Consumer Trends

R I Restaurant - A Small Business Spotlight

This week our Small Business Spotlight shines on the R I Restaurant an intimate and comfortable eatery that features the culinary artistry of Chef Jacob Demars. My guest is wife and business partner Kathleen McGuire who knows that not only good food but a superb experience is the key to success. We'll chat about how all of this came about, the business of owning a restaurant, marketing, the food and much more. Meet Kathleen...
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 10 December 2019

The markets all struggled today to get above the flatline but why? We'll share that store and more today. Here's what's on tap:
Americans' waste over $1,600 a year;
Troubling housing news from Fanny & Freddy Mac;
Netflix "must reduce cost to remain competitive";
Ho, Ho, Horrible Tariffs and Holiday Shopping;
Amazon workers flexing their muscle;
The Wall Street Report;
Trends to watch for in 2020.
Those stories and Deb Brown from Save Your Town talks to us about rural issues that are not what are often being reported. Deb and her partner Becky McCray just released a study that tells us what folks in Rural America really want. One of those things is they want people to listen to....them.  You can hear that...here. 
Thanks for coming by! 

The Business News Headlines 9 December 2019

Welcome back to a new work-week and the Monday Edition of the Business News Headlines. On tap for you today:
Good news for smaller retailers this holiday season;
Some small retail tips to promote business;
Things got political today for Amazon;
Are dollar stores killing Americans?
Economist Paul Volker has died a look back;
Tough times for 3,200 truck drivers;
Wait! What happened to Bitcoin?
Those stories plus a conversation with Laura Kinnard from DMBizMixer about a host of upcoming business education and networking options for you. To listen to that conversation, recorded at our favorite coffee shop, Ground for Celebration in Windsor Heights, Iowa...just click here.
Thanks for listening. 

The Business News Headlines 26 November 2019

It was another positive day on Wall Street fueled, in part, by retail numbers. Welcome to the Tuesday Edition of the Business News Headlines. Today:
Gender Neutral Dolls...it's a thing...sort of;
Amazon is getting major pushback;
China and surveillance and American companies;
Travel going to be dicy this holiday;
Super Bowl advertising revenue...a big number.
Also today an in-depth conversation with Dr. Corinne Peak-Asa from the University of Iowa about on-farm injuries as a workforce issue. It seems they may be under-reported, there are treatment questions, payment issues and public policy concerns. You can hear that conversation here. 
Thanks for listening! 

The Business News 22 November 2019

It struck me, just as we were getting this ready for the newscast, that today is the 56th anniversary of the murder of President John Kennedy: November 22, 1963. In the business news today:
President Trump speaks "deal" and the markets go up;
That new Tesla truck...uhm....
Organized Retail Crime is a thing;
No tuna for you;
Bathrooms and Starbucks;
No "Angels" on the runway;
Let's all embrace...napping at work.
Those stories and the markets plus Jeff Pitts the Managing Editor for Cityview Magazine is in to chat it up about "Stuff to DO" in the Des Moines Metro. We're talking music, whiskey, Christmas, East Village, Farmers Market and who in sports we "hate" this week. To listen, just click.
Thanks for coming by! 

The Business News and More 7 November 2019

It was hats and horns on Wall Street as investors believe there may be an end in sight for the trade war between the U.S. and China. But, there is a but.  Stories today:
It's not yet a done deal and what is the..."But";
Millions of American's are in serious financial trouble;
Low wage jobs abound and the future isn't bright;
Sears to close more stores;
Black Friday why it's already here and why;
The Des Moines River project gets a $25 million grant.
Also today we're going to talk about repairing the stuff you already own. The movement is called "Right to Repair" and our guest is Gay Gordon-Byrne from Repair.org. We'll talk about something you may have little knowledge about when it comes to fixing your own stuff from cell phones to agricultural equipment. You can hear that here. 
Thanks for listening.

The Business News Headlines & More 6 November 2019

The markets were supposed to...go up today. That's not exactly what happened as as you can see by the close. Ouch  Why and what else are in the news today:
What happened on Wall Street and why;
The U.S. has a problem with...productivity;
Why watching productivity matters;
Bank of American raises their minimum wage;
You, yes you, are spending way too much on your vehicle;
A grocery store story;
A big soccer deal is headed to Des Moines, Iowa.
Those stories plus the organization that is taking on the high cost of prescription drugs is serious and elected officials at the federal and state level need to pay attention because these folks...vote. Brad Anderson is our guest and we'll talk about that and  more. To listen, click here. 
Thanks for listening! 

Fighting the High Cost of Prescription Drugs with Brad Anderson

The 360,000 members of AARP-Iowa are mad as hell and they don't mind talking about the high cost of prescription drugs. Here Brad Anderson the State Director for the organization talks about what's going on to convince federal and state leaders to get moving on a host of ways to lower the price of prescription drugs. One of the most impactful are the stories people are telling and, according to Brad, folks are not shy. And, if you want to tell your story he's listening.  
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 29 October 2019

Investors are looking at a couple of things: Earnings and the expected rate cut by the Fed. But...and you knew that was coming...if the Fed does cut rates and their is an economic downturn...what then? In the business news headlines today:
Wall Street and the Flatline;
Did something fishy happen with that government deal;
Happy Birthday to YOU...Internet;
Lyft Pink is seeing green;
Uber and a new business plan;
Grubhub...more trouble;
Online videos are crushing television. Hello TV executives.
Those stories plus a conversation with Stephanie Preusch who is the Executive Director for the Neighborhood Finance Corporation. Now, while that sounds like a fancy name they are anything but. Think of low cost entry into homeownership PLUS funds to fix up a home. The surprising world of housing options with this non-profit organization. Listen here. 
Thanks for listening!

The Business News Headlines & More 28 October 2019

Wall Street had a good day based on earnings that beat estimates and we'll share some of the stories on that today. Also:
Meatless Meat is a BIG thing for Burger King;
Homeowners NOT getting home equity loans;
Google to buy Fitbit?
JP Morgan said to be cutting NYC workforce;
Is your job already obsolete?
The gig economy and a new...gig.
Those stories and our regular feature with Laura Kinnard of Curated Growth, Drake University and DMACC where she teaches entrepreneurship. She's in at the start of each week to share with you business events happening in the Greater Des Moines Metro. Places to learn and places to be seen. You can hear that conversation right here. 
Thanks for listening!