20 Best Ice-Cream Marketing Ideas For Restaurants

An ice cream shop is a food store capitalising on customers’ year-round love of sweet and creamy sweets.

Ice cream stores once struggled in the winter, but lately, more and more people have started to like these sweet delicacies, even in the coldest months of the year. Ice cream shops typically have low overhead expenses and make much money.

The price of ingredients is comparatively low in an ice cream parlour because they specialise in a certain kind of food. If you run an ice cream store and, despite these benefits, you aren’t making money, you need to boost ice cream sales.

Here are 20 best ideas to boost your ice cream sales.

1. Host an ice cream social events: Host ice cream social events in your community to attract new customers and encourage repeat business. Partner with local organisations, such as schools, churches, or community centres, to co-host the event and increase exposure.
2. Offer seasonal flavours: Introduce new flavours only available during summer to create excitement and increase sales. Consider using local ingredients or highlighting flavours that are popular in your area.
3. Create a loyalty program: Create a loyalty program that rewards customers for repeat business, such as offering a free scoop after every ten purchases.
4. Social media promotions: Use social media to promote your ice cream shop and offer exclusive promotions to your followers. Consider partnering with influencers or local bloggers to increase your reach.
5. Offer discounts: Offer discounts or coupons during slower periods to encourage customers to visit your shop during off-peak hours.
6. Create themed treats: Create themed treats for holidays, such as red, white, and blue ice cream for the Fourth of July, to increase sales and generate buzz.
7. Partner with local businesses: Partner with other local businesses, such as restaurants, cafes, or hotels, to offer special deals or promotions that drive traffic to both businesses.
8. Implement a booking system: Implement a booking system that allows customers to place orders in advance, skip the line, and earn rewards for repeat business.
9. Enhance the customer experience: Enhance the customer experience by creating a comfortable and inviting atmosphere, offering free samples, and providing outdoor seating for customers to enjoy their treats.
10. Host contests or giveaways: Host contests or giveaways on social media or in-store to encourage engagement and generate excitement around your brand. Consider giving away free ice cream for a year or hosting a design contest for a new flavour.
11. Offer vegan and dairy-free options: Consider adding vegan and dairy-free options to your menu to attract customers with dietary restrictions and increase your customer base.
12. Create an ice cream truck: Take your ice cream on the road and create an ice cream truck that can travel to different locations, such as parks, festivals, and community events.
13. Partner with local farms: Partner with local farms to source fresh and seasonal ingredients for your ice cream and create a farm-to-cone experience for your customers.
14. Host ice cream-making classes: Host ice cream-making classes that allow customers to learn how to make ice cream and take home their creations. This can be a fun and engaging way to build brand loyalty.
15. Offer catering services: To increase your revenue and brand exposure, offer catering services for parties and events, such as weddings and corporate events.
16. Create ice cream sandwiches: Create sandwiches using homemade ice cream and fresh-baked cookies or brownies. This is a fun and creative way to offer a unique twist on a classic treat.
17. Collaborate with local breweries or wineries: Collaborate with local breweries or wineries to create beer or wine-infused ice cream flavours, which can be a unique and exciting way to stand out from your competition.
18. Create memorable events: Create special events, such as “buy-one-get-one-free” days or “happy hours”, where customers can receive discounts during specific times of the day, to encourage sales during slower periods.
19. Use eye-catching displays: Use eye-catching displays, such as colourful signs or banners, to draw attention to your shop and entice customers.
20. Offer free toppings: Offer free toppings, such as sprinkles, chocolate chips, or fresh fruit, to add value to your ice cream and create a memorable experience for your customers.

Although ice cream shops are sometimes considered a gentler type of restaurant, they can make enormous profits, especially during the summer months when sales are at their highest.

Increase ice cream sales if your ice cream shop is having trouble. You may quickly increase the earnings of your shop by doing these easy actions.