A small storefront faces the same challenges that a large store does, on a smaller scale. However, crime and security should be a big concern regardless of the size of your shop.
Whether your small store is a place of bustling business or quiet browsing, security should be a top concern in the day-to-day operation of your business. Having weak security measures in place can result in a loss of inventory to shoplifters and can be a deterrent to paying customers. Crime can often be unpredictable but there are things every store owner can do to avoid theft and improve security.
When you are creating and maintaining your storefront there are several things you should consider in order to ensure proper security. Here are some helpful tips to consider:
- Pay attention to your store’s layout. The way your shop is set up can help or hinder your goal for safety and security.
- Make sure there are no corners or hiding spots that create poor visibility. You’ll want an open, visible store to deter crime.
- Install security cameras to help deter crime and catch perpetrators in the act.
It All Starts with the Layout
A store’s layout is about more than just feng shui. Shops are often organised intentionally to draw the customer’s eyes to specific merchandise and entice them to explore different departments. However, a shop’s floor plan should also be designed with security in mind. Creating a store’s layout is one of the most important steps in creating a shop with high security. The best layouts not only promote easy access to merchandise but also keep customers safe and criminals at bay.
Design a layout that features wide aisles to keep customers from bumping into one other or brushing up against each other. Not only does this make it more difficult for pick pockets, but is recommended for fire safety.
Maintain High Visibility
When you are designing your store’s layout you should also make sure that there is high visibility. Criminals won’t want to risk stealing merchandise if there is a high probability that they will be seen in the process. Minimise any blind spots or hiding places that a criminal might use to quickly grab some merchandise unseen.
If there are some blind spots in your store, you can also use a convex security mirror to increase visibility. Even if your shop has many aisles, you can use a wide angle dome mirror to survey them all at once.
Install Security Cameras
Of course, you can always use the tried and true method of installing a security camera in your store to catch criminals in the act. These work for two reasons: if a criminal sees a camera they may not try to steal anything at all but if they do, the authorities have evidence to work off of. Some people use methods that focus on the first reason. You can use a decoy camera if you simply want to deter criminals.
Aside from these methods, make sure you supervise your store during open hours. Small shop owners often leave the store during slow times but this invites shoplifting. Monitor your store at all times and use the aforementioned tips to help you do so.
