Profitable Retailing in Difficult Times

reventing theft at craft shows is a concern before, during and after the show’s hours of exhibition. Security is a major expense for show promoters, and it should be a major concern for you.

During show hours, it’s important for exhibitors to be aware of anyone around them and take steps to avoid being victimized. After hours and before the show opens (even while setting up), there are people milling about the show grounds, or in the hall — contractors, cleaning people, building personnel, etc. At a street fair, the area is wide open and difficult to control.

Although show management provides basic security in some places, such as the loading dock, around the perimeter, and in overnight storage areas, exhibitors are still required to take responsibility to safeguard their work and their personal belongings.

When a theft does occur, no one will claim responsibility and the exhibitor is pretty much on his or her own. Here are a few commonsense tips.

Use Travel Pouch Or Fanny Pack

Don’t put your purse or wallet under a draped table in your booth during setup. Someone posing as an electrician or other tradesman can enter your booth through the booth behind you and easily get under the table, even while you’re working in the booth. Instead, use a waist pack, fanny pack, or travel pouch for your cash and credit cards.

Caution With Shipping Crates

Never label your shipping boxes with the contents. This is especially important when the boxes contain samples or merchandise of any kind.

Never leave samples or anything of value in the boxes or crates that are removed for storage.

Locate The Security Office And Promoter

Know where the show office and security office are located in case something happens and you need help quickly. At outdoor shows, know how to reach the promoter. Perhaps they use the information booth as their onsite show office. Some shows use other exhibitors as volunteer block captains. Know where they are located.

Theft-Proof Your Work On Display

Keep high-end items in your booth nearest to where you’ll stand/sit or under glass. Small items placed near the front edge of your booth can be easily snatched.

Guard Your Cash And Credit Card Receipts

Don’t use a standard cash box from an office supply store or a cigar box to hold your money from cash sales. This is too obvious. Use a waist pouch to hold your cash and credit card receipts.

Get a waist pouch with several zippered pockets. Put all $1, $5, and $10 bills in one pocket; $20 bills in another pocket; and larger bills in another. This will help to avoid giving the wrong change when you’re busy. Whenever you unzip the pouch, check the ground around your feet in case money has fallen out.

Periodically, transfer cash and receipts to a more secure location. If you can’t get your cash to a secure place, split the larger bills up between you and your partner. That way, all your sales are not lost if one of you is robbed on the way to the restroom.

Look For A National Bank Branch

If you use a national bank, find a branch near the show and deposit your cash often. If you don’t have access to a major bank chain, and plan to do shows in a particular city every year, you may want to open a bank account in that city. Otherwise, use the hotel/motel safe. Another option is to periodically go to a nearby bank and purchase travelers checks with your cash. You’ll pay a fee for this, but it makes the rest of your cash more secure.

Don’t Discuss Or Count Money In Public

Never discuss money, or count your money in public. You never know who is watching or listening. Use a code word. Instead of saying you have too much cash and need to make a deposit, you might say you are overstocked with “cups” and need to put some away in the “van.”

Never carry cash in a bank bag or bank pouch. Use a shopping bag instead.

Battening Down Overnight

At an indoor show at the end of the day, stretch bird or deer netting across the front of your booth and clamp it at the sides. The bird netting, unlike plastic tarps, allows security to see inside your booth and prevents thieves from hiding there and helping themselves to your goods.

If you use locked display cases, cover them at night. It’s less of a temptation if one cannot see the contents of the case.

If you display many pairs of earrings hung on a wall, cover the wall with sheets or drop cloths at night. Better yet, display only one earring instead of both to discourage theft.

Move things from the front outer edges of your space to the center and then cover the whole group of items with a sheet. This will also protect your work from a careless hi-lo driver or cleaner wielding a large vacuum.

If you use plastic tarps, never hang them near your lights. Some indoor shows do not switch off the power to the booths and your lights may be on all night long. Hot lights will melt your tarp and could cause a fire.

At outdoor shows, thieves have gained access to a pop-up display by cutting the canvas in the back of the booth. Wrap your booth up tight.

Study your booth for various entry points. Your chair can be placed across an access area. Bells can be hung in easily accessible areas. Mesh radiator screening, secured to the display frame, can be used to block off access areas. Make it as difficult and as noisy as possible for someone to get into your booth.

Make It Very Hard To Steal From You

CES Security, the company used by the American Craft Council shows, suggests that exhibitors remain in their booth at least 15 minutes after the show closes for the day. This is a time when there is a lot of activity, buyers are still on the floor, and people are walking around. Your presence can deter theft.

CES also recommends that you remove small valuable items from your booth each night such as laptop computers, cameras, and DVD players.

Take advantage of the show’s overnight storage room if one is provided.

Jewelers: never travel alone with your cash and jewelry on your person. Find out in advance if the show provides an escort service. If not, use the buddy system.

Put your extra cash and smaller high-end items in the hotel/motel safe, not in your room.

Notify Show Management About Theft

It’s very important that show management is immediately aware of all thefts, large or small. They may need to hire a
different security company for the next show, or change the locations of key security guards.

There may be a pattern to the thefts such as all thefts occurred in two aisles, or only in the booths near the ladies room. Knowing you’ve had a theft may help them find a pattern and locate the culprit.

Don’t Be An Easy Victim Of Theft

Think about security before you get to the show and decide how you will protect your crafts and your money. Stay alert. Report suspicious activity to the promoter or security right away. A little planning in advance can make the difference between having a really great show and having a show that was marred by a major theft. Be safe, not sorry.

Mary Strope is manager of craft marketing for George Little Management LLC.