How Managers Can Create a Safe Shopping Experience for Customers

Even though it doesn’t it may seem like every day, a new mass crime takes place in a public area. The frequency and severity of these events has made many people feel scared about routine activities, such as going shopping. As the manager of a store, you can use these four tips to create a safe shopping experience for your customers.

Install Video Monitoring and Metal Detection Systems

Installing video monitoring equipment at the check-out stations, entrance and exit doors, restrooms, secluded corners, and dressing room entrances helps customers to feel safer. The video feed can be accessed by law enforcement in the event that a crime takes place on your property. A metal detector at the entrances to your store can help to prevent someone from bringing in certain types of deadly weapons. These units can also include detectors for the RFID tags on pricey items.

Create a Comprehensive Evacuation Plan

Creating a comprehensive evacuation plan helps you and your staff to handle an emergency situation. While laws require that exits be clearly marked, people might not know what to do or whether or not they should leave a store in an emergency. Creating an easily-escapable store is the best way to make customers feel secure and calm whilst shopping. Your plan should include details on when to shelter in place and when to evacuate. Be sure to practice your evacuation plan and update it on a regular basis.

Learn to Handle Emergencies

Knowing what to do in emergency situation is critical when running a business. Earning an online master’s degree in emergency management prepares you to handle a natural or man-made emergency in your store. In this type of a degree program, you will learn how to handle a person’s medical emergency, a rush or stampede of customers or an active shooter situation. These skills will help you to keep yourself and your staff calm as you usher customers to safety.

Hiring Security Guards

Managers can improve a store’s safety by hiring security guards. Posting uniformed security guards alerts shoppers to the fact that that security is ready to take action in the event of a theft or another crime. Managers may also wish to hire plain-clothed guards who are able to more discreetly spot shoplifters and other types of thieves, such as people who switch price tags.

Being observant and having a plan are low-cost yet highly effective ways to keep people safe. Become educated about possible emergencies and teach your staff what to do in different types of situations. Your preparations will come in handy in case of a weather emergency, medical emergency or another unfortunate situation.