Handling Theft in Your Convenience Store
February 21, 2019Running a convenience store is challenging to say the least. You need to staff it, but not with too many people. Then again, too few and you have a lot of problems – including theft.
There are three groups that can be responsible for product and money loss in your store. Fortunately, with the right store equipment, you can minimize your losses.
Here’s how to handle each type of theft and what you can do about it!
Vendors
You count on vendors to stock your store with a specific brand of merchandise. Unfortunately, they often work alone and stock your shelves unsupervised. That means that they have an opportunity to either steal from your nearby merchandise or short you the product you ordered.
The key store equipment, if you can call it that, to prevent this type of problem are your managers. They should check in every delivery by actually looking at and counting every item. They should also keep an eye on vendors as they stock. This will help ensure no errors are made – either by accident or design.
Employees
Unfortunately, those you trust the most are in the best position to steal from you. Make sure you have a way to track “no sale” ring-ups that open the cash register. You can also use store equipment like daily worksheets, camera systems, and sales detection.
While you don’t want to treat your employees like criminals before anything happens, close tracking, trustworthy managers, and clear oversight is the only way to be safe.
As an owner, you also need to be active and onsite as much as possible. There aren’t very many businesses that do well with an absentee owner, so plan to be present to improve your store’s success.
Customers
Vigilance and modern camera technology are important tools to catch customer theft. You can also use store equipment such as locking display cases for liquor and behind-the-counter dispensing of cigarettes and other high-risk items.
Surveillance helps you make sure your store is running properly, and having the right equipment in place can also help you watch for errors, poor service, or lack of effort at work.
To prevent robberies and other serious incidents, take care with how much cash you have on hand. Many stores don’t accept over $50 bills, and those that do have special drop procedures for large bills. You can also schedule cash drops to keep your cash-on-hand below $500.
As a deterrent, you can also have a sign advertising that there is not significant cash on hand and that the clerk cannot access the safe.
It pays to take steps to secure your store!
Get the Store Equipment Your Location Needs Today
Are you interested in getting locking display cases or taking other steps to secure your store? We would love to help. We’ve been helping Little Rock convenience stores with all kinds of equipment, from displays and shelves to food and beverage dispensers.
If you’re interested in getting new or high-quality used store equipment, all you have to do is give us a call. We’re here for you – contact us for more information today!
Uh Oh. Handling Restaurant Disaster Recovery
No one wants to think about a major disaster hitting their restaurant. Unfortunately, it can happen at any time. In Arkansas, large areas (including Little Rock) were declared disaster areas as recently as last summer. Severe flooding, wind damage, and tornados are...
Restaurant Supplies You Need: Technology in Your Business
Every business is impacted by technology, and restaurants are no exception. There are dozens of ways to use technology to build your business, improve your efficiency, and serve customers better. Sometimes restaurant owners feel like they’re too busy to implement new...
Key Restaurant Equipment for a Fast-Casual Restaurant
Fast-casual dining has changed how America eats and has impacted what people expect in terms of convenience, price, and food quality. Generally, fast-casual food is affordable and higher-quality than pure fast food. It’s a step above a McDonald’s, without the price or...
Equipment for Your Restaurant: Choosing a Restaurant Concept
Some people who start a restaurant know exactly what they want. They either buy an existing restaurant with a concept, or they create the menu based on their family traditions or ethnic flair. However, not everyone who wants to start a restaurant knows exactly what...
Restaurant Supplies: Using Herbs to Add Flavor to Your Dishes
If you’re looking for new ways to attract people to your restaurant, consider the ways you can add flavor without adding fat or calories. Consumers are more and more concerned about the quality of what they eat, both at home and in a restaurant. Home cooks generally...
Commercial Kitchen Debate: Stainless Steel vs. Non-Stick Pans
If you run a commercial kitchen, you probably have a lot of ways of doing things that just seem right to you. For whatever reason, you decided between a gas and electric stove. You made decisions about dishware. And you probably have a position on the stainless steel...
Restaurant Equipment: How to Handle Gluten Allergies
In the last five years, you’ve probably seen a dramatic increase in the number of restaurant customers you have that are avoiding gluten. Some of them simply don’t like it, and others have a life-threatening reaction if they eat it. As a restaurant owner, you want to...
Reduce Food Waste: Proper Kitchen Equipment and More
Food waste is a reality in any commercial restaurant, but it doesn’t have to be accepted blindly. Too many restaurant owners or head chefs feel as though there is nothing they can do about this waste. Fortunately, there’s a lot you can do to reduce food waste in your...
Restaurant Supplies: Furnishing an Outdoor Sitting Area
Outdoor dining is a very enjoyable experience for many people. In Little Rock the weather is generally pleasant, although humidity may make it hard to eat outside on the hottest summer days. Adding an outdoor sitting area to your restaurant can be a great way to...
Commercial Kitchen Fun: The Wonder of Chocolate
If there’s anything that almost everyone loves as much as coffee, it’s chocolate. In fact, there are multiple celebrations of chocolate each year. Chocolate Day is on July 7th, because historically that’s when chocolate was first brought to Europe in 1550. Don’t miss...
Cooking Equipment Spotlight: Safe Indoor Grilling
Indoor grilling is a great way for your restaurant to delight customers without having to run a big charcoal operation out back. There’s nothing like grilled meat and vegetables to put a great aroma in the air and encourage hungry diners to dig in. There are two...
Restaurant Supplies: How to Properly Store Spirits & Drinks
Spirits and other alcoholic drinks can add a lot to your bottom line as a restaurant. These drinks often have high margins, and people order more than one frequently. This leads to more revenue for your restaurant and better tips for your servers! In order to make the...
Going Green Can Benefit Your Commercial Kitchen
Do you feel like running a restaurant means that you have to give in to wasted food, materials, and even money? Great news – you don’t. If you want to build your business, consider going green! You can structure your commercial kitchen to help the planet while also...
Key Foodservice Equipment for Your Food Truck
Are you ready to start a food truck? While the restaurant industry climbs slowly at roughly two percent a year, the food truck industry has been booming. Growing nearly 8% per year over the last five years, trucks are one of the fastest growing parts of the food...
Cooking Equipment Spotlight: The Right Knife for the Job
Not everyone who’s involved in a commercial kitchen has had professional training as a chef. As a result, not everyone is aware of how to choose the best cooking equipment for each job. Having the right knife is one of the most vital choices you can make during food...