Publisher’s LETTER MAGAZINE 700 Matthews Mint Hill Rd, Ste C Matthews, NC 28105 704-365-5226 office, 704-365-1026 fax
March Madness Takes Study
EDITOR AND PUBLISHER Jack Trlica JackT@LPportal.com
I
was invited into a NCAA basketball tournament pool at the last minute with a group of friends who get together every year to watch the tournament. Without much in-depth knowledge of college basketball teams, I knew I didn’t have much chance of picking winners. And, I was right. While I did luck into a couple of winners, it made me realize that it takes ongoing observation and study, not just of your favorite team, but of all the teams in the tournament to do well. The same can be said of your success at winning inside your corporation. Like the basketball tournament, your company is made up of a number of teams, each with its own team philosophy, star players, strengths, and weaknesses. In this case, however, you and your team are not trying to beat the other teams, but work with them to win the retail game. (Yes, I realize the analogy is not perfect.) Think about all the various teams with whom you interface—operations, finance, logistics, merchandising, HR; not to mention those other teams out there who are trying to steal from you. Unless you know how operations works, for example, how will you know where to pass the ball to hit them in stride for a layup? Likewise, unless you know the latest shoplifting techniques, how will you know how to cut them off before they reach the basket? All of this takes experience, knowledge, and ongoing study…not just of loss prevention techniques, but also of all the various offensive and defensive plays all these teams employ to be successful. That’s why you hear so many loss prevention executives encouraging the LP professionals in their organizations to become knowledgeable of the entire business, not just loss prevention. That’s why the LPQ and LPC certifications have been designed to address all the many disciplines inside of retail. That’s why college degrees require courses in a large variety of subjects [see “Making LP a Talent Destination for Retail Careers” on page 29]. Because team members and strategies change over time, it also requires ongoing study to keep up with the changes. While Michigan State and Baylor were strong picks in 2010, that doesn’t mean they were good picks this year. (Michigan State lost in the first round, and Baylor didn’t even make the tournament.) If you are committed to advancing your career to the Sweet 16, the Elite 8, and ultimately to the Final Four, you need to commit yourself to the study and work it takes to get there. Fortunately, your company and the LP industry have a number of resources to support you. But it’s up to you to make the time and invest the effort to be a winner. And don’t overlook the many coaches inside your company who will gladly help you become a better team player and potential star.
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Adrian Beck Robert L. DiLonardo Walter E. Palmer, CFI, CPP, CFE Amber Virgillo CONTRIBUTORS William A. Alford, CFE Read Hayes, Ph.D., CPP Richard C. Hollinger, Ph.D. Mike Marquis, CFI Gene Smith Shane G. Sturman, CFI, CPP Kelby Woodard David E. Zulawski, CFI, CFE ONLINE EDITOR Matt Richardson MattR@LPportal.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR Larry Preslar ART DIRECTOR Mindy Kuhn DESIGN & PRODUCTION SPARK Publications info@SPARKpublications.com 704-844-6080 ADVERTISING
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Jack Trlica Editor and Publisher LossPrevention and LP Magazine are service marks owned by the publishers and their use is restricted. All editorial content is copyrighted. No article may be reproduced by any means without expressed, written permission from the publisher. Reprints or PDF versions of articles are available by contacting the publisher. Statements of fact or opinion are the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the opinion of the publishers. Advertising in the publication does not imply endorsement by the publishers. The editor reserves the right to accept or reject any article or advertisement.
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EXECUTIVE EDITOR James Lee JimL@LPportal.com
March – April 2011
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LP Magazine (USPS 000-710) is published bimonthly by Loss Prevention Magazine, Inc., 700 Matthews Mint Hill Rd, Ste C, Matthews, NC 28105. Print subscriptions are available free to qualified loss prevention and associated professionals in the U.S. and Canada at www.myLPmag.com. The publisher reserves the right to determine qualification standards. International print subscriptions are available for $99 per year payable in U.S. funds at www.LPportal.com. For questions about subscriptions, contact circulation@LPportal.com. Periodicals postage paid at Matthews, NC, and additional mailing offices.
© 2011 Loss Prevention Magazine, Inc.
