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#1
12-13-2009, 12:19 PM
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Market Darlings 2009
 Market Darlings In a year of bank bailouts, tanking auto giants, and the collapse of many smaller—but well-loved—businesses (Mervyn's, Eddie Bauer), the few bright spots stood out even more. Not coincidentally, the businesses causing the biggest online clamor were all about improving communication. Think Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn (a timely resource for the unemployed masses). Tech toys made the list, too, as did language-learning software and shops designed to help consumers stretch a dollar. Read on for the whole scoop. 
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#2
12-13-2009, 12:20 PM
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 10. Kindle Despite Amazon's legal scandal involving copies of Orwell's "1984" being digitally snatched away, the Kindle is a 2009 success story. The February debut of the new and improved e-reader (the original Kindle came out in 2007) may have been met by skeptics, but the "early adopters" (i.e. college students and gadget-loving readers) snapped it up, and suddenly the sleek handhelds were popping up in dorms and on public transit everywhere. Despite the fact that Kindle may (or may not) eventually replace "real" books, the public is warming up to reading on a screen (or on their iPhones), and media moguls are rushing in to set up competing e-readers to preserve their own digital publishing future. The biggest threat to the Kindle? Barnes & Nobles' new Nook.
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#3
12-13-2009, 12:21 PM
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 9. Rosetta Stone When shares of the language software company's stock shot up 40% in one of this year's most successful IPOs (yes, there were IPOs in '09), Wall Street took notice. Rosetta Stone's product is everywhere—from late-night infomercials to Barnes & Noble to malls. But who exactly is paying $500 (the cost of a typical three-stage program) to learn Italian in this economy? Unemployed folks looking to add s****s to their portfolio, for one. The U.S. government is another sweet source of revenue for the company, which uses a specialized program to teach soldiers military terms in Arabic. Can Rosetta's rosy glow last? Experts say not likely, since competition will probably level the playing field. But in 2009, success tasted molto dolce.
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#4
12-13-2009, 12:21 PM
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 7. Dollar Stores No shocker that the recession has been good to the humble dollar store. Market-watchers noticed the trend early in the year when shares of Family Dollar—one of three national chains—surged 14% after reporting better-than-expected earnings. In fact, all three major dollar chains bloomed in the economy's arid soil this year, not only by selling the cheap goods they're known for, but by changing with the times: accepting credit cards, adding food items like eggs and milk, and, in an effort to reach out to their loyal customer base, honoring food stamps. Can the trend last as the economy recovers? With many consumers claiming that the hard times have changed their spending habits for good, it doesn't look like dollar stores will be going away anytime soon
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#5
12-13-2009, 12:22 PM
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 7. Dollar Stores No shocker that the recession has been good to the humble dollar store. Market-watchers noticed the trend early in the year when shares of Family Dollar—one of three national chains—surged 14% after reporting better-than-expected earnings. In fact, all three major dollar chains bloomed in the economy's arid soil this year, not only by selling the cheap goods they're known for, but by changing with the times: accepting credit cards, adding food items like eggs and milk, and, in an effort to reach out to their loyal customer base, honoring food stamps. Can the trend last as the economy recovers? With many consumers claiming that the hard times have changed their spending habits for good, it doesn't look like dollar stores will be going away anytime soon.
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