Holiday pop-up shops are a great way to increase exposure, boost sales, try something new, or to offer a temporary service, product, or experience for shoppers ready to splurge. However, these cute, temporary storefronts could also leave you vulnerable to theft. In order to keep your holidays bright and cheery (and your bottom line high), you should take the time to consider what makes your shop an easy target and what you can do to mitigate those risks.
4 reasons thieves will target pop-ups
It’s new.
While some industries have long mastered the pop-up shop (think Halloween shops in October and fireworks suppliers for the Fourth of July), most business owners are completely new to the concept. This makes it an exciting venture, but it also means that owners are often inexperienced and haven’t ironed out all of the kinks yet. This could lead to:
- Understaffing, causing shops to be left unattended and under-supervised
- Forgetting to lock up or remove important valuables
- Using ad-hoc methods for collecting and storing cash
It’s busy.
While there are numerous places you can open-up your holiday stand—in the mall, in an outdoor market, near events, in an empty storefront, etc.—ideally, you’ll want it to be around tons of people. Markets can get packed in late November to December as crowds of people flock to the festive stands, hot chocolate in hand, to spot the perfect gifts for their loved ones. Unfortunately, the chaos of large crowds can also make it easier for someone to swipe merchandise. Having video cameras in place can deter theft and help you catch the person if it does happen.
Staff is temporary.
When the calendar starts ticking down the days, and the crunch is on to staff a new pop-up shop, many businesses find themselves having to trust in the work ethic and morals of a new, temporary employee. While most employees are honest and hardworking, internal theft and other issues are always a risk. Installing wireless retail surveillance cameras will help you keep an eye on new staff and ensure everyone is doing the job they were hired to do.
How to secure your pop-up shop
The best way to protect your pop-up shop from theft, vandalism, and other damages is to install a quality security camera system. Having an expertly-installed surveillance system could be less expensive than you think. With a variety of camera options, you’re sure to find a solution that will work with your pop-up shop’s needs and budget.
If you’re opening a pop-up shop in the mid-Atlantic region this holiday season, don’t skimp on security. Call our experts today at Maryland Security Professionals today for a free consultation and estimate.