Money makes the world go round, it’s said, and it’s hard to disagree with the premise. After all, global commerce is built around the concept of making money, and though this economic model has had its problems in recent years – think of the financial crash in 2008 – it always seems to pick itself up and stagger on.
Certainly, governments had a large part to play in bailing out financial institutions during and after the crash, but in many cases they tend to be laissez-faire when it comes to adding more regulations to prevent such a crash from happening again.
That said, stock markets across the world have been booming over the last few years, and though they will always have their jitters if big companies post a less than favorable end-of-year financial report, there is still plenty of money being made.
Here’s a look at some of the industries that really do make money.
Energy
It’s probably not very surprising to learn that many of the world’s biggest money-making industries are involved in the energy business. After all, everyone needs heat and light, so they’re supplying a captive market as well as continuing to research and explore for new sources of oil and gas.
These vast enterprises have always been a magnet for investors, and though there have been dire ecological disasters when things have gone wrong, they still supply what both business and individuals require and consequently make an enormous amount of money.
The rise of alternative energy sources such as hydro (though that’s been around for a long time), wind, and solar power are unlikely to dent the main energy companies’ profitability. Indeed, many of them are investing in these technologies with an eye to the future and the generally accepted view that at some stage fossil fuels – gas, oil, and coal – will no longer be available.
Retail
Retail businesses are also major money-makers and, as with energy companies, they supply the essentials for living as well as a wide range of other useful products for the home and, of course, for small businesses. Many of these are global in nature, and the smaller supermarkets are, in many cases, in the process of further expansion.
Diversification of products has been a key driver in the profitability of many large operations in the retail sector. People always need basic groceries, but the larger stores can now offer a vast amount of useful items that people want at low cost, and can therefore corner part of the market.
It’s not just supermarkets that make a lot of money. When you consider the fashion industry and its massive importance worldwide, you realize how embedded these types of business are into the whole world of commerce. It’s not just clothes and shoes and boots; this industry encompasses cosmetics, perfumes, and accessories, and the top owners, designers, and models have lifestyles that are splashed on the front pages of the media all over the globe.
Tech
The giants of the tech world are constantly innovating and competing, and unsurprisingly turn over huge amounts of money for their hardware and software products. Without their innovation, we would not be living in the world that we are now so used to, with communications, gaming, and social media available at the touch of a button. Every launch of a new product helps fill the coffers, and their devices enable you to have instant access through Wi-Fi or phone data downloads to anything that you want, wherever you are – though, of course, certain countries restrict access to certain websites.
Gaming
Gaming is an enormous industry and spans the range of complex online strategy games through to solo games and live streaming of sports and other events. The technology offers you access to betting on the outcome of games that you’re watching live, allowing you to live in the moment and follow the action. Stakers.com for sports betting gives you wide-ranging options for taking part and enjoying a different aspect of the gaming culture. The industry is highly competitive but the fact that so many companies are part of it shows the opportunities for making big money.
Industry future
The industries above are drivers of economies, innovative in the way that they do business, and are successful in making large amounts of money year on year. Socially responsible companies are gradually being preferred by consumers, and those that make the most money are probably aware that customers can vote with their feet if those companies are perceived not to be making their full contributions to society.
