Small Business Talks

Episode Summary In this episode of Small Business Talks, we dive into the entrepreneurial journey of Megan Garvin, founder of Batch Balanced. What started as a personal quest to provide balanced, high-protein, nourishing food for her busy family transformed into a disruptive health-food brand. Discover how Megan built a business around real life by developing an innovative, hassle-free frozen muff...

Episode Summary In this episode of Small Business Talks, we explore how custom overhead bridge crane systems help small and mid-sized businesses solve complex material-handling challenges through smart engineering and thoughtful design. Growing manufacturers face constant pressure to move more material safely while optimizing workflow within existing facility constraints. Our guest, Tom Shultz, Ch...

Is your manufacturing process holding back your product’s potential? In this episode of Small Business Talks, we dive deep into Metal Injection Molding (MIM)—a "quietly transforming" technology that bridges the gap between plastic injection molding and high-strength metal production. Our guest, Nick Eidam, of Advanced Powder Products , explains how this 40-year-old matured technology is now the go...

How it Can Improve Your Business & Your Customers Satisfaction Vertically integrated manufacturing is beneficial to manufacturers as it provides greater control over the supply chain, improves quality control, reduces costs and lead times, and can lead to increased profits by capturing more value. Implementing vertical integration requires strategy and managing complexity. In this podcast we t...

TMR mixers, also known as feed mixers, are essential tools for livestock farmers, offering numerous benefits that enhance the health and productivity of animals and offer cost saving by improving feed efficiency. With so many different types of mixers, which is right for your operation. In this podcast we discuss the types of feed mixers, and which types work best for which situations. In this pod...

Controlled environment agriculture (CEA) is a broad term for any type of farming that takes place in a controlled environment, indoors and shielded from the elements. This can be done in a variety of settings, including greenhouses, warehouses, including repurposed shipping containers. Jim Schroeder, principal owner of Alta-CEA, answers our questions about shipping container vertical farming and p...

If your business or organization offers pension or welfare benefit plans, you’ll want to listen to this episode that explains Form 5500 in detail, in addition to filing requirements and the hefty penalties for incorrect or late submissions.   Ann Myers and Alan Perka from the 5500 tax Group join us to help explain the details and filing of this form, Today on small business talks.   For additional...

Most businesses have heard of managed It services but may not be familiar with Co-Managed Services. What are the differences and what advantages do one have over the other. Steve Arndt and Greg Shenefelt of Silver Linings Technology join us to explain the differences and what advantages each type of service offers and how Co-Managed IT may be a solution many businesses are looking for. Contact Inf...

Many businesses ask if they should hire an outsourced IT Provider to manage their company’s information technology. This is especially true for the Legal cannabis industry which has unique challenges and hefty regulations for growers, distributors, and dispensaries in the cannabis industry. In fact, Cannabis IT Services and Solutions is fast becoming one of the largest growing areas in the IT serv...

Zinc is a versatile metal that offers many advantages to product development and manufacturing, yet many products designers and engineers are fully aware of these benefits. Zinc Die Casting is an optimal choice for the right casting. Dave Magner, Director of Sales, and Marketing at Deco Products talks with us to understand when zinc is a good choice and how it impacts both product design as well a...

In this cutting episode of Small Business Talks, we sit down with Dave Brown from The Original Saw Company. Dave dives into the advantages of beam saws, explaining their superior platform, stability, and exceptional cross-cut capabilities. We delve into the practical applications for businesses, both large and small, emphasizing the beam saw's ability in cutting a variety of materials. Dave also t...

Online Loans vs. Local Community Bank Loans In an increasingly digital world, the financial landscape has witnessed a significant increase in online lending platforms. However, are local bank loans still a viable and advantageous option? Join us in this thought-provoking podcast as we delve into the realm of borrowing and explore the key differences between online loans and the benefits of turning...

An agricultural bank, also known as an AG bank, is a type of financial institution that provides specialized financial services to farmers, agribusinesses, and other rural clients to help them manage their finances, invest in their operations, and grow their businesses. In comparison to other types of banks AG banks often have a more specialized understanding of the unique risks and opportunities...

In a previous episode, we learned about Dr. Allen Kramer and his extensive years of research at the National Institute of Health doing years of research on proteins and how he turned that experience into a small business manufacturing type 2 collagen supplements. Since then, we have had many listeners contact us about companies offering a 30-day collagen challenge for joint pain. We reached out to...

Every company has a story on how they got started or why they went into business. Our feature small business had extensive experience in the biochemical field and used that knowledge and experience to become a collagen supplement manufacturer to help those with joint pain. Learn how collagen works and how it may help people with joint pain and learn how Dr. Allan Kramer turned his extensive knowle...

As more and more companies look to solar energy for power many new challenges come along that need a solution for it to all work. In this case The Rock River Lumber and Grain Company needed help getting their solar batteries to communicate with the utility grid. We talk with Jake Thompson a Network Engineer at Twin State Technical Services who explains how they got involved and created a network f...

Let’s face it, businesses today are facing a mountain of challenges, the urge to focus on product sales and not your customers are at an all-time high. Some believe price is the only way to get sales and that quality or focusing on solving customer’s problems is no longer important. A good business is concerned with the customer's needs and how they can help their customers be successful because t...

Monetizing TIF Tax increment financing (TIF) is a financing tool that has been used by municipalities for redevelopment, and infrastructure, projects for over 40 years. TIF was designed to help with the unexpected additional costs of a project like an environmental issue or developing streets and storm drains. TIF can help reimburse some of the additional developer’s costs. Emily Blaylock, preside...

For small businesses and manufacturers, the past two years have been full of challenges, even ones that continue to cause production problems. Many companies can get the parts they order from their manufacturers because the manufacturers can’t get the raw materials to fill the orders. This supply chain disruption affects products, workers, and our economy. One company, Plas-Tech Tooling is helping...

More than ever manufacturers are having to rethink the materials they choose for product design for a variety of reasons, costs, quality, and more recently availability and supply given the supply chain disruption of 2021-22. Therefore, many companies are looking at die casting over other manufacturing methods for their products. In doing the research for this topic, we noticed a large amount of i...

Metal fabrication is the unique process of cutting, bending, shaping metal or steel into parts and products from a specific design or set of drawings. Manufacturers use metal fabricators to develop prototypes or small production items that would be cost prohibitive if they were to fabricate it themselves. Likewise, many small businesses may need a custom shelf or piece of equipment to make their o...

An Interview About Indoor Grow Lights & Technology Grow Lights have been around for decades and have evolved from fluorescent to high pressure sodium to most recently LED. Grow lights are critical to indoor growing operations because they supply the light which is converted into plant energy through a process called photosynthesis. As technological advancements have been made so to has the underst...

Do you own or work for a small business or manufacturing company? Are you looking for answers or ideas to help you with the challenges you face as a small business? Or maybe you just looking for inspiration or to hear what other companies like you are doing? Hi, I’m Neal Rabogliatti, for over 25 years I have been helping small businesses and manufacturers to develop strategic and tactical ways to...