With over 152,000 c-stores in the United States and 160 million transactions taking place per day across the industry, c-stores are a part of everyday life. Security should be a part of everyday life for those stores, said Hannah Buechel, senior account executive at Solink.
During the May 6 NACS supplier webcast “From Risk to Revenue: How C-Stores are Unlocking New Value from Their Security Systems,” Brandon Nicholson, safety and security manager for The Spinx Company, and Buechel shared how operators are navigating security challenges.
In South Carolina where Spinx operates, the state has “strict liquor laws,” and Spinx has identified which shifts may need fine tuning with age verification due to more age-restricted purchases occurring during those hours.
“We restructured some of our training and policies around age-verified purchases. We put up a lot more signage and really enforce our associates to ask for their ID. We tell them that every time you sell one of those items you have to be asking for and validating the ID even if you see them every day and know they are of age,” said Nicholson. “It really has helped us enforce, focus and restructure policies and procedures around age-restricted items.”
Solink is a cloud video security business which can help c-stores maximize efficiency, integrate data and form faster emergency responses, Buechel said.
“You can work with the security systems you already have. Traditionally, surveillance was about reviewing what already went wrong. You would dig through footage and hope you found what you needed. Solink can connect your existing cameras to a cloud platform and pair that video with POS and other business data. This transforms your cameras from passive observers to proactive tools,” said Buechel.
Access the supplier webcast recording here. Learn more about Solink.
Crime and safety issues are impacting not just financial performance, but also the safety of store staff and customers. Over the course of last year, NACS convened an industry working group of asset protection, safety and loss prevention experts to navigate how retailers can support and protect their people and their stores. NACS presented lessons and tips at the inaugural NACS Loss Prevention and Safety Symposium in December 2024.