Despite being the most wonderful time of the year, Christmas can be difficult for businesses – particularly shops. With crime rates at their peak over the festive season, keeping your products and premises safe can feel like a chore.
Whether it’s malicious damage, danger to employees, or of course, theft, ensuring that you, your business, your customers, and your employees stay safe this Christmas is a must. Our handy infographic can help you get started.
Get Insured
First things first, having a good insurance policy in place acts as a form of security for your business, particularly when things are most at risk. There are a number of insurance products available that can benefit shops, but the three most crucial to your business are:
- Shop Insurance – Shop Insurance provides protection for your premises for both buildings and contents. This can cover retail shops, restaurants, pubs, hairdressers, cafes, and more. Shop insurance provides financial protection against damage or loss of products through theft or accidents, as well as any damage caused to the building itself, such as weather damage.
- Public Liability Insurance – Public Liability Insurance protects your business financially against claims made by members of the public for injury, illness, or damage caused by your business activity. If a customer were to slip on a wet floor, for example, public liability insurance will provide you with financial support for legal fees and compensation if a claim was made against you.
- Employer’s Liability Insurance – Employer’s liability insurance will protect your employees in the case of accidents or injuries this winter. Offering financial support for your business, Employer’s Liability is a legal requirement to ensure your employees are safe.
Check Your CCTV
If you already have a CCTV system in your store, now is the time to check that everything is in working order. You should check everything from its recording quality and whether all of the cameras are working, to even something as simple as whether cobwebs are distorting the view. Giving the system an update and a quick clean where possible can set your cameras up for a clearer and more accurate picture to add extra security to your premises.
Light Things Up
With the days getting darker and the evenings getting longer, making sure that your shop is well-lit both inside and outside is a great way to ensure that you, your customers, and your employees stay safe. With adequate lighting, your CCTV systems can act more effectively and the risks of slips and trips are reduced when people can clearly see where they’re walking. A well-lit exterior can also deter criminals from trying their luck.
Refresh Your Security Signage
Another huge deterrent for criminals that you should consider this Christmas is clear signage announcing that you have a security system in place. If your cameras are tucked away or your alarm system isn’t visible, a sign that highlights that you have a good security system can often deter would-be criminals from even trying. While cameras and alarms can prove helpful after a break-in, signage can often work as the first line of defence that prevents the crime from happening in the first place.
Make Sure Two Or More People Always Lock Up
Locking up alone, particularly when it’s dark outside, can be dangerous. Thieves and criminals that work in groups, for example, could easily overpower one person, so it’s important to consider making sure that no one is left to lock up alone. Whether you have a security team that locks up together or you ensure that there are always two or more employees on the premises at lock up, having the extra numbers can deter criminals from trying.
For more information about how to keep your store safe this winter and which shop insurance policies could work best for you, get in touch with a member of Ashburnham Insurance for FREE on 0800 1696137.