How Have Trade Show Cancellations Impacted The Security Market?

The absence of trade shows has been transformative for the security marketplace, among others, as companies implemented a variety of alternative approaches, with mixed results.

Sean Foley, SVP, National Accounts
Interface Security Systems LLC

While trade shows have traditionally been an important part of our industry, it has been enlightening to live without them. I think we have all seen examples of companies and trade show organisations putting together virtual events that left a lot to be desired. Having an event 'just because' is never a recipe for success. Inviting attendees around to virtual booths that are nothing more than vendor websites has wasted people's time and energy. On the other hand, some virtual events (the RLPSA [Restaurant Loss Prevention & Security Association] 'To Go' conference being a case in point) have been well-thought-out, engaging, educational, and even entertaining. We have learned that we can continue to engage and educate prospects and customers without traditional trade shows and that effective communication can come in many forms. While we look forward to interacting more in person, our core focus will be problem solving for our customers and prospects. securityinformed.com


CONTROLTEK Adds New Account Executives to Sales Team

CONTROLTEK, a leader in loss prevention and security solutions, has grown its sales team with the addition of three strategic account executives to offer more dedicated attention to specific regions in the United States.

With extensive experience supporting companies in delivering their solutions, CONTROLTEK's newest strategic account executives include, Mark Wingfield, a sales veteran with over 20 years of experience, who will manage the Midwest sales territory; Kenna Griffith, an impressive sales leader with a track record of being at the top of her sales teams, who will be dedicated to the South-Central sales territory; and Amy Fargo, who has over 25 years of experience in technology sales with multiple Fortune 500 companies who will service the Southeast sales territory. controltekusa.com
 

Violence & Protests

Home Depot Loss Prevention Agent critically wounded, Chicago Police Officer also shot by fleeing Shoplifter; Suspect killed in shootout
A shoplifting suspect who got into a shootout with Chicago police is dead, and a police officer and a security worker were hospitalized in an incident that broke out Thursday afternoon at a store on the city's Southwest Side, authorities said. The officer is the fourth Chicago cop to be shot in less than two weeks. The police officer was being treated for a gunshot wound to the shoulder and was expected to undergo surgery.

A second victim, a Loss Prevention Agent from The Home Depot store where the incident broke out about 5 p.m., on West 46th Street, suffered a gunshot wound to the head and was transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center in grave condition, said Chicago Fire Department spokesman Larry Merritt. The officer wounded in the shooting has four years with the department and is assigned to the 9th District, authorities said. Shortly before 8 p.m., the officer had been released from the hospital. Authorities said the suspect shot the security worker inside or outside the store. Officers responded, and the suspect tried running away and shot one of the officers, authorities said. They also said police who responded at some point fired back and struck the suspect. The security worker was taken to University of Chicago Medical Center, where his condition was described as grave.  dailymail.co.uk  chicagotribune.com

Mesa, AZ: Home Depot Armed Shoplifter led Police on a fatal chase
An armed man stole from a Mesa Home Depot and then tried to get away from authorities only to be boxed in a downtown Phoenix area where a law enforcement task member shot and killed him on Wednesday. According to the U.S. Marshals Service, it all started when the suspect walked out of the Home Depot on Crismon Road with power tools. A loss prevention officer tried to stop him, but he pulled out a knife, so the officer backed off. The armed man got into a black SUV and drove off.

Witnesses called 911 while another person followed the crook in their car. Investigators said the suspect crashed into that witness on the road. . A detective in the area saw the crash and tried to pull over the robber, but he sped off. The suspect ran stop signs, hit curbs and ran into other vehicles while trying to evade police. He then got onto the U.S. 60 and drove west. Officers on the ground backed off while the Mesa Police Department's helicopter followed him into Phoenix.

The man drove through downtown and at one point made a U-turn and drove toward an officer, the U.S. Marshals Service said. The man nearly lost control on a dirt road but kept going until he stopped at a dead end. An officer with the U.S. Marshals Arizona WANTED Violent Offender Task Force began giving commands to the suspect. But the driver spun his SUV's tires and pushed into the officer's vehicle with the officer standing next to it. That's when the officer opened fire. The suspect died at the scene. No one else was hurt. azfamily.com

Minneapolis area 911 centers developing backup plans as Derek Chauvin trial resumes

Region aims to plug gaps as Chauvin trial resumes.

Metro area 911 leaders are boosting their communication and buying additional equipment in hopes of avoiding problems that hampered their response during riots last year.

Minneapolis officials said Thursday that they have been holding weekly meetings with regional 911 leaders, bought two additional sets of backup equipment, and are creating a dedicated line of communication should more unrest happen during the murder trial of former officer Derek Chauvin.

When cell towers flooded with traffic, some calls got automatically transferred to other counties, which lacked the technology to share information as phone lines jammed and emergency radios crowded with traffic.

"If the cell towers become overloaded and we have calls routing into partner agencies, we've developed a dedicated radio channel that can be used to communicate between the [911 centers] so they're not having to call into our already overloaded telephone lines," Hodne said.

In addition, Hodne said they are working with other 911 centers in the area to boost staffing if needed. startribune.com

Catch & Release + Progressive DAs = A Change at the Core of Law Enforcement
Which ultimately impacts and changes Loss Prevention

California's top court ends cash bail for some defendants who can't afford it
For years, California legislators and judges have tried to reform the state's money bail system to reduce discrimination against the poor. On Thursday, four months after voters rejected such a reform, the California Supreme Court ruled that it is unconstitutional to require defendants to remain behind bars simply because they cannot afford bail.

In a unanimous decision, the state's top court told judges to favor pretrial release and consider a person's ability to pay before setting bail.

The ruling is likely to lead to many more people being released without bail before they go to trial. Judges may keep criminal defendants locked up only when "clear and convincing" evidence shows there is no other way to protect the public and ensure the defendants' return for court appearances. latimes.com

There's Two Illnesses: One is COVID - The Other is Hate
Asian American businesses are defending themselves against rise in anti-Asian violence
Asian American entrepreneurs across the country are combating a sharp rise in racist threats and attacks on their businesses that many feel authorities are not taking seriously, even after last week's shooting rampage targeting three Asian spas in Atlanta left eight people dead.

Amid heightened fears, business owners have begun hiring their own security, buying guns and cutting their hours of operation as well as advertising, among other costly safety measures that limit their profits - and profile - at a time when businesses are already struggling, according to Asian American chambers of commerce and other business organizations.

Now, community leaders warn that the racism targeting these businesses could hamper the country's economic recovery from the coronavirus-induced recession.

Asian Americans owned more than 10 percent of all U.S. businesses in 2018. These firms earned $863 billion in receipts and employed 5.1 million people, Census Bureau data shows.

Businesses have been vandalized, robbed, attacked online in racist Yelp reviews. Employees, regardless of their ethnicity, have been blamed for the spread of the coronavirus.

Among the most vulnerable are retail businesses, restaurants and salons whose storefronts open to public sidewalks. washingtonpost.com

Police Move to Shut Down LA Tent City
It's the endgame for the Echo Park homeless encampment
A homeless encampment that took over a large swath of Echo Park for more than a year appeared on the brink of extinction Thursday as city officials fenced off the area and police prepared to remove the relatively few remaining campers, some of whom insisted on their right to live in the park.

Scores of Los Angeles police officers surrounded the park Thursday evening, and about a dozen homeless people remained inside the fence. Numerous protesters were also detained by police.

City officials have offered homeless people who had been staying in the park a room in one of several downtown hotels, which most accepted. Some, however, chafed at the rules imposed at the hotels and said they preferred the freedom of being outdoors.

Just after 9 p.m. Thursday, law enforcement officers circled the park, shining flashlights inside the fenced-in area, saying over a bullhorn that the park would soon close. latimes.com

Echo Park protester alleges LAPD officer broke his arm with baton strike
 

COVID Update

133M Vaccinations Given

US: 30.7M Cases - 560K Dead - 23.2M Recovered
Worldwide: 126.2M Cases - 2.7M Dead - 101.8M Recovered

Former Senior Loss Prevention Executive
Know of any fallen LP exec? Let's remember & recognize.

Private Industry Security Guard Deaths: 279   Law Enforcement Officer Deaths: 275
*Red indicates change in total deaths

474 Defendants Charged Attempting Over $569 Million in Fraud
Justice Department Takes Action Against COVID-19 Fraud

Historic level of enforcement action during national health emergency continues

The Department of Justice announced an update today on criminal and civil enforcement efforts to combat COVID-19 related fraud, including schemes targeting the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) program and Unemployment Insurance (UI) programs.

As of today, the Department of Justice has publicly charged 474 defendants with criminal offenses based on fraud schemes connected to the COVID-19 pandemic. These cases involve attempts to obtain over $569 million from the U.S. government and unsuspecting individuals through fraud and have been brought in 56 federal districts around the country. These cases reflect a degree of reach, coordination, and expertise that is critical for enforcement efforts against COVID-19 related fraud to have a meaningful impact and is also emblematic of the Justice Department's response to criminal wrongdoing.

"The Department of Justice has led an historic enforcement initiative to detect and disrupt COVID-19 related fraud schemes," said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland.

To learn more about the department's COVID response, visit: https://www.justice.gov/coronavirus. justice.gov

Retailers in OSHA's 'Crosshairs'
How to Respond to OSHA's COVID Enforcement

Make sure you are adhering to the agency's and CDC workplace guidance.

Employers now find themselves in the crosshairs of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) amped-up enforcement of its COVID-19 guidelines and need to take immediate action to avoid the potential flood of citations and penalties expected to result.

The President called for the ETS, Emergency Temporary Standards, to be released no later than mid-March, but as of this writing they have yet to be issued by OSHA. The White House reported that it is currently in the process of reviewing the draft ETS, but it did not reveal what is holding up their publication.

OSHA said it is choosing to target those industry sectors that have been generating the highest number of complaints, such as healthcare, which includes hospitals, healthcare providers, assisted living facilities and home healthcare services. Other industries targeted are general warehousing and storage, temporary help and staffing agencies, discount department stores, both full- and limited service restaurants, supermarkets and grocery stores (excluding convenience stores), and poultry and meat slaughtering and processing plants.

Secondary targets encompass industries where workers come into routine contact with large numbers of co-workers and the general public and as a result are considered to be at higher risk of contracting the virus.

If your company falls into any of these industry classifications, attorneys advise you to review and update your COVID-19 safety documents, programs and procedures.

"Given a recent DOL Office of Inspector General's report on OSHA's handling of whistleblower claims in 2020, employers should expect more aggressive OSHA investigations of such claims," Paul predicts. ehstoday.com

All California adults can get COVID-19 vaccine next month
California is dramatically expanding the eligibility for COVID-19 vaccines, offering the shots to virtually all residents 16 and older beginning next month, the state announced Thursday. Residents who are at least 50 years old can get vaccines starting April 1, and all Californians 16 and older will be eligible starting April 15. latimes.com

'Variants of concern' dominate recent virus samples tested in L.A. County,
official says
Most of the coronavirus samples analyzed in Los Angeles County last week were found to be variants that are believed to spread more readily, officials said.

"The fact that the majority of sampled specimens are variants of concern suggests that these variants are increasingly widespread in our community," Wider spread of the more infectious mutations, health officials worry, could potentially fuel another surge that the county, and California, can ill afford after so recently emerging from the devastating fall-and-winter wave. latimes.com

Amazon starts on-site COVID-19 vaccination for U.S. employees

 

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News Outlets & Legal Publications Picking Up
INFORM Consumers Act Congressional Activity
ORC & Counterfeiting Getting National Coverage

jdsupra.com: INFORM Consumers Act Introduced to Target Online Counterfeiters
The INFORM (Integrity, Notification, and Fairness in Online Retail Marketplaces) Consumers Act was introduced on the Senate floor on March 23, 2021.

This bill would require greater accountability and transparency from the e-commerce marketplaces that act as intermediaries between buyers and sellers.

The legislation requires online marketplaces to disclose to consumers basic information about high-volume third-party sellers, including the seller's name and address, email address, telephone number. Violators would be subject to civil penalties.

High-volume third-party sellers are defined in the Act as vendors who have made at least 200 sales totaling at least $5,000 over a 1-year period.

In addition, the proposed legislation requires online marketplaces to provide customers with a hotline to report spurious activity i.e.: the sale of counterfeit, stolen or otherwise dangerous merchandise.

The Federal Trade Commission is charged with implementing the requirements of the legislation.

The Act is supported by the brand-owner community and viewed as a positive step in the fight against counterfeiting.

What's On the Horizon for Brand Owners

The INFORM Act is the latest in a series of efforts to combat online counterfeiting. Bipartisan bills have been introduced in both the House and the Senate. As we previously reported, the SHOP SAFE Act of 2020 also incentivizes e-commerce platforms to adopt best practices to reduce the presence of counterfeit products on their sites. E-commerce sites that fail to adhere to the steps would be held liable.

As more brands increasingly transition from traditional brick and mortar to online retail, we will continue to see an increase in the sale of counterfeits goods online. Combating counterfeit sales is timely and costly for brand owners. While e-commerce platforms have started to implement policies to manage counterfeit sales, contributory liability puts the burden of responsibility on the both the counterfeit seller and the platform. These practices will begin to create incentives for online retailers to be more diligent and proactive. jdsupra.com

Source: gibney.com Intellectual property attorneys. Legal community getting involved.

Interesting Rankings for the Retail Executive/Student
2021 Top 50 Global Retailers

Walmart continues its reign, closely trailed by Amazon, Alibaba and JD.com

2020 was a year of consternation and confusion as shoppers around the world struggled to find what they needed under circumstances that changed weekly. Counterintuitively for many retailers, it was the best year in their history as shoppers had a range of new needs resulting from working from home and various levels of lockdowns. However, for other retailers, primarily those in malls, urban areas or in countries with strict lockdown orders, it was a year of major sales losses.

These conditions point to a clear challenge in ranking retailers internationally simply based on sales. It highlights the need to use additional metrics to establish movement up or down.

Kantar's 2020 international retailer ranking looks to minimize these challenges and maximize the amount of discussion, debate, education and exploration opportunities the ranking can provide.

The result is a fresh look at the 50 most impactful international retailers based on their operations at the start of 2020. nrf.com

Shaking Off 2020 With 'Revenge Shopping'
Pandemic Easing - Stimulus Checks Coming - Rising Vaccinations
"Expected to Unleash a Burst of Shopping & Travel"
U.S. households cut spending by 1% last month, as cold weather struck much of the country, but are primed to pick up shopping again with the pandemic easing and a new round of stimulus money landing in bank accounts.

The drop followed a burst of stimulus-induced spending in January, when spending grew 3.4%, stronger than previously estimated.

A spending surge is likely in the offing. Millions of people each day are getting a Covid-19 vaccine, and many are starting to venture out in public and shop and travel. Meanwhile, the federal government this month is sending out yet another round of stimulus money-this time checks of up to $1,400, a part of another Covid-19 relief package worth $1.9 trillion signed by President Biden. The aid-along with other measures by lenders and landlords to suspend consumers' monthly payments on debt during the pandemic-has left many households sitting on a pile of cash.

That combo-higher incomes and a rising number of people shielded from the worse effects of the deadly virus-is expected to unleash a burst of economic activity in coming weeks, as many Americans resume activities they have put off for a year.

"When they're let out of the house, there is some pent-up demand, and they're going to go out into the restaurants" as well as travel and shop, said Lindsey Piegza, chief economist at Stifel Nicolaus & Co.

Improvement also is showing up in the labor market, including the lowest level of unemployment claims since the start of the pandemic last week. wsj.com

Editor's Note: Let's hope - Everyone goes out and 'Shops Till You Drop' - It's been a long time!


Quarterly Results
Darden Restaurants Q3 comp's down 26.7%, sales down 26.1%
 

Senior LP & AP Jobs Market

Director of LP Insight & Intelligence job posted for Sally Beauty in Denton, TX
Our Director of Loss Prevention is responsible for strategic direction of identifying and quantifying company exposure in both shrink and total retail loss that are impacting business units within SBH. This role requires setting direction and long term focus on loss, creating a vision and road map to reduce loss within the company while also anticipating future trends based on data. Works independently and prioritizes effectively to ensure the right constituents are informed and collaboratively working toward long term solves of issues identified and are looking for continuous process improvement. careers-sallybeauty.icims.com

Director Field Asset Protection job reposted for Chipotle in Columbus, OH
The Director of Field Asset Protection is responsible for developing field level asst protection and loss prevention programs designed to reduce loss of cash and product while also serving as key cross function partner for all physical security and safety programs for the restaurant organization. Develop and execute programs to aid in the prevention, detection and resolution of, internal theft, external theft and operational loss including the management of the restaurant cash shortage program, internal investigations program, restaurant physical security program and OSHA Health/Safety Compliance. jobs.chipotle.com