Ice cream shop success – Making your ice cream shop profitable.
There are a lot of searches online on how to open an ice cream shop, but very little online searches on how to make that ice cream shop a success. I guess a lot of people just want to open an ice cream shop and not have to worry about making it profitable. If you’re reading this, you’re different. You want to make your ice cream shop a success and turn a profit!
With over 30 years experience in the frozen dessert industry ADI Electro Freeze has helped thousands of ice cream shop owners achieve success throughout the years. So, here are some tips to make your frozen dessert shop a profit center.
The most successful frozen dessert businesses always have something in common.
- They make their own frozen dessert products!
Our customers that achieve the greatest ice cream shop success are the ones who also create their own unique products. Whether it be an Italian Ice, ice cream or gelato, each recipe or flavor you make is like your own taste brand. The food business has changed, people now prefer unique, custom, quality homemade products as opposed to processed products through huge companies that you can buy anywhere. Creating your own brand let’s you get more creative and gives you the ability to create distinct and memorable flavors your customers will only be able to get at your place. It allows you to be different than your competition and dominate them on flavors, taste, uniqueness and experience.
2. They Invest in the right equipment
Believe it or not, using the right equipment will have a huge impact on your overall business. The machines are the backbone of your business and should be considered with care. A machine that costs a little more upfront will pay huge dividends down the line as it will eliminate costly breakdowns, repairs and downtime with your products. Electro Freeze machines are the premiere commercial ice cream machines on the market and produce a product far superior to competitors brands. Using quality commercial ice cream machines like Electro Freeze will make your product taste better more consistently. Plus the quality craftmanship of the machines means they can take the constant wear and tear of every day use, thus saving you in down time costs.
3. They train their staff
It’s best to have some sort of procedures and training in place when dealing with customers. You want your store to be unique in the way your employees treat customers. The way employees greet and say goodbye to customers goes a long way. Having friendly employees along with a clean inviting shop makes for a more memorable and fun experience for the consumer. Be aware of how your employees interact with customers, all it takes is one poor interaction with a disheartened employee to ruin a relationship with a customer.
4. They create their own brand
Ice cream shop success means your creating your own brand of products. Creating your own brand sets your store apart from your competitor and allows people to instantly identify your shop. Your own brand means distinct taste, flavors and branding that only your store can provide. You can increase sales by selling and promoting your own handcrafted product. As an owner, it means your in complete control of your own ingredients and consistency of product. Not only do the shops produce to sell on-site but they package the products so people can take it home as well. Part of creating your own brand will be to create your own packaging, this will make your shop instantly recognizable.
5. They control product and supply costs
Take some time every quarter to review how much you’re paying for your product and supplies. Review your process, look to lower your cost when buying product and supplies. Buying ingredients as soon as you run out of something may not be the best approach if you can buy it in bulk and have it on hand. Seasonal items like fruit could be sourced locally when in season. Keep in mind the age and performance of your machines. If one machine is constantly breaking down and costing you in repairs, it might be time to upgrade the machine.
6. They adjust price points
Pricing your product right is key for staying competitive and making profits. Use data that you collected over the years to adjust prices. Focus on selling a high quality product first and then use data to adjust your prices accordingly. High quality means one thing to the customer: value. The product you serve and the service you give to the customer is unique and should never be compared to the store down the block. This is your formula and with it you’ll never have to worry what your competitor down the block is selling an ice cream cone for. They don’t have your product, nor do they provide the experience you provide.
Though these quick tips can help you get started on your ice cream shop success, they’re just scratching the surface when it comes to creating profits for your shop. If you want more tips or need help with any of the above, contact us and we’ll be happy to help.
