Within this context, key recommendations and areas of focus include: Aggressive efforts to increase online presence and ordering and shipping/delivery capabilities Diversification of retail mix where demand and space allow to include sufficient essential products to allow operations to remain open in future shut downs Diversification of suppliers and increased inventory space to protect against product shortages Analysis of product pricing taking into consideration market trends, the characteristics of your demand base and the increased operating costs of the post-pandemic environment Increased automation in cashiering, customer service and other areas where possible to help control labor costs with lower volumes Reevaluation of space needs and associated costs for front-of-house versus back-of-house in light of new spacing requirements and inventory needs Transportation & Warehousing The massive problems in the passenger transportation subsector do not directly affect tribal economies except in as much as tourist demand in some areas depends upon air transport. For the vast majority of tribes, demand presents by personal vehicle and few, if any, tribes operate their own passenger transport businesses, except to bring gaming demand to their casinos. For that component, lower fuel cost will be a boon. The primary impact of this sector will be the potential for increased freight and warehousing demand for tribal operators involved in those businesses. Between increases in online shopping, diversification of the supply chain and increased inventory space needs, demand for freight transport and warehousing is forecast to grow, as discussed earlier. As with manufacturing, some tribes are strategically located and can offer ample land and potentially lower taxes to warehouse and freight operators or develop them in their own right. To the extent that the same tribes do not have capital to develop or expand such ventures, working with other tribes to obtain financing or joint venture could solve the problem. Any tribe already active in warehousing and freight transport or actively pursuing increased manufacturing opportunities as described earlier should also be looking to expand their network of shippers and delivery destinations over the next two years to boost their presence in the sector for the long haul.
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