Are you planning to venture into the ice cream business but unsure how to make your shop stand out from the rest? It’s easy to open an ice cream business with the proper tools and equipment. But, to make it distinct and emerge popular from competitors is a different story, especially since the industry is quite saturated.
Five tips to make your ice cream shop stand out are to create your identity through strong USP, to flaunt your guaranteed quality, to focus on flavor, to customize your ice cream packaging, and be proactive in offering samples.
We’ve studied the industry and made a compilation of things you can do to make your ice cream business distinct. Continue reading to find out!
Create your Identity Through Strong USP
I bet you’ve heard about USP or “Unique Selling Point” when researching the ice cream industry. Not everyone understands the concept and essence of USP in a business. It is actually one of the most vital things to achieve to ensure a lasting impression on your customers, a personal connection between them and your business, and a common understanding to help them remember your ice cream shop even after they left.
USP is how you make your customers understand what your business offers and why. Does this still sound complicated? For instance, when we hear Dairy Queen, what comes to our mind is their soft-serve ice cream because that’s what they’re known for. Or, Cold Stone Creamery is known for its 12-14% butterfat ingredient that makes their concoction super creamy. Ben & Jerry’s, on the other hand, is popular not only for its choco chip cookie dough flavor but is also a household name for its chunky ice cream.
Yes, everyone knows that you’re selling ice cream, but it helps a lot when you have a clear concept of what you are selling because that’s what they will remember you for. Here are some examples of USPs that you can use in your business:
Sample Ice Cream Shop USPs
- Vegan Ice Cream
- Wide Variety of Flavors
- 100% Organic Ice Cream
- Chunky Ice Cream
- Quirky and Wild Flavors
- Aesthetic Ice Cream
- Sugar-free Ice Cream
- Dairy-free Ice Cream
- Flaunt your Guaranteed Quality
Emanate your trust in your products towards your customers. If you believe it, then flaunt it! This proven and tested type of strategy works perfectly on other ventures so it definitely might work on your shop as well.
You’ve encountered this in pizza, or fast food chains that swear by their lines of “get fresh hot pizza in 30 minutes or it’s on the house” and “it’s guaranteed quality or get your money back.” You can customize your guarantee to make it unique and personally tailored to your ice cream business.
Offering such a guarantee makes the customer less hesitant to try your product, especially if you’re new. It gives the feeling of assurance and reduces, if not eliminates, their perceived risk in buying a relatively new product. Remember, we are afraid of the unknown and, it’s human nature; so, persuade them to get to know your products. Lastly, a guarantee signifies that you’re serious, trustworthy, and you truly believe in the quality of your products.
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- Focus on your Flavors
This may sound cliche, but your flavors matter. That’s why you need to focus on your flavors and create a balance between the timeless classics and the wild and quirky flavors. Depending on what country your business is located in, make sure to offer the basic flavors along with your other “in-house” flavors. Vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, and mint choco chip are considered the most basic ice cream flavors and are globally popular for a reason. They were hailed as America’s top favorite ice cream flavors.
If you are in the US, adapt to your market’s classic favorites such as peanut butter, cookies, and cream, pumpkin spice, buttered pecan, chocolate chip cookie, cookie dough, caramel/salted caramel, etc. Your own concoction of flavors is also as important as the classics because it will help you create your identity as an ice cream business but not at the expense of the trusted staples. Create a balance between the two, and you’ll win the heart of an even bigger market.
Customize your Ice Cream Packaging
As a consumer, you’ve probably experienced seeing something new, like a cute paper bag or an eye-catching ice cream cup, and wondered where they can be bought from. Cute, unique, and custom-tailored packaging helps stir some curiosity in customers. Make your ice cream business intriguing so they’ll grab the opportunity to try your products.
Add your company name and logo to your ice cream packaging. You may even add your social media accounts and contact number, as this will also serve as a free advertisement. Going the extra mile will make your customer feel that your business isn’t just another floppy shop and that they’ll actually get a whole new experience on top of great-tasting products.
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- Be Proactive in Offering Samples
Convincing people to try your products is hard, especially for newly opened ice cream shops. Consumers have perceived risks and are hesitant to try new untested products thinking that it will just be another waste of money. How will you conquer this? By offering free samples.
The only way to convince people to try your products is to give them a free taste of what you offer. Be proactive and prove your product’s worth. You can offer free samples during your grand opening or every time you launch a new flavor. Once your customers get a taste of your products, they’re more likely to buy, or even recommend your shop to their friends and family. Plus, free samples will help you stand out among others because it signifies that you are bold enough to introduce your products and vouch for their quality.
Conclusion
The ice cream business may be a saturated industry, but there’s still a handful of ways for you to stand out among your competitors, such as creating your identity through a strong USP, flaunting your guaranteed quality, focusing on flavor, customizing your ice cream packaging, and being proactive in offering samples.
Knowing when and how to peak will help your business grow, widen your network of customers, and will create and establish your business reputation. Ice cream is undeniably an in-demand product, and everyone loves it. However, you also need to make a move to make people recognize your shop. Do not be afraid in trying new strategies in promoting your business. We already dropped a few tips, now you can add or incorporate your ideas, as well.
Why Selling Ice Cream Is A Good Business
Frequently Asked Questions
Ice cream is a popular dessert primarily created out of dairy products, sugar, cream, and flavorings. Numerous varieties are then added to ice cream to create a better texture, yummier taste, and unique flavors. Some contain egg yolk, vanilla, cocoa, and custard powder. Depending on the flavor, others add fresh fruits, cookies, chocolate chips, nuts, marshmallows, etc.
No, you cannot eat just any ice cream if you are lactose intolerant because dairy and cream are the main ingredients of regular ice cream. Lactose-intolerant people get a negative reaction when their bodies consume sugar found in dairy products. However, you can still enjoy ice cream as long as it is a lactose-free variety. So, if you’re lactose intolerant, be sure to check the label or better yet, ask the seller if the ice cream variety is indeed dairy free and suitable for you.
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.