How to Improve the Security of Your Retail Store

Do you own or run a retail store? If so, you must ensure that security is a top priority. Every year, thousands of criminal offences occur within retail environments, not only by members of the public but staff too! The last thing you want is to unknowingly make your store vulnerable to this kind of activity as doing so could result in financial loss, damage to your reputation as a business and risks to your own safety.

So, how can you improve the safety of your retail store? With the advancement in technology and a range of solutions now available, keeping your business safe is easier than ever. Not to mention the everyday practices that you can implement too.

Here are some of the top ways to improve the security of your business. Read on for all you need to know.

What can be done to improve retail store security?

There’s no excuse for being lapse about your security. In a busy retail store, it’s impossible to have eyes everywhere so investing in good security measures will protect your business and deter opportunists from taking advantage.

Luckily, there are plenty of ways that you can boost your security as well as keep your customers and employees safe.

Install CCTV

In retail stores, particularly in shopping centres or town centres, heavy foot flow means that your shop can get very busy. However, while that’s great for business this is a common time for criminals to strike as employees are concentrating on the task at hand and paying less attention as to what’s going on around them. CCTV acts as an extra pair of eyes so you can monitor what’s going on around the store and look out for any unusual behaviour. Plus, it’s a great way of gathering evidence if anything was to happen.

Add access control

Some areas of your retail will be off-limits to customers such as your office, so you need to have the right measures in place. Access control such as keypads, swipe cards and other similar systems means you have greater control over how people move around your business. Failure to have something like this in place means confidential information can be accessed by unauthorised people. However, with restricted access, you can stay in control of how secure your retail premises are.

Hire security guards

Physical presence is also a great way of improving the security of your store. Hiring security guards can act as a deterrent for opportunistic behaviour such as theft as well as reduce the threat to you and your staff. According to research from 2019, some of the most stolen items cosmetic, fashion accessories, baby clothes and alcoholic beverages, but with a trained security guard in your store, you can prevent this from happening. Security guards show the public that you mean business when it comes to security meaning your store is less likely to become a target for criminal activity and if anything does happen then you’ll have a trained professional on hand to deal with the situation.

Make your refund policy clear

One common way that opportunities often operate in stores is by trying to refund a stolen item for cash. Unfortunately, these kinds of situations can be difficult to handle especially if the individual becomes angry. If this is something that has become a problem, make sure that your refund policy is clear so that nobody without a receipt can receive cash - perhaps add posters behind your desk and around the store.

Keep your fitting rooms well monitored

Did you know that fitting rooms are one of the most vulnerable areas of a clothes store? If you don’t have staff members offering great customer services at the fitting rooms, such as showing each customer to the cubicle and making sure that no items are left behind, this area can be used as a place to steal products. To avoid this, set a limit on how many items can be tried on at once and keep small accessories outside. Also, there should always be someone monitoring the fitting room as it only takes a few minutes for someone to take advantage of an empty fitting room!

Why is security important in retail?

Nobody wants their store to be vulnerable so investing in good security systems and following best practices is always important. It’s impossible to keep an eye on every part of the store at once but high-quality security will keep the environment safe and protected.

At Shuretech, we work across the South East helping businesses improve their security. Whether you know exactly which installations you’d like or you need professional guidance, our team is on hand to help. We offer a range of solutions including CCTV, gates, barriers and access control to make your business as safe as possible. Find out more today.

Here are some top reasons for retail security is important.

Prevents stock loss

Stock loss can have a huge impact on your business so it’s essential that theft is stopped in its tracks before it becomes an ongoing problem. Having just one item a day stolen will eventually add up to thousands of pounds of lost sales, so if you want to remain in a good financial position, don’t underestimate the power of security.

Improves your reputation

When your security is slack, the news gets around! The last thing you want is for your business to be known as an easy place to commit a crime or an unsafe location to work in. Even if you haven’t experienced security breaches as of late, you never can predict when a situation could arise so you must have measures in place. Improving your security means your reputation will not be damaged and you are less likely to be targeted compared to a store with fewer security measures in place. Reputation is everything in business. Not only will it help you to retain loyal customers but your employees will have a safe and happy place to work.

Peace of mind

When you’re at work you shouldn’t be worrying about whether you’re safe or not. Having security measures installed means you will have greater peace of mind so you and your employees can dedicate your time to running the store without feeling at risk. As the owner, when you are off-site you will also feel more comfortable knowing that there is security in your building. Plus, many CCTV systems can be monitored remotely so you can keep an eye on the store wherever you are.

Shuretech: Commercial Security Services Throughout Reading

At Shuretech, we specialise in a full range of security systems so your business can remain safe all year round. Operating across Reading and the surrounding areas, we are a well-established business with a reputation for high-quality work and excellent customer service.

If you’ve experienced an increase in theft within your retail business or your security measure could do with an upgrade, our team is here to help. From CCTV to access control systems, we have solutions to suit every need and budget. Get in touch with us today for more information.