4 Effective Loss-Prevention Tips for Store Owners
April 3, 2020
While your loyal shoppers work hard to earn money and invest in your brand, there is another type of shopper who holds no regard for your retail shop’s health. Shoplifters are responsible for shrinking inventory numbers across the U.S. retail industry that roughly total $46.8 billion, per Forbes. The statistics show that 36.5 percent of those losses stem from external theft versus employee theft.
Regardless of the type of theft your retail shop experiences, the negative impact can crush your bottom line.
Explore these four tips for effective loss prevention to protect your business profits.
1. Stay Alert on the Sales Floor
An alert and attentive sales team lets all customers know that your store is friendly and aware of everything going on. Equip your sales associates with proper training to strike a balance between remaining helpful and watchful. This strategy that combines awareness and friendly interaction is the best defense against shoplifters. Shoplifters monitor your associates’ level of awareness, so it is vital that your staff maintain alert status, like keeping track of how many items a shopper takes into a dressing room. Here are a few ideas for your employees to keep thieves on their toes:
- Make eye contact with customers as they enter the store since shoplifters do not want to make visual contact.
- Engage all customers in conversation since shoplifters do not want to talk for fear of creating more suspicion.
Provide frequent training for employees to help them stay sharp and focused to protect your merchandise and your store.
2. Invest in a Strong and Multifaceted Security System
Explore all your options for investing in a dynamic security camera system. Most shoplifters do not plan their theft until they have entered a store. If they come in and see easily visible cameras or security monitors, they are likely to decide against shoplifting from your shop. Nobody wants to find themselves caught on video. Take time to map your shop for blind spots and areas where popular items, susceptible to theft, are kept. Remember to configure some of your cameras to record automatically when detecting motion in your store or when someone approaches the cash register. These capabilities allow your associates to remain vigilant without sacrificing customer service or store upkeep.
See also, the doorbell camera with the latest technology features.
3. Share Your Security Measures With Your Customers
Whether you invest in a security camera system or you provide loss prevention training, let your customers know that you do so to keep your store and your product safe. Your loyal, paying customers will appreciate your efforts to protect your company that provides them with goods that they value.
4. Keep Your Store Clean and Neat
When you keep your store clean and neat, it is easier to notice missing inventory. Shoplifters may try to cause disarray to confuse your employees, so make sure everyone spends time before opening or after closing putting stock in order and noting any missing or suspiciously handled items. Train your employees to look for clear attempts to create pockets of chaos in your store.
Loss Prevention Is an Ongoing Effort for Your Retail Store
No matter what strategy you follow, your team will need to remain constantly and consistently vigilant to identify and deter shoplifters. You don’t want your store to become known as an easy mark, so invest in your strategy to protect your interests.
