How To Design Your Own Ice Cream Store

The interior design of any store is an important part of its success and your ice cream store is no different in that respect. Start by planning your ice cream store design. Work areas and customer areas in your store are the most important when it comes to design and layout. Whether you are just setting up your space for the first time or redesigning your existing ice cream store, customers and employees appreciate a well-designed shop.

Planning

Start by making a rough sketch of any layout ideas you have for your ice cream store. This layout won’t be set in stone, as styles of fixtures and furniture won’t be known at this point. It is also possible that changes would need to be made to accommodate the building code. However, it is important to have something to start with. Working with professionals that have experience in planning retail spaces will be beneficial to you.

Take into consideration where the doors and windows are, how your customers enter and leave your ice cream store, and what they do while they are inside. Of course, you will want to give some consideration to how your work areas are set up and storage too. Don’t forget to leave room for menus and other signage.

Work areas

Good planning and arrangement in work areas is essential for your employees to be able to do their jobs. Go through the menu items and think about each ingredient needed to make them. Arrange work areas in your ice cream store so that everything your workers need to fill orders is accessible.

There will also need to be some storage in the work areas and by the POS station. There will be times when your workers run out of containers, ingredients or things like napkins and spoons. While you won’t need extra of everything in the work area, it will be necessary to keep some key items there.

Customer areas

Good design and attention to detail is especially important when designing customer areas because it can influence customer behavior in your ice cream store. Above all, you want your customers to be happy, comfortable and relaxed. When customers experience these positive feelings in your store, they will start to associate them with your products and brand. This association will make these customers return to your ice cream store time and time again.

You will need to give some thought to the traffic pattern – where you want customers to go. Being able to see the menu from the ordering area and being able to easily get to that area is obvious. However, you will also want to make sure things are set up so that your customers are seeing your retail items (the things they don’t have to order). Designing your ice cream store with this in mind will encourage those purchases that make extra income for you.

If your store will include areas for customers to sit and eat, comfort and cleanliness will be very important. The actual amount of physical space will affect the types of fixtures you choose. Ice cream stores are often a popular destination for families with children. If that demographic makes up a large part of your business, a few family-friendly features might be appreciated as well.

Lighting and color are important throughout the ice cream store. In customer areas, the proper lighting can help create ambiance and convey positive feelings. Plenty of light and some bright colors can help give the store a fun feel.

Every ice cream store has its own unique set of attributes and making the most of your space will help you be successful, maximize your profits and become an important part of your community. If you have questions or would like more information about KaleidoScoops products or services, call us today at (877) 426-8488. You can also connect with us via email by clicking on Contact Us. Get The Scoop on becoming a KaleidoScoops co-op owner on our website to become an ice cream shop owner today!