Retail sales headwinds are still raging. Consumer confidence plummeted to an all-time low in October as consumers continued to grapple with stock market volatility, rising unemployment and limited access to credit. And as consumers pull back, retailers are being hit hard, most reporting negative same-store sales growth in October. But retailers aren't standing still. Many are cutting costs to protect profitability, and some are evaluating bold strokes to either grasp strategic opportunities or avoid joining the growing roster of bankruptcies.