The holiday season brings increased activity for many businesses in the Johnstown area. Retail stores, service providers, and light commercial facilities typically experience higher foot traffic, expanded hours, and more frequent inventory turnover during this time of year. While these changes are a regular part of the holiday rush, they also introduce new security considerations that shouldn’t be overlooked.
Preparing your business for the winter and holiday seasons goes beyond staffing and inventory planning. It also means reviewing your security systems to ensure they are prepared for higher usage, after-hours access, and seasonal risks. A proactive approach can help reduce disruptions, protect assets, and keep employees and customers safe during one of the busiest times of the year.
During the holiday season, many Johnstown businesses operate under conditions that differ significantly from the rest of the year. Extended hours, temporary employees, increased deliveries, and higher customer volume all create an environment where security systems are relied upon more heavily.
After-hours activity is one of the most common changes. Cleaning crews, overnight stocking, and early-morning deliveries can increase the number of people entering the building outside of regular business hours. Without clear access controls and monitoring, it can be challenging to track who is on-site and when they are there.
Winter weather also adds another layer of complexity. Snow, ice, and reduced daylight can affect visibility around entrances and parking areas. Businesses that rely on exterior lighting and cameras may need to adjust settings or positioning to maintain coverage during shorter days.
Together, these factors make the holiday retail surge a critical time for business owners to revisit their security planning.
The holiday season often brings elevated risks related to both theft and fire. With more inventory on hand and more people moving through the space, opportunities for loss increase if systems are not properly configured.
Shoplifting and internal theft can become more difficult to detect during busy periods when staff attention is divided. High-value or fast-moving inventory may be temporarily stored in less secure areas, making it critical to ensure these locations are monitored.
Fire risks can also increase during winter. Heating systems run more frequently, seasonal displays add electrical load, and temporary lighting or decorations may introduce additional hazards. These factors make it especially important for fire and life-safety systems to be inspected and functioning correctly before peak season begins.
Addressing both theft and fire risks as part of a single security review helps businesses approach the holiday season with a more complete plan.
Video surveillance plays a vital role in protecting your inventory during periods of increased activity. Before the holidays begin, business owners should review camera placement and functionality to ensure coverage aligns with seasonal operations.
Cameras should clearly monitor areas where high-value inventory is displayed or stored, including stock rooms, sales floors, loading areas, and points of sale. Temporary displays or rearranged shelving can unintentionally block camera views, making it essential to reassess coverage after holiday layouts are installed.
You should also review your video storage and access settings. Ensuring footage is retained for an appropriate length of time allows for review if issues arise days or weeks later. Access to video systems should be limited to authorized personnel, reducing the risk of tampering or misuse.
Modern video systems can also provide alerts for unusual movement or activity after hours. These alerts allow business owners or monitoring professionals to respond quickly if something appears out of place, even during overnight periods.
Access control becomes especially important during the holiday season when more people may need temporary or limited access to a business. Vendors, seasonal employees, cleaning services, and delivery drivers may all require entry outside of standard business hours.
Using controlled credentials—such as keycards, fobs, or codes—allows business owners to manage access more precisely than traditional keys. Credentials can be assigned, restricted by time, and removed when no longer needed, reducing long-term risk.
Monitoring entry and exit activity also provides accountability. Access control systems create records of when doors are opened and by whom, which can be helpful in identifying patterns or investigating concerns.
For Johnstown businesses with multiple access points, such as rear entrances or service doors, reviewing access control across the entire property helps ensure that no areas are overlooked during busy periods.
Fire and life-safety systems are a critical component of commercial security, particularly during the winter and holiday seasons. The increased use of heating systems, lighting, and electrical equipment can place additional strain on a building’s infrastructure.
Before the holiday rush, businesses should ensure that fire alarms, smoke detectors, and any sprinkler systems are inspected and operating as intended. Monitoring services should be active and properly configured to alert emergency responders if needed.
Seasonal changes to business hours should also be communicated to monitoring providers. Knowing when a building is occupied or unoccupied helps monitoring centers respond appropriately to alarms.
For businesses that host larger crowds during the holidays, ensuring exits are clear, alarms are audible, and emergency procedures are up to date supports both compliance and safety.
SSA has been providing security solutions across Western Pennsylvania and the surrounding region since 1972. For commercial clients in the Johnstown area, SSA offers intrusion detection, video surveillance, access control, and fire alarm services supported by professional monitoring.
Licensed technicians handle system installation, inspection, and maintenance, helping ensure equipment performs reliably during high-demand periods. Local service means faster response times when adjustments or repairs are needed, which is especially valuable during the holiday season.
SSA’s commercial security solutions are designed to support businesses of varying sizes, from small retail shops to mid-size commercial facilities. Systems can be reviewed and adjusted to reflect seasonal changes in hours, staffing, and inventory levels.
Working with a provider that understands the local business environment helps ensure security planning is practical and aligned with real-world operations in the Johnstown area.
The holiday season arrives quickly, and security planning is most effective when addressed before peak activity begins. A pre-holiday security review allows business owners to identify gaps, test systems, and make updates without the pressure of daily rushes.
SSA offers commercial security system evaluations and upgrades for businesses in Johnstown, supported by licensed technicians and round-the-clock monitoring. Reviewing your system now can help reduce disruptions, protect inventory, and support a safer environment for staff and customers throughout the holiday season.
To learn more about state-of-the-art commercial security systems in Johnstown, PA, or to schedule a system review before the holiday rush, contact SSA today.
