As the holiday season approaches, ensuring the safety of your workplace is paramount. As festivities heighten, so does the theft risk, mainly through shoplifting. Understanding and addressing these challenges preemptively will help fortify your business against potential losses. This guide will review how business owners can establish a safe environment for another successful holiday season.
Having engaging and present staff is critical in making your business a difficult target. In the case of petty theft, it is often a crime of opportunity. Remove this opportunity by encouraging staff to approach and engage customers in a friendly manner. This provides excellent customer service and signals to potential shoplifters that the staff has noticed them. Taking the time to provide staff with additional training can aid in quickly identifying suspicious behavior and preventing thefts before they can occur. Loss prevention does not fall solely on one employee. It is everyone’s role to be aware of their surroundings and raise awareness of suspicious characters to other team members.
When it comes to the more expensive items in the store, consider utilizing locked cases to provide an additional layer of security. These cases should be located towards the back of the store within a clear line of sight of security cameras with no potential obstructions such as holiday display signs. Consider moving around displays and other possible obstructions to create a clean line of sight through the store. This allows team members to better engage with customers and provide a safe environment in an emergency. Not only does a clear line of sight benefit the safety of clients and employees, but it also includes security cameras with the best visuals possible. Regarding security, cameras are a necessity and can be found in most business and shopping centers. Make the presence of security systems known by the use of signs that remind customers that your store has security measures in place.
Signage provides a courtesy to customers and a warning that can deter potential thieves. The holiday shopping season can be stressful for businesses of all sizes, but it doesn’t have to be. Adding seasonal security services can significantly alleviate the stress from the sales and foot traffic jump. Our team at Apex Security understands that each business is unique and requires a tailored strategy to provide the best outcome possible. We are committed to providing your business with high-quality service while fostering a positive environment for staff and customers. You can learn more about how security services can enhance your business here.
Businesses can take a few different approaches to security services depending on their wants and needs. For a more discrete approach, plain clothes security guards can blend in with the bustling crowd while maintaining a watchful eye on merchandise. This can also be paired with a stationary security guard who monitors surveillance footage to take note of any misplaced items or peculiar shoppers. On the other hand, some business owners prefer a direct presence through uniformed security guards to directly communicate with shoppers that they take theft and personal safety seriously.
This approach often involves a guard greeting guests at the front of the store and another guard patrolling aisles and interacting politely with shoppers by assisting them in finding an item. Reach out to our team at Apex Security today to learn more about how security services can benefit your business during the busy holiday season. We understand just how hectic the holidays can get. Our dedicated staff is ready to make the season easy with a prepared mindset and a customer-focused approach.