Insight on Business

Area Diesel Service and ISO Certification

OK, we have to admit, we're not really up on what ISO Certification means for the company that goes through the effort or, more importantly, what it means for consumers. That gets fixed today.  Recently the family owned company Area Diesel Service was awarded an ISO 9001:2015 Certification. What does that mean for the company and its clients?  You can bet we asked. Here Von Leefers and his wife Linda explain what this is, the impact on their business and, more importantly, what it means to the people who, internationally, are buying from them. 

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 Headlines & More 27 January 2020

It's the final week of January 2020 and the volatile nature of business has lots of stories today.  On tap for you this Monday:

• Kobe Bryant and his business empire;
• GAP closed more stores yesterday;
• Johnson & Johnson says they are working on a new vaccine;
• The coronavirus and the stock market;
• Boeing gets a lifeline;
• Drug stores are running out of...facemasks. 

Those stories plus...it's Monday and Laura Kinnard from Drake University, DMACC, The Runway at Southridge and the blog, DMBizMixer joins me to chat it up about business events in the greater Des Moines, Iowa area. Today we're talking about the AMA Experience, finding your key customer with the Iowa Center, getting some startup help, coworking, the 2020 economic outlook and much more.  Oh...and the Iowa-Nebraska Equipment Dealer Association event this week. If you want us to highlight your business event it's #DMBizEvents on your social media and Laura will pick it up. 

Thanks for listening!

Iowa Immigrant Entrepreneur Summit 2019

We're rushing this out right away because the 12th Annual Iowa Immigrant Entrepreneur Summit happens this weekend on Saturday the 23rd of November. With me is Leng Vong Reiff from Akili Marketing & Design who is on the planning committee for the event. Click through to learn more about the summit, why it matters the make-up of the attendees and the fact that you too can go to learn and celebrate economic opportunity. Here is the link to the IES-Iowa site To hear our conversation just click the player: 

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 20 November 2019

It was yet another troubling day for any deal with the U.S. and China. Some days it's like whiplash. In the news today:

• The $1 billion deal in Texas is sorta sweet;
• Amazon wants to get you your stuff...faster;
• A lawsuit rocks Detroit;
• Walmart is changing some things in their stores;
• Markets closed lower again today and why;
• Might you lose your "white-collar" job due to...

Those stories and a quick conversation with Leng Vong Reiff about the 12th Annual Immigrant Entrepreneur Summit slated for this Saturday in Ankeny, Iowa. Details about that event are right here on our player. Go... 

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

Thanks for listening!

The Small Business Spotlight Shines on Chris Seuntjens

He says he might retire, "someday" but it doesn't look like Chris Seuntjens is about to slow down anytime soon. He, and his THREE businesses, are in our Small Business Spotlight this week. Inside you'll learn about his first love, Christopher's Rare Coins and his soon to open in the Jordan Creek Area Christopher's Fine Jewelry and his invention business where he manufactures display cases called Christal Clear Showcases. Retire? Nah...doesn't look like it's in the mix. Meet Chris: 

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 21 October 2019

Welcome back to a busy week!  In the newscast today we'll share several stories that will interest you plus you'll hear from four entrepreneurs who are working it at The Runway a new co-working site in the nearly empty Southridge Mall. Then Laura Kinnard is in to chat about that project and some events.  Today:

• Amazon shipping out of date and spoiled food?
• Ford Motor Company and the botched Explorer rollout;
• Will they or won't they ratify the GM/UAW agreement;
• Boeing stock in free fall;
• GrubHub disappoints;
• Bottled water takes a hit.

Also today you'll meet four entrepreneurs who are part of The Runway. I sat down with four individuals who are starting or working on their businesses. You'll meet Kourtney Perry of Privacy, LLC an event company that is helping put on a show October 31st, Twayne Deering from Toppz Handiman Services you can reach him at 309-635-7825. I also visit with Jeremiah Wright who is the founder of Get It Wright Fitness he's a fitness coach and you'll meet Sara Letsch who has two businesses, Nymph in the Woods Jewelry and Fit Life with Sara. Busy people and you get to learn more here:

And, because it's Monday...Laura Kinnard joins me to talk about The Runway as well as share some upcoming business events. 

Thanks for coming by! 

CLE Productions with Matt Kiernan

When you go to an event, be it corporate or entertainment, it's always cool to check out the things that make it all pop. The sound and lights and staging. It all creates an experience long remembered. That is the business of CLE Productions based in Des Moines but doing business nationwide. Our guest is Matt Kiernan who sat down with me to talk about what CLE Products does and also make sure you know about a special event featuring internationally acclaimed specialist on planned events, Joe Goldblatt who will be in Des Moines on October 7th for CLE Production Talks. Here is 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

The Business News Headlines 25 January 2019

After weeks of a federal shutdown the announcement came today that a deal had been reached. That leads off the newscast on this Friday evening.  Thanks for being here.

• Federal Shutdown Over?
• Markets react to the deal;
• The media industry is slashing jobs and not just at newspapers;
• Amazon wants others to do the heavy lifting and R&D for exclusive Prime products;
• Sen. Elizabeth Warren is about to roll out a "Wealth Tax";
• What happened on Wall Street and why.

Those stories and Jeff Pitts the Managing editor of Cityview Magazine is in with Stuff to DO in the Des Moines Metro this weekend into next week. Have some fun already!

Thanks for listening! 

Marketing for Business - Episode 24 - Internal Marketing

The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie, now in our sixth year, is a production of our advertising agency, Insight Advertising, Marketing &  Communications and is the only  daily, hour-long business news broadcast in the Midwest. You  
can hear  the broadcast Monday -  Friday at 4:30pm on our Radio Blog, and each Sunday on News/Talk 1540 KXEL starting at 2pm. The Business News Hour is made possible through the sponsorship of: Action Coach Monte Wyatt and Live2Lead Des Moines,  Iowa Workforce Development,  Aureon of West Des Moines, The Strudl Haus of Des Moines, Tero International, The Iowa Business Journals, Country Vet Naturals and AARP-Iowa with state headquarters in Des Moines.

We get it. You are busy making stuff, selling stuff, doing a valuable service for your customers/clients. But, do you spend time looking at your internal marketing? Some may call it "branding" or the public persona you are building across many media channels. In this segment of Marketing for Business - Episode 24 with Phil K. James from Good Milkshake Digital and Michael Libbie from Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications we talk about everything from Website looks, wording, social media posts, hard copy brochures, business cards...the works. But, be aware there is a process in making sure you are projecting what your customer/client really needs. Steps you can take now to make sure you are meeting the demands of your customer and not just offering noise.  Maybe right here we should apologize to banks, financial planners and insurance companies? Click through for more... 

Here, in Part Two of Marketing for Business - Episode 24 Phil and Michael share some step by step thoughts and actions to help you better identify what your customer really, really wants/needs and then how you can parrot that back to them in a way that makes your company more...human. 

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 starting at 4:30pm here on 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.

11th Annual YPC Community Volunteer Fair

Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is a production
of our advertising agency, Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications and is the only daily, hour-long business broadcast in the region. The News Hour is made possible through the sponsorship of: Iowa Soft Water of the Des Moines Metro, Aureon of West Des Moines, Iowa Computer Repair of Windsor Heights, ReMax Real Estate Concepts of the Des Moines Metro, the Iowa Association of Business and Industry, The Strudl Haus of Des Moines, Manpower of Central Iowa, Tero International and the Kreamer Law Firm of West Des Moines.

What a great program...it's called the Young Professionals Connection and the Volunteer Fair coming up on August 18th. This is an opportunity for all community members to learn more about various agencies who seek volunteers.  We also talk about business and VTO or Volunteer Time Off and how to get started. Meet Nick Peterson, Nick Wood and Emily Van Oosbree who graced our studio to talk about doing good and you are invited to the event! 

 Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only hour-long, business broadcast in the Midwest. You can catch us at 5:05PM on AM-940, FM-104.5 or in HD at 103.3 HD2. It is a production of Insight Advertising, Marketing & Communications a full service advertising/consulting agency based in Des Moines. Connect with The Business News Hour on Twitter @IoB_NewsHour and, for more, here is our Facebook Page.