Business

One of the most discussed economic issues involving the aftermath of the virus crisis is what will change with our supply chain. We have already talked with some companies on this show who have changed their sourcing from China to the US. Will that shift become more widespread? Mike Switzer interviews Mark Ferguson, the Dewey H. Johnson Professor of Operations and Supply Chain in the Darla Moore School of Business at USC in Columbia, SC. This is Part 7 in our weekly series entitled “Managerial Insights-Supporting Businesses During an Uncertain Time” as part of a partnership with the Moore...

A regular guest on this program, John “Swampfox” Warner, often talks about the importance of our state’s innovation and intellectual capital, particularly that which originates from our research universities. Our next guest is right in the middle of this scene. Mike Switzer interviews John Ballato , professor of materials science and engineering at Clemson University , and the Center For Optical Materials Science And Engineering Technologies (COMSET) where he holds the Sirrine Endowed Chair, part of South Carolina’s SmartState endowed chair program . He is also Clemson’s former vice president...

Since people have more time on their hands due to COVID-19, why not foster or adopt a pet? If there is a silver lining in this pandemic, it's that more animals are finding loving homes to weather the storm. For more information, contact City of Columbia Animal Services .

K Bar Soap Co. is a veteran-owned soap company based in Clover , South Carolina. Owner Chris McKinney makes "natural soap for manly men" and explains that one day, the idea for creating his brand just "clicked." He says, "Every time I'd go into a store, I'd see these handmade soaps that always catered to the female side, but why is there nothing catered to men?" It was then that he decided he was going to make hand soap in the shape of grenades, and name each scent after his time in the military. He acknowledges that his product is a "tough sell" because men "usually just use whatever their...

Soda City Market has been a staple of local business in the Midlands since 2005. The Main Street market, normally lined with vendors and street performers every Saturday morning, is now desolate due to the COVID-19 pandemic. CEO of Soda City Market, Emile DeFelice, has had to make some difficult decisions in response to the coronavirus. “We are now a skeleton staff, I laid myself off first and I have one remaining staff member,” stated DeFelice. This sacrifice comes with words of encouragement for his patrons and vendors. “We will all get back to normal at some point—we can’t wait to be...

The stress the global pandemic has put on the business community has added new dimensions to the science of cost controls. How does one manage costs when everything is broken? Mike Switzer interviews Mark Cecchini, chair of the School of Accounting at the Darla Moore School of Business at the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, SC. This is Part 2 in our weekly series entitled “Managerial Insights-Supporting Businesses During an Uncertain Time” , which will be followed up with a live Zoom conference this coming Monday, May 4th at 3pm.

In an unprecedented short amount of time, the $2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, aka the CARES Act, is now law and is in the process of being enacted. Some of the major provisions of this new law will certainly affect South Carolina businesses and individuals. Mike Switzer interviews John Cooper, a certified financial planner with Greenwood Capital in Greenwood, SC.

Thomas Jones Import Team Leader, John S. James Co. Thomas Jones is an import team leader at John S. James Co., an international freight forwarder and customs brokerage company. Growing up in Charleston, Thomas has always been fascinated by the maritime industry. His college degree in hospitality management and work experience in hotel and restaurant business help him to excel at John S. James Co. since customer service skills are important. Thomas and his team oversee multiple shipments that come into the United States every day. His job involves communicating with customers to keep them up-...

Family-owned businesses make up a significant portion of the state and national economy and almost all of them are part of the small business sector that is being so dramatically affected by the current crisis. Our next guest’s institution recently created a program to offer educational, networking, and professional development opportunities to these business owners. Mike Switzer interviews Brad Bechtold, founding director of the Family Enterprise Institute of South Carolina at Anderson University .

Soda City RC is a nonprofit remote-control racing facility in the heart of Columbia, South Carolina that gives the sport of RC racing a place to call home. These remote-control cars may look like a child’s toy at first glance, but in actuality, these highly customizable cars pack a serious punch on the race track. The only thing that could be more serious than the horsepower is the racers themselves as president Jimbo Massalou admits, “the competition is tough.” Although these racers are highly competitive with each other, that doesn’t affect their camaraderie. RC racer Ryan Evans says, “Soda...