Beef Up Your Store's Security

So you have a business, you've worked long and hard to put it up and to make sure that things will work out just fine and that you will make enough profit to ensure that your business will survive its first year. This can be quite a challenge if you have a brick-and-mortar store from which you do business or sell your products. What can make it even harder is making sure that your store is safe and protected, and that you are doing absolutely everything you can to prevent thefts and break-ins. No storeowner wants to leave his or her shop in fine condition one evening and then find windows and doors broken and the entire place turned over the next day. Naturally, security should be something that you keep in mind all the time. It's only to be expected that you would want to protect your investments. To do this, you have to be mindful about several things. Your store's location is important; if you've set up shop in safe neighborhood, you might not have anything to worry about, and you also need to know if the neighboring stores have had problems with security. However, no matter where you are situated, you still need to be careful at all times. Take a look at your current access control system in the store. Most likely, you use the traditional lock and key; after all, you can't really use biometric locks on your door. Be sure at least that you use sturdy locks on the door and that your backrooms and offices are well secured. You should also consider having CCTV cameras installed, no matter how small your premises are. These can help you keep a better eye on your customers and even help you identify thieves and suspicious behavior. Your employees must also be trained in keeping your store secure. It starts with making sure that everything is properly locked and secured every time they leave to knowing how to spot dubious behavior. They should also know how to observe customers discreetly and be on the lookout for any thefts in progress. The products in your store must also be displayed intelligently, and stacked in a way that won't allow anyone to just pick one off the pile and sneak off without paying for it. From beefing up access control options to training your employees to be more vigilant, there are many ways for you to keep your store secure. And you must remember to not take security for granted if you want your business to succeed. By: Rachel Grover