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Are you doing enough to keep your customers safe?
The best way to minimise the risk of becoming a victim of crime, and to reduce the fear of crime, is to take sensible precautions. Before you leave the house to go for a run, make sure you tell someone where you are going and when you will return. It is also vitally important that you tell friends and family what route you are going to take.
- It is also sensible to find out where telephones are located along the course. In addition have a fully charged mobile and coins for making a call from a public phone box if necessary.
- Try to carry some form of identification.You could also write your name, phone number and blood type on the inside of your training shoe.Make sure you include any important medical information.
- DO NOT wear jewellery or carry large sums of cash.
- If running at night or early in the morning, it is imperative that you wear high visibility or reflective material.When on the road, make sure you face oncoming traffic, and stay alert at all times. The more aware you are, the less vulnerable you will be.
- Run or walk with a partner or a dog if you can. This is much safer than being out on your own.
- Although listening to music is relaxing and can be hugely motivating,wearing headphones is not recommended, as you will not be able to hear an approaching car or attacker. Listen to what is going on around you instead.
- You can minimise your chances of being targeted by varying your route. That said, you should avoid unpopulated areas, deserted streets , overgrown trails, and poorly lit areas at night. Also, keep clear of parked cars and bushes.
- Ignore verbal harassment; use discretion in acknowledging strangers; keep your distance and KEEP MOVING!
- If you think you are being followed change direction and head for a public place.Have your door key ready when you reach home.
I spoke to David Burston, the recently appointed managing director of BodyGuard Security, about the company’s ongoing commitment to personal safety, an area that retailers would benefit from investigating further.
Tell me about your personal alarms. How do they work?
We have four alarms in our range – three battery operated and one gas alarm. They are all lightweight and incredibly loud - 130 db. They work by either pulling a cord or pressing down.
My reader is the independent sports specialist. Safety is a huge issue for those training on the roads or in open spaces, so this looks like a fantastic opportunity for retailers to maximise profits by offering a personal alarm as an add-on sale. Would you agree?
Yes, personal safety is an important issue. Retailers cannot only maximise profit but can also show that they care for the well being of their customers after they have left the store. They might also want to consider offering these alarms to their own staff especially as autumn/ winter draws nearer.
How would you sell to the retailer, and what support and training do you provide?
We would sell directly to the retailer. Full product training is available. I would meet with the retailer and relevant staff personally.
You also offer a range of property marking products. Can you talk us through each of the products within the range and the benefits of each to the end user?
We offer a number of products, however the product that I believe would be best for the sports retail market is our Ultra-Violet pen and torch set. This enables individuals to mark their sports items with an invisible UV liquid, which can only be seen by using the torch. Most people mark goods with their postcode,which is what the police recommend.
Sports goods can be expensive and need to be protected. Do you think retailers would benefit, revenue-wise, from offering these products as another add-on?
Yes – most definitely.
Do you think personal alarms and sports goods protection products are being used widely enough in the sports industry?
No, not when compared to countries such as the USA; there most amateur runners would carry personal alarms when out. As for sports goods protection, it is a bit like audio and TV equipment – how many of us do not security mark these items but wish we had when they have been stolen?
For more information on BodyGuard Security, check out www.bodyguardsecurity.co.uk
