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.)
