Our roundup of the latest news from metro Detroit and Michigan businesses as well as announcements from government agencies. To share a business or nonprofit story, please send us a message.
LaFontaine Automotive Group Acquires Grand Rapids Lincoln Dealership
LaFontaine Automotive Group in Highland has acquired the Pfieffer Lincoln in Grand Rapids. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
This is the second Lincoln dealership to join the LaFontaine Automotive Group and follows the acquisition of Keller Ford in Grand Rapids in August of 2022.
“In short order, we’ve seen tremendous opportunity in the greater Grand Rapids area for continued growth for our group,” says Ryan LaFontaine, CEO of LaFontaine Automotive Group. “As we continue to execute our retail expansion plans, we remain focused on diversifying our brand portfolio and, personalized guest options for sales, service, parts, and body shop.”
LaFontaine Automotive Group has added 16 retail locations in the past five years, all in Michigan. “As we continue to expand, we don’t do it for it for today, we do it for the future — to be able to better serve our customers and to provide career growth for our employees,” LaFontaine says.
As part of the transaction, LaFontaine Automotive acquired Pfieffer’s 20,600-square-foot wholesale parts distribution center. Pfieffer was the largest Ford wholesale parts distributor in Michigan with sales in excess of $21 million annually. LaFontaine Automotive is the largest wholesale parts distributor in Michigan.
“We have deployed community-focused initiatives across the Grand Rapids area, joined numerous local chambers and identified opportunities that uplift residents and fellow business owners alike,” says Kelley LaFontaine, vice president of the LaFontaine Automotive Group.
Chad Arnott with LaFontaine Automotive Group will oversee the new Grand Rapids location, in addition to his responsibilities over other LaFontaine locations.
Following the closing, the dealership will be renamed LaFontaine Lincoln of Grand Rapids. Ryan LaFontaine will be the dealer operator.
Luke Field, currently general sales manager of LaFontaine Ford of Grand Rapids, will expand his responsibilities to LaFontaine Lincoln.
Detroit City Distillery Bringing Back Pączki Day Vodka
Detroit City Distillery (DCD) is bringing back its Pączki Day Vodka, made with fresh raspberry pączki from Hamtramck’s New Palace Bakery, with online sales beginning at 8 a.m. Feb. 3.
A public party will celebrate the release at the Tasting Room (2462 Riopelle St.) in Detroit’s Eastern Market, beginning at 4 p.m., where buyers can pick up their online orders in-person. This year, a limited quantity of Pączki Day Vodka also will be available for direct-to-consumer shipping via DCD’s partners in select states nationwide.
Last year, the distillery sold out in fewer than 72 hours. Due to requests on hand, DCD anticipates another fast sellout in 2023.
“It’s been incredible to see Pączki Day Vodka become a tradition within Michigan’s Polish community and watch the sensation grow nationwide,” says Michael Forsyth, co-owner of Detroit City Distillery. “People travel from all over America to get their hands on this once-a-year spirit and celebrate with their Polish comrades. It’s a special thing when a spirit brings people together.
“This year, we’re excited to get Pączki Day Vodka to more Polish communities across the country via partnerships that support direct-to-consumer shipping so we can continue to gauge the demand nationwide.”
Pączki Day Vodka is made by distilling fresh raspberry pączki in 100 percent potato vodka from Poland and Michigan in a 500-gallon copper pot still. The result is a crystal-clear spirit that is smooth, buttery, and has a distinct raspberry finish. It can be enjoyed chilled over ice, mixed in a cocktail or as a pączki chaser.
“There are only two ingredients: vodka and paczki,” Forsyth says. “There are no artificial ingredients, flavors, or sweeteners that you find in mainstream flavored vodka. The goal is to make a true craft spirit that highlights the taste of these perfectly handmade, glazed raspberry pączki from Hamtramck. It’s like a Pączki Day Party in a bottle.
“At 88 proof, it’s ultra-smooth, and you can really taste the raspberry and buttery pastry of the pączki.”
Detroit’s Astute Group Unveils Revenue Generation Funnel to Modernize B2B Suppliers
Astute Group, a Detroit-based firm offering specialized fractional chief marketing officer services for business-to-business (B2B) companies, has launched its exclusive Revenue Generation Funnel to align B2B suppliers with modern purchasing practices.
“We developed the Revenue Generation Funnel to exemplify how our fractional CMOs help businesses grow,” says Ferris Ayar, founder of Astute Group. “Our funnel goes beyond just acquiring new customers; it includes customer retention, which tends to generate greater profits.”
Traditional B2B sales and marketing are becoming obsolete, according to the Harvard Business Review. Today, purchasing staff spends minimal time interacting with suppliers’ salespeople; instead, they prefer to learn independently. These changes in B2B purchasing practices have minimized the effectiveness of the traditional marketing and sales funnel. The line between sales and marketing is diminishing very rapidly.
“Today, the chief marketing officer is expected to generate revenue, not just demand and qualified leads,” Ayar says. “This essentially makes them the chief growth officer (CGO) or chief revenue officer (CRO). The Revenue Generation Funnel guides potential customers through the new funnel and fulfills the expectations of current purchasing practices.”
According to a study conducted by the CMO Council, a global network of marketing executives across a wide range of industries, chief marketing officers have primary responsibility for growth strategies and revenue generation.
A fractional CMO is an outsourced marketing executive (executive-as-a-service) hired on a contractual interim basis. A well-qualified fractional CMO should be able to provide the key benefits of a staff CMO for a fraction of the cost.
There are eight phases to the Revenue Generation Funnel:
- Attract
- Inform
- Convert
- Qualify
- Address
- Acquire
- Service
- Retain
“No two businesses are the same, and neither are clients,” Ayar says. “Companies must cater to their clients’ preferred methods of communication, research, learning, evaluation, and acquisition. That’s what you should expect from a fractional CMO today. After all, it is the 21st century, the digital age, so why are businesses still using outdated practices to generate sales revenue? The Astute Revenue Generation Funnel eliminates the confusion by focusing on how the fractional CMO impacts the bottom line. Which is what really counts.”
Detroit Riverwalk Looks for Three-peat in America’s Best Riverwalk Contest
After winning the last two years in a row, the Detroit Riverwalk is in the running once again to be named the best in the country as part of the 2023 USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards contest.
The Detroit Riverfront Conservancy is asking supporters from throughout the Detroit community and beyond for their daily votes to help the Detroit Riverwalk win the prestigious Best Riverwalk award for the third year. Visit here to vote.
The winning riverfront will be determined by public daily online voting, which concludes at noon Feb. 6. Individuals can vote once per day, per device. The results will be announced Feb. 17.
“We are incredibly honored to have won this award in 2021 and 2022,” says Mark Wallace, president and CEO of the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy. “The community came together in force again to vote us No. 1 last year and we are hoping for a three-peat in 2023.”
Physicians Health Plan Members Now Have In-network Access to Corewell Health West
Physicians Health Plan (PHP), a mid-Michigan nonprofit health plan, announced a new agreement that expands its provider network with Corewell Health West (formerly Spectrum Health) beginning Jan. 1.
This new agreement includes PHP Medicare and commercial group and individual lines of business to provide all PHP members in-network coverage at all Corewell Health West facilities.
“As we look to add new products and expand our footprint throughout Michigan, we are excited to provide our members access to the exceptional care of Corewell Health,” says Jennifer Johnston, director of sales and marketing for PHP. “Our expanded network allows us to better serve our members in west Michigan.”
Corewell Health West operates several hospitals, urgent care, post-acute, hospice and home health, and outpatient care facilities in Kent, Ottawa, Allegan, Mecosta, Newaygo, Montcalm, Mason, Barry, Osceola, and Berrien counties.
TD Charitable Foundation Launches 17th Annual Housing for Everyone Grant Competition
The TD Charitable Foundation has launched its 17th annual Housing for Everyone grant competition that will focus on organizations delivering rental assistance and rehabilitating affordable housing properties.
The foundation will award a total of $7 million to 37 nonprofit organizations across 17 states and Washington, D.C. Applications are open until 4 p.m. Feb. 14. Winners will be announced in May 2022.
The theme for the 17th annual Housing for Everyone competition is preservation of affordable rental housing. With affordability restrictions expiring and costs increasing, rentals that were once reasonable are becoming out of reach for many. To address this issue, the foundation will fund a select group of nonprofit organizations focused on creating more affordable rental options through property rehabilitation, rental assistance funds, or growing their support teams.
For more information and to apply for a grant, visit here.
Red Cross Challenges Big 10 to Show School Spirit in Blood Drive
American Red Cross Michigan Region will host blood drives as a part of the Big 10 Blood Battle Jan. 13-Feb. 22. The friendly competition challenges four Big 10 Universities — University of Michigan, Michigan State, University of Wisconsin, and Penn State University — to see who can get the most blood donations.
The need for blood is constant but this Big 10 Blood Battle comes on the heels of severe winter weather that caused blood drive cancellations across Michigan, leaving thousands of pints of blood to have gone uncollected.
January also is National Blood Donor Month, says Mary Lynn Foster, regional CEO of the American Red Cross Michigan region.
“It’s blood drives like the Big 10 Blood Battle that will help ensure lifesaving blood remains available for patients in communities across our great state,” Foster says. “Whether you are a current donor or looking to donate for the first time, you are engaging in a truly selfless act.”
The Blood Battles kicks off today in the University of Michigan Hospital lobby. The Red Cross will conduct additional blood drives on the U-M campus through Feb. 22.
To schedule an appointment during the challenge visit RedCrossBlood.org. Appointments are preferred but walks-in are welcome, says Erin Burns, Red Cross blood account manager for Southeast Michigan.
