Insight on Business

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 & More 8 July 2019

Welcome back to a full week of work...for many of us the mid-week holiday put a kink in our productivity. But, hope you had a great time with family and friends. It was a rocky day on Wall Street to open the week as investors deal with the Fed and tech companies had a tough day.  In other headlines:

• Employee unrest at Amazon continues;
• So how strong are the ties to the Chinese military;
• It's about profit says this bank...profit;
• States are actually falling apart and we're not talking earthquakes;
• Employees spending hundreds each month to avoid co-workers;
• Got...gas?

Those stories plus Laura Kinnard from Drake University, DMACC and DMBizMixer.com on social media, the big deal with curating stuff, retail trade and business events in the Greater Des Moines Metro this week.

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 5pm Central. 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

Road Diets, Social Media and Food Diets with Laura Kinnard

It's a holiday shortened week but yet we find things to talk about with Laura Kinnard of Drake University, Des Moines Area Community College and DMBizMixer.com.  We kick things off talking about "road-diets" and business, speeding, business blogging and some weight loss. Oh...and there are a couple of business events happening too. Here's Laura! 

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 5pm Central. 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 27 June 2019

Signs pointed to a weak open for the Dow and it, for the most part, stayed that way. Reason? Eyes on the G-20 and the global economy.   In the business news headlines here is what we've got and stay with us for a conversation with Congressman Ro Khanna about a host of items.

• Remember when Pier One Imports was...hot;
• Ford announces labor cuts;
• What? Jobless claims were up last week;
• Americans are worried and maybe they have reason to be;
• We'll talk cellphone batteries;
• An elegant French restaurant leaves a tiny town;
• Amazon makes news...again.

Those stories plus this conversation with Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA) about a host of issues. It seems timely seeing how tonight is the second of the televised presidential debates.

Thanks for listening!

Our Sponsors

AARP-Iowa

National Tractor Parts Dealer Association

Oasis - A Paychex Company

Tero International

A Small Business Spotlight - Premium Solutions with Kris Gregersen

Today we're talking about the world of promotional products with Kris Gregersen who has been in that field for two decades selling to Fortune 500 companies to small businesses. We start off by talking about why having a local consultant trumps the online world. Then it's into what is selling, what is hot what companies need to consider when using promotional products to market themselves and more. No doubt, based on the data, you have used promotional products in the past and will again in the future. What you might not know is how the promotional products business has changed over the years.  Today it's Premium Solutions in our Small Business Spotlight. 

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 5pm Central. 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.

Yoga In The Small Business Spotlight

To be sure I know little to nothing about yoga. Oh sure I see folks in the park or going into buildings with their yoga mats slung over their shoulders but, where does it come from? How did it start and is there a difference in yoga styles and teaching? So, I sat down with Mary McCarthy from Yoga by Mary to ask those questions and more. Click thorough and enjoy...I know I learned a bunch. 

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 5pm Central. 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.

The Business News Headlines 12 March 2019

It's the 12th day of March and thank for clicking through for the top business news stories of the day. These stories are just a click away:

• Wealthy folks bribe their kids into trendy colleges and universities;
• Boeing continues to have troubles with their stock and worried passengers;
• Dick's Sporting Goods to rid itself of rifles and some shoes;
• You may have forgotten about Lumber Liquidators but the SEC didn't;
• The UK votes against the Theresa May Brexit plan...now what;
• Windsor Heights said "no" to Aldi but not Waukee;
• Is it really a paid family leave proposal from Sen. Joni Ernst;
• What happened today and why on Wall Street.

Those stories plus I'll have a conversation about the Latino Community not only in Iowa but in the United States with Joe Henry an official with LULAC the League of United Latin American Citizens. And yes, we'll touch on the impact Latinos have on business, education, voting and more here in Iowa with LULAC Council 307. 

Thanks for listening!

The Business News Headlines 1 March 2019

Belly up for beer?  Not so fast. It seems that beer is taking a back seat to other choices and we'll talk about that first this afternoon.  Also in the business news:

• New York trying again to get Amazon to the city;
• Bad economic news today but investors were not listening;
• The trucker shortage and your wallet;
• Lyft is going public and hopes to raise a bunch;
• Mike Draper and Raygun are headed to Chicago;
• What happened and why on Wall Street.

Those stories plus Jeff Pitts from Cityview Magazine is in to chat about Stuff to DO in the DSMUSA Metro this weekend into next week and he's got a bunch. To listen to Jeff click here. 

Thanks for listening! 

DART, Transportation, Road Diets & The Western Suburbs

This week there was a celebration in Windsor Heights to mark what could be a model for other communities around Des Moines. The Des Moines Area Rapid Transit (DART) partnered with the Windsor Heights Chamber to say thank you to the players in the new Transit Hub which is under construction between the Apple Valley Shopping Center and Sam's Club. I spoke with Amanda Wanke, External Affairs Officer for DART, Zac Bales-Henry, City Council of Windsor Heights and Josh Mandelbaum from the Des Moines City Council. (Photo: Bales-Henry)

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 5pm Central. 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

Local Option Sales & Service Tax - Polk County, Iowa

Several communities in Polk County, Iowa are set to vote in March on what is being called the Local Option Sales and Service Tax which would add a penny to the sales tax there. We sat down with Brad Anderson the State Director for AARP-Iowa to talk about the impact of the tax on people living there. Some of the things he says may surprise you. While the issue doesn't come up for a vote until March of 2019. AARP-Iowa said they want to get way out in front of the process.

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 5pm Central. 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.