The retail sector is crucial to the UK economy, with the total value of UK retail sales reaching £403 billion in 2020. The retail industry is also responsible for employing 2.9m staff and operates across a total of over 306,000 retail outlets across the UK.

The popularity, demand and importance of the retail sector is unquestionable, and with this comes the need to ensure retail businesses are running efficiently, safely and with the very best security measures in place.

We’ll discuss how to make your retail security system work harder and maximise its potential to effectively safeguard your premises, people, stock and assets.

Getting the most out of CCTV systems

When it comes to busy retail spaces, having effective CCTV surveillance installed is key. Not only is CCTV an effective deterrent for theft and vandalism, but it provides constant protection of employees and safeguards commercial sites.

Prioritising high-traffic areas

Like any commercial property, there are certain high-traffic areas within a retail space that should be prioritised for CCTV installation, such as:

• Front desk/reception areas
• Exits and entrances
• Storage rooms and other back of house restricted areas

Ensuring CCTV systems are installed in these key areas will:

• Ensure high traffic sections with people regularly entering and leaving will be monitored
• Act as an effective deterrent for theft
• Allow customers, staff and unrecognised visitors to be identified
• Enable potential trespassers to be monitored and filtered out
• Enables clear tracking of faces should this be required at a later date
• Allows restricted areas and its contents/stock to be monitored

Device placement

Not only is the positioning of security devices and CCTV of crucial importance to maximise security and for effective tracking, but achieving the optimal height is also paramount.

If mounted too low, cameras will act as a focal point and distract, too high, it could cause imagery to be pixelated when being monitored. Therefore, effective device placement within a retail space is critical. Find out more about CCTV placement and positioning in our recent article: Where should I position CCTV cameras?

Managing access

Restricted areas

From customer-facing areas to back of house stock rooms, retail spaces come with several areas where access needs to be managed effectively, and differentiated between personnel. There are many restricted areas on site that require close monitoring and the assurance that only the correct personnel are granted access to them.

Retail spaces are regularly highly active areas, often no stranger to shop fit outs, contractor visits, merchandising demands, seasonal sales and overnight stock takes – the need to be able to differentiate between who has access and when vs who is restricted is paramount to the security of the unit.

TouchStar’s ATC systems enable access to restricted areas to be managed effectively and will help to facilitate controls around prohibited areas, such as public access to the back of house or stock areas.

Dual purpose technology

When it comes to access control for retail environments, dual purpose technology enhances security while also helping to improve customer service.

Not only do our dual-purpose identification badges grant access rights for retail personnel, but the ID helps the customer understand who to approach for support.  

Accessing all areas

Contrary to what you might think, access points are not limited to doors only. Anywhere within the retail space where access could be electronically controlled could benefit from the features of access control technology. Electronically limiting entry to certain locations within the retail space will improve security and better manage employee and visitor access at single or multiple retail sites.

Being non-intrusive

Creating a safe space, while also providing a welcoming atmosphere for customers, is an important balancing act.

Not only do the retail security systems need to perform well but they should also be inconspicuous within the space, be non-intrusive and ensure the consumer is enjoying their retail experience.

Find out more about TouchStar’s retail expertise and business solutions here.

Staff buy in

For a retail security system to be effective, it requires the buy in and support from all its users, including the shop floor staff - this is where the ongoing support from TouchStar comes into play.

Not only do TouchStar’s dedicated support team ensure responsive support, but we provide on-site courses and site-specific training to support the optimised running of your retail operation. Find out more about TouchStar support here. 

Improve your retail security system today

At TouchStar ATC, our experts believe in a completely bespoke approach to access control.

We’ve been supplying bespoke security solutions to businesses across a variety of sectors including retail for more than 30 years. Our experts are on hand and more than happy to assist you in choosing the right system to suit your organisation.

Get in touch today to find out how we can help.     

Sources

https://www.retaileconomics.co.uk/library-retail-stats-and-facts

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR – LYNDEN JONES

Lynden joined Touchstar ATC (formally Feedback Data) in a sales role for Access Control in 2010.  Prior to joining the company, Lynden held both Production and Account Manager roles, gaining wide technical and commercial experience within the electronics market.  

In 2013 Lynden was promoted to Sales Director and in 2017 he took overall responsibility of the business as Managing Director.As well as running Touchstar ATC, Lynden still remains extremely active in the sales and key account management aspects of the business. When not involved in the business, Lynden is a keen performance car enthusiast.