business

If you are a bicycle racing fan, you probably knew that last year, for the first time since 2001, the BMX World Championships were held in the US.  And that specific location was the BMX Supercross Track in Rock Hill, SC, the only Olympic-caliber training facility on the U.S. east coast.  That’s the kind of venue that can make a significant economic impact on the local community.

When it comes to investing in stocks and bonds, have you ever given any thought as to your personal investment philosophy or behavior?  Our next guest says that you are probably one of three basic types of investor: rational, irrational, or “sort of balanced”.

Mike Switzer interviews Hans Blake, a chartered financial analyst and CPA with Intelligent Investing in Greenville, SC.

A weekly update of the entrepreneurial activity in South Carolina.

Mike Switzer interviews John Warner is co-founder of Concepts to Companies and founder and CEO of Swampfox, an entrepreneur-centric social media company, based in Greenville, S.C.

When we last interviewed our next guest, he and his partner had just started a geographics company.  Since then, they discovered a need for a specialized version of their data in the grocery industry.

Mike Switzer interviews David Beitz with Beitz and Daigh in Columbia, SC.

With certain changes in our state’s beer industry laws over the past few years, more and more former home-brewers are venturing out and starting full-fledged breweries.  And the latest that we have learned about is a partnership between five such individuals in the Pee Dee region of South Carolina.

Mike Switzer interviews Travis Knowles, co-founder of Seminar Brewing in Florence, SC.

For the past several years, our next guests have been working in the trenches of our state’s independent film industry and they say they continue to be amazed how few people are aware of South Carolina’s film incentives that exist to spur the growth of this sector of our economy.

Mike Switzer interviews Chris and Emily White are filmmakers in Greenville, SC and their latest film project is Electric Jesus.

While our next guest agrees that the number one uncomfortable topic for discussion with our children is the “birds and the bees”, he says a close second is talking to your adult children about money.  Which is why he brought with him today some tips on this topic.

Mike Switzer interviews John Cooper, a certified financial planner with Greenwood Capital in Greenwood, SC, and current president of the SC chapter of the Financial Planning Assn.

A weekly update of the entrepreneurial activity in South Carolina.

Mike Switzer interviews John Warner is co-founder of Concepts to Companies and founder and CEO of Swampfox, an entrepreneur-centric social media company, based in Greenville, S.C.

If you are a regular listener of ours, you know that our state has a plethora of resources available to entrepreneurs.  And our next guest is right in the thick of this activity, which includes an upcoming free summit they will be hosting in Columbia where collaboration, networking, exchange of ideas, and South Carolina’s innovative companies will be highlighted.

Of course, government contracts can mean big business for big businesses, but small businesses can benefit, too.  For example, just one government agency last year awarded $5 billion in prime contracts to small businesses.  Our next guest says that many small businesses are unaware of how to pursue these opportunities which is why he’s hosting a free outreach event on this topic in Columbia, SC on May 23rd.

Most people realize that starting and operating your own business takes a lot of work.  Our next guest says she knows what it’s like to be one of these exhausted, stressed, overworked entrepreneurs with not much time left over for the loved ones in their lives.  Which is why she wrote a book in an effort to help those with what she calls “lifestyle deficit disorder”.

It’s early in the month of May and a good time to check in on the state of our state’s economy.

Mike Switzer interviews Frank Hefner, director of the Office of Economic Analysis at the College of Charleston.

A weekly update of the entrepreneurial activity in South Carolina.

Mike Switzer interviews John Warner is co-founder of Concepts to Companies and founder and CEO of Swampfox, an entrepreneur-centric social media company, based in Greenville, S.C.

Food maestros in our state continue to win national awards.  The most recent example is a Lowcountry chef who received recognition for two of her creations earlier this year at the 2018 Good Foods Awards in San Francisco.

Mike Switzer interviews Leslie Rohland, owner of The Juice Hive and Health Emporium in Old Town and the Cottage Cafe, Bakery, and Tea Room in Old Town, Bluffton, SC, who won the pickles category for her Shiso Leaf Kimchi and Low Country Kimchi.

Are you proud of your ability to multi-task? Can you close a deal, hire someone, attend a video conference AND make dinner plans – all while driving your car?  Our next guest says that multi-tasking is a common trait among entrepreneurs but it may also be one that can get out of control.

Mike Switzer interviews Neil McLean, managing partner at Sagacious Partners in Columbia, SC.

Most businesses know they need to have an advertising and marketing campaign, but with today’s ever-evolving media marketplace, many are confused about how to develop it.  Our next guest says that she believes a holistic approach is best.

Mike Switzer interviews Marion Crawford, owner of Crawford Strategy an award winning marketing and PR firm in Greenville, SC.

Automation has been increasing in the Palmetto State’s factories for a long time, bringing with it fears of job losses for people whose jobs are vulnerable to being replaced by machines.  But Roger Varin of Staubli Robotics, which makes robots for industry, says jobs are changing, but not necessarily vanishing.  In fact, he asserts, automation creates jobs in some areas. 

One of the recent financial planning and investment experts we interviewed on this show said he thought now was the time to start considering non-traditional investments such as commodities since he sees a lot of risk currently in the stock and bond markets.  Our next guest says that there certain considerations you should think about before utilizing alternative investments.

Mike Switzer interviews Chris Cabri, a certified financial planner with Ameriprise Financial Services in Greenwood, SC.

An update of the news, events and issues that are trending right now across South Carolina's business community.

Mike Switzer interviews Alan Cooper, founder and editor of three online business news websites in South Carolina: MidlandsBiz, UpstateBizSC, and LowCountryBizSC.

The University of South Carolina recently released a new economic impact study indicating that jobs, tax revenue, and spending by South Carolina’s arts-related sector adds $9.7 billion annually to our state’s economy.

Mike Switzer interviews Ken May, executive director of the South Carolina Arts Commission in Columbia, SC.

During the latest flu season, our state hit a 5 year high in terms of flu hospitalizations and deaths.  January and February were so bad that hospitals had heated tents set up as triage areas outside their Emergency Room entrances.  Many simply ran out of rooms and beds.  Our next guest says that for employers and employees who are part of the Gig Economy (independent contract workers) this type of situation can be very expensive because these employers and employees usually live with no paid sick leave.

The topic of estate planning usually conjures up thoughts of wealthy people with complicated situations.  But our next guest says that if you own any kind of property (a house, car, retirement plan) then you have an estate and as a result, you should also have a plan.

Mike Switzer interviews Joy Watkins, a certified financial planner with Anchor Investment Management in Columbia, SC.

A weekly update of the entrepreneurial activity in South Carolina.

Mike Switzer interviews John Warner is co-founder of Concepts to Companies and founder and CEO of Swampfox, an entrepreneur-centric social media company, based in Greenville, S.C.

You may be aware that April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, but what you may not know is that the cost of child abuse and neglect is estimated to be at least $1 billion in our state alone.  Our next guest says that this issue is something the business community should pay attention to because investing in child development now could alleviate problems in the workforce in the years ahead.

Mike Switzer interviews Joan Hoffman with the Children’s Trust of South Carolina in Columbia, SC.

In 2005, the last grocery store left in our next guest’s Lowcountry community closed and suddenly she found herself living where a lot of South Carolinians live: in an urban food desert.  But rather than relocate, she accepted the challenge and helped organize a local nonprofit that has not only brought a grocery store back to the community but is creating economic development opportunities through sustainable farming programs and healthier onsite grocery services.  And it’s spreading across the state.

According to "Area Development" magazine, our state consistently ranks as one of the top five states to do business in the nation.  Maybe that’s why new business and expansion announcements seem to be released by our commerce department almost weekly.

Mike Switzer interviews Bobby Hitt, South Carolina’s secretary of commerce.

Our state’s colleges and universities continue to grow their support for our entrepreneurial community through the development of new programs, degrees, conferences and more.  Our next guest’s institution has been on the forefront of this movement for quite some time.

After an unusual two-year period of calm in the stock market, 2018 has seen a return to volatility.  Our next guest says that as a result, he has a lot of investors asking where do we go from here.

Mike Switzer interviews Doug English, a certified financial planner with ACT Advisors in Greenville and Charleston, SC and frequent market prognosticator on this program.

A weekly update of the entrepreneurial activity in South Carolina.

Mike Switzer interviews John Warner is co-founder of Concepts to Companies and founder and CEO of Swampfox, an entrepreneur-centric social media company, based in Greenville, S.C.

Most businesses are aware that loans are available through the US Small Business Administration, but our next guest says there remains a lot of confusion about the actual loan process and the various types of loan programs.

Mike Switzer interviews Frank Anderson, a lender relations specialist with the South Carolina district office of the SBA in Columbia, SC.