“I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream”. And, that’s precisely why you can never go wrong with a business of selling ice creams. As kids or grown-ups with a sweet tooth, many of us have nurtured the dream of owning an ice shop. But before you take the plunge, you need to have a plan and get a clear idea of what you’re signing up for. After all, the competition in the ice cream business can be intense and one wrong step can lead you far away from the path of sweet success.
Australians love their frozen desserts and ice cream remains their top choice anytime of the year. Current trends show an increase in the sale of premium ice cream products with healthier options. The Australian ice cream industry is pegged at $1.3 billion and is likely to grow by 5.1% over the next five years. If you have been mulling for a while to bring your creativity as an entrepreneur, perhaps there never was a more opportune time to jump into the fray!
Here’s a short and a simple guide to help you start an ice cream shop.
1. Business Plan
Start your ice cream venture with a sound business plan that will attract consumers using sure-fire marketing strategies. Conduct an online or physical market survey to study consumer preferences (factoring their gender and age) in the location you are setting up your retail store. Break the ground by designing an innovative ice cream menu with healthy and nutritious products. Gelato, yoghurt, sorbet, and frozen custard are everyone’s all-time favourites!
Be attractive with your presentation. Start advertising your ice cream products on social media and distribute brochures/leaflets to win the attention of your target audience.
2. Select Location
The ideal places to set up your ice cream outlet would be shopping malls, schools, or beaches where it is easier to entice a crowd. You can operate from free-standing shops, mobile vans, or inside shopping centres. Only remember to select a weather-proof place where you can safely set up your outlet.
Distribute physical brochures with attractive upcoming ice cream features. Spend the preliminary stages studying people’s preferences by age and gender by conducting short interviews, distributing fill-in forms, etc.
3. Set Up Your Business Entity
The initial capital investment to set up an ice cream shop with equipment could lie in the range of $20,000-$50,000. This is just a rough estimate as factors like whether you are leasing or buying and the type of ice cream equipment will influence the expenditure.
4. Finish The Preliminaries Of Your Business Venture
Comply with the Australian food legislation when you manufacture and sell ice cream products. Decide a name for your ice cream shop, and obtain a business permit to start operating. Seek reliable sources for financing, and set up your business bank account. Remember to apply for commercial insurance like liability and property insurance should you incur damages under unforeseen circumstances.
5. Purchase Equipment
Finally, choose equipment that will provide a complete ice cream solution. If you intend to serve your customers skilful hand-crafted ice creams, then you might have to invest in artisan ice cream equipment with pasteuriser, freezer, and mixing machines.
These are some factors you need to consider before starting your ice cream business on the right foot.
