10 Gelato Shop Ideas

Do you know what I’d do if I won the GELATO-ry? I would instantly open a Harry Potter-themed gelato shop. How about you?

Well, since you are here, I bet you’re in the phase of “running out of ideas.” I know how that feels. Brainstorming ideas for your gelato shop is not a walk in the park because there are a lot of themes and things to try.

Well, I got you covered. I’ve compiled the best ideas that you can try for your gelato shop.

Here are the 10 Gelato shop ideas:

1. Make it Picture-worthy
2. Build a Welcoming Entrance
3. Show Off Your Logo 
4. Try Mixing Materials
5. Consider a Nostalgic Concept
6. Go Full Italian
7. Lots of White 
8. Go Minimalist 
9. Go for a Kiddie Design
10.  Gelato on Wheels  

Make it Picture-worthy

First and foremost. You must ensure that your gelato shop is Instagram-worthy. And I mean the entirety of your gelato business, from your gelatos to the general look of your establishment.

You can consider reserving a small area for your clients to take photos. It can function as a little photo booth. You are free to create it in any way you see fit. 

Your products should be visually appealing and photogenic. From the scoops to the cups, your items should be distinctive and appealing so that your customers cannot help but take a picture and share it on social media.

You can check these Instagrammable gelato shops for more inspiration:

• Creamier 
• Creamery Boutique 
• FatCat

Build a Welcoming Entrance

You know what they say, first impressions last. So, you have to make sure that your ice cream shop’s entrance is very pleasing and welcoming. 

You can consider putting a classic chalkboard with a catchy tagline written on it or a huge glass door that showcases your shop’s interiors. In that way, bypassers would want to step in and see what your shop has to offer. 

Show Off Your Logo 

You can put a little more thought into your logos. Make your logos remarkable and show them off so people can remember your gelato shop. 

You can put your logos on your welcoming entrance and your gelato cups. In that way, customers can easily see them. 

You can follow these tips when making your gelato shop logo:

• Make it Simple but Unique
• Make it Relevant 
• It Should Contain the Right Colors
• Make it Memorable 
• It Should be Versatile 

You can also check BrandCrowd for remarkable gelato shop logo ideas.

Try Mixing Materials

You can try designing your gelato shop using different materials like white tiles and wood to make a distinct and beautiful gelato shop. That said, you don’t just mix whatever materials you want. You need to find materials that go well together. 

You can look at this ideal gelato shop interior design from Biasol. It has the perfect combination of white tiles and wood for a shop’s interior. This mixture gives the impression that the shop has enough space and is clean. 

Consider a Nostalgic Concept

I love retro, vintage aesthetics, and I know other people do too. Having a nostalgic concept for your gelato shop might be the perfect approach. 

You can go full retro on your gelato shop’s design. You can also get ideas from classic, old-fashioned soda shops. This would make your gelato shop stand out from other shops with modern designs.

You can also fill your menu with classic, traditional gelato flavors like custard, stracciatella, tiramisu, and zabajone. These are perfect gelato flavors to be included on your menu because they are ever popular regardless of the season and the crowd. 

Go Full Italian

Go back to the roots of gelato. You can never go wrong with this concept.

Italian design mainly consists of sophisticated lighting, wooden tables, and beautiful, patterned tablecloths. This concept befits the gelato shop that only serves the best. 

Do you want your shop to have a touch of modern design? No problem, you can also go for a modern Italian design. Do you want to have more space? If yes, you can have an outdoor Italian dining design.

10 Things Gelato Shops Sell

Lots of White 

If you want your gelato shop to exude cleanliness and space, then this is the best choice you can make. This is also a stress-free approach because you don’t have to give yourself a hard time in picking the right colors for your shop. 

I am not telling you to make your gelato shop all white. That will be too bland. You just use white as your base color, then you can add details using other colors. Imagine a white wall and then install a chalkboard or black wall art on it. Isn’t that a neat and appealing design?

You can check these shops with white themes for inspiration:

• Charlie’s Sweet Shop 
• Banter Ice Cream

Go Minimalist 

Too tired to think of more complex ideas? You can just go try a minimalist design. 

Going for a minimalist design for your gelato shop also brings a good deal to your wallet because this idea does not require a lot of things. You only get what you need. 

You don’t have to worry about how minimalism will make your gelato shop stand out because this style is popular due to its convenience and creation of a sense of space. 

You can check these gelato shops with minimalist designs: 

• Polka Gelato
• Milk Train 

Go for a Kiddie Design

No one loves ice cream better than kids. If you are looking for a more kid-centered gelato shop, then you should go for a kiddie design. 

You can take inspiration from famous cartoons like Frozen, Toy Story, and Strawberry Shortcake. Make it as fun as you can, and I’m sure kids would see your gelato shop as a place for ice cream parties.

A kiddie-themed gelato business is also incredibly appealing since children and children at heart would sCREAM just to be in one. If there was a gelato store nearby, I’m sure I’d be in it.

Gelato on Wheels

If there’s an ice cream truck, there should be a gelato on wheels. 

This idea is perfect if you want to help spread your gelato business. Aside from establishing your gelato store, having gelato on wheels is ideal as it can help you reach more areas and customers. 

A perfect example of this is Egypt’s first ice cream van, Gelato on Wheelz. This gelato van is quite popular since its wheels are constantly moving and they offer a variety of gelato flavors as well as seasonal varieties. 

15 Great Ice Cream Combinations

Conclusion

All in all, here are the 10 Gelato shop ideas:

1. Make it Picture-worthy – Make everything Instagrammable.
2. Build a Welcoming Entrance – Make bypassers want to enter your shop. 
3. Show Off Your Logo – Create an eye-catching logo then put it where customers can easily see it. 
4. Try Mixing Materials – Match different materials like white tiles and wood. 
5. Consider a Nostalgic Concept – Try going for a retro concept. 
6. Go Full Italian – You can go modern Italian or outside Italian dining design. 
7. Lots of White – Use a lot of white and balance by using other colors. 
8. Go Minimalist – Go for a less complex yet effective and efficient design. 
9. Go for a Kiddie Design – Try taking inspiration from Frozen and Toy Story. 
10.  Gelato on Wheels  – Reach more areas and customers. 

6 Reasons Why Ice Cream Shops Fail

Frequently Asked Questions

To learn more on how to start your own ice cream/gelato business check out my startup documents here

This blog post is provided for informational purposes only. The information contained is not intended to constitute legal advice or to substitute for obtaining legal advice from a qualified attorney.