PUBLISHER’S LETTER
Retail Consultant Symposium
I
’ve written before about attending users’ conferences sponsored by a solutions provider to discuss new developments and promote interaction among their clients. I was invited to a slightly different vendor-sponsored meeting recently that is worth mentioning. Tyco Integrated Security and Tyco Retail Solutions invited a group of industry consultants to their headquarters in Boca Raton, Florida, for a two-day meeting billed as a “retail consultant symposium.” There were consultants representing the loss prevention practices at Grant Thornton, KPMG, and PricewaterhouseCoopers, as well as industry executives from eBay and PCG Solutions. We sat around the conference table with Steve Sell, Kevin Lynch, Kim Warne, Randy Dunn, Ned McCauley, Brian Boyle, and numerous other Tyco executives, engineers, and support staff. The purpose of the meeting was a broad discussion of the mega-trends that were driving change in the retail industry and the services, products, and strategies needed to address the implications of these emerging trends. Tyco also used the opportunity to show the group not only what the latest products they currently have on the market, but also to provide a glimpse at what was still in research and development in the engineering labs back in the white-coat areas of the sprawling complex. It was fascinating to me to hear this collection of bright, articulate executives delineating both things I was aware of as well as things new to me. The discussion was very enlightening, at times very blunt and pointed, with the invitees providing both positive and negative input for the Tyco team. This was the first time I had been privy to a solution provider opening their door to a group of outsiders for the purpose of seeking direction on where the company should be headed to meet the needs of the industry. Sure, we often talk about a vendor asking a customer what their needs are, but this was a step far beyond. I applaud Tyco for putting this meeting together. Both sides of the table seemed
MAGAZINE
genuinely pleased with the two days. Personally, I thank Tyco for including the magazine. In addition, I recommend to other solution providers that you consider hosting something similar. You will likely find it most valuable.
Best B2B Magazine
Everyone likes a pat on the back. We are no different. The same week I was in Boca Raton, Fabi Preslar of SPARK Publications was accepting the award for Best Business-to-Business Magazine of the Year for the May-June 2013 issue of LP Magazine. The award was sponsored by Niche Media, which is a publishing-industry association focused on magazines that serve vertical business and consumer segments or niches; everything from dog groomers to aquatic farmers to, yes, loss prevention professionals. The presentation acknowledged the magazine’s industry relevance, commitment to meeting the needs of our readers, our ever-expanding digital presence, and the outstanding editorial and production quality. It really is an award that is shared by not just the magazine staff, but all the many writers and contributors to the content, the editorial and vendor advisory boards who help provide our industry direction, as well as the team at Spark who make the magazine look so great. Hopefully, you the readers will take some pride in the fact that your industry magazine received national recognition for chronicling what you as loss prevention professionals do every day.
Jack Trlica Editor and Publisher
LossPrevention, LP Magazine, and LP Magazine EU are service marks owned by the publishers and their use is restricted. All editorial content is copyrighted. No article may be reproduced by any means without expressed, written permission from the publisher. Reprints or PDF versions of articles are available by contacting the publisher. Statements of fact or opinion are the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the opinion of the publishers. Advertising in the publication does not imply endorsement by the publishers. The editor reserves the right to accept or reject any article or advertisement.
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MARCH - APRIL 2014
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LPPORTAL.COM
700 Matthews Mint Hill Rd, Ste C Matthews, NC 28105 704-365-5226 office, 704-365-1026 fax EDITOR AND PUBLISHER Jack Trlica JackT@LPportal.com EXECUTIVE EDITOR James Lee, LPC JimL@LPportal.com EDITORIAL DIRECTOR, DIGITAL Jacque Brittain, LPC JacB@LPportal.com CONTRIBUTORS Robert L. DiLonardo Dave DiSilva Read Hayes, Ph.D., CPP Richard C. Hollinger, Ph.D. Walter Palmer, CFI, CPP, CFE Gene Smith, LPC Shane G. Sturman, CFI, CPP David E. Zulawski, CFI, CFE CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Kevin McMenimen, LPC KevinM@LPportal.com DIRECTOR OF MARKETING Merek Bigelow MerekB@LPportal.com DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL OPERATIONS John Selevitch JohnS@LPportal.com SPECIAL PROJECTS MANAGERS Kat Houston Justin Kemp Karen Rondeau DESIGN & PRODUCTION SPARK Publications info@SPARKpublications.com 704-844-6080 CREATIVE DIRECTOR Larry Preslar ADVERTISING
ADVERTISING MANAGER Bonnie Dodson 828-479-7472 office 704-943-5797 fax BonnieD@LPportal.com WEST COAST REP Ben Skidmore 972-587-9064 office 972-692-8138 fax BenS@LPportal.com SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES
NEW OR CHANGE OF ADDRESS myLPmag.com POSTMASTER Send change of address forms to Loss Prevention Magazine P.O. Box 92558 Long Beach, CA 90809-2558 LossPrevention aka LP Magazine (USPS 000-710) is published bimonthly by Loss Prevention Magazine, Inc., 700 Matthews Mint Hill Rd, Ste C, Matthews, NC 28105. Print subscriptions are available free to qualified loss prevention and associated professionals in the U.S. and Canada at www.myLPmag.com. The publisher reserves the right to determine qualification standards. International print subscriptions are available for $99 per year payable in U.S. funds at www.LPportal.com. For questions about subscriptions, contact circulation@LPportal.com or call 888-881-5861. Periodicals postage paid at Matthews, NC, and additional mailing offices.
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