WJR Business Beat artwork

WJR Business Beat

641 episodes - English - Latest episode: 9 days ago - ★★★★★ - 2 ratings

WJR Business Beat as heard on 760 WJR, hosted by Guy Gordon and StartupNation's founder and CEO, Jeff Sloan.

Entrepreneurship Business
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Episodes

Start a YouTube Channel as a Business is Hot

April 14, 2023 07:00 - 2 minutes - 2.25 MB

Thinking about starting a new company or growing an existing one in the tech field, we've got research that indicates what type of tech businesses people are most interested in learning about.

The Olga Loizon Grant for Women

April 13, 2023 07:00 - 2 minutes - 1.88 MB

Olga Loizon Memorial Foundation created by Olga's Kitchen will provide grants of up to $10,000 in honor of the brand's late founder and food pioneer.

M-Commerce Continues to Grow

April 12, 2023 07:00 - 2 minutes - 1.98 MB

The mobile phone is a primary gateway into the digital world and your business otherwise known as mCommerce.

Venture Capital Down Significantly

April 11, 2023 07:00 - 2 minutes - 2.05 MB

The results are out for how the US venture capital market fared in Quarter 1, 2023, and the news just isn't encouraging. For the fast growth startup community whose lifeblood depends on available venture capital funding, it's going to be harder to secure.

Main Street Small Business Study Indicates Concern

April 10, 2023 07:00 - 2 minutes - 2 MB

Most small main street shops across the country have access to only enough cash reserves to stay open for two months or less if they're sales dry up.

What Women in the Workforce Really Want

April 07, 2023 07:00 - 2 minutes - 1.85 MB

Of the 800 women executives surveyed by Chief as reported on CNBC it comes down to two things: pay and promotion.

Video Marketing Gains Popularity

April 06, 2023 07:00 - 1 minute - 1.8 MB

Video marketing continues to grow in popularity as a tool to drive much needed leads in sales to small businesses.

Fed Reports New Job Openings Begin to Cool

April 05, 2023 07:00 - 2 minutes - 1.95 MB

The Fed's efforts to slow the labor markets may be working as job openings fell below 10 million in February for the first time in nearly two years.

Website Optimization Key to Online Sales

April 04, 2023 07:00 - 2 minutes - 2.05 MB

Consumer satisfaction for experiences on company websites is at an all-time low, and those consumers are making it clear they'll go elsewhere if expectations aren't met.

Quick Quitting is New Labor Market Phenomenon

April 03, 2023 07:00 - 2 minutes - 1.99 MB

Quick quitting has become more common due to employees feeling empowered to ask for sufficient pay benefits and flexibility in the wake of the great resignation.

Growing Concerns Among Small Business Owners

March 31, 2023 07:00 - 1 minute - 1.47 MB

New data from the Small Business Index from MetLife and the US Chamber of Commerce makes clear that just one in five business owners today feels good about the health of the economy, and that's down from last quarter.

Most Effective Small Business Marketing Strategies

March 30, 2023 07:00 - 2 minutes - 2.23 MB

Email is number one when it comes to small business marketing. Small businesses place email on their top three channels that deliver the most ROI.

Use a Loyalty Based App to Create You Own Big Win

March 29, 2023 07:00 - 2 minutes - 1.87 MB

What's driving consumer engagement these days? Well, one thing for sure is the use of mobile apps.

The Power of Consumer Reviews to Drive Purchases

March 23, 2023 07:00 - 2 minutes - 2.03 MB

We've got news about the most powerful factor you can include on your e-commerce site that's gonna help you drive those conversions from site visitor to purchase.

Email Marketing Benchmarks

March 22, 2023 07:00 - 2 minutes - 1.98 MB

Email marketing is one of the most powerful ways to market your small business. You must establish some key performance metrics to track your goals and expectations on how you feel the campaign should perform.

Entrepreneurs Find Opportunities in the Pet Market

March 21, 2023 07:00 - 1 minute - 1.63 MB

Estimated at $179 billion a year, and projected to hit $255 billion a year by 2027. 45% of American pet owners spend the same amount of money or more on their pets healthcare as they do on their own.

New Micro Loan Program Announced

March 20, 2023 07:00 - 2 minutes - 1.86 MB

A new 10 million business micro loan program has just been launched, intended to provide capital to women, veterans, and entrepreneurs of color in Michigan.

New Coalition Announced to Support Small Business

March 10, 2023 07:00 - 2 minutes - 2.21 MB

The New Economy Initiative in the Michigan Municipal League announced the formation of an initiative for Southeast Michigan that works to build a regional network of support for entrepreneurs and small businesses.

Black Women are Fastest Growing Demographic of Entrepreneurs

March 09, 2023 07:00 - 1 minute - 1.82 MB

Women of color are starting businesses currently at four and a half times the rate of the overall population. As the fastest growing group of entrepreneurs, black women are increasingly leaving corporate roles to launch companies of their own.

Get a Side Hustle to Combat Inflation

March 08, 2023 07:00 - 2 minutes - 2.23 MB

Starting a business can be complex, but starting a business can be as simple as identifying a skill or service that you excel at and selling it on a freelancer exchange like Fiverr, for example.

Business Sectors Publishing Most on Social Media

March 06, 2023 07:00 - 2 minutes - 1.85 MB

Top four most active business verticals on social media today. Data comes from posts made on FB, Google My Business, IG, LinkedIn Company pages, Pinterest, TripAdvisor, & Twitter.

Applications Open for New TechTown Detroit Program

March 03, 2023 07:00 - 1 minute - 1.81 MB

Become educated and prepared to launch and grow a new business in the TechTown Detroit Start Studio Discovery Program. Applications now open for their 2023 cohort through March 10th.

Changing Consumer Behavior When Purchasing From Restaurants

March 02, 2023 07:00 - 2 minutes - 2.13 MB

If you own a restaurant and want to drive more sales, take notice of these motivating factors that will lead consumers to do just that.

Consumers Focused on Essential Purchases Today

March 01, 2023 07:00 - 2 minutes - 2.25 MB

As widespread layoffs and economic uncertainty continue expect consumers to stay focused on purchases in categories like clothing, housewares, and other living essentials.

Etsy's Growth Makes it Exciting Platform for Entrepreneurs

February 28, 2023 07:00 - 2 minutes - 1.95 MB

Etsy provides entrepreneurs w/ a place to sell their unique wares, and as their audience and revenues grow, so does opportunity for entrepreneurs wanting to either create a new business or grow their existing one by selling on one of these platforms.

Motorcity Match Program Announce Grant Winners

February 16, 2023 07:00 - 2 minutes - 2.3 MB

Jeff announces the Motorcity Match grant winners for Detroit.

Focus Your Marketing on Engaging Loyal Customers

February 15, 2023 07:00 - 2 minutes - 2.01 MB

There's a cost to attracting new customers as well as a cost to keep. When budgets are tight, it makes a lot more sense to spend dollars targeted at your existing customers because they cost a lot less to drive revenues from.

Valentine's Day Retail Spend Projection 2023

February 14, 2023 07:00 - 2 minutes - 2.01 MB

According to the National Retail Federation, US consumers are expected to spend $25.9 billion on this Valentine's Day.

Yelp 2022 Reporting Advertising Sales Up

February 13, 2023 07:00 - 1 minute - 1.66 MB

Even in these challenging times, companies are hanging tough and staying aggressive.

Most Popular Social Media Apps for 2023

February 10, 2023 07:00 - 2 minutes - 2.03 MB

We all know how critically important marketing on social media platforms has become for small businesses. So which social media platforms are going to get the most attention from marketers in 2023?

State Economy Projected Better Than National Economy

February 09, 2023 07:00 - 2 minutes - 1.9 MB

Detroit Economic Outlook study for 2022 indicates that our local economy is likely to fare better than the broader national economy. And Detroit is expected to see employment levels well above their pre pandemic levels by 2020.

Pursue Government Contracts As a Way to Drive Revenue

February 08, 2023 07:00 - 2 minutes - 1.89 MB

Looking to start a new business or trying to figure out ways to bring in more revenue for your existing business. Consider government contracts, where you provide goods or services to the federal government, and in exchange you get payment.

Survey Shows Americans Focused on Paying Off Debt

February 07, 2023 07:00 - 2 minutes - 2.08 MB

"State of Savings Report" by Plunket, a savings platform, 42% of Americans are prioritizing paying off debt due to rising interest rates and record inflation. High interest rates on debts such as credit cards can quickly drain consumers' budgets and make it difficult for them to save.

Omni Channel Approach Works Best for Grocery Sales

February 06, 2023 07:00 - 2 minutes - 2.37 MB

Jeff explains how businesses are leveraging digital to drive engagement in the post-pandemic grocery market.

Chat Bots Popular in Customer Service Today

February 03, 2023 07:00 - 2 minutes - 2.27 MB

Jeff explains how ChatBots are impacting customer service and business with Artificial Intelligence.

Increase Marketing Spend Now to Win Big Later

February 02, 2023 07:00 - 1 minute - 1.36 MB

Being aggressive in business when others are pulling back allows you to advertise at lower cost, capture market share, and get out in front of the competition.

Global E Commerce Sales Hit One Trillion for First Time Ever

February 01, 2023 07:00 - 2 minutes - 2.24 MB

E-commerce spending in the US crossed the 1 trillion threshold for the first time ever. In the fourth quarter, eCommerce's 332 billion in sales, helped push the total to over 1 trillion for the year.

The Importance of Purchase Order Financing

January 30, 2023 07:00 - 2 minutes - 2.21 MB

Small manufacturers want to grow their business might explore how purchase order financing can be a means of funding orders so that you can fill 'em and profit from 'em when you'd otherwise perhaps turn that business away.

In Tough Times Consider Grants to Fund Your Business

January 27, 2023 07:00 - 2 minutes - 2.14 MB

Need funding for your business, finding it tough to find and secure? Look no further than grants as a possible option to get your business seated, launched, and off the ground.

Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest is Back

January 26, 2023 07:00 - 2 minutes - 1.95 MB

The Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest is an annual competition that focuses on high touch local businesses that have a direct impact on the community. It is a great way to support up and coming entrepreneurs and help them open their doors in Detroit, Hamtramck or Highland Park.

Reseller Fashion Market Grows Significantly

January 24, 2023 07:00 - 1 minute - 1.8 MB

Sectors performing better in these tough times is the apparel resale marketplace. With the uncertainty about where the economy is headed resale buying is projected to have a big year.

TikTok Has Positive Impact on ROI for Businesses

January 23, 2023 07:00 - 2 minutes - 1.89 MB

More than half of small businesses that use TikTok feel it has had a significant impact on their overall marketing. Performance and regularity in publishing content is key to achieving.

Melanie Radner, Franklin Cider Mill

January 21, 2023 13:00 - 38 minutes - 35.1 MB

Franklin Cider Miller's third generation family member, Melanee Radner, and current CEO of the iconic business in Franklin, Michigan that continues to delight customers every fall tells the family story.

Empowering Black and Brown Women Entrepreneurs: Celebrating the Success of the Black Girl Ventures Foundation Pitch Competition

January 20, 2023 07:00 - 2 minutes - 2.14 MB

Celebrating the success of the Black Girl Ventures Foundation Pitch Competition three winners, all three entities that demonstrate the passion and the power of entrepreneurship, whether for-profit or not-for-profit, and how that can lead to very positive things.

Slump in RV Sales, Indicator of Economic Challenges Ahead

January 19, 2023 07:00 - 2 minutes - 1.96 MB

Just like the lipstick Economic Barometer, sometimes you can look to simple consumer purchasing patterns as a good way to gauge consumer sentiment and confidence, or the lack thereof.

Small Businesses Facing Tighter Margins as Inflation Cools

January 18, 2023 07:00 - 2 minutes - 1.94 MB

The difference between survival & failure is to develop a plan. How are you going to sell more? How are you going to cut your costs? Ahead of the tighter margins coming to all small businesses in 2023.

Discounts and Returns Cannabalize Holiday Sales

January 13, 2023 07:00 - 2 minutes - 2.3 MB

Consumers spending was brisk, but holiday returns rose by 63% to total 13% of all online orders, according to analysis by Salesforce in the six days after Christmas.

Consumer Sentiment Continues to Decline

January 11, 2023 07:00 - 1 minute - 1.69 MB

Survey conducted by KeyBank shows Americans are becoming more challenged financially as many as 42% report that they are feeling overwhelmed or burned out as a result of financial challenge, 33% of Americans are spending less and budgeting more.

Baby Boomers Are A Hot Demographic

January 04, 2023 07:00 - 2 minutes - 1.98 MB

Boomers are hot for many reasons: they're starting life anew, they're empty nesting and or settling into retirement. The key is that all these life changes create needs, and in turn, those needs create opportunities for businesses to sell to.

Loans to Small Businesses Declining

January 03, 2023 07:00 - 1 minute - 1.58 MB

Biz to Credit Lending report released in Dec., loan approval rates at big banks have been on a decline since August of 2022, declined to a 14.6% approval level in Nov., down from an approval level of 28%.