Digital Dialogue By Jacque Brittain, LPC
In Terms of Professional Development, Relevance Is a Product of Evolution
Brittain is editorial director, digital, for LP Magazine. Formerly a director of learning design and certification, Brittain managed the development of the LPC and LPQ certification programs in collaboration with the Loss Prevention Foundation. Prior to that he was vice president of operations for the industry’s largest executive search and consulting firm. In his thirty-plus years in the LP industry, he has helped build and enhance many learning initiatives and provided career counseling for thousands of industry professionals. Brittain can be reached at jacb@lpportal.com or by phone at 704-246-3143.
Organized Retail Crime
I
n the digital space the concept of evolution is a frequent topic of conversation. Naturally this makes a great deal of sense, as we are indeed in a state of constant flux as a society and in terms of the business and the profession that we represent. We read about, witness, and experience these changes on a daily basis and consider how this information holds relevance in terms of what we do and how we accomplish our objectives. But in terms of our own professional development, the ability to apply what we learn is just as important. When we talk about the evolution of the retail industry or the loss prevention profession, we must also recognize that we’re not simply spectators—we are along for the ride. This requires that we continuously look for ways to evolve ourselves. We must assume responsibility and take an active role in the process, or else we’ll find ourselves trying to catch up—or left behind. News is more than simply information. Daily events provide a barometer that can help measure changes and pressures in the industry, important retail trends, ongoing concerns, and new developments that can directly impact the retail industry in general and the loss prevention profession in particular. Every story provides us with an example that can help us learn and grow. This should further influence the way that we approach the news and what we do with the information once it is provided to us. There are loss prevention departments that regularly review internal incidents and ongoing news stories with their teams. There are leaders in every department that go out of their way to share events and educate their employees. While these efforts should definitely be applauded, it should by no means serve as our sole resource for this type of knowledge and education. Every loss prevention professional has the responsibility to take charge of their own professional development, which includes staying informed and applying information accordingly. Often the news provides us with reminders rather than revelations. But this can be just as important to our day-to-day responsibilities as well as our long-term professional development. Learning is largely a product of experiences; and by looking for ways to make the news more relevant, we are also enhancing our own relevance as well. Let’s take a look at a few examples from recent news events and apply these incidents in a way that can benefit each and every one of us.
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march–april 2016
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On a daily basis we are exposed to the evolution of organized retail crime and the different ways that these professional thieves have devised the means and methods to steal both products and information from our companies. As needs and opportunities continue to change, we see the criminal element responding based upon supply and demand—modifying the products that they attempt to steal based on the desires of their customers, the re-sell value of the products, and the opportunity and risk associated with obtaining the merchandise.
Learning and professional development must be an ongoing process if we want to remain relevant and productive. The industry provides us with examples every day, but it is still up to each one of us to take the steps and make it happen. Seizing the opportunity can be as simple as opening the newsletter on your smart phone. For example, we recently reported on a series of deadly robberies involving the theft of hair weaves. While this may seem like an odd item for organized retail crime teams to focus on, these weaves typically range in value from $120 to $170 and higher. They are in high demand, easy to sell, and virtually untraceable. They can be easily sold on Internet auction sites or other brick-and-mortar locations. From a professional development standpoint, how can we then apply this information? Have we looked at current theft trends and compared those trends to products sold in our own stores? Have we applied the concepts of supply and demand, attempted
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