The holiday season is upon us, bringing not only joy and festivities but also an increase in retail activity. About 54% of business owners report more theft than usual around the holidays. Investing in enhanced business security measures is a good choice if you’re looking to safeguard your business this season. Let’s review about a few strategies to keep your customers, employees, and merchandise safe and secure.

Safeguard Your Inventory

The first note may seem obvious, but now is a good time to remind yourself to prioritize your most expensive inventory. High-ticket items like electronic devices, jewelry, and designer products carry a disproportionate level of risk. A single instance of retail theft could cost you thousands. That’s why it’s important that you lock up your most expensive inventory. Creating specific security measures for these items in particular is not a waste of time. Using padlocks, dedicated cases with thick plastic, or assigning staff or guards to monitor particular items will make it more difficult for shoplifters to access expensive items and can pre-emptively combat theft.

Set Up Cameras Around Your Shop

Cameras can act as a deterrent for those who would consider shoplifting from your store this holiday season. When criminals see cameras around inventory that they’re looking to snatch, they’ll think twice before trying to steal it. After all, no one wants their face associated with shoplifting. Make sure the cameras cover key areas such as entrances, exits, and high-traffic zones. Those signs indicating that the premises are under surveillance aren’t just legal disclaimers; they also add effectiveness to the system by making it more visible. If someone does manage to steal something, cameras can show you exactly who did it. You can show these videos to the police as evidence of the theft and evaluate the incident for opportunities to improve security.

Invest In Visible Human Security Presence

Security cameras are a big help, but studies show that only 44% of thieves are deterred by security cameras. However, that number almost doubles when you have visibly attentive employees, especially security guards. Adding the presence of security guards inside and outside the store makes it clear to customers and potential thieves that you take safety and security seriously. Parking lot patrols are also a good idea when creating an all-encompassing security plan.

Test All Security Equipment

Cameras, manual locks, electronically controlled locks, and tag sensors that safeguard inventory require regular testing. Management should ensure that these tools work as intended, or they will be ineffective. Cameras should be checked for obstructions, locks should be tested to ensure that they are in full working order, and the tag sensors at entrances and exits should be tested to ensure they sound the proper alarms. It’s also important to take extra time to ensure that holiday decorations and additional shelving have not been placed in front of cameras or in high-traffic areas.

Perform Background Checks on Seasonal Employees

The holidays in retail come with seasonal employees. You’ll be giving a whole new set of people access to your inventory. Performing thorough background checks may seem like overkill for a temporary employee, but, in reality, it may be more important. Someone with a criminal history may apply for a seasonal job with the intention of stealing merchandise via authorized access. There are a number of online professional background check tools these days. Find one and start using it to ensure you only hire trustworthy employees.

Enhance Your Holiday Business Security

While the holidays can be a time of great profit, they also invite more theft than other times. Securing your retail store during the holiday season requires combining technology, training, and a proactive approach. By implementing these measures, you will protect your assets and create a safe and enjoyable shopping experience for your customers. A secure store is not only a deterrent to potential criminals but also a testament to your commitment to the well-being of your customers and employees alike.

Now that you know how to promote your business security and safeguard your inventory, it’s time to take professional loss prevention measures. Contact BlueChip to learn more about how we can help you protect your retail property today.

Much of today’s transportation safety system is automated and controlled via light cycles, schedules, and driving patterns. However, there are situations where there is no substitute for human intervention. When utility companies need to shut down a street, it often catches drivers and pedestrians by surprise. Having traffic management and flaggers in place alleviates confusion and stress on commuters and keeps the utility company employees safe.

Jeff Martin, VP of Traffic and Security Services at BlueChip Pros, expands on that thought,

“Traffic is not always predictable, especially in a construction zone. Accidents can happen, so it’s important to have a team on-site to minimize the danger from traffic. Clarity from traffic flaggers goes a long way.”

So the question remains how do traffic flaggers help?

Maintain Flow of Traffic

Flagging services help reduce traffic accidents by maintaining traffic flow. The team creates a plan to allow traffic to flow, whether it is one lane out or multiple lanes. Once everything is set up, the team provides explicit directions to ensure the proper amount of vehicles travel safely and efficiently past the work site.

Flaggers are trained to understand safety protocols and keep safety first. Having flaggers on-site helps direct drivers’ attention, curtail dangerous driving, and get traffic moving as it should.

Increased Safety Measures 

In dangerous areas or situations traffic flow is even more critical. Downed power lines, damaged roadways, utility equipment, and workers carry their own hazards. Traffic flaggers are specially trained and equipped to handle these types of situations. The flaggers handle the ancillary safety issues around traffic so that the utility or municipality workers can safely fix the problem. This promotes a safe, smooth, and successful project.

Achieve Compliance 

Hiring certified traffic control flaggers helps ensure you meet local and federal compliance. These traffic control flaggers are trained for many different emergency situations and must receive ongoing training to maintain certification. With trained professionals, you can expect them to perform their duties safely and diligently at all times.

Jeff Martin explains the training his flaggers receive,

“BlueChip Pros ensures you have the most qualified professionals working on your projects by following strict training guidelines. All of our professionals are required to have the highest level of training to meet the BlueChip standards for safety, compliance, and conscientiousness. Our training regimine includes classes on traffic flow, pedestrian and bicycle management, driver interaction, specialty equipment use, emergency response, and much more. The team is re-trained and re-certified every year.”

Excellent Service and Communication

Professional flaggers understand what an important role they play in traffic safety. They know politeness and punctuality are part of the job, too. You trust them to provide important services and protect the public, so they should be well-prepared to handle those situations. This is a big responsibility and one they take seriously.

When you work with a company that provides quality flagging services, you should expect excellent customer service and open communication. They should discuss your project with you, explain what services they can offer, and answer any questions you may have.

Hire the Best Traffic Control Flaggers

Traffic control flaggers have an essential job and perform many functions. Their training and experience help make difficult traffic spots safer for everyone involved. From local roads to highways, you can create the safest work zones on long-term or short-term projects by hiring traffic control and flagging services professionals.

About 54% of business owners report more theft than usual around the holidays. If you’re looking to safeguard your business this season, investing in enhanced business security measures is a good choice.

Here, we’re going to talk about theft prevention strategies for small and large retail businesses alike. Read on to learn how you can protect your inventory and your reputation.

Safeguard Your Inventory

Many stores sell expensive items like electronic devices, jewelry, and household appliances. A single instance of retail theft could cost you thousands if this describes your business.

That’s why it’s important that you lock up your most expensive inventory. A padlock and some thick plastic will make it more difficult for shoplifters to access expensive items and can pre-emptively combat theft.

Set Up Cameras Around Your Shop

Cameras can act as a deterrent for those who would consider shoplifting from your store this holiday season. When criminals see cameras around inventory that they’re looking to snatch, they’ll think twice before trying to steal it. After all, no one wants their face associated with shoplifting.

If someone does manage to steal something, cameras can show you exactly who did it. You can show these videos to the police as evidence of the theft. It will be much easier to get justice.

Test All Security Equipment

Both cameras and electronically-locked gates that safeguard inventory require testing. You need to make sure that they actually work or they’ll be ineffective. Ask professionals how you can test your technology to ensure that it’s all set up and ready to go.

At this point, you also should have someone check all the cameras for obstructions. Many shop owners accidentally place holiday decorations and shelving in front of cameras, rendering them useless. Test the footage so this doesn’t happen to you.

Perform Background Checks on Seasonal Employees

Holiday retail comes with seasonal employee hire, which means that you’ll be giving new people access to inventory.

Make sure that you perform thorough background checks on new hires. Someone with a criminal history may apply for a job so that they can steal merchandise via authorized access. You can use online professional background check tools to ensure that you’re only hiring trustworthy employees.

Invest in Security Patrols

Studies show that only 44% of thieves are deterred by security cameras. However, the vast majority will think twice about stealing if an employee or security guard is physically present.

Make sure that you hire security guards to patrol your store during the holiday rush. Parking lot patrols are also a good idea so that someone can catch thieves that run outside with merchandise.

Enhance Your Holiday Business Security

While the holidays can be a time of great profit, they also invite more theft than other times of the year.

Now that you know how to promote your business security and safeguard your inventory, it’s time to take professional loss prevention measures. Contact BlueChip to learn more about the ways that we can help you protect your retail property today.

Unfortunately, there are approximately six million car accidents each year. To make matters worse, many of these could have been avoidable if certain traffic solutions had been made available during hazardous conditions and storms.

Let’s explore the benefits of traffic control services and why they are so important.