The holiday season will be here before you know it, so it’s important to make sure your store is ready. You’re probably starting to plan out your holiday sales and gather your decorations, but have you thought about your store’s security? Retail security is of the utmost importance during the holiday season, as stores become much busier than normal. To properly prepare your store for this year’s holiday season, follow these tips listed below.
Have a Security Risk Assessment
If you’re looking to improve your security or just assess the overall quality of your current security, a security risk assessment is a great idea. A professional from a security company will come in and tell you which parts of your security are satisfactory and what you can improve. They will make suggestions such as updating your surveillance equipment or changing the placement of your security cameras to maximize visibility. If you want to improve security in your retail store, a security risk assessment is a great first step.
Update Your Surveillance System
Security technology is constantly changing and improving, so the best way to keep your store protected is to make sure you have the latest technology. Do you have good cameras that provide high-quality footage? Do you have integrated alarms and access control? It’s important to take advantage of the latest technology to ensure that you have the maximum amount of possible protection.
Retrain Employees
Refresher courses for your employees before the holiday season is a good idea. Remind your employees about the warning signs of shoplifting and how to look out for it. You should also remind them what to do if they see a shoplifter or suspect someone of shoplifting. Chances are, your employees haven’t had a shoplifting training since their hiring or the previous holiday season. For this reason, it’s important to make sure your employees are fully prepared to stop shoplifters during the holiday season.
Hire Seasonal Help Early
Most retail establishments hire extra help around the holidays. Whether you need people to stay late, come in early, or add an extra body to your team, seasonal help can be very beneficial. For security purposes, you can even hire seasonal workers to stand by your entrances and exits to deter shoplifters. If you’re planning on hiring seasonal help, you should do so early in order to provide proper training. If you hire just before the holidays begin, your new help will be thrown into the busy season without first getting acclimated. If you’re considering hiring seasonal help for the holidays, you should begin hiring ASAP.
Consider Hiring Private Security Officers
Most stores do not have security officers year round, unless they are particularly large or have particularly valuable items. However, many retail establishments decide to hire private security officers just for the holiday season. It’s easy to hire them for these temporary contracts, and they will provide an extra level of security during this busy time of year. They can stop and deter shoplifters and generally keep your store in order. They are particularly helpful for big sales like Black Friday sales, which can get quite out of hand and often require someone to restore order.
Rearrange Your Store
If you’re concerned about shoplifting and security breaches, you should consider rearranging your store. You can change the arrangement so that there are no blind spots in which customers can hide and steal from the store. In addition to the layout, mirrors can be very helpful in maximizing visibility. You should also carefully consider the placement of employees, ensuring that employees are posted around the store so that every spot in the store can be seen. Rearranging your store can give it a fresh look for the holiday season while improving its overall security.
USI Security | Security For Retail Businesses
At USI Integrated Solutions, we bring together a highly experienced team, keen strategic planning and in-depth understanding of the leading technologies and security services in the field. For 26 years we have brought peace of mind to our clients through the careful application of investigative talent, technology implementation as well as providing trained and licensed security officers. Learn more about our products and services to improve the safety of your property at http://usisecurity.com or give us a call at 1-800-874-6434.
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