Four ways retailers can up their security

Running a bricks and mortar shop can offer many benefits which online retailers miss out on. The ability to engage more freely with your customers, being just one of them.

However, one distinct disadvantage that having a physical store presents is protecting your merchandise from thieves.

Thieves are often not too picky about who they steal from, whether you are an international chain or a one outlet sole trader. The impact of shoplifters stealing from you when you run an independent business can be devastating.

Your business is something that you have nurtured from nothing, and invest your time, money, and energy into making it a success. To protect your business, it is a good idea to implement security measures, such as monitored alarm systems, to keep your stock and premises as safe and secure as they can be.

Be vigilant

To identify the areas of your business that are vulnerable to theft, you will need to be vigilant and take time to observe precisely what is happening in your store. Once you start to focus your attention on the security of your store, you may be surprised by the vulnerabilities that you notice.

At times, it is all too easy to get caught up in promoting your business on social media to attract new customers. However, at the same time, a thief could be taking advantage of the fact that you are engrossed in what you are doing.

Identify the weak areas of security in your shop, and then think about ways to resolve this. For example, do you have high ticket items, that are positioned somewhere which is easy for a shoplifter to grab and quickly escape with? 

Protect it

Once you lock up at the end of the day, think about how secure your business is. When you are not working, is your shop vulnerable to being broken into? Do you have security services in place that will protect and watch over your business premises even when you are not there?

Coming into work in the morning to find you have had a break-in overnight, is a terrible feeling, and can cause a considerable amount of stress and disruption to your business. Having security systems in place can offer you peace of mind, and act as a visible deterrent to any would-be thieves.

Out of bounds

Make sure you keep staff-only areas of the building secure so that members of the public cannot access them. A secure entry system, such as a keypad lock, is a useful way of keeping opportunistic thieves from gaining access to the staff-only areas of your business. If you have a stock room and cash office, these are extremely important to keep secure and protected.

Don’t forget the basics 

Sometimes breaches in your business’ security can happen as a result of human error. To prevent this from happening, it is a great idea to implement security procedures and to make sure that your staff are fully aware and trained in your store’s processes to help prevent theft.