You may have noticed, if you're an avid fan of ITV's Coronation Street, that one of our own is treading the cobbles in an effort to turn his business fortunes around.

With this in mind, I received an e-mail from one of the show's researchers asking for my 'expertise' to assist the scriptwriters in plotting the character's downfall. The unfortunate chap, 'Joe' is a kitchen fitter/trader unlucky enough to be hooked up with Gail Platt and her dysfunctional family.

Attempting to overcome the immediately worrying scenario that they considered me an expert consultant for failed kitchen fitters (had they re-visited some of my previous clients I wondered or maybe they'd witnessed one of my ghasterpieces on 60 Minute Makeover?) I sank headlong into the task ahead and found myself not only offering advice but writing narrative in a vain attempt they may use it in the script.

Some psychologists, apparently, encourage an immersion in Soap's family problems in order to feel a release of frustrations about our own. However, it was not much of a release when it became clear that Joe was just as depressed and up against it financially as the rest of us. So there I was fulfilling the life-long ambition of my partner - to be involved in any way whatsoever with, as she put it, "the best drama and comedy on TV" - when it became clear how little she knew of my business - "Why not suggest that he offers a free bathroom with every kitchen he installs," she said. That, I think, is what the comfortably employed consider a viable strategy for overcoming lean times - give away more. 

I have no control how the 'Joe' character will pan out but if I did I would present him as a character who used all his resources, who learnt new skills, sourced best-priced quality products, made mutually beneficial collaborations with others in the industry and focused on offering best customer service.  However, this is television so it may well be that Joe gives up kitchens and starts up a DJ business in Weatherfield.

While writing, it wasn't lost on me that the scenario I was presenting was one of reality for many as we watched the sinking of HMS MFI. The lessons that arise from the mistakes made by Joe became plain to see and I considered the scenario had he belonged to an organisation whose remit was to protect his interests and avoid him entering a personal abyss. If I were entering the trade now, I would wish to see an organisation that provides 'Downturn Insurance' - pay in while the sun shines so that you can take cover when the wind blows.

Referring to a recent quote from an interview with the chief executive of Kingfisher, in which he stated "If you lose 90 MFI stores, that's about five to seven percent of the kitchen market in the UK. That's got to be an opportunity for us," a good tip for Joe and others might be to exploit the market share left over in the aftermath of MFI's downfall, as it's an opportunity for us all.

Lately I have been subconsciously collecting 'beating the recession' stories in the business world and an example of a 'well, I never...' was the news that Warner Live, the concert promoters, are offering a 'buy now - pay later' deal on concert tickets. Their take on it is that they are aware that attending concerts isn't on the top of most people's list at the moment so they 'want to give people a chance to get the money together'. 

I hear that Thomson Travel Agents have launched free redundancy cover for anyone who books with them in January for their summer package holidays or flights will be entitled to a free refund up to one month before they leave if they lose their jobs. Earlier this month we had the car manufacturer in Stafford who offered a 'buy one get one free' to beat all 'bogof's' - buy a Vectra Exclusive 5 door hatchback for £16,570 and you get a Corsa 1.0 Breeze, worth around £7,000 for free. The recession really is throwing up valuable lessons for any business student right now. Perhaps the idea of Joe offering a "free bathroom with every kitchen installed" had some validity after all.

Keeping with innovations during the recession, a colleague told me a story about a jewellery manufacturer he knew who was drawing up a business idea to widen his customer base: he reckoned that since men are always looking for an opportunity to buy something "quickly and inexpensively" for their wives or partners he planned to include Greasy Spoons and Transport Cafes as an outlet for his jewellery stands. Apparently, many men feel intimidated going to a florist or entering lingerie shops but will buy these items in an environment they feel more comfortable in. I was in doubt at first but then I remembered how Petrol Stations started selling flowers - making it easy for men to pick up a gift for their wives or partners, I wonder if next we'll see Anne Summers kiosks in the pub?

It's worth remembering while we focus on 'how bad things are' that this is not true for everyone. There is a whole customer base out there apparently who have been 'slightly affected' by the recession and are still holding a sizeable amount of disposable income. I'm self-trancing every morning to remind myself to 'think outside the box' and seek any possibilities within it. A friend rang me this week and in the course of the conversation, mentioned that '49 of the 300 private corporate jets registered in the UK are up for sale!' - as the kind of money that is required in this kind of business is all Mickey Mouse to me, I was fairly nonplussed but did say "that leaves 251 owners who can afford to keep theirs - let me know if they need a new kitchen, I'll email them". Ommmmmmm

The old adage 'follow the money' has taken on a whole new meaning: for example - if consumers are still buying glossy house magazines and high end products, then advertising in these arenas are still worthwhile. I have to congratulate the T-Mobile people for the best 'feel-good' TV advert of the year. Unlike so many of the ads that are continuously played and begin to grate - this one, with its 'spontaneous' crowd dance brings something new every time you see it: trying to guess if you can tell before the dancing begins who is a professional dancer and who is an unwitting member of the public is fast taking off in my household as a 'quick, quick it's on' moment and the joy on the faces of the normally zombie-like real commuters in the advert is great. Even though I know that the ad-men who came up with advert are not connected in anyway to the product, I don't care, it got my vote.

I know I am always banging on about the internet and its importance in business but I'm in good company, it seems, with the President of the US. Barack Obama who reportedly refused to give up his Blackberry when he became President and who had to have a specially encrypted $3,000 model made for him. Now if the President of the US feels the need to stay in touch with his supporters (customers at the end of the day...), what more can I say?