How to Become an Online Ice Cream Entrepreneur
Ice cream is a perfect match for online sales.
The first ice cream parlor opened in New York City in 1776—years before Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone, and decades before Thomas Edison patented his lightbulb.
Ice cream has always been ahead of the curve when it comes to technology. And selling it online is no exception.
This substack will walk you through setting up an e-commerce business to sell your frozen desserts, from creating a business plan and picking the right platform for your site to getting the supplies needed for production and shipping food across state lines.
And, to be clear, this doesn’t have to be just about ice cream, you can sell frozen Greek yogurt, frozen Kefir, gelato, or some other frozen dessert that you’re passionate about. 🤝
So, let’s get started. 🍨
Create a business plan.🗒️
Why sell ice cream online? Well, you can sell ice cream anywhere in the world, regardless of your location. You don't have to worry about paying high rents on retail space, and you can set your own hours and work when you want--as long as you get your orders and shipments out on time.
Embark on this sweet journey with your business plan. Define your goals and evaluate your current situation to determine the best path forward.
✅ What is my target market?
✅Do I need a business loan?
✅ What are the competitors like?
✅ What types of ingredients will I use?
✅ What will it cost me to set up my shop?
✅ How many flavors will I offer?
✅ Will I cater to special diets like Keto or gluten-free?
How do I advertise? What kind of products should I sell? And more importantly, what flavors and ingredients will my target audience want most?
Also, at a minimum, you will need the following:
Ice cream machine
Mixer
Freezers
Scoopers
Ingredients
And, these are the types of ingredients you will need to buy in bulk:
-Dairy products (like whole milk, heavy cream, and half-and-half).
-Sugar and other sweeteners (like brown sugar, granulated sugar, and raw cane sugar).
-Flavors (like vanilla extract and chocolate syrup).
Still, these are just the basics, there are many more specialty and niche ingredients you can add if you’re so inclined.
First, you'll want to ensure you have storage space. You don't want to end up with a ton of ingredients taking up all of your space. That said, if you have the space and need it, it's best to purchase bulk ingredients to save money.
Second, you should consider how much product you need to make with each type of ingredient. For instance, if you use a lot of sugar but only a little salt, it might be better for you to buy smaller quantities of both items so that they don't go bad before they're used up.
Third, consider what kind of container it comes packaged in—some packaging is more expensive than others (for example, glass jars vs. plastic tubs).
Statistics on ice cream sales in 2021 🍨
According to Fortune Business Insights, the worldwide ice cream market will grow to $97.85 billion in 2027, up from $71.52 billion in 2021.
Further, the average American will eat more than 20 pounds of ice cream each year—and that's only the official statistic from the USDA. Do we need another reason why it's time for you to start selling some sweet treats?
How to pick the right e-commerce platform for an ice cream store 🏪
The right e-commerce platform will help grow your business significantly. No matter how great you make ice cream, customers need to know where to find it.
So, if you're serious about selling ice cream online, I recommend using an e-commerce platform like Shopify or Big Commerce.
They offer many features that make it easy for customers to find and purchase from you—and they don't charge much money either. You can start with a free trial to see what works best for your store before deciding on the paid option.
Also, their customer service is also top-notch; if there's something wrong with their product or something goes wrong with your site's design, someone will reach out immediately (usually within 24 hours), asking how they can help resolve any problems.
In addition, you have access to easy management tools such as daily reports showing sales history and information regarding what type of products sold better than others over the period specified by user specifications.
Where to source ingredients to sell ice cream commercially 🍦
When you're just considering opening your ice cream shop online, one of the first things to consider is where you will source all of your ingredients.
There are many different ways to get started in the world of ice cream making. You can buy pre-made mixes or bases tested and proven for commercial use.
You can find someone else who has already made their batches and buy it from them at wholesale prices (if they're not selling their product yet).
Consider a supplier like Masterson Foods or similar.
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