailer stands to lose upward of $180. Yet the millions of carts that go missing each year are a significant hit to not only the retailer but also the shoppers because when retailers seek to recoup funds lost due to missing and stolen carts, they are often forced to raise their prices.

TRACARTS has considered the human element of the cart problem with its system. In fact, the psychological aspect of the TRACARTS system is likely why it works so well.

“There are those retail stores that protect their carts by charging money from customers, who get a refund once their cart is returned,” says Chaya Grosinger, Chief Administrative Officer for TRACARTS. “In the U.S., this security measure is utilized with a quarter. If you wanted a cart, would you be willing to spend or lose 25 cents for a cart that costs upwards of $180?”

There is also an altruistic side to the cart problem that TRACARTS is leveraging. Recently, the question of whether one returns a cart after use has become a social media test of moral righteousness. The general consensus seems to be that “good people” return carts, while those who don’t face society’s harsh judgment.

This litmus test is part of TRACART’s multifaceted approach to solving the missing cart problem. TRACARTS is betting on the good feeling that comes from returning one’s cart.

A tech-informed solution

Along with psychology, TRACARTS is also using technology to address the issue of missing and stolen carts. They know that the psychological pull of a “good deed” may not be sufficient to truly address this costly issue, so the solution must be multifaceted.

The user-friendly TRACARTS system makes it easy to track and secure shopping carts while they’re in use and when they are returned. The TRAC hub — a series of customizable shopping cart trains arranged in one, two, or three multidirectional lines — can be installed in any retail store’s parking lot. Strategic placement of the TRAC hub allows for easy access to the carts without having to weave through parked cars.

When the carts are not in use, the TRAC system locks them into place. They can be released through the system’s smart technology program, with the TRAC kiosk acting as the customer interface that dispenses or accepts them. Shoppers can use a White Label app, a fob, a PIN code, or a phone number, among various other identification forms, to release the carts.

Returning the carts is hassle-free. Shoppers simply place the carts back into the TRAC hub without further interaction with the kiosk.

The integration of smart technology is another facet of the TRACARTS system that makes it stand apart from other solutions. It provides retailers with valuable data analytics and ways to engage with their shoppers. TRAC dashboard is entirely customizable, allowing it to meet the specific needs of different retailers depending on what date they are interested in collecting. Shoppers are incentivized to return their carts and given access to special promotions, such as VIP discounts and rewards, culminating in a positive shopping experience for both the shopper and the retailer while also gamifying the cart return process.

While the issue of stolen and missing carts will not vanish overnight, TRACARTS is deploying advanced technology, social consciousness, and psychology to help retailers save time and money. As more retailers realize that this problem will not simply go away on its own, they will turn to solutions like TRACARTS to help them manage their cart inventory and make shopping at their stores a more pleasant experience.

Business

Ethical Affiliate marketing : Defining the Conflict

Published

3 hours ago

December 1, 2025

Matthew Wiles

Affiliate marketing in the online casino industry walks a fine line between commercial interest and editorial integrity. Affiliates earn commissions when players register or deposit through affiliate links, yet these same affiliates often publish reviews claiming to guide users toward the best and safest operators. This dual role creates a potential conflict of interest: can a reviewer remain truly objective while being financially rewarded for player conversions?

This ethical tension is not hypothetical, it defines the entire casino review system. Readers expect independent recommendations, while advertisers aim for visibility and sign-ups. The challenge, therefore, lies in ensuring that commercial necessity never compromises editorial honesty. Without clear ethical structures, the trust between affiliate and reader quickly collapses, breaking the foundation of any long-lasting brand in the iGaming space.

The Ethical Solution: Editorial Firewalls

Responsible affiliates have developed a structural response to this dilemma known as the “editorial firewall.” This principle strictly separates commercial operations (such as partner negotiations and commission management) from editorial teams responsible for content, ratings, and recommendations. By preventing advertisers or commercial staff from influencing content, affiliates safeguard the objectivity of their reviews.

Antti Virtanen, Editor in Chief of Kasinohai, explains this responsibility clearly:
“My primary responsibility is to maintain the editorial firewall. If an advertiser’s payment can influence a casino’s star rating, we have failed our readers, and that short-term gain will instantly destroy the decade of trust we have built.”

The editorial firewall functions much like journalistic separation between newsroom and advertising department. Editors work with established criteria: licensing, game variety, payment methods, and player protection measures. Without any interference from commercial targets. When this discipline is followed, affiliates can confidently assure readers that ratings reflect evidence-based quality, not marketing budgets.

Maintaining such independence often comes with short-term sacrifices: rejecting lucrative offers from less trustworthy operators or declining to modify reviews to appease advertisers. Yet, for ethical affiliates, these sacrifices strengthen the brand’s reputation and guarantee the long-term viability of their business model.

Prioritizing Safety and Trust

True ethical affiliation starts with a single non-negotiable principle: only promote casinos that are safe, licensed, and compliant with responsible gambling regulations. Trust begins at selection. Every casino under review should pass a rigorous safety audit, covering valid gaming licenses, secure payment processing, transparent bonus terms, and the presence of responsible gambling tools such as deposit limits and self-exclusion options.

Antti Virtanen underlines this commitment:
“The ethical commitment begins at the gate: our first and most important filter is licensing and player safety. Any operator that fails our rigorous background checks on responsible gaming tools, fair terms, or payment security will never be promoted, regardless of their commercial offering.”

By excluding unsafe or unlicensed platforms, affiliates act as front-line gatekeepers, shielding players from potential fraud or exploitative practices. Ethical affiliates must also stay proactive, regularly updating their databases and removing any operators that lose licenses, alter fair terms, or develop unresolved consumer complaints. This proactive maintenance shows readers that the site’s focus is not only on visibility but on genuine player well-being.

Ethics in affiliate marketing also extend to how bonuses and offers are presented. Affiliates must reject misleading promotions that hide behind fine print or impose unrealistic wagering requirements. Fair representation of bonus terms not only protects players but also differentiates responsible affiliates from competitors who prioritize click volume over credibility.

Transparent Disclosure

Transparency is a cornerstone of ethical affiliate marketing. Readers deserve to understand how affiliate links work and how they affect the content they see. A clear, accessible disclosure explains that the affiliate may receive compensation when users register or deposit through referral links. However, this relationship should never impact the user’s cost, terms, or overall experience on the casino site.

The purpose of transparency is twofold: it builds trust with readers and aligns with regulatory expectations for advertising disclosures. A good disclosure statement is not hidden in small print; it’s presented as part of the site’s editorial ethic. It assures visitors that commercial partnerships never influence ratings, reviews, or recommendations.

In practice, this can appear as a brief statement at the start or end of a review, linking to a detailed explanation of the site’s business model. Clear communication empowers readers to make informed decisions and it alleviates the underlying skepticism that often surrounds online casino reviews.

Transparency also extends to responsible gambling communication. Affiliates should remind readers that gambling involves risk and provide visible links to national helplines, self-exclusion tools, and player protection resources. When ethical values are embedded not only in compliance checklists but also in editorial tone, the brand earns genuine user respect.

Long-Term Value

The ultimate goal of ethical affiliate marketing is sustainability building a relationship of long-term trust that outlasts the allure of short-term profits. A single misleading recommendation might boost conversions temporarily, but the resulting loss of credibility can permanently damage a brand.

Antti Virtanen captures this philosophy:
“In the end, ethical affiliate marketing is not a high-volume business; it’s a high-trust business. Our long-term success isn’t measured by the conversion rate of a click, but by the number of players who return to us because we saved them from a poor or unsafe experience.”

This perspective reframes success away from mere performance metrics toward qualitative measures: user satisfaction, returning readership, and brand reliability. Ethical affiliates understand that authority and trust cannot be purchased—they are earned through consistent transparency, careful editorial standards, and user-focused decision-making.

Long-term value also aligns with broader industry goals of promoting responsible gambling and sustainable player engagement. Affiliates that champion these principles contribute positively to the reputation of the iGaming industry as a whole.

Ethical affiliate marketing is not a static policy it is an ongoing commitment to transparency, responsibility, and respect for the audience’s trust. Establishing strict editorial firewalls, prioritizing player safety, and maintaining open disclosure practices form the blueprint for sustainable success. In an environment driven by competition and revenue potential, ethics are not a hindrance but the very strategy that distinguishes credible affiliates from the rest.