Area Business Leaders Served Encouragement

(Friday, April 17, 2009) - Sheboygan County business leaders received a few words of encouragement Thursday night from the founder of what's quickly becoming one of the state's most successful companies.
Advertisement

Craig Culver, chief executive officer at Culver's — one of the few businesses still growing its sales during the recession — told leaders here that he expects the company's sales to improve even more by year's end, and he's hopeful the same will happen for them.

"I personally believe we're going to get better by year's end, and I hope some of that rubs off on all of you tonight and your business is heading in that direction," said Culver, while delivering the keynote speech during the Sheboygan County Chamber of Commerce's annual membership dinner at the American Club.

Culver said the Prairie du Sac-based chain saw its sales increase 3 percent last year, even as the recession took hold, and sales continue to grow at the same rate this year.

Culver, a former McDonald's employee, and his family opened the first Culver's in 1984 inside an old A&W restaurant in Sauk City and added a franchising arm several years later.

Today, there are 397 Culver's restaurants in 17 states, including three in Sheboygan County.

During his talk, Culver discussed the history of the business and what makes it successful today, including strong leadership, which he says has helped Culver's attract and retain its most talented employees.

Culver also discussed his emphasis on word-of-mouth advertising, saying that simply satisfying a customer is never enough.

"It's about having them leave and tell someone else about the great experience they had at your business," he said.

Going forward, the key to Culver's prosperity, he said, will depend on its ability to create a better experience for customers than the restaurant's competitors, a simply strategy that he believes is transferable to almost any business.

"A lot of people serve burgers, fries and malts, but if they can copy your people, your hospitality and your service, they deserve the business, and it's my intent to never let that happen," he said.

View all Culver Press Releases

This article has been read 82 times.

Printer Friendly