Community First Bank’s Post

Convergint's 6 Steps to a Better Retail Experience for Your Financial Institution

There were 206 branches closed during Q2 2024 versus 332 the prior quarter. Similar to new branch applications, branch closure receipts is a great leading indicator and allows us to prepare our clients on how to leverage fewer competitors in their markets. There were 216 applications received in Q2 2024 versus 291 the prior quarter. Based on the first two quarters, we should expect total branch closures in 2024 to be between 1,000 - 1,200 branches. This number will be 5x branch openings during the year. In-Store branches continue to be a focus of closures in 2024 with Woodforest Bank submitting 26 branch closure requests of Walmart locations across the midwest and southern states. What is your organizations strategy to capitalize on closures?

US Jobless Claims & Retail Sales: first time claims data will see further distortion due the recent twin Hurricanes that hit the Southeast with the topline arriving well above the pre storm 13 week moving average of 235K. It will be a number of weeks before we get a clean look at the pace of firings in the economy. Retail Sales will prove far more challenging. It’s more important to inflation adjust that topline and the control group to gain insight into its impact on the Q3’24 growth trend which currently implies an above 3% pace. Ignore the noise & estimate the three month average annualized pace of the control group to ascertain the condition of the consumer heading into the end of Q3’24.

The #shrinkage trouble in #retail… not really shrinking! According to a recent report in The Economic Times, #shrinkage is at an all-time high, increasingly becoming a trouble for #retail chains in India. In simpler words, it refers to the #inventory losses caused by customer #shoplifting, employee theft, vendor fraud, return frauds, #supplychain or accounting errors and some inevitable but unknown causes. The raising threat is encouraging #retailers to invest in new #technology to reduce inventory #shrinkage. Let’s discuss on what preventive measures can you put in place to reduce loss and protect your profits? #shubhamspeaks that the RIGHT mix of the following methods can help combat shrinkage & maximize profits💯 🔹 Strict and Comprehensive Auditing- Identify and implement stricter policies and procedures to #mitigate shrinkage 🔹 A trained employee force – Equip your team with the necessary training & skills to handle real-time cases. 🔹 Effective loss prevention systems – Access controls, Alarms, CCTVs, digital surveillance … ensuring strong #security. 🔹 Develop and adopt stricter #accounting practices – Ensures no reconciliation errors and smooth #audits. 🔹 Invest in #inventorymanagement – Choose the right #technology and #tools to manage inventory more efficiently.  #shubhamspeaks #retailexperts #ampmstore #shrinkage #lossprevention #retailtechnology #retailsecurity #shoplifting #loss #inventory #retailmanagement #productwastage #sustainability #retailindustry #AMPM #conveniencestore #franchising

Over the past year, there has been a notable and encouraging trend among retailers: a renewed focus on enhancing internal control frameworks. This shift is both timely and essential. Recently came across an article highlighting a troubling rise in inventory shrinkage within the Indian retail sector, attributed to factors such as shoplifting, vendor fraud, employee theft, and supply chain errors. As business volumes increase, the importance of robust operational internal controls to tackle these issues becomes crucial. Comprehensive retail audits have emerged as a powerful solution, ensuring the following: • Identifying Vulnerabilities: Uncovering weak points and gaps in existing processes and control frameworks, and addressing them. • Ensuring Compliance: Making sure operations adhere to established processes, controls, and best practices. • Improving Accountability: Regular audits foster a culture of accountability, where processes and personnel are consistently monitored and evaluated. Based on my discussions with clients and industry peers, there has been an increasing demand for these comprehensive and stringent retail audits, which involve surprise checks, physical inventory verification, cycle counts, regular reconciliations, controls testing, systems and technology reviews, mystery shopping, and more. Maintaining an effective control environment has therefore become crucial for retailers. It helps avoid surprises, keep a check on the bottom line while pursuing the top line, and increase trust and confidence among stakeholders. #RetailShrinkage #InternalControls #RetailAudits #InventoryManagement #LossPrevention #RetailRiskManagement #OperationalControls #SupplyChainIntegrity #EmployeeAccountability #RetailCompliance #audit #retail #controls

In the retail sector, especially in Africa, the phrase "People only respect what you check" is key to management and efficiency. This idea is crucial when setting up policies and internal controls. Without enforcing these policies with clear consequences and regular monitoring, businesses risk inefficiency, losses, and stunted growth. Retail operations are complex, involving tasks like inventory management, sales transactions, customer service, and financial reporting. To keep these processes smooth and prevent errors or fraud, businesses need clear policies and internal controls. These controls protect assets, ensure accurate reporting, and improve efficiency. However, just having policies and controls is not enough. Employees and managers must know these rules are important and that breaking them has consequences. This is where "People only respect what you check" is vital. If there are no consequences for breaking policies, employees might not follow them seriously. For instance, if a store requires accurate logging of sales but doesn’t penalize discrepancies, employees might get careless. This can lead to financial losses and incorrect financial reporting, misleading management decisions. Regular checks are crucial to keep internal controls effective. In retail, especially in fast-paced environments, issues can arise quickly. Without timely detection, small problems can become big challenges. Hourly checks of controls like inventory levels, sales data accuracy, and cash handling are essential. Without regular checks, several risks emerge: Theft, misplacement, or errors can cause inventory shrinkage. Incorrect sales reporting and cash handling errors can lead to revenue loss. Inefficiencies in restocking, customer service, and transaction handling can go unnoticed, resulting in poor customer experiences and lost sales. Lack of enforcement and regular monitoring directly impacts business growth and profitability. Weak or inconsistent controls create an environment where errors and fraud can thrive, leading to financial losses and undermining stakeholder trust. Moreover, inefficiencies and inaccuracies can hide the true financial health of the business, leading to poor decisions. For example, inaccurate inventory tracking can cause overstocking or understocking, both harmful financially. For retail businesses in Africa, "People only respect what you check" highlights the need for enforced policies and regular control checks. Clear consequences for policy violations and continuous monitoring are crucial for efficiency, preventing losses, and fostering growth. Ignoring these aspects can hurt the bottom line and long-term success.

Man of the hour Shahbaz Nazar! Exceptional results in 2023 for Retail Sales Channel! Someone said in 2020 that thinking about growth in these times is madness and Retail Sales Channel of Askari Bank has proven to be the MadMax of this universe! Now we are here is Sales Conference to know and hear about the method behind this madness!#salesconference #tuningmindsets 

"The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time".  A healthy and valuable monthly target achievement meeting & reward distribution for highest achievement Sep-24 conducted for Retail network in Head Office. #meeting #teamwork #targetachievement #sales #retail

🇺🇸 US retail sales was strong through September: Headline M/M: 0.4% (EST 0.3%) Ex Auto M/M: 0.5% (EST 0.1%) Core (control group) M/M: 0.7% ‼️ (EST 0.3%)

At Storeex in addition to the general skills and experiences, there are some specific qualities that are particularly valuable: 1. Quick Decision Making: Ability to make quick decisions, especially during busy periods, to keep the store running smoothly and efficiently. 2. Inventory Management: Experience with inventory management processes, including restocking shelves, monitoring stock levels, and conducting regular inventory counts. 3. Knowledge of Convenience Products: Familiarity with a wide range of convenience products such as snacks, beverages, toiletries, and basic household items. 4. Food Handling and Safety: Understanding of food safety protocols and regulations, especially if the convenience store sells prepared foods or beverages. 5. Cashier Experience: Proficiency in operating cash registers and processing transactions accurately and efficiently. 6. Security Awareness: Awareness of security procedures, such as monitoring for shoplifting and handling potentially risky situations. 7. Multi-tasking Abilities: Capability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously, such as serving customers, restocking shelves, and cleaning the store. 8. Customer Relationship Management: Building rapport with regular customers and providing personalized service to enhance their shopping experience. 9. Adaptability: Being able to adapt to fluctuating customer traffic and changing demands throughout the day. 10. Basic Maintenance Skills: Basic knowledge of store maintenance tasks, such as cleaning, organizing, and minor repairs. Overall, Storeex seek candidates who can efficiently manage various tasks in a fast-paced environment while providing excellent customer service and ensuring the store's smooth operation.