How to Protect Your Business During the Holiday Season
The busiest season of the year is upon us – the holidays! We want to ensure – no matter your industry or line of business – that you have a successful holiday season, free from shoplifting, theft, break-ins or damage to your property or assets. With the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions continuing to lessen, we believe in-store shopping will be a popular option this year. While this has a great economic impact and we are happy to see a sense of normalcy return to in-store shopping experiences, the busy holiday season can be a burden for small businesses who are trying to protect their property from theft and implement loss prevention tactics.
To keep your business, your people and your property safe and secure during the holiday season – and beyond – check out our effective theft prevention and overall protection tips below. Or, for full-service security services, contact our team of experts for a customized quote and security assessment to keep your assets protected this holiday season:
Limit Points of Entry
Limiting access to your business minimizes the possibility of break-ins and makes it far more difficult for would-be thieves to steal and vandalise your property. Restricting access and validating visitor identities are two easy ways to boost security without putting forth a lot of effort. Additionally, limiting points of entry to your store can aide in preventing COVID-19 and allow that one point of entry to be sanitized consistently. You can also place a hand sanitizer in front of the entryway to your business to decrease the potential spread of germs within your store.
Rearrange Your Products
Ensure that you or your employees are visible throughout the store. Make sure the front door is visible, that there are no "hidden nooks," and that your shelves are positioned in such a way that no one can hide. From the outside looking in, increase visibility. Remember to store all expensive or valuable items in a high-traffic area – near the cash register is ideal – so you can keep an eye on your high-value items at all times.
Ensure Your Security Equipment is Working and Visible
Making sure that surveillance equipment and cameras are highly visible can be a great way to prevent and deter potential crime. Additionally, give your equipment a check and verify that everything is working perfectly before the holidays starts. Posting signs that any trespassers are being monitored is also a great way to stop would be criminals from carrying out their plans and damaging your company. If you are setting up Christmas decorations or displays, ensure that your festive décor does not obstruct or block the view of your surveillance or security equipment and test all alarms to ensure they have not been demagnetized in the process of decorating.
Switch Up Your Business Routines
The holidays are a great time to switch up your day-to-day routine at your business – especially when it comes to cash drops and shift changes. Try to ensure there are rarely, if ever, employees alone in your store an operate on buddy system for opening and closing shifts, cash drops, etc.
Be Aware
Being alert is the most critical aspect of keeping your business safe. Keep an eye out for anyone who appears to be suspicious. Also, request that any suspicious caller who requests any type of sensitive information be reported to a senior manager or the business owner. During the holiday season, you may want to spend more time than you normally would monitoring your live feed and CCTV surveillance system. There are many SMART options that you can use to hook up to your smartphone device or computer, enabling you to partake in holiday festivities whilst ensuring the safety of your business.
Hire a Security Company
Hiring a security company on a seasonal or part-time basis can ensure your storefront, commercial facility, or business’s safety and security throughout the busiest time of the year, even if you only want to enhance your security measures during the holiday season. At IntercomLux, we design bespoke security solutions based on your company's demands and security requirements. We feel that working with each customer to design a security plan that is tailored to their budget, business risks, and security prospects is critical.
We would be pleased to work with your business on a security solution that works hard for you, so you don’t have to. IntercomLux is a full-service security company based in Vancouver, British Columbia, that provides personalized security solutions to a diverse variety of clients. Reach out to our team of specialists today for a risk evaluation and a complementary quote: 604-283-8599 | inquiries@intercomlux.com