Due to the pandemic, most states required the closing of all non-essential business, including jewelry businesses. With stores closed, burglaries and cyber-attacks pose a very real threat to your business and can result in significant losses. To make sure your jewelry store and online security is strong, not only during this challenging time, but for the rest of the year we offer the following ideas to help you manage.
Neglecting security measures early on could leave your business exposed. Plus, not getting in the habit of security best practices will only get more difficult to change as the year progresses.
1. Store Security. Here are a few important steps to take for a quick check on your overall store security:
· Move your inventory to a vault or secured storage facility. Do not leave items in plain sight or in showcases.
If you cannot get your stock to a bank vault or secured storage facility, here are some security recommendations for your inventory:
· Secure as much property as possible inside your safe.
· Consider the use of a bank safety deposit box for inventory that cannot be placed into your safe or vault or at the very least, locked in a room inside the premises.
· Verify every alarm signal with your alarm monitoring facility. While safes and vaults are critical to limiting the amount of merchandise stolen in burglaries, criminals have proven time and again that, if given enough time, they can compromise the most durable of security equipment. That's why your alarm — and your relationship with your alarm system provider — is so valuable. If an alarm signal does go off, DO NOT IGNORE IT! TAKE ACTION!
Contact your alarm system provider to ensure that your alarm is providing the protection your business needs.
Don't post photos that reveal the layout of your store or merchandise displays anywhere online. This includes resources that your customers may use to find you such as Google My Business or Yelp. It can be tempting to give virtual tours of your store as a way to connect with customers through social media while your business is closed, however, there is plenty of other content to share that would engage your customers without putting you or your store in jeopardy.
2. Cyber Security. Here are a few important steps to take for a quick check on your overall cyber security:
While it may seem natural to insure your inventory and your building, don’t forget to insure another very valuable part of your business: your data.
If you keep electronic records, complete payroll electronically and use credit card machines to process payments, you’re at risk for data compromise — and it could have a big impact on your business.
When a tragedy like COVID-19 strikes the risk of cyber-attacks and scams by criminals rises.
Here are a few steps you can take to mitigate your business’s vulnerabilities when it comes to cyber-attacks:
· Only use secured wireless providers to gain internet access and encrypt your router to protect your connection.
· Computers should be frequently checked with anti-malware, anti-spyware, and anti-virus software.
· If you are on a website that seems suspicious, leave it immediately.
· Properly dispose of sensitive information by destroying or wiping hard drives.
· Back-up your information.
Jewelers Vigilance Committee (JVC) also provided the following practical tips for keeping your data secure:
· Change your passwords often.
· Review your bank accounts, credit cards and payment processing accounts. Fraudulent transactions are on the rise, so you want to be vigilant about checking every transaction from a secure internet connection and up-to-date computer.
· Do not answer calls from unknown numbers and hang up on robocalls. If someone important is calling you, they will likely leave a voicemail.
· Do not click on links contained in texts or emails without verifying the identity of the recipient. Scammers are impersonating agencies such as the Center for Disease Control and may even impersonate your coworkers or family members.
About JVC
The Jewelers Vigilance Committee provides legal education & compliance guidance to the jewelry industry. Members operate under the highest standards of business practice after pledging to comply with all laws applicable to the jewelry industry and make accurate representations about the products they sell. JVC provides up-to-the-minute information about changes to the national and local laws that apply to the jewelry industry. JVC urges jewelry industry businesses to comply with all relevant local, state, federal and international laws. For more information, please visit jvclegal.org.
This article was originally featured in the latest issue of The Retail Jeweler, available online now. The Retail Jeweler’s June issue will only be distributed as a digital flipbook. To read the full issue, please visit: www.theretailjeweler.com/flipbook.
