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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 businesses that are doing well in the downturn, churches helping job seekers, the story of enduring flip-flops, and why you may want to open a repair shop.

My Posts This Week

Look to your left to see what I blogged about here this week. Over at Momentor I blogged about "Who you gonna call?" and did my weekly selection of Top Career Posts.

Last week's newsletter was "The Santa Claus Rules." 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 Charlotte Observer: Big sales add allure to upscale outfits
"Susan Little knows how rough this holiday season is supposed to be for retailers. But the owner of Hickory-based Dot's Women's Wear is used to difficult times: Her piece of the region has been experiencing economic hardship most of this decade, as textile, furniture and fiber-optic cable jobs have disappeared."

Wally's Comment: Previous hard times taught this business owner valuable lessons that are helping today.

From the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Auto dealer sees opportunity is crisis
"It is not the best of times in the automotive industry. But good times or bad, it has been a seven-day-a-week job for Darryl Ford. And as an entrepreneur, Ford sees opportunity in crisis. For four years the owner and general manager of Stone Mountain Chrysler Jeep Dodge, Ford had grown sales to $50 million last year. But that was before the recession, the credit crisis and the parade of Detroit executives arriving in Washington to plead for government assistance. Events have changed his business and his cost structure, but not, he says, his work ethic or his philosophy."

Wally's Comment: Working hard and expecting things to work out are what work for this auto dealer.

From the Dallas Morning News: Churches offer help to job seekers
"The scene at St. Andrew is not unique. Meetings take place almost daily across the greater Dallas area, through more than 40 entities that provide free or low-cost job resources and networking. Some groups are faith-based; some simply meet on church premises. Some are government sponsored, and some offer résumé-writing, skills assessment and interview practice while others give access to copiers and fax machines. Some meet in the morning, some in the evening, some weekly and others monthly. "

Wally's Comment: Churches are often more than places to worship. They provide social support and, in many cases, programs to help with the struggles of everyday life.

From the Los Angeles Times: He says no to flimsy flip-flops
"The founder of Rainbow Sandals in San Clemente developed rubber footwear that lasts for years."

Wally's Comment: Every business success story is a little different. This one's based on a great product and a little luck.

From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: Recession causing repair shops to flourish"
Nichole Carter of Chesterfield says she has a passion for shoes. So much so that if a heel became badly damaged she used to pitch the pair and buy something new. But the economy has put a stop to that. Now she takes the shoe to a cobbler to see if it can be repaired."

Wally's Comment: My parents shared this mantra from World War II: "Use up, wear out, make do." When you chant that today, you make a repair shop owner smile.