Boutique Loss Prevention

Boutiques are generally owned by one person and are not in a position to suffer a lot of losses.  They also may not be in the position to buy good security sensors or video surveillance equipment.  So, you need to get creative to ensure that your boutique endures with only minimal losses.

There are many things you can do to prevent theft.  The first thing is to provide customer service.  Sounds simple, but it works.  If you spend time checking on your customers, engaging them in conversation and giving them a reason to respect you and your store, then they are less likely to steal from you.  Shoplifters do not want to feel guilty about what they steal or who they steal from.

Another easy way to prevent shoplifting is to set up your store in a certain way.  Avoid creating areas where a thief can easily stay out of sight.  This is not always easy in a boutique, but it is possible.  A shoplifter wants to feel secure.  Open spaces, being in view of the cash register, and good lighting are not what they are looking for.  Utilize wall space as much as possible so that your clothing racks aren’t crammed together.  This just gives them the cover that they need to hide.

Arrange lighting to make hidden areas bright and uninviting to thieves.  Lamps, spotlights and mirrors keep people from feeling secure about stealing.  Make sure that your dressing rooms are well lit, too.  If a thief makes it into the dressing room, bright lights will make them feel uncomfortable, as if they are being watched.

Lock your dressing rooms.  If they have to ask you for help to get in, then they know that you are aware of what they are bringing in.  Check in from time to time to see if they need any help.  Let them know that you are aware that they’ve been in there for a while.  Hang appropriate signage about prosecuting shoplifters in your dressing rooms.

Another way to deter theft is to create the illusion of a good security system.  You can buy used sensor tags and use them on your clothing.  You don’t necessarily need the actual system to deter thieves.  You can also buy fake security cameras that can be installed near the ceiling.  You can use mirrors to see all areas of the store from the register.  Black domes that normally house cameras can be installed on the ceiling and people won’t know if there are cameras in there or not.

Keep security in mind when you choose clothing racks.  If you have a lot of round racks, then you give thieves a good way to hide from you.  They can easily drop things into bags or strollers while hidden between hanging clothes.  An alternate garment rack choice would be one that the clothes protrude from.  Tower racks with hanging bars keep shoppers’ hands visible.  If you do use round clothing racks, make sure that you don’t overfill them.  Keeping things spacious and well lit will go a long way in preventing boutique shoplifters from doing their dirty work.