Smile, YOU could be on camera: The Warehouse trialling safety cameras as part of staff uniform
Retail crime swindles New Zealand businesses of $1 billion in direct losses each year, with The Warehouse now trialling new protective equipment for staff. The major retailer has been trialling different uniforms and personal protective equipment, with staff wearing items such as vests and cameras. Additional security had also been hired at some stores to help support staff, said The Warehouse's manager of national loss prevention, Phil Morley.
A customer who visited The Warehouse at Massey's Westgate Shopping Centre alerted the media to the trial after seeing cameras and questioning customer privacy. However, as long as there was signage in-store advising customers about the cameras, it was "absolutely legal", Retail NZ chief executive Greg Harford said. And due to the massive issue around retail crime, cameras were key to catching thieves. "Cameras are a key tool for crime prevention in-store and for the investigation of criminal activity in-store," Harford told. "A particular concern is that criminals are increasingly acting in an aggressive manner that endangers staff, and cameras are key to catching retail criminals." Morley said customers' privacy was something The Warehouse respected but signage was posted in stores stating the use of CCTV cameras. "The safety of our customers and our team members is paramount, and we are always looking at ways to improve our systems and processes." Managing director of First Retail Group Chris Wilkinson told cameras were likely not to be recording customers full-time. "Typically the cameras are only activated when staff are managing a situation, so customers shouldn't be concerned." The retail expert said cameras reduced risk through greater visible measures, kept people safe and limited their burden on the justice system. Elsewhere, retailers in the United Kingdom were even resorting to installing temporary lock-up cells in their stores to discourage thieves, Wilkinson said. He doubted they would be installed in New Zealand because the volumes of theft were far lower here but it highlighted the scale of the issue.
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Kiwis considering stealing from retailers were simply warned to "be prepared to be caught, prosecuted and trespassed", Wilkinson said. "Theft is a big issue, but so is the risk this causes to shop workers as thieves are becoming increasingly brazen in their approach and execution. "Retailers are watching, collaboratively sharing information and determined to reduce shop theft and antisocial behaviour. "From number plate recognition through to tracking suspicious behaviour, these cameras are an increasingly necessary part of keeping public areas safe."
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Christmas Eve busiest shopping day of the year with more than 500,000 sales
Busiest shopping day of the year
Peak time 12 noon-1 pm - 563,303 transactions
Per second peak - 167 transactions
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Number of sales beats Black Friday, but lowest Christmas Eve in six years
Christmas Eve has been the busiest shopping day of the year with 9,745 sales a minute at its peak.
Payments company Worldline says noon to 1pm saw 563,303 sales recorded on its network, down by about 7 percent on a year ago.
The company's network covers about three-quarters of the electronic terminals in operation.
Worldline did not have a dollar value for spending, but the peak number of transactions was the lowest for the past six years and well shy of the record 679,436 in 2019, before the pandemic.
Earlier this month it noted rising sales in the first three weeks of the month, but they remained 1.3 percent lower than 2024, with most parts of the country trailing the previous year's spending.
Official data from Stats NZ to the end of November showed a small rise in spending on the previous month, to 1.6 percent higher for the year.
Retail spending has been subdued as households have remained cautious because of high prices and a slow benefit from lower interest rates, and as well as concerns about the soft labour market.
However, recent surveys have shown improving consumer sentiment with ANZ bank's monthly report showing confidence at its highest level in four years.
Boxing Day is traditionally the country's favourite shopping day, but with Black Friday spending also softer this year the amount going through retailers' terminals may also be down on a year ago.
Adding a dampener to consumer spending may be the recent rises in longer term fixed mortgage rates because of higher wholesale rates.
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79.1% Yes! It's better to regift what I don't need
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20.9% No. It's the thought and effort that matters
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