Latest news with #ShopKind
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Stock taken off shelves to stop 'brazen' thieves
A shop manager said he has been forced to take stock off shelves to prevent it being stolen by "brazen" shoplifters. Gareth Robbins, who manages Poundland in Southgate Street, Gloucester, said thieves came in "every day" and filled bags, with staff suffering verbal abuse and racist remarks if they challenged the culprits. Mr Robbins said high price lines, such as Duracell batteries and Lynx deodorants, were favoured by shoplifters. He said he and his staff employed defensive merchandising, meaning they lowered shelves, changed the location of desirable items within the store, or put one case of an item out at a time. More news stories for Gloucestershire Listen to the latest news for Gloucestershire "You ask [shoplifters] to take things out of their bag and you get verbally abused, racist remarks," he said. "I tell the staff not to stop them because quite a few of them are gentlemen and of large stature - we don't know what could be in their bags." Earlier this year, two women worked together to steal a pair of leggings from Kate Lancaster's shop. While it was of small financial impact, Ms Lancaster, who owns Bizarre on Westgate Street, said it all built up. "People can be quite unkind or belittling to staff members which is really not necessary when they're only there to try and help people," she said. In response to the abuse received by shop staff, Gloucester Business Improvement District (BID) has been supporting ShopKind Week, a national campaign calling for kindness and respect to retail employees. "I think if [the scheme] brings awareness, people will, hopefully, stop and think that these people are human, they're not just automatous," Ms Lancaster added. Emily Gibbon, BID manager, said shoppers' impatience has increased, but "just being polite" and "a smile goes a very long way". Follow BBC Gloucestershire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. 'Brazen stealing is worse than ever', shops warn Shop staff get bodycams due to 'daily abuse' Shopkeeper shares CCTV of moment he was attacked Gloucester BID
BBC News
07-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Stock taken off shop shelves to stop 'brazen' shoplifters
A shop manager said he has been forced to take stock off shelves to prevent it being stolen by "brazen" Robbins, who manages Poundland in Southgate Street, Gloucester, said thieves came in "every day" and filled bags, with staff suffering verbal abuse and racist remarks if they challenged the Robbins said high price lines, such as Duracell batteries and Lynx deodorants, were favoured by said he and his staff employed defensive merchandising, meaning they lowered shelves, changed the location of desirable items within the store, or put one case of an item out at a time. "You ask [shoplifters] to take things out of their bag and you get verbally abused, racist remarks," he said."I tell the staff not to stop them because quite a few of them are gentlemen and of large stature - we don't know what could be in their bags." Earlier this year, two women worked together to steal a pair of leggings from Kate Lancaster's it was of small financial impact, Ms Lancaster, who owns Bizarre on Westgate Street, said it all built up."People can be quite unkind or belittling to staff members which is really not necessary when they're only there to try and help people," she response to the abuse received by shop staff, Gloucester Business Improvement District (BID) has been supporting ShopKind Week, a national campaign calling for kindness and respect to retail employees."I think if [the scheme] brings awareness, people will, hopefully, stop and think that these people are human, they're not just automatous," Ms Lancaster Gibbon, BID manager, said shoppers' impatience has increased, but "just being polite" and "a smile goes a very long way".
Fashion United
30-06-2025
- Fashion United
ShopKind campaign relaunches to combat retail worker abuse
The ShopKind campaign has been relaunched to combat the significant rise in abuse and violence against retail workers across the UK. With retail crime at an unprecedented level, the initiative urges customers to treat staff with respect, emphasizing that aggression is unacceptable and increasingly prevalent. Leading trade bodies and unions, including the British Retail Consortium (BRC), USDAW, and the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS), are backing the campaign alongside the Home Office and law enforcement. Retailers like Co-op and Currys are also participating, promoting kindness in-store and on social media using the hashtag #ShopKind. The statistics highlight the severity of the issue: USDAW reports that over 75 percent of retail staff experienced verbal abuse in the past year, with more than half facing threats. Currys has seen a 50 percent increase in retail crime incidents. This widespread intimidation is creating a climate of fear for workers performing their daily duties. The campaign coincides with proposed government legislation aimed at enhancing the protection of retail employees. These measures include considering a new offense for assaulting a retail worker, eliminating police thresholds that allow thefts under £200 to go unpunished, and a commitment to deploying an additional 3,000 neighbourhood police officers to boost high street security. Industry leaders have underscored the importance of ShopKind. Helen Dickinson of the BRC stressed that retail workers deserve to feel safe, while USDAW General Secretary Paddy Lillis called the campaign a crucial reminder that abuse will not be tolerated. Paul Gerrard of Co-op highlighted the necessity of collaborative action among retailers, unions, and law enforcement. Throughout the week, ShopKind messaging will be visible in shops and online, supported by downloadable posters and campaign materials. Organizers intend for the initiative to be more than just a short-term PR effort; they hope it will foster long-term cultural change, establishing kindness as a standard expectation and ensuring that abuse carries genuine consequences.
