Boutique owners often have a personal vested interest in their store. This can make phrases like “inventory control”, “loss prevention”, and “theft prevention” that much more important. If someone steals from your boutique, then they are stealing directly from you. It can break a business if the sources of loss cannot be identified or if random theft cannot be prevented. Use these tips to help you figure out how you can minimize losses in your boutique so that you can rest easy at night.
- You may wish that you could afford an expensive merchandise control system like the big stores. However, this is not usually within the grasps of financial possibility for many boutique owners. There is a solution, though. You can actually purchase new or used security tags for your boutique clothing. Simply having the tag clipped to the garment will turn most thieves away. You don’t necessarily need the alarm at the door to keep people from stealing. Most people would not think that they could get the tag off without damaging the clothing. Or, they just aren’t sure if you have some sort of security device that will leave them caught red handed if they try to take something.
- Another great deterrent is fake cameras. Most thieves will not attempt to steal if they think they are on camera. Camera domes are also very effective and are nothing more than a dome shaped piece of plastic on the ceiling. Mirrors on the ceiling and around the store also make thieves nervous enough not to steal.
- Use customer service to keep thieves on their toes. If someone has personally greeted them and taken a good look at them, then they are not likely to steal something. Have your staff check on each customer at least once while they’re shopping and again speak to them as they’re leaving the store. Have your staff go up and offer to put items at the register or in a dressing room as soon as they see the customer walk away from the garment rack.
- Lighting and your store set up will make honest customers have a more pleasant shopping experience, but will let shoplifters know that you are not making it easy for them. Avoid cramming garment racks full or putting them close together. Use spotlights to make thieves uncomfortable with trying to hide between items to slip something up their sleeve or into their other shopping bags. With just a few tweaks to your store and your staff’s behavior, you can prevent as much theft as you could with an expensive inventory control system.
About the Author: John Garvey is on the staff of Only Garment Racks, a leading online source of garment racks including clothing racks. Find a high quality garment rack or clothing rack at http://www.onlygarmentracks.com.