Want To Know What’s Causing Your Shrink? Just Ask!
The overriding question for every Loss Prevention Professional is “What's causing my shrinkage?” It's the beginning point for developing programs and processes to correct the problem.
The road we follow to anwer that question will, to a large degree, determine the success we will realize. The usual approach involves audits of high shrinkage locations and an analysis of those findings. There may also be discussions with Store Management to get their views and their commitment to implement corrective measures. While these are appropriate and necessary steps, they certainly do not represent the only (or even the best) processes.
An Overlooked Resource
One often overlooked resource for open and honest feedback is the hourly associates. These people work in the store everyday and, in many cases, are the most knowledgeable group regarding issues occurring there. You can tap this resource by:
- Providing a confidential means for associates to provide feedback about the causes of shrinkage.
- Efforts by management to create awareness of shrinkage control throughout the year.
Pursued diligently, these efforts can often result in the most reliable and actionable feedback of any.
The logic of this assumption centers on the very human tendency to want to share our opinions whenever we feel thay are truly valued by others. The most successful Shrinkage Surveys are not those that are part of a required process but the ones initiated by a sincere intention to learn. If that point is made clearly and associates are comfortable that their responses will remain confidential, prepare yourself for some of the best shrinkage input possible.
Remember, your people are the experts on the things that occur each day in the store. If you want to know about what might be causing shrinkage — JUST ASK!