How much training does your security team receive?
For dispensaries, there is an ever-present and growing risk of consumer theft. Reports indicate 1 in 11 Americans shoplift. That means 27 million Americans will steal from a retail location. Just 10 million of these shoplifters are caught at some point. In a dispensary, security risks like this can do more than just hurt a company’s bottom line profits. They also create a scenario where new consumers are less likely to patronize a location because they perceive it as high-risk or unsafe. Despite prevalent risks, security training within dispensaries is often limited.
So, then, the big question: How much hands-on training are you providing in order to ensure your team stays on top of risks? Most likely, you’re following the same path as other retailers because you’re focused on other tasks. Investing in security, though, is worthwhile as it encourages people to visit your location and feel safe. Here’s how to make it happen.
Investing in dispensary security can enhance the customer experience and boost your bottom line.
1. Get the Right Attitude in Place
The first step in training a security team is to ensure they have the right attitude for the job. In part, this comes from hiring a team that has the mentality to protect and secure your location. Good skills for security personnel include:
- Assertive
- Highly respectable
- Willing to learn the industry
- High personal standards
- Tech-savvy
- Capable of making a difficult decision
Look for individuals who, with or without training, are willing to step forward to provide exceptional support in your retail location.
It helps to hire security professionals with some level of security guard training. In dispensaries, where risks are higher, having a ready-to-go pro is essential.
2. Develop an In-House Training Program
There are two components to your security team. The first is your hired professionals with security training. These individuals are the backbone of your security. The second group is your employees. Every person you bring into the company should be trained in security to some degree.
Once you have them on your team, it’s time to train them on your business and security risks. An initial training program should focus on skill training, such as teaching people about the most common risks within your specific business and how to protect themselves. You also want to teach them about retail theft in general, including how people steal. By developing an in-house training program, you can ensure your team is prepared to respond to various types of security risks.
3. Host Monthly Team Security Training
While you have security guards on your payroll, you also need every member of your team to be ready to react to changing scenarios. One of the most important ways to do this is to provide employee security training sessions on a monthly basis.
Develop a scenario to role play with your team each month. Change up what is going to happen, where the risks are, and what type of threat is present. Then, work with your team to discuss the best ways to react.
- What should they do first?
- Who is responsible for securing employees and customers?
- How can they spot risks?
- What actions should they never take?
- How can they prevent this type of threat?
Role-playing is something all employees need. It teaches them how to react. It also empowers them when a high-risk situation develops.
4. Provide a Security System that Matches Security Needs
Work with your team routinely, but also give them tools to minimize risks. For example, most dispensaries know the value of having cameras in place. Does your team know where the cameras are? Are they able to signal for help if they feel they are at risk?
Also, look toward tools to minimize risk without limiting consumer experience. Cabinet-level access control systems, such as those offered by Senseon, help mitigate retail theft by limiting access to only authorized users. Senseon Plus even comes equipped with an innovative audit trail software, enabling managers to track access and monitor employee activity. If a security risk does arise, Senseon Plus makes it easy to identify the source using actionable operations data.
From audit trail to auto relock, Senseon offers a variety of features to enhance dispensary security.
Final Thoughts
Security training is a comprehensive process. You need the right tools in place, the right people, and an ongoing training program. Combined, these services can help reduce risks considerably for most dispensaries as long as you remain consistent. Visit our Dispensary Security page or contact us to learn more about the solutions we provide.
