If you’ve ever wanted to work at or establish an ice cream business because you think it’d be a lot of fun, I’ve got unfortunate news for you: it’s not always fun. Although it can be enjoyable, working in an ice cream shop can also be a nightmarish and stressful experience.
Working in an ice cream shop may be physically and emotionally taxing because of the long line of customers waiting to be served, the leaking milk and ice cream, the frequent technical problems, and the unpleasant customers that cause a lot of drama and frustration.
I’ll talk about the truth, not the sugar-coated experience of working in an ice cream business. Keep reading for some pointers to make your experience less unpleasant, physically easier, and emotionally lighter.
Seemingly Endless Lines
It is well known that ice cream is a favorite sweet. In fact, the International Dairy Foods Association estimates that the typical American consumes 4 gallons or about 20 pounds of ice cream yearly. Thus, it is common for ice cream shops to be packed and to have queues that appear to go on forever.
This increases the physical and mental exhaustion of working at an ice cream store. Just picture spending the entire day scooping ice cream while standing at the counter or walking to and fro serving customers. It nearly seems like you completed one of the toughest hikes.
No matter how fantastic it feels to serve a pint or a scoop and make people happy, the lengthy lines will stress you out and it can be worse in the summer. You’ll have to contend not just with cramping in your muscles but also with the scorching heat.
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Spilled Ice Cream Everywhere
Another reason why working at an ice cream business might be stressful is the occasional spilled ice cream or milk. You’re basically working in an environment that will make you feel uneasy due to the stickiness. Talk about a messy experience.
You’ll also be dealing with post-shift, late-night cleaning of sticky floors and walls, as well as cleaning the bathroom after lots of customers—you already know what transpired. It’s exhausting and changes your perspective on the job.
Frequent Machine Malfunction
The frequent breakdown of ice cream machines also adds to the stress of working in an ice cream business and can lead to a variety of additional issues, such as dissatisfied customers. If your ice cream maker breaks down, merely troubleshooting what caused the ice cream to fail may stress you out.
Drama From Customers
Even if you have regular, pleasant customers, you may occasionally encounter a few who will stress you out and detract from the joyful atmosphere of the ice cream business. You can come across youngsters who order strange combinations and force you to scoop this and that or a few rude and overbearing customers.
Ice cream fans could even come up with other concerns in an effort to make your job more difficult. Some may request items that are not on your menu while others may gripe about the texture of your ice cream goods. That is simply the way things are, not only in the ice cream industry but in many others as well.
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What You Need To Do
Fortunately, the majority of the issues that make working at an ice cream store stressful can be solved without much difficulty. For instance, all you need to do is make sure that you enjoy your job or have a passion for ice cream to help you not dwell on common job stressors. This is because it’ll make you look at your job differently.
According to the University of Southern California, having a positive mindset about your job might make it more fun and easier to do. So, instead of dwelling on the drama, lengthy lines, and sticky workstations, concentrate on why you enjoy your job or adopt a positive mindset to make working in an ice cream store less stressful.
When it comes to frequent technical failures, all you need to do is undertake preventative maintenance or set up a regular cleaning routine. This may seem to be double the work, but it will actually benefit you in the long term and make work less stressful.
Conclusion
Certainly, working in an ice cream store can be stressful. This is primarily due to the daily lineups that seem to go on forever, the uncomfortable ice cream or milk spills, the numerous equipment failures that might lead to even more issues, and the drama you may encounter from various clients. Having said that, issues may be easily overcome by having a love for ice cream, a positive outlook, and being organized.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When operating an ice cream shop, you should avoid doing the following: 1) Cutting corners or settling; 2) Withholding quality; 3) Using the internet as a source for purchases; 4) Listening to everyone, and 5) Believing that it won’t be difficult.
Making consumers happy, earning a profit, being kind to customers, building a distinctive brand, offering top-notch service, and expanding the client base are some of the common goals of an ice cream shop.
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.