The Case for the Boring Basics
Why Retail’s Most Effective LP Tools Aren’t Always the Newest

By the D&D Daily staff

Retail loss prevention has never had more technology at its disposal. AI-powered analytics, computer vision, RFID, advanced surveillance systems and increasingly sophisticated data platforms are giving AP teams capabilities that would have been difficult to imagine just a decade ago.

But amid the race toward smarter technology, some of the most effective loss prevention strategies remain remarkably simple.

A camera system can provide powerful intelligence, but only if cameras have clear views and equipment is working properly. Advanced analytics can identify suspicious activity, but employees still need to know what to do with that information. And even the best technology can struggle to compensate for poorly lit parking lots, obstructed sightlines, unsecured doors or inconsistent incident reporting.

These aren't particularly exciting investments. They also rarely generate the same attention as the newest AI-powered security platform. But the fundamentals often determine whether more advanced LP investments ultimately succeed.

The same principle applies to people.

Regular training, visible management, strong communication between stores and consistent adherence to basic security procedures can create layers of deterrence before technology ever enters the equation. Employees who understand when and how to report suspicious activity can provide information that helps AP teams identify patterns that might otherwise go unnoticed.

There is also a customer experience component. A clean, well-staffed and well-maintained store naturally creates more visibility and fewer opportunities for misconduct. Conversely, burned-out lights, unattended entrances and obvious operational disorder can create vulnerabilities that extend beyond shrink into employee and customer safety.

None of this means retailers should slow their investment in emerging LP technology. Quite the opposite. Technology becomes more valuable when it is layered onto a strong operational foundation.

As retail security grows more sophisticated, the temptation will always be to search for the next breakthrough solution. But sometimes the biggest opportunity isn't adding another tool.

It's making sure the basics are actually working.


Retail Impact of New Tariffs
Retail expert Doug Stephens weighs in on new U.S-Canada tariffs

The U.S.-Canada trade dispute is moving from the border into American shopping carts.

New 50% tariffs on Canadian goods are already affecting categories including furniture and mattresses, while import bans that took effect Sept. 29 cover a range of Canadian alcoholic beverages, dairy-related products and other goods.

When shoppers will actually feel the tariffs: Existing inventory will temporarily cushion the impact, but fast-moving products could see price increases within weeks. Furniture, mattresses and other big-ticket goods could take one to three months to reflect the higher costs as retailers work through pre-tariff inventory.

Categories likely to get hit hardest: Furniture and mattresses, of which Canada is a major supplier, will likely see the highest increases in price — upwards of 90% of which will be a pass through to the consumer.

Why some Canadian products could simply disappear: Banned goods such as Canadian whisky, packaged beer, cider, rum, gin, vodka and other spirits will simply disappear. The Sept. 29 import restrictions cover a range of Canadian alcoholic beverages.

What this means for Black Friday and holiday deals: Retailers dependent on Canadian furniture and mattresses will have less room to compete on price, potentially putting pressure on smaller U.S. retailers. Meanwhile, most major retailers have already locked in holiday orders, and much of their seasonal merchandise comes from overseas rather than Canada.

The broader consumer-price picture: The overall effect on the cost of living to be relatively modest, but price increases in specific categories could be sharp — potentially becoming visible to consumers before the November midterms. chainstoreage.com


What Drives Shopping Center Visits?
Placer.ai: Fitness, service tenants drive visits, dwell times at shopping centers
Once the drivers of shopping center visits, apparel retailers are ceding ground to other tenants that are bringing traffic to properties.

That’s one of the takeaways from Placer.ai’s recent report, The New Tenant Mix Playbook. Apparel visits fell nearly 25% between 2019 and 2025, according to foot traffic data, while fitness, wellness, coffee, grocery, and off-price/value retail gained traffic.

Fitness led in visit frequency by a wide margin in 2025, according to the report, with the average gym visitor returning 4.2 times per month. Coffee followed at 2.5 visits per month, with grocery right behind at 2.4. Limited-service dining tenants also helps drive traffic at 1.9 visits per month in 2025. chainstoreage.com


Walmart to invest more than $300M in fulfillment hub for bulky items
The discount giant plans to invest more than $300 million in a new distribution facility in Turtlecreek Township, Ohio (Greater Cincinnati metro area). The new hub will sit on a nearly 100-acre parcel and specialize in fulfilling larger, non-sortable items, including TVs, furniture and other oversized merchandise.

EXCLUSIVE: Accenture discusses how AI, inflation impact holiday spend
Kelly Askew, Accenture global retail industry lead, says shoppers are accounting for the economy and using artificial intelligence this holiday season.

NRF: The list of people shaping retail’s future includes...

Nike extends turnaround timeline amid more layoffs, sales declines

Ikea to shutter 3 small-format plan and order stores

Mental Health Support Programs Are Increasing Scope


Last week's #1 article --

Cargo Theft Concerns Rising
SmartSense: Cargo theft concerns continue to rise
SmartSense by Digi is releasing findings from its Cargo Theft Report, based on a survey of 150 U.S.-based loss and organized retail crime (ORC) prevention leaders.

“Cargo thieves have continued to escalate their tactics and expand their use of technology,” said Guy Yehiav, president, SmartSense. “Businesses need to evolve with it. New forms of instantaneous location tracking and visibility intelligence are needed to understand what normal movement looks like, identify anomalies quickly and act before suspicious activity turns into a multimillion-dollar loss.”

As organizations face increasingly sophisticated and diverse cargo crime threats, this study examines expert perspectives on the tactics driving cargo theft, the financial impact on businesses and the strategies leaders believe are most effective for reducing risk.

The findings reveal that cargo theft has become an increasingly coordinated and sophisticated threat. 81% of respondents report it has become more organized in recent years, while 79% say their organization is more concerned about cargo theft today than ever before.

Cargo theft is evolving rapidly. According to the survey, businesses are facing highly coordinated criminal networks that exploit vulnerabilities across the supply chain using increasingly sophisticated tactics. thetrucker.com