Recession is good for your business!

Crazy, nuts, totally wacko probably thinking to yourself. How could he even begin to think that the current turn down could bring something, but to give small business venture? All you have to do is look at the mega-stores that are affected. Store closures in 2008 when the number of nearly six thousand according to the news RIS. The International Council of Shopping Centers reports that in 2008 the closures are up 25% -5,770 in 2008 compared to a mere 4,603 in 2007. Soaring gas prices, food costs and powerful inflationary forces are squeezing consumers and retailers.

Just look at the list:

84 Lumber Co. - 30 stores
Ann Taylor - 117 stores
Charming Shoppes (Lane Bryant and Fashion Bug) - 150 stores
Foot Locker - 140 stores
Macy's - 9 stores
Movie Gallery - 160 stores as part of reorganization plan to exit bankruptcy
Pacific Sunwear - 153 Demo stores
Pep Boys - 33 stores
Sprint Nextel -125 stores
Wilsons the Leather Experts - 158 stores
Zales - 100 stores
JC Penney, Lowe's and Office Depot are scaling back or delaying expansion. Office Depot had planned to open 150 stores this year, but now open 75.
CompUSA: All 103 stores will be sold or closed. After being purchased by an investment firm, the company's business and assets are sold. The shops that do not sell will be closed.
Levitz Furniture: The furniture retailer has liquidated its assets and closed all its 76 stores.
Bombay Company: The company unveiled plans to close all 384 US-based company stores Bombay. Shop online The company has halted operations.
Sharper Image: The company recently filed for bankruptcy protection and announced that 90 of its 184 stores are closing. The retailer continues to operate 94 stores to pay off debts, but 90 of these stores have performed badly and may even close.
Charming Shoppes: the operator of Fashion Bug, Lane Bryant and Catherine's plans to close 150 stores unsatisfactory, lay off 150 employees and reduce the amount of shops will open in 2009.
Stores 'Demo' PacSun Pacific Sunwear will close its 154 Demo stores after a review of strategic alternatives for the urban-apparel brand. Seventy-four underperforming Demo stores closed last May.
Talbot Kids, Men: The company reported that 78 stores will close after disappointing sales were reported for children and clothing stores for men.
Ethan Allen Interiors: The company announced plans to close 12 of 300 + stores in an effort to cut costs.
Movie Gallery Stores: The video rental company plans to close 400 of 3,500 Movie Gallery and Hollywood Video stores in addition to the 520 seats of the video rental chain closed last fall.

Other retailers are facing closures Rite Aid, Macy, Sofa Express, Kirkland, Sigrid Olsen (part of Liz Claiborne), Jasmine Sola and Rent-A-Center.

- According to Christina Zarrello risnews.com.

So the question remains, if the big retailers are feeling the crisis as it could possibly bode well for the small business owner? The answer is simple! Customer Service.

With not all of these customers looking for goods and services and no place to go because they prepare your marketing to attract to your business? These customers will still need products and services, that will not change. With a bit 'of careful planning you can protect a whole new group of customers who could never reach before, and then increase your customer base.

Here are some ideas that may help you see the light. People are not eating out as much. Why not offer them an alternative - to provide low-cost, easy to make meal planning services, economic package and go meals, packaged "You Make" dishes, side dishes and even desserts, alternative coaching dietary choice for those who want to lose weight and keep it out.

Another thing that people will always need help. Whether it is in the area of ​​financial planning or realizing that they are wasting valuable time trying to save a dollar here and there to do things that really would be better to delegate so they can focus more on what they do best, make the sale. Virtual Assistance is now available in many different forms. Coaches Web design, marketing, and Life, Multi-media provider, and a host of other professional services must be cost-effective alternative.

Put your thinking cap and I am certain they will find a way that you can attract these customers floundering.

The tools needed to succeed in capturing these customers are rebels a solid marketing plan and unsurpassed customer service capabilities. If you miss even one of these areas can be left in the dust with big retailers.

On the customer service allows me to create a tale that might help you see what I mean by capabilities unparalleled customer service that has been shared with me a month ago in a newsletter from Yanik Silver.

"It seems that he was having dinner with friends at an intimate restaurant called" The Modern "in New York City. Approximately 3/4 's of the way through the meal the guests at a nearby table were getting stronger and doing those in his party uncomfortable more impacted their dinner conversation. The waiter approached the table and too exaggerated to pay a small amount of bottled water on their table. Then, aloud (to make sure that the other couple heard) said: "Oops, how clumsy of me. I can not believe I spilled water all over the table. We can not have you sitting at a table wet, so let me just above mover. "Then a team of seven and moved to fell their table, wine glasses and the whole meal in the dining room.

What happened was the staff properly assess the situation as it has done something boring and very intelligent, but not embarrassing the other pair. "We learned a lesson. Outputs to ensure your customer satisfaction and have a customer for life.

The key to overcoming the recession talk is to be less distracted by the news and more determined to succeed! Plan Today and tomorrow you will succeed....