Building an ice cream shop is highly challenging, as exhilarating and wonderful as it may sound. You may have a lot of questions in your head yet still need to do extra brainstorming to ensure that your ice cream store is the finest and most original it can be. I got your back!
Five tips to follow when building an ice cream shop:
- Team Up With The Right Architect and Contractor
- Keep in Mind Every Detail
- Mix Up Your Materials
- Maximize that Small Space
- Make it Instagrammable
An ice cream shop can be built in a manner quite similar to that of a restaurant. The procedure may involve preliminary planning, hiring professionals, doing site inspections, decorating, and finally launching the ice cream store. Here I will offer additional tips to keep in mind as you begin the construction of your dream ice cream shop.
Why Running An Ice Cream Shop Can Be Both Easy And Hard
Team Up With The Right Architect and Contractor
Foremost, select the appropriate architect and contractor. Your choice of professionals can have a favorable or negative impact on the entire process and outcome. For example, if you employ an unskilled architect who does not grasp your vision, your ice cream store is likely to fall short of your vision and expectations.
Same case with your contractor. You must be mindful when picking the right contractors since they handle the practical work, collaborate with architects, and closely follow the plans and perspectives to ensure that your ice cream shop is being constructed according to the blueprints.
To choose the most suitable architect and contractors for your project, seek someone with expertise, a strong portfolio, respect for your budget, and someone you can easily communicate with.
You can ask for references from your friends, relatives, and especially the American Institute of Architects (AIA). The greatest suggestion for one who matches your project may be found, especially from AIA. Additionally, they own the resources or records required for every project type by all parties.
Keep in Mind Every Detail
Make sure you pay attention to every detail. This covers the location, necessary permissions or licenses, the colors and patterns you’ll be using, tip jars, handwritten menus, and more. This is simply because you wouldn’t want your customers to discover a small mistake in your store just because you overlooked a small detail. Also, missing tiny elements could result in bigger problems.
The fact that they improve the appearance of your store is another reason why minor touches are crucial. For instance, research found that patterns, particularly stripes with higher density, actually give the impression that an area is more spacious and taller.
Another example is your lighting. Your store may appear more prominent and livelier thanks to the lighting you utilize. Additionally, research suggests that light, especially natural lighting, can increase staff productivity as well as consumer satisfaction and comfort.
How The Weather Affects An Ice Cream Business
Mix Up Your Materials
Try experimenting with various materials that go well together if you want to give your store a unique style and a bright, friendly ambiance. The combination of wood and white tiles might provide the appearance of greater space and serenity. This may also help you save money because you will be purchasing different materials at varying prices in lesser quantities.
Some other great material combinations are:
- Wood and Brick
- Brick and Steel
- Mirrors and Glass
Maximize that Small Space
Ice cream shops can be as little as 80 square feet or as large as 4,000 square feet, according to the North American Ice Cream Association. If you can only afford to establish an 80-square-foot business venue, you’ll surely need to make the most of your limited location.
Before beginning construction on your store, you must ensure that you have a solid plan in place and have thought of your floor layout and all the furniture and equipment you’ll need. You wouldn’t want your staff and customers to be squeezed in, or worse, your ice cream shop to fail.
Why Working At An Ice Cream Shop Is Stressful
Make it Instagrammable
Last but not least, you have to make sure that you are building a shop that will be Instagram-worthy. In this day and age, people are seeking picture-worthy places and dishes.
If you make your store Instagrammable, you will likely see greater consumer satisfaction and foot traffic. It would not be surprising if customers begin marching to your business not just to enjoy ice cream but also to snap a photo of your shop.
Conclusion
The five tips you can follow when building an ice cream store are:
- Team Up With The Right Architect and Contractor: Make sure that you hire the right architect and contractors to ensure the success of constructing your ice cream shop.
- Keep in Mind Every Detail: Take note of every little detail such as patterns and lighting as they contribute to the overall look and vibe of your shop.
- Mix Up Your Materials: Try using different materials to create a fresh and unique design.
- Maximize that Small Space: Make sure that you have ample space for your furniture, equipment, workers, and customers.
- Make it Instagrammable: Make your shop look Instagram-worthy for increased customer satisfaction and foot traffic.
How Long Should Ice Cream Shops Keep Ice Cream
Frequently Asked Questions
You might look for ideas from existing ice cream stores when choosing a design or concept for your business. This will assist you in coming up with an original theme or concept for your brainstorming session.
The stages to starting an ice cream business are as follows: 1) Understand how the industry functions, 2) Develop a plan, 3) Determine earning potential, 4) Establish a budget, 5) Locate Suppliers, 6) Choose a look/design, and 7) Join the industry.
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.