Job one for any retail business owner is profit. Making money usually is the main reason you got into this business in the first place. But if you stop and think about it, you’ll realize that having retail security for your store is as important to the bottom line as the inventory you carry.
Theft is a problem. Shoplifting generally and organized retail theft specifically, account for $30 billion dollars a year in losses according to statistics supplied by the FBI. However, these grim numbers don’t mean retail shop owners need to accept these losses on their balance sheets without a fight. Here are a few things that you can do to keep your retail shop as safe as possible from theft.
Change Your Layout.
Many shop owners place their inventory according to what sells and how much of it they can source, but retail security companies will tell you there’s another factor to consider. For example, if a certain product is placed above or below eye level is tempting to thieves. In a best case scenario, nothing you have for sale should be in a blind spot where you can’t keep an eye on it. For example, if you have a kiosk set up, you should include shelving so products are always visible.
Get Electronic Eyes Working For You.
Although a mock security camera can do some good as an important tool for retail security, there’s really no substitute for the real thing. There’s a lot to choose from here including wired and wireless connections to keep your property safe and watched over. Shop owners who have smaller retail outlets can even place a series of strategic cameras inside around storerooms and backdoors and choose an app that can sync everything to their smartphones. The latest video surveillance technology can even help you identify spots that need to be bolstered up with better security before there’s a problem.
Choosing retail security companies.
Although making eye contact with customers and having a staff that is otherwise trained to be friendly and courteous is a great deterrent, there’s really no substitute for hiring security professionals. Properly trained security guards are the proven best deterrent to organized retail theft. The best professional security services will hire well-trained experts or offer courses themselves so that you can rest assured your property or retail outlet is being watched by experts who act as excellent deterrents. Look for a company that can handle a variety of different services ranging from commercial and retail to private bodyguards and security for events.
Getting good retail security needs to be just as much a part of your business thinking as product cycles and inventory. Changing computer passwords as well as the codes to alarm systems and rekeying locks after employees leave for other jobs are also excellent ideas to make sure your security level stays high. Installing alarms on doors and windows is another excellent suggestion.