Customers steal from retail businesses. Not all customers, not even 10% of them. But those who steal can cost the business a lot of money and time. They can also cost the owners of the business considerable heartache.
Reducing customer theft is important for any retail business and those who rely on it for an income. Not only does reducing theft save cash for the business but it also helps improve the management of inventory, the lifeblood of any retail store.
The vital first step in cutting theft is knowing what is being stolen and, if possible, when.
The best way to know the cost of theft is through regular spot stock takes. Good point of sale software can help you do this in a fraction of time that a manual stock take would take. It means that managing the value of stock on hand is a rolling task done through they hear and not necessarily just before the end of the financial year.
Other ways smart Point of Sale software can help you cut the cost of customer theft are
? Scanning all products sold. It can be surprising what is discovered when handling items being purchased by customers - some items fall out or you find that barcodes have been moved from one item to another. Physically touching stock at the sales counter can provide a valuable check for the business.
? Seeing theft live. If you have items which are regularly returned to suppliers, POS software can let you know what you should have in stock and this allows you to quickly check against your real situation.
? Blocking fraudulent refund requests. It is each to check when an item was sold and thereby catch out anyone wanting a refund or a credit for something they did not buy and for which they do not have a receipt.
? Tracking everything that moves. Scanning everything you sell lets you know what you should have in stock at any point in time. This makes checking movements easy and helps your staff become more vigilant against theft.
? Stopping unwarranted discounts. Good POS software will block discounts which are outside the rules you establish for the business.
? Spot stock takes. In a few minutes you can could a section of the shop, upload this to your system and get a report of real stock counts versus what should be there. Knowing the areas which are being hit can help a business better focus resources.
The keys to cutting customer theft are to understand what is happening and to have strong processes in place to reduce this. Once you, your employees and your customers understand zero tolerance, theft will fall.
One final word, take theft seriously as it is often the single most expensive wastage in the business.
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