To paraphrase an old saying, “When the going gets tough, retailers start slashing operational costs.”  Ironically, cost slashing usually exposes a retailer to even greater risks instead of fortifying it against economic uncertainties.  All businesses have felt the impact of today’s volatile economy.  Retail has been hit especially hard, with sales in 2007 rising by only 2.4% - the smallest year-to-year increase since 2002. Despite such dour statistics, there are plenty of opportunities to gain share in today’s market.