Which areas of business are currently thriving or expected to ....

[OneGrassRoot]

soon be doing well, or at least better?

We know bars and barbershops/salons tend to maintain business even in a poor economy.

Given the stimulus and/or the general state of our economy (and society), which areas of industry do you expect to start growing or increasing in revenue and employment opportunities, beyond the blood-sucking industries like the bogus credit counselors and such?

For example, an acquaintance recently found work (web development) creating websites for solar panel companies that recently received stimulus money.

:)

[ejpoeta]

1. I know debt collection seems to be an area where they are hiring....

there are alot of those companies around here and the local news had a piece about how one big one is hiring right now. I wouldn't want to be a debt collector, but when your kids have to eat.

[OneGrassRoot]

5. This is true...

anything with debt collection, repossession...they're a booming business right now.

:(

[Uben]

2. republican divorce lawyers are doing well......

...and their future looks bright!

[OneGrassRoot]

4. LOL! I needed that chuckle this morning....

thanks.

:hi:

[BR_Parkway]

3. Ammunition manufacturing

[OneGrassRoot]

6. Geez....that's true, too.

That industry has skyrocketed since the inauguration.

[BR_Parkway]

23. yep, the one and only time in my life I've thought about buying stock

[mwb970]

7. Psychotherapy?

More seriously, I think health care in general will thrive due to us aging boomers.

[OneGrassRoot]

8. True, though different aspects of the healthcare industry....

may be more affected than others depending on what ends up passing as far as healthcare reform.

Products and services for aging boomers is certainly an industry that will grow.

Thanks for that. :)

[patrice]

9. Hospice care. nt

[customerserviceguy]

10. Ford did make a profit last quarter

and this was six months after they were considered to be in the same boat with GM and Chrysler.

I have a feeling that "Cash for Clunkers" is going to stimulate sales. I can see situations where a person with a clunker gets a co-signer (who doesn't have one), the co-signer is the "real" buyer of the new car. The guy with the clunker gets maybe a grand or so for a car that isn't worth snot as scrap metal.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

11. Tent makers, shopping cart manufactuers, coin launderies. nt

[KharmaTrain]

12. Funeral Director

Reminds me of the Raygun recession of the early 80's. I made friends with a Undertaker (his name, not mine)...Henry was a hoot, considering how difficult a job he had, he always had a great sense of self and humor. He said then that when the economy goes bad, his business goes through the roof. Add to this the lack of adequate health care many of us boomers have dealt with and we could see this industry really take off in the next 20 years.

[OneGrassRoot]

13. You know, I was specifically wondering about this....

I've read several places how more and more people simply can't afford funeral expenses. They ARE exorbitant. Even cremation, which I always thought would be less expensive, but it's not really.

I wonder if new alternatives are going to come about in this regard? I can't imagine what they ARE, but while death will not stop, how we handle it on a practical level may need to change. There are so many stories of how this industry is in trouble due to lack of space, and they're doing things with the bodies contrary to what the families have been told.

I've never investigated how other countries -- especially the smaller ones -- handle these issues. That will be on my Google list. :)

Yikes. The Grim Reaper is about to get even more grim, I fear.

:(

[Dawgs]

14. My wife's cousin is doing well. He contacts people about their upcoming foreclosures.

:cry:

[OneGrassRoot]

17. ...

:(

:cry:

[OneGrassRoot]

15. Does anyone know of steps being taken to convert all these empty...

strip malls and other facilities into schools and affordable multi-family homes?

Converting them into usable facilities that are desperately needed could be an industry in and of itself, but I only see it happening very sporadically.

It's a travesty, when so many are without shelter, not to mention food, basic healthcare, etc.

[lunatica]

16. Liquor sales and discount food outlets will thrive

I'm serious.

Liquor will take the place of many medicines and will be used for self-medication and plain escapism. Traditionally cheap foods will take the place of a balanced diet and the MacDonald's of this world will thrive for a while as they sell their chemically altered pseudo food cheaper and cheaper. The fast food industry will throw in all kinds of genetically altered substances into their so-called food.

I'm sure there's an upside to what types of businesses will thrive but I don't think it'll happen for a while.

[OneGrassRoot]

19. It's a damn shame...

that eating healthy is so expensive. I know there are great options -- like Angel Food Ministries and other organizations offering low-cost meals, which is wonderful.

Local food coops hopefully will gain traction, and the community gardens that are popping up.

Still, I wish healthy foods were more mainstream and readily available for everyone, in all areas.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

18. Remodeling and construction repair companies

People are doing more to keep up and improve their properties, and carpenters and the like who specialize in remodeling and repairs are keeping busy around here.

[OneGrassRoot]

20. yep, yep....

I see that, too.

Nice to see you. :)

:hug:

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

22. Been going to this other site

to post things, ya know. :)

[piratefish08]

21. pawn shops

[JCMach1]

24. Higher Ed... more people go back to school

[OneGrassRoot]

27. Especially community colleges. n/t

[quiller4]

25. For some reason ticket sales at theatres are way up. The theatre

closest to my house has added two extra showings per day and hired a dozen extra staff since February.

[OneGrassRoot]

28. I've read that movies/entertainment boomed during the Great Depression...

People need that escape. I would imagine $1 theaters are even more popular, and Netflix, etc.

[ShamelessHussy]

30. I read that, too and it makes perfect sense in hindsight

and I am betting the past is prologue in this field (entertainment - some forms)

[ThomWV]

26. Highway construction, heavy equipment parts and service, shipping.

Over the road shipping might make some sense and of course as the economy even hints at a rebound the price of oil will skyrocket.

[ShamelessHussy]

29. Enertainment: MMA

Mixed Martial Arts

there's a special on CNBC, tonight on it's rapid and continuing rise in popularity ($$$)

:hi:

[OneGrassRoot]

31. I had to look up MMA...

I'm a fuddy-duddy; can't stand all that WWF and other stuff where people are beating the shit out of one another as the whole purpose of the "event."

Now, if in the midst of a hockey game or football game they beat the shit out of one another, I'm okay with that.

:P

[ShamelessHussy]

32. D'oh! updated my post -> Mixed Martial Arts

A.K.A. UFC® : Ultimate Fighting
http://www.ufc.com

lol - "Now, if in the midst of a hockey game or football game they beat the shit out of one another, I'm okay with that."