Training Your Employees To Prevent Shoplifting
Theft is a serious problem that may force you to raise your prices. If you are required to do so, you are less likely to be competitive. While spending some money on commercial security may seem like an annoying expense, the amount of money that it could save you in shoplifting prevention makes it worthwhile.
Educate Your Employees Properly
To prevent shoplifting, you will need to educate your employees regarding what shoplifting looks like. Shoplifters can look like anyone and may operate alone or in groups. If the shoplifters are operating in groups, they may have one accomplice create a distraction so that the other accomplices can steal items.
Have Employees Focus On Customer Service
While simply having employees follow the customers around might be bad for business, there are other ways that employees can keep an eye on customers without causing customers to feel like they are being followed. Have your employees approach customers and offer to assist them. This is not only a valuable part of customer service, but will also reduce the risk of shoplifting.
Make It Harder To Leave With Merchandise
Your store should never be designed in such a way to where customers can leave the store with your merchandise. Instead, your customers should be forced to walk past a register before leaving the store. Also, avoid having displays outside your store because these are locations where it is easy to steal.
Tidy Up The Store
Tell your employees to pay close attention to the merchandise. That way, they can determine if anything is missing. Then, ask them to frequently tidy up the store and make note of any merchandise that they cannot account for. This process is easier if each employee is assigned to manage a specific area of the store. Hang clothing back up promptly, and return merchandise back to its proper place as soon as you can.
Place The Displays Strategically
Where you place your displays will make it much easier for store clerks to prevent shoplifting. The shortest displays should be placed near the register. The tallest displays should be placed in locations where at least one staff member will be able to see the display.
Look for Suspicious Behavior
While anyone can be a shoplifter, those who are the most likely to shoplift are those who avoid eye contact, who appear nervous and who do not appear to be purchasing anything. They will exhibit behavior that is uncommon among other customers, such as leaving and returning to the store repeatedly.
They may also appear more focused on the other customers and on your staff members than they are on shopping. If you notice someone behaving strangely, do not assume that they are shoplifting. However, you should still keep an eye on the customer.