Training To Reduce Employee Theft-3 WC Blog 628
Stop Shoplifting-4
When Done Properly Training To Reduce Employee Theft And Stop Shoplifting Also Improves Sales
Training to reduce employee theft is a skill store managers should value as much as any other retail training. The company I work for periodically holds required training/meetings for all store employees to attend, even part-timers. The purpose of the training is to ensure all employees understand new programs that have been rolled out and how they should be using the program or promoting it to customers. When our company started a new program for enhancing sales of printer ink there was training our managers had to conduct with employees. Had the company pushed out a program and not given us all of the information we needed to promote it I am sure it would have been a complete flop. While I have no specific data on the results of the program I can speak to my own experiences and say that even as a part-time employee I have had a few successful sales with this new product. That gets to the heart of what I want to discuss, how training can decrease inventory shortage when managers know how to prevent theft by dishonest employees. Training to help stop shoplifting can also decrease shortage and improve sales by enhancing employee selling skills.
I imagine there are readers right now that cannot see how training to reduce employee theft can have any relevance to improving sales. From my many years of experience as a Retail Loss Prevention Manager I want to share my thought on how one impacts the other. I believe one of the things that managers can do to reduce employee theft is to reward employees who report co-workers who are stealing. This also includes rewarding employees who report empty packages they find to a manager, especially when the empty package is found in an employee’s-only accessible area. I have had employees report empty packages found in stockrooms and employee restrooms. Most times that empty packages were reported I was able to conduct a successful investigation leading to an employee admission of theft. When managers invest time teaching associates how to provide great customer service they are also teaching skills that will stop shoplifting. The moment a customer enters a store there should be a greeting from an employee and preferably eye contact made. That employee or someone on the salesfloor should then begin a conversation with the patron trying to help them find what they came in to purchase. If it is discovered that the customer only wants to browse that is okay, just be sure to check on them from time to time. Loss Prevention Systems Inc. (LPSI) offers training for managers that will give them the skills they need to run profitable stores. These skills provide managers the ability to deter dishonest employee activities and training on how they can identify those employees who are stealing. As a side note if a manager suspects an employee is stealing LPSI offers investigation services. LPSI CEO, Bill Bregar, knows that identifying, investigating and closing a theft case require an experienced Loss Prevention Investigator that knows how to properly and legally close a case. When done properly it can result in an admission statement, a possible promissory note and/or court ordered restitution.
I mentioned above that teaching proper service skills will stop shoplifting. Managers need to make sure that employees understand that the greeting and engaging of customers first and foremost drives sales. By asking a customer if there is something specific they came in to purchase the employee can help them locate it. If the store doesn’t carry the item, offering alternatives rather than simply saying the store does not have it can lead to a sale that otherwise might be lost. It is also an opportunity to increase sales through suggestive selling. A customer may say they only need poster board for a school project but sincere, open-ended questions from the employee may open the door to other items the customer did not consider. Markers, tape, glue and so on make incremental sales increases. That .99 cent poster board sale now becomes a $5.00 sale. BUT, if that customer came in with the intent to steal, that same customer service will drive them bananas. Thieves do not want attention and great customer service sends them scurrying like rats.
Whether it is improving customer service or rewarding honest employees for reporting suspicious behavior or activity, training to reduce employee theft and to stop shoplifting ultimately keeps products from being stolen. Merchandise not being stolen is available for purchases and purchases are driven by improving customer service. It’s a winning cycle so start training today and see profits rise.
For more information about training to reduce employee theft contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
Training to reduce employee theft is a skill store managers should value as much as any other retail training. The company I work for periodically holds required training/meetings for all store employees to attend, even part-timers. The purpose of the training is to ensure all employees understand new programs that have been rolled out and how they should be using the program or promoting it to customers. When our company started a new program for enhancing sales of printer ink there was training our managers had to conduct with employees. Had the company pushed out a program and not given us all of the information we needed to promote it I am sure it would have been a complete flop. While I have no specific data on the results of the program I can speak to my own experiences and say that even as a part-time employee I have had a few successful sales with this new product. That gets to the heart of what I want to discuss, how training can decrease inventory shortage when managers know how to prevent theft by dishonest employees. Training to help stop shoplifting can also decrease shortage and improve sales by enhancing employee selling skills.
I imagine there are readers right now that cannot see how training to reduce employee theft can have any relevance to improving sales. From my many years of experience as a Retail Loss Prevention Manager I want to share my thought on how one impacts the other. I believe one of the things that managers can do to reduce employee theft is to reward employees who report co-workers who are stealing. This also includes rewarding employees who report empty packages they find to a manager, especially when the empty package is found in an employee’s-only accessible area. I have had employees report empty packages found in stockrooms and employee restrooms. Most times that empty packages were reported I was able to conduct a successful investigation leading to an employee admission of theft. When managers invest time teaching associates how to provide great customer service they are also teaching skills that will stop shoplifting. The moment a customer enters a store there should be a greeting from an employee and preferably eye contact made. That employee or someone on the salesfloor should then begin a conversation with the patron trying to help them find what they came in to purchase. If it is discovered that the customer only wants to browse that is okay, just be sure to check on them from time to time. Loss Prevention Systems Inc. (LPSI) offers training for managers that will give them the skills they need to run profitable stores. These skills provide managers the ability to deter dishonest employee activities and training on how they can identify those employees who are stealing. As a side note if a manager suspects an employee is stealing LPSI offers investigation services. LPSI CEO, Bill Bregar, knows that identifying, investigating and closing a theft case require an experienced Loss Prevention Investigator that knows how to properly and legally close a case. When done properly it can result in an admission statement, a possible promissory note and/or court ordered restitution.
I mentioned above that teaching proper service skills will stop shoplifting. Managers need to make sure that employees understand that the greeting and engaging of customers first and foremost drives sales. By asking a customer if there is something specific they came in to purchase the employee can help them locate it. If the store doesn’t carry the item, offering alternatives rather than simply saying the store does not have it can lead to a sale that otherwise might be lost. It is also an opportunity to increase sales through suggestive selling. A customer may say they only need poster board for a school project but sincere, open-ended questions from the employee may open the door to other items the customer did not consider. Markers, tape, glue and so on make incremental sales increases. That .99 cent poster board sale now becomes a $5.00 sale. BUT, if that customer came in with the intent to steal, that same customer service will drive them bananas. Thieves do not want attention and great customer service sends them scurrying like rats.
Whether it is improving customer service or rewarding honest employees for reporting suspicious behavior or activity, training to reduce employee theft and to stop shoplifting ultimately keeps products from being stolen. Merchandise not being stolen is available for purchases and purchases are driven by improving customer service. It’s a winning cycle so start training today and see profits rise.
For more information about training to reduce employee theft, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547
