Using lessons from the GFC and Great Depression to help retain your LP Budget

By Rhod Thomas, Chief Commercial Officer at Auror,
the Retail Crime Intelligence Platform working
with retailers across the world

Some intriguing insights show why investing in Loss Prevention (LP) today is more important than ever, learning lessons from mistakes made during the Global Financial Crisis (GFC). King Rogers, former VP of Assets Protection at Target also shares his experience of managing LP functions through recessions and some of the trends he saw during the GFC.

With planning and budget processes for the next financial year starting over the coming months, some of these insights and statistics should help LP professionals to put forward their case for retaining (and even increasing) budget and headcount for the challenges ahead. Read more

Why security is more important now than ever

By Sean Foley, SVP, National Accounts at Interface Security System, LLC

The Wall Street Journal recently stated that commercial burglaries have almost doubled in New York City since March 12 when a state of emergency was declared. Reason being, thieves are targeting nonessential businesses that have shuttered locations as a result of government directives or are robbing essential businesses that would likely have more cash on hand. Multiple retail organizations are also reporting an increase in shoplifting attempts and point of sale shrink since the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak.

In times like these, as a rise in theft, burglaries and other disturbances are expected, security is more important than ever. Read more
 

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Coronavirus Tracker: June 24

US: Over 2.4M Cases - 124K Dead - 1M Recovered
Worldwide: Over 9.4M Cases - 481K Dead - 5M Recovered

Fallen Officers From the COVID-19 Pandemic: 49 | NYPD Deaths: 45
Private Industry Security Guard Deaths: 150+


Where is COVID-19 increasing, spreading, or ending?
This interactive map will show you


 

Americans Face New Virus Limbo as Some Reopenings Are Halted

Some states and counties are delaying and even reversing reopenings as virus cases mount in the South and West. The re-openings and closings could go on for months.

Soaring cases of the coronavirus are forcing cities and states across the country to halt plans to restart their economies and even reimpose earlier limits on public life, increasing worries that premature reopenings could lead to a second round of closures.

In Texas, which reported a record high of more than 5,000 new cases on Tuesday, the governor told local officials they could restrict outdoor gatherings to 100 people and urged residents to stay home. Maine officials called off plans to allow bars to resume serving drinks inside on July 1. The governor of Kansas said rising cases showed that the state was "not ready" to continue easing restrictions. And in parts of central Idaho, where coronavirus cases have exploded in recent weeks, bars are shutting down and gatherings of more than 50 people are again outlawed.

With the number of new daily cases now rising in more than half of the United States, the debate over whether to reimpose restrictions or push ahead with reopening is creating divides between neighboring cities and states that mirror the scattershot responses that emerged as the country went into lockdown this year.

But public health experts who supported the original shutdowns now worry that governments will not be able to constrain the resurgent coronavirus with a blizzard of shifting restrictions that can change the moment a person crosses a city limit or state line.

Hundreds of city, county and state governments have created their own reopening plans, each with different "phases" of economic reopening and each with their rules for how many people can gather at a party, what portion of a restaurant's tables can be full and when people must wear masks. The results can be a baffling patchwork, and one that residents are left to navigate on their own.

Restaurants, electronics retailers, salons and bakeries across the country have been reopening only to shut down weeks later after workers or customers report illnesses - a pattern that business owners fear will repeat itself for months until there is a vaccine or treatment for Covid-19. nytimes.com

Seven states report highest coronavirus hospitalizations since pandemic began
Seven states are reporting new highs for current coronavirus hospitalizations, according to data tracked by The Washington Post - Arizona, Arkansas, California, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas - as the number of infections continues to climb across the South and West. More than 800 covid-19 deaths were reported in the United States on Tuesday, the first time fatalities have increased since June 7.

Texas and California on Tuesday eclipsed 5,000 new cases of the novel coronavirus over a 24-hour span - records in those states. Arizona, Nevada and Missouri also logged new single-day highs.

Overall, 33 states and U.S. territories now have a rolling average of new cases that is higher than last week. washingtonpost.com

Contact tracing could help avoid another lockdown. Can it work in the U.S.?
To suppress their epidemics to manageable levels, countries around the world have turned to contact tracing - tracking down people who might have been exposed to the coronavirus to ensure they don't pass it to others, a way of stalking routes of viral spread and severing them before they reach more people. And, to varying degrees, it has worked. But, for it to succeed in the United States, experts are cautioning that it's going to take more people, more money, and more cooperation than the country has in place. statnews.com

Florida shatters daily coronavirus case record with 5,511 new infections

84% of Arizona ICU Beds Filled With COVID Patients

Texas governor urges people to stay home as states report surges of new Covid-19 cases

N.Y., N.J., Conn. Announce Joint Travel Advisory, All Visitors From States With High Coronavirus Infection Rates Must Quarantine for 14 Days

Washington becomes the latest state to mandate wearing masks in public - Here are all the others

E.U. May Bar American Travelers as It Reopens Borders, Citing Failures on Virus
 

NYC Comes Alive Again

NYC's Phase Two: Inside Saks and Around Town

In phase two of restarting NYC's economy, stores are opening at their own pace in the days ahead.

At Saks Fifth Avenue, the Purell stations are up, the escalators are rigged with ultraviolet lighting sterilizing the handrails, and with signs cautioning shoppers to ride three steps apart.

When the Saks flagship reopens on Wednesday for shopping, masks will be distributed; elevators will be restricted to pregnant women, the handicapped and the elderly, and the beauty floor will be contact-free. All the spa rooms will be closed, and the beauty staff won't apply any makeup or skin care to clients, who instead will receive wrapped plastic applicators to self-apply the products. It's about demonstration, not application.

Under the city's pandemic guidelines, Saks' allowed capacity for people has been cut in half to 5,500, but that's of little consequence.

Retailers of all types are reopening at their own pace. Macy's Herald Square and Bloomingdale's 59th Street reopened on Monday, as did scores of designer and brand stores along Fifth and Madison Avenues, in SoHo, on 34th Street and in the other four boroughs.

Nordstrom Inc.'s six stores in Manhattan - the women's flagship, the men's store, the two Rack units and the two Nordstrom Local service hubs - are scheduled to open Wednesday, Vince expects a few stores to reopen by the end of this week and Lafayette 148 plans to open its boutiques on July 6. "We don't want to be first," said Deirdre Quinn, the cofounder and chief executive officer of Lafayette 148.

"Even though we are in phase two, a bunch of stores are keeping it curbside and by appointment only," observed Matthew Bauer, president of the Madison Avenue Business Improvement District.

"There are definitely people out shopping and the Apple store was very busy. It had a line outside. Apple provided water and took care of customers as they waited.

"Other retailers will require a few more days," Barth added. "Tiffany will open tomorrow [Tuesday], Saks Fifth Avenue and Sephora on Wednesday. Nike has set Monday, June 29, as its reopening to the public. Those all offer curbside pickup or service by appointment." wwd.com

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How to De-Escalate Tense Situations

Conflict management expert Dave Young shares tips for retailers

How do you ask somebody to do something they don't want to do without things escalating to violence?

The best thing to do is never let it get to that point. And I want to add - a lot of organizations don't understand this - that it's everybody's job. It's not about training supervisors to put the fire out. It's about training the entire staff on how to not have the fire in the first place.

How do you keep the fire from starting?

Treat people with dignity. It starts with empathy - failing to see the world through someone else's eyes is where most conflict begins. Secondly, listen. Most people will say they're listening when they're actually waiting for a chance to interrupt. Instead of that, I want to really listen, with all my senses.

As part of treating people with dignity, I introduce myself, and I ask and explain. "Hi, I'm Dave Young, I'm an assistant manager or an associate or whatever, and I need to ask you to, say, put on a face mask. I don't know if you noticed, but there are signs on the doors requiring all shoppers to wear masks in the store. I know this is an inconvenience, but we could be fined for not following the CDC guidelines about masks."

I'm not just ordering them to do this or do that, I'm telling them why. I want us to be on the same side. I want cooperation.

Then what? - That's if all goes well. What if all doesn't go well?

If you find yourself faced with a situation like that, is it fair to say that if things had been de-escalated from the initial contact, it wouldn't have happened?

Any last thoughts for our readers?

The better trained your people are, the more the out-of-control situations are a rarity. It's the same situations most of the time when people call us about arguments: They didn't understand me. They didn't hear me. They miscommunicated.

Well, if I know how, I can control those three problems. I can make sure you hear me, I can make sure you understand me and I can make sure you're communicating with me. It's a two-way street. nrf.com


NRF Hosts Hilton President and CEO Chris Nassetta for Retail Leadership Series
The NRF Retail Leadership Series is a virtual program featuring candid conversations between NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay and CEOs from retail brands and leaders across the economy. Shay and Nassetta will discuss leading through turbulent times, how Hilton envisions the future of travel and tourism, and Nassetta's outlook on global economic recovery from the pandemic. nrf.com

 

 

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Civil Unrest Update

Woman arrested in arson of Atlanta Wendy's ID'd as Rayshard Brooks' girlfriend
Deputies have arrested the woman accused of torching the Atlanta Wendy's where Rayshard Brooks was gunned down by police.

Natalie White, 29, was apprehended Tuesday in connection to the arson that burned down the fast-food chain's location during protests on Saturday, June 13, a day after Brooks was killed in its parking lot, according to the Fulton County Sheriff's Office.

Brooks had referred to White as his "girlfriend" during the June 12 traffic stop that ultimately led to his death, body cam footage shows. White's lawyer on Tuesday confirmed the two were "close friends" but declined to comment further on their relationship. nypost.com foxnews.com

Philadelphia, PA: Cleaning company gives sneakers to people in need following unrest
S & B Organic Cleaning Company is providing thousands of sneakers to people in need after the recent unrest and looting in Philadelphia. "We were contracted to clean six sneaker stores in the city of Philadelphia. We went in and separated the trash from the sneakers," said Sharon Leaks-Morgan, the founder and President/CEO of S & B. Morgan who says she was shocked when companies informed her that they were going to throw away thousands of shoes that became unsellable after looting. "So we thought since we're working at the same stores that they're all the same shoes, so we brought them back here and we've been finding some matches," Morgan said. After the company's work, new brand name sneakers are ready for people in need. They've also found many pairs of different style shoes that fit, and can benefit hundreds of people in the area. fox29.com

Washington, DC: Hundreds of National Guard troops mobilized to protect DC monuments

Madison, WI: Crowds Tear Down Statues, Attack Wisconsin State Senator

Philadelphia, PA: Suspect sought in connection to 7-Eleven fire set during violent riots last month; $5k reward offered
 

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Leading Retailers Call for Criminal Justice Reforms

Addressing racial injustice first step toward healing

Brian Dodge, president of the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA), the trade association for America's leading retailers, issued the following statement urging Congress to pass bipartisan criminal justice reforms:

"The killing of George Floyd was a wakeup call, compelling us all to confront the harsh reality and long, painful history of racial injustice in America. Leading retailers have spent the last several weeks listening to employees and customers and exploring ways they can contribute to positive and meaningful change.

As retailers reflect upon the prevalence of racial injustice and inequity, it is clear that in addition to looking inward at business practices and policies to increase representation and opportunities for people of color, there is a critical need to look outward at the policies that contribute to injustice and for retailers to engage where appropriate to bring about reforms. The first area of focus must be criminal justice reform.

For our system of justice to function properly, we must have faith that all law enforcement officers will exercise their exceptional authority responsibly and without prejudice. The convergence of discrimination and overuse of force, particularly in minority communities, has dealt a blow to many Americans' faith in law enforcement. We must take a hard look at the policies of policing and address the shortcomings that have enabled these grievous incidents to occur. Until we can assure every American family that their sons and daughters will be treated equally and with dignity, we cannot hope to re-build the trust that must exist between law enforcement and our communities.

Leading retailers urge Congress to take bipartisan action on meaningful reforms that get at the roots of these incidents and begin to rebuild trust in law enforcement. Retailers support reforms that properly address law enforcement's use of force, including chokeholds and no knock warrants.

Reforms should also:
● improve federal data collection on incidents of police misconduct;
● require use of body cameras and other technology to modernize policing;
● make lynching a federal hate crime;
● direct resources for de-escalation training and other best practices; and
● ensure accountability for incidents of police misconduct." rila.org
 

Privacy Advocates Come Out Against Technology Predicting Criminal Behavior

New Coalition Calls to End 'Racist' A.I. Research
Claiming to Match Faces to Criminal Behavior

"Criminality cannot be predicted. Full stop."

More than 500 experts on artificial intelligence, technology, and sociology have signed a letter addressed to a major academic publisher asking to halt the publication of any research that uses machine learning to predict whether someone might commit a crime.

The letter was written in response to a May 5 press release from Harrisburg University in Pennsylvania, which stated that two professors and a PhD student had created software that could predict whether someone was likely to commit a crime based on nothing more than a picture of their face.

Harrisburg's press release claimed that the new software is 80% accurate and completely unbiased, meaning it supposedly contained no statistical predisposition to predict someone was more likely to be a criminal based on their race or gender. It also pitched the software as a tool for law enforcement.

The university, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment, took down its press release on May 6 and said it would post an update after the research was published.

But the experts looking to stop this research, who have named their group the Coalition for Critical Technology, say the paper's goal to predict criminality was only the latest in a series of similarly unscientific efforts that continue to be laundered through mainstream academia. While the science behind these studies has been debunked, papers attempting to draw a correlation between someone's face and their behavior continue to be published. medium.com biometricupdate.com

Editor's Note: It's important to understand and know the advisories' points and comments when introducing new technology that impacts the safety of the community, consumers and potential associates.

Google employees petition company to cancel police contracts
More than 1,600 Google employees circulated a petition internally, calling for Google to end police contracts. The petition states that the signed employees are "disappointed" in Google's response to the aftermath of George Floyd's killing, despite donations the company made to black businesses. The letter tells the company to "take real steps to dismantle racism" by cutting off business contracts with agencies. cnbc.com

Patagonia, The North Face and REI join Facebook boycott
Three of the country's most high-profile outdoor apparel retailers have joined a boycott campaign against Facebook, which ranks as the second-largest U.S. digital ad player after Google. The "Stop Hate for Profit" campaign was launched last week by several U.S. civil rights groups who said Facebook (which also owns Instagram) was doing too little to stop hate speech on its platforms. In a full-page ad in The Los Angeles Times last week, the groups called on advertisers to use their power to force Facebook to make changes to how it handles hate speech and disinformation. The groups, which included the Anti-Defamation League and the NAACP, called for an ad boycott of Facebook during the month of July, with a hashtag of #StopHateforProfit. chainstoreage.com

Learn and Listen: Race and Equality in the Workplace
Discussions of race and equality, sparked by the recent protests over police brutality against black men and women, are likely to arise in the workplace. What do you do, as a manager or human resources professional, if they occur on company time? Facilitate them, or quell them to avoid conflict?

There's no one-size-fits-all way to handle these sensitive workplace conversations or related actions. The response will vary according to an organization's size, geographic location and mission; organizational culture; diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts; and other factors. The protests are a piece of a larger discussion about race and equality. shrm.org

Free LinkedIn Resources: Combating Bias At Work
As a growing number of companies pledge to root out racism and discrimination, it's more important than ever to keep informed. LinkedIn Learning has compiled a list of free resources - now available for free - that review current thinking and best practices on essential diversity, inclusion and belonging topics such as bias, allyship and accountability. Learn More Here

GNC files for bankruptcy, could close up to 1,200 stores

Why Gap's lawsuits over unpaid rent could usher in new commercial real estate terms

Tackling the Unsolvable Problem: The Bottomless Email Inbox

Publishing Note: LP Newswire will not be published tomorrow
and will resume publication on Thursday, July 2

Amazon establishes new Counterfeit Crimes Unit

The global team will investigate crimes and bring legal action against counterfeiters to protect our customers and brands.

Amazon is launching a new Counterfeit Crimes Unit, dedicated to bringing counterfeiters attempting to list counterfeit products in its store to justice. The global team, made up of former federal prosecutors, experienced investigators, and data analysts, will support the company's substantial efforts already underway to protect its store from counterfeits.

Amazon's primary focus continues to be in preventing a counterfeit from ever being listed in its store. In 2019, Amazon invested over $500 million and had more than 8,000 employees fighting fraud and abuse, including counterfeit. Amazon's efforts have blocked over 2.5 million suspected bad actor accounts before they were able to make a single product available for sale and blocked over 6 billion suspected bad listings in 2019. However, it's critical that Amazon, brands, and law enforcement also go on the offensive and hold counterfeiters accountable for their crimes.

Amazon's Counterfeit Crimes Unit will investigate cases where a bad actor has attempted to evade Amazon's systems and listed a counterfeit in violation of Amazon's policies. The Counterfeit Crimes Unit will mine Amazon's data, cull information from external resources such as payment service providers and open source intelligence, and leverage on-the-ground assets to connect the dots between targets. The Counterfeit Crimes Unit enables Amazon to more effectively pursue civil litigation against bad actors, work with brands in joint or independent investigations, and aid law enforcement officials worldwide in criminal actions against counterfeiters. businesswire.com

Amazon makes 'Distance Assistant' available to other individuals, businesses
Amazon recently rolled out 'Distance Assistant' to provide employees with live feedback on social distancing via a 50 inch monitor, camera, and a local computing device. As people walk past the camera, a monitor displays live video with on-screen indicators to show if employees are within 6 feet of one another.

Now Amazon is open sourcing the software and AI behind this innovation so that anyone can create their own Distance Assistant. Individuals and businesses large and small can download the package at no cost and get up and running with just a computer and camera. blog.aboutamazon.com

Amazon's Shakopee, MN warehouse has 88 COVID-19 cases

'Fix it': Amazon workers demand protections as COVID cases grow in Southern California facilities