How do you prevent thievery?

[davejs]

Do you take any precautions against people or set up your display to deter people from stealing. If you are selling larger A&C items, you probably don't need to do anything. However, their are certain type of items that are vulnerable..jewelry, clothing, smaller miscellaneous items.

We are able to display much of our merchandise on metal grids that are 2 feet wide. At night, we enclose the entire space with the grids placed all the way around and of course, we cover up the whole thing and string long bungie cords from the top to the bottom.

[abaworld]

Fortunately, I don't have to be concerned with theft during opening hours, because of the nature of my product.

However, I am concerned about after-hours and I haven't figured out how I am going to ease my mind for that.

My prints are in locked, 2-drawer file cabinets, which are not easy to walk off with. I will probably remove my equipment every night, including my "Stimulus Wheel", until I can configure a "secure tent". Since "secure" and "tent" have the smell of an oxymoron, I guess I will always remove my equipment...

[weesewcute]

i don't have much theft (yet that is) because I sell children's stuff. A stun gun might work well!

[mark]

thievery?you must be kinding me?people really steal at these shows<cough cough>.I am Jeweler and people steal from me at just about every show i don't put my merch. in cases cause i know people like to touch and if i put my stuff in cases it would cut my sales way down so i just get use to the fact there are few people that will steal from me.anyone know where i can get a set of eyes put in the back of my head so i can get those thiefs?

[mark]

lol@Paula

[traveler]

I grid wall my corners like an "L" and wrap it with a single 40 foot canopy to protect it. I also pull as many items towards the center away from grabs length. I haven't had much trouble YET, but as the economy worstens the theft will only increase for those who feel we are the evil rich and we can afford to take a loss.

[bmermaid]

Aside from my other post about a few particular shows, I don't have much problem with theft. Most of my items are too big (except for those two jackets I guess, grrr). I do have a small amount of jewelry, which is pinned down to a board right in front of where I sit. Biggest problem has been with baby hats, which I hang out front for impulse sales. I figure the amount I sell at a show (I will sell out at a hot show) by having them visible evens out against the few that have been taken.

I do a lot of more rural shows... so often at night I will just cover up the jewelry and little grabby stuff, and leave the rest of the clothes in the booth. I try to make sure the corners are blocked with boxes or grids. Then cover with the usual zippy side walls.

At street shows, where you know people will be walking around at night.... I will put my clothing away in boxes and covered with bags, but still leave it inside the tent. Kind of out of site out of mind. Sometimes I will even sleep right inside my booth.

[davejs]

Apr 13, 2010 12:39:50 GMT -5 @pursestuff said:

I've slept inside my booth a couple times. Glad to read that someone else does this once in awhile too.

I have a camping cot, sleeping bag, pillow and I'm off to sleep.
Works for me.


Purse Stuff - Paula

I haven't done it yet and I don't think I'll do it. We have slept in our van twice. Right near the beach at Lake Tahoe and that was really nice (after winning $600 at Caesar's Tahoe) and the other time was at Clovisfest and that was very uncomfortable. Had to listen to motorcycles all night long.

There's a lot of vendor's who sleep in their vehicles and tents in Tyson Wells. There's electrical outlets in the spaces and people plug in their electric blankets. However, I wouldn't recommend sleeping on the ground because of flooding potentional.