Inventory Management and Control
Imagine it’s the end of a long week – tills counted, staff rostered for next week, plan for a new window sorted, but you can’t shake that creeping feeling you’ve missed something. That worrying sense that there’s one more thing on your to do list lurking just out of sight. Feels Like that’s probably your inventory system talking to you. When it comes to keeping track of your retail business’ stock, it pays to be transparent and methodical about how, when and where you keep an eye on what’s moving in your store.
There are plenty of ways to get started with inventory management and control so if you’re not sure where to start, it can almost feel overwhelming. If I had to whittle down the best advice from my years in retail management, it would be this: do yourself a favour and don’t bite off more than you can chew. Start with smaller projects like reviewing supplier delivery notes and received items or checking daily sales reports against till totals at the end of the day before trying to overhaul your entire inventory system.
Try spending a bit of time here and there learning what factors affect shrinkage (which is just another word for missing stock) so you can schedule future inventory checks when shrinkage is likely – think launch events, public holidays or sale periods. The important thing is that you’re tracking what arrives in your store and when it leaves. Once you’ve gotten the hang of small projects, take a look at what else is working well for other retailers around you. I used to snoop around my old workplace looking over people’s shoulders or watching from behind them when they’d prepare purchase orders or run sales reports – sometimes I could tell if their method was more efficient just by how much more time they seemed to have throughout their shift compared to me.
If nothing else, asking how other retailers manage their inventory gives you a clue about what not to do. The most important thing is remembering that thoroughness helps keep things running smoothly so don’t cut corners just because some parts seem boring or repetitive – those are usually the most important ones. You already know better than anyone that trying something new requires practice (and occasionally patience).
Surveillance Systems and Monitoring
You know when you’re on the shop floor and you suddenly realise you’re being watched by a little camera in the corner. Or, you don’t notice until the manager points it out. It’s one of those things we all say we don’t mind. And most of us really don’t care unless we’re picking our nose or tugging at our knickers when we think nobody can see us.
Surveillance is pretty much a rather big part of our lives now - not just in stores but on streets, in cafes and yes, even at home. Seems like nothing is nearly always private anymore, so it isn’t surprising that the best security checklists include it. For retail stores, surveillance systems are non-negotiable. And this is not just for the obvious reasons.
Sure, they help with shoplifting and shrinkage but they also monitor staff behaviour and help correct anomalies. More or less. Sometimes managers can see who’s having an off day and take the time to ask about mental health if something looks unusual.
Or surveillance footage can prove someone’s innocence if something goes wrong on shift. They play a fairly big role in making sure safety is part of culture. The other thing that store owners have to do today is a bit keep up with tech.
Thieves are getting smarter and can sometimes slip through cameras that are too grainy or too old or placed where there’s not enough light. Modern security systems provide extremely high quality coverage and have alarm systems that can be triggered by motion sensors or fire alarm systems. Many new retail stores also have facial recognition software embedded into their CCTV which can help identify potential threats before they even enter.
And yet, it isn’t all fail safe. No amount of technology can replace good old human intuition and conversation. The way I see it, being vigilant on the job and recognising when someone needs help is a skill that will never go out of fashion - regardless of how many hundreds of cameras a store might have. Sort of.
Access Control Measures
You know that moment when you pop into a shop, start browsing, and then - out of the blue - someone comes in and acts suspiciously. It's not an ideal scenario for any business, but it does happen. There are times when you may think you know who these individuals are, but you'd be surprised at the things that could occur. These days, controlling who enters your store is the first line of defence against possible threats like theft, damage, or even violence.
It also helps you better identify who enters your premises on a day-to-day basis, making it a lot easier to spot anyone new. In fact, you can actually create a safer environment for your staff and customers by restricting access to certain areas in your store. I always recommend that every business invests in alarm systems, surveillance cameras, and electronic locks so they have more control over their premises. I suppose it's mainly for peace of mind as well.
These days there are advanced access control systems available that allow you to remotely monitor your store and lock it down if necessary. Many companies use smart cards or biometrics to authorise entry, but it doesn't have to be complicated. Whether you're running a small boutique or a chain of retail outlets across Australia, implementing some form of access control is vital to keep your staff and merchandise safe.
There are different ways to keep track of people entering and exiting stores - guest books or log-ins at the entrance can even be used as access control measures.
Employee Training and Awareness
I remember a story, probably just hearsay, about a store that got robbed by a staff member because they were aware of the shop’s security’s blind spots. That happened because the store owner didn’t teach them how to use the store security system or even share about its blind spots in order to better monitor shoppers. Instead, they learned it the hard way, causing them to lose thousands of dollars in merchandise.
They caught the staff member responsible for the theft eventually, but not without facing severe consequences first. In many cases like this, it’s not an issue of trust– it’s more of a lack of communication and proper information sharing regarding everyone’s responsibilities. When all employees are somewhat aware of what’s happening, they’re more likely to take action and help protect your store with you.
On the other hand, if your team isn’t aware of your security measures or don’t know how these work, it’ll be difficult to expect them to do something about it when you need help catching the perpetrator. I mean, who wouldn’t want a whole squad watching out for each other. The way I see it, this is quite a bit why creating a sense of community is crucial to managing your own team as well as making sure everyone is safe. Set up regular check-ins and roleplays so everyone knows exactly what to do and where to go when something does happen– getting rid of confusion and unnecessary delays in reporting any incident.
The way I see it, one last thing i can recommend is empowering your team through constant communication and encouragement. Recognise those who put their safety at risk for helping protect your store and enforce strict policies on acceptable behaviour when caught stealing from the store. Sort of.
Emergency Preparedness Plans
There’s nothing like a personal emergency to remind you of the scale of unpredictability you can encounter. A misplaced phone, while you’re stuck in a part of town where you know almost no one, at a time that is fairly late in the night, and alone. There’s a certain amount of panic that ensues before rationality creeps in. I was lucky, but some people aren’t.
While emergencies come in various shapes and sizes, their impact can be controlled with a plan. It is important to keep your employees trained to handle high-pressure situations. It is also important to have frequent sessions during which you discuss processes to follow when things go wrong. People need to know exactly who they need to call, be able to access phones or know where the phones are, if they need an ambulance or the police or firefighters - what do they do.
It seems like who is evidently responsible for reporting an incident. It’s necessary for all policies and plans regarding employee safety and crisis management to be well-documented and shared with employees so they have easy access. This information needs to be straightforward and direct. The policies must also be updated frequently so as to maintain their relevance - just as any documentation should.
Of course, none of us would actually want these scenarios playing out in real life but it definitely helps when people are prepared to tackle them. Empowering your employees with the knowledge that they’re being protected also means that your business will remain protected too - win-win.
Cybersecurity Protocols
It's 8:57 am, and you're wrapping up your morning scroll before heading to the shop. That's when you notice it. A scammy email that's got your store's name in the header.
You delete it (obviously), but can't help but wonder - why do they keep getting through. We all want to believe we're invincible, but it's time to realise cyber attacks can happen to the best of us. I mean, if they can go after large corporations with huge budgets for security, then what's stopping them from targeting smaller businesses.
The news is filled with stories about data breaches and information leaks - which sounds like enough reason to make cybersecurity a priority. Security software isn't always cheap, but it's necessary for anyone who wants their business to survive long-term. That means it's time to invest in firewalls and antivirus software for starters.
And while they're doing their job in the background, let's be proactive with regular password updates and scheduled data backups - ideally every week. Lastly, don't forget the basics - like updating your POS system regularly. It's not just good for business; it's essential for keeping your store safe from any potential threats or hacks. With these tools in place, you'll feel a little more secure knowing you've taken steps towards protecting what matters most.
More or less.