Technology

The Very Personal Story of Robert "Lewy" Lewis

In the twelve years I've been doing the Business News Hour I've sat down with thousands of established business owners, startups, politicians and non-profits. I'm truly grateful to them for allowing me the opportunity to ask tough questions and learn more about them and their business. In all these years there have been less than four or five guests who have really opened up and gotten personal. That's not a dig and I get it. We all must be careful...after all it's business. You are about to hear a very personal story from Robert "Lewy" Lewis the owner of Quester Market Research. You may remember he was with us not long ago and here is that link. After we did that business interview I asked him if he would share his personal story and struggles about his disability and his pain. I was surprised when he agreed. Here you will learn more about the Disability Owned Business Enterprise and what that recognition meant to "Lewy". And then we're going to talk about a lifetime of pain and how medical cannabis is the one thing that has allowed "Lewy" to continue working. Spend some time with my friend...I think you'll find it enlightening and engaging. 
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 24 February 2020

The big business news story today was the melt-down on Wall Street as investors grapple with the continued spread of the coronavirus.  In other news for this Monday:
Mortgage Rates and the coronavirus link;
A union at...Target;
Best city in the U.S. to live, find a job and a home...
This packaging product is making a comeback;
The Wall Street Report;
In 2008 it was this that started ruining your work/life balance.
Those stories plus Laura Kinnard from DMBizMixer.com talks up some business events in the Greater Des Moines Metro and a nod to Sioux Falls. Hey, it's what we do each Monday. Here you'll learn about a legal program for small businesses, One Million Cups of DSM, an update on the event last week at The Runway Innovation and Events Studio at Southridge and many more business events in the Metro. Go, learn and get connected.  Click here to listen. 

The Business News Headlines 20 February 2020

It was a wild day on Wall Street as traders decided to take some profits.  Welcome to the Thursday Edition of the Business News Headlines.  Today:
Pizza is good so is the marketing and innovation;
General Mills and the $13 box of cereal;
Morgan Stanley is in a buying mode;
Nissan has a deal for you...sort of;
Mayor Pete and the American Dream;
The Wall Street Report;
Lingerie isn't what it used to be.
Those stories PLUS a conversation about the skills required to be a top sales person.  My guest is  Kyle Hopkins a Tero International Trainer who says the world of sales has transformed from product knowledge to having the ability to communicate and respond to a customers real needs.  You can listen here. 
Thanks for coming by! 

Think Before You Podcast

Every so often we put out a Marketing Tip. Today this will center on PODCASTING. It's a great way to connect with consumers if it's done well. One of the false narratives out there is that what you say is critically important. Well, that's not quite true. The "content" of the spoken word is worth about 7% of your ability to connect with your audience. What really impacts your message is the visual and the vocal presentation.
Give a listen and learn more about podcasting and what we use to make it all happen.  And, as promised here are the links to the products/services I mention.
Check out the BLUE Yeti;
Your link to B&H Audio/Visual;
Your link to Audacity;
Your link to Podbean to host your podcast.
Thanks for 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 Headlines 13 February 2020

If you are a regular listener or even if you've checked in a couple of times over the past two weeks you know that we've wondered how long investors would choose to ignore the economic impact of the coronavirus. That story and more:
The prices of phones are...going up, way up;
That Microsoft / U.S. Defence Department deal? On hold;
A major newspaper company files for bankruptcy;
What's really killing retail? Some thoughts;
The Wall Street Report;
Mental health issues treated differently at school vs. work.
Those stories plus you'll meet Liz Cooney a new learning specialist at Tero International. If that name sounds familiar to those of you in Central Iowa...it should. You can here that conversation here. 
Thanks for listening! 

The Business News Headlines 10 February 2020

Wall Street rebounded from the sell off on Friday as investors looked beyond several key concerns. It's the Monday Edition of the business news headlines. Today:
The Trump Budget and pesky numbers;
Yes we're still concerned about the coronavirus;
Foam cups are fighting for their lives;
Wall Street came back with tech leading;
What? Amazon vs. Trump...it's a story;
The Oscars broke two records last night.
Those stories plus....Each Monday Laura Kinnard, the author of DMBizMixer.com, and I chat it up about business events going on this week in the Des Moines, Iowa Metro and...there are plenty. From networking to publishing parties to branding talk to diversity to chamber talk, to celebrating advertising we've got a full week.  Pick one or two and then...GO! And, if you want us to chat it up about your event just use #DMBizEvents on Social Media and Laura will pick it up. Listen to this week's lineup here. 
Thanks for listening!  

The Business News Headlines 5 February 2020

Today Wall Street put a bunch of things behind them and focused on job numbers ahead of the official report due out on Friday.  Here's what we've got for you today:
Strong employment data an a rumor lifted the markets;
Yesterday a big day for Tesla...today? Not so much;
Macy's is closing and now opening stores;
The trade deficit shrinks;
The Wall Street Report;
Because of a duck, insurance has become fun;
Leadership changes at LinkedIn.
Those stories plus:  It's called "market research" you know...what people like and don't like when it comes to products and services. But in this interview there is a major twist. My guest is Robert (Lewy) Lewis the principal at Quester a company doing business with Fortune 500 and Fortune 100 companies. While there are many market research firms out there Quester is a bit different because they have perfected collecting consumer responses using artificial intelligence. What does that do to the sampling and speed of reporting? We'll let Lewy share that with you. 
Thanks for listening! 

The Business News Headlines 29 January 2020

Welcome to the Mid-Week Edition of the business news headlines. Today we've got these stories lined up for you and some technology from the Iowa Power Farming Show.
We'll be seeing less of...Nissan;
He says the Wells Fargo scandal is worse than we thought;
McDonald's out to find new customers and not resting;
The Wall Street Report;
The Founders Statue update with Carl Voss - Think RAGBRAI.
Those stories and a conversation about drone spraying with David Pieper from Rantizo. I've always maintained if you want to find some interesting technology cast an eye toward agriculture. From the Iowa Power Farming Show...a quick story about a startup from Iowa City. You can hear that...here. 
Thanks for listening! 

Meet Rantizo - Drone Spraying for Agriculture

I was in the Media Room at the Iowa Power Farming Show and asked around about new technology and adaptations for agriculture and I was told I should check out Rantizo who came to showcase their new drone spraying device. Working the booth for Rantizo was David Pieper the Director of Sales for the Iowa City based company. We sat down to talk crop spraying and drone usage.  Gotta love technology. 
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 23 January 2020

At the opening bell today it was all about a virus and China...but as the day wore on worried investors seemed to move on and we'll share why.  It is the business news headlines for the 23rd day of January.
Former Wells Fargo CEO gets some bad news;
Planters Peanuts kills off Mr. Peanut and...why;
FedEx is alerting folks about a scam;
The White House wants more tax cuts;
The Wall Street Report;
Working Women and the 1970's.
Those stories plus this: Over the past several months we've reported on the number of trucking companies who have shut their doors. At the same time there is a lack of drivers.  Add to those issues new demands regarding packaging of freight, electronic logs, new technology and something called "density rating". With me is Brian Bartz from DLS Worldwide as we talk about the many changes in the industry and the "State of Freight". You can listen here. 
Thanks for listening!