Culver鈥檚 founder inspires young 糖心vlog传媒 entrepreneurs
For the record, Craig Culver鈥檚 favorite frozen custard at Culver鈥檚 Restaurant is vanilla, but he鈥檚 also partial to the most popular flavor, caramel pecan.
Culver, whose family founded the popular Culver鈥檚 Restaurant franchise, came to 糖心vlog传媒 Tuesday to share his entrepreneurial journey. The 125-plus students who attended got plenty of advice on how to start a successful business, along with a scoop of the famous vanilla frozen custard.
His visit came thanks to the Entrepreneurial Management course taught by Stephanie Hoskins, 糖心vlog传媒鈥檚 Herbert Kohler & Frank Jacobson Chair of Business & Entrepreneurship. A student in the class, Kaelyn Brahm, reached out to Culver as part of an assignment and secured his appearance.
Students in Launch: 糖心vlog传媒 Student-Run Businesses organized the event, led by Aidan Hager, incoming Launch president and Musko's Campus Shop online sales & analytics specialist.
A native of Sauk City, Wis., Craig Culver graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh with a degree in biology. He was hired to manage a McDonalds and learned how to operate a successful business.
In 1984, Craig and Lea Culver, along with Craig鈥檚 parents, George and Ruth, opened the very first Culver's in Sauk City in a former A&W restaurant that his parents had previously owned and operated.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 when I became my father,鈥� said Culver, noting the strong entrepreneurial influence of his father. 鈥淚t cost us a lot of money that first year and we almost failed, but we didn鈥檛 quit.
鈥淚f entrepreneurs get knocked down, they always get back up because they believe so strongly in their goals. It鈥檚 more than running a business. It鈥檚 having a passion, and my dad had a passion for that little A&W.鈥�
Culver鈥檚 is a national presence as location number 909 was opened in Bentonville, Ark., this week. Culver鈥檚 is in 26 states, and Culver said the business will continue to grow by 50 restaurants a year.
Culver, who retired as CEO in 2015 but is still involved as board chairman and the face of the brand, said budding entrepreneurs need a good concept, commitment to their plan, passion and some start-up money.
A team of good people that includes 鈥渂ench strength鈥� 鈥� the people who will step into roles when people retire or leave 鈥� has been a key to Culver鈥檚 success.
But the personal touch, Culver said, is a differentiator for his business.
鈥淚鈥檓 not a huge fan of going to a kiosk and punching something in and it says thank you,鈥� Culver said. 鈥淚 want a person to say thank you. If a server says please, thank you and my pleasure and it鈥檚 genuine, the food tastes even better.鈥�
