Retailers: Shut the Door on Sticky-Fingered Shoplifters
It's hard out here for ... an independent retailer. And this is even more apparent now as the holiday shopping season kicks in with its predictable insanity.
One big threat to store owners is shoplifting (euphemistically referred to as "shrinkage"). Last year alone U.S. retailers lost $12.1 billion to shoplifters, and these numbers are rising. And in case you assume that the poor economy has reduced the average American to a Dickensian street urchin pilfering loaves of bread just to survive, as the article point out, shoplifted items tend to be luxury goods such as designer handbags and electronics.
While it's important to protect your inventory from sticky-fingered ne're-do-wells, you must strike a delicate balance between taking the proper security measures and coming across as San Quentin with a cash register. The last thing you want to do is treat every customer as a potential criminal. Personally, I refuse to shop at stores like Best Buy because of the shakedown I'm given by the rent-a-cops as I try to exit with my purchases.
Unfortunately, shoplifting can also be an inside job, which is why all small business owners need to learn how to protect their businesses from employee theft. This can be especially important around the holidays, when you may have quickly hired temporary staff to help with the seasonal crunch.
All store owners want their merchandise headed out the doors this year—they just want it to be paid for. So educate yourself and your staff, take the necessary precautions, and make shoplifters think twice before hitting your place of business.
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