4 minute read
PARTING WORDS
Do you remember getting many of these good wishes? Now, maybe if you were out on New Year ’s Eve when the clock stuck midnight, people may have come up to you and wished you a Happy New Year. But, other than family, did you bump into many people the first few days of the year that wished you a Happy New Year? It seemed to me that everyone was pleased to wish me “Happy Holidays,” but I rarely heard anyone wish me a Happy New Year, let alone a prosperous one. And I did not get one card that expressed Happy New Year.
Somehow I think in the business of retail loss prevention, we are all just thankful we made it through the holiday season. By the time we said goodbye to 2011, we all called a time out and kicked back for a couple of days. So, here we are into another year. What could be “Happy” and what could be “New” about this year?
Happy Things
Good shrinkage results would go a long way to making it a happy year. It is likely this will happen for most companies, and thus for most stores, districts, and regions. Here’s wishing “Happy Shrinkage Results to all!”
What else would delight us, please us, make us feel contented, and possibly favor us with good fortune? How about a promotion, bonus check, increase in salary, maybe a new job that encompasses all of these, or maybe just some special recognition by your boss or your peers. These are a few of the business-related happy feelings. Each of us has a longer list of personal things that could make this a prosperous year. “Happy Career and Life to all!”
New Things
What might be new this year? Many things are new every year. If you think not or think it is the same old stuff, then you have not looked or listened hard enough. All of the conferences that are held by the various associations are always new, different, and in most cases better. I missed the FMI conference last year. I had a legitimate excuse. It was new and better than years before. This year will be even better. Good people doing new and better things. Read the interview with Libby Christman to see a few new things going on at Ahold USA and FMI (page 27).
The April RILA conference will showcase what they do well—getting their member companies to share ideas, strategies, and information. Companies are talking more with each other about their operational successes and RILA epitomizes “new” (see page 36).
NRF has a new LP executive in Rich Mellor, who is an accomplished, experienced practitioner with a well-balanced appreciation of the challenges of the loss prevention professional. We should all expect to see and learn new things at this June’s NRF conference.
I am not as versed in some of the other conferences as
some of you may be, but I am sure you will find new things there as well. “Happy New Learning and Sharing!”
Certain company initiatives and strategies will be new and exciting this year. Just to mention a few—a sophisticated use of video analytics to measure sales results, levels of service, and loss prevention issues…all in one neatly wrapped package. A continued and improved collaboration of companies on ORC issues and sharing data. More companies moving to remote monitoring and reaping the benefits. The on-going commitment of training and educational programs for all LP professionals. Hiring the military returning to the private workforce into LP positions. More professional certifications with LPQ and LPC designations passing the 1,000 mark by year end.
Both retailers and solution providers will recreate themselves through acquisitions, mergers, and failures. The outcomes of all of these will be new challenges and opportunities for adaptable LP professionals. “Happy New Opportunities!”
So, don’t think that this New Year is just more of the same as last year. I expect it will be a happy, prosperous year because what makes it that is that much of it will be new. So, here’s wishing everyone, “Happy New Year to you!”
Jim Lee Executive Editor
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