In an initiative to address retail crime and violence, the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) and the National District Attorneys Association (NDAA) are leading the launch of National Store Walk Month, set to debut this September.
The initiative addresses the issues of organized retail crime and habitual theft and its impact on communities, and it represents a pioneering effort to facilitate an exchange between local prosecutors and community retailers.
Throughout the month of September, district attorneys nationwide are set to walk retail stores with management teams, exchanging insights and collaborating on ways to reduce retail crime while addressing other unlawful activity occurring in and around retail stores, according to RILA and NDAA.
“National Store Walk Month represents our next leap forward in establishing comprehensive retail crime mitigation strategies and fostering community wellbeing,” said Lisa LaBruno, RILA’s senior executive vice president. “This initiative will bridge the gap between retailers and prosecutors, helping us collectively address the complex challenges our communities face.”
NDAA Executive Director Nelson Bunn highlighted the broader objectives of the initiative: “Our goal extends beyond reducing crime; we’re working to foster safer, healthier, and more vibrant communities. National Store Walk Month is a crucial element of that mission.”
Frederick County State’s Attorney J. Charles Smith III, president of the National District Attorneys Association, said, “We need to tackle retail crime with broad, community-centered strategies. Through National Store Walk Month, we’re taking a holistic stance to ensure our communities’ safety and vibrancy.”
The International Housewares Association is a member of the Buy Safe America Coalition led by RILA. The coalition consists of retailers, consumer groups, wholesaler-distributors, manufacturers and law enforcement officials aligned in support of efforts to combat organized retail crime and protect consumers and communities from the sale of counterfeit and stolen goods. In 2019, International Housewares Association President Derek Miller submitted comments to a U.S. Department of Commerce notice seeking input on how to curb the sale of counterfeit merchandise. The comments highlighted that legitimate businesses are too often victims of counterfeits that often directly compete with goods produced by IHA member companies.
The Buy Safe America Coalition was instrumental in encouraging Congress to pass the INFORM Consumers Act aimed at modernizing consumer protection laws and requiring online marketplaces to collect and verify basic business information from sellers. The Buy Safe America Coalition recently sent a letter signed by IHA urging the Federal Trade Commission to move expeditiously to enforce the INFORM Consumers Act as of its effective date of June 27, 2023.
