The holiday season is a whirlwind for retailers—a time of bustling stores, eager shoppers, and soaring sales. But with all this excitement comes unique challenges, from managing larger inventories and seasonal employees to addressing the heightened risk of theft and shrink. The stakes are high, and loss prevention becomes more critical than ever.
To help you navigate this festive rush without sacrificing security or profitability, we’ve compiled 12 actionable strategies designed to protect your retail store during the busiest time of the year. These tips not only safeguard your bottom line but also ensure a seamless and enjoyable shopping experience for you, your staff, and your customers.
A well-thought-out store layout can reduce theft opportunities while improving customer experience. Holiday-related end caps and displays can require a reshuffling of layout, so be sure to do it with LP in mind. Position high-value items in areas that are well-lit, highly visible, and away from exits. Eliminate blind spots wherever possible by rearranging fixtures or using mirrors strategically. Clear sightlines allow employees and security personnel to monitor shoppers easily, discouraging potential shoplifters from acting. With just a few adjustments, you can create a space that’s inviting for holiday customers but challenging for thieves.
The holiday rush means more people in your store, so enhancing surveillance is a must. If you already have a camera system in place, adjust the angles to cover high-traffic areas like entrances, exits, registers, and fitting rooms. Ensure the system is fully functional and, if possible, monitored live during peak hours. Lack of proper surveillance can make your store an easy target, but just having visible cameras can act as a strong deterrent. Integrating your video feed into a tool like Agilence Analytics can help you connect data trends to specific incidents, POS data, and ultimately to case reports in Agilence Case Management.
Seasonal hires often shoulder much of the burden during the busy holiday season, but limited training can leave gaps in loss prevention. Provide them with clear training on identifying suspicious behavior, handling security incidents, and maintaining reporting protocols. Focus on empowering these temporary team members to ask questions and escalate concerns to managers when needed. A well-trained seasonal workforce is your first line of defense against theft.
Friendly, attentive service isn’t just good for sales—it’s also one of the simplest theft deterrents. Encourage employees to greet all customers when they enter and offer assistance throughout their shopping experience. Be sure to include this when training seasonal employees. This kind of engagement makes shoplifters feel watched, which can prevent them from carrying out their plans. Stationing undercover employees in problem areas can also boost awareness without alarming genuine shoppers.
Large bags, backpacks, and heavy coats can easily be used to conceal stolen goods. Set clear policies around carrying these items in the store and consider offering a free, customer-friendly coat check if space allows. Ensure signage for these rules is visible, particularly near the entrance. While it’s important to be tactful during the holiday rush, these steps can significantly reduce your risk of merchandise walking out undetected.
During the holidays, rapid turnover and restocking can create opportunities for theft. Combat this by regularly updating your inventory records and conducting frequent, targeted cycle counts. Use technology like Agilence Analytics to track discrepancies, ensuring that any issues are identified and addressed quickly. With precise inventory controls, you’ll also protect yourself from internal shrink, which can occur when operational procedures are stretched thin. Agilence’s Inventory Module can help you get up to speed quickly without needing to manually create inventory reports.
Self-checkouts are convenient for customers but a prime spot for shrink. Station employees nearby to monitor stations and assist customers, a tactic that serves both security and service purposes. If possible, implement video technology that flags suspicious behaviors, such as a customer skipping scans or scanning fake barcodes. These preventive measures keep self-checkout theft to a minimum while maintaining a positive shopping experience. For a comprehensive guide to self-checkout protection, check out our recent eBook, “Saving Self-Checkout.”
Return fraud spikes during the holidays, as generous exchange policies are sometimes exploited. Set holiday-specific guidelines, such as requiring original receipts, photo ID, or applying stricter criteria to items included in promotions. If you use digital receipt systems, ensure your employees know how to verify returns accurately. These steps won’t hinder genuine customers but will make fraud attempts less attractive. Learn more about stopping return fraud.
Organized Retail Crime (ORC) can ramp up significantly during the holiday season. California recently announced an Organized Retail Crime Task Force would be conducting operations this holiday season to combat the uptick in ORC activity during this time. Collaborate with local law enforcement and other nearby retailers to exchange information about potential threats. Train employees to recognize ORC tactics, such as large groups working together or individuals using distraction techniques. Record any incidents in Agilence Case Management, which can help connect disparate incidents to identify the hallmarks of ORC groups acting in different stores locations.
Who doesn’t have a Christmas wish list? The holidays are the perfect time to invest in loss prevention technology! Electronic article surveillance (EAS) or radio frequency identification (RFID) tags on high-value merchandise add another layer of protection, keeping your inventory safe even during the busiest times. AI-powered solutions such as Agilence Analytics can analyze patterns and predict when and where theft is most likely to occur, allowing you to allocate resources strategically. Agilence Store Audit makes creating, conducting, and storing audits easier than ever. Cutting-edge tools can transform holiday chaos into manageable security.
Make sure it’s easy for shoppers to see that your store is equipped for security. Signs detailing anti-theft policies and surveillance use can be a subtle but impactful deterrent. To maintain the festive atmosphere, you can integrate these policies into visually appealing, holiday-themed signage. Customers will appreciate your transparency, while potential thieves will be reminded that Santa’s not the only one watching before they decide to be naughty rather than nice.
12. Conduct Regular Security Audits
With so many moving parts during the holiday season, regular security audits are essential. Perform walk-throughs to identify risks like broken locks, improperly secured valuables, or inactive cameras. Adjust security measures based on observed trends and involve your entire team in these reviews so nothing is overlooked. Proactive audits ensure your store is always ready for the unexpected. Robust, reliable, and fully configurable, Agilence Store Audit significantly reduces the complexity of audit processes, centralizes data, and improves communication and execution of compliance standards.