Ice cream is a happy pill to most people, and this reflects in its constantly rising demand. But as a business owner, you can’t rely on its high demand and expect your business to thrive. Opening an ice cream shop needs thorough planning and hard work to make it successful. Finding the best location for your ice cream shop is one of the most crucial decisions you need to make.
Eight ideal locations for your new ice cream shop include parks, schools, near or inside a shopping mall, beach, residential areas with a saturated population, and areas with restaurants, athletic fields, and bar districts.
Want to know why they’re on our top recommended locations? Read on to find out!
Parks
Parks generate a lot of foot traffic all year round. Tourists and locals go to parks with their families and friends. The constant stream of crowds in parks will help your business get sufficient exposure and generate sales.
Public parks, for instance, are popular amongst kids, groups of friends, and families. Opening an ice cream shop near a park will give you access to your target market.
It’s even better to set up your ice cream shop business near a theme park where the majority of people from different demographics go. Places near a national park, pleasure grounds, and cultural parks are also ideal locations for your new ice cream shop.
- Schools
Bring your business to where the majority of your target audience is. Although ice cream is in-demand among all age groups, kids are your primary target market. Where else are they going to be but in schools?
Building your business near schools gives your customers easy access to sweet treats. Areas near schools also get massive foot traffic all year round. Kids will surely love to get sweet and yummy ice cream after a stressful day doing schoolwork and listening to lectures. Go and seize the after-school rush!
The only drawback is that your sales may plummet during school vacation, but that’s temporary. Be sure to peak and gather as many sales as you can during school days to compensate for the potential losses during winter days and school vacations. How will you do it? Through creative marketing strategy.
- Near or Inside a Shopping Mall
Take advantage of the usual foot traffic in shopping malls. Bring your business where people “commonly” congregate. Mall Goers are not always into shopping. People go to malls to roam around, check new things, window shop, watch movies in its in-house cinema, and hang out. It’s refreshing to see new things, meet new people, and just carelessly walk without any planned intention of buying.
According to a survey, the number of mallgoers who go to malls to eat increased from 4% to 7%, and the trend is expected to increase in the coming years. This only shows that food stalls within the mall premises have a high sales potential.
Another perk of ice cream shops inside a shopping mall is that your business will remain in demand all year round, even in the cold winter season.
How Much An Ice Cream Shop Makes Per Month
Beach
Spring and summer are the peak seasons for frozen foods such as ice cream. Where else would people be during warm and sunny weather? On the beach, right?
For tropical countries where the weather is always warm and sunny, putting up an ice cream shop near the beach is a smart move. Beach gets high foot traffic from families, groups of friends, and lone travelers who love to bask in the summer heat and splurge on the refreshing saltwater. Aside from its high footfall, ice cream is in demand among beachgoers because it helps keep the body refreshed.
- Residential Areas with Saturated Population
Residential areas with a saturated population are ideal locations for your new ice cream shop. These areas get abundant and constant foot traffic. However, you need to choose a wealthy residential area where people have enough disposable money to spend on treats and delights.
Wealthy residential areas may have higher rentals, but it’s worth the risk because they tend to be recession-proof or at least resistant to economic fluctuation. You can also charge better prices for your ice cream products since your market can afford them.
10 Things To Sell In Your Ice Cream Shop
- Areas with Restaurants
Areas, where popular restaurants are located, get high foot traffic all year round. First, these restaurants are already established and tested to serve delicious meals. Second, they already built their network of customers and repeat buyers. Lastly, food attracts people. So why not grab the opportunity and introduce your business?
It’s a popular American concept to grab a dessert after eating a meal. People coming out from restaurants are likely to drop by and buy ice cream for desserts, especially the ones with kids in tow.
- Athletic Fields
Putting up your ice cream shop near athletic fields and sports complex is also a great idea. The adrenaline rush from competitive games and cutthroat matches will leave spectators hungry. Customers rush to food shops to buy meals or snacks during halftime breaks. The surge of buyers is also expected before and after the games.
- Bar Districts
Some may think that bar districts are for alcoholic beverages and wild parties only. Bar districts are also promising locations for your new ice cream shop.
As the alcohol wears off from all the dancing and mingling, partygoers tend to get hungry and crave sweet treats. The high footfall from bar districts, especially during weekends, is also an advantage. Opening an ice cream shop in an odd location will make your shop stand out from the rows of bars and clubs in the area.
However, you may need to stay up late or open your business 24/7. You will be accommodating regular customers during the day and serving the party-goers during the night.
Conclusion
You need to find the right balance when looking for the ideal locations for your new ice cream shop. The rental rate, the high foot traffic all year round, the presence of your target audience, the local competition, and your marketing strategy are just a few of the factors you need to consider. We already provided some recommended locations for your ice cream shop business. Wherever you decide to build your ice cream shop, always remember to make your ice cream shop a destination and not just another ice cream shop.
8 Ice Cream Truck Business Pros And Cons
Frequently Asked Questions
One of the latest trends in ice cream is the “create your own” where customers get to choose their ice cream flavors, and toppings. This personalized approach attracts customers because this makes them feel special.
Great visibility, easy access, high footfall, diverse demographics, and a strong and wealthy population are some of the factors that make a good ice cream location.
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.
Hi! I am Shawn and I am a happy individual who happens to be an entrepreneur. I have owned several types of businesses in my life from a coffee shop to an import and export business to an online review business plus a few more and now I create online ice cream/gelato business resources for those interested in starting new ventures. It’s demanding work but I love it. I do it for those passionate about their business and their goals. That’s why when I meet a ice cream/gelato business owner, I see myself. I know how hard the struggle is to retain clients, find good employees and keep the business growing all while trying to stay competitive.
That’s why I created Ice Cream Business Boss: I want to help ice cream and gelato business owners like you build a thriving business that brings you endless joy and supports your ideal lifestyle.