The big takeaway: When debt was cheap, retailers and companies could sell investors on big ideas and compelling narratives. Now, they have to accomplish a more basic objective: Sell enough goods and/or services at a large enough margin to turn a profit.
This article originally appeared in Insider Intelligence's Retail & Ecommerce Briefing—a daily recap of top stories reshaping the retail industry. Subscribe to have more hard-hitting takeaways delivered to your inbox daily.