The growing problem of inventory shrinkage

As we’ve seen in this issue of Garden Center, retail store security is a pressing concern for many businesses; especially those that suffer continual break-ins.

But thefts can happen during business hours just as easily as after dark, and a store’s employees can be just as willing and able to steal as outside parties. Information from the National Retail Federation shows that inventory “shrinkage” (loss of product due to theft, spoiling or breakage) in the year 2015 continued to have a sizeable impact on the retail industry.

In its 25^th annual National Retail Security Survey, conducted in collaboration with the University of Florida, NRF surveyed 80 senior retail loss prevention executives from various sectors between March 22 and April 22, 2016.