Small Business

Meet Entrepreneur Nikolas Bender and Agent Clean

Everything happens for a reason. Not long ago a young lady, Gabby, was in our neighborhood putting door hangers out for Agent Clean a company that does commercial and residential exterior cleaning. We've been wanting to do this for some time so I called them and Gabby set up a meeting.  Nikolas Bender showed up and he gave me a price and we set the date. However, during that time I was asking him questions about the business and learned a great deal. Without reservation we can recommend this company and it turns out it's a family business.  Gabby is his wife. Click through to learn how Nikolas, who was a part-time employee of the company ended up as the owner.  A true entrepreneur. 
Thanks for listening!
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on  PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon Central 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...and on Threads @Insight_On_Business.

The Business News Headlines and More 11 September 2024

No doubt you remember where you were on September 11, 2021. I was sitting at my desk with the morning news on the television when the first plane hit the first tower in New York City.  Like many I was transfixed for the rest of the day as we followed the news from Washington to a field in Pennsylvania. In all nearly 3,000 people died on that day.  And, we must never forget. 
If you want to reach out to us on social media you can hook up with us all day on Twitter or "X" @IOB_NewsHour and on Instagram. Facebook? Sure were there too.  Here's what we've got for you today:
More good news about...inflation;
It was a wild ride on Wall Street;
Campbells Soup has a name change;
But it's not the first company to do so.  We have a list;
In Utah keeping kids safe from social media is unconstitutional;
The Wall Street Report;
New mortgage rates are out and that too is good news.
For the conversation you'll meet our newest friend Nikolas Bender who went from a part-time worker to owning the company. Nikolas and his family of three are the heart and soul of Agent Clean. How he got to this level is a great story as well as how they market themselves.  And, it is an inspiring entrepreneur story.  Meet Nikolas.
Thanks for listening!
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on  PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon Central 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...and on Threads @Insight_On_Business.

Where Are They Now with Trey Russell

One of the regular features we do for the National Tractor Parts Dealer Association (NTPDA) is visit with members about their business, family, local community and more. It's our way of helping the Association boost their voice. Here in a segment we call "Where Are They Now" we visit with Trey Russell from Russell Tractor Parts of Scottsboro, Alabama who, way back in 1999 received a scholarship from the NTPDA and we thought you might like to learn more.  This past year NTPDA awarded 25 scholarships for a total of $66,500 plus another $12.500 from member companies who sponsored a young person. 
Thanks for listening!
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on  PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon Central 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...and on Threads @Insight_On_Business.

The Business News Headlines 6 September 2024

We kick things off today looking at the Job Report from the Labor Department. It was a mixed bag of details which didn't help Wall Street much.  Thanks for joining us for this Friday Edition of the Business News Headlines and a reminder that we're back on Sunday, Noon Central, with the Business Week in Review and only on News/Talk 1540 KXEL and yes, we do stream. Meanwhile, if you want to reach out to us on social media you can hook up with us all day on Twitter or "X" @IOB_NewsHour and on Instagram. Facebook? Sure were there too.  Here's what we've got for you today:
The Mixed Bag that was the Jobs Report;
Now we wait for the Central Bank and it's meeting;
Wealthy tax cheats are paying up says Janet Yellen;
3D printing and illegal firearms made the news;
Tiny towns in Nebraska are growing. Think immigration;
Remember Lumber Liquidators?  They are gone...
The Wall Street Report;
Podcasts are getting...longer?  Seems so.
Thanks for listening!
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on  PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon Central 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...and on Threads @Insight_On_Business.

The Business News Headlines 20 August 2024

We're back!  We had some "technical issues" late on Monday but all fixed and ready to go.  We kick things off today talking about a difference of opinion between the UAW and Stellantis the parent company of Chrysler. And, if you want to reach out to us on social media you can hook up with us all day on Twitter or "X" @IOB_NewsHour and on Instagram. Facebook? Sure were there too.  Here's what we've got for you today:
What's it going to be Stellantis?
Way too many tourists in Europe and the reaction;
What might the Fed do this week? Some thoughts;
Yet another food recall to share with you;
Small business owners are feeling pretty positive;
The Wall Street Report;
Mixing Booze with Beyonce. Yep, it's a thing.
Thanks for listening!
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on  PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon Central 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...and on Threads @Insight_On_Business.

The Business News Headlines 9 July 2024

For some of you it took until today to get back in the swing of things. I know our phones were lighting up all morning long.  Welcome back! This is the early edition of the Business News Headlines where all we ask is that you give us eight minutes to share some of the top business news stories of the day and we kick things off with a look at what small business owners are thinking about...well, business. Meanwhile, and if you want to reach out to us on social media you can hook up with us all day on Twitter or "X" @IOB_NewsHour and on Instagram. Facebook? Sure were there too.  Here's what we've got for you today:
The National Federation of Independent Business and their latest survey;
What small business owners are dealing with and their confidence;
Fed Chair Powell made comments in the Senate Banking Committee;
What we know about ourselves could be in jeopardy. We'll explain;
The Wall Street Report;
Etsy is making a giant U-Turn in their business model and why.
Thanks for being here!
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on  PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon Central 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...and on Threads @Insight_On_Business.
 

The Business News Headlines and Call Notes 10 June 2024

Hello Monday and welcome to the business news headlines for this the 10th day of June.  Grateful you're with us. Lots of the news today centered on inflation, the Central Bank and rate cuts.  Also, make sure you click through and listen to the conversation we had with Cy Hilty the creator of Call Notes. It can be a game changer when it comes to recording business phone calls that need your attention.  If you want to reach out to us on Social Media you can hook up with us all day on Twitter or "X" @IOB_NewsHour and on Instagram. Facebook? Sure were there too.  Here's what we've got for you today:
A muted day on Wall Street and why;
Big Banks are softening their rate cut expectations;
The Biden Team is reaching out to businesses and saying...
A take-over brewing at Southwest Airlines and why;
Apple takes the wraps off its AI product;
Some thoughts about rate cuts from us;
The Wall Street Report;
Weather and prices of coca, wine and olive oil.
For the interview you'll meet Cy Hilty who has developed a program that will boost your customer service. It's time to ditch that scrap of paper that has phone numbers and messages and move into Call Notes.  While designed for the parts industry we think it has a life in other areas. Never miss another phoned in sale.  To listen to that conversation CLICK THIS LINK.
Thanks for being here!
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on  PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon Central 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...and on Threads @Insight_On_Business.

NTPDA Meet Our Members - Call Notes

It's time to ditch that yellow pad and step up to Call Notes. His name is Cy Hilty and for years he has dabbled in computer software…as a hobby. But now he has created a system that helps businesses keep and track phone calls…from a request to a completed transaction. We all know that many of our members still rely on doing this "the old way" however, with Call Notes you keep a record of every call, every request and can up your customer service quickly and easily. Thank you Cy for joining the National Tractor Parts Dealer Association and this should be an asset for many of our current and future members!
We're here to help our members grow their business and provide a wide range of great benefits that more than pay for an annual membership fee of $400. If you're interested in becoming a member head to our Membership Application and let's do this.  Thanks for listening and thank you for being a Member! 

The Business News Headlines 7 June 2024

Welcome to Friday and a reminder that we're back on the air this Sunday, Noon Central, and only on News/Talk 1540 KXEL.  And yes, we do stream.  In the business news today: It was a stunning jobs report and what that might mean...that's what we kick things off with. Oh, thanks for being with us today and if you want to reach out to us on Social Media you can hook up with us all day on Twitter or "X" @IOB_NewsHour and on Instagram. Facebook? Sure were there too.  Here's what we've got for you today:
Economists guessed wrong. The Jobs Report;
What this says about the U.S. economy;
Mississippi is being sued over an age verification law;
KIA is recalling 463,000 Telluride SUV’s. Think...FIRE;
An astounding fish story for you;
It is National Donut Day and it is historical;
Hertz is ditching Tesla EV's like crazy and why;
The Wall Street Report;
Stressed? More likely if you work at a large company.
Thanks for being here!
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on  PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon Central 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...and on Threads @Insight_On_Business.

The Business News Headlines 4 June 2024

It's Election Day here in Iowa and, yes, I did vote. We kick things off today with a report about open jobs in the U.S. The headline most outlets had was that "Job Openings Drop to the Lowest Level Since 2021". Sounds bad...right? But, when you look inside the numbers it's pretty good news but, as you know, good news doesn't sell or get clicks. Finally, if you want to reach out to us on Social Media you can hook up with us all day on Twitter or "X" @IOB_NewsHour and on Instagram. Facebook? Sure were there too.  Here's what we've got for you today:
Inside the job openings data from today;
Gas prices drop and why that's going on;
High end watches are selling to young people;
Yesterday Meme Stocks had a day...today, not so much;
New Orleans is about to experience a "makeover";
Big news from the world of funerals;
The Wall Street Report;
Shutterstock goes all in on AI.
For the interview you'll meet Jeff Bucklin who with his 79 year old father own and operate Colfax Tractor and Combine Parts in the tiny town of Colfax, Iowa. What is surprising about this story is that, without an inventory system, they have to know, by memory, where in their 100 acres of used tractors, combines, planters and construction equipment those parts...are. Oh, and they ship all over the globe. It's a neat family story...with some history. To LISTEN, CLICK THIS LINK.
Thanks for being here!
The award winning Insight on Business the News Hour with Michael Libbie is the only weekday business news podcast in the Midwest. The national, regional and some local business news along with long-form business interviews can be heard Monday - Friday. You can subscribe on  PlayerFM, Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher or TuneIn Radio. And you can catch The Business News Hour Week in Review each Sunday Noon Central 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...and on Threads @Insight_On_Business.