Every business is at risk of theft and vandalism. For a business owner, it may not be possible to secure the premise from different kinds of risks alone. So, to keep the business property, customers, and employees safe, business owners rely on security guards. When it comes to retail stores and malls, it’s even more important to hire security guards because of the added security concerns. The shopping malls and retail outlets have large crowds and significant foot traffic. It’s impossible to look after such a sizeable amount of people and secure the premise from robberies, fire, terrorism, etc. single-handedly.
Businesses like convenience stores, banks, and retail stores are often the first target of criminals and robbers. Ensuring the safety of the store, as well as customers is essential for multiple reasons. Shopping complexes and stores have a constant flow of people coming in and out. If a robber breaks into the store to steal the computers, cash, and other valuable items, it causes both short and long term monetarily loss. Once a retail outlet is targeted by criminals, employees start to feel unsafe, as well as customers avoid going there because they find the place unsafe. So, to prevent such criminal activities, it’s best to hire security guards. The security officers are competent to protect your business and provide peace of mind.
Are you on the fence about whether or not hiring a security guard is right for your business? If so, let’s take a look at some of the benefits of hiring security officers in retail stores and malls.
Deter Shoplifting & Other Crime
The biggest challenge faced by retail stores is shoplifting. The petty thieves take advantage of the busy hours and these shoplifting incidences result in a lot of financial loss for a business. It’s difficult for business managers to keep an eye on everyone in the store. Even if you install CCTV camera, by the time you check the footage, it gets too late. So, to keep a track of products and customers in a store, it’s best to hire security guards. The presence of security officers deters criminal activities because the thieves avoid such places. Also, if someone still tries to shoplift, security officers make sure that the criminals are caught before they get away with their crimes.
Better Customer Service
The stores that have uniformed security officers on-site are preferred by customers. Simply the presence of a guard is enough to make people feel safe. Moreover, these guards not only keep an eye on criminals. The guards become a part of your business and customers usually first contact the front door guards for information like directions, business hours and any other basic assistance they may need. Your security guard can soon become your customer service representative, as well as an escort to customers or employees leaving the premises late at night.
Handle Emergency Situation
Shopping complexes and malls are more at the risk of emergencies like fire or terrorist attacks. Due to the presence of a number of people, crowd control can become a major issue. The situation may get more serious when people start to panic. Handling such a situation alone is impossible. When you have security guards, they act as a first responder. The licensed security guards are trained to react calmly and quickly in a high-stress situation. They can help in ensuring the safety of everyone present on the site and some may even have training in medical emergency response like CPR and First Aid.
