The credit crunch and recession have had a profound effect on many of us, with businesses having to adapt to the changing economic climate. As a retailer pre-ordering stock six to twelve months in advance can be like sticking your finger in the air to see which way the wind is blowing. It is a gamble in normal times, what will be in fashion, what colours will be popular,  what size ranges to buy in, all difficult thing to second guess, but something we normally cope with well. Of course with the recession the temptation for many shops is to cut back on what they buy in and reduce their ranges, we have tried to avoid this, as we want to ensure our customers have plenty of choice.