Associations in Action
Wednesday, 27 March 2013 10:41
Conference Participation Can Transform the Industry
Written by Lisa LaBruno
With three years of conference planning under my belt, I have learned some things about our industry's commitment to education. There are many asset protection executives who see real value in attending industry conferences, like RILA's Retail Asset Protection Conference, and maximize the experience by bringing teams or leading a session. I have the privilege to work with executives on RILA's Asset Protection Leaders Council and Loss Prevention Steering Committee (LPSC) who are dedicated to their own and their team's personal and professional development through education. Members are quick to volunteer to present at the conference, or "volunteer" a team…
During my years of working in various trade associations, I have constantly been asked by colleagues why I am on the phone all the time. I'm not sure if I know exactly, but I have an idea why. As many of you know, I come from a retail background, I coach soccer, and I am very comfortable interacting with people. In retail we interact a lot, mostly with customers and fellow associates. Likewise, in coaching I interact a lot, mostly with the kids, their parents, referees, and other coaches. So, while I spend more time in an office or traveling,…
The National Food Service Security Council (NFSSC) recently completed its 33rd annual conference at the Hyatt Regency Baltimore, August 5 – 8, with more than 250 attendees and 65 vendors exhibiting products and services aimed at keeping restaurant workplaces safe and secure. Bill Boddie, president and CEO of Boddie Noell Enterprises, spoke to NFSSC conference attendees about helping employees succeed. The event was highlighted by executive keynotes from Charlie Strong, U.S. division president of McOpCo, and Bill Boddie, president and CEO of Boddie Noell Enterprises. Strong spoke to the importance of loss prevention professionals in the quick-service restaurant industry and…
Although RILA's 2012 Loss Prevention, Audit, and Safety Conference (LPAS 2012) took place three months ago, the session content lives on in the form of initiatives driven by RILA and our members. One of the biggest challenges to planning the conference year after year is identifying session topics that help "move the industry forward" and apply across retail segments, sizes, and footprints, at the same time securing the most qualified speakers to deliver the message. Our LP steering committee invested considerable time and effort into making this year's program great, and we took pride in the exceptional quality of the…
After spending many years as a retailer on the National Retail Federation's loss prevention advisory council, it is a rewarding experience to now be a part of the NRF team as vice president of loss prevention. One can only imagine the many priorities for a large retail trade association, but maximizing and delivering member value is a common thread in everything we do. A streamlined effort brought on by our president and CEO Matthew Shay, as well as our entire senior executive team, has ensured NRF's communities are now carefully linked with each other's initiatives, bringing about pooled resources and…
As I reflect on the initiatives driven by the RILA LP team in 2011, two things stand out to me about the loss prevention profession. First, retail LP continues to evolve at a rapid pace. Second, LP executives are stepping out of their corporate silos to collaborate with industry peers and external stakeholders. Gone are the days of LP professionals living their professional lives as crime stoppers. Retail crime remains a significant risk that will require our ongoing attention. But, today there is much more to retail LP than fighting crime. Thanks in part to corporate reorgs and budget constraints,…
Thursday, 01 December 2011 13:31
Protecting People, Property, and Brand Reputation
Written by Rhett Asher
After more than a year in my current role at the Food Marketing Institute (FMI), I'm reminded every day how there is no longer a clear divide between food and non-food when it comes to issues within asset protection, technology, or even the supply chain. The business needs of our retailing industry go well beyond the confines of definitions, and I'm motivated by our food retail members to construct and offer engagement opportunities across the aforementioned roles, including safety, risk management, crisis management, loss prevention, and food defense. In light of the challenges among these issues, one of my immediate…
Wednesday, 16 November 2011 14:07
Holiday Shopping 2011
Written by Casey Chroust, Executive VP of Retail Operations, RILA
Arlington, VA - November 15, 2011 - This time last year it seemed as though momentum was starting to build and the economic recovery was making slow but steady headway. As early as the spring retailers and analysts alike felt we were turning the corner and we were on our way to a much improved holiday shopping season. Since then, inflation, high commodity prices, the slumping housing market and high unemployment has reminded us that we don't in-fact have a crystal ball and that the way back is going to take time and patience. Now, does this mean that the…
Last week RILA joined forces with Operation Blessing to organize a large-scale clean-up and rebuilding effort by the retail industry in Joplin Missouri, which was struck by a devastating tornado this past May. Over 250 volunteers from America's leading retailers visited Joplin, July 13-15, to help with the ongoing rebuilding efforts underway in the small Midwestern city. RILA, members of the RILA Workplace Safety Committee and Disaster Recovery and Preparedness Committee, and local field-level associates from among RILA's retail members including Dollar General, Lowes, The Home Depot, Sears, Target, Walgreens and Walmart, participated in the industry-wide volunteer initiative.
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While the new Congress brings many changes to Washington, one thing remains unchanged—the need for federal legislation to help combat organized retail crime (ORC). Loss prevention executives continue to be challenged by the increasingly sophisticated schemes used by organized theft groups to defraud retailers, evade detection, and maximize profits. Retailers continue to pour millions of dollars into deterrence, investigation, and prosecution strategies. These challenges linger as do the ongoing retailer investments despite the best efforts of online marketplaces, most notably eBay. Let me be clear. We acknowledge the progress eBay has made over the past year through its PROACT program.…
