ARTICLES
Retail Loss Prevention Forum - How collaboration is the new buzzword
Good customer service is good loss prevention as store managers are out on the floor not only selling, but protecting their stock.
This was one of the key points to come out of The Retail Bulletin’s Loss Prevention Forum at Reigate Hill Golf Course on Tuesday which attracted major retailers including Brantano Footwear, Jessops, Merlin Entertainment, Peacocks, Pret a Manger, River Island, Spar and Wickes.
Sponsored by specialist retail solutions provider Torex, the theme of the round table lunch discussion was “raising the profile” and focussed upon how loss prevention managers increasingly worked with other departments including operations, legal, HR, finance and marketing to trouble-shoot issues within the retail environment.
How loss prevention or profit protection was perceived within the business depended upon the dominant culture of the organisation, but it was often seen as the last chance saloon for problem solving as many departments incorporated other functions including buying and merchandising, operations, risk, health and safety and even licensing within the LP remit.
“Collaboration is seen as the new buzzword as loss prevention teams are working closer with other departments and increasingly competitor loss prevention heads to share data and ideas that will reduce the UK’s £4 billion pound shrink issue,” said Stuart Dean Product Manager, Torex.
“Loss prevention has redefined its role and aligned itself with operations so that it is no longer seen as a function that concentrates solely upon preventing loss at the expense of sales, but as a creative department that problem-solves and maximises the potential to achieve both.”
The consensus around the table was that there was generally a more positive perception of the LP role which was no longer seen as compliance driven ‘Check list Charlies’ but as collaborative partners seeking common solutions to everyday problems.
Examples included marketing, operations, buying, HR and LP sitting down to solve complex issues including technology requirements and the protection of people and products.
“It is increasingly seen that Loss Prevention is trusted to solve common problems and is probably the one department that interacts with all of the others in a positive ‘can-do’ way because it fundamentally understands people and how to get the best out of them.
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Thursday, 07 January 2010
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Crime against retailers has rocketed during the recession, the British Retail Consortium (BRC), has warned.
The number of thefts from shops rose by a third in a single year with an incident occurring nearly every minute, 24 hours a day - while incidents of violence and abuse against shop staff doubled, according to the BRC's Crime Survey 2009, published today (Thursday 7 January).
For the first time the BRC survey assessed the proportion of retail crimes not reported to the police. Data from retailers indicated two thirds of customer thefts were not reported; suggesting the actual number of shoplifting incidents was over one million.
The survey also shows retail crime of all types cost UK shops £1.1bn in 2008/09 - a 10% increase on the previous year and equivalent to 72,000 retail jobs.
Stealing by customers accounts for the biggest share of all retail crime both by the number of incidents (94%) and by monetary value (42%).
The BRC said incidents of violence and abuse against shop staff doubled compared with the previous year.
Physical violence rose 58% and verbal abuse 37%.
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Information taken from the HomeOffice web site.
Business and retail crime
Businesses are at the heart of our local communities, employing close to three million staff across the country. The retail industry forms an important part of business, with the retail sector making around £287bn worth of sales in 2008.
What is business crime?
Business crime includes ‘all crime and disorder committed by or against businesses.’ This can be targeted against a single person working in business, against a single business, or may be part of a wider pattern of crime which adversely impacts a number of businesses in the same sector, or in the same geographical area.
Some of the crimes that could affect businesses include:
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commercial robbery
-
fraud and forgery
-
shop theft
-
theft by employees
-
theft of and from vehicles
-
making off without payment (for example from petrol forecourts)
It could also include violent crimes such as assault, harassment or robbery, as well as anti-social behaviour and criminal damage.
What we’re doing to stop business crime
Retail Crime Action Plan 2009
We’re working in partnership with business to stop retail crime. On 6 August 2009, we published a retail crime action plan, which was jointly agreed with the national retail crime steering group.
The action plan outlines how we will go further to make sure retailers are secure from crime against businesses. It shows activity already undertaken by the steering group, as well as looking at new areas where we can help.
Small retailers capital grants fund
On 6 August, Alan Campbell, the Home Office Minister responsible for crime reduction, announced a new £5m small retailers’ capital grant fund. From 17 August, small retailers and other groups responsible for tackling crime against retailers will be able to apply for grants funding in 50 specified areas. More details are available on the grants administrators website (new window).
How safe is your business?
We’ve put together an online questionnaire to help you assess how secure your business is. The tool will provide targeted information for you to improve your security and reduce the chance of your business being victimised.
Take our questionnaire (it should take about 15 minutes).
Business and retail crime
Businesses are at the heart of our local communities, employing close to three million staff across the country. The retail industry forms an important part of business, with the retail sector making around £287bn worth of sales in 2008.
What is business crime?
Business crime includes ‘all crime and disorder committed by or against businesses.’ This can be targeted against a single person working in business, against a single business, or may be part of a wider pattern of crime which adversely impacts a number of businesses in the same sector, or in the same geographical area.
Some of the crimes that could affect businesses include:
-
commercial robbery
-
fraud and forgery
-
shop theft
-
theft by employees
-
theft of and from vehicles
-
making off without payment (for example from petrol forecourts)
It could also include violent crimes such as assault, harassment or robbery, as well as anti-social behaviour and criminal damage.
What we’re doing to stop business crime
Retail Crime Action Plan 2009
We’re working in partnership with business to stop retail crime. On 6 August 2009, we published a retail crime action plan, which was jointly agreed with the national retail crime steering group.
The action plan outlines how we will go further to make sure retailers are secure from crime against businesses. It shows activity already undertaken by the steering group, as well as looking at new areas where we can help.
Small retailers capital grants fund
On 6 August, Alan Campbell, the Home Office Minister responsible for crime reduction, announced a new £5m small retailers’ capital grant fund. From 17 August, small retailers and other groups responsible for tackling crime against retailers will be able to apply for grants funding in 50 specified areas. More details are available on the grants administrators website (new window).
How safe is your business?
We’ve put together an online questionnaire to help you assess how secure your business is. The tool will provide targeted information for you to improve your security and reduce the chance of your business being victimised.
Take our questionnaire (it should take about 15 minutes).
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