WJR Business Beat
655 episodes - English - Latest episode: 5 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
Optimizing Product Pricing Today is Critical
October 14, 2022 07:00 - 2 minutes - 1.91 MBThere are many rules of thumb that guide product pricing, however, it is a real art today given the pressures from inflation that are in play.
Small Business Spending More to Protect Against Cyber Attacks
October 13, 2022 07:00 - 2 minutes - 2.11 MB69% of small businesses say they have suffered some kind of breach already, which has bypassed their email security solution according to the 2022 SMB Cyber Security Landscape Report. Taking action to spend more to protect businesses is just another cost factor that is making being a business owner today tough.
Skimpflation Hitting Businesses Hard
October 12, 2022 07:00 - 2 minutes - 2.2 MBSkimpflation, refers to consumers now proactively skimping on services, subscriptions, and purchases they otherwise would've made without issue. Retailers and businesses in general are going to bear the brunt of these cuts.
Announcing Michigan Tech Week Events
October 11, 2022 07:00 - 1 minute - 1.7 MBTed Valley, co-founder of Midwest House and a Michigan Tech Week Coalition said, "Building a successful tech company can be a great thing for a few people. Building a vibrant tech community can be a game changer for a whole region. Tech Week will be a foundational piece for a growing community that will be open to our entire state."
Deals Discounts and Cash Back Rewards Critical to Consumer Purchases
October 10, 2022 07:00 - 2 minutes - 2.25 MB85% of Gen Z consumers, 86% of millennials, 79% of Gen X and Baby Boomers all are more likely to complete a purchase these days when they have an incentive to do so.
New Detroit Venture Known as Hush Gaining Momentum
October 07, 2022 07:00 - 2 minutes - 2.24 MBThe internet, when used in the positive ways as it was intended is an amazing resource. In the wrong hands, it opens the door to nefarious deeds such as breaching your private information and or even ruining your reputation by posting false information about. A new company based in Detroit is addressing the problem and making great headway toward major success.
T Mobile Hometown Grant Program
October 06, 2022 07:00 - 2 minutes - 1.96 MBAnnouncing a grant program that is intended to support improvements to small towns in America. T-Mobile has partnered with Smart Growth America and Main Street America, looking for elected leaders, town managers, employees, or nonprofit leaders to submit the details for their project request on behalf of the small towns to be eligible.
Business Survival Depends on Selling to Existing Customers
October 05, 2022 07:00 - 2 minutes - 2.11 MBFocus on retaining, engaging, and selling more to your existing customers is just fundamentally critical. 80% of your future profits will come from just 20% of your customers.
Customer Loyalty Becoming Harder to Achieve
October 04, 2022 07:00 - 1 minute - 1.8 MBThe looming recession has become the perfect test market for brand loyalty. Bottom line, focus on engaging and retaining your existing customers. Focus on delivering a supreme level of customer service and experience.
Coupon Use Increasing Due to Inflation
October 03, 2022 07:00 - 2 minutes - 2.06 MBFinding good deals, bargain hunting, even coupon clipping is back in vogue. Consumers are now using digital price comparison in coupon tracking tools to drive their purchase decisions.
Gen Z Accelerating Consumer Buying Power
September 30, 2022 07:00 - 2 minutes - 1.93 MBGen Z's spending power is on the rise. A Bloomberg report from last year, commands 360 billion in disposable income. They get their purchase influences through social media, and tend to have to feel a strong affiliation with the brand in order to buy from that brand.
Amazon Now #1 Way to Attract Consumer Attention
September 28, 2022 07:00 - 1 minute - 1.72 MBWhen it comes to searching for products online, Amazon, Google and eBay have become the top three tools for consumers to start their purchase journeys.
Black Girl Ventures Announces Pitch Competition
September 27, 2022 07:00 - 2 minutes - 2.11 MBBlack Girl Ventures is dedicated to supporting talented, innovative black and brown founders by creating an environment where they can build their businesses and grow them into becoming successful and impactful enterprises.
This Years Holiday Season Likely To Be Online First
September 26, 2022 07:00 - 2 minutes - 2.33 MBRetail experts are now saying that this year's holiday buying season for consumers will be focused on doing their shopping online as a first choice, rather than supplementing with online purchases.
Inflations Impact on Dining Out Today
September 23, 2022 07:00 - 2 minutes - 2.1 MB20 million US workers working from home means more lunch at home, with 62% of the food dollar now spent on options purchased at the grocery store.
AI Driven Software Use Grows For Small Businesses
September 21, 2022 07:00 - 2 minutes - 2 MBWhere to start with AI? A chat bot for your website that will greet guests, provide standardized customer service guidance, and even gather valuable data that you can use to close sales and grow your business
Inflation Changes Consumers Spending
September 20, 2022 07:00 - 2 minutes - 2.18 MBConsumer sentiment remains strong about the upcoming holidays and the gift buying season focusing on the best deals and promotions.
WJR Business Beat: U.S. News & World Report Ranking of Top U.S. Colleges (Episode 477)
September 15, 2022 07:00 - 2 minutes - 2.19 MBForty-six Michigan colleges ranked among the best higher institutions across various categories on the annual U.S. News and World Report rankings. Rankings focused on academic quality, graduation and retention rates, as well as graduate indebtedness and social mobility.
WJR Business Beat: The 4-Day Workweek Moves To Reality (Episode 476)
September 14, 2022 07:00 - 2 minutes - 2.28 MBOn this Business Beat, Jeff talks with Lauren Winans about the forward momentum of companies adopting a four-day workweek. Is it a win-win?
WJR Business Beat: Consumers Turn to Selling Cars for Extra Cash (Episode 475)
September 13, 2022 07:00 - 1 minute - 1.81 MBMichigan ranks No. 1 in searches for "sell my car," a potential harbinger of tough times continuing, Jeff says in this Business Beat.
WJR Business Beat: Startups Led by Women Are Getting More VC Money (Episode 474)
September 12, 2022 07:00 - 2 minutes - 2.07 MBJeff has good news to report on the Business Beat, with funding for female-led startups on the upswing, at least in certain areas of the country.
WJR Business Beat: It's Popular to Be a Cheapskate (Episode 473)
September 09, 2022 07:00 - 2 minutes - 2.64 MBJeff Sloan talks with Paul W. Smith about the allure of finding a deal with a new study showing consumers aren't afraid of being viewed as cheapskates.
WJR Business Beat: Innovation Requires Staff to Be in Office (Episode 472)
September 08, 2022 07:00 - 2 minutes - 2.2 MBEmployees working from home results in a breakdown in the ability to innovate effectively and stay ahead of the competition, an MIT study shows. Jeff has the details on the impact of remote work in this Business Beat.
WJR Business Beat: Chat Apps Are Central to Productive Hybrid Work (Episode 471)
September 07, 2022 07:00 - 2 minutes - 2.12 MBOn the Business Beat, Jeff shares results of a Preply study showing chat apps keep hybrid coworkers connected, perhaps too much.
WJR Business Beat: Halloween Spending Expected to Be Brisk This Year (Episode 470)
September 06, 2022 07:00 - 2 minutes - 2.2 MBOn this episode of the Business Beat, Jeff shares consumer spending expectations for Halloween and the news is spookily good for retailers.
WJR Business Beat: Verizon Unveils Another Round of $10K Grants (Episode 469)
September 02, 2022 07:30 - 1 minute - 1.72 MBStartups, Jeff Sloan has great news for you on this Business Beat. The Verizon Small Business Digital Ready program is accepting applications for its latest round of $10,000 grants.
WJR Business Beat: USDA Reconnect Program Addresses Rural Digital Divide (Episode 468)
September 01, 2022 07:00 - 2 minutes - 2.31 MBOn this episode of the Business Beat, Jeff talks about the USDA ReConnect program to help connect businesses in rural America to the Internet by providing funding opportunities to bridge this part of the digital divide.
WJR Business Beat: In Advertising, Active Attention Is the Key Metric (Episode 467)
August 31, 2022 07:00 - 2 minutes - 2.03 MBOn the Business Beat, Jeff shares some marketing advice from an Omnicron Media Group/Amplified Intelligence study indicating impressions aren't the ad metric businesses should be eyeing.
WJR Business Beat: Forbes Releases List of Best Employers (Episode 466)
August 30, 2022 07:00 - 2 minutes - 2.18 MBOn this Business Beat, Jeff reveals the best employers in Michigan, according to a new survey by Forbes and Statista.
WJR Business Beat: The Most Desirable Companies for Engineering Graduates (Episode 465)
August 29, 2022 08:00 - 2 minutes - 2.26 MBOn the Business Beat, Jeff shares survey results on where engineering graduates want to work. Where do Michigan companies rank? How strong is the influence of Elon Musk?
WJR Business Beat: A Chance to Present Your Elevator Pitch (Episode 464)
August 26, 2022 07:00 - 2 minutes - 1.98 MBOn this episode of the Business Beat, Jeff alerts entrepreneurs to a pitch competition to hone the critical skill of delivering a high-quality, compelling elevator pitch. Plus, it could yield funding!
WJR Business Beat: Best and Worst States for Racial Equality in Employment (Episode 463)
August 25, 2022 07:00 - 2 minutes - 2.04 MBOn this Business Beat, Jeff shares WalletHub rankings of the best states for racial equality in employment. Michigan, unfortunately, has a lot of work to do.
WJR Business Beat: Consumer Holiday Spending Projections Are In (Episode 462)
August 24, 2022 08:00 - 1 minute - 1.83 MBOn this Business Beat, Jeff shares holiday spending predictions. The gist? Shoppers are eager but will be more selective.
WJR Business Beat: ExitWise Fills Important Need for Startups (Episode 461)
August 23, 2022 07:00 - 2 minutes - 1.96 MBOn this episode of the Business Beat, Jeff talks with Todd Sullivan and Brian Dukes of ExitWise about how their specialized mergers and acquisition team can help startups optimize their outcome.
WJR Business Beat: Amazon Leads the Way in U.S. Product Searches Online (Episode 460)
August 17, 2022 07:00 - 2 minutes - 2.19 MBOn today's Business Beat, Jeff talks about how Amazon is the preferred product search source eclipsing the use of search engines.
WJR Business Beat: Employees Switching Jobs in Search of Higher Earnings (Episode 459)
August 16, 2022 08:00 - 2 minutes - 2.05 MBSwitch jobs, make more money. On today's Business Beat, Jeff shares a Pew Research study most Americans who switch jobs are earning more.
WJR Business Beat: Subscription Services Model Declining (Episode 458)
August 15, 2022 08:00 - 2 minutes - 2.1 MBOn this Business Beat, Jeff says subscription services are taking a big hit with the return to in-store shopping.
WJR Business Beat: U.S. Leads the World in Generating Unicorns (Episode 457)
August 12, 2022 08:00 - 2 minutes - 1.86 MBOn this Business Beat, Jeff cheers the news that the United States is by far the biggest generator of unicorns.
WJR Business Beat: New Funding Announced for Small Businesses in Metro Detroit (Episode 456)
August 11, 2022 07:00 - 2 minutes - 1.96 MBOn this Business Beat, Jeff shares details of a funding program through Detroit Means Business and the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation.
WJR Business Beat: Mike Morse Backpack Donation Program (Episode 455)
August 10, 2022 07:00 - 2 minutes - 1.99 MBOn this Business Beat, Jeff talks with Mike Morse of the Mike Morse Law Firm about his company's backpack giveaway to level the playing field for Detroit kids.
WJR Business Beat: Back-to-School Spending Projections (Episode 454)
August 09, 2022 07:00 - 2 minutes - 1.97 MBOn this Business Beat, Jeff shares back-to-school shopping trends and predictions. How much are families spending and on what?
WJR Business Beat: Michigan’s Job Market Remains Strong (Episode 451)
August 08, 2022 07:00 - 2 minutes - 2.23 MBOn this episode of the Business Beat, Jeff talks with Greg Powell of Indeed.com about the jobs outlook in Michigan and the United States.
WJR Business Beat: Economic Well-Being Is Written in Lipstick (Episode 452)
August 05, 2022 07:00 - 2 minutes - 1.93 MBOn this Business Beat, Jeff shares a reliable source of economic conditions: lipstick sales.
WJR Business Beat: It’s Crucial to Ace Thought Leadership for More Sales (Episode 451)
August 04, 2022 08:00 - 2 minutes - 2.29 MBOn the Business Beat, Jeff shares results from a new Harris poll that makes clear that most businesses, large and small, while most believe establishing expertise through thought leadership is important.
WJR Business Beat: Michigan Venture Capital Investment Soars (Episode 450)
August 03, 2022 12:00 - 2 minutes - 1.87 MBOn this Business Beat, Jeff says recent statistics validate the vision of Michigan becoming a viable, if not distinctly exciting, place to attract and grow fast-growth, venture capital-backed companies.
WJR Business Beat: Consumer Confidence in U.S. Institutions Drops (Episode 449)
August 02, 2022 07:00 - 2 minutes - 2.08 MBOn today's Business Beat, Jeffrey Jones of Gallup talks with Jeff about Americans' declining confidence in the Supreme Court, police and more. Read more: https://bit.ly/3vwRFcC
Rude Customers Prompt Restaurant to Close
August 01, 2022 09:00 - 2 minutes - 2.24 MBOn this Business Beat, Jeff talks with Lindsey Dotson of the Charlevoix Downtown Development Authority about the fallout of a restaurant closing the kitchen because of rude customers.
WJR Business Beat: StartupNation COO Talks Content and Community (Episode 447)
July 28, 2022 08:00 - 2 minutes - 2.57 MBOn this episode of the Business Beat, Jeff talks with Colin McMahon, StartupNation's new chief operating officer, about content, counsel and community.
WJR Business Beat: Amazon Prime Day Offers Customer Spending Insights (Episode 446)
July 27, 2022 08:00 - 2 minutes - 1.92 MBOn this episode of the Business Beat, Jeff shares sales insights from Amazon Prime Day and what is driving consumer spending.
WJR Business Beat: Consumers Still Spending Despite Inflation (Episode 445)
July 26, 2022 07:00 - 2 minutes - 2.08 MBOn this Business Beat, Jeff cites survey results showing consumer spending is up Q2 over Q1 this year in certain categories despite inflation.