| Unemployment has been slowly rising for awhile, | | | | One of the dominant players in the |
| but with all the economic troubles falling on the | | | | recession-proof internet marketing industry, WSI |
| shoulders of businesses great and small, employer | | | | Internet has been named one of the top 50 |
| cutbacks appear to be getting worse. There are a | | | | franchises in the world today. They've been in the |
| few industries that have taken such a hit recently | | | | industry for the last 11 years, and have stayed |
| that their employment level is either already falling | | | | on the cutting edge of online marketing |
| or expected to fall shortly. | | | | consultation from day one. Today, the primary |
| Just over a week ago, CNN posted an article to | | | | responsibility of a franchisee is consulting clients in |
| show what industries were likely to see the | | | | the best ways to exploit the internet for the |
| largest cutbacks next, and their conclusions really | | | | purpose of marketing their businesses. Franchisees |
| don't come as much of a surprise. The first on | | | | needn't come with any past experience, but |
| their list was the housing market, which recently | | | | simply the willingness to learn the industry. |
| saw its worst September since 1981. The finance | | | | |
| industry has already seen 110,000 job losses in | | | | Rocket Vending |
| the last year, and it's not looking like any changes | | | | The way they describe their business is "vending |
| to that pattern are in the wings. Retail came up | | | | with a conscience." Unlike almost all other vending |
| as well; struggling as a market even before | | | | businesses, this business for sale contributes a |
| recession set in, the industry appears to be | | | | portion of every candy sale to a breast cancer |
| crawling toward its slowest holiday season since | | | | organization of the franchisee's choosing. The |
| 2001, which means that seasonal hiring may be | | | | machines are built with a colorful, artistic design |
| much lighter this year. Since advertisers are | | | | that attracts attention and spotlights the altruistic |
| moving away from more expensive printed | | | | intent of the business. And to top everything off, |
| advertising, employment in the printing industry is | | | | the vending industry is recession-proof, making it |
| also expected to take a hit. And to finish off the | | | | a solid work at home business endeavor in all |
| list, the automotive industry (primarily | | | | economic climates. |
| auto-production) and the travel market are also | | | | |
| suffering, which means a gloomy outlook for | | | | DVDNow |
| two-million auto workers and countless airline and | | | | Claiming another corner of the vending market, |
| travel employees who are already being let go. | | | | DVDNow is one of the leading names in the |
| The research offers a bleak forecast, but the | | | | growing industry of automated movie-rentals. |
| article closes with a ray of hope. One Chicago | | | | Franchisees manage as many automated DVD |
| businesswoman from the personnel industry | | | | machines as they can handle, placing the devices |
| recommends that those laid-off work on honing | | | | in public places like grocery stores, shopping |
| skills they've acquired in one line of work so that | | | | centers, and malls to capitalize on a growing |
| they can be applied to an industry that may still | | | | segment of movie-viewers who want renting a |
| be looking for help. | | | | DVD to be quicker, more convenient, and cheaper |
| That's a wise piece of advice. In fact, the loss of | | | | than a traditional rental store can make it. This |
| a job may be the perfect opportunity to take | | | | work from home business is not only resistant to |
| advantage of a work at home business | | | | recession, but may in fact be counter-recessive, |
| opportunity. Many home business franchisees | | | | as harder economic times drive more people to |
| have claimed that being given a pink slip was the | | | | cheap forms of quick entertainment. |
| best thing that ever happened to them, because | | | | Undoubtedly, it's a nerve-racking time for the |
| it forced them to drop a line of work they didn't | | | | American economy, but the shrinking of some |
| enjoy and take up a successful franchise which | | | | markets is far from the collapse of all of them. |
| allowed them to be the entrepreneur they | | | | The future is anything but lost, and getting |
| naturally were. | | | | through this difficult time is, in many ways, just a |
| If changing industries sounds like a good move, | | | | matter of keeping a stiff upper lip, trying |
| and starting a home based business is an exciting | | | | something new, and taking advantage of |
| prospect, here are some business opportunities | | | | whatever may come your way. The job market |
| worthy of a closer look. | | | | may not be strong, but that may simply afford |
| | | | people an opportunity to grow stronger instead. |
| WSI Internet | | | | |