Selling ice cream is an enjoyable and bankable gig. However, you can’t always expect strong sales because they fluctuate. Here are several factors that have a substantial impact on ice cream sales:
Factors that affect ice cream sales are the ice cream’s visual appeal, the ingredient labels, its price, the packaging design, and the rising demand for premium ice cream.
In this piece, I’ll go through each factor that influences ice cream sales. I’ll also provide some ideas for dealing with those factors so that you can use them to your advantage.
Visual Appeal
Visual attractiveness is first on the list. It’s the whole appearance of an ice cream, which includes color, toppings, and other details. Certainly, these have an impact on ice cream sales because visual aspects have a strong effect on the purchasing experience.
Essentially, the presentation of ice cream has a huge influence on customer behavior. For instance, the color of your ice cream will be the first thing that your consumers notice, which will also set an expectation on how your ice cream desserts will taste. And when a food color does not meet the flavor expectations of customers, it can have a psychological impact on them.
To put it simply, an ice cream shop that serves unattractive, bland ice cream products can expect low sales. Fortunately, this can easily be avoided. You only need to create ice cream products with vibrant colors and eye-catching toppings that are picture-worthy or Instagrammable!
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Ingredient Labels
Ingredient labels are another factor that influences ice cream sales. This is because, in this day and age, consumers are becoming more inquisitive and conscious; and the ingredient label plays an important role in influencing their choices. According to research, 59% of shoppers said they always check the labels on packaged foods before purchasing them for the very first time.
Aside from the ingredient label or nutrition information panel, customers routinely inspect front-of-package nutrition content icons such as the Facts Up Front label, the Great for You symbol, and the Heart-Check icon. Simply put, using such symbols on your ice cream products will help you attract more customers to purchase them.
Ice Cream Price
The price of the ice cream is another factor that affects ice cream sales. This is because, in addition to being increasingly concerned about the ingredients used in the items they purchase, consumers are also looking for products that are within their budget. Study reveals that the cost of a product has a considerable association with consumer decisions.
Some customers may choose an ice cream brand based on its low price, whereas others would be enticed to a higher-priced product based on the impression that cost equates with quality. So, your choice of pricing strategy would depend on your target market.
Here are the 3 most used pricing strategies:
- Cost-Plus Pricing – This technique adds a predetermined percentage to the subtotal of all the contributing costs for the item to be sold. This pricing technique is well-known for its simplicity and efficiency. However, the disadvantage of this technique is that customers are not factored into the equation.
- Competitive Pricing – This approach, as the name says, takes the competition into account. Businesses use this method to decide whether to decrease or raise their pricing based on their competition. This strategy is best used for increasing traffic, boosting profit margin, and preventing market share losses.
- Value-Based Pricing – This is essentially dependent on a consumer’s perceived value of a product or service. For example, if vanilla ice cream is your best seller, you can price it higher than your other offerings.
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The Packaging
Sales are also affected by packaging. In cases of wrapped and bundled ice cream, the packaging is the first thing buyers notice and what draws them in. In fact, it is one of the most significant factors influencing consumers’ purchasing decisions. So, it is critical to have a nice, eye-catching packaging design that will appeal to consumers.
You can check these great, Instagrammable ice cream packaging designs:
Rising Demand for Premium Ice Cream
The increasing demand for premium ice cream substantially impacts ice cream sales, particularly for regular ice cream. This is because customers are becoming more health-conscious, increasingly seeking high-quality ice cream tastes, and willing to pay more for innovative or luxurious ingredients. Meaning, we can expect regular ice cream sales to be significantly affected as the years go by.
Halo Top is an excellent example of a successful premium ice cream brand. Being the fastest-selling ice cream brand in the United States in 2017, knocking out industry giants such as Ben & Jerry’s. They provide fantastic low-calorie ice cream pints that match their “healthy ice cream” brand.
Conclusion
All in all, the factors that have a significant impact on ice cream sales are the ice cream’s visual appeal, the ingredient labels which include nutrition content icons, its price, the packaging design, and the rising demand for premium ice cream. Making the best use of all these factors can surely lead to an ice cream shop’s increased sales.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Before starting an ice cream business, consider the following: 1) the ice cream items, 2) the seasonality of the business, 3) the required paperwork and permissions, 4) the location, and 5) the business strategy.
The shift in consumption leads to an increase in ice cream demand. Notably, changes in several parameters such as income levels have a big impact on demand for ordinary items. An increase in income leads to an increased demand for ordinary items owing to increased purchasing power.
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.