Delayed start date for New York’s Retail Workers Safety Act

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) has signed legislation that alters and delays implementation of the Retail Worker Safety Act.

Initially set to go into effect Jan. 31, the act amended previous labor law to require retail employers with 10 or more employees to adopt a workplace violence prevention policy. That policy must identify factors that put workers at risk of violence and outline violence prevention methods.

Other original provisions:

• Employees must be trained annually on de-escalation tactics, active shooter drills, emergency procedures, use of panic buttons and more.
• Panic buttons must be installed at easily accessible locations throughout the store or workers must be provided with wearable/cellphone-based panic buttons. (This provision applied to employers with 500 or more employees statewide.)

The act was signed into law Sept. 4. Under this latest bill, signed by Hochul on Feb. 14 and set to go into effect June 2, the requirement for panic buttons – which would have called 911 – has been replaced with a requirement for silent response buttons. The silent response buttons will alert a security officer, manager or supervisor.

[Safety and Health]

Fraud Predictions for 2025: How to Protect your Business
Scammers are getting smarter, and so should we! In 2024, Aussies lost over $2 billion to scams, thanks to the rise of online shopping. AI is now the fraudster's best friend, making deepfakes and social engineering a real headache. Retailers are also battling refund abuse and fake accounts, with fraudsters exploiting return policies and loyalty programs. The key? Balancing fraud prevention with a smooth customer experience.
[Power Retail]

Retail is the Most Common Location for Gun Violence, but There’s More to the Story
In 2024, retail locations in the U.S. saw the highest number of gun-related incidents, with 1,459 cases, even surpassing K-12 schools. Most of these incidents stem from personal disputes rather than active shooter scenarios. Despite the less dramatic nature of these events, they still resulted in significant fatalities and injuries. Retailers can mitigate these risks by enhancing outdoor security and using AI gun detection software. 
[Retail Touch Points]

California Woman Attacked by Security Guard After Getting Caught Stealing at Lucky’s Supermarket: ‘The Real Crime Were Those Boots’
With grocery prices soaring, some folks are resorting to desperate measures. In San Leandro, a woman was caught stealing from a Lucky’s Supermarket, leading to a dramatic tussle with a security guard. The 22-second phone footage shows the guard on top of the woman, throwing punches and pulling hair, while shocked shoppers look on. It's a wild scene that highlights the strain high prices are putting on people.
[The Nerd Stash]

Starbucks ordered to pay $50 million to delivery driver burned by hot beverage

LOS ANGELES -- A jury in California on Friday ordered Starbucks to pay $50 million in damages to a delivery driver who was severely burned by an improperly secured lid on hot beverages.

Michael Garcia was picking up drinks at a drive-through in Los Angeles when he "suffered severe burns, disfigurement, and debilitating nerve damage to his genitals when hot drinks ultimately spilled" onto his lap, according to the lawsuit filed in California Superior Court in 2020. The lawsuit accused Starbucks of breaching its duty of care by failing to secure the lid.

[ABC News]

A Few of Tom’s Favorite ChatGPT Prompts

Tom Meehan, CEO CONTROLTEK
comments@talklpnews.com

A generative AI system requires an input to produce a meaningful output, and that input is known as a prompt. Prompts can take many forms—questions, statements, or direct commands—but all serve to guide the system in yielding the most desirable results. Clarity and promptness affect the outcome, of course, but also the order in which words are presented. A good prompt is devoid of errors, leads the AI in a specific direction, and allows for a high degree of creative potential in the output. The same can basically be said for a "good question." After all, much of what we do in life is AI-like "prompting" in reverse. 

1. Simulate Expert-Level Brainstorms Prompt Example: Pretend to be a team of experts brainstorming solutions for [Problem]. Include an economist, a technologist, and a sociologist. Show how each expert A few unique insights to the discussion.
2. Master Skills with Progressive Learning Plans Prompt Example: I want to master [Skill/Topic] in 3 months. Create a weekly learning plan with progressively harder exercises, recommended resources, and milestones.
3. Predict Future Trends Prompt Example: Based on [Current Trends/Technologies], predict how [Industry/Topic] will evolve in the next 10 years. Provide actionable steps businesses can take today to prepare. 

San Bernardino County Law Enforcement Makes Strides Against Retail Theft with Operation Smash & Grab

 [Hoodline]

US retail sales rise slightly as economic uncertainty mounts

WASHINGTON, March 17 (Reuters) - U.S. retail sales rebounded marginally in February as consumers pulled back on discretionary spending, reinforcing the growing uncertainty over the economy against the backdrop of tariffs and mass firings of federal government workers.

Nonetheless, the report from the Commerce Department on Monday suggested that the economy continued to grow in the first quarter, though at a moderate pace. It sketched a picture of a cautious consumer, with sales at restaurants and bars declining by the most in 13 months amid deteriorating sentiment.

 [Reuters]

Minnesota Kwik Trip employee stabbed to death, customer arrested

 [WISN]

Bill to Amend the TN ORC Act passes both Tennessee House and Senate

The Tennessee Organized Retail Crime Alliance is pleased to announce that the bill to amend the Tennessee Organized Retail Crime Prevention Act has successfully passed both the Tennessee House of Representatives (HB0207) and the Tennessee Senate (SB0240) during the Tennessee General Assembly's 114th Session! The bill is now awaiting Governor Lee's signature and is a significant step forward in strengthening our efforts to combat organized retail crime in the State of Tennessee.

This is a major win for TNORCA, as well as for retailers, law enforcement, district attorneys, and communities across the state. Our collective efforts have been instrumental in advancing stronger organized retail crime laws that will not only combat ORC, but also enhance the safety of Tennessee communities, and support the success of Tennessee’s retail businesses.

Extending our sincere gratitude to everyone who worked relentlessly to achieve this major accomplishment over these last 6-months, including:

• Representative Jason Zachary
• Senator Brent Taylor
• TN General Assembly Co-Sponsors in the State House and Senate
• Tennessee Retail Association
• Roland Myers
• Tennessee Grocers and Convenience Store Association
• Rob Ikard
• Tennessee Organized Retail Crime Alliance
• Matthew Lawson
• Tym Conklin
• Amy Spiehs-Hicks, CFI, LPC
• Investigator Brandon Bankston
• City of Jackson, TN - Police Department

We are truly grateful to everyone who has contributed their hard work and dedication to this great success. While we cannot name everyone individually, please know that your efforts have not gone unnoticed, and we sincerely appreciate each and every one of you! Your exceptional dedication and commitment have made a lasting positive impact in communities across the state!

Read More about the Tennessee Organized Retail Crime Alliance here.

American Eagle CEO issues stern warning about customer behavior

American Eagle Outfitters is feeling the chill as consumer demand dips, despite a slight sales increase during the holiday season. CEO Jay Schottenstein blames the slowdown on colder weather and a general fear of the unknown among consumers, who are spooked by tariffs, inflation, and government cutbacks. Stores in warmer climates are faring better, but overall, the company is bracing for a tough start to 2025. 

[The Street]

Support growing for multi-agency US cargo crime task force

Transportation and shipper groups are calling on the US House of Representatives to pass legislation that would create a multi-agency federal task force to fight cargo crime and stiffen penalties as theft and fraud continue to grow and evolve.

The main bill they support is the Safeguarding our Supply Chains Act introduced last June, but transportation interests are also backing the Household Goods Shipping Consumer Protection Act that was first introduced last May and reintroduced in December.

[Journal of Commerce - Subscription, free trial]

Bankrupt iconic retail chain begins liquidation, closing stores

When money gets expensive, a retail chain that is struggling can have a hard time recovering. 

Even when a lender can be found to keep the doors open, the added cost of servicing that debt makes it hard to make any changes.

A number of retailers including Party City and Forever 21 managed to emerge from a Chapter 11 bankruptcy with new funding with operating plans.

[The Street]

Rise in shoplifting is impacting local businesses

HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) - Shoplifting is on the rise, and according to the National Retail Federation, shoplifting incidents have jumped 93% between 2020 and 2024. In Harrisonburg, it’s also impacting small local businesses downtown.

Rachel Bellerose is the manager of Lineage, a small business located in the Shops at Agora in Downtown Harrisonburg. The local shop sells a variety of goods including tote bags, t-shirts and stickers.

[WHSV]

Forever 21 expected to close all U.S. stores, blames Shein and Temu for demise

Forever 21 filed for bankruptcy protection for the second time in six years on Sunday and blamed fast-fashion e-tailers Shein and Temu for its demise. 

The retailer’s operating company is expected to cease all operations in the U.S. and has already begun liquidation sales at its more than 350 locations, but it’s still open for bids if a buyer is willing to take on its inventory and keep running its stores, court filings show. 

[CNBC]

Taco Bell Parent Accelerates AI Innovation With Nvidia

Quick-service restaurant (QSR) giant Yum! Brands has partnered with Nvidia to develop and scale artificial intelligence (AI) technologies for its restaurants.

These technologies will be deployed at the QSR company’s KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and Habit Burger & Grill restaurants, the companies said in a Tuesday (March 18) press release.

The partnership will help scale Yum! Brands’ existing proprietary AI-driven restaurant technology platform Byte by Yum!, according to the release.

“This partnership will enable us to harness the rich consumer and operational datasets on our Byte by Yum! integrated platform to build smarter AI engines that will create easier experiences for our customers and team members,” Joe Park, chief digital and technology officer at Yum! Brands and president of Byte by Yum!, said in the release.

[PYMNTS]

Rolla duo caught looting from local business less than 24 hours after tornado

ROLLA, Mo. — Less than 24 hours after an EF2 tornado tore through Rolla, two men were arrested Saturday for allegedly stealing more than $1,000 in property from a local business damaged by the storm.

Michael James McClearn and Ryan Dale Stagner, both from Newburg, were charged with stealing $750 or more, a Class D felony. Stagner also faces additional charges of felony possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. 

According to charging documents, an officer was patrolling Saturday night near the Price Chopper on Forum Drive when he saw the suspects climbing a wall into the back parking lot of the Rolla Towers apartment building. The men were wearing gloves and loading 6-foot privacy fence panels, from a fence that had been damaged the night before, into the back of a white Dodge pickup truck.

[KSGK]