Shoplifting happens. It’s a sad fact of retail life that accounts for losses of over $30 billion every year, in the USA alone. But there’s a lot you can do to reduce the impact of shoplifting on your business.
Honestly assessing your best practices with respect to inventory theft is a good place to start. Are you doing all you can to prevent shoplifting? We’re willing to bet you could use a few friendly tips to make your business less vulnerable.
High vulnerability days and times.
It’s reported that Wednesdays and Saturdays are the most popular days for visitors with sticky fingers to grab something from your shelves without paying. Starting there, identifying times of high vulnerability is key and that’s where additional vigilance comes into play.
Research points out that shoplifting is most likely to occur in the afternoon or evening. These are times when employees may not be at their sharpest. We suggest an employee roster that specifically assigns staff members to “shoplifter watch”, in rotation. When employees are tasked with this role, it’s likely they’ll intensify their focus and vigilance.
Stereotyping can hurt you.
Falling back on stereotypes about what shoplifters look like is not only a dangerous way to view some of your customers, it’s also misleading. There is no demographic group more likely to shoplift than any other, save the very loosely-defined one of middle aged, employed people.
The trick here is not to allow stereotypes to inform your practices. Profiling leads people to jump to incorrect conclusions. It can not only cost you valuable customers, it can get you embroiled in lawsuits and nobody needs those.
Find a balance. Protecting your business from shoplifting doesn’t mean alienating customers. It means keeping your eyes and those of your staff open.
Tidy store – tight ship.
A tidy, well-organized store sends the message that you know exactly what’s on your shelves. Keeping your merchandise free of dust and well-presented reinforces that message. It tells potential shoplifters that you’re not a good target.
Shoplifters love a little bit of disorder. Disorder speaks to a staffing shortage, or even disengaged employees. When employees are in short supply, or not interested in their work, shoplifters have a unique opportunity to lift your merchandise, unimpeded.
Through the eyes of a shoplifter.
Shoplifters are looking for items which are easy to grab surreptitiously and slip into a pocket. Small items are favored, as well as merchandise that’s accessible, or less likely to be noticed as missing.
Moving smaller items to prominent locations which are easily visible to you and your employs is a good deterrent. Keep small merchandise in plain view and higher up. Even placing these things behind the counter at the cash register is a good idea.
If you are doing everything you can to prevent shoplifting, you’re a loss prevention genius. If not, these tips are a good start for becoming one.
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