After 66 years in business, Jack Kain Ford has entered a new chapter under new ownership. Bob Kain, Former President of Jack Kain Ford, joins us on today’s CBT Live segment to discuss how the family knew it was time to move on, but its priorities remain protecting the dealership’s culture, caring for employees and serving the community.
According to Kain, the family’s decision to sell the dealership reflected the increasing difficulty of competing as a family-owned dealership in a market shaped by larger automotive groups. Kain said that the business began in Frankfort, Kentucky, in 1959, when Bob Kain’s father left dairy farming to enter the automotive industry. Eight of the nine Kain children eventually worked in the dealership, along with three grandchildren and Kain’s wife. Although selling the store was difficult, Kain said the family believed the time had come to pass it to an organization with the resources to invest in the facility, increase inventory and continue serving the community.
Employee culture was central to the dealership’s business approach, with Kain noting that the family hired people based on their character, kindness and passion for work rather than relying primarily on previous experience. That approach helped create a workplace that attracted prospective employees and encouraged existing staff to care for customers. Kain said the family’s guiding principle was that caring for employees would lead them to care for customers. As the dealership changes ownership, he hopes the new team will preserve that sense of family, along with the honesty and compassion that shaped its relationships with employees and customers.
Additionally, Jack Kain Ford adopted a one-price sales model because customers wanted a more straightforward buying experience. Kain said the dealership offered the same best price to every customer, eliminating the adversarial negotiations that can make buying a vehicle stressful for both shoppers and salespeople. He said the store didn’t lose customers because of its pricing approach and that loyal buyers kept returning, but he hopes the new ownership will maintain those customer-focused practices.
