Total Retail Loss: Rethinking How We Measure and Manage Risk

Shrink used to be the industry’s north star—but that lens is no longer enough. Today’s most effective retail leaders are rethinking loss through a wider, more strategic framework: Total Retail Loss.

In this conversation, longtime industry leader Brand L. Elverston sits down with two respected Walmart leaders—Ashley Klorer, Senior Director of Asset Protection (Stores), and Vicki Smith, Director of Supply Chain Integrity—to explore how retailers can better define, measure, and mitigate the full spectrum of risk in their businesses.

Their discussion builds on the momentum of a standout general session at RILA, where Ashley and Vicki helped surface the gaps between what retailers think shrink is—and what’s really driving margin erosion.

Both bring years of experience working across store operations, asset protection, and supply chain strategy. More importantly, they bring a grounded and actionable perspective on how to reframe loss as a business-wide opportunity.

We discuss:

• What Total Retail Loss really means—and how it moves beyond traditional shrink
• Why theft is only one piece of the profitability puzzle
• How to quantify indirect loss (and why it matters)
• The downstream impact of receiving errors, price change mismatches, and poor on-hand accuracy
• Why cross-functional buy-in—not just great tech—is the unlock
• How even small or regional retailers can begin applying TRL principles
• The emerging role of AI, computer vision, and RFID in loss visibility
• Why fostering a culture of shared ownership is essential

Whether you lead a large loss prevention team or are simply trying to improve store-level execution, this episode offers a practical roadmap for thinking bigger—and working smarter—when it comes to loss.

Featuring:
Ashley Klorer – Sr. Director, Asset Protection (Stores)
A 17-year retail veteran with experience spanning merchandising, store leadership, and innovation. Known for building high-performing teams and developing future leaders.

Vicki Smith – Director, Supply Chain Integrity
A former environmental health officer turned retail risk expert, Vicki now leads integrity initiatives across supply chain operations and serves in industry-wide leadership forums.

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