The Proof is in the ROI, Here’s How to Create It

Chewy raises full-year guidance as it beats Q3 expectations

TalkLP host Amber Bradley chats with Gianna Davis, Asset Protection Director of National Investigations for Albertsons Companies about establishing an ROI for needed investments.  Return-on-Investment (ROI) is often a played term, but it’s use is not going away any time soon…..so, better understand it.  ROI analysis of technology is often a cumbersome process.  Gianna walks the audience through her successful ROI process — including what numbers she needs, how she gets her departmental partners on board, and how to obtain funding for mission-critical technology.

Topics Gianna addresses include:

  • To Pilot or not pilot?  What stores do you choose?  How do you compare them against each other?
  • Where is the money coming from?
  • Operational or Capital expense?

This podcast episode is sponsored by BOSCH – for more information click here. BOSCH is exhibiting at the RILA AP conference in Denver!  Visit their booth 828! 

Solving Total Retail Loss = It’s as easy as Green Means Go

Chewy raises full-year guidance as it beats Q3 expectations

TalkLP Host sits down with tech maven Barbara Jones-Brown, Founder and CEO of Freeing Returns and Johnny Custer, Chief Operating Officer.  Freeing Returns is a newbie to the Loss Prevention space — in name only.  Amber gets to the bottom of exactly what Freeing Returns does and what they’ve been doing for the last 10 years (answer: saving retailers millions).  Barbara and Johnny also explain their unique approach to solving Total Retail Loss for retailers and how it can truly be simplified for any type of workforce.

Solving Total Retail Loss being as easy as Green Means Go?  You bet.  Listen today to find out what you may be missing.  For more information and to check out Freeing Returns new website – click here.  You can find Freeing Returns LIVE in person at the upcoming RILA conference (booth 609) but click here to schedule a meeting — it’s going to be packed!

Quick 2 Mins with CEO of Reveal Media

Chewy raises full-year guidance as it beats Q3 expectations
TalkLP host Amber Bradley has a quick chat with the CEO of Reveal Media, Alasdair Field, about body worn camera technology and why Reveal is leading the field of this SUPER HOT technology.  Alasdair answers the question, “Is it really that different in the UK vs. US?”
Alasdair also explains how the technology came about >> built of the effectiveness research of the public view monitor.
Plus, chatting about why/how body worn cameras are keeping employees safe! Learn more about Reveal Media by clicking here.
Reveal was a sponsor of the 2022 CLEAR / FLEPRU conference in Orlando.
Learn more about the October 9-12, 2023 CLEAR / FLEPRU conference by clicking here!

Totally Unfiltered with Former Police Chief Kristen Ziman

Totally Unfiltered

TalkLP host Amber Bradley gets totally unfiltered with Kristen Ziman, Former Chief of the Aurora IL Police Department (Ret.), Professional Speaker, and Published Author of Reimagining Blue.  In this super real conversation, Amber and Kristen talk about the complexities of power, empathy, the divisiveness of the current state of this country, and more.

How do (or should) loss prevention professionals wield their power in the interview room?  Kristen discusses treating suspects with respect and dignity at the same time holding people accountable for their actions.  How, you ask?  Listen to this extremely vulnerable conversation about race, loss prevention ethics, human connection, and more as Amber and Kristen discuss her book and keynote speech premise.

Kristen is a Keynote Speaker at the Restaurant Loss Prevention & Security Association (RLPSA) Annual Conference in downtown Denver April 2 – 5.  For more information about attending RLPSA, click here.

To purchase Kristen’s book or to book her for a keynote address, click here.

Assessing Risk Both Personally and Professionally

Josh Phillips, Senior Director and Head of Safety & Asset Protection for Chipotle Mexican Grill sits down with TalkLP Host Amber Bradley to talk deviating career paths, the best way to truly be open-minded, and the BEST career advice he’s ever received.  Josh also talks about the benefits of creating a real and authentic workplace…and WHY should that matter?

Josh also opens up about the worst career advice he’s ever received… AND all those solution providers that don’t bother researching the business your pitching, don’t bother calling Josh.  Great advice: do your research and try to know the problem before walking in the door. Plus, understand how your solution is going to scale in large environments (#preach, Josh)!

Josh is speaking at the Restaurant Loss Prevention & Security Association (RLPSA) Annual Conference in Denver April 2- 5 about threat assessment and building a Risk & Threat Assessment Policy/Program. For more information on attending RLPSA check out it out here.

Everything is an Interview

Paul Jaeckle, Vice President of Asset Protection of Meijer Stores, sits down with TalkLP Host Amber Bradley to talk grocery SUPERBOWL, setting a non-linear career path, the two way street of mentorship, and how to target learning specific skills to truly move forward.  Paul also talks about when to take a step back in your career and why.

Paul talks about his belief that you are responsible for your own career and how to take the reins of your own destiny!  Define yourself for who you are and why you are.  Forget competitive states – are you more capable than the rest?  Does your body of work represent that?  Take a listen to some salient points about how to grow in your career.

How do you define an asset?  It’s a changing landscape and Paul discusses how these definitions have changed recently and what else is on the horizon…  Listen today to this value-packed episode with this industry expert.

This episode is sponsored by Genetec.  To learn more about Genetec and their ground-breaking new technology, Clearance, click here!

How Walmart is Fighting Crime

How Walmart is Fighting Crime

Wade Schillo, Senior Manager, Asset Protection – Associate Experience for Walmart, has a quick chat with TalkLP host Amber Bradley about the tools Walmart is using to help reduce crime in their stores.  With over 18,000 associates in an asset protection role, Wade chats about WHY Auror was the perfect fit for the broad generational scope of Walmart’s associates.  Wade also explains why it’s so important to input quality data about loss and how it enables Walmart to cut losses quick and create safer stores for customers and associates!

To find our more about Auror — check this out! 

Quick 2 Mins with Genetec: Making Tech Easier

Making Tech Easier

In this quick 2 minute chat TalkLP’s host Amber Bradley chats with Marc Bergeron, Business Development Manager with Genetec about how they are truly making working with technology easier — and more secure.  Marc sums up why it’s so easy to work with Genetec and the newest ways they are making it even easier!

Plus, Genetec’s newest product is all the rage: Clearance. This new cloud-based product helps manage and transfer video clips without all the thumb drives and envelopes!  How easy is that?

Find out more about Genetec and their newest product Clearance here.  For more information on Genetec, visit them here!

Here’s How to Work with HSI

Work with HSI

Ok, exactly HOW do you work with Homeland Security on your organized retail crime cases?  Check out TalkLP host Amber Bradley’s conversation with Allen Vanscoy, section chief for Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) National Lead Development Center (NLDC).  Allen describes how retail ORC investigators can work with HSI and how HSI can support you through the ultimate goal of prosecution.  Allen also describes WHEN to approach HSI’s NLDC and what the next steps are to help in the investigation.  Amber and Allen also get REAL with how to truly gain HSI’s attention for your case.  This podcast is meaty – so get your notetaking method ready!

Ever thought about working for HSI?  Allen discusses how you can nab the coveted “Special Agent” title…and why I might have one already….Check it out today!

Top 10 Podcasts of 2022

Top 10 Podcasts of 2022

As another year comes to a close and we breathe a sigh of anticipation for another new year to come, it’s always fun and valuable to take a look back at the successes of 2022.  It’s also important to show gratitude to all those supporters of TalkLP thus far: THANK YOU!!

TalkLP has been blowing up with your engagement and we are so grateful for this industry!  Make sure to listen and engage in what TalkLP has to offer: our TalkLPnews APP bringing you breaking LP headlines, job alerts, solution provider info, research and more; as well as TalkLP podcasts, webinars and our Asset Protection Executive Xchange event series!

Stay plugged in by downloading the app, joining the TalkLP LinkedIn Group, and subscribing here!

Take a look at our top 10 most popular podcasts of 2022!

Number 10: “HSI Deputy Assistant Director Raul Aguilar on Fighting Back Against ORC” Deputy Assistant Director of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Raul Aguilar talks Operation Boiling Point, recent successes, what retailers can do to help, and gets a little personal with what makes him tick.  Raul goes into detail about the four pillars of Operation Boiling Point and how HSI and retailers are fighting back against organized retail crime (ORC).  Of course, Amber goes ‘unscripted’ asking Raul about current battles, recent successes, and the backbone of his career. Take a listen for a more in-depth look at HSI in this perfectly timed episode!

Number 9: “The One Test You Must Take” John Goldyn, Vice President of Loss Prevention for Gabes talks how to plan your next career move, why understanding the inventory process is SO important, and why partnering (or experiencing) business operations is critical to your career.  John also provides his “secret” job — and guess what, we all have (or should have) those secret jobs within our jobs that would help you get to where you want to be in your career!

Number 8: “Kroger Talks Tech & LPRC” TalkLP host Amber Bradley sits down with Chris McCarrick, Senior Manager, Asset Protection Solutions and Technology and Kevin Larson, Senior Manager of Asset Protection at Kroger to talk LP technologies and what’s new at the Loss Prevention Research Council (LPRC).  Hear what Kroger is prioritizing to ensure their technologies are working together such as Gatekeeper Systems, FaceFirst, Everseen, etc. — but how do you get the funding for these safety-critical technologies?  Hear these industry veterans walk through how they tackle this challenge!

Number 7: “Expert Duo DeSantis & Matas Talk Fighting ORC” Chris DeSantis,  Senior Director, Investigations & Fraud Strategy at Macy’s and John Matas, Head of Fraud Operations at Etsy chat with TalkLP host Amber Bradley at the recent NRF PROTECT conference about strategies for fighting organized retail crime (ORC).  Both gentlemen are respective experts in fighting ORC for a long time and they provide historical perspective including the recent media attention about the increase in this type of crime.   What’s the problem?  Decriminalization? Felony thresholds? Rouge DAs? More importantly, how do we work together to stop ORC?  Check out Chris and John’s suggestions!

Number 6: “How Not to Die on the Wrong Hill” Vice President of Safety and Loss Prevention at Domino’s, Nicole McDargh, CPP discusses how to communicate the value proposition for loss prevention teams and program investments.  She also explains why it’s so important to understanding how to NOT die on the wrong hill. Nicole gives practical advice on the key principles of making change in a new organization including your first task: knowing who to ask what questions.  And how important quick wins are both to new executives in an organization and even you veterans out there trying to excel at your current company.  Oh yeah, solution providers — Nicole explains why she’s probably the most difficult person you’ve ever pitched, and she provides the EXACT outline of how a solution provider introductory pitch should go.  Listen today to learn why you should know your target when pitching any internal program, sales prospects or even your own personal connections! You can check out Nicole’s LinkedIn profile here (and if you haven’t before you call her, that’s nuts).

Number 5: “Ring of Excellence Winner: Alisa Dart” NRF’s Ring of Excellence Winner Alisa Dart, Group Vice President of Asset Protection for the Albertsons Companies talks how she feels about why she won the award and what leadership philosophies she’s adopted over her career. [You can also learn how to correctly say Alisa’s name – A-Lisa.]  Alisa also provides some advice for those solution providers out there looking to help solve problems for retailers and grocers.

Number 4: “Want to Move Up? Get Really Good at Letting Go.” Will England, Vice President, Asset Protection, Risk Management, and Compliance at Weis Markets to discusses critical aspects of climbing the corporate ladder.  Will provides his insights from his career taking focus on the transition from single store to multi-store and then from district responsibilities to regional responsibilities.  Learning to trust your team and understanding how to let go is extremely important to transcending your current role, Will explains.  Hear how this multi-talented executive influences his team and people around him for the betterment of the organization.  Oh yeah, he also flies planes too!

Number 3: “Strategic (and Scary) Career Pivots” A pivot to a store manager? Yes, sir. TalkLP Host Amber Bradley grills Khristopher (Khris) Hamlin, Vice President, Asset Protection at Saks OFF 5th to explains why he decided to divert his climb up the asset protection ladder to obtain operations experience as a store manager.  This brave 25-year veteran describes how to he did it (and why) — including selecting his mentor and managing that relationship.  Khris also explains why it’s so important HOW you craft the message you’re trying to convey within a relatable sense to your specific audience.

Number 2: “Thinking Long term vs. Here & Now” Oscar Arango, Vice President of Assets Protection for Target talks thinking creatively about positions within your career journey and the importance of connecting to the daily challenges within a store.  Oscar also shares his thoughts on influencing store and field teams to positively impact the organization by gathering real-world information within the stores.

Number 1: “Managing Outliers to Make an Impact” How do you turn 17,000 stores on a dime?  Ken Peschier, Vice President of Asset Protection for Dollar General, joins TalkLP host Amber Bradley to discuss finding that needle in the shrink haystack and what it’s like to control the top 1 percent.  Ken explains how his excellent Asset Protection team tackles managing outliers to maximize labor while understanding operational opportunities as they solve shrink challenges.

Ken also explains his mindset to successfully manage a large political structure to accomplish his goals for the betterment of Dollar General. Ken also explains the mantra he hires by, “Hire for will, teach the skill.”   Also in closing, Ken shares his advice for solution providers coming in to pitch Dollar General (hint: visit a store).

These were the top 10 most popular, by super narrow margin, so check out the other value-packed podcasts at here.  And we totally realize we didn’t give many of the Q4 released podcasts a chance!  So don’t miss them here!

Don’t forget to download the TalkLPnews app for easy access to the podcasts and breaking loss prevention headlines constantly updating throughout the day!

Click here with your phone or scan the QR code below for easy downloading!  You can also find the TalkLPnews app wherever you find your favorite apps!