'They Don't Pay You For All That': Promoting Where I Protect

My telling patrons about the sales section of the store where I create 'retail safety' is usually greeted with thanks or pleasant surprise.

Some customers seem genuinely shocked that a security professional would venture into the sales realm.

One smart aleck recently replied, "They don't pay you for all that." My immediate response was, "Do you want me to be a potted plant?” not only politely shut him up but also scored an embarrassed a smile and apologetic fist bump out of him.

Security professionals have our hands full as it is with threat assessment and incident response. Some may counter we should stick to a traditional protector role. My view of protection includes promoting the establishment or event that I'm protecting. Central to my theory of 'safety creation' is embedding it with owners, organizers, managers and staff with whom I'm assigned.

So no, 'they don't pay me' for directing patrons to the sales section.

I am, however, paid to protect all involved at assignments and my definition of protection includes promoting where I'm assigned.

As I tell curious patrons, without security there are no sales and without sales, there is no security.