Shoppers tend to be friendlier and willing to spend a little more around the holidays, but the season also comes with risks. Increased foot traffic, seasonal hires, and constant distractions could leave you open to shoplifting, employee theft, or safety concerns. Stay focused on what matters most with these eight business holiday safety tips that protect your store without dimming the festive spirit.

1. Check your surveillance: Make sure your CCTV cameras cover every angle of your store, including entrances, aisles, and the outer perimeter. A system with full coverage spots suspicious behavior before it snowballs. If you haven’t upgraded recently, the holidays are the perfect time to boost business surveillance.
2. Avoid blind spots and privacy issues: Place cameras between 8 and 12 feet high for the best view and a lower risk of tampering. Avoid recording in private spaces like restrooms or changing areas, and clearly inform employees where cameras are placed to avoid privacy breaches.
3. Vet seasonal hires carefully: Holiday hiring can feel rushed, but skipping background checks is risky. Temporary workers have access to inventory and registers, so you want to know you can trust them. Even when you need help fast, screen all seasonal employees for your peace of mind.
4. Train your team on security basics: A well-trained team can identify red flags, such as shoppers arriving in bulky clothing, behaving oddly, or whispering in suspicious groups. Walk through expectations, reporting steps, and security protocols with all employees. Training may include staying calm during a robbery and discreetly triggering the panic alarm, which alerts the monitoring center and dispatches police without escalating the situation.
5. Implement strategic access control: Use cloud-based access control to track who enters sensitive areas like back offices or storage rooms. Assign codes or badges to each staff member, and disable access immediately when employment ends.
6. Secure the perimeter: Install perimeter sensors and cameras, and set up alerts to address threats on the premises. With 24/7 monitoring, you can sleep soundly knowing a team of professionals is ready to respond around the clock to suspicious activity.
7. Add portable surveillance where needed: How do you promote security at temporary setups, like pop-up holiday markets or festivals? One method is to set up solar-powered mobile surveillance trailers with live video feeds, audio warning strobes, and talk-down features to deter incidents before they escalate.
8. Control lighting for safety and savings: During off-hours, use lighting schedules and automation to make your business look occupied, even when it’s not. This tactic deters intruders while minimizing energy usage for lower operating costs.

Ready to boost business safety during the holidays with cutting-edge technology? Alert 360 offers professionally installed, turn-key security systems backed by US-based monitoring and local customer service. We offer $0 down and 0% financing, plus a 30-day money-back guarantee to help you get started. Contact us today to get a free quote for your business in Houston, Stafford, Greenville, or Fort Worth, TX.