Nisa retailer Sukhjinder Gill recently hosted small business minister Andrew Griffiths MP in his Burton-on-Trent store, to highlight challenges affecting independent retailers such as business rates, the National Living Wage and retail crime.
Griffiths, the MP for Burton, explained that the Productivity Review he is currently undertaking would help government better understand the factors affecting the productivity of UK business.
Sukh explained the issue of shop theft to the MP: “Our losses to shop theft are between £3,000 and £5,000 per year which is typical for small convenience stores such as this.
“So, we have made investments, because of increasing crime levels, and installed a fantastic CCTV system. The cameras are brilliant quality and we catch people almost every day.”
He said crime levels had dropped since he installed cameras worth £14,000, and that anyone caught on camera and apprehended by staff were invited into the back office to see the security equipment.
“I want to try and educate these people but also get the word out that my store is high security and not somewhere shoplifters will get away with it,” he said.
Griffiths said the Productivity Review would also look at how retailers can be encouraged to take on new technology to improve productivity.
He was impressed by Sukh’s web-based HR system which details staff rotas, wages, holiday entitlement, saving hours of time and dispelling the need for spreadsheets.
The ministerial meeting was arranged by the Association of Convenience Stores.
No comments yet