Insight on Business

Transforming a Shopping Mall with Liz Holland

If you've spent any time listening to our daily newscast you know that we've reported many times about the hollowing out of our nation's shopping malls. As ecommerce shook the bones of retail we watched as department stores, often shopping mall anchors, entering bankruptcy and leaving gaping holes. Then COVID19 came and, for many, finished the job. Some malls have sold out to Amazon to be used as fulfillment centers. Other mall owners are working new tenet arrangements hoping to salvage their business. Some mall owners are totally reimagining their centers and changing everything. Meet Liz Holland the CEO of Merle Hay Investors and the remarkable story behind their goal to totally restructure their business. It's a stunning departure and, perhaps, one of the first in the nation as the Merle Hay Mall becomes..."Hockey Town".

Thanks for listening!

The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour.

The Business News & More 7 April 2021

Mid-Week and thanks for being here. Today was one of those odd days on Wall Street and we'll share details plus for the interview a massive transformation of a shopping mall in Des Moines, Iowa caught our attention.  But first, the news:

• Stop working and go for a walk...no, really;
• Amazon does not want to talk about this;
• The My Pillow guy is getting hit again;
• He said "tax breaks have got to go". Stunning;
• T-Mobile has a new promotion and it's big;
• Janet Yellen and more tax news;
• The Wall Street Report;
• It seems Ketchup just can't...catch up.

If you've spent any time listening to our daily newscast you know that we've reported many times about the hollowing out of our nation's shopping malls. As ecommerce shook the bones of retail we watched as department stores, often shopping mall anchors, entering bankruptcy and leaving gaping holes. Then COVID19 came and, for many, finished the job. Some malls have sold out to Amazon to be used as fulfillment centers. Other mall owners are working new tenet arrangements hoping to salvage their business. Some mall owners are totally reimagining their centers and changing everything. Meet Liz Holland the CEO of Merle Hay Investors and the remarkable story behind their goal to totally restructure their business. It's a stunning departure and, perhaps, one of the first in the nation as the Merle Hay Mall becomes..."Hockey Town".

Thanks for listening!

The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour.

The Business News Headlines 9 December 2020

It was one of those days on Wall Street that started with concerns about the pandemic and ended with concerns about the next round of stimulus. Here's what we've got for you today:

• Gambling on Wall Street;
• Tech stocks took a beating...think Facebook;
• Happy Meals about to become less...happy;
• Losing our appetite for eating out;
• California and Washington State and brake pads;
• Backyard tiny offices are a thing;
• The Wall Street Report;
• Elon want to keep more of his billions it would seem.

Thanks for listening! 

The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and sine local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on Google Play, PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour.

Sequel Architecture - Small Business Spotlight

We love telling the stories of entrepreneurs and when they launch a new business in the middle of a pandemic...it really becomes special. Meet Steve Wilke-Shapiro who recently launched Sequel Architecture a full service design firm doing business across Iowa. Listen to the thoughtful way Steve approaches each project, some tips on hiring an architect, the story of a 173 year-old building and more.  Meet Steve...in our Small Business Spotlight: 

Thanks for listening!

The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on Google Play, PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour.

 

The Business News and More 12 October 2020

Thanks for clicking through again to start off our business week Here are the news headlines we've got ready for you today:

• Tech ruled the day;
• Amazon Prime Day & some tips;
• Oil prices slumped and why;
• Sure, we've got toilet paper but other stuff in in short supply;
• Theaters lose out on yet another feature film;
• The Wall Street Report;
• A new retail store...that sells only pandemic stuff.

Those stories PLUS a conversation with Steve Wilke-Shapiro who, in the midst of COVID19, decided it was a good time for him to launch his new business. It's a great story about his relationship with people, buildings and architecture. Sequel Architecture is in our Small Business Spotlight.

Thanks for listening!

The Fat Plant Society with Kasey Riley

Wait until you hear this story proving people can create whatever they are passionate about. Kasey Riley is part of the duo behind the very successful Fat Plant Society (go ahead and check the photos but...come back!). She and her designer husband Morton Klinte have created something remarkable in the Kansas City area.  They are called "Moss Walls" and here you will learn more about this amazing business and the real benefits of putting a moss wall in your home or business. Enjoy! 

The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on Google Play, PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour. 

Our Sponsors

AARP-Iowa

National Tractor Parts Dealer Association

Oasis - A Paychex Company

Tero International

The Business News Headlines & More 16 June 2020

You've been busy buying stuff...and we know what and where. It's the business news headlines for Tuesday and here's what we've got on tap for you today:

• Retail Sales Numbers - A Deep Dive;
• Restaurants are "running on fumes";
• Working parents are struggling and what that could lead to;
• Ever heard of Barbicide? You will today;
• The Wall Street Report;
• A bunch of companies are giving June 19th as a day off...and why.

Those stories plus the story of moss walls...no, really. Our guest for the interview is Kasey Riley one half of the talented duo behind the Kansas City company known as The Fat Plant Society. You'll learn about the benefits of moss walls and why they are becoming popular among businesses seeking to hire millennials. Click our player for the story.

Thanks for listening! 

Construction Outlook with Creighton Cox of Turner Construction

It's always great to sit down and talk business with Creighton Cox who is the Business Development Manager with international construction company Turner Construction. Here we talk about the micro and the macro of construction going from some hyper-local conversation to a more global look at the construction industry. Creighton has just "retired" from a long stint as a City Councilman for the City of Urbandale and, yes, that too factored into our conversation. 

The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday, hour-long business podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on Google Play, PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday at 2pm on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour. 

Our Sponsors

AARP-Iowa

National Tractor Parts Dealer Association

Oasis - A Paychex Company

Tero International

Repurposing a Vacant Mall - Immigrants Welcome

Usually Laura Kinnard joins me each week to talk about business events happening in the Greater Des Moines Metro. This week we're changing things up to talk about creating an Iowa Immigrant Welcome Center that would be housed at the, now near empty, Southridge Mall location on the near southside of Des Moines. It's a project from Curated Growth a company started by Laura. Here with her is Patricia Grote from the Iowa International Center. Lots of reasons to like all of this. 

The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday, hour-long business podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on Google Play, PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday at 2pm on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour. 

Our Sponsors

AARP-Iowa

National Tractor Parts Dealer Association

Oasis - A Paychex Company

Tero International

The Business News Headlines & More 14 August 2019

The Dow signaled before the bell this morning it was going to open down...and it did. Off by over 400 points. In the end the blue-chips closed off by 800 points the worst day of the year. The reason is in our first story:

• Fear of the "R-Word" is driving a sell off but there is more;
• Walmart adjusts it's inventory moving 1,000 items out. We'll share why;
• The Trade War, China & Tourists...and Macy's;
• Imagine the bank paying YOU to get a home loan. It's a story.

Those pieces and we've got a Small Business Spotlight that features the fast rise of a home-improvement company Justin Williams founded in October of last year and in that short time was awarded the Small Business of the Year Award from his local chamber. What is the secret sauce?  We asked the A New Look Exteriors founder that question and more. 

The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday, hour-long business podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on Google Play, PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday at 2pm on News/Talk 1540 KXEL. The Business News Hour is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications. You can follow us on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour. 

Our Sponsors

AARP-Iowa

National Tractor Parts Dealer Association

Oasis - A Paychex Company

Tero International