WEBVTT

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- Retailers are in a wait-and-see mode,

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wanting to see what kind
of downturn materializes

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or how holiday sales come in.

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But they need to act now,

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and the key is to steer
clear of quick fixes.

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Instead, retailers should be working

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to build structural advantage.

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For example, that could
be strategic investments

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and digital capabilities

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that help retailers
optimize supply chain assets

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and inventory placement to
create an agile network.

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Or it could be improving their
employee value proposition

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to potential workers

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to help solve the issue of
ongoing churn in the workforce.

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Employees today care more
than they did in the past

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about factors such as
flexible scheduling

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and a convenient work location.

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Companies that took these
sort of structural actions

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during downturns in 2001
and 2008 weathered the storm

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and set themselves up for
success over the next decade.