Insight on Business

Small Business Spotlight - Iowa Custom Murphy Beds

Sometimes you find stories where you least expect them. This story comes about because of a sign on the side of a trailer that said, "Iowa Custom Murphy Beds". A little history: The Murphy Bed is named after William Lawrence Murphy, who applied for his patent around 1900. These space saving beds fold into a wall or a cabinet and, according to legend, Murphy was wooing an opera singer but living in a one-room apartment in San Francisco meant that the young lady would have to enter his bedroom. That was taboo at the time. But, once folded into a cabinet the room was, well, no longer a...bedroom.  Here is Nancy Vetter with the story about their six year old company that produces Amish made...Murphy Beds that can make any room a bedroom and they sell/install nationwide.

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

Mayor Frank Cownie - Mayor of Des Moines

A conversation with Mayor Frank Cownie, the longest serving mayor for the City of Des Moines, Iowa, who is running for re-election. Here in a two-part conversation we talk about what he has promised to do, what he has done, and the issues that so many people care about. We also talk about hyper-local issues like potholes and the technology that he has implemented to connect citizens with their local government. So much to unpack here...click to listen.

Here I continue my conversation with Mayor Frank Cownie and first ask him about the issues regarding water, water safety and the impact it has on not only the residents of Des Moines but the communities that are the customers of the Des Moines Water Works. We also talk about climate, flooding, taxes and more. Here, once again, is his re-election website. And you can click below to listen to Part Two.

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 & More 23 October 2019

If you like roller coasters you must love Wall Street today.  Up and down, up and down as investors chewed over some earnings reports and fret about Brexit, China and global growth. In the end there were modest gains the Dow up by 45 points the Nasdaq gained 15 points and the S&P 500 up by 8 points.  In our newscast today:

• Are you really making $7,000 more today?
• The We Work Meltdown and $1.2 billion;
• Sunday Riley did an opps...
• Affordable housing? How about shipping containers;
• Got some extra cash? Be like some "A List" stars.

Those stories plus a Small Business Spotlight that shines on entrepreneur Chris Seuntjens who has, now, three companies and they are all on the move. Christoper's Rare Coins, Christopher's Fine Jewelry and Chrystal Clear Showcases.  Retire?  Not hardly.  

Thanks for listening! 

The Business News & More 7 October 2019

Wall Street opened lower today then toyed with some positive numbers before sliding again. What's going on? We'll share that and more with you today:

• Stocks did drift today two things: China and now Turkey;
• GE to freeze pension benefits;
• Harley-Davidson is betting on electric bikes...but the price!
• The housing market and jobs;
• The GM strike on day 21;
• It appears you love to be...frightened. Joker numbers.

Those stories and Laura Kinnard from DMBizMixer.com is in with business events happening around the Greater Des Moines Metro.

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 & More 3 October 2019

Even with continuing headwinds Wall Street was able to pull off a win today. Welcome to the Business News Headlines for Thursday the 3rd of October. On tap today:

• The Jobs Report is due tomorrow morning and it's important;
• President Trump signs an executive order about Medicare;
• The housing sector seems to be booming;
• Young people are leaving glitzy cities for lower cost communities;
• Unions, Nurses and Wages it seems to be a trend;
• Tesla disappoints and its stock suffers.

Those stories and for the interview I'll visit with Natalie Veldhouse a research associate from the Iowa Policy Project about the little known reality that Iowa is such a low wage state, why it matters and what forces are at work to keep it that way. Click the player for that story. 

Thanks for listening! 

The Business of Mortgages with John Cannon

While writing the news stories today we centered on some housing issues in the United States and because we're broadcasting from the Central Iowa Business Conference in Des Moines we've got access to several experts. Here you'll meet John Cannon of Wintrust Mortgage. John, a former broadcaster, stopped by our mobile studio at just the right time...click through for some housing, mortgage rate talk 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, 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 28 August 2019

All signs pointed to a lower open on Wall Street and the Dow did sink early in the day but rebounded as energy stocks took over. That story and more like these wait for you a click away:

• The Inverted Yield Curve means...what?
• Retail isn't, they say, in major trouble;
• Hudson's Bay is selling Lord & Taylor;
• Facebook and Political Advertising;
• Great Britain to shutter Parlament. No, not kidding.

Those stories and more along with this TWO part conversation with Congresswoman Cindy Axne who represents Iowa's Third Congressional District. In Part One we talk about some of the accomplishments going on in Washington D.C. even as people say "nothing is happening". That and more in this first segment. 

In Part Two of our conversation with Congresswoman Cindy Axne we talk about jobs, agriculture and more about health care, education...older Iowans and caregiving. Here is Part Two: 

Thanks for listening! 

New Look Exteriors - A Small Business Spotlight

We all know that it is the small business that is the back-bone of our local, regional and national economy. On a regular basis we offer up a Small Business Spotlight to share the stories of these entrepreneurs. Today our guest is Justin Williams who, with his wife, founded A New Look Exteriors in October of 2018 and has seen incredible business growth. Recently named the Small Business of the Year by his local chamber Justin talks about the "secret sauce" that spells growth for his new company. We think you'll enjoy 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, 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

 

The Business News Headlines and More 5 June 2019

The markets shrugged off a lousy jobs report and opened higher this morning. Hera are the business news headlines we've got for you today:

• Looks like we stopped hiring;
• China now targeting a major automaker;
• Not new and shinny but some of America's oldests businesses still in business;
• The car company that sells only 33 cars a month in the U.S.;
• The one very bright spot in retail malls is...
• Russia and Twitter - worse than we thought.

Those stories and more along with a conversation with James Goodlett who we think is one of the most talented musicians we've ever met. His music is something out of film production and it's not only dramatic but also very original. James Goodlett and his mission to become...more.

Thanks for coming by!