Ted Hurlbut

Beyond Shrink Control

February 18, 2010

FROM RETAILWIRE:
We know that loss prevention always becomes a bigger challenge for retailers when the jobless rate grows or stagnates at high levels. What attendees at a workshop during the NGA 2010 Annual Convention held last week in Las Vegas heard is that the current economic downturn also creates a significant opportunity. What loss prevention strategies do you think are most effective today?      [more...]

I recommend two things to my independent retail clients to discourage shoplifters and heighten awareness amongst the staff. First, every customer must be greeted when they enter the store, and at appropriate intervals thereafter, in a friendly, non-intrusive way. This both alerts would-be shoplifters that the staff is on the ball and reinforces customer service discipline and loss-prevention awareness with those on the floor.

Second, I recommend that an on-going cycle count program be put in place, with scheduled and unscheduled counting taking place a least once a week. This further reinforces the importance of loss prevention, leads to cleaner, crisper merchandise displays and good housekeeping habits, and identifies operation errors at a very early point.