Repair Services business

Call it a sign of the times, but companies that provide repair services, ranging from the home-improvement sector to the auto industry, are seeing an uptick in revenue as more people opt to fix their existing possessions, rather than to buy new. Business is up 2.4 percent at auto repair shops and 4.6 for electricians and plumbers in the past year, according to statistics compiled by Sageworks. Other lucrative sectors include shoe repair shops, many of which have seen business more than double since the start of the recession, as well as personal electronics repair shops. The repair business is also hospitable for fledgling ventures: businesses can often be run from home and sustained on the founder’s knowhow and sweat equity.