I met Cherie Edilson nearly two years ago when she was launching ShopWhereILive.com and while some caught on to the idea of having "Main Street Meet the Internet" it was not until local merchants and chambers started to seek ways in which they might connect with consumers given the current health concerns sweeping the globe. Here you'll learn more about this online marketplace where your chamber or small business can connect with consumers as they turn to online shopping. 

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

What goes up, must go...down and that's what happened today on Wall Street. It's Wednesday the 18th of March and here is what we have on tap for you today:

Investors are not too keen on the $1.5 trillion stimulus package it would seem;

Unemployment claims are skyrocketing and a warning they could reach 20%;

The "Big Three" automakers have closed assembly plants;

Walmart and it's position to handle harried shoppers;

Is there enough food in the pipeline...

The Wall Street Report

Just what is an "essential business"?

Those stories and a visit with Mike McCarthy a State President for the Alliance for Retired Americans. Who are they? Where did they come from?  Who do they represent and what are their...issues?  All asked and answered. To hear that conversation just click here.

Thanks for listening!

I met the very outgoing Mike McCarthy a couple of weeks ago and heard him speak about the mission of the Alliance for Retired Americans (ARA) and asked him to join me for this conversation, Mike is the State President for the Iowa Branch and here you'll learn about the roots of ARA, who the members are and a discussion about the policy items he and others are working on for the benefit of all retired people. We recorded this on St. Patrick's Day...seems appropriate. 

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

This week we've seen restaurants in many states being forced to close down due to the threat of COVID-19. The economic impact on this is huge. American's spend more in restaurants than in grocery stores for the first time in history. Here is that story and I reached out to restaurant marketer Phil K. James from Good Milkshake Digital to ask him what he is recommending to his clients in the face of this latest challenge.

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 markets rebounded today on the promise of putting more money into the hands of Americans. That story and several more are just a click away:

Stocks rallied and why;

24 percent of businesses expect layoffs;

More retailers close their doors;

Wall Street Report;

The Restaurant Industry in a panic and why;

Phil K. James and what he's doing to save restaurant jobs.

Those stories and you'll meet Rikkia Lillard from R.C.L. Productions in our Small Business Spotlight. An artist, playwright and producer of great events this is exactly what you need to hear today...and every day. Enjoy.  To hear that conversation click here. 

Thanks for listening!

When I sat down with Rikkia Lillard I didn't expect to learn about all the talents this young woman has...but soon into this conversation it became apparent that she is something very special. Rikkia owns R.C.L Productions which is an event planning and design business. Here slogan is, "It's not just a party. It's a production." And a production it is. From weddings to bar mitzvahs Rikkia turns on her magic and you get to learn all about it here. Enjoy! If you want to connect with her here is her email. 

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

Today the Dow had its worst day in memory and it's just...Monday. Here are the business news stories we've gleaned for you today.  Let's go!

The Fed action on rates did nothing to calm the markets and why;

Toilet Paper, Water, Guns and Ammo: "We've got to be ready.";

New directives from the White House on crowds;

Lenders and re-finance troubles;

Oil and Gold take a beating;

Airlines seek billions in assistance;

Restaurant workers are on their own;

The Wall Street Report;

The NFL deal is in.

Those stories plus Laura Kinnard from Drake, DMACC and The Runway Innovation Studio is in to chat about cancelled business events and more.  To hear that click here.

We are in a far different place than we were just a week ago and so there is a lack of business events going on in the Greater Des Moines, Iowa Metro. However, here Laura Kinnard from Drake University, DMACC and The Runway Innovation and Events Studio talks about the impact of COVID-19 and our business gatherings. You can listen here.

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

It was a volatile session on Wall Street and at the end of the day the markets posted some big numbers.  Welcome to the business news headlines. Here's what we've got for you today:

While the markets rebounded there is that "testing" thing;

Businesses are starting to trim staff;

Movie theaters are getting creative;

Bidet (What??) sales are shooting up;

Fiat Chrysler shutters a plant;

Small businesses are being impacted;

The Wall Street Report

Soccer and wages;

Plus we usually have Jeff Pitts from Cityview with "Stuff to DO". Today that changed.

Thanks for listening!

Not long after the markets opened this morning the sell-off tripped the "circuit breaker" that Wall Street uses to regroup. When trading resumed fifteen minutes later...it was still bad. Here are the stories from today:

We hit the skids again today;

Retailers doing "crowd control";

More sports events cancelled;

Ohio public schools...closed;

Toilet Paper...we don't know either;

Cruise lines and phony information;

The surprise Trump Travel Ban;

The Fed pumps more money;

The Wall Street Report;

New developments at Amazon, Twitter and Carnival Cruise Lines.

Those stories plus a visit with Roger Stalheim from The Alternative Board. Every business has "issues" what if there were a way to look at them through the eyes of other owners who...already figured them out. That and more with Roger. You can hear that conversation here. 

Thanks for coming by!