The holiday season is a busy and exciting time for many small businesses, so it is essential to be prepared for the coming rush. Safe and smart business practices will ensure a successful and incident-free end of the year. In addition to hiring a locksmith service for ongoing help, the following tips will help you avoid risks and protect your customers, staff, and store.

5 Small Business Safety Tips for the Holiday Season

1. Train New Hires Thoroughly

Many shops hire new staff during the holidays to provide additional support. Make sure they’re prepared to handle the bustle and hectic nature of the season. Give them a full rundown of their responsibilities, show them everything they’ll need to do their work, and teach them your company’s code words. Every employee needs to know the signals for all types of emergency situations, from security threats to lost children.

2. Keep Cash Secure

When stores are hit with a wave of customers, it’s not unusual to lose track of cash. Never leave cash registers unattended, and avoid counting or moving money while customers are still present. Make frequent stops to the bank for deposits. Secure safes are an excellent investment for when you can’t leave the building or need to store cash overnight.

3. Lock Up & Limit Access

Keep storage areas and back rooms off-limits with large-print signs that say “Employees Only.” If you have more than one door for customers, designate one as an entrance and the other as an exit to keep better track of guests coming and going. Always lock up after closing. Consider a high-security lock installation to upgrade your defenses.

4. Be Careful With Flammable Materials

Some stores can go overboard with holiday decorations, so make sure you prioritize safety over extravagant displays. Use flameless LED candles in place of lighting real ones to avoid fire hazards. Additionally, keep any flammable materials, such as paper decorations, trees, and wreaths, away from heat sources and electrical outlets. 

Extension cords may seem convenient, but they can easily overload your circuits. Turn them off when they’re not in use and never plug in too many at once.

5. Eliminate Blind Spots

Make sure all areas of your store are visible. Keep the space around any doors in use clear, and organize shelving, displays, and security cameras to create an open layout without blind spots. Having full visibility in your store will help reduce the risks of accidents and thefts.

 

Upgrade the safety and security of your small business this holiday season with Central Safe & Lock LLC. Serving Northern Cincinnati and South Dayton, OH, this locksmith has over 20 years of experience providing local businesses with reliable protection solutions and personalized customer service. The locksmith service will work with you to determine the best products for your needs, from state-of-the-art safes to advanced security systems. Call (513) 884-1870 to discuss your options with a knowledgeable staff member or visit their website for more information about their commercial locksmith services.