300 Seconds: Prepare for the Season

With the holiday shopping season upon us, take a little bit of time to look around the store to see if you’re ready. Displays and inventory are important, but I’m referring to theft and safety.

A good way to deter theft is to be present in the store. Walk around and check on customers, strike up conversations. And don’t make it easy; place the more tempting items near the register.

We want to deter shoplifters, but we also do not want to attract thieves with the extra holiday cash.

  • Do you have a plan to skim excess cash from the drawer? What happens to it after it is removed?
  • Are there windows near where you reconcile the registers?
  • Does the person who makes the bank deposit take the same route each time?
  • Does the staff know how to react during a robbery?

Invite your neighborhood police officer to the store to walk around and identify potential areas of concern. This is another time when a different perspective is helpful.

While some people might call this being paranoid, I like to think of it as being prepared. (And just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean they’re not out to get you.)

Beth Golay

Beth is a reader, writer, marketer and Books & Whatnot founder. Even though she knows better, she's a sucker for a good book cover and will positively swoon if a book is set in appropriate type. @BethGolay