Advance Auto Parts has closed some stores, reduced hours and is encouraging the use of curbside pickup and same-day delivery, along with reducing capital spending and accessing an existing revolving credit facility. The company has also expanded employee sick leave and will pay $300 each to help employees manage living expenses.

Performance Food Group will make more than 1,000 employees available to help grocers keep shelves stocked. The company, which furloughed 3,000 staff, has drawn from a credit line, halted stock buybacks and deferred a portion of senior management pay.

To cope with surging demand caused by the coronavirus outbreak, Amazon will put new online delivery customers on a wait list and focus its efforts on adding capacity for additional orders. Amazon also said it has increased the number of Whole Foods Market locations offering curbside pickup from 80 to more than 150, and has trimmed store hours so workers have time to fill online orders.

Companies should be looking at their supply chains and distribution across several time spans, up to 180 days out, so that they're ready for anything that develops, writes Andrew Brueckner of Veriship. Among the immediate recommendations: Ensure customers understand that delays are likely.

Using web conferencing and online chats are among five digital improvements that can help distributors operate effectively during the coronavirus crisis, writes Dean Mueller of Real Results Marketing. Curbside pickup is also an option worth adding, he notes.

Many brands have enacted marketing department cuts, furloughs and layoffs and are relying more heavily on smaller teams to launch new products, boost sales and ensure they're properly positioned for the future, writes Nat Ives. Greg Welch of advisory firm Spencer Stuart says, "If you're a head of marketing, your job just changed forever," while John Dillon, executive vice president and chief brand officer at Denny's, says, "We're evolving as we go to take care of not just the here and now, but also to be prepared for whatever this looks like on the other side."

Leaders should send positive messages during stressful times without pretending nothing's wrong, says Sharon Melnick, who has studied and written about stress resilience. "Encourage [employees] to have someone who is safe to talk to about their sense of overwhelm, so they don't have to internalize the stress while putting up a tough front," she says.

Did you miss last Thursday's webinar with Alan Beaulieu: "Distribution Industry: Navigating the Crisis," where he provided a short-, mid- and long-term financial outlook for wholesale distribution along with other leading economic indicators? It's not too late for you to join the hundreds of distribution executives who benefited from Alan's forecast. The webinar recording and slide deck are available now for purchase. Order here.

Do you have at least one person in each of your locations who is trained to clean and disinfect for coronavirus? NAW member ISSA and its Global Biorisk Advisory Council (GBAC) division released the GBAC Fundamentals Online Course to teach infection and contamination control measures that ensure worker safety. Take the course to learn protocols and earn a certificate of completion for $150 (50% off list price) with promo code NAWGBAC.