Keeping Your Small Business Success Secure

You’ve worked hard to build your business. Whether you run a convenience store, an administrative company, a boutique, a small shop or restaurant, you have put in countless hours – and invested a sizable amount of capital – to turn your vision into a reality. And that was just too be ready for your grand opening.

We all know that any successful business builds its reputation on service and quality, but that reputation spreads by word of mouth from satisfied customers. When your patrons feel secure with your goods and services, they will tell others and build your business. But nothing can shake your customer’s sense of security like a robbery, or violent crime committed on your premises.

Don’t let a crime damage your business, and destroy all of your hard work. Let’s walk through a possible crime step-by-step, and look at a number of possibilities you can consider to keep your business – and your dreams – safe and secure.

Entry Alerts

The first, best defense when it comes to keeping your business safe is an entry alert. If you are informed by a distinct, non-intrusive sound every time a customer enters your place of business, you eliminate any sense of surprise the criminal may have. You’ll immediately be able to size up any customer, in terms of their potential threat to your business. Does the person seem intoxicated? Does the person seem overly aggressive? Is the person wearing unusual clothing that could be hiding a weapon? All of these questions can help you keep your business safe if you have the opportunity to ask them within the first few minutes when a new customer enters your business. Even a Magnetic Wireless Door Chime is a simple, functional solution, that can alert you to a promising new customer, or a dangerous threat.

Security Cameras

Security cameras provide two primary functions: they record the activity in your store and allow you to identify criminals after the fact, but they may also provide a deterrent, keeping would-be robbers and burglars from committing the crime in the first place for fear of being identified by the cameras. There are a number of solutions you can look to for security cameras for your business. A Color Dome Camera can provide you with vivid images and state of the art security. While there are also a number of simulated cameras on the market that can provide you with the deterrence of a video monitoring system, without the expense.

Counterfeit Money Detectors

Once a customer has made his way into your store, and completed a transaction for a friendly purchase, it may seem as if this was a non-threatening exchange. Think again. Due to the general stability of the U.S. dollar, it is one of the most widely counterfeited currencies in the world. According to the United States Department of Treasury, there are approximately $70 million in circulation at any given time, which translates to $1 counterfeit dollar for every $12,500 in circulation. Even when there has been no struggle, no violence, and no indication of a crime, you may still find you have been a victim of fraud and theft, but there are ways to fight back. One of the best Automatic Counterfeit Detectors and Bill Counters on the market allows you to tally your till, while also protecting you from being conned.

The Safest Safes

After you’ve had a great day at your business, busily serving your increasing number of customers, you turn out the lights, flip the “closed” sign, and head home for much-deserved quiet evening. However, no matter how many precautions you take to keep you business and customers safe during your working hours, you have to keep on protecting your assets even when no one is on hand. The best safe for any business is one with proven security as well a fireproof qualifications. This type of safe will allow even the most nervous entrepreneur to sleep at night, knowing they are protected against the worst of both human nature, and mother nature alike.

Retailer’s Roundtable #1 Transcript

Editorial Comments: This is the transcript of an online video we produced this last week. We will be producing more over the next couple of months and hope to make it a regular feature on our website. Click here for a link to the video.

Welcome to “Retailers’ Roundtable”, I am your host Eric and this is Q and we’ll be your guides though the exciting, but often daunting experience of running your own store or business.

In this issue of “Retailers’ Roundtable” we will focus on the challenges of opening up a new store. Over the last couple of weeks we have received e-mailed questions from some of our customers.

First question is from Jim K. from Winter Park, Fl. Jim asks, “I have always wanted to open up my own store. Last week I passed by a vacant building that I think would be the perfect spot. What advice would you give me before I take the plunge?

  • Consider the type of business. Make sure that there is a demand.
  • Consider the size of the space. Too big or too small could hurt.
  • Consider the amount of traffic either foot or vehicle.

Next question is from Denise B. from Hillside, MI. Denise asks: “What can I do to make my store look nice and make people want to shop there?

  • Shopping is an experience for the senses. With that in mind you should make sure your store is well lit, clean, and organized.
  • Lighting is important because you can use it to highlight products.
  • A well-organized store makes it easier for your customers to find what they are looking for.
  • Retail store signs are important too and they have a dual purpose: they add color and at the same time help the customer by calling out the product or alerting them to special offers.

The next question is from Charles from Tulsa, OK. “After I finally open my store how should I advertise? Especially since I will be low on cash.”

  • Banners and signs again are a great way to communicate to your customer. Let them know you are open with a “Grand Opening” banner. You might even want to have a grand opening celebration and invite your friends and family.
  • Get involved in your community.
  • Word of mouth and recommendations are worth more that any newspaper advertising you could buy.
  • Your local Chamber of Commerce
  • The Internet is a great source of ideas. Go to http://www.sba.gov/ for more ideas

The next question is from Carlos from Atlanta, GA. Carlos asks, “Around here shoplifting and theft is a problem. What can I do to help defend myself against it?”

That concludes this edition of “Retailers’ Roundtable”. Remember Specialty Store Services for all your retail store supply and display items. We have been partnering with business owners just like you for the last 20 years to help them grow their buinesses. Specialty Store Services, Service is in our Name.

New (sort of) Security Catalog

We are putting the finishing touches on a small security/cash handling catalog. It will feature our customer favorites in those catagories. I think the benefit of a smaller catalog is that in a bigger catalog sometimes it is easy to overlook categories, especially in our media/video retailing catalog. We have a great line up of security and cash handling products that can help business and others protect themselves and thier investments. Items such as currency counters, video security systems, safes, cash drops, security mirrors and door chimes. Don’t look for it in your mailbox, this catalog will be sent to our customers as a box stuffer with every order we send out.

There always is a discussion around here about the impact of box stuffers. I know when I get my credit card bills there are always “extra” items in there selling stuff like ceramic figurines to term life insurance. I guess it works or they would not do it, right?

One new item that is not making it into this security/cash handling catalog is a complete Point of Sale(P.O.S.) system. It is pretty sweet in that all you have to do is plug it in and start using it. Most times systems like this are not sold together; where the hardware and software are sold separatly. The best thing about the system is that it electronically keeps tabs on all your inventory and sales.