Preventing Shoplifting In Your Store

October 16, 2017 by Leave a Comment

According to the Small Business Administration (SBA), there are more than 28 million small businesses in the United States and they account for more than 99% of businesses in the country.  Small businesses employ close to 57 million people in the United States alone and are a driving force in the progress of the US economy.  The good news for an entrepreneur that wants to start a business is that they are not alone, but if you are a small business in the retail industry, the problems you will encounter do not come as paperwork filings or taxes paid.  Shoplifting and employee theft are two of the major causes small retail shops face financial distress during their business enterprise.  It is an unfortunate problem, but the problem is there and the small business owner has to find solutions to the specific problems in their store.

For more about this and other types of stories, follow the links below.

Retailers ‘tagging’ meat to prevent shoplifting

First it was clothes‚ then electronic goods and baby formula. Now it is meat.

Retailers waging a battle against grocery store shoplifting are adopting unorthodox crime prevention measures by placing electronic security tags on expensive cuts of meat.

The food tags work in the same way as on items such as clothes. Exit the shop without paying for the chunk of steak and an alarm goes off.

Sowetan observed a packer gingerly placing the strange tags on meat this week at one retail chain store west of Johannesburg.

The drastic measure is apparently a direct response to a rise in shoplifting of unconventional goods like meat in tough economic times. In the past‚ tagging was reserved for goods like CDs.

Last week Sowetan reported that a Kliptown policewoman was caught shoplifting meat worth R620 at a Pick n Pay store in Lenasia. She has been released on R500 bail.

Retailers offered top five tips to stop shoplifters

More than 360,000 shoplifting offences were reported in the UK in 2016-17 financial year, according new research.

The data from online marketplace OnBuy.com revealed that the Metropolitan Police had the highest number of shoplifting offences reported in the 12 month period at 47,580 – the equivalent of 130 incidents a day. The Met was closely followed by West Midlands Police, who had 19,741 incidences of shoplifting reported, followed by Greater Manchester Police with 18,002 shoplifting offences.

Meanwhile, City of London Police had the lowest number of shoplifting cases, with only 729 reported – the equivalent of two occurrences every day.

Cas Paton, managing director of OnBuy.com, said: “Shoplifting is more prevalent than we would like to think. Considering the amount of time and energy shops put into running various aspects of their operation daily, shoplifting is really an unfortunate occurrence for them.

Shoplifting: How to prevent ‘blind spots’ in the store layout

Though many types of theft deterrent equipment exist, one of the most effective and affordable approaches is preventing retail shoplifting is by avoiding “blind spots” in the store layout.

In this regard, one of the hardest places for supermarket or mass merchandise cashiers to control and easily view has been under the shopping basket, which is usually blocked by a basketful of other items above it. Failing to ring up items under the basket before customers leave the store can be extremely costly to retailers.

To prevent such losses, one nationally recognized mass-market retailer has already installed over 90,000 bottom-of-the basket (BOB) mirrors in an effort to limit this type of shrinkage in their business. The inventive mirrors are comprised of lightweight acrylic and the mirror mounts opposite the standing cashier to provide a clear, unobstructed view of the bottom of the cart without requiring the cashier to move or stoop, which also expedites checkout.

 

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Retail Theft Prevention Strategies Should Include Building Relationships Part 2

October 12, 2017 by Leave a Comment
Retail Theft Prevention – 5                                                                                                          WC Blog 345
Checkpoint Systems-3
Retail Theft Prevention Strategies Should Include Building Relationships Part 2
     When we talk about retail theft prevention the first thing that comes to mind is a strategy that includes closed circuit television equipment and security personnel (uniformed and undercover). Sometimes people will think of securing product by locking it up in showcases or using electronic article surveillance equipment from a company such as Checkpoint Systems. It might also consist of store layouts, how areas may be corralled to limit access and prevent merchandise from leaving that specific area. In Part 1 I began by walking down memory lane and I talked about how I matured and grew in my perspective on partnerships, theft prevention and some of the influences that changed my perspective. I also discussed how building relations with vendors helped me to build important relationships with local police that proved mutually beneficial to the department and my store. It is this building of relationships that I want to focus on as one strategy for a strong retail theft prevention program.
     Retail theft prevention should always be a multifaceted program. Each of the strategies I spoke of in the introduction are important to a well-rounded approach to reduce theft and stock shortage. While protecting merchandise is an important piece of that strategy including careful placement of cameras and mirrors, installing EAS towers from Checkpoint Systems at the front doors and using anti-theft devices to prevent shoplifting, there are other things managers can do to enhance shortage reduction efforts. This includes the creation of employee awareness programs, use of pre-employment screenings and what has become one of my favorite strategies, building external relationships.
     As a Loss Prevention Manager, the company I worked for helped to sponsor an annual event with police departments nationwide.  The events were community gatherings focusing on efforts to build community relations and strengthen crime watch groups to reduce crime. Our store was so successful that we received requests for assistance from communities 15 or 20 miles away from our store that heard about the program and wanted to participate. Our store team sent representatives to three areas to represent our company. While I have no numbers to prove it impacted shortage reduction directly, I do believe our participation grew our company brand recognition and helped drive sales, which is one way to drive down shrink as a percent to sales. 
     Our store also had Christmas events in which local schools would have choirs come and sing and students would help with gift wrapping for seniors. I would take advantage of these events to provide tours of my security office for the kids. The looks on their faces was priceless as they saw most of our camera views and saw a demonstration of how a camera could zoom in and read a license plate on a car in the parking lot. When I let them try the camera controls you would have thought they had a new video game unit, it was fun to watch. You may wonder how this would have enhanced a retail theft prevention program. My feeling is that by educating these children early they will be less likely to steal as they get older, remembering what they learned.
     I earlier mentioned the vendor relations I built with Checkpoint Systems and my CCTV vendor, but one other relationship that was extremely helpful was one I developed with the site supervisor of the company that was in charge of a major store remodel we went through. By working closely with him and his team, I was able to bring to his attention concerns I had with building security issues as the project progressed. There were workers that would try to bypass our security checks of tool boxes and equipment when they left. There were times when I would find unsecured doors or access ways when work in an area was complete for a day. I had the support of the site manager to challenge his supervisors and workers when I found security concerns.  What was the result of this partnership? All I heard before the remodel was how inventory shortage always goes out the roof for the inventory that follows. Our inventory results remained well under 1%, in line with prior year results. 
     The old saying goes, there is no “I” in team. The same is true for retail theft prevention. Build relationships with your store team members, vendors, community and police departments and the pay-off will show in reduced shortage results.
Retail theft prevention is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
     

When we talk about retail theft prevention the first thing that comes to mind is a strategy that includes closed circuit television equipment and security personnel (uniformed and undercover). Sometimes people will think of securing product by locking it up in showcases or using electronic article surveillance equipment from a company such as Checkpoint Systems. It might also consist of store layouts, how areas may be corralled to limit access and prevent merchandise from leaving that specific area. In Part 1 I began by walking down memory lane and I talked about how I matured and grew in my perspective on partnerships, theft prevention and some of the influences that changed my perspective. I also discussed how building relations with vendors helped me to build important relationships with local police that proved mutually beneficial to the department and my store. It is this building of relationships that I want to focus on as one strategy for a strong retail theft prevention program.

 

 Retail theft prevention should always be a multifaceted program. Each of the strategies I spoke of in the introduction are important to a well-rounded approach to reduce theft and stock shortage. While protecting merchandise is an important piece of that strategy including careful placement of cameras and mirrors, installing EAS towers from Checkpoint Systems at the front doors and using anti-theft devices to prevent shoplifting, there are other things managers can do to enhance shortage reduction efforts. This includes the creation of employee awareness programs, use of pre-employment screenings and what has become one of my favorite strategies, building external relationships.

 

 As a Loss Prevention Manager, the company I worked for helped to sponsor an annual event with police departments nationwide.  The events were community gatherings focusing on efforts to build community relations and strengthen crime watch groups to reduce crime. Our store was so successful that we received requests for assistance from communities 15 or 20 miles away from our store that heard about the program and wanted to participate. Our store team sent representatives to three areas to represent our company. While I have no numbers to prove it impacted shortage reduction directly, I do believe our participation grew our company brand recognition and helped drive sales, which is one way to drive down shrink as a percent to sales. 

 

 Our store also had Christmas events in which local schools would have choirs come and sing and students would help with gift wrapping for seniors. I would take advantage of these events to provide tours of my security office for the kids. The looks on their faces was priceless as they saw most of our camera views and saw a demonstration of how a camera could zoom in and read a license plate on a car in the parking lot. When I let them try the camera controls you would have thought they had a new video game unit, it was fun to watch. You may wonder how this would have enhanced a retail theft prevention program. My feeling is that by educating these children early they will be less likely to steal as they get older, remembering what they learned.

 

 I earlier mentioned the vendor relations I built with Checkpoint Systems and my CCTV vendor, but one other relationship that was extremely helpful was one I developed with the site supervisor of the company that was in charge of a major store remodel we went through. By working closely with him and his team, I was able to bring to his attention concerns I had with building security issues as the project progressed. There were workers that would try to bypass our security checks of tool boxes and equipment when they left. There were times when I would find unsecured doors or access ways when work in an area was complete for a day. I had the support of the site manager to challenge his supervisors and workers when I found security concerns.  What was the result of this partnership? All I heard before the remodel was how inventory shortage always goes out the roof for the inventory that follows. Our inventory results remained well under 1%, in line with prior year results. 

 

 The old saying goes, there is no “I” in team. The same is true for retail theft prevention. Build relationships with your store team members, vendors, community and police departments and the pay-off will show in reduced shortage results.

 

Retail theft prevention is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.

     

 

Filed Under: antishoplifting Tagged With: ,

Implementing Security Measures to Prevent Shoplifting

October 9, 2017 by Leave a Comment

It might be too early for retailers to prepare for the holiday season, but it is never too early to implement security measures to prevent shoplifting in their stores. The holiday season attracts more customers than at any other time of the year, therefore shoplifting incidents increase with the increase of customers as well.

Having and implementing security measures before the holiday season starts can be beneficial to your bottom line.

For more about this and other topics, follow the links below.

Shoplifting: How to prevent ‘blind spots’ in the store layout

Though many types of theft deterrent equipment exist, one of the most effective and affordable approaches is preventing retail shoplifting is by avoiding “blind spots” in the store layout.

In this regard, one of the hardest places for supermarket or mass merchandise cashiers to control and easily view has been under the shopping basket, which is usually blocked by a basketful of other items above it. Failing to ring up items under the basket before customers leave the store can be extremely costly to retailers.

To prevent such losses, one nationally recognized mass-market retailer has already installed over 90,000 bottom-of-the basket (BOB) mirrors in an effort to limit this type of shrinkage in their business. The inventive mirrors are comprised of lightweight acrylic and the mirror mounts opposite the standing cashier to provide a clear, unobstructed view of the bottom of the cart without requiring the cashier to move or stoop, which also expedites checkout.

Tuesday Tip: How to Avoid Shrink

Retail theft affects a retailer’s bottom line and, ultimately, the cost of goods to the consumer. According to the 2017 National Retail Security Survey released in June by the National Retail Federation and the University of Florida, retail theft and other inventory shrink grew to $48.9 billion in 2016 from $45.2 billion in 2015. The thefts amounted to 1.44 percent of sales, up from 1.38 percent the prior year. So what are retailers to do to minimize shrink?

“Good customer service is the best deterrent to theft,” said Tom Konopacki, owner of Anastazia Treasures for the Home in Geneva, Ill. Introducing yourself and letting your customers know you’re there and willing to help them also lets them know that you’re aware of them and possibly watching.

Sorting It Out: Protecting the Supply Chain Against 4 Common Security Threats

Maintaining Security Awareness is Essential

Retailers in America lost billions of dollars in 2016, largely due to shoplifting, employee theft and other types of inventory “shrink, according to new data compiled by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and the University of Florida. The survey shows that inventory shrink grew to $48.9 billion in 2016 from $45.2 billion the year prior. The increases in losses were found to be largely due to the result of flat or declining retail security budgets.

“While Retailers are proactive in combating criminal activity in their stores they acknowledge that they still have a lot of work left to do,” NRF Vice President of Loss Prevention Bob Moraca said. “The job is made much more difficult when loss prevention experts can’t get the money they need to beef up their staffs and resources. Retail executives need to realize that money spent on preventing losses is money that improves the bottom line.”

Nearly half (48.8 percent) of retailers surveyed said they saw an increase in inventory shrink, while nearly 17 percent said it remained flat.

 

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CLOTHING SECURITY TAGS OUTWIT SHOPLIFTERS IN RETAILERS DAILY

October 4, 2017 by Leave a Comment

 

CLOTHING SECURITY TAGS OUTWIT SHOPLIFTERS IN RETAILERS DAILY! 
 Clothing Security Tags-4                                                                 ML Blog 05
  Security Tags on Clothes-4
        When it comes to merchandise protection in my stores, I am always looking for the highest quality security devices that are cost effective. Are you looking for a fix that won’t break the bank? Each year expert thieves find new ways to pilfer our highest profit products. As retailers, we must remain hyper vigilant in the fight against loss. I’ve worked in several retail stores who at first, did not have security tags on clothes. I would watch clothing items walk out of the store daily. The shoplifters were taking over the location, leaving shelves empty and sales spiraling down. We could not allow this to keep happening, so we implemented clothing security tags on our products.  
        As a Loss Prevention manager, I frequently scan my CCTV cameras to analyze trends and patterns. I noticed we were consistently shrinking out in women’s & juniors clothing, so this was a high focus area for my store. We implemented a plan to have any women’s & juniors clothing priced at $29.99 and up, to utilize clothing security tags. Now that we executed a plan, we need to see if it really was working. I was scanning cameras one afternoon and noticed 2 woman in my store carrying large purses. The purses were extremely flat & appeared empty on camera. This alerted me to them, as I know this routine all too well! They both rapidly selected 15 high dollar shirts, priced at $49.99-69.99 each piece. After selecting the items, they lookout for store personnel as they head straight for an area with no checkouts or shoppers around. I knew they were now ready to conceal.  They bend down to the ground as they get ready to load up their empty purses. They pull the shirts off the hangers, but then stop to discuss. I can see both subjects placing their hands on the clothing security tags. They try to break it off, but the task proved too difficult. They leave the 15 shirts on the ground, grab their empty purses, and exit into the parking lot. They didn’t realize my store places security tags on clothes. This showed my store team the importance of ensuring that we are utilizing the clothing security tags. These 2 subjects could have absconded close to $1000 in one instance. If the shoplifters decided to be bold by stealing with the tags on, they would set off the security system as they approach the exit. The security system would alert by making a massive noise and light up at the same time. This would place all eyes on them and allow the associates to react in time. Keeping security tags on clothes works as a deterrent in several different ways, which makes them extremely successful in retailers. At my location, we see several of these same incidents similar to the 2 subjects I watched. The shoplifter leaves empty handed due to our tough merchandise protection standards. Each week my store pulls our known theft numbers to see where we stand. For those 2 specific departments, we have noticed a massive decline in thefts after we started the new plan. I’ve personally seen this program work every time. Another positive aspect of the tags, are how customer friendly they are. My store manager really likes that they are reusable and easy to remove at the point of sale. This allows customers to still be able to check out at the registers quickly.
 
       Clothing items are extremely easy to conceal for thieves. Improve your bottom line by simply placing security tags on clothes. Why not protect your assets with an easy, cost effective fix? Clothing security tags ensure that your business is protected. You will notice a difference in your theft problem immediately at your store! 
Get more information on Clothing Security Tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today. 

When it comes to merchandise protection in my stores, I am always looking for the highest quality security devices that are cost effective. Are you looking for a fix that won’t break the bank? Each year expert thieves find new ways to pilfer our highest profit products. As retailers, we must remain hyper vigilant in the fight against loss. I’ve worked in several retail stores who at first, did not have security tags on clothes. I would watch clothing items walk out of the store daily. The shoplifters were taking over the location, leaving shelves empty and sales spiraling down. We could not allow this to keep happening, so we implemented clothing security tags on our products.  

As a Loss Prevention manager, I frequently scan my CCTV cameras to analyze trends and patterns. I noticed we were consistently shrinking out in women’s & juniors clothing, so this was a high focus area for my store. We implemented a plan to have any women’s & juniors clothing priced at $29.99 and up, to utilize clothing security tags. Now that we executed a plan, we need to see if it really was working. I was scanning cameras one afternoon and noticed 2 woman in my store carrying large purses. The purses were extremely flat & appeared empty on camera. This alerted me to them, as I know this routine all too well! They both rapidly selected 15 high dollar shirts, priced at $49.99-69.99 each piece. After selecting the items, they lookout for store personnel as they head straight for an area with no checkouts or shoppers around. I knew they were now ready to conceal. They bend down to the ground as they get ready to load up their empty purses. They pull the shirts off the hangers, but then stop to discuss. I can see both subjects placing their hands on the clothing security tags. They try to break it off, but the task proved too difficult. They leave the 15 shirts on the ground, grab their empty purses, and exit into the parking lot. They didn’t realize my store places security tags on clothes. This showed my store team the importance of ensuring that we are utilizing the clothing security tags. These 2 subjects could have absconded close to $1000 in one instance. If the shoplifters decided to be bold by stealing with the tags on, they would set off the security system as they approach the exit. The security system would alert by making a massive noise and light up at the same time. This would place all eyes on them and allow the associates to react in time. Keeping security tags on clothes works as a deterrent in several different ways, which makes them extremely successful in retailers. At my location, we see several of these same incidents similar to the 2 subjects I watched. The shoplifter leaves empty handed due to our tough merchandise protection standards. Each week my store pulls our known theft numbers to see where we stand. For those 2 specific departments, we have noticed a massive decline in thefts after we started the new plan. I’ve personally seen this program work every time. Another positive aspect of the tags, are how customer friendly they are. My store manager really likes that they are reusable and easy to remove at the point of sale. This allows customers to still be able to check out at the registers quickly.        

 

Clothing items are extremely easy to conceal for thieves. Improve your bottom line by simply placing security tags on clothes. Why not protect your assets with an easy, cost effective fix? Clothing security tags ensure that your business is protected. You will notice a difference in your theft problem immediately at your store! 

 

Get more information on Clothing Security Tags, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today. 

 

 

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Who Is Your Shoplifter and What Do They steal?

October 3, 2017 by Leave a Comment

A Department of Corrections officer was arrested this week at a Walmart for shoplifting.  The perpetrator was a former Walmart employee who had left to become a corrections officer.  The incident was reported to the authorities, indicating the amount stolen was around $400 dollars during  45 visits at that particular Walmart.

The retail industry loses billions of dollars due to employee theft and shoplifting.  It is more difficult when former employees that were in charge of the loss prevention department or have worked there are arrested because of a shoplifting incident they are committing. This month a shoplifter; a corrections officer and former Walmart employee has been charged with 5 counts of shoplifting that happened at the Walmart he used to work for. What is the solution to this problem? How can the retail industry prepare itself for the many shoplifting incidents that occur every day at their stores?

Many industries experts agree that training is the logical solution. Training, constant vigilance, and state of the art technology that can help prevent, deter and even stop shoplifting while is happening.

For more news about shoplifting, follow the links below.

Walmart nabs former employee for shoplifting — in his corrections officer uniform

A onetime Walmart loss prevention officer was arrested Friday for shoplifting from his former employer.

George Smalling, 38, of Pasco, was booked in the Franklin County jail on five counts of shoplifting in what the Pasco Police Department described as an “interesting” case.

According to the police department, Smalling worked at the Pasco Walmart pursuing shoplifters until he left in 2015 to become a corrections officer with the Washington Department of Corrections prison system.

This summer, a current loss prevention officer was investigating a series of shoplifts. In connection with the investigation, the store determined that a particular man came in at least 45 times during that period. The suspect would use the self-checkout lane. He would scan one item but pass others over the reader. He would pay for the scanned item and then leave.

Shoplifter attempts to steal laundry detergent. Does not get away clean.

Police are asking for your help to find a shoplifter. If you have information about this crime, don’t try to take action on your own. Anonymous tips, including photos and videos, can be submitted by texting LEXPD plus the tip to CRIMES (274637). Information can also be sent anonymously through Bluegrass Crime Stoppers at 859-253-2020 or Bluegrasscrimestoppers.com.

Crime of the Week

This week’s Crime of the Week involves a shoplifter who struck the Kroger store on Bryan Station Road.

He tried to leave Walmart with steaks in his pants, police say

A 25-year-old man was arrested Monday in connection with shoplifting after police say he hid steaks in his pants and left without paying at a Myrtle Beach grocery store, according to a police report.

Payton Christian Abbott, 25, was cited in connection with shoplifting, online jail records show.

Myrtle Beach officers were called about 11:30 a.m. to the Walmart Neighborhood Market at 3915 N. Kings Hwy. in regards to an alleged shoplifting incident.

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Employee Theft And The Hiring Process

September 29, 2017 by Leave a Comment

Are you hiring someone who has the tendency to steal from their employer?  Hiring new employees for the season and for permanent positions is a difficult task in and of itself. But do you consider employee theft in the hiring process?

With little additional effort, you can screen out candidates that are prone to, or even have an ambivalent attitude towards theft from your company. The folks that are ambivalent tend to be the ones that will look the other way while others, both internal and external, steal from you and will not tell you that they suspect or see theft occurring. The normal excuse they give themselves and you, if confronted after the fact, is “I did not want to get involved” or “I am not a rat”. Both of these are copouts. But what you need to consider is that you, the owner or manager have probably set the foundation for this attitude.

To keep employees from stealing from you, you must start at the very first step in the employment process. When someone applies for a job, they need to understand that you will check their criminal background. You should have a separate background check release document from your company’s application. That sets the beginning of theft prevention.

During the interview process are you asking questions about employee theft and the candidate’s attitude towards it? If not, you are missing out on a very simple step that will reveal much more than you expected. These are questions that you can and should be asking. Loss Prevention Systems offers to our customers live, online training that is FREE of charge about this very subject. The seminar is titled “Pre-employment hiring: What they don’t tell you will HURT you”. This training teaches you and your staff how to ask better questions regarding loss prevention areas. Do you want to find out more about not only the candidate’s involvement in and attitude about employee theft but also what they have stolen from previous employers and their use of illegal drugs? This session will teach you those techniques.

Next, when you make the offer of employment and conduct their orientation, are you explaining your policy and procedures regarding theft? Do you let them know that it is THEIR obligation to bring any suspicion or actual theft to your attention immediately? It is a job requirement. They are getting paid by you for a job you hired them for. This includes loyalty to you and the company. But if you do not discuss it, how can you expect them to do what you ask?

Do you have a theft policy document or handbook that they must read and then they sign an acknowledgment receipt that is placed in their HR file? Again, if you are a customer of Loss Prevention Systems, we will provide you with a draft LP handbook that you can modify to fit your company. It lets the new employee know that the only thing they may take from the company is the air in their lungs. It also helps them to understand what they are to do for suspected or witnessed theft. If you are a Retailer, it also covers shoplifting.

Your next step is to reinforce this message with all employees at company meetings. This can be as simple as asking questions. Ask for a show of hands to a question like “Have you ever worked at a company where someone was caught stealing?” follow up with “how did that make you feel?’ or “How would you feel if you found out that a co-worker was stealing from the company?”. Most of the time employees respond with a feeling of betrayal, disbelief, shock, anger… You should then expand on those feelings with a discussion. Instead of you “preaching”, let them express their thoughts. You should simply guide the conversation. Ask employees what they think should happen to someone who was caught stealing from the company. You are likely to hear harsh terms like jail, arrest, fired, shot at sunrise and more. But just as important, observe the employees that take a disinterested, joking or mild approach. If they themselves are stealing, they are more likely to use softer words such as “get in trouble, lose their jobs, disciplined…” That does not mean that everyone who reacts in a more mild fashion is stealing. That may simply be their personality or they are uncomfortable talking about conflict type situations. But this does give you more insight into their thinking. Employees that mock or make fun of the conversation should, in my experience, be watched closely.

This process shows everyone that you are not afraid to discuss the topic and are prone to take action if it does occur. It also shows employees that have or will think about stealing from you that other employees will not tolerate their actions.

Start this process now! Do not wait. You want a good, profitable selling season. Contact us if you have questions or need assistance.

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The Scary Truth About Not Preparing For Holiday Foot Traffic

September 29, 2017 by Leave a Comment

I remember it like it was yesterday. It was a Black Friday morning and we had lines of customers jockeying for position at 16 front end cash registers, two pharmacy registers, a jewelry counter register and 2 registers at our electronics counter. Sure, there were a lot of people, hundreds if not a thousand at one time but we were handling it. I had our Loss Prevention team monitoring cameras, checking receipts at the front doors and walking the floor with “Security” jackets on to deter theft and prevent fights. The store management team had good plans in place for replenishing freight on the floor and giving employees breaks. I had worked with the Store Manager to control the flow of customers into our building and all had gone off without a hitch, no pushing, shoving or fights. I even had a number of police officers at our front doors aiding us with crowd control. We had really planned for every contingency, or so we thought. The one thing that we had not planned for happened and it was a major problem, our register system went down! The audible sighs, snide remarks, and expressions of anger and frustration were heard in one collective voice. All of our managers jumped into action trying to reboot registers and get systems back online. Ever so slowly we got things moving again but it was a nightmare and it made us realize the scary truth, we had not really prepared for everything as well as we thought we had. A number of shopping carts had been abandoned with Black Friday specials in them and no salesfloor staff available to re-shelve the merchandise.

Can stores prepare for every contingency? Quite honestly, no but that is not to say there should not be a significant amount of time spent planning for holidays and holiday foot traffic. The hard part is knowing what you should plan for and have a contingency plan if something “breaks” which will most certainly happen. What kind of things can you prepare for?

  • Are you hoping for increased foot traffic or planning for it? Hoping is wishful thinking something will magically occur. Small and medium-size retailers have to make good things happen. Big Box retailers are planning months in advance for what their “Doorbuster” items will be for Black Friday. They do bulk purchases of merchandise that will be one-time sellers. LCD televisions are one of the big promos I see each year. These are often not top of the line name brands and they are bargain priced to bring in foot traffic. Get people in the door and hit them with other sale items and promotions. The nasty surprise with this type of gimmick? What do you tell your customers when you run out? Were you fair in how you advertised quantities would be limited, no holds would be permitted, first come/first serve and no rain checks or substitutions will be given out? Be clear in your advertising and let customers who are waiting for that item know how many there really are. You may give out a ticket to each person in line who is waiting for that “Doorbuster” so no one else feels “duped”. You can save a lot of headaches for yourself.
  • Test your equipment. Have a professional come in and test your point of sale registers, your computers, and even your electronic article surveillance pedestals and deactivation pads. Do you normally run two registers during the year? Consider having a third for an increase in customers or as backup if one of your two breaks.
  • Are you intending to run your holiday season with the same number of employees you have all year? That can be a scary decision. If you are planning out your sales and promotions you will see more customers. Failing to have enough staff means you are not giving the level of customer service you need to and people will be put-off with poor assistance, abandon merchandise and leave the store. Not adding staff also means you will run your full-time crew ragged and they may quit. Holiday seasons can be stressful enough without feeling like you’re stretched too thin by your boss.
  • Finally, consider promotions for each of the major holidays coming up in the final quarter of the year. Candy giveaways for those who celebrate Halloween, a drawing for a turkey dinner for Thanksgiving, or a raffle promotion to get people into your building for Christmas shopping, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, etc.

Holiday shoppers can make your financial year but you must be prepared. Careful planning will pay off in the end. Don’t be scared to step outside your comfort zone to reach new customers and drive profitable year-end sales. 

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The Importance Of Expressing Your Thanks For The Staff You Have

September 29, 2017 by Leave a Comment

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, I thought it would be an appropriate time for me to ask the employers out there how thankful are you for the staff you have? I don’t mean are you just thankful you have people who work for you in a general sense but how thankful are you for what they bring to the workplace every day? Maybe you have never thought about it like that. I’m certain you are thankful that Bobby showed up on time today or Mary Jane rang up customers without a customer complaint. But have you ever looked at how you express your thanks to your team? Maybe your attitude is that you pay them and that should be enough. Perhaps you give your employees a birthday card when their birthday rolls around each year. But is that really sufficient? Is it fair for your employees to expect more from you in terms of recognition?

In an article in forbes.com titled, “66% Of Employees Would Quit if They Feel Unappreciated”, by Victor Lipman, April 15, 2017, the author references, “…a study from Office Team examining the impact of appreciation, or lack thereof, in the workplace.” Quoting the study Mr. Lipman points out two startling findings:

  • 66% of employees say they would “likely leave their job of (sic) they didn’t feel appreciated.”
  • Among millennials, the number of employees who’d leave if unappreciated jumps to 76%.

The author states, “So what does all this mean? I’d call it a short message with a powerful takeaway: Appreciation matters.”I agree with the author’s sentiments. People need to feel like their efforts are appreciated by the supervisors/managers.

What are some of the ways managers can express their appreciation towards their employees? Below are some ideas that can be easy and meaningful:

  • Greet your employees when they arrive to work and say goodbye when they leave. I don’t mean you should say, “Glad you’re here, it’s been a crazy day” or “Oh, you made it on time, what a pleasant surprise!” Be genuine, say hello, hi or it’s good to see you when they come in and have a good afternoon or a great weekend when they leave.
  • Some large retailers have recognition cards they hand out to employees for performance and then have a monthly drawing for a gift card or monetary prize. It may not be practical for a smaller retailer but you can give a Thank-You card out from time to time
  • I work for a business where my superiors have expressed their appreciation with a company travel coffee mug, candy, greeting cards and a gift card at various times on top of emails expressing appreciation for my contributions. All of these make my efforts feel like they are worth the effort. Sometimes it’s the little things that mean a lot.
  • Appreciation may be demonstrated with the assignment of a special project or task that shows trust or gives more responsibility. With that assignment, there must be a verbal acknowledgment by the manager of how the employee’s work performance has merited the responsibility. It would be appropriate to also give some additional incentive if the assignment would merit it.

Aside from the possibility of employees quitting due to feeling unappreciated, it is also possible their performance is tied to how appreciated they feel working for you. According to an article in apa.org (American Psychological Association) from March 8, 2013, titled, “APA Survey Finds Feeling Valued at Work Linked to Well-Being and Performance”; “Almost all employees (93 percent) who reported feeling valued said they are motivated to do their best work and 88 percent reported feeling engaged.”  Clearly, it is in your best interest to find ways to express appreciation to your employees for the work they do for your business. Happy employees will want to make the company they work for successful and that means YOU will be successful.

This holiday season as you consider all the things you are thankful for, don’t forget those who make your business the success it is. Express your thanks and find ways to recognize them, now and all throughout the year. You won’t regret it.

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Late Night And Overnight Store Operations Make It Difficult To Prevent Shoplifting And Robbery

September 29, 2017 by Leave a Comment

I watched a video shared with me by a former Loss Prevention Manager colleague. The video showed three subjects enter a retail store and all appeared to be wearing masks and at least one looked to be carrying a rifle of some type. There were several employees at the front entrance when the subjects walked in and one of the employees seemed to say something to the one who was carrying what I will refer to as a rifle. The video was not the greatest and the camera is pointing into the store from the exterior door so for the most part, the backs of the perpetrators are seen.

The employee who approached the subject standing at the doorway may have said something and in the video, it appears the employee was hit and knocked to the floor. Two of the bad guys raced into the store and shortly afterward ran out and it seems they were carrying bags. I did not inquire as to what was stolen from the store but one person did inquire why this particular retailer was open after midnight (an unusual time of the evening for this company to have the doors to their stores open). It turns out they were open late for a special sale of “Star Wars” toys being released.

The idea of remaining open late into the night has always disturbed me. In my opinion, it invites all sorts of problems. How do you prevent robberies this late at night? How do you prevent shoplifting? What about the protection you should be offering your customers who come to your store so late? All of these are things that retailers should be considering before they make a decision to try to get one more sale or add one more dollar to the register.

 One thing that Loss Prevention departments can do little about is stopping a robbery while it is in the act of occurring. They also cannot control who is coming into a store. This brings me back to the point about store leadership that decides to leave a store open late at night. The idea is that sales are going to surge (for that night or event) and the store has to beat the competition. If a store is going to be open late at night, and the owner/manager believes this is the best business decision my first recommendation is that the store is fully staffed. More employees are a deterrent to thieves and robbers not to mention shoplifters than a skeleton crew.

Customer safety has to be considered and so it is the obligation of management to make sure parking lot lights are all on and working properly. Several weeks prior to the event(s) a thorough inspection of parking lot lighting should be completed and ALL issues fixed by the property owner prior to the event. All exterior building lights must be working to take away areas where criminals may try to lurk. Camera (closed-circuit television systems) installation would be a good idea and today it can be done for relatively little money. Fixed cameras can be installed to monitor front entrances and exits, cash registers, a cash office and even sidewalks and parking lots. Finally, and this can be controversial, hire an armed security officer or off-duty police officer to work the front door of the store.

There are people who have a concern with an armed security officer or off-duty police officer for store protection. This is where the controversy comes in. What if someone(s) enters the store to commit an armed robbery? If that officer draws their weapon to intervene the possibility of innocent customers or employees being injured increases exponentially. On the other hand, an armed officer may be a strong deterrent to would-be robbers and their visibility may prevent shoplifting by being stationed at the front doors. The question remains, what if that one robbery attempt happens and everything goes bad? Store owners and managers MUST take that into consideration before taking that step.

I am not a fan of the late night or overnight store operation. I believe the risks associated with these events along with the possibility of robbery and increased theft, far outweigh the financial gain. Instead, drive profits with great customer service, great values and sales and reduced shortage with the use of retail anti-theft devices. Make safety and security a priority and your employees will appreciate it and customers will reward you by spending money in your store.

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Employee Theft And Safety

September 26, 2017 by Leave a Comment

Are you a small business owner dealing with the security of your store? Are you tired of not knowing where the losses are coming from? Employee theft and shoplifting are two of the major losses retail stores across the United States face every day. The millions of dollars the retail industry loses every day are due to employee theft and shoplifting, so how do you prepare yourself from employee theft?  Employee background checks can be a first step in dealing with employee theft.  Paying for background checks for your employees is investing in the future of your store.  Training them and going through the hiring process takes time and money.  By hiring the right people the first time, you save time and money that can be spent elsewhere.

For more about this and other topics follow the links below.

5 Smart Ways to Prevent Employee Theft

Do you know how much money you lose every year to employee theft? Read our article to find out how to prevent or reduce those losses.

As a retail business owner, you understand the risks you take by hiring a staff you don’t know. It’s difficult to build a whole lot of trust in a small amount of time, but you must. Still, employee theft is a more prevalent reality than you may realize.

Research conducted by four different agencies – the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners, Easy Small Business HR, the Institute for Corporate Productivity and Jack L. Hayes International Inc. – show that workers are daring with their pilfering. Shoplifting is a big enough risk for retail shops, being 35.6 percent of the source of inventory shrinkage, but employee theft comes in at 42.7 percent.

Annually, businesses in the United States are losing about $50 billion to employee theft. Also, 75 percent of employees admit having stolen at least once from their employers. Those are sobering statistics. However, there are a few precautions and actions you can take to reduce the chance of being ripped off by those you’re paying to work for you.

Convenience store manager fires gun after shoplifting incident

INDIANAPOLIS (WTHR) – An E. Washington St. convenience store manager is under investigation for firing his gun at a shoplifter.

It happened Monday night at Sam’s Food Mart & Tobacco Store.

Eyewitness News spoke with one of the store clerks about why the manager decided to fire his weapon.

The clerk said the shooting happened after his co-worker chased a customer through the front door and into the parking lot. The shoplifter left with a couple of items without paying for them.

Someone flagged down an IMPD officer to report the incident.

Eyewitness News has learned the shoplifter stole a bag of Planters peanuts and a package of Hostess Zingers.

Shoplifters of TVs Held in Death of 81-Year-Old Sears Worker

Authorities say an 81-year-old Sears sales associate was killed by two men who shoved him down while stealing television sets.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — An 81-year-old Sears sales associate was killed by two men who shoved him down while stealing television sets from a South Carolina store, authorities said Wednesday.

Sheriff Leon Lott said he charged “two punks” with murder as well as strong-arm robbery when Duaine Hamilton died, four days after his head hit the store’s concrete floor.

“It wasn’t a struggle. They just struck him. He’s 81 years old. He attempted to stop them by standing in front of them and they just attacked and knocked him down. And they still stole the TVs,” Lott said at a news conference.

Jeffrey Simmons, 58, was arrested Friday, and Jason Randolph, 40, was taken into custody Wednesday after a traffic stop, deputies said.

 

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