<span style=

“font-size: 14pt;”> Ice cream is one of those

fundamental treats that every person enjoys. Whether it is

something as simple as vanilla or the ingredient-packed rocky road,

ice cream has many forms to love. However, one of the biggest draws

of ice cream in the summer time is the biggest downfall in the

winter. It is for this reason that many ice cream shops have to

think of clever ways to sell the icy treat in the winter

months.

<span style=

“font-size: 14pt;”> While big chain restaurants have

by now developed a formula for operating in the cold weather, it is

the local shops that suffer the most.  It is because of this that

clever marketing strategies are devised in order to maintain

customers and profit.

<span style=

“font-size: 14pt; font-family: Tahoma;”> <span style=

“font-size: 14pt;”>The B & D Waterwheel Ice Cream in Killen has

a fairly simple strategy for handling decline in customers.  For

certain times during the year, the shop closes its doors altogether

and reopens in more favorable weather. 

<span style=

“font-size: 14pt; font-family: Tahoma;”> <span style=

“font-size: 14pt;”>Frostbite, which features frozen yogurt instead

of ice cream, took a similar approach.  The shop shortened hours by

opening one hour later and closing one hour earlier.  In addition,

the shop runs special promotions in the winter time that are not

offered in the warm months. 

<span style=

“font-size: 14pt; font-family: Tahoma;”> <span style=

“font-size: 14pt;”>“In the summer there’s no need to run

promotions, people just come in and get their yogurt. In the winter

we offer discounts. We do 10 percent off to certain people, like if

you like our Facebook. If you buy something at Montague’s you can

get 10 percent off. We also do a double punch Tuesday to customer

loyalty cards,” said Jamarkis Wess, Frostbite employee. 

<span style=

“font-size: 14pt; font-family: Tahoma;”> <span style=

“font-size: 14pt;”>Many frozen novelty shops pull in customers with

special limited time flavors. Cold Stone Creamery offers a flavor

of the month every month. Frostbite too offers special seasonal

flavors like pumpkin pie, eggnog and peppermint stick.

<span style=

“font-size: 14pt; font-family: Tahoma;”> Frostbite

keeps customers up to date on their flavors of the day by posting

regularly on their Facebook.  Fans of the page can even post

suggestions for flavors and combinations. One fan of the page

posted:

<span style=

“font-size: 14pt; font-family: Tahoma;”> <span style=

“font-size: 14pt;”>“<span style="font-size: 14pt;" lang="EN"

xml:lang=”EN”>I made the most amazing combination tonight: apple

pie with cinnamon toast crunch/caramel/Graham cracker crumbs, red

velvet cake with Oreos, and mint chocolate with Ande’s mints. Not

all together, but separated. Delicious!”

<span style=

“font-size: 14pt; font-family: Tahoma;”> <span style=

“font-size: 14pt;” lang=”EN” xml:lang=”EN”>One thing many shops

have in common is that very few of them offer any hot items on the

menu to bring in customers.  Some like MaggieMoos in Huntsville and

Cold Stone Creamery have introduced products other than ice cream

like coffee, fruit smoothies, and milkshakes, but almost none of

them have introduced hot items. It seems the frozen treats will

sell well enough without help from warmer treats.

<span style=

“font-size: 14pt; font-family: Tahoma;”> <span style=

“font-size: 14pt;” lang=”EN” xml:lang=”EN”>“I love ice cream. I

don’t care how cold it is outside. There is something about ice

cream that just makes me happy,” said John Howard, UNA

alumnus.

<span style=

“font-size: 14pt; font-family: Tahoma;”> <span style=

“font-size: 14pt;” lang=”EN” xml:lang=”EN”>Wess feels similarly

about Frostbite’s product.

<span style=

“font-size: 14pt; font-family: Tahoma;”> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"

lang=”EN” xml:lang=”EN”>“People are going to come in the winter

because we offer a quality place, a quality product and it doesn’t

hurt that the frozen yogurt is a little healthier too.”