RECESSION FIGHTING

The consulting companies have been sending out a fusillade of studies on how we should handle the “perceived” slowdown in the economy. Yeah, some of them still actually say “perceived.” Talk about covering your butt!
Okay, so what are we going to do about this, um, recession? Solemn traditionalists warn us that we should “stay the course” and not make any changes now or we’ll be sorry later. I’ll bet those guys never held a job where they knew the visceral fear of not making a number. Sorry, but not reacting to today’s climate is akin to not ducking out of the way of a rapidly approaching left hook.  
Okay, before I set forth my own ideas on how to survive and prosper in this depression (just kidding!), let me start with full disclosure: I don’t own an MBA. Got my only D in college in economics. Got a BS (and not a BA) in journalism nearly 40 years ago, probably because they correctly figured journalists can always use more BS. So, don’t say I didn’t warn you. Now, here goes!  
 —Grab that restaurant business! Well, of course people are going to be eating out less in restaurants and buying more in your stores. But don’t try a “suggestive sell,” which always sounded risque or, perhaps, merely risky to me. Be obvious. Get in their faces with meal solutions and signage that explains it all. Put it all in one place so people don’t have to walk around the store. We’re lazy, and we love convenience.
—Don’t go to the bank on “green.” I’ll get hate mail on this one. But listen, just do what you can without spending a fortune right now. Consumers talk organic and sustainability, but they don’t always spend that way. Some initiatives have decent payback, like LED lighting in freezer cases and organics in certain categories. Do what makes sense, and beat the PR drum about it, without stretching the truth. Aside from that, save your money for eroding margins, higher health care costs and, well, you know the rest.
—Put pure EDLP to bed. Not many people are even attempting pure EDLP anyway. I’m not suggesting switching to hi-lo if you haven’t been there in years, but if there was ever a time for a hybrid price format, this is it. Watch your competitors, and always have a few bargains. You’d think everybody would know this, but there are some corner office holdouts that would scare you.
—Cut costs. Ask your bean counters how they measure your department and its profitability. You may be surprised, and some things may actually be in your control. Ask the IT folk what reports other departments are getting, that you aren’t. There can be some interesting missing links that will help you shore up profitability. Seen it before, and, in a brief corporate career, “been there, done that.”
—Partner. While I’ve always believed that win-win is a fairy tale espoused by “Mercedes Benz liberals” as I call them, I do believe in finding creative ways to please both partners. (Dr. Ruth taught me that.) Maximize deal opportunity. Hey, there’s not nearly enough communication here. It’s worth more than 15 minutes once a quarter. (I knew that without Dr. Ruth telling me.)
—Tour websites of “best practice” retailers. Yeah, gasoline prices are through the roof. So spend a half hour visiting the Web sites of “the usual suspects:” Wegmans, Whole Foods, Safeway, Kroger, Publix, Trader Joe’s and even Walmart. Vow to steal one idea for each session. But don’t try to expense your “tours.” You’ll get fired.