The past four days at the Retail Industry Leaders Association’s (RILA) Asset Protection Conference were nothing short of insightful and engaging. The sessions offered a wide array of topics to choose from and an ample amount of guidance for retailers and professionals in the field.
Day three began with a general session, a conversation between RILA’s Vice President of AP, Khris Hamlin, and Carmen Best—former Chief of Police for Seattle for 28 years and current Microsoft Director of Global Security and Risk Operations. In this session, she shared invaluable advice on how to navigate challenging times. According to Best, “It’s all about ships: friendships, partnerships, and relationships.”
Following the first general session, a group based out of Colorado delved into a case study involving an organized retail theft investigation of a “fence” stealing and re-selling tools where attendees could walk away with more confidence on how to handle situations like this. Collaboration was evident in their success in this case. The Colorado Department of Revenue, District Attorneys from the 17th Judicial District, retailers, and law enforcement work together to build cases in these complicated financial crimes and meet as a team to use state income tax and sales tax laws (in addition to other criminal codes) to hold ORC groups accountable. As ORC groups evolve their reselling techniques online, using every tool in the toolbox is critical, including tax law.
Shortly after, a breakout session regarding vulnerable populations in the retail setting took place. Retailers shared best practices on how to create the safest shopping and working environments and how to be proactive by taking advantage of partnerships for immediate issues and collaborative efforts with cities and community resources for wider challenges.
Several other breakout sessions took place throughout the morning leading up to lunch and the opening of the expo. During the expo, like other days, the vendor booths welcomed great conversation and product education, soon leading into the final general sessions for the day and heading back to the expo center for the reception before attendees parted ways for the remainder of their night.
On the final day, breakout sessions included how retailers are managing their compliance program along with the new workplace violence laws and unsafe work conditions guidance. In another, attendees joined AP leaders from organizations who shared their tactics and best practices for addressing workplace violence.
If you weren’t able to make the RILA AP Conference this time around, be sure to check out our LinkedIn for more information.