What’s In Store For You In 2009?

Okay, nobody knows FOR CERTAIN, however, I think I can make a few predictions about the state of the World economy and also about the U.S. economy.

HOW?

Predicting simple elements of the future isn’t difficult. We know that tomorrow the sun will rise (unless you’re in the North or South Pole in which case it either won’t for 6 months, or it already has risen and won’t go down for 6 months!) and we know that simply because that’s what has been happening for aeons.

WHAT ELSE CAN WE PREDICT?

Some obvious things.  People are losing their jobs, so we can predict that their will be fewer dollars spent, particularly on things that aren’t necessities.  Walmart will do well, as will other budget stores.  Super-high-end products will still perform well, because people with a lot of money often spend MORE during a depression (oops, I mean SEVERE RECESSION) for two reasons: 1. It makes them feel better and 2. They got wealthy by seeing and acting on good deals and there will be a LOT of good deals around in 2009 (and beyond most likely).

Just about ALL mid-range product suppliers will suffer, with a few exceptions like carpet-stores, where people will buy a more expensive and more durable product to last longer.

WHAT WON’T DO WELL?

In these financially messed-up times, mid-range companies will fail UNLESS they are financially solid.  By that I mean they own ASSETS.  They own their buildings and trucks rather than leasing them.  Mid-range restaurants will fail because people will go out to eat ONCE a week rather than 4-7 times a week.  Applebees, Chili’s, Red Lobster etc. will have a really hard time.  Mid-range consumer stores like Best Buy will suffer as did Circuit City.

WHAT WILL DO WELL?

Internet Marketing will thrive as will online sales of physical products.  People will want to travel less (to save money) and will be more astute about price-shopping, which is done a lot more quickly and easily online.

Automotive parts stores and car-repair shops will do great business as people save money by keeping their older cars and trucks running.  This will be either because they simply can’t afford a new vehicle, or because they can’t get a loan as the credit crunch continues to worsen.

Information products, PARTICULARLY on how to make it through these hard times will do extremely well.  ANY information, so long as it’s accurate and HELPFUL, will sell well.

SPECIFICS

Products like:

1. How to get credit cards

2. How to spend less shopping for food

3. How to make money from home

4. How to repair your credit rating

5. How to get job interviews

6. How to do well in job interviews

7. How to repair you car

8. How to get better mileage from you car

This information will be invaluable to people so they will pay you to help them.

IT’LL GET WORSE

Because of the inevitable inflation, things will get worse over the coming few years before it will start to improve.  There will be more government jobs available, but they will be paid for by printed money; that is, money that has no value other than “belief” (see my articles on inflation ‘Why Does The Cost Of Living Keep Rising).

WHERE SHOULD YOU START?

ANY large economic change offers massive opportunity to make a better living than you’ve ever had before.  Change is what’s it’s all about.  If you can see how things are changing, you can tailor what you have to offer to accommodate that change.  Another method, my favorite in fact, is to find problem areas in people’s lives and then CREATE a product to to help them solve it.

Here’s a GREAT place to start this process.

Desperate Buyers Only

Luke.