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We recently published a guide to creating and implanting shoplifting policies and procedures for your retail business.

In this post we will share some additional practical tips to help you reduce shoplifting from your store.

How to Reduce Shoplifting In Store

Perform Regular Stock Checks

Regular stock checks will help you understand the scale of shoplifting in your store. They may also help you to identify which products in your store thieves are most likely to target. If you understand this, then you will know where to prioritise your anti-theft measures.

Consider Your Store Layout

• Place the till as close to the door as possible. This way, no potential thieves will be able to enter or leave the store unobserved.
• Keep your layout as simple and straightforward as possible. This will eliminate any blindspots where thieves could operate.
• Make sure any high value items, or any items that you think thieves are most likely to target, are within sight of the main till.
• You could also install security mirrors to let your staff see as much of the store as possible without leaving the till area.

Security Features

• Get CCTV coverage for your store’s front entrance, for the till area, for your stock rooms, and for any areas where you store or display high value items.
• Place signs notifying visitors that you have CCTV in place. This can help deter opportunistic thieves.
• Consider installing facial recognition software, which could help you identify repeat offenders, and take appropriate action.
• Consider placing your most valuable stock in locked cabinets, or behind the till. This way, customers will have to ask staff directly to view them.
• Use electronic article surveillance (EAS) tags, and other anti-theft devices, which can deter potential thieves while also alerting you immediately to any attempted theft.

Staff Interactions and Customer Service

Your staff are your first line of defence against shoplifters. They can help identify and report instances of shoplifting, and they may even be able to prevent certain thefts from taking place. Staff safety should remain a priority, though. You should never expect your staff to expose themselves to any unnecessary risk.

Members of staff could use customer service techniques to deter thieves. If they notice a customer acting suspiciously, they could approach them and ask if they can be of any assistance. This will let the potential thief know that their actions have been noted, which might make them reconsider the theft.

Think about your staffing levels, too. Thieves often take advantage of busy periods, as they know that when the majority of staff are busy, their crimes will go unobserved. It is also common for thieves to work in pairs, with one distracting your staff while the other lifts items, out of sight. So, take note of your busy times and schedule shifts accordingly. And if possible, try to ensure that nobody ever has to work a shift alone.

Get The Right Insurance For Your Retail Store

Specialist retail shop insurance can help protect your store from many of the risks you face. A comprehensive policy may not prevent shoplifting, but it can give you the cover you need to bounce back from any major disruptions or disasters.

James Hallam is an independent Lloyd’s broker with a dedicated team of experienced insurance professionals who care about protecting your store. We can help you get specialist retail shop insurance, which can help your business bounce back from any significant losses.

Find out how we can help your shop today.

Gyms face a number of risks that many other businesses will never have to think about. For 24 hour gyms, these risks can be particularly pronounced.

In this post we will outline the insurance products you should consider if you are running a 24 hour gym.

What Insurance Do 24 Hour Gyms Need, By Law?

If you have any employees, then you have a legal obligation to get employer’s liability insurance. This covers your staff for any accidents and injuries they may sustain in their line of work.

However, some 24 hour gyms run unsupervised round the clock. In this case, you may not have the legal requirement to get employer’s liability insurance.

Yet even if you have no legal responsibilities to get cover, you should still consider getting comprehensive insurance for your 24 hour gym. If anything goes wrong, you could incur significant costs. And without adequate cover, you will be responsible for meeting these costs yourself.

Common Risks For 24 Hour Gyms

Some 24 hour gyms are unsupervised and unattended throughout the night. Others are unsupervised 24/7. This can expose the gym to a number of risks:

• Thieves or vandals could target the gym when they know there are no staff on the premises. They could cause thousands of pounds worth of damages, or steal a large amount of valuable equipment.
• A customer could injure themselves on the premises. If this injury was caused by faulty equipment, they may make a claim of negligence against you.
• Fire, flood, theft, or a similar occurrence could temporarily prevent access to your gym, forcing you to close. If you are open round the clock, every hour your gym is closed will eat into your profits. Some members may request refunds, too, if they cannot access your gym when they need to.

Reducing Risks for 24 Hour Gyms

You will need to find ways to keep your business and your customers safe for any period during which your gym is unsupervised. Security systems, remote support systems, ongoing cleaning, maintenance, and repairs, along with thorough onboarding processes for both staff and members can help reduce some of the above risks from occurring.

But if something does go wrong, the right insurance can cover you for any losses you may experience, or costs you may incur.

What Insurance Do 24 Hour Gyms Need?

Public Liability Insurance

This will cover your members, as well as any other members of the public, for any accidents and injuries they may sustain while using your gym, as well as any damage to their property. If they make a claim of negligence against you, your liability insurance can cover your legal fees, as well as any compensation that may be due.

Buildings and Contents Insurance

You may be required to get buildings insurance as part of your leasing agreement. But even if not, this is essential cover to consider. It can cover you for the risk of damage from fire, flooding, break-ins, and vandalism.

Contents insurance, on the other hand, can cover your gym equipment for loss, theft, or damage. Contents insurance can also cover any additional fixtures, fittings, or furniture, whether they are located inside or outside your gym.

Business Interruption Insurance

As we mentioned above, if you are temporarily unable to open your gym, you may incur significant costs through lost income, and as a result of refund requests from your members. Business interruption insurance can cover any loss of profit you might experience if you need to close your premises due to an unexpected event.

Get Specialist 24 Hour Gym Insurance From James Hallam

James Hallam is an independent Lloyd’s broker with access to a hand-picked selection of A-rated insurance providers. We can help you understand the unique risks you face as a 24 hour gym, and we can also tailor a comprehensive insurance package to cover you for these risks at the best price.

Find out how we can help you today.

In this post we will outline the numerous factors that can affect the amount you pay for restaurant insurance in the UK, to give you a general idea of how much you might pay for your policy.

What is the Average Cost of Restaurant Insurance in the UK?

So many factors can affect the cost of restaurant insurance that, rather than considering ballpark figures, it is much better to get a quote of your own.

Depending on your unique situation, you could pay as little as £500 a year for your restaurant insurance. However, many restaurants will pay much more for their cover, potentially up to £3,500 to £4,000 a year.

What Factors Affect the Cost of Restaurant Insurance?

• Your location – Some areas have higher crime rates than others, which can affect your premiums. You may also pay higher premiums if your restaurant is located on a floodplain.
• Your size – The bigger your restaurant, then the more customers you will serve, and the more you will pay for cover. Your annual turnover can also affect the price you pay for your restaurant insurance.
• The cover you get – When taking out restaurant insurance, you may be able to choose exactly what sort of cover you get. The broader the cover you choose, the more you will pay.
• The liability you choose – When taking out your policy, you may also be able to specify the amount of cover you get. You can set a cash value for the maximum amount of buildings cover you receive, for example. This too can affect the price of your policy.

What Does Restaurant Insurance Cover?

A restaurant insurance policy can provide the following core areas of cover:

• Public liability insurance – To cover your customers and other members of the public for any accidents, illnesses, or injuries that may take place while they are on your premises.
• Employer’s liability insurance – To provide the same sort of cover, but for your staff. Please note that, if you employ any staff, you have a legal duty to get employer’s liability insurance.
• Buildings insurance – To cover your restaurant premises against damage from fire, flood, vandalism, and break-ins.
• Contents insurance – To cover your stock, your equipment, and any fixtures, fittings, and furnishings for loss, theft, or damage.
• Product liability insurance – This can cover cases of food poisoning or other illnesses that may arise from food or drink you serve on your premises.

How To Reduce The Cost Of Your Restaurant Insurance

• Staff training – Regular staff training can reduce accidents, which could help to lower your premiums.
• Safety and security features – Install locks, CCTV, and alarms to help prevent theft. Smoke alarms and sprinklers can help prevent the spread of fires.
• Choose your cover carefully – If you get less comprehensive cover, or specify lower cover limits, then you can save money on the price of your premium. Take care though, as if you ever need to make a claim on your policy, limited cover could leave you out of pocket.
• Compare quotes – Not all insurers will charge the same for cover. Get a few quotes for your restaurant insurance, but do not be tempted to simply choose the cheapest cover. The most important thing is that you get the cover you need.
• Use an insurance broker – An insurance broker will take the time to understand your restaurant and your insurance requirements. They can then help you get cover that meets all of your needs, including your budget.

Get Specialist Restaurant Insurance From James Hallam

James Hallam is an independent Lloyd’s broker with a dedicated team of experienced insurance professionals who care about protecting your restaurant.

We can help you get the cover you need at a truly competitive price. We will ensure that there are no risky gaps in your cover, and that you are not paying excessively for cover you may never need.

Learn more about our specialist insurance services here.

Dine and dash is when customers leave a restaurant without paying for their meal. In UK law this is recognised as a form of theft.

Dine and dash appears to be a growing issue in the UK, with around a third of hospitality businesses claiming to have experienced it. It can seriously eat into a restaurant’s profits, while also having a demoralising effect on staff.

In this post we will explore some techniques for preventing dine and dash theft in your restaurant.

Why Do Customers Dine and Dash?

If you can understand how and why dine and dash happens, you will know what steps you can take to address the issue.

There are a number of reasons customers might dine and dash:

• Spontaneously: Some customers do it for the thrill of it, as a spontaneous decision.
• Planned: Others will plan their dine and dash attempt in advance, meaning they will choose their moment to leave carefully – when the restaurant is busy, the staff are distracted, and they can slip out unnoticed.
• Protest: Customers may leave without paying as an act of protest over receiving poor customer service, or because they feel they have waited too long to get the bill.
• Affordability: Customers may decide to leave when they eventually get the bill, and realise they cannot afford to pay.

Ways to Prevent Dine and Dash in Your Restaurant

Here are some measures you can introduce to prevent dine and dash in your restaurant:

Hosts and Other Front of House Staff

Make one member of staff your restaurant’s host. It is their job to maintain a presence at the front of the establishment to welcome new customers, and to see off customers at the end of their meal.

If there is a member of staff constantly stationed at the front of your restaurant, any customers considering a dine and dash may reconsider, as there will be a greater chance of getting caught.

Floor Plan

Consider your restaurant’s floor plan to encourage customers to only enter and leave through a single point, and to maximise the line of sight for your staff.

This will make it harder for customers to slip out unnoticed, while also ensuring that your staff can keep an eye on all tables, even during busy periods.

Staff Training

Inform your staff of the risks of dine and dash. If it has happened before in your restaurant, take the time to analyse how the customers managed to get away with it, so that you and your staff can identify any possible warning signs.

Your training could also cover how your staff can deliver a high quality, efficient service even when the restaurant is packed. This could save your customers from having to wait too long for their bills.

Finally, remember that some customers choose to leave without paying as a form of protest, when they think they have received poor service. In this way, good customer service can itself help to prevent dine and dash. Plus, if your staff can build a rapport with your customers, they may be more likely to recall their appearance should you ever have to investigate a case of dine and dash.

Reservation Systems

Implement a strict booking system, and request certain customer details as part of the reservation. Ask for a name, a contact number, and consider taking a deposit payment too.

These measures could deter potential dine and dashers, as you will have a means of tracing any perpetrators. Even if the customers give you false details, they will still provide a lead for a subsequent police investigation.

Payment Systems

If you are running a pub or a smaller café, it may be acceptable to request customer payments in advance. This, of course, will make dine and dash crime impossible.

Yet in most restaurants, customers expect to pay after their meal. And as we have seen, some customers will choose to leave if they feel they have waited too long to pay.

Find ways to streamline your payment process. This is another area where staff training can help, but you could also look to technology to help you, with handheld POS devices for card payments, or QR codes on the tables to allow customers to pay their bills in their own time.

CCTV and Signage

CCTV can cover any potential blindspots in your restaurant, making it harder for customers to leave unnoticed. Placing signs to notify customers of your cameras can act as a strong deterrent to dine and dashers – they may be much less likely to attempt to leave if they know they are on camera.

If your CCTV does not help prevent dine and dash crime in your restaurant, it can at least help you identify the customers afterwards, which may mean you can recover your losses.

Get Dedicated Restaurant Insurance From James Hallam

James Hallam is an independent Lloyd’s broker with a dedicated team of experienced insurance professionals who care about protecting your restaurant.

We can help you get the cover you need at a truly competitive price. While restaurant insurance cannot itself prevent dine and dash crime, it may help you recover from any profit losses you experience as a result of theft.

Learn more about our specialist insurance services here.

Most shops will likely have to deal with shoplifters. Reports indicate that shoplifters across the country may be getting increasingly “brazen”, and that shoplifting may be costing UK stores up to £2bn a year.

It might not be possible to entirely eliminate shoplifting from your store. But with the right shoplifting policies and procedures, you can at least manage and mitigate the loss.

In this post we will discuss what you should include in your shoplifting policies and procedures, and how you can communicate them with your staff to ensure they are enforced.

What Are Shoplifting Policies and Procedures?

Shoplifting policies and procedures are documents that explain your shop’s approach to shoplifting. Usually, shoplifting policies and procedures will provide:

• A definition of shoplifting. What exactly is it, and how does if differ from other forms of theft?
• Outline the scale of the problem
• Provide steps your staff can take if they suspect that shoplifting is taking place.

One thing to bear in mind: Shoplifters can get violent and abusive when confronted. Your shoplifting policy and procedures should account for this. While taking steps to reduce loss, you should never lose sight of your staff’s safety and wellbeing.

Staff Training on Shoplifting

As part of your shoplifting policies and procedures, you should include some mandatory training for all staff. This could cover:

• Understanding shoplifting, and common shoplifting techniques.
• Customer service techniques to deter potential thieves. For example, approaching and politely engaging with a potential thief, without confronting them directly, could let the thief know that they are being monitored.
• Procedures for safely handling incidents of shoplifting. When should staff intervene, and when should they refrain, to avoid personal injury? And if they cannot prevent the theft, how should they record and report it, and what other steps should they take afterward?
• Following an incident, you should make time for a review to discuss the matter with any staff who were involved. But this is not a disciplinary procedure. It is an opportunity to highlight what went wrong, along with any steps you and your staff could take to prevent further theft.

Regular Stock Takes

As part of your shoplifting policy and procedures, you should carry out regular stock takes. As well as giving you an idea of the scale of your loss, it could also help you identify the sort of items in your store that thieves are most likely to target and when.

If you can spot any patterns of theft, you might have an idea of the steps you can take to reduce the risk.

Identify High Risk Items

Are thieves more likely to target certain items in your store? Your policy and procedures should identify these items, and outline the steps your store will take to protect these items.

If your staff know what sort of items thieves will prioritise, they will know to be extra vigilant should they see anyone acting suspiciously around them.

Security Procedures to Reduce Shoplifting

Outline the systems you have in place, or that you intend to install, to manage theft in your store. These might include:

• CCTV systems
• Electronic article surveillance (EAS) tags, and other anti-theft devices
• Locked cabinets and display for your more expensive items
• Facial recognition software
• Signage to let potential thieves know about the systems you have in place

Your shoplifting policies and procedures should outline how you expect your staff to interact with these systems. For example, will you use CCTV passively, so as to ensure that you have a record of any incident? Or do you expect your staff to actively monitor the feeds to prevent theft?

How to Communicate Your Shoplifting Policy and Procedures

It is one thing to have shoplifting policy and procedures. But it is equally important to communicate your policy, to ensure that your staff can understand and enforce your procedures.

First, you should share your policies and procedures with all new hires during their induction. All staff should get a refresher at least once a year too, perhaps as part of their appraisals.

You could also create an accessible version of your policies and procedures, perhaps in the form of a graphic poster, which you could hang in the staff room.

Get The Right Cover For Your Retail Store

Specialist retail shop insurance can help protect your store from many of the risks you face. A comprehensive policy may not prevent shoplifting, but it can give you the cover you need to bounce back from any major disruptions or disasters.

James Hallam is an independent Lloyd’s broker with a dedicated team of experienced insurance professionals who care about protecting your store. Whether you run an online store, a single high street shop, or a chain of shops, we can help you get the cover you need at a price you can afford.

Find out how we can help your shop today.

Specialist café and coffee shop insurance can cover your establishment for the unique risks you will face when preparing and serving hot drinks and food to the public.

Read our guide to how café and coffee shop insurance works, and what it covers.

If you are shopping around for your first policy, or you are looking to renew an existing policy, in this post we will outline some techniques for reducing the cost of your café and coffee shop business insurance.

What Can Affect The Price of Café and Coffee Shop Business Insurance?

• Coffee shop location – If your coffee shop is in an area with relatively high crime rates, it can increase the risk of theft, which can increase the cost of cover.
• Number of staff – If you employ any staff, you will have a legal requirement to get employer’s liability insurance. The more staff you have, the more this might cost you.
• Shop size – The bigger your coffee shop, the more your insurance will cost. A larger shop will cost more to repair following an incident such as a fire or a flood. Plus, the more customers you can serve and seat at once, the greater the risks of slips, trips, spillages, and other accidents. This can make claims more likely, which can result in higher premiums.
• Food – If you serve food alongside your coffee, for example, you may have to pay more for cover.
• Extras – Many other factors can affect the price of your policy. If you put on events at your coffee shop, such as live music or poetry performances, it can mean more risks, which can mean higher premiums.

How to Reduce Café and Coffee Shop Business Insurance Costs

If you want to bring down the costs of your café and coffee shop business insurance, there are a number of things that could help.

Invest in Security

If your café is in an area with relatively high crime rates, investing in extra security can help reduce your cover. This might include roll shutters, extra secure locks, CCTV, alarms, and so on.

Invest in Training

Certain types of staff training can also help bring down the cost of cover. A skilled barista may be less likely to spill a drink on a customer or their property, and they may be less likely to prepare drinks or food that could result in food poisoning or other unwanted effects. Plus, training your staff to spot security risks can help reduce losses from theft, which could reduce your premiums.

Choose How You Pay

Pay Annually
You can often make a saving on your cover if you pay in an annual lump sum, rather than in monthly instalments.

Consider Combined Policies
Some insurers also offer discounts if you buy combined policies rather than separate policies. For instance, you could pay less for a combined buildings and contents policy than you would for getting each policy separately.

Consider Higher Excesses
You could also save money on your premiums through offering to pay a higher excess. However, this can be a risky move. If you ever have to make a claim on your policy, a higher excess could mean that your settlement will not be lower than you expected.

Use an Insurance Broker

If you buy an off-the-shelf insurance policy, you may end up paying for some forms of cover that you do not really need. Or worse, you may find you are underinsured for certain risks.

Talk to an insurance broker, and they will take the time to understand your cover requirements. They will then help you get a tailored policy that meets all of your needs at a price you can afford.

Get Bespoke Cover For Your Coffee Shop From James Hallam

James Hallam is an independent Lloyd’s broker with a dedicated team of experienced insurance professionals who care about protecting your café or coffee shop.

Whether you run a single coffee shop, a chain of coffee shops, or a mobile coffee van, we can help you get the insurance you need at the best price.

Learn more about how we can support your Coffee Shop or Café.