INTERNAL THEFT
The amount of employee theft and fraud in businesses is alarming . Putting processes into place help dissuade theft and remove open opportunity for theft :
> Perform background checks and reference checks on job candidates ,
> Ensure a clause is in the employee handbook on conviction of any internal theft or fraud ,
> Have visible supervisors on every shift ,
> Do regular inventory counts as well as unscheduled inspections and audits of inventory and bookeeping ,
> Don ’ t keep excess inventory in staff rooms where opportunity is easy ,
> Count money daily and record any difference to see patterns ,
> Check incoming and outgoing product arrivals and check statements to ensure accurate shipments ,
> Have staff meetings about loss prevention including talking about internal theft .
EXTERNAL THEFT
We lose a significant amount of eyewear product to shoplifting . Some of it is our own customers and patients who can ’ t resist the easy opportunity we have placed in front of them to professional , seasoned gangs who know we are an easy target . Here are a few tips on what you can do to reduce external theft :
> Nothing beats a shoplifter better than customer service … greet each person who comes into your dispensary and stay with them no matter what . If you have to multitask do it as close to them as possible and don ’ t leave the area unattended ,
> Work in pairs and have someone always visible in the store front ,
> Don ’ t leave holes in the frame boards … always keep them full so it would be very noticeable immediately if something is missing ,
> Don ’ t have displays close to exits and entrances where it is an easy grab and go ,
> Keep top , expensive brands in locking bars or locked glass cabinets ,
> Install mirrors that allow you and the shoplifter to see they are being watched ,
> Buy cameras and put signs out in the dispensary that “ we ' re watching ” and recording ,
> Train staff on loss prevention and to always be watching for signs of theft .
A few small changes and some top level awareness from you and your staff can easily save your eyecare business thousands of lost product every year . Building an ongoing plan to keep loss prevention a top priority in just smart business .
Trudi Charest is the Co-Founder of 4ECPs , a business resource company for eyecare professionals . 4ECPs has three divisions , jobs – training – marketing . For more information check out their website at www . 4ecps . com or email Trudi at trudi @ 4ecps . com .