9 Tips for Store Safety on Black Friday

Photo Courtesy: Albuquerque Business Journal

This year, dozens of major retailers plan to kick off their holiday shopping season on Thanksgiving Day, ahead of the traditional Black Friday frenzy, but you can still expect huge crowds on Friday as well. Above all else, you need to keep your store and customers safe. In the second article of our 5-part blog series on best practices for retailers on Black Friday, we offer five tips to keep your store safe and your customers happy.

Expect big crowds

Industry watchers say this year’s crowd could be the biggest in eight years. In a recent consumer survey, a full two-thirds of respondents said they plan to shop on Black Friday. That’s up from 55% last year. Expect to see more Millennials, experts say, and expect them to outspend their older fellow shoppers.

You’re legally required to protect your employees, and of course you want to protect your shoppers, to give them the best possible shopping experience. They may expect your store to be a “zoo,” but not a dangerous one.

After a Wal-Mart employee was trampled by shoppers in 2008, security experts created a number of Black Friday tips you can put to use in your store:

1. Increase signage – and consider elevating it for better visibility – to point the way to key merchandise areas, restrooms, cashiers and exits.
2. Spread your hottest merchandise throughout the store
3. Know the maximum legal occupancy of your store, and if necessary, restrict shopper entries to maintain compliance.
4. Hand out wristbands or tickets to ensure those who are first in line are able to get the limited items they want most.

OSHA also sends retailers an annual reminder about their Crowd Safety Guidelines. Here are some of the highlights:

• Hire professional security
  Their uniforms and extensive training give crowd control experts a greater “presence” and the knowledge to effectively manage your excited shoppers. Have them stand to the sides, not in front of the doors, once you open.
• Use a bullhorn or PA system
  It’s the best way to communicate quickly and effectively with customers waiting in line, especially when you’re close to opening.
• Use barricades or rope lines
  These force your crowd to “form up” in the area and pattern that works best for your store, and your security staff. Arrange lines in serpentine or squared formations rather than long, straight queues.
• Use radio communications devices
  These to keep crowd control chiefs and store managers in contact.
• Arrange a separate, guarded entrance for employees
  Have plenty of employees on hand and ensure everyone is appropriately trained so they know the plan. Black Friday is not “business as usual.”

Safety is paramount. When you put these Black Friday tips into play, you can ensure Black Friday in your store is fun and profitable for everyone.

In our next article we’ll look at best practices for loss prevention on Black Friday.

Palmer Retail Solutions strives to offer our clients the absolute best combination of innovation, quality, service, and value for our diversified custom store fixtures and merchandising displays. For more information about our designs, retail fixtures, cash wraps, kiosks, or point of purchase displays, visit our website at: http://www.palmerretailsolutions.com.