Tough Times Demand Smart Action Tough Times Demand Smart Action By ABA President Neal Coonerty, owner of Bookshop Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California The U.S. economy was soft before the tragedy of September 11, but now experts predict an even bleaker future for retail sales. Here are some suggestions on how to prepare your business for tough times. Click here for this article in pdf format. Inventory Control in Tough Times By Dan Cullen In an uncertain economic climate, maintaining the proper level of inventory is crucially important. Here are some concrete suggestions. Marketing in Tough Times By Dan Cullen BTW continues its four-part series examining how experienced booksellers respond to the challenge of a suddenly changing retail environment. This week�s focus is marketing. Managing Co-op in Tough Times By Andrew Engelson Booksellers discuss ways to respond to the challenge of a suddenly changing retail environment. This week, BTW focuses on publisher co-op. Staff Management in Tough Times By Andrew Engelson Among the questions explored are: Faced with decreasing sales, will you be forced to cut payroll? How do you reach that decision, and how do you implement it fairly?