The Retail Equation Names Dr. Daniel Downs As Company's First Statistical Criminologist
Former LPRC Research Coordinator Expands Capabilities for Fighting Retail Fraud and Shrink Loss
The Retail Equation, the industry leader in retail transaction optimization solutions, recently announced the appointment of Daniel Downs, Ph.D., as the company's first statistical criminologist. A noted professor, presenter, author and researcher, Downs has a vast background in retail loss prevention and criminology and most recently worked for the Loss Prevention Research Council (LPRC).
"Dr. Downs' wealth of experience and knowledge in retail crime prevention increases our ability to serve the needs of our growing retailer base," said David Speights, Ph.D., chief statistician for The Retail Equation. "His ability to analyze data, identify problems and develop solutions further allows us to better model retail fraud and shrink in order to separate those occurrences from legitimate retail transactions."
Downs' academic and research expertise focuses on quantitative research methods and predictive modeling, as well as delinquency and crime prevention. He shares this knowledge as a frequent lecturer at industry conferences and forums and will interface closely with TRE retail customers to help identify and combat retail fraud and its correlated shrink impact.
Prior to joining The Retail Equation, Downs was a research coordinator for LPRC where he was instrumental in gathering fact-based research to develop loss control solutions to positively affect its members and the retail industry. He also was a co-editor of Security Journal-Special Issue and conducted podcast interviews that focused on profiling cybercrime victims.
As an adjunct professor at the University of Florida, Downs taught a course entitled Crime Prevention: Field Research and assisted in other courses related to criminology, law, statistics, research and psychology. Downs received his Ph.D. in Criminology from the University of Illinois, his M.A. in Experimental Psychology and B.S. in Psychology from California State University, San Bernardino.
About the Retail Equation
The Retail Equation, headquartered in Irvine, Calif., optimizes retailers' revenue and margin by shaping behavior in every customer transaction. The company's solutions use predictive analytics to turn each individual shopper visit into a more profitable experience. This yields immediate financial payback, increasing store comps by as much as 2 percent, with significant return on investment. The Software-as-a-Service applications operate in more than 20,000 stores in North America, supporting a diverse retail base of specialty apparel, footwear, hard goods, department, big box, auto parts and more. For more information, visit www.theretailequation.com.
SOURCE: The Retail Equation