Black Friday is one of the most important days of the year for retail establishments. Although it’s a profitable day, it’s also a day that comes with a very unique set of challenges and issues. Because of the large crowds and excited customers eager to snatch the best deal, there are a number of safety and security concerns that arise on this busy retail holiday that need to be addressed. We’ve compiled a list of tips to help your retail store stay safe and secure this Black Friday.
Common Security Issues on Black Friday
Security issues are always a concern in retail stores. However, Black Friday brings unique concerns and makes year-round concerns more severe. Here are some of the most pressing security concerns on Black Friday.
Theft
Some Black Friday sales are so good that they feel like a steal. However, some people take advantage of the Black Friday chaos to actually steal. It’s important to keep an eye out for theft when your store is full of crowds. During Black Friday sales, not only are there crowds of people around, but these crowds are also throwing things around and making a mess of your store. This lack of organization can make it easy for shoplifters to conceal their theft and slip out unnoticed.
Crowd Control
Black Friday sales attract big crowds. Although lines are often organized before stores open, as soon the sale begins, the store descends into chaos. Hundreds of people rush into the store, running to their target item. These crowds can be overwhelming, destructive, and even dangerous. For this reason, crowd control is an essential consideration that is unique to Black Friday.
Safety
The combination of crowds and excitement can often lead to accidents. People have even been trampled to death during Black Friday sales! In addition to the general excitement, patrons can get overzealous when the sales items start to decrease in number. People will often fight over the last sale item, even getting physical. Without proper security measures, these altercations can have dangerous consequences.
Emergency Response
Emergency response is an important consideration year-round. However, with the large crowds during Black Friday, it’s important to take special precautions. With so many people around and so much chaos, an emergency such as a fire can be a real problem. Without a clear plan and someone providing very specific instructions to patrons, an emergency situation can become even worse.
Solutions
Although there are a fair amount of security concerns associated with Black Friday, there are plenty of solutions to help alleviate these concerns. We’ve compiled a list of some of the top tips to address these security issues.
Get a Security Risk Assessment
Before Black Friday, you should consider having a security risk assessment at your retail establishment. During the assessment, a trained security professional will come to your store and identify all security vulnerabilities. He or she will also make suggestions for the best way to improve your security measures. He can even make specific suggestions such as better surveillance camera placement to maximize visibility and the best place to have your employees stand. When you have a security risk assessment, you can be sure you’re properly prepared for any threat.
Hire Private Security Officers
Security officers might not be necessary year round at your store, but they’re a good idea for Black Friday. When you hire private security officers, you have the ability to staff fully trained security officers for short term contracts, including the holiday season or simply for the Black Friday sale. Security officers are a great idea to promote security on Black Friday. They will watch for and stop shoplifters, keep crowds under control, encourage patrons to keep calm, maintain order, and provide important instructions in the case of an emergency. To provide extra protection and a sense of order, smart retail establishments will hire private security officers for Black Friday.
Update Your Security System
If it’s been a while since your security system has been updated, it’s important to do so before Black Friday. An outdated security system will not properly protect your store. You could be compromising the visibility your surveillance system provides as well as any alarms you have in place. It’s important to take advantage of the latest technology to keep your store properly protected.
Retrain Employees
Black Friday is a particularly challenging day for retail employees. For this reason, it’s important to make sure they’re ready. Retrain all of your employees to watch for shoplifters and manage unruly customers before Black Friday. You’ll want to make sure all employees are up to date on the latest procedures and know how to handle a tough situation. A refresher training before a busy day can help your employees feel more ready to handle one of the most challenging days of the year.
Hire Extra Help
During the holiday season, most retail establishments hire extra seasonal help. However, you can even hire people to just work Black Friday. You can hire personnel whose job it is simply to stand by all entrances and exits to deter shoplifters. Extra help can also help check people’s shopping bags as they’re exiting the store. The more employees you have working your Black Friday sale, the better chance you have of maintaining order during this hectic time.
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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