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WEST BLOOMFIELD — The Greater West Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce will hold a “Business Innovation Generator” event March 27 at Cauley Ferrari of Detroit in West Bloomfield
The BIG event is set to take place from 6-7:30 p.m. and feature a night of information gathering, networking and making connections.
The event is designed to give business owners an opportunity to network, ask questions and learn from each other, according to Suzanne Levine, the executive director of the Greater West Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce. She created the event to bring in expert speakers on a variety of topics.
The event went virtual when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. However, this year it is set to return in person.
“We decided we’re going to relaunch in a big way,” Levine said.
The self-described “business matchmaker” said, “I try to connect our small to medium-size businesses to resources, if I don’t have them, or to other members who have been there and are now in a more solid place.”
As an example, Levine shared the story of a young man who purchased a pizza shop in West Bloomfield and wanted to grow his footprint.
“I connected him to all these real estate agents and I (asked) them, when they sell a house, if he could deliver a small to medium-size pizza and say, ‘Welcome to the neighborhood’ and put a coupon on it,” Levine said. “What a great way to introduce himself to homeowners. And plus, what a treat that they would receive when they are unpacking and trying to get settled.”
Jeff Cauley, the owner and dealer principal of Cauley Ferrari of Detroit, will be one of the keynote speakers and share some of his business experience. His family’s name has been on automotive dealerships for more than 60 years.
“The customer, the customer, and then the customer,” Cauley said of the three things he would tell business owners, in order to be successful. “(Also), attention to detail, doing what you say you’re going to do when you say you’re going to do it, and just keep focusing on the customer. That’s the most important thing in any business.”
Cauley elaborated on what attention to detail means for his business.
“In our case we do a lot of events for clients, just thinking of every detail of the event, making sure it’s perfect,” Cauley said. “Making sure all the paperwork is handled properly, and you are in-tune to what the clients’ needs are.”
From Cauley’s perspective, knowing the individual likes of each client is very important.
“It’s always the little things in life that make the biggest difference,” Cauley said.
Jack Cauley, Jeff’s dad, opened Jack Cauley Chevrolet in 1969 in Ferndale. He then moved the dealership to West Bloomfield in 1978.
“(The) beauty and affluence of the West Bloomfield community was a perfect match for our business,” Jeff Cauley said.
In the spring of 1999, Cauley Ferrari of Detroit was opened. As the only Ferrari dealership in Michigan, the business attracts customers from all over the state, as well as the country, according to Jeff Cauley.
“I do believe that the higher-income products will always sell because that community always seems to have disposable income,” Levine said. “But how do we help our small to medium-size businesses when there’s uncertainty in the economy?”
Although the specifics of the speeches have not been defined yet, Levine believes the topic of small and medium-size businesses in an uncertain economy will be discussed.
One local small business owner is Nimesh Seth, who owns Resurgence Physical Therapy in West Bloomfield.
“I love the BIG events that we do,” said Seth, who serves on the board for the Greater West Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce. “It gives us a lot of opportunity to meet other people and meet other businesses, spread the word, and you never know how you may make a connection.”
For more information about the BIG event, contact Levine at the Greater West Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce at (248) 626-3636 or at wbloomfieldchamber@gmail.com.
