Three of the focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money, Business/Entrepreneurship and Health/Wellness. Black Friday is now a critical date for retailers and some strange things happen during people’s pursuit of great deals on TVs, video games, sport goods, etc. Both business owners and proprietors must have strategies in place going into Black Friday. The following contributed post is entitled, Safety Risks To Consider This Black Friday.
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Black Friday is the most anticipated day in the year for millions of families. For those who are trying to make ends meet on a tight budget, black Friday is the occasion to buy items they couldn’t afford otherwise. It’s no surprise that most of the Black Friday purchases become Christmas gift. Whether it’s the game console for the family or a pair of warm and elegant winter boots, the commercial event can make people happy.
For businesses, small and big, preparing for Black Friday is essential to make the most of the event. There’s a lot to gain in spreading out your marketing campaign to make sure that your audience knows about your offers and your products. Plan a visible and engaging countdown on social media to get people excited. It’s also the perfect occasion to remind them of your opening hours, especially if they’re changing for the day. By replicating big companies’ discount, you can also replicate their success at your level. However, you need to be prepared for the safety risks that come with a busy Black Friday.
You need additional security guards
It’s no novelty. Black Friday is a highly stressful event for buyers. Some queue in front of shop hours before they open in the hope they’ll be able to snatch bargain items while the stock still lasts. Your customers are likely to feel tired and on edge when they arrive in the store. Combined with potentially aggressive crowd behavior, you might have to intervene to stop people from fighting in the store. As a result, it’s a good idea to get a few security guards for the occasion. Indeed, guards not only provide a sense of security, which can be enough to reassure the crowd, but their presence acts as a preventive measure. Disagreements are less likely to escalate in a fight when there’s a security guard on site.
Accidents are more likely to happen
Black Friday is synonymous with chaos. You never know what might happen. Even if customers are well-behaved, accidents are prone to occur as a result of a large and hectic crowd. As a safety measure, it’s a good idea to equip your store with smoke and fire protection systems for your doors, windows and any other opening. Architectural experts, SG Specialties, warns businesses that fire can spread out surprisingly rapidly in a favorable environment. In a shop full of inflammable products, the absence of protection could cost your customers their lives.
You need to be able to address health complications
Black Friday shopping is like a health marathon. Some of your most vulnerable customers may fall ill in the process. High stress levels and the semi-claustrophobic feeling of a large crowd can lead to heart problems, fainting and any other health complication. In the event of a customer struggling, you need to be able to react on the spot. Training your staff to basic healthcare and services can be a game-changer. Ultimately, you want shoppers to feel safe at all times. Being able to help and reassure in case of a problem is crucial.
Black Friday is a commercial event like no other. It’s violently profitable and destructive at the same time. For businesses to make the most of the opportunity, they need to understand how to keep their customers safe in a chaotic situation. Needless to say, it’s a challenge for every store!
