Enterprise Podcast Network

Enterprise Podcast Network

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Enterprise Podcast Network episodes

  • DL3 Realty, one of Chicago’s most active community developers - Entrepreneur Podcast Network – EPN
    Leon Walker, the Managing Partner of DL3 Realty, one of Chicago’s most active community developers, including opening  the nationally recognized Whole Foods-anchored shopping center on the Englewood neighborhood in Chicago’s South Side joins Enterprise Radio.
    Listen to interview with host Eric Dye & guest Leon Walker discuss the following:
    * What is Venture Development?
    * Why is it important?
    * Who inspired you?
    * What do you look for in an investor?
    Leon I. Walker, a native of Chicago’s South Side, is driven by a passion to improve and sustain neighborhood life in urban communities. He serves as Managing Partner of DL3 Capital, general partner of DL3 Realty, a mission driven, for-profit real estate investment firm that ventures into to the most economically challenged neighborhoods and food desserts to bring quality retail projects with high- impact stores.
    In 2016, he opened Englewood Square, a retail shopping center located in Chicago’s South Side anchored by Whole Foods Market, Chipotle and Starbucks. Other projects include the recently opened Mile Square Health Center – South Shore and a future Jewel-Osco grocery store in Woodlawn, another underserved Chicago neighborhood located near the proposed Obama Presidential Library site.
    He left a successful career in corporate America to pursue his long-time dream of transforming communities bringing hope, jobs and prosperity. Where others see blight, poverty and risk, Walker see opportunity. His real estate projects help to accelerate neighborhood revitalization efforts that are sensitive to neighborhood’s character, creating opportunities for those who live there and providing strong results for investors.
    Walker brings a diverse body of professional experience, training, and education to his role as one of Chicago’s most active community developers. Walker has been involved in structuring over $100 million in New Markets Tax Credit transactions.   DL3 developments have won numerous awards including the LISC-Chicago Most Outstanding Development Award in 2009 and 2017.
    At Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) in Los Angeles, he represented Fortune 500 clients in the leasing and development of over one million square feet of office space. Prior to JLL, he worked at Citicorp Securities in the Real Estate Capital Markets Group structuring market debt securities for REITs with market capitalizations in excess of $500 million.
    Walker is a graduate of the University of Chicago’s Law School and Booth Graduate School of Business, and he received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan School of Business. He is involved in many community initiatives including the Greater Chicago Food Depository, and he serves on the advisory board of the Marshall Bennett Institute of Real Estate at Roosevelt University and the government relations committee of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC).
    Walker believes the success of Englewood Square and similar developments can be duplicated and shares his expertise in a Discussion Paper titled: “Venture DevelopmentTM : An Opportunity for Private Investors to Drive Concordant Change in the American Inner City.”
    Website: www.DL3Realty.com/VentureDevelopment
    29 min
  • What to Consider When Looking for Web Design Services - Entrepreneur Podcast Network – EPN

    If you are interested in web design services, it is important that you make a point of looking for certain things before landing on a certain company to provide you with them. The more time you spend doing this research, the better your chances will be of getting the services you need without any issues. The last thing you want to do is rush through this process, because you’ll end up regretting it.

    Experience is Essential

    When you are trying to find the very best web design services, it is important that you look for professionals who are very experienced at doing this type of work. The more experience they have, the happier you will be with the services you pay for. Make sure that you find out how long each company has been around, because it will definitely affect the quality of the services you get.

    Reasonable Pricing

    You should also look for a web design company that charges a reasonable amount for their services, because you don’t want to end up spending more than you have to. Take the time to find out how much each company will charge you for the work you need done before settling on one in particular. If you are on a tight budget, it is even more important that you do this research.

    There is a Marketing Department

    Ideally you should try to find a company with a marketing department so that you can be sure the professionals you hire will make your website really attractive as well as functional. When you visit MonthlyWeb, you will see that this company offers more than just web design. It’s always better to choose a company that can do more than just make your website look nice. They also offer a pay monthly web design option which is practical if you are a small business or freelancer looking for a suitable service.

    They Have a Portfolio

    Look for web design and development companies that have a portfolio of the websites they have created for other clients so you can get a better sense as to just how good they really are. Not all of these businesses have portfolios on their websites, so you will need to make a point of looking for this before choosing a certain web design firm.

    Take a Look at Their Website

    If you are in need of pay monthly web design services, you will want to take a close look at each company’s site. The company’s website will say a lot about their skills, so you will need to make sure that it is highly responsive with a nice layout and overall design. If their own site doesn’t look good, you cannot realistically expect them to meet your needs. A well-designed website is a sign of skilled professionals who know what they are doing.

    It can be difficult to find the right web design services to match your needs, but with a little research you should be able to get a great-looking and responsive website. The better these services are, the more you will benefit in the long term.

    0 min
  • 5 Advantages of Business Process Automation - Entrepreneur Podcast Network – EPN
    When your business process is not properly streamlined, this can cause serious issues for your business.  Introducing process automation can help to overcome these issues, as the software can analyse your current business processes, which will help you to increase the overall quality and efficiency of your business operations.
    There are a number of key factors that constantly challenge the different process flows in a business which process automation can help solve.  One of the very first stages will involve analysis, however process automation software will go beyond this to help solve the bigger problems inherent to any company.
    Faster Turnover Time
    In terms of man power, there will always be a limit to how fast business processes can be completed.  Introducing automation can help significantly reduce the time it takes to complete tasks.  It also means you can complete different tasks simultaneously.
    Unnecessary tasks can be a significant drain on a company’s time, however, process automation will use modelling to get rid of unnecessary tasks and optimise the flow of information in your office.  This makes it easier for a business to streamline day-to-day operations and realign their priorities.  This will decrease the time it takes to complete crucial business tasks.
    Monitoring, Tracking and Reporting
    An area that is an increasingly attractive investment is Intelligence Software.  This business software is able to make smart decisions based on data generated from information gathered about your business.  A process automation system will routinely collect and process data.  Businesses can then use this data to analyse their current practices and make better decisions on future processes.
    Decreased Workload
    In some cases, businesses can experience growth issues as manually completed work can take a lot longer to complete if it concerns a complex topic.  This is why it makes sense to decrease the manual workload of your employees to ensure they are using their personal skill set to the best of their abilities.  This ensures they can focus on core competencies, as application software can be used to automatically generate reports.  Some mobile platforms, one example being GoCanvas.com, allow users to automate emails to customers, colleagues and partners, and customise their own mobile forms. This makes it extremely easy to manage all of your work processes and mobile forms in one easy to use app.
    From simple tasks like spell checking to more complex tasks, automation software can help employees complete work quicker and more accurately.
    Getting Rid of Human Error
    It’s inevitable that people will make a mistake at some point, particularly when work load is heavy.  A key benefit of introducing process automation is that it will immediately help to reduce human error.  This is done by performing checks and completing high-quality tasks behind the scenes.
    Compliance Made Simple
    Today, businesses are required to work in compliance with strict legal standards.  This means businesses are required to train each employee in compliance.  There is definitely room for error which could cause significant complications.  A process automation system ensures that all of the rules are followed down to the letter as there is no room for human error.
    0 min
  • 10 Tactics to Grow Your Site Traffic - Entrepreneur Podcast Network – EPN
    There are a lot of ways out there to grow your site traffic. But there are definitely some strategies that work better than others. These are strategies that have been used by other business owners and have been shown to be the most effective – something that everyone with the website should be doing. Let’s take a look at ten tactics to help you grow your site traffic.
    Advertise
    One of the first things that you should consider doing is advertising. Advertising seems like a no-brainer, but many people underestimate the value of it. In addition, even if you are just barely starting your website, you can find advertising that is within your budget.
    Use Social Media
    Another tactic that seems rather obvious is to use social media to get people to come to your site. The first thing that you have to do is to set up social media accounts for your business and get people to follow you. You also have to provide them with content on social media that makes them want to come and check out your business. If you can impress, entertain or give people value on social media than there is a good chance that want to find out more about your company.
    Use Signatures
    You definitely should be using signatures such as the ones that you can attach to the bottom of your email or your forum signature which gets updated across all of the forum posts that you have ever made. If you can participate in forums that are related to your industry, someone reading one of your posts may follow a link to your site. The same goes for your emails. If you do not have the links available, then there is no chance that someone will visit.
    Optimize Off-Site
    You definitely want to optimize off-site, which means getting links. But you don’t necessarily go after links directly. Instead, try to create content that will make people want to link to you.
    Start a Blog
    One of the best strategies out there is to start a blog. A blog will allow you to get readers as well as get indexed in the search engines for more keywords. If you own an online business, then you must have a blog.
    Write Incredible Headlines
    You also need to be aware of your headlines and whether they drive traffic or not. If your headlines are lackluster, then look at some sites that are able to get people to click just based on the headline alone. Buzzfeed and Cracked are both leaders in this particular area.
    Use Guest Blogging
    Another strategy is to use guest blogging. Guest blogging on other websites with readership that is significant and based within your industry can lead people back to your own blog and possibly convert them into someone who is going to return again and again.
    Use LinkedIn
    LinkedIn is a definitely an underrated resource when it comes to getting site traffic. LinkedIn has all kinds of groups you can participate in and ways to link back to your website.
    Create an Internal Linking Strategy
    An internal linking strategy is another method that you should be implementing in your website. This is not only good for the search engines, but it is also good for readers to keep them on your site and interested in different content you have available.
    Speed Up Your Site
    Finally, make sure that your site is fast and responsive. The search engines will rank you lower if your site is slow and readers will press the back button if your site doesn’t load right away.
    0 min
  • Selling Your Business: The Impact on Your Retirement Plan - Entrepreneur Podcast Network – EPN

    Jen Gibbs Swets, a partner at DWC, The 401(k) Experts, a firm providing third party plan administration, compliance and consulting services for qualified retirement plans nationwide joins Enterprise Radio to talk about the impact your retirement plan has when selling your business.
    Listen to interview with host Eric Dye & guest Jen Gibbs Swets discuss the following:

    * What is your advice for companies considering selling their business?
    * What are the top 3 misconceptions or errors sellers have related to their retirement planning?
    * To be clear, if an owner sells the company via an asset sale they can keep the plan open – what are the benefits of that approach?
    * How are employees (or participants of the plan) handled before and after the acquisition related to their retirement plan?
    * Companies with excellent cash flow, what should they be thinking about as it relates to their retirement plans?

    Summary: When selling, don’t ignore your retirement plan as it may end up costing you money after the sale is completed! If you have strong cash flow, make sure you maximize your retirement plan (s) with a design that maximizes your retirement savings and improves your corporate and/or individual tax returns.
    Jen Gibbs Swets has more than 15 years of experience in the retirement plan industry focusing on plan design through collaboration clients and advisors. As a partner at DWC – The 401(k) Experts, a firm providing third party plan administration, compliance and consulting services for qualified retirement plans nationwide, Jen looks for opportunities to implement and enhance retirement plan programs in ways that support the plan sponsor’s business and savings goals while creating meaningful savings opportunities for participants.
    She is passionate about playing an active role in the retirement plan industry and has held several leadership roles within the American Society of Pension Professionals & Actuaries (ASPPA), including her current role on the Leadership Council where she leads the Millennial Task Force for next-generation engagement. She has also served as the Co-Chair of the ASPPA National Conference, Co-Chair of the ASPPA Regional Conferences, and volunteered on ad-hoc Retirement Plan Academy committees.
    Jen has served as a speaker for numerous groups and also published articles in The Journal of Pension Benefits and Plan Consultant Magazine. Dedicated to her community, Jen serves as a sustainer for the Junior League of Norfolk-Virginia Beach where she held several board positions during her tenure. She is a LEAD Hampton Roads graduate and has participated in College of William & Mary Alumni events. She was recently recognized by Inside Business as a Top 40 Under 40 honoree.
    DWC – The 401(k) Experts is a firm providing third party plan administration, compliance and consulting services for qualified retirement plans nationwide.

    Website:  www.dwc401k.com
    People also listened to this: Building an Efficient 401k Plan with Tyler Harrison
    26 min
  • Orgasmic Leadership: How to Profit in the Business of Female Health and Wellness - Entrepreneur Podcast Network – EPN
    Rachel Braun Scherl, Managing Partner of SPARK Solutions for Growth, vagipreneur, public speaker, and a proud first time author again joins Enterprise Radio to talk about Orgasmic Leadership and how to profit in the business of female health and wellness.
    Listen to host Eric Dye & guest Rachel Braun Scherl discuss the following:
    * What is a vagipreneur and how did you decide to become one?
    * What is orgasmic leadership?  Why does it matter?  How did you come to that idea?
    * Tell us more about your new book!
    * How are you organizing everything that you do?
    * What are some of the key learnings that you’d like to share?
    Rachel Braun Scherl is the picture of the consummate dynamic, passionate business leader. As a respected strategist and entrepreneur, Rachel has successfully launched, built and turned around companies, both large and small, around the globe. Rachel builds businesses based on the belief that sustainable, profitable growth must start with a sound strategy and be continually driven forward by connecting with customers, building partnerships, and creating revenue.  
    As Managing Partner of SPARK Solutions for Growth, a strategic growth consultancy, Rachel has lead global consulting engagements with international clients, including Johnson & Johnson, Allergan, Pfizer, Bayer and Deloitte. In addition to her work with large companies, Rachel has helped build numerous startups, with an emphasis on female health – focusing on insights, customer acquisitions, customer lifetime value and retention.
    In another chapter of her vibrant career, Rachel was Co-Founder and President of Semprae Laboratories, Inc., a venture-backed company focused on developing and marketing women’s sexual health products for several years. After growing the business in retail and direct to consumer, the company was sold to Innovus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in 2013.
    In her “Rachel Talks” speaker series, Rachel shares her experiences driving change and achieving results in a wide range of categories and situations as a business professional and a women in business.  Rachel is a frequently requested speaker at leading corporations, universities and conferences including Johnson & Johnson, Stanford University Graduate School of Business, Duke University, Yale School of Management, Pennsylvania Conference for Women, and SUP-X™: The StartUpExpo, among others.
    Rachel has appeared on ABC’s Nightline, CBS News and MSNBC, and has been interviewed for major platforms including The New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Forbes, The Huffington Post and CNN. Rachel writes for The Huffington Post and contributes to Inc.
    In 2015, Rachel was recognized as one of the Best Fifty Women in Business by NJBiz.  She is a 2015 recipient of SmartCEO’s BRAVA Awards honoring top female CEO’s who are leaders of their companies and their communities. In addition, Rachel was honored as one of JWI’s 10 Women to Watch in 2016.  She serves on the Duke New York Women’s Executive Board, the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation for Fuqua School of Business at Duke University and Formula XO, a specialty beauty company.
    Rachel earned her BA from Duke University, graduating Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa, and her MBA from Stanford University Graduate School of Business.  
    Website: www.sparksolutionsforgrowth.com
    People also listened to this: Leading with Values
    18 min
  • The Best Way to Travel Privately - Entrepreneur Podcast Network – EPN
    Commercial airlines and airports have heightened security to the point that taking a flying both locally and internationally is a multi-step process. You must arrive at the airport hours in advance so that you can be screened and have your luggage checked. Passengers are also restricted to the types of items that they can take onboard or store on airplanes. While security is important, taking a commercial airline flight is no longer a relaxing experience. Lots of people aren’t wild about the idea of having their luggage rifled through or having to be patted down several times.
    Certain jet companies such as Paramount Business Jets provide a more comfortable way to travel for you and your business colleagues. Flights can be tailored to meet your schedule while stewards are available to serve you personally. For those who can get a bit claustrophobic on commercial airplanes, private jets are much more accommodating. Seats are generally situated in a way that facilitates conversation and intimacy. Most of all, you will get all of the privacy that you need to travel wherever you want in the world, on your schedule, and in style.
    The Practicality of Hiring a Private Jet
    People take planes not only because they are the fastest means of travel, but also because they also offer the most direct routes. For instance, if you want to go from Manhattan, New York, to Los Angeles, you can either take a plane, drive or hop on a train. Via plane, you would get to your destination in three to five hours. Driving from New York to California takes around three days if you stop for food and rest. Trains might end up being a little faster than driving, but only if there are no lengthy layovers. This means that it might actually be more practical to look into aircraft charter flights than it can appear at the onset.
    During peak periods, commercial airline tickets can cost thousands and you aren’t even guaranteed a seat if the flight has been overbooked. Business people travel because they absolutely need to be present for seminars, in-person meetings, and to oversee their companies. Delayed and canceled flights can cost them contracts and potentially their livelihoods. So, all in all, private jet hire is very practical.
    The Benefits of Renting a Jet for Private Travel
    Once you get on board your first chartered private jet, you will feel absolutely at ease. Your cabin will be completely quiet as you won’t be sharing it with hundreds of other travelers. Private business travelers can also feel free to enjoy whatever type of movies or music they would like. First and foremost, consider the fact that being able to take a private jet means that you are involved in a successful business. You might take a flight arranged via private jet charter at the last moment because your presence has been summoned at a crucial board meeting. Alternatively, your need to travel via private jet might be necessary as there are no other available means to get to your destination in as little time as possible. The bottom line is that taking private jets for business travel purpose means that you can count on leaving on time, enjoying a peaceful flight and arriving where you need to be.
    Frequent Travel Rewards
    Pretty much every airline has a frequent traveler rewards program. Some enable travelers to amass points and then spend them so that their next airline tickets are free or steeply discounted. The more that you fly, the more opportunities you’ll have to save – that’s the premise of all frequent travel programs.
    When it comes to private jet charter, you can also enjoy the same kind of rewards. Of course, you have to travel regularly in order to get discounts and other rewards. If you have a company and you expect to send your employees on privately chartered jets regularly…
    0 min
  • Bottom Line and Business Supplies: Are You Getting the Best for Your Money? - Entrepreneur Podcast Network – EPN

    Did you know that companies can save up to $6 million every year just by choosing their suppliers wisely? According to Deloitte, this is a real possibility, and something supply chain management (SCM) and procurement departments need to strongly work on as one of the steps to growing your bottom line.

    What’s better, you don’t have to break much sweat to get maximum value from your supplier relationships. The following are a few proven tips to get you started.

    1. Talk to multiple suppliers
    2. What most companies don’t realize is that suppliers, just like other businesses, compete on the basis of price. Just like you occasionally lower your prices and offer tasty coupons to appeal to more customers, suppliers are always throwing around discounts to attract more clients. It is your duty to find the supplier with the best prices. To this end, always begin by talking to at least three suppliers, letting each one know that you’re getting other quotes and that you’ll go with the supplier that offers the best price. As long as you don’t compromise quality, this strategy will always get you great value.

      1. Make them know that you’re in a position to give them a lot of business
      2. Suppliers, just like you, also desire long-term customers who buy a lot of products, and are willing to go an extra mile to keep such customers on board. Therefore, when negotiating with your suppliers, make sure they know that you have the capacity and willingness to give them repeat business over the long term. It works even better if you can show them records. Let them see how much volume you’ve been buying in the past and at what frequency. This will give them a rough idea of what they can expect from you, forcing them to offer you a better deal.

        1. Offer large deposits to get a bigger discount 
        2. This is another trick most wholesalers don’t know about. Suppliers are concerned about their accounts receivable just like all other business owners. They want more money in the bank and fewer debts. It means that they are likely to be happier if you’re paying most of the money upfront. A good idea would be a value in the region of 50-60%. If you can pay your packaging products supplier 60% upfront for an inventory of glass jars, for instance, they will be more than grateful. And, to show their appreciation, they are likely to offer you a bigger discount.

          1. Consider transferring all your business to just one supplier
          2. In most scenarios, this is usually the tipping point. When a supplier finds out that you’re now buying exclusively from their company; that as long as they have the product, you will always buy from them; the deal is sealed. You will not only get lower prices and first dibs on new arrivals, but the supplier will be more than willing to discuss even higher discounts and more favorable payment structures.

            If you’re struggling with the bottom line, these are some of the adjustments you can make on the supplier-side to improve the overall profitability of the business.

            0 min
          3. Reusable Shipping Crates: A Long-Term Logistical Investment - Entrepreneur Podcast Network – EPN

            Management of shipped goods is a top priority when it comes to businesses and enterprises that cannot risk a decrease in product quality to taint their image as a brand and a company. Customer response towards incorrect or damaged goods is more often than not a mistake that can’t slip by without any consequences. Technological innovation has changed the shipping scene by providing not just more adaptive materials for shipment but also services to maintain the sustainability of, for example, reusable crates. Practices such as crate washing are a highly beneficial perk that comes along with choosing reusable containers for shipping. Here are a few reasons why going green is the right choice.

            The Material

            Considering the change in material from traditional wooden boxes and/or cardboard boxes to plastic, the design and durability now offer much more versatility in terms of what is shipped. Choosing reusable plastic crates paves the way for making your produce safe from potential packaging mishaps. Leaks and spills are easily preventable compared to the earlier alternatives, allowing poultry, meat, and fish products to be shipped with ease. Perishables aren’t the only products that benefit from going plastic. Delicate products such as electronics or fragile furniture pieces are much safer contained in plastic containers which can be airtight to be safe from the elements outside such as moisture and heat.

            Practicality

            Depending on your shipping destination, going international brings along a whole new set of opportunities and problems in terms of shipping your product. Departure and arrival times have to be coordinated, local and international taxes differ from place to place, and most importantly, the weight restrictions might differ depending on the shipping method you use. As stated above, in going for a lighter plastic material compared to cardboard boxes or wooden crates, the number of products you can ship is much greater compared to the said alternatives while offering greater protection and security compared to cardboard boxes.

            Reusability

            If you’ve recently started your business, it is much more attractive to make use of cheap and disposable containers for your products. But eventually, the costs start to pile up with the growth of your business to broader demographics. Using reusable plastic containers may be on the pricier side, but logistically speaking, having your own set of containers available for reuse is a much better option financially speaking. Storage is also convenient as designs are made so that empty containers can be stacked inside each other, making them a solid choice for thrifty business owners. These environment-friendly containers are not only practical and efficient, they can be cleaned and reused as well, making them the smart choice of shipping container all-round.

            Image: Pixabay.com

            0 min
          4. How Better Legal Boosts Business Growth? - Entrepreneur Podcast Network – EPN

            Many aspiring entrepreneurs seek lawyers who can help make their dream come to life. But the reality is most lawyers never make it easy for small businesses and start-ups. It’s no surprise that many ask for exorbitantly high legal fees, but what’s even more frustrating is their use of legal jargon. This only adds to the confusion, or perhaps it’s a tactic to make you avail of legal services because you don’t understand anything the lawyer says. In any case, you’d be better off changing the way you think about legal matters and taking a more proactive role to boost growth.

            1) Use the most cost-effective resources

            Will you go to a dermatologist after sustaining a small scratch? Probably not. The same applies to hiring lawyers. Many business owners think that when it comes to any sort of legal matter, working with a lawyer is always the best route to take. But there are cases in which you can do things on your own such as drafting contracts for employees and creating agreements with suppliers. For instance, Net Lawman provides a wealth of legal forms and document templates which should guide you in deciding what terms to include in the agreements you create yourself.

            Calling an expensive specialist all the time may not be doing your business any favors. Aside from depleting your budget for legal expenses, it can prove to be a complete waste of time. Your in-house lawyer can deal with most of your day-to-day legal matters. It is only when you find yourself dealing with complex projects or needing niche advice that you should seek the services of a specialist.

            2) Fix small problems as soon as you find them

            That small leak in your roof can cause the ceiling to crash if you choose to ignore it. Start-ups usually stumble upon many small issues, sometimes in the very foundation of their business. It’s a good idea to patch them up right away, but it’s even better to take on a proactive approach to minimize problems in the future.

            Go through all your business functions and watch out for red flags. Are you constantly taking on risky deals? Do projects fall by the wayside abruptly? Do you keep falling short of your expectations? Getting answers to these questions allows you to assess what kind of risk these problems present to your business. From there, come up with a concrete action plan on how to fix the issues which might be preventing your business from scaling and growing.

            3) Don’t over-lawyer

            As noted above, working with lawyers that try to impress you with legal jargon can be terribly frustrating. This applies in particular if their actions cause delays in closing deals just because they focus too much on overcomplicating things. The last thing you want is to waste precious time, as it means paying the lawyer a higher fee and increasing the likelihood of the other party finding a different business to work with. Over-lawyering should be avoided at all costs, even if it means cutting ties with your current legal team.

            0 min

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