Black Friday is one of the most important days in retail. In 2016, over 100 million shoppers participated in Black Friday, spending roughly $655.8 billion. Along with the significant amount of money the holiday brings in, it also brings new safety concerns to retail stores. People come in large crowds to shop Black Friday deals, which often leads to damage to property and injury to shoppers. Hiring extra help for Black Friday can help prevent these issues. Private security guards are the best option to provide this assistance. Read below to learn about the advantage private security guards have over other types of assistance.

Training

One of the biggest benefits to private security officers is their training. When a private security guard starts working for you, they are already trained in all necessary procedures including theft prevention, emergency response, crowd control, and more. You will not have to waste resources on training your security team during this busy time. Instead, they will arrive ready to keep your retail establishment safe and secure.

Stop Shoplifters

There is always a risk of shoplifting in retail establishments. However, during Black Friday, this risk is heightened. There are large crowds of people, allowing shoplifters to easily conceal themselves. Store items are often thrown about and disheveled, allowing shoplifters to easily take items. Security officers will provide an extra set of eyes with only one job: to patrol your store. They are highly trained to spot and stop shoplifters and will help prevent theft in your store.

Crowd Control

One unique issue on Black Friday is crowds. Large groups of people flock to Black Friday sales. These crowds have been known to cause damage to property and injuries, even death, when unchecked. Therefore, it’s important to have property security measures in place to prevent these issues from occurring. Private security guards will keep everyone in line and enforce rules. They can help facilitate orderly lines and prevent crowds from getting out of control.

Safety

There are unique safety risks on Black Friday as a result of the combination of large crowds and exciting sales. Often times, altercations occur over the last of a certain sale item. Security guards can help prevent these altercations and get them under control before they escalate. They will also keep an eye out for suspicious activity and apprehend any potential offenders before they pose a threat. Security officers can help protect your store on Black Friday to ensure that shoppers have a safe and enjoyable experience.

Emergency Response

Because of the large crowds, an emergency situation such as a fire can pose a more significant threat than usual on Black Friday. Private security officers are highly trained in emergency response. They can keep everyone calm and provide instructions explaining how to proceed. They will quickly and efficiently clear out the building and assess the problem. Security guards are highly trained to stay calm under pressure and address any emergency situation properly while keeping shoppers and employees safe.

USI Security | Security Officer Training and Staffing

For the past 25 years, USI has created safe, secure environments for commercial and government employees and customers by investing in our people, innovation and relationships. As engaged owner-operators, our investment begins with recruitment and screening to ensure we have the right people and continues through our policies and practices that enable USI to properly train and retain the best personnel.

USI is engaged in supporting your security and business by developing customized security solutions that support your objectives while cost-effectively minimizing risk. Clients receive continuous support from a highly responsive team of professionals including owners, management, field supervisors and officers. Our commitment to quality includes field inspections and audits, as well as investments in innovative solutions for continuous training and compliance.