Best Buy Takes Strong Stance Against Shrink

By Megan Zielinski, contributing writer

David Simpson, Best Buy employee and a current sales team leader at the Collegeville, PA location, is paving a path for future success for the giant with an educational program he developed in effort to reduce the amount of company shrink, along with volunteering to teach classes to seniors on transitioning from landline to new-generation cell phones—both efforts resulting in Best Buy saving money and gaining new customers.

After noticing the Best Buy he is employed at was suffering significantly from company losses due to employee theft, shoplifting, and/or cashier or merchandise mistakes, Simpson took matters into his own hands and wanted to save his store, along with the entire corporation’s assets. Through “Seal Team Six,” Simpson taught fellow employees the importance of what shrink is and how to prevent it. According to Best Buy General Manager, Neil Henning, he coordinated all of the meetings, scheduling, and ran each class, connecting with his peers on developing strategies to improve the company and their safety. In other words, “He owned it.”

The results were astounding as the Collegeville Best Buy experienced a considerable drop in store losses, placing them at nearly 100 percent compliance of Best Buy product protection standards. Future outlook includes implementing the Seal Team Six into a yearly course that others will be able to run.  

Simpson also reached out to another crowd with help from volunteering coworker, Alexis Carroll, teaching smartphone fundamentals to those of the Baby Boomer age, updating them to this generation of phone communication. “Dave and Alexis came up with the course work and tied it into how Best Buy can offer impartial and be there for them when they’re ready to make a decision,” said Henning. Many enthused seniors returned to Best Buy following the course, to purchase their new smartphone. Cell phone studies are finding that more senior citizens are becoming smartphone owners and enjoying the perks that those of the younger age enjoy, such as social media, email, web browsing, and gaming. As of 2013, close to 15 percent of Baby Boomers carry smartphones, and continuously growing. This provides great opportunities for tech companies, including Best Buy.