Mar 13, 2023

Ice Cream Factory owners Katie and Shannon Imler love to make people happy, and they do it with ice cream. What started out as a scoop shop in Eldon serving the ice cream they make by hand has turned into a bustling operation selling 30-plus flavors in over 2,000 retail stores in the central United States. You can still enjoy Imler’s ice cream in the scoop shops but you can also now find it in grocery stores, coffee shops, bakeries and more. Today, we are pleased to welcome Katie Imler, co-owner and marketing manager for Ice Cream Factory. 

Tune in and hear Katie Imler’s story about how she and her husband conceived the idea of opening the ice cream shop, their marketing strategy, what flavors they offer, and how they continue to grow and expand their business. 

What you’ll learn: 

• Katie Imler’s background and education

• The process of how Katie and her husband got started in the ice cream making business

• Katie’s role in Ice Cream Factory, obstacles she has faced while starting a new business, where the business is located, and what they are doing to expand 

• The main markets Katie’s business reaches and where their products are sold

• How the marketing strategy has changed and what marketing efforts they are implementing that have been successful 

• How the Bicentennial flavor was created and how they partnered with the governor to create a personalized ice cream flavor for him

• How reels and video have made a big impact for the Ice Cream Factory’s social media 

• What the Ice Cream Factory brand stands for and the memories the Imlers want their customers to make with their flavors they offer