A Holy Alliance? Selling to Chabad Houses

In Tuesday’s WSJ, I wrote about how small technology firms—from providers of audio/visual expertise to website-development services—are finding that houses of worship can be a lucrative market. But small businesses in industries besides technology can also benefit by focusing their promotional efforts on religious congregations.

Case in point: Yossi Gopin, owner of Kosher Central Market & Catering in Hollywood, Fla., says his start-up’s first customers were all members of Chabad, a global organization made up of thousands of synagogues and Jewish community centers.

“Now we’re doing a lot more private events and most of that is coming from people that saw our work at synagogue functions,” Mr. Gopin says. “If you do a good job for one of them, they tell each other.”

Mr. Gopin targeted Chabad in the beginning because he knows the organization firsthand. “Go to your own first, where you’re comfortable and strong,” he says, adding that Chabad officials have been “happy to give (business) to me because I’m a fellow member.”

The Chabad events that Mr. Gopin caters typically welcome as many as 300 attendees, which means his work gains exposure. “Every person that’s there is a potential customer,” he says. “You’re on display.”

Mr. Gopin started his business in March and he says it’s already profitable. “It just grew week by week, month by month,” he says. “We’re doing very well.”