Thriving in 2009? YES!

“Market correction.” Ouch! How callous a term for what we’re going through.

But think of it this way: our current mega-recession is separating the wheat from the chaff in our business strategies. No one can hide in an environment like this. Either you’re doing everything right, or… or it’s obvious that you aren’t.

The good news – and there’s always some good news tucked away, somewhere – is that today’s thriving companies aren’t casting magic spells or even relying on dumb luck to make it while the rest of us sink. There is no luck at a time like this. No good luck, anyway.

Right now, there are only good business practices.

***

I’ve been reaching out to business leaders across the country in search of companies that are thriving despite our current downturn. “How are you doing it?” I ask. “What can the rest of us learn?”

Here’s just a glimpse into some of the companies I’ve found that are thriving despite the recession.

* Says Allan Walters, Senior VP of Saratoga Technologies in Tennessee and Virginia (http://www.saratogaus.com/): “We have definitely been affected by the economy so I probably wouldn’t use the word thriving BUT we are doing quite well for the circumstances. We have budged for a 10% growth in 2009 (before the economy tanked we would have projected a 40% increase). We are not laying off anyone, we are hiring, expanding and growing - just at a slower pace than before.”

* Another technology firm in a completely different sector, VSM.net (http://www.vsm.net/), is growing by leaps and bounds, expanding from its base in Southwest Florida up the east coast of the state as well. I'm having lunch next week with the three partners so they can share their magic. I'll share more in a future posting.

* According to Joe Curtin, a top executive with upscale supermarket company Roche Bros. of Eastern Massachusetts (http://www.rochebros.com/): “We're stable – business is even with last year – which I guess is a plus in this economy! Most of our competitors are down over last year, except for one competitor, which is 11% up over last year.” The competitor in question is famous for competing on price, with low-quality the result. [I’ve written on Roche Bros. before on this blog.]

* I haven’t looked into how the parent company is faring, but my favorite Chick Fil-A (Naples Center) is thriving. The franchise owner, PJ Rodriguez, does not choose to draw attention to this fact with his customers – this is no time to count your blessings, he seems to say – but it’s hard to walk into his shop and not see how he’s doing for yourself.

These are just four of about two-dozen “winners” I’ve found in all markets coast to coast and in a surprising variety of industries.

What does each have in common? An unparalleled commitment to customer service.

Surprised? I’m not.