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A joint mission between NOAA and NASA has yielded data showing just how much brighter Earth is during the holiday lights season. In some places, the effect makes the area 50% brighter than on an average day.
The data comes from a combination of technologies. The first is the Suomi NPP satellite, which carries an instrument called a Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite, or VIIRS. VIIRS can detect the glow of lights on Earth in incredible detail. The data from VIRRS on Suomi NPP was filtered through an advanced algorithm that removes out moonlight, clouds and airborne particles, leaving only the illumination from manmade lights in cities and towns.
In the United States, for example, Black Friday marked the start of the brightening. In the suburbs, nighttime illuminate grew by 30-50%, while cities "only" brightened by 20-30%.
Even more interesting was the variation of lighting change in cities with majority Muslim population in the Middle East: While some cities saw a huge surge in night time light during the month of Ramadan, some did not. The research, which observed light in the region from 2012-2014, came when the NASA Goddard/Yale team discovered a discrepancy, with a huge increase in light coming from Cairo during the month of Ramadan:
But not all Middle Eastern cities responded the same as Cairo. Light use in Saudi Arabian cities, such as Riyadh and Jeddah, increased by about 60 to 100 percent through the month of Ramadan. Light use in Turkish cities, however, increased far less. Some regions in Syria, Iraq and Lebanon did not have an increase in light output, or even demonstrated a moderate decrease, possibly due to unstable electrical grids or conflict in the region.
"Even within majority Muslim populations, there are a lot of variations," [Eleanor Stokes, a NASA Jenkins Graduate Fellow and Ph.D. candidate at Yale University's School of Forestry and Environmental Studies] said. "What we've seen is that these lighting patterns track cultural variation within the Middle East."
With the high resolution provided by VIIRS, that variation even appears at the neighborhood level. [ Miguel Román, a research physical scientist at NASA Goddard and member of the Suomi NPP Land Discipline Team] and Stokes used data from Cairo to divide the city's neighborhoods into different socioeconomic groups, based on available records of voting patterns, access to public sanitation, and literacy rates. Some of the poorest and most devout areas observed Ramadan without significant increases in light use throughout the month, choosing – whether for cultural or financial reasons – to leave their lights off at night. But during the Eid al-Fitr celebration that marks of the end of Ramadan, light use soared across all study groups, as all the neighborhoods appeared to join in the festivities. This is telling researchers that energy is providing services that enable social and cultural activities, Stokes said, and thus energy decision-making patterns are reflecting social and cultural identities.
"Whether you're rich or poor, or religious or not, everybody in Egypt is celebrating the Eid, or the end of Ramadan," Román said. This demonstrates that the drivers of demand for energy services aren't just controlled by individual factors, like price; they are also influenced by the beliefs, statuses, and routines of a city's inhabitants, he added.
Here's a video from NASA going into more detail about the research.
Why am I buying topsoil? You will often see recommendations on various websites and in gardening books that you should have at least four to six inches of topsoil in order to grow an attractive lawn. If this is the way that we are planning to grow our lawns, we must plan to move an enormous quantity of topsoil and at a very considerable expense.
This is not necessary! Once the site of your lawn has been leveled (graded) and large rocks and debris removed, you are ready to start the process of growing a lawn. Basically, this is because lawn grass, if given a fighting chance to establish, will make its’ own topsoil. This is how topsoil is made in the first place. Under trees, in a forest, you will find very little topsoil. Under a native prairie, you may find ten feet of topsoil.
How to Improve the Soil under Your Lawn
Once the lawn is established, it would seem to be an impossible task to accomplish. However, this is not so. The first point that you should understand is that lawn grass makes its’ own “topsoil” over time. This happens because grass roots penetrate into the soil deeper and deeper each year. Late in the year, the plant reduces its’ root system leaving enormous numbers of tiny tubes throughout the soil profile. The organic root material that is left in these tubes is converted into humus by the microbiology of the soil. Earthworm activity will also increase because of the increase in organic matter in the soil. Earthworms ingest humus along with fine mineral particles enriching them and adjusting the pH of the excreted material.
This process occurs in all types of soils whether they are composed predominantly of sand, silt or clays, or, as is more likely, varying combinations of the three basic rock materials. Soils composed predominantly of clays are dense and compacted and have poor internal drainage. They will stay “soggy” in the spring and then turn almost rock-hard when dry in the summer. When the soil is this compacted, the necessary air and water have difficulty moving through the soil. Grass roots will also have difficulty penetrating compacted clay soils. The usual solution to improving the texture of soils, whether they are composed predominantly of clays or sand and silt material, which does not hold moisture well, is to top dress with some form of organic material, either peat moss, compost or soil with a higher organic content. This is usually done by core aerating the lawn and then working the organic material into the holes that have been created. This procedure will help to improve water and air filtration into the upper surface of the soil. This helps to increase the biological activity in the soil, making it more alive and porous.
However, it is not a long term solution to the problem of improving your lawn soil, once the lawn is established. Consider, if you could increase the amount of air and water penetrating more deeply, all the time, into your lawn soil profile and also greatly encourage the beneficial soil building microbes, which do the “heavy lifting” of completing the nutrient cycle in the soil, by applying a granular product with your lawn spreader. This product exists. It is called Love Your Soil. It is an all-natural and organic product that feeds soil microbes, helps loosen heavy, hard-packed soil and release trapped nutrients in the soil. Love Your Soilmakes your lawn more alive and porous allowing water, air and grass roots to enter the soil more easily. Love Your Soil will increase your lawns’ resistance to drought and heat stress. Love Your Soil contains humic and fulvic acids, calcium, sulfur, iron and molasses.
U.S. businesses lose around $60 billion annually to retail shrinkage. The vast majority of the losses are attributable to retail theft. Before your business can stop theft and reduce shrinkage, you need to implement careful inventory management. Once that’s in place, there are a number of affordable ways to reduce retail theft at your business.
Before we dive into the details on this topic, we also suggest you check out Square, a free POS system that can manage inventory, process credit cards and so much more. Visit Square to learn more.
Who Might Be Stealing from You
Before you can reduce retail theft, you need to know who is responsible for your losses. According to a 2015 study by the National Retail Federation, there are 3 main reasons for retail loss, also known as shrinkage:
Your Customers – Shoplifting accounts for around 38% of retail loss in the United States. Items can be taken for personal use or resale. Health and Beauty, apparel, and electronic stores are most vulnerable to this kind of theft.Make sure crime coverage is included in your insurance.
Your Employees – In the US, employee theft is the number one cause of retail shrink. In fact, it makes up about 35% of retailers’ total shrinkage. There are various reasons that employees steal from their companies. Some want to give friends a deal (sweethearting), others are dissatisfied with their employers/bosses, and some steal because they want extra cash. We’ve written about how a modern POS system can significantly reduce this kind employee theft.
Your Suppliers, Contractors, Management, and Administration – The remaining 27% of retail theft was pinned on suppliers and contractors and management and administrative errors. Suppliers and contractors might overcharge you, resulting in costs for services or products that you never actually received. Small businesses with more informal/less-organized contracts are especially susceptible to this kind of theft. Management and administrative errors, like mismanagement of inventory (ordering too much product, etc.) and pricing items incorrectly would both be examples of errors that will add up to significant losses.
This article primarily focuses on the major causes of losses to small businesses: shoplifting and employee theft.
Steps You Can Take to Reduce Retail Theft
There are lots of actions you can take to reduce retail theft.
What’s right for you and your store will depend the size of your store, the size of your theft problem, and the size of your budget.
We’ll share some concrete steps to reduce retail theft below, beginning with the most important step: how to know what’s being stolen. Once you know what’s being stolen, you can decide whether to implement a low-cost solution like adding monitoring mirrors or a higher-cost solution like hiring a security guard.
Inventory Management – How to Know What’s Being Stolen
If you don’t have an inventory management system in place, it’s nearly impossible to know what is being stolen, how much is being stolen, or how significantly retail theft is affecting your bottom line.
Considering this, your first step toward retail theft prevention must include inventory management and sales tracking. While many businesses do this by hand, the more efficient and accurate way to do this is by using inventory management software which can be cross-referenced with your manual inventory count.
Doing inventory correctly requires you to do physical inventory counts and reconcile those with your previous inventory counts and sales records.
Low-Cost Solutions to Reduce Retail Theft
Once you have a handle on your inventory and sales, you are all set to begin addressing your store’s retail theft problem. Although some small-businesses may find that they require sophisticated security equipment to deal with their retail theft, most can significantly reduce retail theft by implementing a variety of low-cost solutions.
Educating your employees about retail theft
Reducing retail theft begins with communication. It is important to educate your employees about the effects of retail theft on your business. This will do two things:
It will make all loyal employees aware of the problem and prompt them to be pro-active about reporting incidents.
It will serve as a deterrent to those employees who may be stealing from you.
How to Prevent Shoplifting:
Ask employees to be on the lookout for suspicious behavior, such as those outlined in this articleunder the heading “spot the shoplifter.” If employees see a person that is behaving suspiciously, they could ask the person if they need assistance. This alerts the potential shoplifter to the fact that they are being watched, which makes them less likely to commit a crime.
If an employee actually sees someone shoplifting, they should alert a manager right away. The manager should then discreetly keep an eye on the suspect to confirm that no payment is made. Then, have another employee call the police while the manager approaches the suspect in the parking lot, once he or she has exited the building. The manager should then explain the situation and ask that the suspected shoplifter come back into the building to await the arrival of law enforcement.
How to Prevent Employee Theft:
Tell employees what is being taken and how much is being taken. Explain to them that your inventory management system allows you to closely track this kind of data. If you’re taking any other measures, such as installing video cameras, inform them of this as well. The point here is that you would much rather prevent a theft through deterrence (and not lose the product or cash to begin with) than try to catch the culprit after the fact (and recover your loss).
Organizing your store to discourage retail theft
The majority of shoplifters steal in response to an impulse.The National Association for Shoplifting Prevention(NASP) conducted a survey which found that around 73% of shoplifting incidents are not premeditated. With proper deterrents in place, shoplifters are much less likely to actually act on their impulses.
One practical way to deter retail theft is to arrange your store to be as anti-theft as possible. Keep it open. If all areas of your store are visually accessible, it is much harder for shoplifters or employees to take an item or pocket some cash without being seen. If possible, keep your displays from reaching floor-to-ceiling. Arrange your products so that the most easily stolen items are in the high-traffic/public areas.
If shoplifters/employees feel exposed, they are much less likely to steal. So make sure that your cash wrap (checkout area) allows for cashiers to simultaneously checkout customers but also maintain clear view of other shoppers. Proper lighting can help increase these feelings and reduce theft as well.
Putting up Shoplifting Signs, Security Mirrors, and More
We called Joe Frawley, former police Sergeant at Cambridge Pd and owner of Eastern Security Inc, to talk about reducing retail theft.
He stated that one of the most important things is to put up shoplifting signs like the ones below. These signs are important not only as deterrents, but also for legal reasons. If you ever intend to take a shoplifter to court, you need to have your store posted.
Joe also mentioned the importance of security mirrors. If there are areas in your store that have taller shelving or are more secluded, security mirrors can be a great low-cost deterrent option.
Another affordable theft deterrent are replica or dummy security cameras. While they aren’t going to record any activity, dummy security cameras look real enough that both employees and patrons will have a difficult time telling them apart from the real thing. And that’s the point. Few thieves ask whether a security camera is real, turned on, and recording.
Mid-Range Cost Options for Reducing Retail Theft
Although low-cost security solutions are generally enough to reduce retail theft for the small business owner, there may be cases when more significant security measures must be taken. Here are some good options.
Basic Video-Surveillance System
Security camera systems are another great middle-of-the-road option for reducing retail theft.
Security cameras not only allow you to check on your customers/employees, they also provide an obvious visual deterrent to would-be shoplifters. In this case, discreet cameras are not really the best choice. Make sure the camera is obviously a camera and big enough to see clearly. These cameras are especially effective when paired with a monitor that is placed in a public space where people can see themselves on-camera.
Although advanced security camera systems can be expensive, a basic system doesn’t have to be. In fact, like most electronics these days, security camera systems have seen their quality drastically improve while their prices have dropped. Today, a good multi-camera system with a DVR or NVR can run as low as $200. Tags
RFID tags are basically a radio-frequency identification tool that can be attached to your products. There are various options, ranging from stickers, which can be placed on almost anything, to pin-tags, often used on clothes as seen in the picture to the right.
Some tags have to be removed with a special tool and some just have to be pulled off, although they are generally extra-sticky so as not to be too easily removed. If a customer walks out with an item that still has an RFID tag on it, the sensor wand by the door will go off when the customer tries to leave. Although professional thieves can bypass this system using foil-lined shopping bags, RFID tags are a good option to discourage the majority of shoplifters.
RFID tags vary in cost, depending on the level of sophistication and range. A refurbished system will often be cheaper and just as effective. You can find several different refurbished RFID package options here that include 1000 tags, 1-2 sensor wands, and several tag removers for between $2,000-$5,000.
Top-of-the-Line Options for Reducing Retail Theft
If you are a larger small-business who deals in higher-end merchandise and has problems with retail theft, it may be worth spending the extra money for a top-of-the-line security solution.
Full-Time Security Guard
At times, hiring a full-time security guard is a good retail-theft prevention choice. Educating your general employees to spot shoplifters/other dishonest employees is helpful. But when things get busy, people get distracted. It is in these situations that a dedicated security guard can be invaluable, keeping an eye on all incoming/outgoing traffic as well as employees.
Uniformed guards are a great visual deterrent, but also have the potential for making loyal customers uncomfortable. Plain-clothes guards are often more effective in actually catching thieves, because they look much like a regular customer, but are not nearly as effective of an overall deterrent.
If you are looking to hire a security guard, expect to pay around $15-$25 an hour for unarmed guards to around $50-$100 an hour for an armed guard. Depending on the type of security guard and your geographic location, it could cost your company around $40,000-$100,000 a year.
If you just want to test drive having a security guard or need one right away for a short time, consider working with a company like Bannerman Security. They offer on-demand security guards. The guards can work stores, bars and restaurants, office parties/events, and office lobbies, and much more.
All of their guards pass background checks by the FBI and DOJ, but they also get rated by other Bannerman users. Cost is around $35 per hour. This can be a very affordable way to try out a security guard at your business. If it seems like a good fit, you can undertake a search for a full-time guard. If it’s not a great fit for your business, no problem.
Currently, Bannerman only operates in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle but they have plans to expand to other cities soon.
Premium Video Surveillance/Analytics System
The newest thing in retail security is what is known as video analytics software. Essentially, this is a high-end video surveillance system which digitally monitors your customers and employees in real-time and alerts you when it senses suspicious behavior. In addition, it allows you to look up any transaction and view the video footage associated with any item on the receipt.
Although relatively expensive and probably overkill for most small-business owners, video analytics software does have the potential to significantly reduce retail theft and free you up to focus on other areas of your small business. Stoplift is one of the major movers and shakers in this business and one of their systems will cost between $7,000-$8,000 in startup costs, depending on the number and quality of cameras desired, and then around $300 a month in service fees for an 8 checkout retail store. Stoplift also has the ability to integrate with video surveillance systems that are already in place.
Two other providers of advanced security systems are SimpliSafe and ADT. You can read our in-depth review of them both here.
Conclusion
Although retail theft can be a big problem, the good news is that there are a variety of theft-reduction solutions out there for the small business-owner. In most cases, simple and low-cost solutions will be all you need. But, when needed, there are many higher end options that can also be very effective.
Stopping retail theft all start with inventory management. Once you’ve determined where your losses are occurring, find the best security solution based on the information above. You’ll be well on your way to reducing retail theft in your store in no time.
Whether you call it shrink, theft, or shoplifting, there’s no question that stolen product impacts a retailer’s bottom line. According to the National Association for Shoplifting Prevention, there are approximately 27 million shoplifters in our nation today — that’s 1 in 11 Americans — with more than 10 million people having been caught shoplifting in the last five years. So how can retail businesses combat this frustrating and expensive problem?
As a small business owner, midsize business owner, or corporate entity, there are various ways in which you can aim to combat theft — especially since those who steal don’t limit themselves to one type of business, small or large. Preparing to handle retail theft before it happens is key, and various layers of protection for your business are necessary. To help identify what may make the most sense for you, consider the following loss prevention strategies:
Check Out Your Checkout
Did you know that many shoplifters buy and steal merchandise in the same visit? The National Association for Shoplifting Prevention has found that shoplifters commonly steal during a store visit in which they also make a purchase. This strategy is aimed to distract store employees from their theft and as a result, make stealing even easier.
To help avoid overlooking this in your own store environment, make it habit among all employees to open lids, bags, or anything else that may close that they are purchasing, as well as look under all items in their cart or bag. Check out customers after they have checked out already, a strategy common at Costco, for example, where employees match receipts to items in shopping carts.
Considering your store size and employee head count, vary your check out procedure to best accommodate your staff availability — but at the very least, encourage a thorough review of customers and the bags, coats, and other accessories they may be wearing to help avoid stealing. Of course, you can’t open purses or insist customers unzip their coats to see what they may have stashed away, but you can be more vigilant than you already are.
Analyze Your Store Risks
As a store owner or manager, it’s likely that no one knows your store better than you — unless that someone wants to steal from you. Put yourself in the shoes of a thief and walk around your store, identifying the potential risk zones for shoplifting. Consider your overall store layout, merchandising, and inventory. Do you feel confident your store is risk free, or are there shoplifting risks in your store?
Like everyone else, the reality is you cannot 100% guarantee you won’t be the victim of theft, but you can consider your risks and aim to strengthen them. It’s important to keep your inventory organized and your team aware of merchandising standards that may include replacing items once they are sold on store shelves. As the folks at Shopify recently suggested, “if your store is messy, disorganized, or a maze to get through, it can be harder to notice that you’ve been ‘gotten’ until it’s too late.”
A final thought? Channel your inner Sherlock Holmes and challenge your employees, friends, and even family to do the same to gain multiple perspectives on risk zones in your store.
Re-Merchandise Based on Risk Potential
Not all risks come with reward, so rather than let your risk zones become a problem, consider how re-merchandising your store can help. Areas that are infrequently monitored by employees or have limited view from the checkout area are often the most vulnerable when it comes to theft.
Due to this, consider what products you place in these areas and how other products — such as larger items that may not be easily removed — may be more ideal in these places. Other areas that may bring risk include corners, areas behind shelving, displays located directly by the exit door, and changing rooms.
Small products that are easy to pocket or stuff into bags or purses are typically the most vulnerable items when it comes to shoplifting. Examples include jewelry, decorative items, candies, lip balms, and other small items. Placing these vulnerable objects in high risk areas is a bad combination that may tempt potential shoplifters, so consider how a shift in merchandising can help combat this.
Finally, consider placing high-priced inventory — whether it’s diamond earrings, an expensive scarf, or whatever your priciest item may be — in glass casing or on shelves that demand employee engagement in order for customers to touch them.
Design Your Store Layout With Theft in Mind
When designing a store layout, merchants often consider displays, office space, changing rooms, curb and window appeal, storage and more. Too often, however, theft is not a priority in this design process. To help create an anti-theft strategy for your store, begin by creating a design layout that caters to theft prevention. Retail store layouts that do this often distract shoplifters, and as a result, avoid having to deal with theft as often as others do.
Some things to consider when designing your layout include placing the checkout area of your store between the merchandise and the exit. This creates a barrier between your inventory, your staff and would-be thieves. Combined with employees trained to communicate with all store visitors — customers and thieves alike — someone who is looking to steal will be less likely to do so because of this store layout.
Additionally, aim to create a space that has an openness about it that allows employees to view store visitors nearly all the time. Less visible places attract shoplifters, but through store design you should aim to avoid this whenever possible. You should also make any changing rooms only accessible with employee engagement, decreasing the chance of someone using this space as a place to steal inventory.
Pretend You Have More Security Than You Do
Let’s face it — security cameras, tags, and even security guards are all great ways to distract shoplifters. But if you are like many merchants, you can’t afford all of these for your store. What you can do, however, is take advantage of some of these tactics without breaking the bank.
One way to do this is to install a dummy security camera that can deter amateur shoplifters targeting indie stores. You can even buy recycled electronic security tags and install them on high-value products to help scare potential thieves away. Of course, the real deal is always better but if that is not in your budget, consider how you can still give that perception to customers that it is.
Keep an Eye on Employees
The US Chamber of Commerce reports that 75% of employees will steal from their employers within their professional lifetime, which means that you are likely at risk for being among those employers who may be stolen from. Keeping this in mind, be sure that you and your team are the first line of defense against shoplifters — including those who may work for you.
Communicate your concerns to your employees about shoplifting in general, then make sure they are aware that you are aware of inventory, dollars, and anything else that is at risk for being stolen. Teach them to keep their eyes open for suspicious characters and vulnerable items both from an internal and external perspective, then be sure they know the door is open for them to share any concerns they may have.
Communication is key here, which is the basis of any healthy relationship — including those between managers and employees.
In Conclusion
When it comes to theft, you need to be clear with potential thieves what you will do should they be caught. Having clear messages within your store space can help deliver this message, with some examples including:
“Shoplifters will be prosecuted.”
“Please ask an employee for access to the dressing room.”
“Employees Only.”
“Smile! You’re on camera.”
Each sign communicates that your store is positioned to prosecute shoplifters while also firmly stating that your store space is a secure environment for your customers, employees, and your items.
Creating a theft prevention plan can be daunting, but the extra efforts will cost you far less than dealing with stolen inventory and thieves later. So with no time to waste, what are you doing today to help prevent theft in your store tomorrow? Using the above strategies, begin protecting your business from the millions of shoplifters roaming in and out of retail stores today.
