8 tips for having a safe trunk show

New York--Trunks shows are a good way to showcase goods from a particular designer, or designers, to a motivated customer base. 

But getting those motivated customers into the store means advertising, which anyone, including criminals, can see. 

David Sexton, the vice president of loss prevention consulting at Jewelers Mutual; Itay Hendel, the CEO of ISPS, a global jewelry security training and risk prevention firm; and Jewelers UnBlocked President and CEO Patricia Low offered the following tips for trunk show safety during  the holiday season and year-round. 

1) Ship the jewelry if possible. Vendors/designers shipping their goods directly to the store via armored car is the safest solution. And then, even if almost everything sells, ship what remains back to the office. “Thieves may target you as you leave the event, assuming that you have valuables on your person,” said ISPS’s Hendel. 

2) If the merchandise can’t be sent in advance, be vigilant. Have the designer or vendor call when they near the store, giving the staff time to scope out the parking lot for suspicious behavior. Have them park as close as possible to a store entrance that is visible and not secluded. 

3) Offer assistance. Have one or two members of the staff help unload the merchandise and bring it into the store while another staff member keeps an eye out for potential risks. The store owner should offer their safe or vault for overnight storage, if necessary. 

4) Share information with the local police department. Let the local police department know that the store will be having designers/vendors visiting and be specific about the threats that robbery gangs pose. If possible, ask for extra police presence for the designer’s arrival and departure. 

5) Keep a guard up, literally. Hendel recommended posting security guards--preferably off-duty police officers in uniform--at the front of the trunk show site whenever possible, particularly if the show includes significant pieces. Sexton said that jewelers also should, if feasible and necessary, provide secure transportation to and from the airport, or even provide an escort out of town to make sure the designer isn’t being followed.

6) Split up the high-value merchandise. Don’t put all the most expensive pieces in one display case to avoid huge losses in the event of a smash-and-grab. 

7) Escort them out. Exercise the same vigilance as when the designer was arriving: Check the parking lot for