The weak economy has taught us all some serious lessons about what customers are really looking for. These lessons have demanded some serious adjustments in how we do business-the way we evaluate our business, the way we market our business, and the way we conduct our business. And, of course, everything costs a lot more money. Retail is failing left and right, and anybody that isn't a chain retailer has twice as much of a challenge ahead of them in terms of attracting and keeping business. Especially since the retail slump isn't entirely about the economy-it's also about the internet. Retailers have got to work harder than ever to compete with the in-home shopping experience.