RECESSION PROOFINGIn today's blog, Ez will talk about ways that you can get ahead of the curve and profit from the coming economic downturn.
Ok, it's not an easy subject to talk about. There will be a lot more belt tightening , fewer visits to the mall, more frequent visits to the Thrift Shop, and Spam sandwiches all around for millions of Americans. A recession will effect middle class folks more directly as their lifestyles are more dependent on the bubble economies of the past. Hello downsizing, bye bye middle management, seeya later accountants, real estate sales agents, restaurant owners, boutique-rs, webmasters, software developers, etc etc.
Let's choose, however, not to focus on the gloom and doom side of a recession. Let's instead look out how Ithaca and Ithacans are uniquely poised to profit from a shrinking economy.
For one, Ithacans are no strangers to hard times. Let's face it. We've upstate New Yorkers have been in a recession for the last 30 years since Earl Butts signed the death warrant for American farmers. And for years, all those smart asses up on the hill have been taking their fancy Cornell educations elsewhere so Ithaca has never benefited like other college towns from the knowledge boom. Well, ok, some Cornell grads have stayed to open restaurants, granted.
Let's get down to it. Ithacans are used to seeing empty store fronts on the Commons. What's the big deal if a few dozen more businesses go out?
Now, Ez knows that that's not a popular thing to say and he's ready to take the heat on it. But whatcha going to do? Do you think that operating a boutique that sells tutus and ballet slippers, or objects d'art made by millionaire potters, is a realistic long range way to make a living in a community where half the residents are on social services? And folks around Ithaca are already pros at scavenging, scrounging, spending hours at the unemployment office, stretching their budgets at the food pantries and soup kitchen, staying warm and dry in the Ithaca Center, working for peanuts at the local hotels and restaurants.
Just a ideas how you can profit from the next recession. Stake out a bottle and can recycling route. Follow the guy in the pink tutu that cycles around town. He knows the best places to find the aluminum gold. And, let's face, he rides a bike, you still have gas in your Volvo S40, that is, while gas is under $35.
Buy a part interest in a downtown head shop. As things get tough, folks light up.
Spend some time at Loaves & Fishes, the local soup kitchen to see how they do things. Then, just for a moment, envision a nationwide chain of soup kitchens, Soup Kitchens Are US. Imagine getting a chuckle when you see your old stockbroker buddies from college line up for lunch.
Join the Salvation Army. Not only do the rank and file get a discount at the thrift shop, but one day, if things get bad enough, they may merge the Starvation Army with the regular army. You might end up a five star general or a rear admiral.
Finally, get a sense of humor, or become a filmmaker, or both. During the Great Depression, 60-70 million Americans still packed into movie theaters every week. The movies of the 30's offered escape, hope, inspiration. And Mayor Fiorella LaGuardia read the funnies on the radio. Little Orphan Annie's creator always had soda crackers on the table when everyone else was selling apples on the corner.
Oh, and one last thing, those empty malls would make great skating rinks. Or even better, how about a remake of the redoubtable George Romero's Dawn of the Dead, filmed entirely on location in Pyramid Mall which, to make things more interesting, has been turned into a gigantic skating rink. Yo, dude, Holiday of the Dead with undead makeovers of all the rinky dink greats, Scott Hamilton, Rene Fleming and Tanya Harding. Oh, she's already undead?
Comments invited at: ezrakidder@gmail.com - Peace, Ezra at 5:56 AM
