One person's economic downturn is another person's opportunity:
SOUTH BEND, Ind. - A University of Notre Dame business expert says repair shops and discount stores are riding high in the recession even as other businesses struggle.
John Michel says consumers have turned frugal in the recession and have been shopping for the lowest-cost goods they can find at deep discount stores. They're also having their possessions repaired, rather than buying new items.
Places like shoe-repair and auto-repair shops are flourishing. McDonald's has had its best year in quite a while as people seek cheap calories. And of course there is the used-car business. Oh. Never mind that one.
