With the holidays quickly approaching, executing strategies and managing the day-to-day issues can become overwhelming. The holiday season is the most important time of the year for retailers, and this importance is only emphasized by the current economic state. Therefore, now is an imperative time to be properly executing loss prevention strategies.
Over the next few weeks, you will close out what will be one of the most complex shopping seasons in history. In speaking with many of you, I have learned that you and your teams are focused, engaged and working to be complete business partners. You have been assisting your companies with balancing the collection of risks that face them. These risks and uncertain times require us to review, plan and respond to shrinkage, fraud, burglaries, safeness, robberies, non-traditional selling or store closings. It is reasonable to consider changing methods of operation to adapt quickly to this new, tumultuous environment. Changes might prove to be essential for loss prevention departments to stay relevant.
Loss prevention professionals and our solution provider partners have always shown a dedication, commitment, resolve and ability to deliver results. Adapting and correcting courses as needed to meet the needs of our business is what we have always been able to accomplish. Our success will be directly linked to our teams’ abilities to manage through uncertain times, challenge the status quo and deliver results. Talk is cheap. Many people can talk about concepts, theories and what they did in the past, but loss prevention leaders need to be able to talk specifically. We must respond to the programs and strategies that will reduce the collection of risks that retailers are currently facing. More important, we will need to build solutions and programs that deliver those results.
In an effort to understand the connection between retail crime and the downturn of our economy, the RILA Crimes Against Business subcommittee completed an in-depth survey. This survey produces some concerns relative to an increase in crime.
To see highlights of this survey, visit http://www.rila.org/latest/images/email/crimestudy.pdf.
It has become clear to me that we are entering into a new frontier for loss prevention which will require us to be faster, better and more effective than ever before. As many of you realize, RILA has a comprehensive list of committees to compliment and address the ever-changing portfolio of risks that you face. Will we address ORC? Yes. Not only will we address it, but we co-lead the Coalition against Organized Retail Crime. We will also work with you to address the hosts of crimes against businesses, safeness, workplace safety, disaster and recovery planning, merchandise protection and audit processes. We will continue to work with you to monitor and lead the future of retail loss prevention through our Horizons subcommittee. These committees provide an opportunity for members of the retail industry - loss prevention practitioners, manufacturers and solution providers - all working together for better solutions.
Have a safe and happy holiday season. We look forward to serving you in 2009.