3 Ways To Protect Your Business Property From a Hurricane
Hurricane Preparations Start Now!
If you live in the southeast, you should have a hurricane emergency plan.
Hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30 every year and while most hurricanes are active in September and October, a hurricane could develop in the other months.
Hurricane prep for your family, home and business should start now, while the skies are blue and the sun is shining and most people are enjoying the beach.
Doesn’t matter whether you read this in June, July or August – Hurricane prep should be done weeks if not months before a named storm heads your way!
Protecting Your Business Property During a Hurricane
Besides your home and family, your business property will also need looking after during a hurricane.
What steps can you take today, to make that happen and how can you best protect your business property when a hurricane comes to the Grand Strand, or to the place where you reside?
Let’s look at 3 ways you can make an impact today, that will help you secure your business property later!
1) Create a Hurricane Prep Plan For Your Business
Much like a family emergency plan, and a hurricane preparation plan for your family, your business needs one as well.
This written plan should layout how to prepare your building for a hurricane, different scenarios depending on the severity and strength of the hurricane, who will be in charge when the hurricane hits, whom to contact after a hurricane (electric company, water company, contractor, insurance agent), your insurance paperwork and suppliers information and other important details you will need, to keep your business afloat in times of inclement weather.
- Lists are your friend when things get hectic.
- Lists will help you stay focused in a time of chaos.
- Lists can keep you on track to complete all tasks.
You see, panic sets in once the local news stations merely hint at a possible storm, and supplies will be gone before you know it.
As business owners who’ve lived on the Grand Strand nearly 10 years, we’ve seen a few storms head our way and we’ve seen business owners (as well as local residents) be ill-prepared.
Don’t get caught without a plan!
2) Set Up Remote Monitoring For Your Business Property
How scary will it be if you have to evacuate and leave everything you know and love behind?
Super scary! We know first-hand.
However, there are ways you can still keep an eye on your home and business property in case of a storm when you need to hunker down or evacuate; remote monitoring!
We offer this service to monitor your business year-round to
- monitor employees
- prevent theft
- monitor for break-ins and fire
now add
- monitor during a hurricane
as another reason to get a remote monitoring system installed at your business property!
With this system in place, you can watch in real-time what is happening.
This monitoring becomes vital after a hurricane has come and gone as flooding and looting are two concerns that pop up afterward!
3) Order Hurricane Supplies Now
Last but not least, do the following as soon as you can, before any storm hits the Atlantic waters and stirs up the Grand Strand!
- hire a contractor or handyman to cut boards for your business property windows
- buy a generator
- test your current alarm system
- purchase extra batteries from your security company
- get your hands on sandbags (Amazon is great for that!)
We’ve been through several hurricanes since moving to the Grand Strand area from Maryland and each one is as unpredictable as the next.
It’s not just the wind and rain you have to account for, but also flooding afterward!
Your Security, Our Business
Come talk to us about hurricane prep!
Why Do I Need a Commercial Security System?
Do You Own a Business on the Grand Strand?
If you are a local Myrtle Beach area business owner, let’s talk security!
Crime rates in the Myrtle Beach area vary from town to town, neighborhood to neighborhood, but the reality is that with a transient community like Myrtle Beach which hosts millions upon millions of tourists every year, these tourists also lure crime and criminals to our area!
If you are a local business owner, it stands to argue that you’ve been confronted with some sort of crime at your place of business.
Have you dealt with
✔️employee theft?
✔️counterfit money?
✔️ loitering around your building?
✔️vandalism?
✔️break-ins?
If you have, we are very sorry you’ve had to deal with this type of crime. We want to offer you a solution.
Please read on.
Do You Value Your Business Investment?
As a locally-owned and locally operated business, we fully understand the sacrifices and investment of time and money it takes to get a business off the ground.
We understand you are building something for the future, for your family, for your community.
We know this because we are living it alongside you.
If you value your business investment, we need to talk about security!
Do you have a few more minutes?
How To Protect Your Local Business Location and Reputation
Our slogan is “your security, our business” and we mean it!
We install, support and monitor residential alarm systems to protect local Grand Strand area families. What not everyone knows is that we also install, support and monitor commercial security systems.
We are ready to partner with you and protect your business investment, your employees and you!
Let’s talk about how a commercial security system can protect the physical location of your business as well as your reputation!
Why You Need a Commercial Security System
As business owners, we understand you can’t be everywhere all the time! You put your trust in your employees, yet all responsibility still rests on your shoulders.
A commercial security system will take away, in a way shoulder some of the responsibility for you!
We offer Total Connect Video Services for your convenience because we know how busy you are!
With this service, you can view your business from your iPhone, iPad, Droid, Blackberry or laptop from almost anywhere and
- check on employees activities and their behavior
- monitor critical equipment remotely, no matter where you are and what time of day it is
- view your business in real-time, or with event triggers
- gather evidence against employee theft or errors and outside criminal activities
- find out how busy your business is when you are away
and much much more!
Your Security, Our Business!
We work with business owners as well as property management companies.
Here are some of the ways we can help protect and secure your investments;
✔️ Monitor alarm systems
✔️ Digital camera systems
✔️ Telecommunication networks 24/7
✔️ Overhead Projection
✔️Plasma, LCD, LED displays along with AUDIO Sound Systems (for restaurants and sports bars)
and much more!
Isn’t it time you give us a call?
5 Steps To Take When Choosing A Security Company to Help Protect Your Business
Security Should Be a Business Necessity, Not a Luxury!
We know how much time, money, sweat an yes, tears it takes to start a business – we are business owners ourselves.
When creating your business plan, we are confident you created a working budget based upon projected sales and services rendered.
Whether you have a storefront, a large retail store, a restaurant or an industrial park location, security and safety should be high on your list of priorities – for yourself and your employees!
If we could wave a magic wand, we would grant EVERY SINGLE BUSINESS OWNER a state-of-the-art security system with cameras. From experience with working with many, many, many local Myrtle Beach and Maryland business owners, we know that security systems and cameras can help with staff turnover, theft prevention, training and much much more.
All of these issues cost money – so by having a security system in place, you can actually safe money!
When you are ready for a security system for your business, you’ll want to work with the best company!
Make sure the security company you are going to work with is
- local
- accessible and responsive
- using the latest technology
Here are 5 Steps We Suggest You Take When Choosing A Security Company to Help Protect Your Business
(If you are already close to choosing a company, we suggest you do 3, 4 and 5 immediately!)
1. Check Services They Offer and Talk To Their Staff
If, when you call this company, you are being treated rudely, they are not the company to go with.
If, when you call this company, you can not get any answers via phone, they are not the company to go with.
If, when you call this company, they just want to sell, sell, sell, they are not the company to go with.
If, when you call this company, they do not offer the services you request but they want to sell you something you do not need, they are not the company to go with.
If, when you visit this company, you are treated with disrespect, they are not the company to go with.
If, when you visit this company, you find their showroom lacking and their staff disinterested in you, they are not the company to go with.
If, when you visit this company, you find staff lacking in knowledge, they are not the company to go with.
BUT… if you love what you hear when you call, if you like the responsiveness of their staff, if you like what they offer – you are on the right track!
2. Ask A Local Business Owner What Company They Use
There is no better ‘judge’ than a fellow business owner when it comes to selecting the right security company. Next time you network at the Chamber or any other networking event, ask around!
Make sure to ask specific questions like
- How long did installation take?
- How many people came to install your system?
- How was the follow-up process?
- Did you receive training on your product and system?
- Are you still happy with this company and their customer service?
- Did you get good value for your money?
- Do you remember the name of the person who installed your system?
You’ll know by their answers whether you’d like to work with this company, too!
3. Check Their Online Presence, Including Online Reviews
Once you have a few names of security companies, check out their online presence.
[If they have no online presence at all – that’s a red flag!]Check to see if they have a website, a blog, a Facebook Page and reviews on Facebook, Yelp, Google+ or anywhere else.
NOTE: Not every single online review has to be a positive, 5 star review. What you are looking for is a responsive company who takes customer service seriously, offline as well as online!
4. Contact The Better Business Bureau
When you are just about ready to go and sign a contract for services, place a call to the Better Business Bureau if possible. It can’t hurt and sometimes it helps prevent you from making a huge mistake!
5. Visit Their Location
Last but not least, a lot of information can be gained from driving to (or by) the location of the security company you want to work with!
- Does this company have a sign outside?
- Do they have branded work trucks with their logo?
- Does the property look nice and inviting?
- Does this security company have a showroom?
If all the answers are YES – you are most likely dealing with a reputable and established security business!
Come Check Us Out!
If you are local to Maryland or the Grand Strand/Myrtle beach area and in need of a security system for your business (or home), we invite you to come meet us, talk to us and work with us!
When it Comes to Shoplifting, is Your Retail Store at Risk?
Protecting Assets in Your Retail Store
Retail theft may have a severe impact on your business! According to The National Association for Shoplifting Prevention more than $35 million worth of product is stolen from retail stores everyday. This number is astronomical. That is why it is important to stay aware and be prepared to stop the theft from happening in the first place. Here at Strand Security we want to make sure our local Myrtle Beach and Maryland businesses know what it takes to win this battle. The following statistics will hopefully open your eyes; we believe every retail owner would want to know everything we are about to share with you.
Don’t be a Statistic, Protect Your Assets!
- Over $13 billion worth of goods are stolen from retailers each year.
- Approximately 27 million shoplifters are in our nation today.
- Employees steal more than the customers.
- Only 3 percent of shoplifters are professionals. Shoplifting is not usually planned out.
- Shoplifting can account for about a third of inventory shrinkage.
Protect your Assets by Knowing the Profile of a Shoplifter
There is no actual physical profile of a typical shoplifter. They come in all ages and genders, sizes and shapes, and all ethnicities. Shoplifters steal for many different reasons; some steal out of necessity, some out of peer pressure, desire, and some because it may be a business transaction.
Although you may not be able to pinpoint a shoplifter by their physical appearance, here are some traits and signs to look for in a potential shoplifter…
- Appear nervous
- Wanders the store without buying
- Returns to the store repeatedly
- Avoids eye contact
- Constant watch over store employees
Once you understands the signs, you can now train your employee’s in general shoplifting prevention techniques.
Have your staff
- Greet all customers.
- Stay alert.
- Ask lingering customers if they need help.
- Be aware of where shoplifting is most likely to occur in the store.
Protect Your Assets by Reducing Employee Theft
It is unfortunate that when we hire people we think we can trust, that trust gets broken. Employee theft plays a large role in retail loss. The following ideas and solutions will help prevent or at least, reduce in house theft.
- Make periodic unannounced visits to your retail store.
- Spot-check inventory and cash registers.
- Use a POS system (inventory-tracking system) that tracks inventory automatically.
- Train employees on theft prevention, both employee theft and shoplifting. Let the employees know the company is prepared to detect either.
- Encourage anonymous tips.
Protect Your Assets and Prevent Shoplifting
- Hire Secret Shoppers that blend in with other shoppers.
- Video surveillance cameras. Place cameras at all entrances, cash registers, and throughout the store. You can’t put cameras inside to the dressing rooms, but you can put them just outside. If security systems are put in place, you will protect your investment, your employees, customers and your overall sense of well-being.
- Electronic Article Surveillance is a method that attaches special tags (security tags) to the merchandise. If merchandise exists the store without being removed by a store associate, an alarm will sound.
- Maximize Visibility by using mirrors to eliminate any blind spots. Also, use shorter cases to make sure merchandise is completely visible. Keep your shop tidy and neat, so at one glance you can tell if something is missing or out of place.
- Limit access to display cases and dressing rooms by locking them. This requires associates to be present when opened.
- Implement a bag check policy, which does not allow customers to bring bags into the dressing room area.
- Create a shoplifting policy and post that policy publicly. Post signs with statements such as “SHOPLIFTERS WILL BE PROSECUTED”.
Don’t let shoplifting have a negative impact on your business!
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