Stephen O'Keefe was named Vice President of Operations for the Retail Council of Canada. Formerly Stephen was the Vice President of Loss Prevention & Risk Management for Wal-Mart Canada and this new position allows him to expand his scope and truly impact the entire retail industry in Canada. Given Canada's growth plans it certainly gives the RCC an executive who can add incredible value to its membership and strengthen the RCC's services. Congratulations Stephen and it's certain you'll be an extremely valuable representative for the retail industry nationwide.

Jodie Murphy, CFI has been promoted to Director, Corporate Security Gap Inc. Jodie has been with the Gap for 18 years. Of special note, the Daily published a Friday Focus on Jodie in its December 24, 2010 edition, which we've re-published today in honor of her promotion. Congratulations Jodie!

GPS to some is "Electronic Stalking" and it's creating new victims- that to them it's just "as terrifying as seeing your face in the window at night before they go to bed." With sales exceeding over 100,000 annually GPS devices are popping up everywhere. From tracking spouse's every move, to tracking teenagers and the elderly GPS is here to stay and the ethical considerations and boundaries only just started with last weeks Supreme Court decision throwing out law enforcement's use of it to rightfully convict a criminal. Needless to say that conviction goes by the way side. However, GPS trackers are increasingly being cited in cases of criminal stalking and civil violations of privacy. "The most pervasive use of the devices is by companies that track fleets of vehicles or high-value shipments. But company detectives have also been making covert use of GPS devices to follow employees suspected of theft or malingering. California and Texas, unlike most states, ban many uses of GPS trackers without consent, with exceptions for law enforcement and car owners. Many private investigators said they followed the same rules to minimize the risks of civil litigation — that a tracked person could sue for violation of privacy." GPS tracking tactics are going to continue to be challenged and now that the door has been closed, to a certain extent, by the Supreme Court, let's hope the next big case doesn't involve a retail loss prevention executive. (Source nytimes.com)

"Barnes & Noble is, in fact, a technology company" or at least that's what their CEO said in this article. And strangely enough they may be holding the fate of the American book publishing industry in their hands or should I say in their Nook. As the last man standing Barnes & Noble, who at one time was putting mom and pops out of business as quick as Wal-Mart was, is now the last hope for many publishers. Amazon wants to cut out the middleman - that is, traditional publishers - by publishing e-books directly. And Barnes & Noble is fighting them every step of the way. When their CEO was hired in early 2009 many wondered why an e-commerce guy - well now we all know. And it looks like it was the right call before any of us even knew. Hard copies are going the way of vinyl records and book stores may end up like movie renters. But they'll always be the need for a local cafe where you can read a book and listen to some local talent playing their tunes. It'll be interesting to watch Amazon's Goliath - let's just hope there's plenty of David's around. (Source nytimes.com)

Pep Boys goes private for $791 million. The Gores Group has the funds and the board has unanimously approved the transaction. (Source Associated Press)

Wal-Mart door greeters - Gone. The nation's largest private employer has been eliminating greeters on the 10 pm-to-7 am shift at its 3,000-plus supercenters over the last six months, "chipping away at a 30-year tradition of making sure all shoppers are welcomed to the store," Bloomberg reports. And now they're cutting the day time greeters as well and moving them to other positions inside the store. The industry generally considered door greeters almost as part of the LP program but the greeters in Wal-Mart never fit that mold. Well-they're still a very strong component of the Best Buy program. (Source msn.com)

Columbiana Center Mall contract security provider Allied Barton pays $530,000 damages for failing to adequately protect fatally shot man. The wife and children of 49-year-old Robert Bell accused Allied Barton personnel of failing to adequately protect him and daughter Shaunna from the shooting by her then-estranged husband, Michael Young Jr. The family's lawsuit says Bell's daughter reported to mall security four encounters in which she felt threatened by Young in the nine months before the shooting. Receiving multiple complaints certainly puts the security firm in a position as it would a retailer. (Source heraldonliine.com)

Onboard camera system cuts repairs, liability and workers' compensation costs in the trucking operation at Supervalu. The system, installed in 100 tractors at the DC beginning in December 2010, helped to reduce "risky driver maneuvers," as well as ill-advised habits like cell-phone use and eating while driving, said Supervalu’s Dale Peleski, regional director, risk control. Supplied by DriveCam, San Diego, the system offered a payback in eight months, he said. (Source supermarketnews.com)

300 Occupy protesters arrested in Oakland. Oakland police have a message for Occupy protesters - "stop using Oakland as its playground." And they got serious Saturday with protesters breaking into City Hall, burning an American flag, trying to take over an unused convention center and moving to the YMCA. (Source ibtimes.com)

Verizon activated 10.8 million iPhones and 15 million Androids in 2011. Smartphones now account for 44% of their postpaid business. m-Commerce is here and the fraud potential and new schemes will be drowning this industry. Are you educated and prepared? (Source mashable.com)

Northern Michigan University honors the Daily by making it required reading for their criminal justice majors.

 

In case you missed it last week's most popular news article -- Forever 21 Class Action law-suit filed by employees over working off-clock without pay and also attacking their LP bag check policy Five employees filed suit last Wednesday - using the same law firm who beat Polo Ralph Lauren in 2010 for $4 million, over the same issues of working off the clock and not getting paid and claim in court filings that they were frequently kept at stores during lunch breaks and after the ends of their shifts while they were searched for stolen merchandise. Because the employees had already clocked out, this amounts to unpaid labor. The law firm wouldn't disclose exactly how many employees his team had contacted, but noted he expects the case to be even larger than the one he helped bring against Polo Ralph Lauren Corp. The Polo Ralph Lauren class action, which involved 6,700 California employees, was settled out of court for $4 million in 2010. The Polo Ralph Lauren case also involved un-clocked hours where bag checks were performed on employees. According to Kitchin, the settlement ended up changing the loss prevention practices of many retailers around the country. (Source huffingtonpost.com)

"Harry Rosen readies itself for retail foreign invasion" Sensing profound change coming to the retail landscape, Larry Rosen called his senior executives to an urgent meeting at Canada’s premier high-end men’s clothier. They drew up their own battle plan, raised $100 million to expand most existing stores, add a few new ones, and invest in e-commerce, staff training over the next five years, and may even go back into the women's luxury fashion business. With Nordstrom coming Harry Rosen sees it as a direct challenge. "It's not business as usual,: said Mr. Rosen, 55, CEO, and second generation to run the business. "In the next 5 years, there are going to be winners and losers. I am very confident we have the direction to be on the right side of that equation." This is the typical response by most of the Canadian retailers. They're aggressively tightening their businesses and expanding themselves. There's going to be a fight up there and the consumer will benefit long term. (Source theglobemail.com)

Wal-Mart Canada's Loss Prevention leader left to join the RCC, leaving the biggest LP job in Canada open. Stay tuned for who'll get that job.

Sears Canada cuts 400 jobs in their second downsizing. The second downsizing in two months as the struggling retailer tries to cuts costs. "These are never easy decisions. These people gave their heart to Sears," said Sears spokesman Vince Power, who said most of the affected employees were in "non-core" areas, including food services, administration and IT. At some stores, cafeterias will be closed down, Power said." (Source RCC newsletter)

Retail Sales in November were up 0.3% to $38.7B for the fourth straight month. General merchandise store sales were up 0.6%, the sixth increase in seven months. The "other general merchandise stores" industry accounted for the gain, rising 1.7%. Following a decline in September and flat sales in October, sales at department stores fell 0.7% in November. (Source gc.ca)

No big LP job gains yet in Canada - actually we've seen some shrinking of the market. But that's typical when an entire industry is getting ready for war so to speak. With a number of Canadian retailers out there buying other retailers, streamlining, right sizing, and trimming all the fat. It's the calm before the storm. However we have seen a few new jobs but they're scattered and go by almost unnoticed. With all the news in the last 18 months of U.S. retailers going north it takes time to make that a reality and some will stretch their resources and try to cover it from the States. So all the new jobs will come but it's going to take time and it'll be much more gradual then the actual store openings.

Want to make an impact and help your fellow LP colleagues with their Canadian Push?
Send your thoughts to
gusd@downing-downing.com

Submitted December 24, 2010

In looking for executives for the Friday Focus column, we always look for individuals who are good role models and have a story to share about how they've been successful in their career or with a specific accomplishment.  Jodie Murphy is one such example and, having known her for over 20 years, we can attest to her dedication, her commitment, her leadership abilities and her genuine personality.  Her story of how she completed one of life's mile-markers is incredibly important and a great example of how Finding the Time to go back and finish her college degree was in fact difficult, but was also a great personal achievement.  So for all of you waiting for the right time, here's a story in her own words about an executive who made the time.  Gung Ho Jodie!

Jodie Murphy, Senior Manager of Investigations, Gap Inc. 

Finding the Time

I attended SDSU straight out of High School while working as an LP agent. After 5 years of college, and 1 class remaining to complete my degree, I left school to get married with the intention of completing one 3 unit class during the upcoming summer. Summer turned in to Fall, life got in the way and with a new job as an LPM, the birth of 3 children, a mortgage, etc., it never seemed the right time to go back and complete the one course that stood between me and a college degree.

Simply said, not obtaining a college degree always hung over my head. As I grew in my career I realized quickly that opportunities were passing me by simply because I wasn't a college graduate. Jobs that sounded interesting from a career advancement standpoint, that I was well suited for and met all experience qualifications were not even considered because I was lacking a degree. But more important than any impact to my career, for me it was about unfinished business -- about setting a personal goal and not achieving it.

The key for me in my return to school was realizing that there was never going to be that perfect time to tackle this goal. I had plenty of excuses to rationalize my decision not to pursue completing my degree. However, with more universities creating programs for working professionals, a generous tuition reimbursement program offered by my employer and a strong desire to complete my degree, I made the personal decision to go back to school in Dec. 2007 -- nearly 21 years later. I began searching for a program that was affordable, fit my travel schedule, was credentialed (not a buy a diploma program). I quickly learned that after many years of educational hiatus, the requirements necessary to obtain my degree had changed dramatically. I now needed many additional credits, and that this effort was going to take a couple of years to finish.

I researched many programs and eventually found an online program through Northern Michigan University (NMU) that offered a Bachelor of Science degree in Loss Prevention Management. I found several great schools that now offer specific programs to meet the needs of working professionals. Online learning is not for everyone, but for me it was a vehicle that worked. I was highly motivated, didn't feel the need for social interaction and the course work offered was industry specific. After 18 months, I graduated Summa Cum Laude. My diploma hangs on my office wall with other industry certifications and awards, but it's that college diploma that I'm most proud of.

I've met several colleagues who are in the same boat, many of whom have recently made the choice to go back and complete their education, some even pursuing graduate degrees. Several others are still in that "pending mode"... thinking about it, wanting to, but not acting on it quite yet. For those of you in that situation, there may never be that "perfect time" to go back to school, but with so many affordable and convenient programs available, why not make a commitment to complete your degree and fill that wall space with your diploma too.

Stephen O'Keefe was named Vice President of Operations for the Retail Council of Canada.
Jodie Murphy, CFI has been promoted to Director, Corporate Security Gap Inc.
Tommy Conaway was promoted to Regional Director of Loss Prevention for Dick's Sporting Goods.
Shaun Gilfoy, CFI has been promoted to Senior Manger of Loss Prevention Strategy for Old Navy.
Matt Morgan, CFI was named Regional Loss Prevention Investigator for Goodwill Industries of Southeast Wisconsin.

A lot of articles talk about "How to impress your boss" and give you tips on how to accomplish this. But at the end of the day, it's all about supporting them, helping them reach their objectives and not trying to merely impress them. Impressing a person is great, but usually short lived. Supporting and helping them reach their goals requires a long-term effort that at times can truly test your resolve and stamina.

The thought has always been if your boss gets promoted, then you might as well -- as long as you are the one helping them get ahead.

Just a thought,
Gus Downing