Bruster's Real Ice Cream Testimonial: Bowling Green, KY

Robert Alford built more than a successful ice cream shop in Bowling Green, Kentucky. For Robert, success isn’t defined only by sales volume. It’s about people, purpose, and building something that brings happiness to his community.  That strategy has, however, resulted in ranking consistently as a Top 20 sales performer in the chain, prestigious Top Volume Producer awards, as well as 2021 Bruster’s Mentor of the Year.

From Real Estate to Real Ice Cream

“Before I bought Bruster’s, I was a real estate broker. I owned part of a Keller Williams real estate franchise.” That experience gave Robert the foundation in franchising, but Bruster’s offered something more personal.

“It wasn’t a bad experience. It was just different because of the scale,” he said. “With Bruster’s, we’re big enough to get vendors to set up for us, but small enough that it still has that hometown feel. Their headquarters is in an old church. It feels like home.”

He describes how Bruster’s has managed to grow without losing its close-knit feel and personality. “We’re growing. We have more people at the corporate level every year, but we’re still small enough that I can call our advertising department. They’ll make special things for me, and they’ll do it for anybody. I even called the CEO once, and he called me back. It just feels good.”

A Franchise That Feels Like Family

“The beauty of it is the corporate-to-franchisee relationship, and also the franchisee-to-franchisee relationship,” Robert said. “I travel to other stores just to see how they’re doing and to get ideas. It’s a very good working atmosphere. Everybody works together.”

“If they need anything, they call me. If I need anything, I call them. We just work hand in hand. No franchise is stronger than its weakest link,” he added. “I’ve never felt any competition from anybody.”

Giving Back Through Ice Cream

Robert makes community involvement a core part of his business. “Next month I’m doing something for Veterans Day,” he said. “Anybody that’s in the military, been in the military or going into the military can come and get a one-topping ice cream for free. Bruster’s is a natural fit for giving back to the community. Ice cream fits just about anything.”

“Our ice cream is really good,” he said. “It’s the best ice cream I’ve ever had, and I’d tell you that if I owned it or not. We make it every day in the store. We own our own dairy, so we can compete with anybody. We call it from cow to cone.”

Mentorship and Meaning

Robert’s store employs mostly high school and college students, and mentoring his team has become one of his favorite parts of the job. “If you don’t show the kids that you love it, they won’t love it either,” he said. “One of the main things that got me to do Bruster’s was because I love mentoring people. Most of my kids are sixteen to twenty-two or twenty-three. Some stay with me up to seven years. I love the kids, and I wanted something to give back to the community. People come here happy and leave happier.”

“I come in every day just to see how they’re doing or how school was,” he said. “I try to build a relationship with all the kids.”

The Best Job He’s Ever Had

When asked how ownership has changed his life, Robert said, “It is the best job I’ve ever had.”

He also shares this straightforward advice for anyone thinking about becoming an owner. “Don’t expect to get rich because the Brinks truck isn’t going to show up the day after you close,” he said. “You’ve got to build the business. You’ve got to nurture it. It’s like having a child. You’ve got to plan your work and work your plan.”

His approach has paid off. “Since I bought it, we’re up seventy-three percent,” he said.

Robert often speaks with the next generation of franchisees during their research and discovery process.  He shares. “My door is open. Anybody who wants to come, I’ll take them around, give them some ice cream, and help them however I can.”