I'm in California on a research trip at the moment, and I've been coming across stories about some of the ingenious ways in which American businesses are trying to beat the recession. I'll post them as and when I find them, and hope they're inspiring! Here's the first, from NPR Radio:
Laid-Off Architect Sells Advice For 5 Cents
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Morning Edition, March 25, 2009 · Somewhere beneath the rubble of the housing market collapse, there's an architect trying to dig out and build a clientele. And he's doing it one question at a time.
After getting laid off from an architecture firm for the second time last year, John Morefield had a choice to make: either scratch around for one of the few architecture jobs available in Seattle or do something to control his destiny.
Then he decided: "Now's the time to do the booth."
It's an odd way to grow a business. Every Sunday, Morefield sets up shop at the Ballard Farmers Market. But it isn't anything tangible that Morefield is slinging from behind his small plywood booth; he's selling advice.
For 5 cents, Morefield offers pointers on home improvement projects. He got the idea from the Peanuts cartoon — you remember Lucy and her questionable nuggets of psychiatric help. Read on
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