Turn, turn, turn

Jan. 8, 2009 – There's an interesting article today at Bloomberg.com's U.K. & Ireland page about how Greggs Plc., the U.K.'s largest bakery chain, plans to exploit the economic downturn as an opportunity to expand.

Say what?

“We’ve some significant opportunities to open up more
shops,” Greggs CEO Ken McMeikan said. “They have to be in the right locations. We need
to find the best sites.”

The U.K. is bracing for a record number of retailers going out of business this year, and some companies, such as Greggs, are licking their chops at the prospects of snapping up prime vacated properties at bargain-basement prices.

Like the song says, to everything, there is a season … a time to reap and a time to sow. 2009 could turn out to have more of the latter if businesses can play their cards right. Here in Canada, are you seeing any signs of how to take advantage of the recession, or is it too gloomy at this point to do anything but try to stay afloat? Let us know what's on your mind.