Betten Baker’s growth centers on expert staff, state-of-the-art infrastructure

Betten Baker in Grand Rapids, Mich. has expanded its fleet of car dealerships exponentially. Since 2017 they have expanded from six dealerships to 21, which co-owner Chris Baker attributes to its excellent employees.

“We have had success and growth that have allowed us to build up and grow great people, allowing us to take advantage of opportunities as they arise,” Baker said. “There are plenty of opportunities, but the challenge is ensuring we have the staff available for them. Growth is typically fueled by the best people with exceptional abilities and ideas.”

Growth -- and especially rapid growth -- can be challenging at times, Baker said. 

“Fortunately, we began with a good core of infrastructure based around expert processes and people, which has helped us scale the scope of the business,” Baker said. “The core of our company is a fairly large operation that has been built over decades, so we started ahead of the curve. We are positioned not only to handle the scale of our current business but primed for more growth.”

Baker said several of its most recent acquisitions experienced record months and sales volume. The company now has dealerships that span a variety of brands, including Ford, GMC, Cadillac, Buick, Jeep, and Chevy.

“To me, the greatest success has been the improvement in some of the locations we acquired that weren’t in the best shape,” Baker said. “It is so gratifying to go into those locations six months later and see them performing at levels beyond what even they thought they could and seeing the pride and joy that they take not just in their performance but in where they work.” 

While Betten Baker advertises in the traditional outlets, the company sets itself apart from the competition because its locations are community-built and staffed with people from the community.

“We are very involved in grassroots,” Baker said. “Most of the employees in our stores have very long tenures and are connected in the community. We believe that the more we invest in our people and our communities, the more they invest in us.”  

Baker said the company welcomes future growth and is always open to exploring opportunities. 

“Our growth has been calculated based on the ability of our infrastructure to keep up with demand, as well as the resource of our employees,” Baker said. “Growth for the sake of growth is not our goal. Our objective is to bring the best we can to the industry and the people in it. By doing so, we exemplify the best team, facilities, and products.”