A lot of time and attention to detail is spent when designing your retail space, ensuring your products can be displayed to their maximum effect, but you must not neglect to factor in key things to reduce the risk of theft. In 2011 shoplifting cost the retail industry over £1billion, so what can you do to make your shop less attractive to thieves? It doesn’t matter how big or small your retail store is, you can never eliminate shoplifting entirely but there a few things you can do to reduce the incidences. A good shopfitter will assist you with this and factor this in when discussing your design. Here are a few things to consider……
Doors & windows
Using a turnstile can limit the ways in which a thief can make an escape. Keep Windows clean and uncluttered, making it easier to see a potential shoplifter before they even enter the shop. It also passers-by see into the shop, increasing ‘witnesses’. Don’t display products around the door.
Counters and checkouts
Counters and checkouts are manufactured to a height to ensure that good visibility can be maintained within the store. Don’t make them too high, or they can be difficult to see over. Placing checkouts and counters near the exit ensures that customers have to pass staff to leave. If you have to store anything valuable in counters, they can be manufactured to have sliding, lockable doors.
Aisle shelving
When choosing gondolas, whether modular or Timber, give thought to the height. To high and they will effectively give shoplifters somewhere to hide from view. We would recommend no higher than 1.6m and ideally 1.4m. This will still give you a substantial amount of shelving space in the aisles but will still maintain good all round vision. Make sure your shelves are kept tidy and straight.
Display Units
If you are using display cabinets to show off your merchandise and keep it safe, a lock is essential. Generally, locks can be added to almost any type of cabinet for little cost.
Shopfitting accessories
If you have merchandise of value on hooks or display arms, use stock limiters and security locks. Retractable and security tethers are especially useful on shelving. Position your more valuable items further into the store and in full view of staff.
We hope that this has given you a starting point of what to consider when designing your store. Next time we’ll discuss other useful things to consider both during the design and also for up and running stores, to ultimately make your store an unattractive as possible to thieves without compromising on your ability to retail effectively.
We offer a full range of top quality Display cabinets, Counters, Retail equipment, Slatwall panels & accessories. We can provide you with customised sizes and finishes, as well as a professional nationwide shopfitting service. Give us a call on Free phone 0800 587 5880 or visit www.crowndisplay.co.uk
