One of the “secrets” of the success of this magazine from the beginning has been the contributions of so many loss prevention professionals. Fifteen years later, it is still the case. Here are just a few of the insights offered by your peers in this issue alone.
Data Analytics Pyramid
“Data is the future of our industry. A single data-friendly LP professional can both identify and address leading indicators of loss for a significant grouping of stores, with no need for airfare, travel, or company car. Identification and correction of these leading indicators driven by this single analyst could rival the internal and external apprehension total for a comparably sized span of control with a full staff of loss prevention associates.” Johnny Custer, LPC, CFI, Sears Holdings
The Benefits of Certification for College Graduates
“When taking this job right out of college, I didn’t have any LP experience and very little knowledge of the field. I had the college degree to get me in the door, but no experience. Right away I had to soak up as much as information as quickly as I could. Once I began studying for the LPQ, things began to click, and I would have those ‘ah-ha’ moments on a regular basis.” Marcy Smith, LPQ, Weis Markets
From Corporate Security to Restaurant LP and Safety
“It’s not the size of my organization I focus on; it’s really about the value my organization brings to the company and to our stakeholders. McDonald’s is not in the security business; we’re in the hamburger business. Therefore, we need to be good students of the business and be seen as true business professionals first, subject-matter experts second.” Rod Holm, McDonald’s
Bridging the Gap between Cyber Crime and ORC
“ORC can be difficult to define because it falls under many different definitions depending on where you are reading it. For the purpose of this discussion, ORC is defined as groups of people engaged in illegally obtaining merchandise in substantial quantities through both theft and fraud for the purpose of resale. Cyber crime is defined as crime conducted via the Internet or some other computer network. The two have both similarities and differences.” Tom Meehan, CFI, Bloomingdale’s
Supply-Chain Shortage Control
“The responsibility of a supply-chain loss prevention professional, broadly speaking, is to execute priorities that preserve assets, at least those within the loss prevention purview. Fulfilling this directive, and thus promoting effective and efficient supply chains, often requires the loss prevention professional to analyze different business units or types to ensure the sufficiency of shortage control measures.” Erik Nelsen, JCPenney
Developing Your Own Professional Brand
“Collaboration and salesmanship in my eyes have moved to the forefront of competencies required specifically for any LP professional expecting to maintain a successful career in the industry. As a result, industry practitioners now must be able to sell programs, solutions, and strategies that benefit the entire business, including sales and growth, profitability, customer experience, payroll, and brand protection.” Kevin J. Thomas CFE, CFI, CBCP, PGA TOUR Superstores
Jack Trlica
Managing Editor