Many people think ice cream store owners take winter-long vacations.
Some do, but for the most part, surviving the winter months is a challenge.
One business owner rationalized staying open year round: “Ice cream is comfort food even though it's cold outside, & you have to pay for the rent whether you are open or closed anyway. Keep the business in the forefront of the neighborhood's mind. If a store is closed for a few months, customers will get used to driving past it and opt for the chain ice cream shop instead."
Survival tips from The National Dipper include:
1- Reduce Staff
2- Limit flavor selections
3- Create seasonal specific holiday flavors like pumpkin spice, apple cobbler, candy cane...
4- Reduce hours of operation
5- Sell cakes & pies
6- Wholesale ice cream to restaurants
7- Sell take-home pints & quarts
8- In-store events
9- Add chocolates, hot coffee,hot cocoa, hot apple cider or hot food to the menu
10- Add WiFI to your store
11- Sponsor a local team
12- Have school fund-raising events
13- Work a winter job
14- Sell Christmas trees
15- Plow snow
Ask your customers NOW what would keep them coming into your store during the winter months!
Gil's Wholesale Distributors
322 W Oak Lane Glenolden PA 19036
GilsWholesale.com IceCreamSupplesWholesale.com
610-237-6500
Gil’s Wholesale Distributors is a family owned Pennsylvania based full service distributor with over 40 years of providing personalized service & product expertise for wholesale tobacco, cigars, cigarettes & tobacco related products, ice cream, Italian Ice & Gelato manufacturing supplies, convenience store supplies, paper & plastic items, candy, concession, automotive and janitorial products.
Located 10 minutes from the Philadelphia International Airport, our delivery area is PA, NJ, and DE and we ship throughout the U.S. and abroad by common carrier, as well as offer convenient Pick Up services at our customer-friendly showroom.
One Stop Shopping. Free parking. Convenient delivery.
Call us today!