RON AND MICHELLE RYE’S STORY
Ron Rye and his wife Michelle spent New Year’s Day 2001 cleaning up their newly purchased (and previously neglected) TCBY store and preparing to open for business. With their two-year old daughter keeping watch, and football games on TV keeping them entertained, the Ryes got to test their passion for franchise ownership from the very beginning.

Ron says he got a master’s degree in business during their first year in business – and it came through real-life experience. “We had to make up some ground, because the previous owner had really let the store slide. Still, we put up ‘New Management’ signs and had people lined up outside our door from day one. It really proved just how much our customers love the TCBY products.” With the Ryes careful dedication and attention, sales increased by 10% in the first year, and they’ve since doubled. And they work hard to keep those customers coming back over and over again. According to Ron “Our customers consume TCBY the way some people consume Starbucks. It’s almost a daily habit for some of them, and they wouldn’t think of going anywhere else. We don’t ever want to give them a reason to do so.”

After six months in the business, the Ryes bought a second store – one that was clean and well managed, with a good staff in place. Ron says that the secret to success now is managing the staff and having them work in the business, so that he can stay focused working on the business. But he also says that spending time in the trenches is critical for keeping you up to speed on what’s going on. And clearly the Ryes do know what’s going on, because they’ve since opened a third TCBY – this time a brand new store that they started from scratch, and are gearing up to open their fourth. It wasn’t a difficult decision, or even a big risk, says Ron. “If you’ve got a great product and great customer service, you’ll get the business. Find a good location, and your customers will definitely come.”

So how do the Ryes manage to keep four stores operating smoothly while keeping up with their busy – and growing – family? Ron says that the key is getting great managers, and looking for employees that have the same energy and passion for TCBY as he does. That gives him the flexibility he needs to spend time with his family and enjoy the nice lifestyle he and his wife have created for themselves. And it helps that Ron loves what he does. “I have great pride in the fact that I own TCBY stores. When I’m introduced as a TCBY owner, I love that the general reaction is ‘Wow, I really love that place.’ And I love that I’m a part of that whole experience.”