Understanding and Combating Retail Shrink in Small and Mid-Sized Businesses
A recent survey by Software Advice has highlighted a significant challenge faced by small and mid-sized retailers: the increasing problem of shrink. The 2023 Retail Shrink Survey, which included 416 businesses, revealed that 68% of these retailers are experiencing shrink rates above the industry standard of 1.5%. This issue is not just confined to larger retailers; smaller businesses are equally, if not more, affected.
The survey indicates a rise in external theft, with nearly half of the respondents reporting an increase in such incidents. This trend is particularly noticeable among retailers operating 20 or more stores. As a result, preventing retail shrink has become a top priority for an overwhelming majority of retailers.
The primary contributors to retail shrink, as identified in the survey, include:
external theft (41%)
damaged inventory (19%)
vendor fraud (14%)
employee theft (14%)
internal errors (11%)
Notably, vendor fraud is on the rise, with 24% of respondents reporting an increase in such incidents.
In response to these challenges, retailers are adopting various loss prevention strategies. These include the use of security cameras, store layout optimization, inventory management software, security sensors, and maintaining records of known shoplifters. Employee training is also a key focus, with strategies such as greeting customers, reporting incidents, counting registers daily, and responding to active shoplifting incidents.
The financial impact of shrink is significant, with the average value of stolen items being £20. With external theft occurring at least once a week for 45% of respondents, the issue is pressing. The survey also highlights the broader implications of shrink, including its contribution to margin erosion and poor earnings performance in the retail sector.
Retailers are now facing a critical need to address shrink comprehensively. This involves understanding the various sources and drivers of shrink within their organisations and adopting a data-driven approach to measure and mitigate losses. The challenge extends beyond customer theft, encompassing all forms of loss throughout the inventory-to-cash conversion process.
To effectively combat shrink, retailers must aggregate and analyze data to develop a clear understanding of their unique shrink problems. This approach enables the deployment of targeted mitigation techniques and continuous monitoring to assess the effectiveness of these strategies.
In conclusion, the issue of retail shrink requires a strategic and holistic approach, grounded in a thorough understanding of the unique challenges each company faces. By employing a combination of mitigation techniques and actively monitoring their effectiveness, retailers can make a meaningful difference in reducing shrink.