Pre-Employment Screening-3 WC Blog 633
Background Investigation-4
Top Hiring Mistakes Include Failing To Conduct A Background Investigation
One of the top hiring mistakes I have seen from employers is the failure to conduct pre-employment screening on prospective job candidates. There are a number of unforeseen problems that can and often do manifest themselves only after a new employee is brought on the team. There are also consequences for employers that make hiring mistakes, like losing great candidates. From an article in Business News Daily by Sammi Caramela, January 8, 2018, “Hiring? Avoid These 7 Common Mistakes”, the writer mentions several that jumped out at me and one that I have been guilty of committing. Among those mentioned by the writer:
• Trusting first impressions – It is not unheard of for a manager to be influenced by the first impression a candidate gives to them.
• Lacking transparency – This applies the business failing to be clear about the job and what it may entail. Applicants should have a realistic understanding of the position.
• Forgetting to highlight culture – Ms. Caramela points out that businesses may neglect to promote the “style and culture” of the company which can include salary, benefits and even perks. For example, a flexible work schedule may be something that could appeal to some strong candidates.
• Being too narrow in your search – The writer reminds us that hiring a diverse team means being open to hiring various age groups, races, genders, etc. Expanding the background of the people on a team brings in new ideas and perspectives.
These are excellent reminders that managers should consider as they post job ads and begin the interviewing process. What the article failed to mention is that not completing a background investigation is also a common mistake.
Pre-employment screening is more than an employer calling the contacts or references listed on an applicant’s resume. It involves a deeper dive into the candidate’s past. This may involve a driver history, a credit report and even a criminal background check. As an employer you might not want someone who is a partaker of illegal drugs working for you. A screening can include drug testing of candidates prior to welcoming them on board. Looking into a person’s past can uncover information that the person may have been attempting to conceal from you. Why would they do that? Some people may have convictions for crimes and believe they would not be considered for a job if they noted it on an application. Someone may job hop because they have an inability to control their temper and they have been fired multiple times. They list a reference as someone they know who will pretend to have been a supervisor. A background investigation by a reputable company that specializes in them can discover these types of deceptions. A hiring manager may not recognize that the reference is not a credible source of information. Screening applicants improves the chances that a candidate under consideration for a position will be a good choice and not one that will carry negative consequences.
So which of the five mistakes listed have I been guilty of committing? I confess in the past I have erred by trusting the first impression of a job applicant. This candidate had an outgoing personality, he maintained eye contact with me and according to his resume he had prior Loss Prevention experience. We conducted an interview in which he did really well, answering questions with strong responses. A preliminary job offer was made and when the company’s background check was complete we started his training. Over the next two months the employee made several poor decisions and I eventually had to fire him. It was only after his departure I learned through a second-hand source that the former employee had been fired from a job in Florida under questionable circumstances. I learned that the background investigation completed by our company or whoever they contracted with were not very thorough. Had the check been more complete the details of a gap in employment may have been uncovered. I may have also been alerted to the incident that led to his alleged dismissal. I still have to admit I was blinded by my first impression and that was my own fault.
Don’t make hiring mistakes that can hurt your business. Be open to hiring people with different perspectives. Be clear in what the job you are filling really requires of an employee, highlight the benefits of working for your business and don’t be sucked in by first impressions. Finally, be sure that an experienced company conducts pre-employment screening of job candidates you are considering. In-depth screening ensures applicants with sketchy backgrounds are removed from your applicant pool and only the best remain.
A background investigation is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
One of the top hiring mistakes I have seen from employers is the failure to conduct pre-employment screening on prospective job candidates. There are a number of unforeseen problems that can and often do manifest themselves only after a new employee is brought on the team. There are also consequences for employers that make hiring mistakes, like losing great candidates. From an article in Business News Daily by Sammi Caramela, January 8, 2018, “Hiring? Avoid These 7 Common Mistakes”, the writer mentions several that jumped out at me and one that I have been guilty of committing. Among those mentioned by the writer:
• Trusting first impressions – It is not unheard of for a manager to be influenced by the first impression a candidate gives to them.
• Lacking transparency – This applies the business failing to be clear about the job and what it may entail. Applicants should have a realistic understanding of the position.
• Forgetting to highlight culture – Ms. Caramela points out that businesses may neglect to promote the “style and culture” of the company which can include salary, benefits and even perks. For example, a flexible work schedule may be something that could appeal to some strong candidates.
• Being too narrow in your search – The writer reminds us that hiring a diverse team means being open to hiring various age groups, races, genders, etc. Expanding the background of the people on a team brings in new ideas and perspectives.
These are excellent reminders that managers should consider as they post job ads and begin the interviewing process. What the article failed to mention is that not completing a background investigation is also a common mistake.
Pre-employment screening is more than an employer calling the contacts or references listed on an applicant’s resume. It involves a deeper dive into the candidate’s past. This may involve a driver history, a credit report and even a criminal background check. As an employer you might not want someone who is a partaker of illegal drugs working for you. A screening can include drug testing of candidates prior to welcoming them on board. Looking into a person’s past can uncover information that the person may have been attempting to conceal from you. Why would they do that? Some people may have convictions for crimes and believe they would not be considered for a job if they noted it on an application. Someone may job hop because they have an inability to control their temper and they have been fired multiple times. They list a reference as someone they know who will pretend to have been a supervisor. A background investigation by a reputable company that specializes in them can discover these types of deceptions. A hiring manager may not recognize that the reference is not a credible source of information. Screening applicants improves the chances that a candidate under consideration for a position will be a good choice and not one that will carry negative consequences.
So which of the five mistakes listed have I been guilty of committing? I confess in the past I have erred by trusting the first impression of a job applicant. This candidate had an outgoing personality, he maintained eye contact with me and according to his resume he had prior Loss Prevention experience. We conducted an interview in which he did really well, answering questions with strong responses. A preliminary job offer was made and when the company’s background check was complete we started his training. Over the next two months the employee made several poor decisions and I eventually had to fire him. It was only after his departure I learned through a second-hand source that the former employee had been fired from a job in Florida under questionable circumstances. I learned that the background investigation completed by our company or whoever they contracted with were not very thorough. Had the check been more complete the details of a gap in employment may have been uncovered. I may have also been alerted to the incident that led to his alleged dismissal. I still have to admit I was blinded by my first impression and that was my own fault.
Don’t make hiring mistakes that can hurt your business. Be open to hiring people with different perspectives. Be clear in what the job you are filling really requires of an employee, highlight the benefits of working for your business and don’t be sucked in by first impressions. Finally, be sure that an experienced company conducts pre-employment screening of job candidates you are considering. In-depth screening ensures applicants with sketchy backgrounds are removed from your applicant pool and only the best remain.
A background investigation is important and we can help you with it. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
I just got bit by the clothing security tags epidemic. You know the one I’m talking about. It is the purchase that is made but the cashier wasn’t paying attention. It is the alarm tag that wasn’t removed and it set off the electronic article surveillance towers. What was even more irritating was I stood at the door to the place and no one came over or acknowledged me. Well one person acknowledged me, the guy sitting on the chair waiting for someone who was shopping. We both looked at each other and shrugged our shoulders and I left. That wasn’t the end of of my story there is more. But hey, I like cliff hangers so I will tell you the rest in a couple of minutes. Until then there is a little lesson you can already glean from what I have told you. Your cashiers HAVE to pay attention. When they are assisting at a register and a store uses Sensormatic tags on clothing it is critical that they are deactivating labels or removing tags. The customer service issues that occur when it is not done properly are a poor reflection on your business.
Those tiny little clothing security tags can create big problems. Sensormatic anti-theft devices are designed to protect merchandise from theft and they are extremely effective at it. They aren’t supposed to be a customer service distraction but that is what can happen if stores don’t train employees properly. The downside of tags is that they have to be removed when a customer makes a purchase. Electronic article surveillance labels don’t require removal at the register but they do need to be deactivated or they will also set off alarm pedestals. In order to make an anti-theft system truly effective, managers must train cashiers on the proper processing of merchandise. That means passing everything over a scan bed where a deactivation unit is usually housed and hand scanning merchandise as little as possible. It is just as important to devise a standard for tagging when it is done at the store. Like items should all be tagged in a prominent location that is positioned approximately the same on each piece. For example all jackets might have a clothing security tag placed in a seam near the cuff of the jacket. Pants may be tagged in a seam near the right hip. If this practice is followed cashiers are going to become accustomed to looking for the Sensormatic tags every time they ring a sale and that will avoid a lot of errors.
It may not seem like it should be that big a deal but let me tell you from my encounter it can be so let me finish my story. As I mentioned, no one checked on me after I set off the security alarm. I went home and presented my purchase to my wife. Well, it wasn’t exactly what she wanted so a bit later that day we took it back to the store for a refund. I walked back in and the alarm sounded…again. I just shook my head in irritation. I got to the return counter and handed the cashier my receipt. She then pulled the coat out and was looking to see if clothing security tags were still on it. She gave me the suspicious glance as she noticed the tag was still attached. Now I was a bit ticked because as a former Loss Prevention Manager I knew what she was thinking, “Yeah, this guy bought one and stole one.” Well, if she wasn’t thinking it I know it would have crossed my mind if I were in her position. I explained that the cashier had been talking to me during the transaction and was probably distracted and forgot to look for it. I told her I had not been approached when I exited the store. I don’t know if she believed me but if she didn’t it did not hinder my ability to get the refund. It may have also helped that I told her I only needed the item credited back to my card I was not looking for cash. Nothing else was mentioned about the tag but I can say there was some embarrassment on my part at the first alarm and irritation at the thought someone potentially thought I stole something.
Protecting your merchandise with Sensormatic tags is the smart move to make. You’ll reduce losses due to criminal activity and make your store much more profitable. What you need to understand is that those same tags can become a problem without proper training. Purchase a Sensormatic system from Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. and get the proper training while you are at it.
Sensormatic tags are important and we can help you with them. Call 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
Customer Counting Device -4 WC Blog 708
Door Counting Sensor-4
Expand Your Business By Using A Door Counting Sensor
By using a customer counting device in the college library where I work we were able to use data we pulled to make a justification for purchasing new library chairs. In our building we have well over 300 students using the facility from about 10am until around midnight. During those “non-peak” hours we are still serving over 100 people. Even into the wee hours of the morning we will have 10 – 30 students before we hit finals week. At finals week we will go over 500 students in our library and stay around 100 all night. It is amazing how busy we stay as a library. For administration who may not understand what we mean when we say we are “busy” having hard numbers makes a difference. How you get those hard numbers can’t be a guessing game and our library has a dual method of collecting this data. First we have an employee that hourly walks the library and does a count with an iPad. The second method is a door counting sensor we have set up in three locations.
Understanding that there are some owners and managers who may not be all that familiar with what a customer counting device is I want to spend a little time talking about them. There are a variety of styles and models a manager can choose from in selecting a door counting sensor. There are free-standing counters, some that are some tied into video cameras but the one I would recommend is the one offered by Sensormatic. Stores already operating a Sensormatic electronic article surveillance system may have the towers that can have a sensor installed. The device can be integrated in many existing towers providing not only the security of retail theft prevention but also the accurate counts of the number of people entering and exiting your store. I like the double duty that this configuration provides for the business. You reduce shortage through theft reduction by using a Sensormatic system and in the process put money back to the profit line. The counting part gives you data that you can use to make your company even more profitable (I’ll explain shortly). The point I would like people to understand is that this is a much more efficient system than looking for any other solution to tracking store customer foot traffic.
I mentioned that our library used the data we have accumulated to upgrade and improve seating in our library. Of course we have to get buy-in from college administration for the expenditure of money and the numbers we provided were a critical piece of this effort. Store owners don’t necessarily have someone else to answer to for improvements but before money is spent there should be some justification for it. Let’s say you are considering a store expansion. It would only be reasonable to want to know if there is enough patronage for it to make sense. If the vision is, “build it and they will come” you might want to rethink your strategy. Hoping people will flock in and buy only because you add square footage is crazy. Now, if you have a customer counting device and can see that the patronage justifies that expansion then you have a solid reason to grow.
I would also mention that you might use a door counting sensor and find out that you have a LOT of people coming into the store but the numbers are not reflected in the sales receipts for the day. Now you have some digging to do to see if there is a reason people are compelled to walk into your store but then leave empty handed. Maybe you need to look at freshening up store displays or perhaps you have empty shelves that are not being filled. Customers won’t always ask for something if a shelf is empty, often they just walk out. Maybe you need to revisit the customer service provided by your employees. It may be they don’t know what great service really means.
You may not be adding chairs to a library but you are building a business and a customer counting device can give a lot of insight into how successful your store is. It may also help in identifying areas of opportunity for improvement. A door counting sensor will help improve your business, count on it!
Need information on a customer counting device? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
By using a customer counting device in the college library where I work we were able to use data we pulled to make a justification for purchasing new library chairs. In our building we have well over 300 students using the facility from about 10am until around midnight. During those “non-peak” hours we are still serving over 100 people. Even into the wee hours of the morning we will have 10 – 30 students before we hit finals week. At finals week we will go over 500 students in our library and stay around 100 all night. It is amazing how busy we stay as a library. For administration who may not understand what we mean when we say we are “busy” having hard numbers makes a difference. How you get those hard numbers can’t be a guessing game and our library has a dual method of collecting this data. First we have an employee that hourly walks the library and does a count with an iPad. The second method is a door counting sensor we have set up in three locations.
Understanding that there are some owners and managers who may not be all that familiar with what a customer counting device is I want to spend a little time talking about them. There are a variety of styles and models a manager can choose from in selecting a door counting sensor. There are free-standing counters, some that are some tied into video cameras but the one I would recommend is the one offered by Sensormatic. Stores already operating a Sensormatic electronic article surveillance system may have the towers that can have a sensor installed. The device can be integrated in many existing towers providing not only the security of retail theft prevention but also the accurate counts of the number of people entering and exiting your store. I like the double duty that this configuration provides for the business. You reduce shortage through theft reduction by using a Sensormatic system and in the process put money back to the profit line. The counting part gives you data that you can use to make your company even more profitable (I’ll explain shortly). The point I would like people to understand is that this is a much more efficient system than looking for any other solution to tracking store customer foot traffic.
I mentioned that our library used the data we have accumulated to upgrade and improve seating in our library. Of course we have to get buy-in from college administration for the expenditure of money and the numbers we provided were a critical piece of this effort. Store owners don’t necessarily have someone else to answer to for improvements but before money is spent there should be some justification for it. Let’s say you are considering a store expansion. It would only be reasonable to want to know if there is enough patronage for it to make sense. If the vision is, “build it and they will come” you might want to rethink your strategy. Hoping people will flock in and buy only because you add square footage is crazy. Now, if you have a customer counting device and can see that the patronage justifies that expansion then you have a solid reason to grow.
I would also mention that you might use a door counting sensor and find out that you have a LOT of people coming into the store but the numbers are not reflected in the sales receipts for the day. Now you have some digging to do to see if there is a reason people are compelled to walk into your store but then leave empty handed. Maybe you need to look at freshening up store displays or perhaps you have empty shelves that are not being filled. Customers won’t always ask for something if a shelf is empty, often they just walk out. Maybe you need to revisit the customer service provided by your employees. It may be they don’t know what great service really means.
You may not be adding chairs to a library but you are building a business and a customer counting device can give a lot of insight into how successful your store is. It may also help in identifying areas of opportunity for improvement. A door counting sensor will help improve your business, count on it!
Need information on a customer counting device? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 and let’s talk.
Stop Shoplifting-4
Anti-Shoplifting-3 WC Blog 704
Can A Dumb Crook Be Stopped With Anti-Shoplifting Devices?
When you stop shoplifting and catch thieves you hear a lot of bizarre excuses for why a suspect tried to commit the crime. I think I just came across the strangest or oddest excuse I have heard yet. In a news report on whdh.com, September 12, 2018, by Frank O’Laughlin, “Police: Walmart shoplifters tried to steal clothes for upcoming court appearance”, a couple is reported to have been caught stealing clothing. The excuse they gave was that they needed the clothes for a court hearing she would be attending. Hmmm, I have a feeling she will be wearing basic orange when she makes that appearance. Sometimes you have to wonder what people are thinking. These two would-be shoplifters weren’t too bright but they aren’t the only ones to do something stupid. Take a look at these dumb shoplifters:
• Posted in mirror.com.uk, 1 Oct 15, by Martin Frick, “Stupid shoplifter caught after complaining to police about victim’s ‘wanted poster’ featuring the thief’s face”. The gist of this story is that the shoplifter complained to police that the owner of the store put his picture on a poster from a still camera image and even blacked used Photoshop to place lines over his face. The picture made it to Facebook. The shoplifter complained to police because he stated his boss fired him from his job after seeing the post.
• From wthr.com, “WATCH: Clueless shoplifting suspects run from police and right into jail”, by WTHR.com Staff, Feb 27, 2018. “Police in Peoria, Arizona were on their way to a call of a suspicious circumstance.” Police saw the suspect’s car at a gas station and the couple saw the police and ran. “Surveillance cameras caught them running along the building before jumping a fence to break into the jail!” Oh, I forgot to mention the report stated the couple had run right to the doors which were directly under a big sign that indicated what the building was.
I have no idea if the stores were using anti-shoplifting systems but I am not convinced that even if they had it would have been enough to stop shoplifting by these kooky crooks.
Now I want to be honest with you most shoplifters aren’t this dumb. I have been involved in efforts to stop shoplifting for many years. I have dealt with the professional shoplifters, the impulse shoplifters and yes, even the dumb shoplifters. I will tell you that most are not as stupid as the aforementioned. The criminal act is dumb and the excuses they come up with may be ridiculous once caught but as a whole these are not dumb people. In fact many are downright clever and the various methods they devise to steal are incredible. Thieves also go to great lengths to avoid being caught and that includes avoiding theft of merchandise they know is tagged or labeled with anti-shoplifting devices. Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. (LPSI) not only has the Sensormatic security systems and tags to protect against theft they offer other tools that can reduce your store shortage as a result of theft. Newsletters, blogs, videos, social media, theft investigators, risk assessment and training opportunities are all services offered by LPSI. They can even give you suggestions to deter those dumb criminals who may make the occasional stop at your store. With over 30 years of experience in retail theft prevention they are the company I would trust if I were a store owner seeking to improve my profit line.
Before concluding I will share two of my own personal dumb shoplifter stories only because I had several and I can’t choose my favorite. My first dumb shoplifter was an intoxicated golfer stealing underwear. Not necessarily dumb in itself except he had $300 cash in his wallet with which he could have purchased the underwear. The second has to take the cake for all dumb shoplifters. He was a man dressed as a woman stealing purses from our store. Nothing too unusual about that, the crook even ran from me and got away, except I grabbed his jacket and personal handbag. Once again, not too far outside the realm of what happens with a lot of shoplifters. What was dumb was this crook had his prison ID card in his purse…he was on probation! A warrant was signed and he was eventually picked up.
Anti-shoplifting devices such as Sensormatic labels are an effective means of preventing theft. There are rare instances you my get a visit from a dumb shoplifter who won’t think about what they are potentially getting themselves into if they choose to try to steal. Get great advice from a visit to LPSI website to learn how to stop shoplifting before these clods create a bit of chaos in your business.
Get more information on how to stop shoplifting, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
When you stop shoplifting and catch thieves you hear a lot of bizarre excuses for why a suspect tried to commit the crime. I think I just came across the strangest or oddest excuse I have heard yet. In a news report on whdh.com, September 12, 2018, by Frank O’Laughlin, “Police: Walmart shoplifters tried to steal clothes for upcoming court appearance”, a couple is reported to have been caught stealing clothing. The excuse they gave was that they needed the clothes for a court hearing she would be attending. Hmmm, I have a feeling she will be wearing basic orange when she makes that appearance. Sometimes you have to wonder what people are thinking. These two would-be shoplifters weren’t too bright but they aren’t the only ones to do something stupid. Take a look at these dumb shoplifters:
• Posted in mirror.com.uk, 1 Oct 15, by Martin Frick, “Stupid shoplifter caught after complaining to police about victim’s ‘wanted poster’ featuring the thief’s face”. The gist of this story is that the shoplifter complained to police that the owner of the store put his picture on a poster from a still camera image and even blacked used Photoshop to place lines over his face. The picture made it to Facebook. The shoplifter complained to police because he stated his boss fired him from his job after seeing the post.
• From wthr.com, “WATCH: Clueless shoplifting suspects run from police and right into jail”, by WTHR.com Staff, Feb 27, 2018. “Police in Peoria, Arizona were on their way to a call of a suspicious circumstance.” Police saw the suspect’s car at a gas station and the couple saw the police and ran. “Surveillance cameras caught them running along the building before jumping a fence to break into the jail!” Oh, I forgot to mention the report stated the couple had run right to the doors which were directly under a big sign that indicated what the building was.
I have no idea if the stores were using anti-shoplifting systems but I am not convinced that even if they had it would have been enough to stop shoplifting by these kooky crooks.
Now I want to be honest with you most shoplifters aren’t this dumb. I have been involved in efforts to stop shoplifting for many years. I have dealt with the professional shoplifters, the impulse shoplifters and yes, even the dumb shoplifters. I will tell you that most are not as stupid as the aforementioned. The criminal act is dumb and the excuses they come up with may be ridiculous once caught but as a whole these are not dumb people. In fact many are downright clever and the various methods they devise to steal are incredible. Thieves also go to great lengths to avoid being caught and that includes avoiding theft of merchandise they know is tagged or labeled with anti-shoplifting devices. Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. (LPSI) not only has the Sensormatic security systems and tags to protect against theft they offer other tools that can reduce your store shortage as a result of theft. Newsletters, blogs, videos, social media, theft investigators, risk assessment and training opportunities are all services offered by LPSI. They can even give you suggestions to deter those dumb criminals who may make the occasional stop at your store. With over 30 years of experience in retail theft prevention they are the company I would trust if I were a store owner seeking to improve my profit line.
Before concluding I will share two of my own personal dumb shoplifter stories only because I had several and I can’t choose my favorite. My first dumb shoplifter was an intoxicated golfer stealing underwear. Not necessarily dumb in itself except he had $300 cash in his wallet with which he could have purchased the underwear. The second has to take the cake for all dumb shoplifters. He was a man dressed as a woman stealing purses from our store. Nothing too unusual about that, the crook even ran from me and got away, except I grabbed his jacket and personal handbag. Once again, not too far outside the realm of what happens with a lot of shoplifters. What was dumb was this crook had his prison ID card in his purse…he was on probation! A warrant was signed and he was eventually picked up.
Anti-shoplifting devices such as Sensormatic labels are an effective means of preventing theft. There are rare instances you my get a visit from a dumb shoplifter who won’t think about what they are potentially getting themselves into if they choose to try to steal. Get great advice from a visit to LPSI website to learn how to stop shoplifting before these clods create a bit of chaos in your business.
Get more information on how to stop shoplifting, contact us or call 1.770.426.0547 today.
Loss Prevention ROI Calculator – 3 WC Blog 705
Loss Prevention Calculator -3
The Loss Prevention Calculator Shows How To Make Smart Investments
The Loss Prevention Calculator from Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. (LPSI) is a winning way to find out what the return on investment (ROI) would be for a Sensormatic security system. While the ROI for one thing may be great that doesn’t mean all investments will turn out the same. Here are a few examples where the ROI of investments were not only less than desirable, they were failures of epic proportion. From thinkadvisor.com – “8 Really Bad Investments That Lost a Bundle” by Dan Berman, May 07, 2013:
• Boo.com was an online apparel company that lost $188 million in a year and a half. “Almost one sixth of that money belonged to the wealthy Harari family…”
• Venture capitalists invested 35 million in Flooz.com an attempt at creating an online currency. “…despite retailers like Barnes and Noble and Starbucks agreeing to accept the currency, the idea flopped miserably.”
• In 1993 The New York Times spent 1.1 BILLION dollars to purchase the Boston Globe. The internet changed the news reporting industry and newspapers. “An attempt to sell the Globe in 2009 reportedly netted an offer of $59 million plus the assumption of pension obligations. Other newspapers that were part of the Globe chain were sold for $143 million in late 2011.”
Ouch, these investment choices certainly seem to have had a nasty sting to them. A Return On Investment should not be costly as these were. If you own a retail business you want to be careful on how you spend YOUR money. You have to have the assurance that there will be a positive return for your expenditures. One sure fire way to do this is to spend money on something that will pay back dividends. No, I’m not talking about buying stocks. Purchase a Loss Prevention system to prevent theft and reduce stock shortage. The Loss Prevention ROI Calculator is your safe way to see just how an investment will not only pay dividends but pay for itself as well.
Just how does the Loss Prevention Calculator work? You go to the LPSI website and find the link to their ROI Calculator. Once on the screen the user simply enters their estimated annual sales for their store and the amount they are considering spending on a Sensormatic security system. The Loss Prevention ROI Calculator tallies the figures and shows how much you would spend monthly to pay for a system. It also allows the user to see how long it would take for the investment to pay for itself through reduced shrink losses. THAT is an investment that makes sense!
There may be someone who is reading this and ready to reject it because they don’t want a sales person calling them or emailing to push a sale. I totally understand. That is why there is no registration, signing in, request for email or any other tracking used. When LPSI calls it a Free Loss Prevention Calculator they mean it. They are so sure of the effectiveness of electronic article surveillance systems they are confident you will make the right investment for your business. That is what LPSI is all about, helping retailers become more profitable through theft and shrinkage reduction.
Just to let you see that there have been other really bad investment choices that turned out poorly, here are a couple of more from franchisehelp.com, “20 Famous Athletes and Their Investment Blunders”:
• Rhagib Ismail a Notre Dame Football player and graduate, invested $300,000 in a “Hard Rock Café franchise/Planet Hollywood knockoff called Rock N’ Roll Café.” The venue was a failure.
• “(John) Elway and a co-investor committed $15 million to what turned out to be a ponzi scheme run by hedge fund manager Sean Mueller says the Denver Post”
• Scottie Pippin “(invested) in a private jet that took him under.” He is “…seeking restitution from a firm that he claims owes him at least $8 million after misguiding him on investments.”
There are so many more stories of investments that turned out badly for the investors. Some of the sports figures made considerable sums of money over the course of their careers and have gone bankrupt. You don’t have to make similar mistakes with your business.
Take some time looking at the Loss Prevention ROI Calculator and the LPSI website. Learn about the way a Sensormatic system can pay for itself over time. Also learn about the other ways LPSI can strengthen your company in ways you may never have considered previously. Let them help you start saving money today!
Need information on the Loss Prevention ROI Calculator? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 today.
The Loss Prevention Calculator from Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. (LPSI) is a winning way to find out what the return on investment (ROI) would be for a Sensormatic security system. While the ROI for one thing may be great that doesn’t mean all investments will turn out the same. Here are a few examples where the ROI of investments were not only less than desirable, they were failures of epic proportion. From thinkadvisor.com – “8 Really Bad Investments That Lost a Bundle” by Dan Berman, May 07, 2013:
• Boo.com was an online apparel company that lost $188 million in a year and a half. “Almost one sixth of that money belonged to the wealthy Harari family…”
• Venture capitalists invested 35 million in Flooz.com an attempt at creating an online currency. “…despite retailers like Barnes and Noble and Starbucks agreeing to accept the currency, the idea flopped miserably.”
• In 1993 The New York Times spent 1.1 BILLION dollars to purchase the Boston Globe. The internet changed the news reporting industry and newspapers. “An attempt to sell the Globe in 2009 reportedly netted an offer of $59 million plus the assumption of pension obligations. Other newspapers that were part of the Globe chain were sold for $143 million in late 2011.”
Ouch, these investment choices certainly seem to have had a nasty sting to them. A Return On Investment should not be costly as these were. If you own a retail business you want to be careful on how you spend YOUR money. You have to have the assurance that there will be a positive return for your expenditures. One sure fire way to do this is to spend money on something that will pay back dividends. No, I’m not talking about buying stocks. Purchase a Loss Prevention system to prevent theft and reduce stock shortage. The Loss Prevention ROI Calculator is your safe way to see just how an investment will not only pay dividends but pay for itself as well.
Just how does the Loss Prevention Calculator work? You go to the LPSI website and find the link to their ROI Calculator. Once on the screen the user simply enters their estimated annual sales for their store and the amount they are considering spending on a Sensormatic security system. The Loss Prevention ROI Calculator tallies the figures and shows how much you would spend monthly to pay for a system. It also allows the user to see how long it would take for the investment to pay for itself through reduced shrink losses. THAT is an investment that makes sense!
There may be someone who is reading this and ready to reject it because they don’t want a sales person calling them or emailing to push a sale. I totally understand. That is why there is no registration, signing in, request for email or any other tracking used. When LPSI calls it a Free Loss Prevention Calculator they mean it. They are so sure of the effectiveness of electronic article surveillance systems they are confident you will make the right investment for your business. That is what LPSI is all about, helping retailers become more profitable through theft and shrinkage reduction.
Just to let you see that there have been other really bad investment choices that turned out poorly, here are a couple of more from franchisehelp.com, “20 Famous Athletes and Their Investment Blunders”:
• Rhagib Ismail a Notre Dame Football player and graduate, invested $300,000 in a “Hard Rock Café franchise/Planet Hollywood knockoff called Rock N’ Roll Café.” The venue was a failure.
• “(John) Elway and a co-investor committed $15 million to what turned out to be a ponzi scheme run by hedge fund manager Sean Mueller says the Denver Post”
• Scottie Pippin “(invested) in a private jet that took him under.” He is “…seeking restitution from a firm that he claims owes him at least $8 million after misguiding him on investments.”There are so many more stories of investments that turned out badly for the investors. Some of the sports figures made considerable sums of money over the course of their careers and have gone bankrupt. You don’t have to make similar mistakes with your business.
Take some time looking at the Loss Prevention ROI Calculator and the LPSI website. Learn about the way a Sensormatic system can pay for itself over time. Also learn about the other ways LPSI can strengthen your company in ways you may never have considered previously. Let them help you start saving money today!
Need information on the Loss Prevention ROI Calculator? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 today.
Sensormatic Security Tags-4 WC Blog 703
Stop Shoplifting -3
Risky Business: Trying To Stop Shoplifting Can Be Dangerous!
Recently I read an article about a shooting during an attempt to stop shoplifting and afterwards wanted to ask why the Loss Prevention Associates continued with the apprehension. The story was posted in Loss Prevention Media Insider on Oct. 29, 2018, from the source ABC7 EYEWITNESS NEWS. According to the post a man and woman entered the grocery store with a 6-month old in a baby carrier. They reportedly put merchandise in the carrier and tried to exit. It was noted that L.P. personnel attempted to stop the suspects and the man pulled a gun and fired at them. I want to pause right here. I have been in Loss Prevention in stores for over 17 years. I have been threatened with a knife more than once. I have had one shoplifter lift his shirt and show me the butt of a gun in his waistband. He threatened to shoot if I tried to stop him. In those situations where I was threatened and a weapon was presented I backed off. I take no issue with stopping and apprehending shoplifters. In fact I think it is foolish to not prosecute them but that is another story. I also believe store owners minimize the risk of such incidents from ever happening when they use Sensormatic security tags on merchandise. I will finish my thoughts on this incident in a minute or two. But it is important to talk about the value of retail anti-theft devices in deterring the criminal activity in the first place.
I am a firm advocate of the use of Sensormatic security tags not only for the reduction of losses as stores use them to stop shoplifting. I am of the belief that retail anti-theft devices decrease the risk of violent criminal activity. I look at it from the perspective of someone who has had physical altercations with many shoplifters who were trying to steal merchandise that they did not think was tagged. After finally subduing a suspect and getting them to a point where they would talk to me rationally I would hear such things as, “I didn’t think there was security in the store” or “I didn’t think the cameras were real”. I also heard the excuse, “I didn’t see any security tags on it.” Excuses are just that, excuses but the fact remains if this is the way shoplifters think then it is important to ensure they know a store is using (hopefully) a variety of theft prevention measures. When criminals know that a store is equipped with security measures they tend to look for easier targets. This includes the dangerous segment of shoplifters who may be armed. While they may be more aggressive if confronted they aren’t actively looking for the police to be called due to their activity and try to avoid detection. A perfect example is the couple in the story above as they used an infant carrier to try to conceal their theft activity. Sensormatic security tags and other deterrent tools can help redirect these people to other stores, especially if signage indicates that the store uses theft prevention devices.
Getting back to the story I want to be clear I do not have all of the details and I did try to find several sources of information. I don’t know if the shoplifter was stopped and pulled out the gun immediately firing a shot or if he brandished the weapon and the L.P. staff chose to try to disarm him and a shot discharged. I do know that a baby and bystanders were at risk and certainly the L.P. Associates were endangered. If the assailant pulled his gun and immediately shot at the Associates I can understand if the first response they had was to try to disarm him to protect themselves from harm. When stopping a shoplifter training generally dictates keeping an arms-length distance from the suspect. It gives space to protect against a punch but remain close enough to prevent the suspect from running. If this was the scenario, the Associates would not have had enough distance to disengage if the suspect was shooting. They may have taken the only action available. If the suspect only showed the weapon and they chose to wrestle it away I would condemn that action. If a store chooses to stop shoplifting by apprehending and prosecuting shoplifters rule one must be safety and that includes disengaging when it becomes dangerous and call authorities.
Store owners you may decide you want to stop shoplifters. Before you make this decision get the proper training. Contact Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. and find out about the training programs they offer. They also consult on the benefits of using Sensormatic security tags to deter shoplifting and violent activity. Remember: Safety First, in all you do!
Need information on Sensormatic security tags? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
Recently I read an article about a shooting during an attempt to stop shoplifting and afterwards wanted to ask why the Loss Prevention Associates continued with the apprehension. The story was posted in Loss Prevention Media Insider on Oct. 29, 2018, from the source ABC7 EYEWITNESS NEWS. According to the post a man and woman entered the grocery store with a 6-month old in a baby carrier. They reportedly put merchandise in the carrier and tried to exit. It was noted that L.P. personnel attempted to stop the suspects and the man pulled a gun and fired at them. I want to pause right here. I have been in Loss Prevention in stores for over 17 years. I have been threatened with a knife more than once. I have had one shoplifter lift his shirt and show me the butt of a gun in his waistband. He threatened to shoot if I tried to stop him. In those situations where I was threatened and a weapon was presented I backed off. I take no issue with stopping and apprehending shoplifters. In fact I think it is foolish to not prosecute them but that is another story. I also believe store owners minimize the risk of such incidents from ever happening when they use Sensormatic security tags on merchandise. I will finish my thoughts on this incident in a minute or two. But it is important to talk about the value of retail anti-theft devices in deterring the criminal activity in the first place.
I am a firm advocate of the use of Sensormatic security tags not only for the reduction of losses as stores use them to stop shoplifting. I am of the belief that retail anti-theft devices decrease the risk of violent criminal activity. I look at it from the perspective of someone who has had physical altercations with many shoplifters who were trying to steal merchandise that they did not think was tagged. After finally subduing a suspect and getting them to a point where they would talk to me rationally I would hear such things as, “I didn’t think there was security in the store” or “I didn’t think the cameras were real”. I also heard the excuse, “I didn’t see any security tags on it.” Excuses are just that, excuses but the fact remains if this is the way shoplifters think then it is important to ensure they know a store is using (hopefully) a variety of theft prevention measures. When criminals know that a store is equipped with security measures they tend to look for easier targets. This includes the dangerous segment of shoplifters who may be armed. While they may be more aggressive if confronted they aren’t actively looking for the police to be called due to their activity and try to avoid detection. A perfect example is the couple in the story above as they used an infant carrier to try to conceal their theft activity. Sensormatic security tags and other deterrent tools can help redirect these people to other stores, especially if signage indicates that the store uses theft prevention devices.
Getting back to the story I want to be clear I do not have all of the details and I did try to find several sources of information. I don’t know if the shoplifter was stopped and pulled out the gun immediately firing a shot or if he brandished the weapon and the L.P. staff chose to try to disarm him and a shot discharged. I do know that a baby and bystanders were at risk and certainly the L.P. Associates were endangered. If the assailant pulled his gun and immediately shot at the Associates I can understand if the first response they had was to try to disarm him to protect themselves from harm. When stopping a shoplifter training generally dictates keeping an arms-length distance from the suspect. It gives space to protect against a punch but remain close enough to prevent the suspect from running. If this was the scenario, the Associates would not have had enough distance to disengage if the suspect was shooting. They may have taken the only action available. If the suspect only showed the weapon and they chose to wrestle it away I would condemn that action. If a store chooses to stop shoplifting by apprehending and prosecuting shoplifters rule one must be safety and that includes disengaging when it becomes dangerous and call authorities.
Store owners you may decide you want to stop shoplifters. Before you make this decision get the proper training. Contact Loss Prevention Systems, Inc. and find out about the training programs they offer. They also consult on the benefits of using Sensormatic security tags to deter shoplifting and violent activity. Remember: Safety First, in all you do!
Need information on Sensormatic security tags? Give us a call at 1.770.426.0547 now.
