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The Working Supervisor's Support Kit is a collection of information and tools to help working supervisors do a better job. It's based on what Wally's learned in over twenty years of supervisory skills training.

For weekly tips and resources pointers, check Wally's Three Star Leadership Letter

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Every week, reporters around the continent write great business stories that don't make it onto your screen or into your local paper. And every week I scour newspapers around the continent to identify five of those great stories to enrich your weekend reading. This week I'm pointing you to stories about store brands, auto mechanics, and video games ascendant, as well as a boon for bankruptcy lawyers and how the auto industry might be different in five years.

Look to your left to see what I blogged about here this week. Over at Momentor I blogged about "Auditioning for a Job" and did my weekly selection of Top Career Posts.

Last week's newsletter was "Leadership in Adversity." As usual there were pointers to Web and Reading Resources, too.

And now, here's my pick of the five best local stories this week.

From the Chicago Tribune: Shoppers pick up store brands
"The economy—a roiling caldron of evaporating jobs and soaring food prices—has caused shoppers to migrate to cheaper store brands at rates not seen since the last recession in 2001, according to market researcher Nielsen Co. Back then, they shifted right back to name brands when the economy perked up."

Wally's Comment: There are lots of little signs that times are getting harder. One of them is that grocery shoppers are switching from national brands to store brands.

As hard as the times are, there are some kinds of businesses that are doing well. Here are three of them.

From the Denver Post: Auto mechanics reap bounty of downturn
"The gloom of an economic recession is turning into a potential boom for the automotive-repair business. As consumers cut back on new-car purchases, they're spending more time and money at the neighborhood garage to milk more miles out of their existing wheels."

Wally's Comment: Auto mechanics benefit when you decide to keep your old car instead of buying a new one. Of course, it helps that hardly anyone can actually fix their own car anymore.

From the Dallas Morning News: Thriving video game industry hits right buttons in troubled Economy
"Bailouts, bankruptcies, liquidations and layoffs have been the business buzzwords over the last few months, but the video game industry remains stubbornly resistant to the gloom enveloping the rest of the economy. While game industry executives and analysts aren't ignoring the broader economic trends, all the evidence seems to point to a robust holiday season for game makers and sellers and continued prosperity next year."

Wally's Comment: Call it escapism if you want. Video game makers call it profit.

From the Virginian-Pilot: Virginia lawyers brace for boom in bankruptcies
"Like many other lawyers who work on business bankruptcies, he is preparing for a surge in demand, especially from retailers."It hasn't hit yet, but we're starting to see a wave build," Foley said."

Wally's Comment: Bankruptcies are almost sure to rise with contractors and retail stores leading the way. And that's good for law firms that specialize in bankruptcy.

From the Toronto Globe & Mail: The Detroit Three ... Two? One?
"Bailout or no bailout, North American car makers will still be making vehicles in the next decade. But don't expect the auto industry of tomorrow to look anything like today's."

Wally's Comment: This is the read of the week. It's an excellent article about how the auto business may be very different, not too many years from now. Like most of these predictions it's probably a bit aggressive, so just suspend disbelief for a moment and read.

Wally's Working Supervisor's Support Kit is a collection of information and tools to help working supervisors do a better job. It's based on what Wally's learned in over twenty years of supervisory skills training. Click here to check it out.

Request your free copy of Wally's Special Report: Managing Headcount in a Downturn.

Request your free copy of "Meeting the Challenges of the Boomer Brain Drain: An integrated approach."

Wally Bock has helped people learn to be great bosses for more than a quarter century. His latest book, Performance Talk: The One-on-One Part of Leadership, makes learning key leadership principles almost effortless by teaching through a story and providing lists of resources for further growth.

Click here to find out more about Wally's coaching services.

For weekly tips and resources pointers, check our Wally Bock's Three Star Leadership Letter.

Click here to find out more about having Wally speak to your company or convention.