We wish you a very Happy Holiday season and a prosperous New Year.
During the holiday season, our thoughts turn gratefully to those who have made our success possible. It is in this spirit that we say thank you for the trust you place in us. Here’s to a great 2018!
Holiday Safety Tips
Here are a few commonsense reminders to help keep you safe this holiday season:
At Home
- Don’t display gifts where they can be seen from a window or doorway.
- Be wary of strangers that may come to the door asking for charitable donations. They may be taking advantage of people’s generosity during the holidays, or worse looking for a way to get inside your home. Instead, help charitable organizations you know.
- Avoid leaving boxes from expensive purchases (i.e. televisions, computers, etc.) on the curb for recycling pickup. Burglars look for clues like this. Cut the boxes up and place them inside a trash can, so they can’t be seen driving by.
- Write down the serial numbers of any expensive items (such as electronics) and put this information in a safe place.
- Use only fire resistant ornaments on your tree and don’t overload outlets. Inspect light strings for fraying and replace light strings that are not in good working order.
- Don’t leave holiday lights on overnight or when you are away.
- Never leave lit candles unattended.
- Test your smoke detectors.
Shopping
- Lock valuables in the trunk or hide out of site.
- Don’t get so overloaded with packages that you can’t easily unlock your car and enter your vehicle quickly.
- Even when you’re preoccupied with a thousand things, stay alert to your surroundings. If you see people loitering in parking garages, parking lots, and outside of stores, go the other way.
- Never park in an unlit lot, no matter how convenient it is. Park near street lights and have your keys in hand when you return to your car. Check the interior of your car before getting inside.
- Avoid carrying large amounts of cash. Pay for purchases with a check or credit card when possible. Be sure to put the receipt in your purse or wallet — never leave it in the bag.
- Don’t carry excess credit cards. Take only those cards for the stores where you intend to shop.
- Be extra careful with purses and wallets. Carry your purse under your arm. Keep your wallet in an inside jacket pocket, not your back pants pocket.
For Small Businesses
- Never open or close alone.
- Review cash handling policies, procedures and expectations with your employees.
- Periodically remove extra cash from the registers and put into the safe.
- Validate deposits daily and make sure deposits are taken to the bank before dark.
- Review daily sales information for excessive/suspicious voids, refunds, no sales, and over rings.
- Check that all locks, alarms, cameras, and video recorders, are working properly and not blocked by holiday decorations.
- Leave the parking lot lights on all night during the holiday season or set timers at least one hour after employees are scheduled to be leaving.
- Control and monitor all back door openings.
- Before closing, inspect restrooms, storage areas, etc., for anyone left behind or hiding.
- Inform your security company of your revised holiday hours.
- Restrict access to stockrooms. To reduce theft by employees, let stock clerks bring inventory to the retail floor.
- Take special care during the 30 minutes just after opening and just before closing — the times most suited for pilferage .
- Never leave purses, iPads, iPhones, laptops, radios, calculators, and other small valuables in sight. Put them in a locked file drawer or cabinet.
Last Minute Tax Deduction
Take advantage of the Section 179 Deduction by getting new safety and security equipment in 2017.
The IRS tax code allows small businesses that purchase, finance, and/or lease up to $2,000,000 in new or used business equipment during tax year 2017 to deduct the full amount (up to an aggregate cost of $510,000).
Section 179 can provide you with a significant tax deduction for the 2017 tax year, but the equipment must be financed and in place by midnight December 31, 2017. Check with your tax advisor for more information.
Call now to have equipment in service before the end of the year!
