ADSEC & Hareruya Pioneer Protection for Japanese Card Shops with InVue Smart Locks

Hareruya is one of Japan’s leading specialty retailers, renowned for its extensive selection of Trading Card Games (TCGs). Since opening its doors, Hareruya has become a go-to destination for collectors, enthusiasts, and players alike, offering an expansive inventory of rare and valuable cards.

As the TCG market continues to grow, the demand for better protection of high-value products has surged. Rising thefts targeting Japanese trading card shops, along with concerns about environmental damage like UV light, highlighted the need for more advanced security solutions.

To protect their valuable trading card inventory while maintaining an exceptional customer experience, Hareruya turned to ADSEC Co., Ltd., a trusted provider of InVue security solutions in Japan. By partnering with ADSEC, Hareruya aimed to maintain the integrity of their cards, improve the safety of their merchandise and create a more efficient, streamlined retail environment for both staff and customers.

Challenge: Stop Rising Theft in Japanese Card Shops

Trading cards are small and easy to conceal, making them a prime target for theft. They also come from a variety of shows and years, requiring meticulous organization. Each card often needs to be displayed in specific ways, sometimes in dozens or even hundreds of individual cases. With such a wide range of inventory and a limited staff, Hareruya faced a real challenge in keeping everything organized while providing fast, efficient customer service.

As Hareruya’s business grew, so did the risk of theft—both external and internal—targeting their high-value trading card inventory. The challenge was clear: they needed a security solution that would protect these valuable products while still allowing staff to provide excellent customer service. The store’s existing mechanical key system created delays and did not offer an audit trail, making it difficult to track who was accessing what displays and when. This limited visibility raised concerns about potential internal theft and inefficiencies in managing security.

Another concern was preservation. UV light from store lighting could cause valuable trading cards to fade over time, further devaluing the inventory. Hareruya needed a solution that would offer top-tier security, an efficient way to manage access, and protection against environmental damage, all without compromising accessibility or the integrity of their inventory.

Solution: ADSEC Combines Smart Locks with High-Security Showcases for All-Around TCG Protection

To address these challenges, ADSEC Co., Ltd. introduced InVue’s Smart Locks to Hareruya, providing a versatile and innovative security solution for their trading card inventory. Known for their adaptability across various retail settings, InVue’s Smart Locks were the perfect fit for Hareruya’s needs.

ADSEC also developed the ingenious idea to pair these Smart Locks with high-security showcases from SENBI K.K., a Japanese company specializing in display cases for trading cards. These showcases are made from polycarbonate, a durable material used by police and military, ensuring maximum protection. The polycarbonate also offers 99.9% UV protection, preventing valuable cards from fading under store lighting.

The InVue’s Smart Locks brought several key benefits:

• One Key for All Showcases: With the use of InVue’s patented OneKEY, staff no longer had to search for matching keys, making operations more efficient.
• Easy Installation: The system was simple to install with no electrical work required, minimizing disruption to Hareruya’s daily operations.
• Individual Key Assignment: Each staff member received a unique key, ensuring access was restricted to authorized areas. Lost keys could be deactivated, and logs were automatically recorded, improving accountability and preventing internal theft.
• Versatile & Future-Proof: The Smart Locks can be unlocked using InVue’s patented OneKEY or a smart device, offering a flexible solution that can evolve with future needs.
• Universal Compatibility: The locks are compatible with custom showcases or can be retrofitted to existing ones, like the UV-protected polycarbonate cases Hareruya uses.
• Employee Audit Trail: Each staff member is assigned a unique PIN to access the keys, allowing Hareruya to track which employees accessed which displays and when. This added visibility helps reduce internal theft, and if a key is lost, it can be deactivated, ensuring complete security.

By pairing the Smart Locks with SENBI’s high-security showcases, ADSEC provided Hareruya with a solution that safeguarded their inventory while preserving its long-term value. The polycarbonate material, combined with InVue’s Smart Lock, protected the cards from theft and environmental damage, ensuring their quality and value for years to come.

“TCG brings joy to people’s lives, but negative news about theft or poor shopping experiences can quickly diminish that joy. The products we provide ensure that customers can shop with confidence, while staff can focus on providing excellent service.”

– Takuya Kishimoto, Head of Promotional Security Sales, ADSEC Co., Ltd.

Results: Improved Security and Customer Experience

The implementation of InVue’s Smart Lock and the high-security showcases led to noticeable improvements in both security and customer service at Hareruya. Some of the key benefits include:

• Streamlined Operations: With one key for all showcases, staff can access products quickly, allowing them to focus more on customer service and less on managing multiple keys.
• Enhanced Product Protection: The combination of polycarbonate material and UV protection ensures that Hareruya’s TCG inventory is safeguarded not just from theft but also from environmental damage, preserving the cards’ quality over time.
• Increased Customer Confidence: The added security measures have created a safer, more confident shopping experience. Customers now feel assured that their favorite cards are both safe from theft and preserved from environmental factors, contributing to stronger customer loyalty and positive feedback.

“Our goal is to support enjoyable moments and create a pleasant shopping environment, where customers can trust that their favorite cards are safe and protected.”

– Atsushi Seimiya, Director and Head of InVue Business Division, ADSEC Co., Ltd.

Thanks to ADSEC’s foresight and expertise, Hareruya was able to implement InVue’s Smart Locks, which provided the perfect solution to secure their valuable inventory while improving operational efficiency. By recommending this innovative system, ADSEC not only addressed Hareruya’s security needs but also enhanced the overall customer experience. As a result, Hareruya has strengthened its position as a leader in the competitive TCG market, ensuring that customers can continue to enjoy a safe and seamless shopping experience.

About ADSEC Co., Ltd.

ADSEC Co., Ltd. is Japan’s sole provider of InVue solutions. Having partnered with InVue in 2008 to address the need for integrated security and display technologies in the retail sector. As the official distributor of InVue products, ADSEC supports over 35,000 retail stores across Japan. This exclusive partnership allows ADSEC to offer innovative security solutions that protect valuable products while enhancing the customer experience.

Interested in Smart Lock solutions or becoming an InVue partner? Contact us today.