This time two years ago Australian retail was awash with scaremongering the sector was at risk of imminent collapse courtesy of e-commerce giant Amazon’s impending arrival. “Online would kill real world retail” many headlines proclaimed. Two years later there appear to be few casualties of what was tipped to be a huge shakeup for the…
It’s common knowledge the festive season brings with it both an increase in foot traffic for the retail sector, and an increase in theft. And some retailers and products are more likely to be targeted than others. In the grocery sector, for example, liquor retailers are among the most often targeted stores for shoplifting. So,…
Retail loss prevention and the customer experience may seem like two terms which have little in common. But often they work hand in hand, with effective shop security facilitating the delivery of better service, better prices, and a better reputation for both an individual store and their brand. Often relying on a mix of loss…
The rising cost of meat is contributing to a spike in shoplifting, according to recent media reports, with major retailers now fitting security labels to their packaging of prime cuts. Meanwhile, meat isn’t the only supermarket item where retailers are being forced to employ greater security. So, amid debate about the price meat in Australia,…
Next week, the retail sector officially enters the three-month countdown to Christmas, and already many brands are busily planning their marketing, ordering their stock and preparing for what they hope will be a bumper festive season. This year, there are also some new trends emerging, with American holidays like Black Friday and Cyber Monday set…
Victoria Police are considering introducing a new charge to tackle the rising incidence of ‘swarming’. Usually aimed at telco retailers and electronics stores, ‘swarming’ sees a couple or numerous offenders enter a retail outlet en masse to steal valuable items like mobile phones. It often involves a level of force that sees products ripped from…
Apple has unveiled its latest smart watch as more and more brands embrace the wearable trend and these accessories continue to grow in popularity. For retailers, the Apple Watch and its counterparts offer a real opportunity to spark consumer interest, but as a high-value item prone to theft, they also require a loss prevention focus.…
A US report has found most shoppers value the role of technology in retail, with innovation that assists in the product search and selection process their favoured form of tech implementation. According to the latest Consumer View Report from the US National Retail Federation more than three in five shoppers believe technology and innovation has…
A retail crime security survey focussed specifically on Australia and New Zealand has found customer theft accounts for over half of all lost revenue from Australian stores, with telecommunications stores suffering the highest losses per incident. The findings support recent news that telecommunications stores are regularly targeted by gangs, with thieves becoming increasingly brazen in…
With the latest research indicating Australian retailers lose $3.37 billion annually to shoplifting, employee theft and general loss, there’s never been a better time to focus on store security. And in today’s retail environment, protecting an outlet encompasses a series of strategies that range from stock protection on the floor right through to accountability in…