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
Simplify the production of ice cream and gelato with Welsh Farms Ice Cream Mix and
Master Martini Liquid Gelato Mix.
We stock a huge selection of syrups & bases to make your own Italian Ice, including a gourmet private label line for unique flavors without the cost of new product development.
We also carry a huge selection of waffle & cake cones, rainbow sprinkles, crushed fruit & candy toppings, chocolate & peanut butter syrups, flavored bases, nuts, cherries, spoons and all of the paper products you will ever need to run a successful Ice Cream, Gelato or Italian Ice business!
"40 Years of Personal Service & Product Expertise"
322 W Oak Lane Glenolden PA 19036
Visit us at: www.GilsWholesale.com