Clothing Security –3 WC Blog 806
Sensormatic Tags-3
Clothing Security And Late Night Clothing Tasks
It can be difficult to make clothing security a priority or stop any shoplifting when it is late at night and you are ready to close the store. The other night our store was in the process of getting ready to close and I noticed a car pull into the parking lot. It was about five minutes until time to lock the doors and the customer entered and proceeded to a specific department. He wanted something that he indicated would only take a few minutes. A few minutes turned into fifty minutes until the store manager finally had enough and “helped” hurry the process along. Fortunately, this was a situation where the customer was by himself and needed a specific service. I have seen similar situations as a Loss Prevention Manager where two people would enter close to closing time and split up in a store. If a store is operating without a Sensormatic system and not using Sensormatic tags it can be a prime opportunity for crooks to get away with gobs of goods. How could this be? Because the truth is, once a store gets close to closing time employees focus on tasks not people.
You know what I am talking about. You might be trying to save payroll so the quicker you can close the store and get workers out the more money you save. You may be trying to get the store straightened up and a customer late in the evening is just in the way. Rather than a seeing them as a potential sale (or theft) they are a hindrance. We have all been in that situation and it happens. Holidays are even worse when we want to close up and get home to our families or to a party somewhere. Patrons take a backseat to the necessity of cleaning up and getting out in a timely manner. As a Loss Prevention Manager Associate and then a Manager I began to take note of these late night criminals. These folks can be slick and they know the places to hit and the times to hit. They don’t care for trying to steal from stores that use Sensormatic tags and they don’t like to frequent stores that focus on customers up to the time doors are locked.
Managing the store closing process and keeping an eye out for late night or last minute customers can be difficult. The use of clothing security devices and electronic article surveillance tags can play an important part in helping managers get tasks done. With merchandise protected against theft a team can spend a little less energy on giving “extra” customer service to the last minute patron. Note that I did not say ignore the customer but if the shopper is not giving obvious indications they are intending to steal your team can periodically check on the person. Sensormatic tags alleviate some of that extra unnecessary focus that allows your team to focus on closing tasks.
Let me add one last thought on the late night customer. Be cautious of anyone coming in last minute. Where did they park their car? Is it by the curb outside the doors? Is the vehicle running? Is the customer in line but allowing other customers to go ahead of them? These could be indicators of a much more serious crime that is about to happen than shoplifting and that is a robbery. Preparing for and responding to a robbery is another issue to address in another article. The main thing is to know that the night time is the right time…for crime (to paraphrase one of my all-time favorite rock groups, Credence Clearwater Revival). Always have employee and customer safety in mind especially at the end of the day.
Clothing security and merchandise protection in general is an important part of keeping a store profitable. Without it goods are stolen, shelves are empty and sales lag or die off as customers stop coming to a store. Safety also becomes an issue as criminals recognize the vulnerabilities of a store and more of them frequent that location. Install a Sensormatic system and get more tasks done at the end of the evening while still protecting merchandise. You can still greet customers but there will be fewer thieves to focus on in the end.
For more information about Sensormatic tags contact us or call 1.770.426.0547.
It can be difficult to make clothing security a priority or stop any shoplifting when it is late at night and you are ready to close the store. The other night our store was in the process of getting ready to close and I noticed a car pull into the parking lot. It was about five minutes until time to lock the doors and the customer entered and proceeded to a specific department. He wanted something that he indicated would only take a few minutes. A few minutes turned into fifty minutes until the store manager finally had enough and “helped” hurry the process along. Fortunately, this was a situation where the customer was by himself and needed a specific service. I have seen similar situations as a Loss Prevention Manager where two people would enter close to closing time and split up in a store. If a store is operating without a Sensormatic system and not using Sensormatic tags it can be a prime opportunity for crooks to get away with gobs of goods. How could this be? Because the truth is, once a store gets close to closing time employees’ focus on tasks not people.
You know what I am talking about. You might be trying to save payroll so the quicker you can close the store and get workers out the more money you save. You may be trying to get the store straightened up and a customer late in the evening is just in the way. Rather than a seeing them as a potential sale (or theft) they are a hindrance. We have all been in that situation and it happens. Holidays are even worse when we want to close up and get home to our families or to a party somewhere. Patrons take a backseat to the necessity of cleaning up and getting out in a timely manner. As a Loss Prevention Manager Associate and then a Manager I began to take note of these late night criminals. These folks can be slick and they know the places to hit and the times to hit. They don’t care for trying to steal from stores that use Sensormatic tags and they don’t like to frequent stores that focus on customers up to the time doors are locked.
Managing the store closing process and keeping an eye out for late night or last minute customers can be difficult. The use of clothing security devices and electronic article surveillance tags can play an important part in helping managers get tasks done. With merchandise protected against theft a team can spend a little less energy on giving “extra” customer service to the last minute patron. Note that I did not say ignore the customer but if the shopper is not giving obvious indications they are intending to steal your team can periodically check on the person. Sensormatic tags alleviate some of that extra unnecessary focus that allows your team to focus on closing tasks.
Let me add one last thought on the late night customer. Be cautious of anyone coming in last minute. Where did they park their car? Is it by the curb outside the doors? Is the vehicle running? Is the customer in line but allowing other customers to go ahead of them? These could be indicators of a much more serious crime that is about to happen than shoplifting and that is a robbery. Preparing for and responding to a robbery is another issue to address in another article. The main thing is to know that the night time is the right time…for crime (to paraphrase one of my all-time favorite rock groups, Credence Clearwater Revival). Always have employee and customer safety in mind especially at the end of the day.
Clothing security and merchandise protection in general is an important part of keeping a store profitable. Without it goods are stolen, shelves are empty and sales lag or die off as customers stop coming to a store. Safety also becomes an issue as criminals recognize the vulnerabilities of a store and more of them frequent that location. Install a Sensormatic system and get more tasks done at the end of the evening while still protecting merchandise. You can still greet customers but there will be fewer thieves to focus on in the end.
For more information about Sensormatic tags contact us or call 1.770.426.0547.
Blog 13b WAB
Pre-employment Screening, Interview Questions & Employment Drug Screening Part 2 of 4
As part of our pre-employment screening we will conduct a face to face interview. The questions in this blog, part 2 of 4, discuss the position the candidate is looking for and what scheduling are they looking for or open to. It would be a shame to spend a tremendous effort and hire the candidate just to find out that this was not the position they were “really looking for” but just something to get them by until the real deal came along. Or, they thought their schedule would be one thing but is completely different. Remember, you invest a tremendous amount of time in not just the process of hiring but into training someone. That is money off your bottom line. Get it right the first time and be further ahead.
You should also consider employment drug screening as a standard part of your employment package. Once you have made your decision to offer a position then the candidate should be sent in for drug testing. Employment drug screening has come a long ways over the years. Cost is significantly better, there is very quick turnaround and scheduling is automated and on-line. If you are not requiring drug testing, the question is why not? Drugs including marijuana are still prevalent in our society. Illegal and legal drugs have a significant impact on an employee’s ability to perform their tasks properly and safely. Even a Cashier that is high could injure another employee or a customer. You would be liable for those injuries. This could have been prevented with simple drug testing.
If you want more information about Loss Prevention Systems employment drug screening and our nationwide automated drug testing program, reach out to us at 1-770-426-0547 x103.
Now back to the next set of pre-employment screening questions. Again, this list is not exhaustive. You will want to look at how you interview and the way you ask questions. Change these to fit your needs but keep the intent of the question correct. Remember that there are questions you cannot ask an applicant. For example, questions related to race, religion, age, and so on are illegal to ask. You also cannot ask a candidate if they own a car to get to work. That has been deemed to be discriminatory. However, you can ask them if they have a reliable way to get to and from work.
POSITION
• What type of position are you interested in? Why?
• What area of our company would you like to work in? Why?
• What other types of positions are you considering?
• Do you prefer to work under supervision or on your own?
• What kind of boss do you prefer?
• Would you be successful working with a team?
• Do you prefer large or small organizations? Why?
• How do you feel about working in a structured environment?
• Are you able to work on several assignments at once?
• Why should we hire you rather than another candidate?
• What do you know about our organization (products or services)?
SCHEDULE
• Are you looking for Full Time, Day Part Time or Part Time?
• What hours would you like to work?
• Do you prefer a set schedule or one that rotates?
• What other full time or part time commitments would you have while employed with us? For example, school, other job
• Are you available to work on weekends and holidays?
• How would you feel if you were asked to stay later than your scheduled departure time?
• How do you feel about travel?
• How do you feel about the possibility of relocating?
• Are you willing to work flextime?
For all interviews you should document your questions and the candidate’s responses. Those documents should be attached and filed with their other documents. I have had situations where candidates have come back and accused the interviewer of some form of discrimination because they asked some question. Having your interview notes goes a long way to thwarting that kind of attack.
If you have any questions about or would like more information about pre-employment screening, drug testing or employment drug screening, please contact us or call toll free 1-770-915-0547.
As part of our pre-employment screening we will conduct a face to face interview. The questions in this blog, part 2 of 4, discuss the position the candidate is looking for and what scheduling are they looking for or open to. It would be a shame to spend a tremendous effort and hire the candidate just to find out that this was not the position they were “really looking for” but just something to get them by until the real deal came along. Or, they thought their schedule would be one thing but is completely different. Remember, you invest a tremendous amount of time in not just the process of hiring but into training someone. That is money off your bottom line. Get it right the first time and be further ahead.
You should also consider employment drug screening as a standard part of your employment package. Once you have made your decision to offer a position then the candidate should be sent in for drug testing. Employment drug screening has come a long ways over the years. Cost is significantly better, there is very quick turnaround and scheduling is automated and on-line. If you are not requiring drug testing, the question is why not? Drugs including marijuana are still prevalent in our society. Illegal and legal drugs have a significant impact on an employee’s ability to perform their tasks properly and safely. Even a Cashier that is high could injure another employee or a customer. You would be liable for those injuries. This could have been prevented with simple drug testing.
If you want more information about Loss Prevention Systems employment drug screening and our nationwide automated drug testing program, reach out to us at 1-770-426-0547 x103.
Now back to the next set of pre-employment screening questions. Again, this list is not exhaustive. You will want to look at how you interview and the way you ask questions. Change these to fit your needs but keep the intent of the question correct. Remember that there are questions you cannot ask an applicant. For example, questions related to race, religion, age, and so on are illegal to ask. You also cannot ask a candidate if they own a car to get to work. That has been deemed to be discriminatory. However, you can ask them if they have a reliable way to get to and from work.
POSITION
• What type of position are you interested in? Why?
• What area of our company would you like to work in? Why?
• What other types of positions are you considering?
• Do you prefer to work under supervision or on your own?
• What kind of boss do you prefer?
• Would you be successful working with a team?
• Do you prefer large or small organizations? Why?
• How do you feel about working in a structured environment?
• Are you able to work on several assignments at once?
• Why should we hire you rather than another candidate?
• What do you know about our organization (products or services)?
SCHEDULE
• Are you looking for Full Time, Day Part Time or Part Time?
• What hours would you like to work?
• Do you prefer a set schedule or one that rotates?
• What other full time or part time commitments would you have while employed with us? For example, school, other job
• Are you available to work on weekends and holidays?
• How would you feel if you were asked to stay later than your scheduled departure time?
• How do you feel about travel?
• How do you feel about the possibility of relocating?
• Are you willing to work flextime?
For all interviews you should document your questions and the candidate’s responses. Those documents should be attached and filed with their other documents. I have had situations where candidates have come back and accused the interviewer of some form of discrimination because they asked some question. Having your interview notes goes a long way to thwarting that kind of attack.
If you have any questions about or would like more information about pre-employment screening, drug testing or employment drug screening, please contact us or call toll free 1-770-915-0547.
Free Loss Prevention Calculator – 3 WC Blog 802
Loss Prevention ROI Calculator – 3
The Free Loss Prevention Calculator And The Hidden ROI OF A Sensormatic System
When writing about the Free Loss Prevention Calculator I am usually focused on the return on investment (ROI) a retail owner gets from purchasing a Sensormatic system. As I was preparing to write this article and thinking about ROI I also thought about other areas where we see a return on investment. Then I thought about it more and realized our investments don’t necessarily reap a ROI only for us, it can also impact others. The downside is we often don’t see those returns although when we are fortunate when we do get to glimpse them. For example, as a Loss Prevention Manager I made a few early hiring flubs but as I worked those out and improved on what I was looking for in an Associate I also started listening to them more. I had one candidate who wanted to go into Law Enforcement and saw the job as a stepping stone. I saw him as someone who I could train and would be a hard worker. The ROI was for me a very effective Loss Prevention Associate who was effective at stopping theft and dependable. I trained him, invested time in coaching him on report writing, interviewing and investigating. The ROI for HIM was he went on to join the county police department and was top graduate of his State Law Enforcement Academy class. I acknowledge the fact his own hard work earned him his results but I did help prepare him. There is no Loss Prevention ROI calculator that could have assisted me in seeing the potential benefits I would derive from adding this employee to my team or how it would help him.
I am happy to say not knowing potential ROI does not have to be a secret if a retail owner is trying to find a way to reduce theft and shortage. The fact is a Sensormatic system is the answer to your shortage situation. With a wide selection of pedestals for every store style and protective tags and labels for every kind of product Sensormatic is the top of the line in the retail anti-theft industry. I know because I have personally used Sensormatic products. Over 80% of the world’s top 200 hundred retailers agree with me and that should convince you! If you are like me you want more information before making an investment. You want to know what the ROI for you will be. That is where the Free Loss Prevention Calculator comes in. It is a tool that shows you how much you can conservatively reduce your stock shortage by if you invest in a Sensormatic system. Not only that but the Loss Prevention ROI Calculator also shows you how much your system would cost on a monthly basis and the best part, how long it takes before the savings from an anti-theft investment pay for the system. Basically, a Sensormatic system pays for itself and that is a BIG ROI.
I get it, I mentioned earlier how ROI impacts others and we don’t always see it. What is the return on investment for others if you decide to put in an anti-theft system? Remember, you won’t see this on the Free Loss Prevention Calculator but I can tell you that your customers get a return on your investment. When the criminal activity in your store slows down the merchandise that is no longer stolen is available to your clients. Shoppers don’t like to see empty shelves, especially emptiness where their favorite products are supposed to be. The other beneficiaries are your employees. Let’s be honest when shortage takes place and it becomes so pervasive that it is impacting profits a store manager must make hard decisions. Often that can result in payroll cuts and employees start losing hours. Not only is it creating a hardship on the employees but also on families they are supporting.
There is no Loss Prevention ROI Calculator that is going to show you the pain caused when theft is taking place. It will show you how much you can save in theft prevention and while you may not see the secondary results they will be there as an ROI for others. Install a Sensormatic system and you, your customers and your employees all benefit from the savings. Better yet, you might even decide to grow your business and that is always a good thing!
The Free Loss Prevention Calculator is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
When writing about the Free Loss Prevention Calculator I am usually focused on the return on investment (ROI) a retail owner gets from purchasing a Sensormatic system. As I was preparing to write this article and thinking about ROI I also thought about other areas where we see a return on investment. Then I thought about it more and realized our investments don’t necessarily reap a ROI only for us, it can also impact others. The downside is we often don’t see those returns although when we are fortunate when we do get to glimpse them. For example, as a Loss Prevention Manager I made a few early hiring flubs but as I worked those out and improved on what I was looking for in an Associate I also started listening to them more. I had one candidate who wanted to go into Law Enforcement and saw the job as a stepping stone. I saw him as someone who I could train and would be a hard worker. The ROI was for me a very effective Loss Prevention Associate who was effective at stopping theft and dependable. I trained him, invested time in coaching him on report writing, interviewing and investigating. The ROI for HIM was he went on to join the county police department and was top graduate of his State Law Enforcement Academy class. I acknowledge the fact his own hard work earned him his results but I did help prepare him. There is no Loss Prevention ROI calculator that could have assisted me in seeing the potential benefits I would derive from adding this employee to my team or how it would help him.
I am happy to say not knowing potential ROI does not have to be a secret if a retail owner is trying to find a way to reduce theft and shortage. The fact is a Sensormatic system is the answer to your shortage situation. With a wide selection of pedestals for every store style and protective tags and labels for every kind of product Sensormatic is the top of the line in the retail anti-theft industry. I know because I have personally used Sensormatic products. Over 80% of the world’s top 200 hundred retailers agree with me and that should convince you! If you are like me you want more information before making an investment. You want to know what the ROI for you will be. That is where the Free Loss Prevention Calculator comes in. It is a tool that shows you how much you can conservatively reduce your stock shortage by if you invest in a Sensormatic system. Not only that but the Loss Prevention ROI Calculator also shows you how much your system would cost on a monthly basis and the best part, how long it takes before the savings from an anti-theft investment pay for the system. Basically, a Sensormatic system pays for itself and that is a BIG ROI.
I get it, I mentioned earlier how ROI impacts others and we don’t always see it. What is the return on investment for others if you decide to put in an anti-theft system? Remember, you won’t see this on the Free Loss Prevention Calculator but I can tell you that your customers get a return on your investment. When the criminal activity in your store slows down the merchandise that is no longer stolen is available to your clients. Shoppers don’t like to see empty shelves, especially emptiness where their favorite products are supposed to be. The other beneficiaries are your employees. Let’s be honest when shortage takes place and it becomes so pervasive that it is impacting profits a store manager must make hard decisions. Often that can result in payroll cuts and employees start losing hours. Not only is it creating a hardship on the employees but also on families they are supporting.
There is no Loss Prevention ROI Calculator that is going to show you the pain caused when theft is taking place. It will show you how much you can save in theft prevention and while you may not see the secondary results they will be there as an ROI for others. Install a Sensormatic system and you, your customers and your employees all benefit from the savings. Better yet, you might even decide to grow your business and that is always a good thing!
The Free Loss Prevention Calculator is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
