WJR Business Beat
641 episodes - English - Latest episode: 8 days ago - ★★★★★ - 2 ratingsWJR Business Beat as heard on 760 WJR, hosted by Guy Gordon and StartupNation's founder and CEO, Jeff Sloan.
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Episodes
WJR Business Beat with Jeff Sloan: Older Founders are More Successful (Episode 97)
November 02, 2020 14:29 - 2 minutes - 2.23 MBOn this morning’s WJR Business Beat, Jeff discusses a recent study conducted by the Census Bureau and two MIT professors, which found that the most successful entrepreneurs tend to be those in their 40s and 50s and then older. The researchers compiled a list of 2.7 million company founders who hired at least one employee between 2007 and 2014 and found that the average startup founder was 45 years old when he or she founded the most successful companies. Even more encouraging, they found t...
WJR Business Beat with Jeff Sloan: Minority-Owned Businesses Hit Hardest by Pandemic (Episode 96)
November 02, 2020 14:23 - 2 minutes - 2.1 MBMinority-owned small businesses have been disproportionally impacted by the coronavirus and the accompanying economic fallout. A report by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and MetLife makes clear that when it comes to the concern about whether or not a small business owner might have to permanently close his or her business, two out of three minority owners of small businesses express concern over permanent closure, versus only 57 percent of non-minority business owners.
WJR Business Beat with Jeff Sloan: Halloween is Still Big Business Despite COVID-19 (Episode 137)
October 30, 2020 19:26 - 2 minutes - 2.45 MBTomorrow is Halloween, and even amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, people are still planning to celebrate. More than 148 million Americans still plan to celebrate Halloween this year, with 53 percent of consumers planning to decorate their homes, 46 percent planning to carve a pumpkin, and spend an estimated $8 billion while doing all of it. Haunted houses attract around $300 million in revenue each year, supporting hundreds of other local businesses across America, as vendors that supply these ...
WJR Business Beat with Jeff Sloan: Annual Holiday Purchase Intention Study Says This is the Most Important Factor Among Consumers (Episode 136)
October 30, 2020 16:40 - 2 minutes - 2 MBIt's hard to believe, but the holiday shopping season is right around the corner, and it's arguably the most important time of the year for many retailers. So, how is the holiday season shaping up? According to the NPD Group’s Annual Holiday Purchase Intention Study, free shipping is going to be the single most important factor among consumers, even beating discounts and deals. Tune in to today's WJR Business Beat to learn more details from the study.
WJR Business Beat with Jeff Sloan: Make Sure Your Business Model is Sound (Episode 134)
October 30, 2020 16:24 - 2 minutes - 2.63 MBJust six short months after it went live, Quibi,a mobile streaming service focused on providing short-form video content, declared it was shutting down. What went wrong? Jeff breaks it down in this morning's WJR Business Beat, noting that Quibi's failure underscores the fundamental premise that if you don't have a sound business model to pursue, that targets a clear market want or need, you are doomed.
WJR Business Beat with Jeff Sloan: Amazon’s Effect on Small Business (Episode 133)
October 30, 2020 16:07 - 2 minutes - 2.34 MBIs Amazon a friend or foe to small business in America? The answer is: both. During Amazon's two-day Prime Day this year, sales rose nearly 60 percent over last year to $3.5 billion or more in sales for the more than 2.3 million small- and medium-sized businesses selling products directly on the Amazon Marketplace platform. Tune in to this morning's WJR Business Beat to learn more.
WJR Business Beat with Jeff Sloan: Customer Service is the Key to Business Success (Episode 131)
October 30, 2020 15:53 - 2 minutes - 2.68 MBOn this morning's WJR Business Beat, Jeff talks about the importance of customer service, and how you can convert a one-time customer into a regular, loyal customer who will become a brand ambassador. Tune in to the Business Beat to hear more from Jeff.
WJR Business Beat with Jeff Sloan: Office Space Changes (Episode 129)
October 30, 2020 15:36 - 2 minutes - 2.31 MBWhile work from home is here to stay in various ways, the great migration back into offices and workspaces around the country is underway. The trick is going to be how to get people to work together in a way that increases collaboration but decreases the fear factor of being too close to one another.
WJR Business Beat with Jeff Sloan: SCORE of Southeast Michigan with Armando Ojeda (Episode 110)
October 26, 2020 15:58 - 2 minutes - 2.51 MBOn today’s WJR Business Beat, Jeff kicks off the week by sharing a recent conversation with Armando Ojeda, the southeast Michigan chapter chair of SCORE. SCORE is an organization of expert business mentors that provides aspiring small business owners with the free tools they need to succeed. During their conversation, Ojeda shares an overview of the various services SCORE provides, including its primary service of mentoring, and how SCORE helps people to prepare their applications for gove...
WJR Business Beat with Jeff Sloan: Cybersecurity Month (Episode 130)
October 14, 2020 02:09 - 5 minutes - 4.85 MBOctober is cybersecurity awareness month, and it's also one of the biggest hot-button issues facing small businesses today. Now with work from home as the new normal, businesses are more exposed to security threats than ever. Today, our friends from Dell and McAfee have joined with StartupNation to provide a free webinar this afternoon at 2:00 p.m. EDT to help you understand these cybersecurity threats and to learn what you can do to protect your business. Tune in to this morning's WJR Bus...
WJR Business Beat with Jeff Sloan: CARES Act Provides Relief Grants to Michigan Farms and Food Processing Companies (Episode 128)
October 13, 2020 16:22 - 2 minutes - 2.24 MBDozens of Michigan farms and food processors have been awarded these critically needed relief grants in order to create safer work conditions for employees and to protect the food industry as a whole, according to an article published by MiBiz.com. The funding is intended to be used by the companies receiving the grants to help mitigate the risks of COVID-19 in the local food industry, such as for COVID-19 testing of employees and personnel, personal protection equipment, and other facility...
WJR Business Beat with Jeff Sloan: Tech Purchases Skyrocket Setting up Work from Home Business Opportunities (Episode 127)
October 13, 2020 16:05 - 2 minutes - 2.12 MBFor example, through August of this year, keyboard sales are up 66 percent over the same period last year; monitors up 82 percent; printers up 59 percent; and laptop computers up 45 percent. So, why is this relevant if I’m an aspiring entrepreneur? Well, here it is: now that you've made these big-ticket purchases to set yourself up to work from home so efficiently, leverage your new work from home infrastructure to establish the world headquarters of your new business, whether part-time or ...
WJR Business Beat with Jeff Sloan: Health Insurance Coverage Declines (Episode 126)
October 13, 2020 15:54 - 1 minute - 1.79 MBResearchers arrived at that figure by analyzing Bureau of Labor Statistics data and found that 6.2 million workers who previously received their health insurance coverage by way of their employment have now been laid off, and as a result, find themselves without coverage. Tune in to this morning's WJR Business Beat to hear more from Jeff.
WJR Business Beat with Jeff Sloan: Popularity of Apps Skyrocketing (Episode 125)
October 13, 2020 15:43 - 2 minutes - 2.23 MBWhile there is so much uncertainty about how deeply and broadly COVID-19 is reshaping business and impacting our daily lives, one thing is for certain: Americans are spending more time than ever using and engaging in apps on their mobile phones. Tune in to this morning's WJR Business Beat to learn more.
WJR Business Beat with Jeff Sloan: Detroit Mortgage Companies Set New Standard for How Businesses are Started and Grown (Episode 124)
October 13, 2020 15:27 - 2 minutes - 2.19 MBTune in to this morning's WJR Business Beat to hear more on this local success story.
WJR Business Beat with Jeff Sloan: Surge in Mobile Gaming Continues (Episode 123)
October 13, 2020 14:49 - 2 minutes - 2.48 MBIn 2018 we spent around $55 billion, but in 2019, we approached $62 billion and this year, some expect that number could double last year's consumer spending in mobile games. Tune in to hear more on the thriving mobile gaming industry.
WJR Business Beat with Jeff Sloan: Most Successful Shark Tank Investments (Episode 98)
October 02, 2020 15:59 - 2 minutes - 2.36 MBOn this morning’s WJR Business Beat, we’re featuring the list of the top five most successful products that have been funded and launched on the hit TV show, “Shark Tank.” The investments include: Scrub Daddy, backed by Lori Greiner, with $50 million in sales Squatty Potty, backed by Lori Greiner, with $33 million in sales Tipsy Elves, backed by Robert Herjavec, with $50 million in sales Groovebook, backed by Mark Cuban and Kevin O’Leary, sold to Shutterfly for $14.5 million shortly aft...
WJR Business Beat with Jeff Sloan: Virtual Internships Thriving in Spite of COVID-19 (Episode 122)
September 28, 2020 18:26 - 2 minutes - 2.51 MBLast spring, we were concerned that internship programs may be in jeopardy due to COVID-19 concerns. However, virtual internships were all the rage this summer, and most companies say these programs were surprisingly successful for both businesses and students alike. Tune in to this morning’s WJR Business Beat, where Jeff shares more on the success of virtual internships.
WJR Business Beat with Jeff Sloan: New Businesses Are Being Started Amid Pandemic (Episode 121)
September 28, 2020 18:21 - 1 minute - 1.41 MBOn today’s WJR Business Beat, Jeff discusses various reasons why entrepreneurs are starting new businesses during the pandemic. Perhaps surprisingly, a new survey of 428 entrepreneurs by Just Business found that more than one in five entrepreneurs are starting businesses that were not planned before the pandemic. Tune in for more!
WJR Business Beat with Jeff Sloan: Key Expectations of Consumers During the Holiday Shopping Season (Episode 120)
September 28, 2020 18:17 - 1 minute - 1.45 MBOn today’s Business Beat, we’re already starting to think about the holiday shopping season, and if you’re a merchant, you need to begin preparations now in order to meet the new normal of customer expectations. Tune in to the Business Beat, below, where Jeff discusses findings from a recent GlassBox Digital survey on the upcoming holiday shopping season.
WJR Business Beat with Jeff Sloan: Positives in Business During COVID-19 Crisis (Episode 119)
September 28, 2020 18:14 - 3 minutes - 3.4 MBOn this morning's WJR Business Beat, Jeff kicks the week off on a positive note, discussing how efficiency and productivity for many businesses has actually gone up during the period of the COVID crisis.
WJR Business Beat with Jeff Sloan: Restaurants Struggling Amid COVID-19 Crisis (Episode 118)
September 28, 2020 18:09 - 2 minutes - 2.1 MBEarlier this week, the National Restaurant Association issued a startling report: six months into the pandemic, nearly one in six restaurants, which represents nearly 100,000 eateries across the country, have closed due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. That translates to nearly 3 million employees out of work and $165 billion in lost revenue from March through July. And while we haven’t seen the full impact yet, according to the survey, consumer spending in restaurants was down 34 percent on...
WJR Business Beat with Jeff Sloan: Angel Funding Booming in Michigan Despite Pandemic (Episode 117)
September 28, 2020 18:03 - 3 minutes - 3.5 MBDespite the chaos of the pandemic, deal flow has remained fairly steady for existing angel groups in the area, with several new funds emerging, too. Angel funding is funding provided by wealthy individuals into a company directly, as opposed to funding coming from institutional investors. In 2019, there were 1,322 individuals who invested a combined $73.6 million in 106 early stage tech startups here in the region, as Crain’s Detroit Business reported in May. Combined the funds are roughly ...
WJR Business Beat with Jeff Sloan: Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport Ranks No. 1 (Episode 116)
September 28, 2020 17:57 - 2 minutes - 1.98 MBAirline passengers rank Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport as the best mega airport in North America, according to a new study from J.D. Power. The 2019 North America Airport Satisfaction Study conducted by J.D. Power surveyed just over 32,000 U.S. and Canadian travelers focusing on six metrics, from airport accessibility to the baggage claim service. Tune in to this morning’s WJR Business Beat to hear more on the significance of these findings from Jeff.
WJR Business Beat with Jeff Sloan: The Power of Cause Marketing (Episode 115)
September 28, 2020 17:48 - 2 minutes - 2.25 MBDoes doing right have a positive impact on a company’s performance? New research shows indeed it can. Adding what’s known as cause marketing into your marketing messaging can be a powerful way for businesses to attract and retain customers. Marketers today must focus on cause marketing campaigns and messages that represent what the business truly stands for, rather than just jumping on the latest hot-button issue. Tune in to this morning’s WJR Business Beat to learn more on cause marketing...
WJR Business Beat with Jeff Sloan: University of Michigan Launches Record Number of Startups and Inventions (Episode 114)
September 28, 2020 17:42 - 2 minutes - 2.53 MBTo get this week off to a roaring start, Jeff shares exciting news: the University of Michigan has announced a record launch of 31 startups in fiscal year 2020, a 40 percent increase during a period that included the pandemic and temporarily shuttered labs. In addition to the record number of startups launched, U of M researchers reported a rise in new inventions: a record 522 for the 2020 fiscal year, up from last year’s 502. Tune in to this morning’s WJR Business Beat for more details.
WJR Business Beat with Jeff Sloan: Pet Care Industry is Booming (Episode 113)
September 28, 2020 17:37 - 2 minutes - 2.66 MBToday, Jeff shares some feel-good news, highlighting a bright spot in business and in life: business in the pet care industry, particularly within the dog sector, is booming! As more people have purchased or adopted dogs in record numbers during the pandemic, that has led to record sales in services and products to take care of those dogs Online pet product store, Chewy, said it had its busiest quarter ever ending May 3rd, with a 46 percent rise in net sales to $1.62 billion. Tune in to to...
WJR Business Beat with Jeff Sloan: Huntington Commits $5 Billion to Michigan Small Businesses (Episode 112)
September 28, 2020 17:30 - 1 minute - 1.57 MBYesterday, Huntington Bank and Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer announced a $5 billion investment commitment to help Michigan businesses, consumers and communities. The funding plan will be focusing broadly on providing capital to small business owners with an emphasis on those owned by minorities, women and veterans. You may recall that as we highlighted previously on the Business Beat, TCF Bank announced a similar program with a $1 billion-dollar commitment in July. Tune in to this mor...
WJR Business Beat with Jeff Sloan: Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses Must Go Digital (Episode 111)
September 28, 2020 17:18 - 1 minute - 1.53 MBOn this morning's Business Beat, Jeff discusses how the pandemic has caused more businesses to embrace digital payments, making the process of managing a company's cash much more efficient.
WJR Business Beat with Jeff Sloan: Older Founders are More Successful (Episode 97)
August 07, 2020 14:01 - 1 minute - 1.79 MBThe researchers compiled a list of 2.7 million company founders who hired at least one employee between 2007 and 2014 and found that the average startup founder was 45 years old when he or she founded the most successful companies. Even more encouraging, they found that a 50-year-old entrepreneur is almost twice as likely to start an extremely successful company versus a 30-year-old founder, and almost three times more likely than a 25-year-old founder to create a successful company. Additi...
WJR Business Beat with Jeff Sloan: Minority-Owned Businesses Hit Hardest by Pandemic (Episode 96)
August 06, 2020 15:52 - 1 minute - 1.53 MBAs we reported on yesterday's Business Beat, concern over a potential secondary wave of closures is high among startups and small businesses that have already had to temporarily close their small businesses as a result of the pandemic. However, there is an additional element of the report by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and MetLife that bears highlighting, relating to how minority-owned small businesses have been disproportionally impacted by the coronavirus and the accompanying economic fal...
WJR Business Beat with Jeff Sloan: Small Business Coronavirus Impact Poll (Episode 95)
August 05, 2020 15:17 - 2 minutes - 2.33 MBJeff shares more details from the survey, as well as three recommendations for small business owners and entrepreneurs who continue to battle for their businesses.
WJR Business Beat with Jeff Sloan: Start a Business to Sell Your Expertise (Episode 94)
August 04, 2020 13:21 - 1 minute - 1.74 MBOn this morning's WJR Business Beat, Jeff shares insights from a guest on this past weekend's StartupNation Radio show. Steve Rundell is a stakeholder in a company called Explico, and his company performs forensic accident investigation.
WJR Business Beat with Jeff Sloan: The Importance of Farmers Markets (Episode 93)
August 03, 2020 16:26 - 2 minutes - 1.88 MBOn today’s WJR Business Beat segment, Jeff discusses the importance of farmers markets. While they're essential at all times, farmers markets are especially vital during COVID-19.
WJR Business Beat with Jeff Sloan: Online Car Sales are Becoming the New Normal (Episode 92)
July 30, 2020 14:10 - 2 minutes - 2.05 MBOn today's WJR Business Beat segment, Jeff talks about a story with roots right here in the Detroit region. A study of recent car buying trends by researchers at Cars.com suggest that dealerships' transition to digital sales during the pandemic will become a permanent fixture in what is sure to be part of the “new normal.”
WJR Business Beat with Jeff Sloan: San Francisco-Based Density Raises $51 Million (Episode 91)
July 29, 2020 14:03 - 1 minute - 1.74 MBAre you wondering whether or not investors are investing in startups during the COVID-19 crisis? On this morning's WJR Business Beat, Jeff shares how firms like Detroit's own Ludlow Ventures continue to invest in startups.
WJR Business Beat with Jeff Sloan: Google Announces One Year Work From Home Policy (Episode 90)
July 28, 2020 13:46 - 2 minutes - 2.2 MBOn this morning's WJR Business Beat, Jeff discusses Google's announcement that it will be keeping its employees working from home for at least the next year, all the way until July of 2021.
WJR Business Beat with Jeff Sloan: TCF Bank Announces $1 Billion Loan Program (Episode 89)
July 24, 2020 13:34 - 1 minute - 1.59 MBYesterday afternoon, TCF Bank unveiled its $1 billion loan commitment for minority- and women-owned small businesses. This announcement comes just a few months after the company pledged to take a stand in order to fight racism and social injustice.
WJR Business Beat with Jeff Sloan: SBA Procurement Program for Women-Owned Businesses (Episode 88)
July 20, 2020 14:15 - 2 minutes - 1.89 MBOn this morning's WJR Business Beat, Jeff shares recent SBA news announcing a certification program that helps ensure that women-owned small businesses are competing on a more level playing field with other companies applying for the same contracts.
WJR Business Beat with Jeff Sloan: Ellis Island Tea (Episode 87)
July 17, 2020 13:53 - 1 minute - 1.6 MBOn this morning's WJR Business Beat, Jeff shares an entrepreneurial success story taking place right here in Detroit: that of Ellis Island Tea, led by owner and founder, Nailah Ellis Brown.
WJR Business Beat with Jeff Sloan: Detroit’s Own StockX is Booming (Episode 86)
July 16, 2020 15:00 - 2 minutes - 2.17 MBOn today's WJR Business Beat, Jeff shares the exciting news that Detroit's own StockX is booming, despite most brands taking a hit during the COVID-19 pandemic.