Until it is proven otherwise - I'd like to think that I had at least some impact on BrandsMart's decision to build its 3rd Metro Atlanta outlet in Henry County. About 5 years ago when the firm entered the Atlanta market with its first store in Doraville, GA I attended the grand opening. I had been familiar with Brandsmart from my visits to Florida. I was looking forward to having an electronics superstore in the area. I struck up a conversation with the store manager and then asked about their plans for building other stores in the area. It is more cost effective for these stores to have multiple stores in a market because then their distribution centers that supply the stores with product are more fully utilized. With one store they likely had to ship the supplies from Florida.
The store manager introduced me to the OWNER of the chain. He was a small, elderly White man. I told him that all of his competitors that come to town typically go from Gwinnett County on the northeast, to Alpharetta in the north to Kennesaw on the northwest. These are the prime retail markets in the metro Atlanta area. I told the owner that they are missing out on a gold mine on the SOUTH SIDE!!! Henry County, Fayette County and Coweta County have a large middle class and upper middle class citizenry. We have to drive all the way to the north side to purchase our computers and electronics (minus Best Buy). I told him that Henry County is a fast growing county and that they should check it out.
The second Brandsmart store in metro ATL went up in Kennesaw, as expected. To my surprise they opened their third store in Stockbridge - Henry County - on the southside, just as I had recommended. I saw last weekend that they have a fourth store opening up on the extreme northeast side - next to the Mall Of Georgia in Suawnee.
THE INSIDE HEIST
I am surprised but not surprised about the racket that was uncovered regarding these flat screen televisions. I don't recall what I had purchased from Brandsmart but the process they went through for receiving expensive goods from the secure warehouse in the back of the store - at least on paper - was sound. This, unless everyone conspired together.
Whatever I did purchase from them I had to pay at the cashier station and then take my receipt to the back. The receiving clerk had to check off on the item. Then he took the paperwork to someone who wrote the order down into a log book. Finally the warehouse manager had to sign off on the release of the item. (maybe it was a televising).
I recall joking with the armed security guard about the prospect of an 18 wheeler pulling up and seeking to do a heist on the place. I wondered if he would lay his life on the line to protect the merchandise. He said "they can have all of this stuff. I don't get paid enough to die here".
I can imagine that after years of executing the checks and balances in the process - some crafty individuals decided to conspire and craft a "hook up" scenario.
Most security experts would agree that it is best to have DIVERSITY injected into a process like this one. Having a mix of ages, races and maybe even religious backgrounds will increase the chances that there will be a SNITCH who will drop the dime on the process.
If I had a warehouse full of expensive electronic equipment the LAST thing that I would want is to have all of my staff being "friends".
Still the store with the worst security and who paid for it with their extinction is "Computer City". Street hustlers picked their inventory clean like they had won a shopping spree. The chain ordered extra inventory for the Christmas season (this was about 15 years ago) and stored all of the computers in the isles of the store. Needless to say this chain is now out of business.
Some customers apparently got more than they paid for when they shopped at the BrandsMart USA in Stockbridge.
Six employees of the store have been arrested for stealing 188 televisions and two computer monitors valued at nearly $100,000, according to police.
The six in custody were arrested for felony theft and criminal conspiracy to commit a felony, according to Capt. Jason Bolton of the Henry County Police Department. More arrests are expected.
An investigation began after the Atlanta region protection manager for BrandsMart USA contacted police on May 11.
“They had noticed missing inventory, and they suspected an internal theft,” Bolton said Friday afternoon.
The theft scheme apparently began on the biggest shopping day of the year — the day after Thanksgiving. The six arrested apparently worked with other non-employees who came to the store as customers, according to police.
Those customers would then make a purchase, such as a small appliance. Then, the customer was instructed to drive to the back of the store with a receipt to pick up the purchase.
“In addition to the microwave, maybe two or three televisions were loaded in,” Bolton said.
Various types of flat screens were stolen, ranging from 32- to 50-inch models. Five of the stolen televisions and the computer monitors have been recovered, he said.
Those arrested include:
• Marice Foster, 22, of Atlanta.
• Jonathan Chambers, 23, of Decatur.
• Roderick Adams, 19, of Morrow.
• Demario Norris, 20, of McDonough.
• Justin Sprueil, 20, of Jonesboro.
• Dantelle Smith, 24, of Stockbridge.
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