Are Conferences Still Relevant?

Part One of Three - By Amber Bradley

Let's face it. It seems like every year we're invited to yet another conference touting the "most valuable speakers" with the most "innovative exhibit floor." An ever-expanding conference calendar leaves most of us in a summer fog of networking receptions and solution provider trinkets banging around in our purses or briefcases, respectively. It's come to the point where loss prevention professionals must be intentional about where they spend their most precious assets: their time and their organization's money. As conference season begins and professionals of all types descend onto the flat plains of Colorado, it begs the question: Are conferences still relevant?

Day one of the Retail Industry Leaders Association's (RILA) Asset Protection conference started out as any other - a hot breakfast full of networking colleagues ready to file into another keynote session. Lisa LaBruno, Executive Vice President, Retail Operations & Innovation for RILA, set the tone for this year's conference with her annual address, but instead of touting attendance numbers and the typical trade show speak, LaBruno gave an update of RILA activities that set a different course. She unveiled a new and exciting RILA mission and efforts to bring all retailers together (RILA member or not) for learning and expansion of the retail industry, including new research, new committees, and efforts to continue complex lobbying. She also delivered a fresh message about setting the standard for the new way retail defines loss for their organization as, "Total Retail Loss." Impressive start.

The morning's keynote session, "Creating a Better Everyday Life: What is Retail's Role in Society?," given by Lars Petersson, Senior Advisor, Former President US IKEA North America, was an enlightening look at how IKEA embraces social causes and how that impacts both local and international store operations. Petersson was an interesting choice to kick-off the conference and it's always insightful to take a quick look behind the curtain of a major retailer. Read more here

Security by the Book

Barnes & Noble Loss Prevention chief Rosamaria Sostilio
reflects on retail security trends

Thinking of pocketing a copy of Harry Potter on the sly? As Asset Protection VP at Barnes and Noble, Rosamaria Sostilio will see that doesn't happen.

In a career spanning three decades, Sostilio has sunk her teeth deep into retail security. Previously she safeguarded couture as SVP of Loss Prevention at Hudson Bay Co. and SVP asset protection at Saks Fifth Avenue. She's an active player with the National Retail Federation's loss prevention council and a frequent collaborator with law enforcement officials.

Her philosophy: Look at the big picture; leverage technology; let humans drive security. Here, Sostilio takes us on a deep dive into the emerging trends and winning strategies in retail security today.

Security Reflects Society

After 30 years in the business, Sostilio defines her high-water mark by her involvement with her retail-security peers.

"What's really been a great thing for me to work on is my work in the National Retail Federation and the Loss Prevention Council," she says. "I find that to be a highlight in my career, to really get to work with my colleagues at that level."

Through the council she's been engaged with high-level trends around loss prevention, from legislative issues to ground-level tactics and strategies. She's come to view retail security as a reflection of larger social issues.

"The best way to describe what's going on in loss prevention trends would be to turn on your TV and see what's going on in the world. You see political rallies, terrorist concerns, the opioid epidemic: All those directly affect retailers," she says.

More than just a philosophical position, this view of security has direct operational impact. "Stores are located on streets, streets have protests, and we have to protect our customers and make it a welcoming environment for everyone to come in," she says. "Years ago, we were focused on fire drills. Now we're focused on preparation for an active shooter."

Tackling Organized Crime | Digging into Data | Theft is Eternal | Read more here: securitymagazine.com

 

FBI Report: Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted, 2018
12% Increase in Number of Officers Killed in Line of Duty

106 law enforcement officers were killed in the line of duty last year, an 12% increase from 2017, according to the FBI's annual Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted, 2018 (LEOKA) report released today.

In 2018, 55 law enforcement officers were feloniously killed and 51 were killed accidentally, for a total of 106 killed for the year. The previous year, a total of 94 officers were killed in the line of duty.

The FBI collects officer deaths and assault data from law enforcement agencies across the United States and U.S. territories, and publishes it through its Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program. LEOKA tracks detailed data on officer line-of-duty assaults and deaths, so the information can be used in officer safety training.

Of the 55 officers who were feloniously killed in 2018:
●  Three were female and 52 were male.
●  Line-of-duty deaths occurred in 28 states and Puerto Rico
●  By race, 46 of the victim officers were White, 7 were Black/African American, and 2 were Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander.
●  36 officers were fatally injured in assaults that happened between 12:01 p.m. and midnight.
●  43 of the officers feloniously killed were wearing body armor at the time of the incidents.
●  31 of the alleged offenders were White, 23 were Black/African American, and 1 was Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander.

Incidents in 2018:
● Respond to Alarms Burglary/Robbery - 0 deaths
● Respond to Crime in Progress Burglary (2), Larceny (0), Robbery (0), Property crime (1)
● Pursuit on Foot (4), Vehicle (2)

51 officers were accidentally killed last year

 Read full FBI report here: fbi.gov

Editor's Note: The 12% increase reported in this FBI report tracks closely with the D&D Daily's 2018 Retail Violent Death Report, which showed a 15% increase in deaths from 2017. The top states for law enforcement killings reported by the FBI over the past three years also closely mirrors our reporting. Read the full 2018 Retail Violent Death Report here.

 

LVMH attorney alleges 'sham' sexual harassment investigation
A top attorney in the New York office for French international luxury goods conglomerate LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton Inc. has filed a lawsuit against the company, alleging that another manager sexually harassed her and that the outside investigation into the situation was a "sham," according to court documents.

In her complaint, Andowah Newton said that shortly after she started working for LVMH, a senior-level manager began to engage in a "persistent and invasive campaign of sexual harassment" against her that lasted for years.

She said when informal attempts to get the man to stop were unsuccessful, she filed a formal complaint with HR, requesting an investigation by an "outside, impartial, and unbiased expert." The outside investigation turned out to be nothing more than "a mediation aimed at persuading [her] to stop pursuing her claims," Newton said. She also said she was retaliated against in the form of negative job evaluations after she started complaining about the man's behavior. retaildive.com

Mass. Cracks Down On Employers Flouting 'Ban The Box' Law
Brooks Brothers was among 19 storefront businesses in Massachusetts that agreed to change their hiring practices after they asked for job applicants' criminal histories in violation of state law, state Attorney General Maura Healey said Monday.

Following a wave of warning letters, the attorney general's office said all 19 business have come into compliance with the state's 2010 law requiring private employers to "ban the box" asking about criminal charges and convictions on application forms.

Thirty-four states and more than 100 municipalities have outlawed questions about an applicant's criminal record in the hiring process for government jobs. Massachusetts is among a dozen states that have extended those laws to private business, according to the National Employment Law Project.

The laws intend to knock down a barrier to reentry to society for people with criminal records and level the playing field for people of color, who are disproportionately affected by the criminal justice system. vectorsecurity.com

The Growth Of CBD And How Supermarkets Can Get In On It
This year's trade shows are already revealing that CBD has exploded

The CBD market is booming. At $641 million U.S. sales in 2018, CBD sales are expected to grow significantly over the next three years. In its 2019 report, the Hemp Business Journal projects that total CBD sales in the U.S. could hit $1.5 billion by 2020 and $2.26 billion by 2022 ($1.3 billion in hemp-derived CBD, $647 million from marijuana-derived CBD and $310 million from pharmaceuticals). Predicting much steeper growth, Chicago-based market research firm Brightfield Group estimates CBD sales to hit $22 billion by 2022.

The 2018 Farm Bill's legalization of industrial production of hemp opened the door for broader marketing of hemp-derived CBD products. Although CBD remains in a legal gray area, potentially subject to FDA regulations (particularly in food and beverage), hemp-derived CBD is legal in most states and going mainstream in non-food categories.

With large chains like Sephora, Neiman Marcus and now CVS selling CBD topical balms, lotions, soaps, serums, masks and sprays, retail is embracing CBD beauty and personal care products. This presents a huge opportunity in supermarket non-food categories.

Tips on how supermarkets can best capitalize on this new sub-category of non-food product:

● Understand different classification of CBD products. ● Ensure third-party product verification. ● Review state and local ordinances. ● Look for a vertically integrated supply chain. ● Market strategically. ● Pay attention to packaging and merchandising.

As a new feature in supermarkets, CBD products should be merchandised in a way that draws attention, educates the consumer and discourages theft. Off-shelf displays with signage can help to inform and enthuse shoppers. With visible signage, keeping product near (or even behind) the counter or in-store pharmacy can also help to pique interest and encourage questions about the product.

Editor's Note: Perfect situation for ePVMs coverage. theshelbyreport.com

IAI Midwest Chapter Meeting - May 22
The International Association of Interviewers (IAI) is excited to announce a meeting of the Midwest Chapter of the IAI on May 22, 2019 from 10am - 2pm CST. The meeting will be held at the Cook County Regional Organized Crime [CCROC] Taskforce facility (3rd floor inside the JC Penney store) in North Riverside, IL. All IAI members in good standing and those wishing to find out more about the IAI and/or Certified Forensic Interviewer (CFI) designation are welcome to attend. The May Meeting will feature informative training topics from Josh McAfee, with the McAfee Institute on using social media and open source intelligence [OSINT] during investigations. Wayne Hoover, CFI, Senior Partner at Wicklander-Zulawski & Associates will present on ORC investigations and interviews. Earn 4 hours of CEU's while networking and enhancing your skills!

Lunch will be provided, courtesy of the team at Protos Security, and there is no charge for the event. If attendance exceeds 50 participants, the team at Wicklander-Zulawski & Associates will have a drawing for an online CFI Prep Course and the team at the McAfee Institute has agreed to run the same offer for an online certification if meeting threshold of 50+ participants is met. Current attending CFI's should look to bring a colleague interested in becoming a CFI. Register here

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