Finding an ideal location is one of the most important considerations when starting an ice cream shop and deciding where to sell your ice cream can be a challenging task. Let me walk you through the best locations where to sell your ice cream and give you some pointers on how to sell your products in such places.
Five best places to sell ice cream are:
- In Front of Restaurants
- At the Beach
- Neighborhood Parks and Lakes
- Near Trail Entrances
- Food and Music Festivals
NOTE: Before deciding on a location, make sure to visit your local and state agencies to check areas where ice cream may be sold.
In Front of Restaurants
The first on the list is restaurant fronts. They are the best places to sell your ice cream because most consumers can be found in front of restaurants since they dine there several times each week. Also, restaurant-goers can be enticed to grab a sweet treat across the street after they dine in.
To give you an idea, you could sell your ice cream in front of restaurants by forming a partnership with the restaurant of your choice. You can team up to put up an ice cream cart or park your ice cream truck in front of their establishments.
If you’re just getting started, you can set up a sampling bar. This will help you in increasing brand awareness and brand loyalty and market your ice cream items more effectively.
At the Beach
People visit the beach to escape the summer heat. And one of the best desserts to help battle the heat is ice cream. That is why people, especially children, would cheerfully stand in line for an icy scoop by the seaside.
You can set up an ice cream stand or an ice cream cart at beaches. This will help you easily attract a crowd. You won’t have to overwork to market your ice cream since there is already a demand. In fact, you can still do well even if there’s competition on the opposite end of the shore.
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Neighborhood Parks and Lakes
Local parks and lakes are also excellent locations for selling ice cream. This is because it is where families, social groups, and people of various ages and socioeconomic backgrounds gather. In a nutshell, you will have a larger target market in parks.
To give you an idea, you could put up an ice cream cart in your local park to sell ice cream. And if you own an ice cream truck, you can consider stopping by parks in your area.
That said before you decide on selling ice cream in parks and lakes, make sure to check with your local or state authorities if it’s permitted to sell ice cream in your parks.
Near Trail Entrances and Exits
Trail/hiking entrances and exits are another excellent area for selling ice cream. That’s because ice cream is the ideal snack for hikers trying to regain energy after a long hike.
That said, high foot traffic is not guaranteed in such areas, especially in harder trails. So, the best option is to sell ice cream in the entrances and exits of footpaths for beginners.
For your reference, here are some of the best beginner scenic trails in the US:
- Fairy Falls Trail Hike in Yellowstone National Park
- Hot Springs Mountain Trail in Hot Springs National Park
- Story of the Forest in Shenandoah National Park
Food and Music Festivals
Another great spot to sell ice cream is at a food or music festival due to the high population density in such events. Typically, a music event draws 100,000 people.
That means more customers and more ice cream sales. For example, if you own an ice cream truck, you can park it at a festival and earn $50,000 or more, especially if the festival is multi-day, such as Coachella, which lasts 4 to 6 days and attracts 100,000 attendees.
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Conclusion
All in all, these are the best places to sell ice cream:
- In Front of Restaurants – You can find most of the consumers on restaurant fronts. So, it’s best to partner with a restaurant of your choice and set up an ice cream cart or stall in front of their establishment.
- At the Beach – At the beach, you will find consumers looking for a treat to beat the heat. You can do well selling ice cream even if there’s a competition on the other end of the beach.
- Neighborhood Parks and Lakes – This is where families, friends, and people of different ages and economic backgrounds go. So, you can have a larger market for your ice cream in such places.
- Near Trail Entrances and Exits – You can sell ice cream where people looking to regain energy after a long hike gather. It’s best to pick trails for beginners for easier marketing and higher foot traffic.
- Food and Music Festivals – Festivals have a high population density. Typical events reach an average of 100,000 attendees. So, it’s best to sell ice cream at festivals, especially multi-day ones.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Ice cream is most loved in the following states: 1) California, 2) Oklahoma, 3) New Jersey, 4) New York, 5) Florida, 6) Kansas, 7) Vermont 8) Arkansas, 9) Rhode Island, and 10) Pennsylvania
There are 4 ways to increase ice cream sales: 1) Making fun ice cream challenges, 2) Hosting a sundae-making event, 3) Sponsoring parties to get your name out there, and 4) Creating a tasting bar at your local grocery store.
Yes. That’s because summer is the strongest season for ice cream businesses, with most producing 40-60% of overall sales and 80% of revenues during this season.
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.