Past Shows
TFG Unbuttoned: Play Ball
07.28.20 | The Dollar Shave Club is offering a $25,000 prize for the man who can best describe the importance of his balls. Tim and John are going to give it a shot. Find the rules on our Facebook Page #FocusGroupRadio. Also, people under 30 are more agnostic in their remote work apps to get things done, and Netflix stops production of a Turkish series due to pressure from Turkey’s government because there was a gay character as part of the story.
LGBTQ retirement conundrum
07.22.20 | Shop Talk looks at how the LGBTQ population views saving for retirement. Surprisingly, only 30% think it’s a major concern—and we wonder if that is the same for Americans overall. Caught My Eye looks at underage kids dressing up like old people to buy liquor, and 45 moves the Clinton and Bush Presidential portraits out of public view at the White House. Ely Culbertson, the man who helped make the game of Contract Bridge popular in the USA is our Business Birthday.
TFG Unbuttoned: Condom sales up and down
07.21.20 | Tobacco sales continue to decline in most industrial countries, and a study sites plain packaging in places like the UK for contributing to the sales slump. A well-written article about a man in Charlotte, NC that was not only a champion retailer, but an ardent supporter of the LGBTQ community, is the best honor that any of us could ask for. Finally, due to social distancing and less socializing, Durex has announced that while the e-commerce condom business is up, the overall business is way down.
The advertising pivot
07.15.20 | Shop Talk looks at how advertisers have crafted their consumer messaging during the event. Thanks to our Fort Worth listener for the topic! But first, Caught My Eye looks at chatter in the Trader Joe’s Line and the complications of the word “master” in real estate and other uses are revealed. Maggie Lena Walker, an African American businesswoman and the first woman to charter and run a bank in the United States is our Business Birthday.
TFG Unbuttoned: Use your coins
07.14.20 | Lunch in NYC and dinner in London? Supersonic travel plans a comeback with Denver based Boom Supersonic. If all goes as planned, passenger flights can begin as soon as the second half of the decade. Then, currency requires circulation which is not happening. This is creating a coin shortage. What can you do? Finally, a British woman is convicted of scamming a million dollars worth of benefits over 15 years by claiming she was blind and disabled.
Money and Life lessons people learn too late in life
07.08.20 | Shop Talk this week explores a father’s letter to his kid: The 9 money and life lessons most people learn too late in life. But first, Legos and hotdogs Caught our Eye and the inventor of Cocoa-Cola is our Business Birthday. Our partner Deep Discount is celebrating Ultraman Day, July 10th, with a Blu-Ray Exclusive of the series with never before released content.
TFG Unbuttoned: Now is a great time to add to your skillset
07.07.20 | Mark Cuban of Shark Tank fame thinks the number one interview question asked in this new era will be: What did you do with your time during the pandemic? He suggests learning or honing your skillset to get a jump on the competition in the job market. But first, Walmart plans to create 160 drive-in theaters in its parking lots across the USA. Then, Away, the famed luggage/travel brand tackles a leadership issue that we believe has yet to surface fully.
The Stonewall Inn gets a jolt
07.01.20 | The iconic Stonewall Inn in NYC recently received some financial support from The Gill Foundation to help with operating costs. It is so important to be visible and maintain historic landmarks like The Stonewall Inn, so thank you to The Gill Foundation. But first, Wally Amos of chocolate chip cookie fame is our Business Birthday and John revisits some comedy albums from another time. Tim wonders what space smells like and promises John a new cologne, Eau de Space.
TFG Unbuttoned: Good to know
06.30.20 | Systemic racism bleeds into parts of our culture without many of us being aware. Case in point, NPR covered a story about the 100 plus-year-old jingle of the ice cream truck. Then, Eskimo Pies are getting a new name and Wal-Mart comes under fire for co-opting Black Lives Matter.
The Business of Pride
06.24.20 | Shop Talk this week looks at how June Pride Celebrations have had to pivot in our world of social distancing. Virtual Prides anyone? Also, companies are trying to navigate their support as parades and other gatherings are canceled. But first, The Pomodoro Technique and an iconic bus removal are the subjects of Caught My Eye. Chuck Taylor of Converse High Top Fame is our Business Birthday.