Doug Kanter wrote:
....

One factor which affects the bottom line is transportation. How would you
address a factor over which you had little or no control? We're talking
about fuel costs.

Obviously, one either finds other ways to economize or eventually has to
raise prices to cover increased costs. It's not rocket science, just a
complex combination of marketing, competition and myriad other factors
involved in running a business...

One obvious solution for many in the US continues to be to go overseas
to reduce manufacturing costs, for example.