The pressure is on retailers in this economic climate. The pressure is on to meet sales goals, and maintain profitability. This means that retailers will potentially take some drastic steps to get customers in their doors, and then to sell to them.  If this economy maintains its current state or worsens, retailers will be under huge pressure going into the holiday season.

Customers and employees are also under huge financial pressures right now. As the holidays approach, this will get worse. As the economy staggers, unemployment is rising, and people are not spending on unnecessary items. Inevitably, some will turn to theft. In fact, some already have. 

The news is full of stories of increased shoplifting rates. Police departments across the country are conducting blitz operations to catch shoplifters, teaching retailers how to protect themselves from theft, and working hard to serve the businesses who need them more than ever right now. 

Employee theft is also on the rise. Employees whose weekly schedules are being reduced due to the fact that retailers are being forced to tighten up on payroll may be tempted to make up the difference in their pay by taking merchandise or money from their companies. 

As retailers, under pressure to sell more, relax their security measures on high ticket (high risk) product, the pressure will be on loss prevention professionals to double, even triple, their efforts to protect this merchandise, and therefore the company’s profits. 

Yep, there’s a lot of pressure out there right now. Can you relate? Want to discuss it? Leave me a comment and we can.

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