Alison Chaltas

StorefrontBacktalk: Retail IT Lessons in the Path of Sandy

November 12, 2012

FROM RETAILWIRE:
As Superstorm Sandy blew its devastating winds through much of the Eastern U.S., retailers had to deal with it just like everyone else. But few seemed to have anticipated the extent of the disruption. What IT or backend lessons did Sandy provide for retailers?      [more...]

The lessons for retailers are the same as lessons for home owners. Have a plan that assumes the worst. Safety functions first. And remember, employees may need to be home taking care of their families, so business is second. Run tests and teach all staff what to do. Also, empower store management to make some calls -- like letting employees use flashlights. You can plan for 90% of emergencies but there will always be need for common sense and problem solving.