Consumer Trends

Out to Lunch with Jessica Dunker - Iowa Restaurant Association

Our Out to Lunch series is where we have lunch with a thought leader and you get to come along and listen to the conversation. Here, in this long-form interview, I visit with Jessica Dunker the President/CEO of the Iowa Restaurant Association. There is so much packed into our time together from business training to public policy to education to branding to social media to recruitment/retention. Join us as we go Out to Lunch at our host location, Gilroy's Kitchen + Pub + Patio.
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 20 November 2018

Remember when we told you October was a rough month for Wall Street? We didn't see November coming.  Here are some of the business news headlines we've got for you today:
The Dow erases all of the gains for 2018 in one day...like today;
Retail came crashing down on the heels of Target;
Recession in our future?  Two things to watch;
Gift card fraud is a big deal and big names in retail are fighting back;
Look out downtown Des Moines here comes the wrecking ball;
Got romaine lettuce?  Get rid of it...like...now;
What happened and why on Wall Street.
Also today we go Out to Lunch with the President/CEO of the Iowa Restaurant Association Jessica Dunker. But before we do that...we'll offer up Quick Bites. Three questions for Jessica before we dig into our conversation from Gilroy's in West Des Moines.  And you get to listen in. 
Here is our Out to Lunch segment where we visit with Jessica about a host of business issues that impact the restaurant industry. From social media, consumer trends, education, public policy, recruitment/retention. If you've ever wondered about the business of feeding people...enjoy we think you'll learn plenty. 

Business News Headlines 31 October 2018

Busy day on the Business News Hour. It's not only Halloween but it's also the end of what we predicted was going to be a tough month for Wall Street and...yep, we were right.  Today the headlines look like this:
The S&P 500 had the worst month since 2011;
Denny's stock surged today...so, what's going on?  We'll share;
L.L. Bean sees greater sales growth coming from...Canada;
General Motors announced they will be cutting jobs...ouch;
America, you've got a problem and it's getting bigger each month;
Could tiny Windsor Heights, Iowa be the home of something dramatic?
And, of course we've got the numbers from Wall Street.
Those stories and a conversation about trash with Tony Colosimo (click to listen) of Sparta Waste. What he has to share about our current recycling will surprise you. Like...did you know that most of the items you carefully put in your current recycle bin ends up in the landfill anyway?  Yeah...that and more. You've got to listen to this short piece.
Also today we'll chat with former Maryland governor Martin O'Malley (Click to listen) as he was in Iowa stumping for a whole bunch of fresh face candidates for the Iowa Statehouse to Congress. Why do it and what have Democrats done for decades to their own demise?  We'll talk about it. 

Recycling? According to Tony we're doing it, "All wrong."

He is a return visitor to the Business News Hour. Tony Colosimo is in the trash and recycling business at Sparta Waste Services and it's something that he's done for over 30 years. So, he knows a thing or two about garbage, recycling, landfills and what he says is a lousy system that needs to be overhauled if it's going to work for the future. This is a conversation that impacts every person 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 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.

Business News Headlines and More 30 October 2018

We open, once again, with the Wall Street Report. Why? Because it has been so crazy over the past several weeks and we'll shed some light on what might be coming tomorrow...from history that is.  In other news stories today:
The Costco "Black Friday Circular" was...ahem...leaked today and we'll share what's in it;
President Trump, in an interview, said he would end birthright status. The impact?
Business and Politics mingled today as a major corporation said "goodbye" to a congressman;
Jared Bernstein is the president of the Jewish Federation of Des Moines we asked him a couple of questions regarding antisemitism growth escalations in the nation and Des Moines.
Those stories and for The Interview we'll introduce you to Mom, Wife and now Candidate Heather Matson who is running for the Iowa House of Representatives District 38 made up of parts of Ankeny and northern Polk County, Iowa.  Heather Matson (Click for her website) for The Interview.
Thanks for listening! 

Small Business Saturday Marketing Tips from The Week in Review on News/Talk 1540 KXEL

Today on News/Talk 1540 KXEL we talked about some ideas for small business to use as we get close to Small Business Saturday which, this year, falls on the first Saturday following Thanksgiving (November 24). Click through and listen. Also, find out more about Small Business Saturday by following this link. 
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 Design Atlas for Climate Resilience with RDG

This is quite an event being sponsored by RDG Planning & Design. The Design Atlas for Climate Resilience happens this week and it is deep dive into creating structures that will be able to withstand the effects of climate change. The event runs Wednesday through Friday the 26th of October and interested parties are invited to attend the final presentation at the RDG offices downtown Des Moines. Click through to learn more from David Dahlquist, Rennee Thomas and Graham Hanson.
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 - 19 October 2018

The end of the business week and we've got the Friday Edition of the Business News Hour. On tap today it's sort of an Amazon day with three stories that touch on the company:
Amazon seems to be closing in on the location of its second headquarters;
The pay increase for Amazon workers is not working out so well;
Has Walmart found a way to battle back Amazon?
Ford Motor Company is in trouble so the CEO had to calm dealers down;
The Savery Hotel in downtown Des Moines is open, $20 million later;
What happened on Wall Street and...why.
Those stories plus a conversation with Lucas Nelson from MedPharm. The company are opening up two dispensaries next month...one in Sioux City and the other in Windsor Heights. We talk about the business, the Iowa legislature and more.
Also we'll have some fun with Cityview Magazine as we check out Stuff to DO in the Metro with Jeff Pitts and Parker Reed...
Thanks for listening! 

The Business News Headlines 17 October 2018

Yesterday's party on Wall Street ended today as investors took a look at the Fed Meeting Minutes...yeah that interest rate stuff. Here's what we shareing today:
We take a deep dive into the tax cuts...are they paying for themselves?
Last week it was Ford that announced layoffs today it's drug giant Pfizer;
In what nations do people retire younger...and older? We've got a list;
West Des Moines, Iowa is getting a major sports complex;
A North Central Iowa manufacturer produces some record revenue numbers;
And, yes, we'll check out what happened today on Wall Street.
Those stories plus in for The Interview is Ruth Ann Gaines (D-Des Moines) who is running for re-election in Iowa House District 32. Mrs. Gaines is a former educator who represents people just northeast of downtown Des Moines in an area she describes as economically challenged. Meet Ruth Ann Gaines:
Thanks for listening! 

The Business News Headlines - 16 October 2018

Each weekday we bring you the big business news stories of the day along with interesting business interviews with local to international business leaders. Today is no exception:
Strong earnings (like we told you) pulled the markets back;
UBER to go...public?
Elon and Tesla pay a total of $40 million and they are back in business;
Chickens, Tariffs and Lawsuits;
The Des Moines River Project just got a big check;
Retail loses a leader as Richard B. Von Maur Jr. dies at 86;
The Market Report and it was a dandy.
Also today we will introduce you to Jennifer Gracey. Jennifer works with businesses on the consumer experience with company websites. That is part one.  Part two is about how her personal and professional life has expanded due to her experiences in the Junior Chamber International. You must listen...
We're also going to climb back into our "Way-Back Machine" for a conversation we had three years ago with Chuck Mefford of BrandsFormation. We aired this in 2015 and again this past Sunday on News/Talk 1540 KXEL and wanted to share with you, again, here.
Thanks for listening!