Small Business, Follow Home Depot's Lead

We're used to hearing bad news, given the state of the economy. Every earnings report brings another tale of falling sales and vanishing revenue.

But not all bad news is equally bad. Investors need only look at the examples set by two of the country's largest big-box retailers: Home Depot (HD Quote) and Target (TGT Quote).

Both companies have been hurt by declines in customer spending. But one has responded aggressively to its challenges, and the other has stumbled. The difference offers a valuable lesson for all business owners who are trying to withstand the weak economy. ...