How can Acuity’s Retail Consultant help me win and retain more retail business?

Having industry consultants on staff at Acuity is one of several philosophies that sets Acuity apart from other insurance companies. Acuity is dedicated to supporting the success of our customers, and this includes offering tools and resources to enhance their success.

May 9, 2022 | Agent

By: Aaron S.

Aaron joined Acuity in 2017 as our Retail Specialist—bringing with him almost 30 years of experience in a broad range of retail. He started his career stocking shelves in the seasonal department at a local retailer. A few years later, Aaron transitioned to a gas station/convenience store, where he worked second shift while getting his degree in organizational communications from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. It was during this time he made the move to the loss prevention and safety aspect of retail. Over the next 25 years, he worked in various retail segments, including video games, cosmetics/skincare, hardware/appliances, pharmacy/grocery, and clothing. Aaron held several positions during this time, including District Loss Prevention Manager, Regional Loss Prevention Manager, Regional Compliance Auditor, and National Manager of Loss Prevention and Operations. Outside work, Aaron likes to spend time with his wife (who has also worked in retail for over 20 years) and their twin teenage boys. They enjoy being outdoors on the water, fishing, and camping. As the Retail Specialist, Aaron’s goal is to enhance the partnership between retailers and Acuity by showing retailers that an insurance company can be a supportive resource and that Acuity truly understands their industry.

As Acuity’s Retail Consultant, I regularly attend industry conferences to stay current with the latest issues that face the retail industry, from supply chain disruptions to labor shortage concerns. I then bring back this information to help our customers manage these challenges. I provide support in several ways along a customer’s insurance journey. Here are just a few examples.

During the quote process, providing information on what Acuity offers retail customers. This includes things like specific coverage brochures, customer/employee incident reporting tools, consultant information sheets describing each consultant’s experience and how they can support customers, and examples of Acuity content created to help businesses educate their employees and reduce claims.
At the time of an initial customer evaluation visit, offering insights into specific business processes and potential risks and opportunities. This includes making a professional connection with the customer and sharing details surrounding the consultant program and the complimentary benefits it provides. This type of visit also allows me to help explain what we do as an insurance company and put it into terms that each specific business owner can relate to.
Participating in customer face-to-face meetings, either virtually or on site, along with the agent, underwriting, and loss control to share the values of Acuity and the consultant program. This shows that Acuity cares about their business and has people directly from their industry on staff dedicated to helping them be successful and offering personalized support when requested. For instance, recently I was included in a face-to-face meeting with a furniture/appliance delivery and installation business. The business was very impressed that an insurance company would have someone on staff with actual experience from their type of business and even asked for immediate suggestions and feedback.
Responding in person or virtually to requests from customers to offer thoughts and suggestions to resolving challenges they encounter. My 35 years of retail experience in a variety of business environments uniquely qualifies me to offer firsthand feedback and recommendations. This includes providing training information as well as tools created to support their business operations. For example, recently I was asked to visit a customer who was having a challenge with their floors in the kitchen and back stockroom. I was able to complete a visit and provide recommendations on potential actions to resolve.
Providing support through on-site employee quarterly training. I partner with loss control to deliver ongoing employee training for topics such as slip, trip, and fall prevention; incident reporting; proper lifting techniques; emergency action response; and proper claims reporting. This allows the business to continue its education and awareness for its employees while being able to stay focused on what’s most import to them: operating their business.
Supporting monthly communication and discussion related to safe work practices by becoming an active member of a business’s safety committee. This includes having discussions with key stakeholders on operational best practices and ways to improve safety performance. I can also attend quarterly claims review to provide suggestions and offer ideas on how best to reduce frequency and severity of claims.