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Increase Sales Part 3: Marketing Tips

Drive Traffic to Your Frozen Yogurt Store with Marketing

“You can have the best product or service in the world, but if people don’t buy – it’s worthless.” Noel Peebles, Marketing Expert

 

I would add to this quote that if people don’t know about it – it’s worthless.

With the increasing competition in the frozen yogurt industry and stores popping up on every corner, you have to make consumers aware of your shop. Each community is different and some marketing tactics will work in some areas and others will not. The key is to try different things and find what works for you. And remember that what worked yesterday, might not work tomorrow.

The only limit to your marketing is your own creativity. Some ideas can be expensive, but there are plenty that are not.

Here are some ideas we’ve gathered from our customers.

  • Cross marketing with local businesses. Network with gyms and other retails to place coupons or signs in their shop. Host theme nights. Create nights for special interest groups – like book clubs, girls night out, religious study groups, singles groups, etc.
  • School fundraisers with your local elementary school.
  • Coupon mailers.
  • Daily deal websites. Living Social, Groupon, AmazonLocal, or Google Deals.
  • Create a flavor contest. Have people submit their ideas for a flavor via Facebook and in store. Pick three finalists and put their flavors in your machines for one week – with their photo and name above the machine with their flavor. Keep track of how many ounces of each flavor is consumed to determine the winner. This will create a buzz and cause the finalist to get friends and family to come eat their flavor.
  • Group contests. Similar to the Create a Flavor contest above, but have groups compete against each other. This can be especially effective with sororities. The winning can get a donation to the charity of their choice.
  • Street marketing. A sign holder or a person in a frozen yogurt costume can draw attention to your shop.
  • Sponsor or advertise at local races. Just about every community has 5K, 10K, triathlons, and other races throughout the year. There are many options for advertising, including dropping coupons into the bag each racer gets.
  • Social marketing. Leverage Facebook, Instagram, and other social media sites. There are many creative contests and games you can do combine social media with in-store interaction.
  • Online marketing. Create a free Google Places account, as well as other online directory listings. Google AdWords or Facebook advertising can also be effective.
  • Loyalty programs. Tools like Perka can help you put together customer loyalty programs and punch card systems.

 

We’d love to hear your ideas. Email us at info@nancis.com

 

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Increase Sales Part 2: Improve Customer Experience

Improve the In-Store Experience for Your Customers

Kids Activity Area

Most frozen yogurt stores don’t offer a great place for families to relax and enjoy their frozen yogurt. A kids area is a great way to entertain children, so parents can enjoy their time in your shop. Parents will be much more likely to visit your store, if they know their children will be entertained. Even if your shop is small, you can use a corner for some simple kids activities.

A few ideas for a kids area include:
    • Paper and washable crayons/markers
    • TV with kids movies on a loop
    • Small toys or games
    • Simple crafts
    • Video game system – like a Nintendo Wii

Live Music

Ask local musicians to play music on weekends or evenings. Many musicians will play for free or just for tips. If you don’t have room inside your shop, maybe they could set up on your patio and you could put out additional chairs.

Games

Have easy-to-play group games available for customers to use and return. Ideas include trivia games (i.e. Wits & Wagers), Jenga, Catch Phrase, etc.

Do you have other ideas you’d like to share? Email us at info@nancis.com

CLICK HERE TO READ PART 3: MARKETING TIPS

 

 

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Increase Sales Part 1: Expand Menu

Expand Your Menu Beyond Frozen Yogurt

A great way to increase sales, gain new customers, and supplement your frozen yogurt sales is to add new menu items. If you are competing with a large chain, an expanded menu can be extremely effective, because the big chains are restricted on what changes they can make.

There are two different types of menu items you can offer:
  1. Self-service menu items
  2. Full-service menu items.

Self-Service Menu Items

For self-serve frozen yogurt stores, the consistency of the self-serve concept may be very important – both for the customer experience and for in-store operational processes and employees. Here several ideas for self-serve menu items:

  • Belgian waffles. Using a rotating Belgian waffle maker, customers can make their own waffles. This concept is commonly used in hotels and works extremely well. You can charge by the waffle or even by the ounce.
  • Pre-packaged salads
  • Soups
  • Pre-packaged sandwiches
  • Cookies or other pastries
  • Oatmeal
  • Coffee

Full-Service Menu Items

  • Smoothies
  • Sandwiches made to order
  • Full breakfast. Items may include eggs, omelets, breakfast burritos, hash browns, etc.
  • Crepes

Before making any menu changes, you should check your lease agreement to make sure you aren’t prohibited from offering additional food items.

Do you have other ideas you’d like to share? Email them to us at info@nancis.com

CLICK HERE TO READ PART 2: IMPROVE CUSTOMER SERVICE

 

 

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Benefits of dry powder frozen yogurt mix

Nanci’s has manufactured liquid yogurt mix in the past and now manufactures and sells dry frozen yogurt mix, so we fully understand the pluses and minuses to each. In our local market (Phoenix, Arizona) we used to offer a liquid frozen yogurt mix that was a terrific product, but about 27 years ago, we developed our first dry mix and since then we have added to that product line and have decided that dry frozen yogurt mix is the way to go – so our dry mixes have become our signature products.

Here are some of the reasons we are believers in dry mix:

  • With Nanci’s Frozen Yogurt dry mixes you don’t compromise taste, texture, or quality compared to liquid. We have done many blind taste tests between liquid and dry and no one can tell them apart.
  • Nanci’s dry mix has great probiotics you want in frozen yogurt. We have a unique method of micro-encapsulation that protects the good bacteria in the dry form. When you eat the frozen yogurt the probiotics come to life and deliver all the great health benefits yogurt is known for.
  • Less expensive than liquid mix. In addition to the price of the mix, liquid mix is expensive to store and ship. Nanci’s dry mix is usually at least $1 per gallon less expensive than comparable liquid mix plus the savings on storage and shipping.
  • Easy and inexpensive to store – you don’t need a ton of refrigerated space. Liquid mix actually comes frozen solid and it takes 1-3 days to thaw before you can pour it into your machine. This can cause logistical problems when you are out of product and requires a large amount of expensive freezer and refrigerator space.
  • Easy to use – you can use it right when you need it. Our dry mix is very easy to mix up – you just stir it into water or milk and then pour into your machine. It literally takes 3 minutes.
  • You can customize it if you want. Dry mix is very flexible. You can adjust the amount of liquid to affect the creaminess/iciness and you can mix and match flavors with the base mix.
  • Liquid mixes are pre-flavored, so storing in inventory a good variety of mixes can be prohibitive. We’ve solved that problem with our 100 flavor concentrates that you can combine to create more than 200 amazing flavors.
  • With dry mix you’re in control. You can control the level of flavor the overall texture from extra creamy to cold and icy. With liquid mix the factory is in control, not you.

If you want to talk more about the dry frozen yogurt mix versus liquid frozen yogurt mix give us a call at 1-800-788-0808 or email us at info@nancis.com. You can also get more info on our mixes on our Frozen Yogurt Mix webpage.

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FrozenYogurtParts.com Guest Blog

Frozen Yogurt Parts Logo

Happy to have a guest blog article from our friends at FrozenYogurtParts.com today…

“January is the best time to replace your soft-serve machine’s wearable parts for the new year.  Each machine runs best with new blades, o-rings and lube.  Preventative maintenance includes not only regular cleaning of your machine, but also proper lubrication and checking for any wearable parts that may have seen better days.

Now is a good time to remove the side panels and visually inspect for leaks, debris or loose connections.  You should also take the temperature of the hopper and freezing cylinder on standby and auto modes and compare that to what the machine is saying to check that it is still calibrated correctly.  Ensuring that your machine is running properly and that it is consistently producing a quality product throughout the year will be essential to your customer loyalty and profit margin at the end of the year.

Cleaning your machine is an important aspect of maintenance to help the longevity of your machine. Get in the habit of cleaning your machine at least once a week.  This process includes running Stera Sheen sanitizer through while the machine is on wash mode, effectively killing any harmful bacteria.  If your machine goes weeks without being thoroughly and properly cleaned bad bacteria may build up and could lead to spoiled product.  The process of cleaning the machine is simple and can be done by any properly trained employee.

Lubrication is another key element to keep your machine running reliably.  The main component of the machine that requires lube is the back end of the shaft that sits deep inside the freezing cylinder.  Pull the shaft out and pull off the rubber seal that fits on the end of it.  Lubricate between the seal and the shaft.  O-rings should also be regularly lubed after each cleaning.  The best values on Stera Sheen, Petro Gel and Haynes lube are found at FrozenYogurtParts.com.  These lubes work great for frozen beverage and other types of machines as well.

There are various important machine parts that wear down over time.  The scraper blades, for example, which attach to the shaft on the inside of the freezing cylinder wear down and don’t scrape the edge of the cylinder with the exactness and precision that they once did.  This leads to the freezing of product on the inside surface of the cylinder and can lower the overall quality of your product.  These scraper blades are different with each individual machine make and model so be sure the blade is rated for your model of machine before buying replacements.  FrozenYogurtParts.com makes it easy by packaging all the wearable parts together in an easy to order kit for each machine model.  Best practice is to replace the blades every 3 months.

Replacing parts before they crack will save you from costly damage to other components of the machine and keep you from having a machine down during peak season.  Understanding your machine is important to maintaining it over time and creating your finished soft-serve or frozen yogurt masterpiece.”

Contact info@FrozenYogurtParts.com to see if they can save you money on replacement parts today!  Use coupon code NANCIS5 for a first-order discount at FrozenYogurtParts.com

View Taylor and Stoelting Machine Service Manuals and Parts Diagrams

FrozenYogurtParts.com also lists service manuals and parts diagrams for the most popular ice cream machines made by Taylor, Stoelting, Donper, Spaceman, Electro Freeze, and Aurel – Pasmo. From there you can also buy parts to replace the wearables on your ice cream machine.

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Marketing Tips to Attract New Customers

There are several different approaches you can take to help your company market successfully. There are two main parts of retail market: 1) marketing to attract new customers, and 2) marketing to customers once they are in the store.

In-store marketing includes loyalty programs, contests, and prize giveaways and can ensure that your customers come back. While these steps are crucial to continued business success, getting customers in the door for the first time is even more important. Here are a few ideas to find new customers:LogosBar

  • Daily Deal Websites (Groupon, Living Social, Amazon Local, etc.). Daily deal websites can be an excellent resource for you as a frozen yogurt storeowner. Groupon does not charge up front for their services, and in most cases, the fee is a percentage of the revenue generated through the “Local Deal” created by you. Most of these deals last 24 hours, however there are options to run even longer or shorter deals as well. One example is to offer a deal where $10 paid by the customer through Groupon will give that customer $18 in credit to your store. But you can create any deal you want to offer – with approval from Groupon. This is a great way to attract first time customers, especially if you are opening a new store. Once customers come in, you can utilize your in-store marketing techniques. Living Social, Amazon local, and local daily deal websites are also good options in addition to Groupon.
  • Partner Marketing. Many yogurt stores are located in strip malls or in very close proximity to other businesses. Common neighbors are gyms, movie theaters, nail salons, pizza parlors, and other types of restaurants. Reach out to your neighbors and ask them to place flyers or coupons in their stores near the registers. If someone is walking out of a Chinese restaurant for example, a quick glance at on one your flyers on their way out the door could be all it takes to have them pop in for a little dessert. In exchange, you can help advertise for your neighboring companies.Screenshot 2015-01-27 10.13.41
  • Sign Marketing. Depending on your location, different regulations may exist for placing or even hiring people to hold signs to advertise your shop. Your town, city or county will handle these regulations. If placing a stand-alone sign is not acceptable, sometimes having a hired worker hold a sign is a viable option. But be careful about using sign holders. An energetic, well-groomed worker who is charismatic can attract customers to your store, while a lazy-looking, sloppy individual with his sign sitting on the ground can drive customers away. You can also use a lighted sign at night to attract attention
  • Traditional Advertising. This is usually the most expensive option, but can reach the most people as well. Traditional advertising includes television, radio, newspaper, coupon pack mailers (moneymailer.com, www.valpak.com), and the back of grocery store receipts.
  • Online Advertising. Google AdWords Express is a great way to advertise locally online. It is a local version of Google’s traditional AdWords platform. When people click on your ad, the link can go to your website or to a free Google business page. Customers can also call your business directly. You pay when a someone clicks on your add or calls the phone numberin the ad. Visit http://www.google.com/adwords/express/ to get started.Google-Adwords-Express-Logo1

 

 

 

The most important thing to remember is that you CANNOT rely on the famous quote from the movie The Field of Dreams, “If you build it, they will come.” …If they don’t know about it, then they definitely won’t come!

Be creative and try several different things until you find marketing methods that work for you. And if you have any ideas or suggestions we’d love to hear about it – please contact us.

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Self-Serve Frozen Yogurt Shop versus Behind-the-Counter

Over the last several years, the self-serve frozen yogurt concept has really taken off. Here are brief descriptions of self-serve and traditional behind-the-counter frozen yogurt concepts with advantages and disadvantages for each.

Self-Serve Frozen Yogurt Concept
In a self-serve shop, the customers fill their own cups with whatever yogurt and toppings they want. Their cup is weighed, and then they pay by the ounce.

Advantages: The customers pay for exactly what they get.
Complete control over your profit margin.
Customers can make it their way with whatever yogurt and topping combinations they want.
Usually requires fewer employees to run the store – many shops use just one employee.
Average dollar purchase is higher than traditional frozen yogurt shops.

Disadvantages:
Requires more machines to do it right – the minimum we recommend is five.
Makes it difficult to add additional menu items that require employee labor (like smoothies or crepes).
You end up losing a lot of product to free samples.
Because you can’t charge a separate price for the toppings, you really don’t end up making much money on them. In some cases you lose money on the toppings.

Traditional Behind-the-Counter Concept
The tradition way of running a frozen yogurt shop is with 2 to 4 machines behind a counter. Customers order the size and flavor and the employee dispenses it for them. The customers pay a set amount for each size.

Advantages:
Requires fewer machines.
Less wear and tear on the machines.
Better suited for serving other menu items (like shakes, smoothies, sundaes, food items, etc).
Toppings can be a profit center if priced separately.
Less wasted product.
More control over the customer experience.

Disadvantages:
Inconsistent portions served by employees.
Requires more employees to operate.
The average dollar purchase tends to be less than with self-serve shops.

As you can see, there are advantages to either concept. Ultimately, you need to decide what is right for your market and your business plan. It’s important to be aware of the trade-offs and adjust accordingly.

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Comparing frozen yogurt nutrition facts

Nutrition facts can be very confusing, especially in the world of frozen yogurt where you deal with both weight and volume. Because frozen yogurt contains air, the weight and volume are not the same.

Unfortunately, some companies have used this to promote misguided nutrition facts.

Check out this story in a New Orleans newspaper that uncovers some of this misinformation: http://www.nola.com/health/index.ssf/2012/08/5_ways_to_avoid_potentially_hi.html

When evaluating nutrition facts for frozen yogurt make sure to look at the grams in the serving size – not just the ounces. Most companies use about 80-90 grams as their serving size.

Feel free to contact us at Nanci’s if you want to further discuss any of our Health Benefits and nutrition information.

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Opa! Greek Frozen Yogurt

Greek Yogurt is all the rage. It is thicker and creamier than regular yogurt and has better health benefits…but what is Greek Yogurt?

Greek Yogurt, which is also called strained yogurt, is yogurt that has been strained extensively to remove much of the liquid whey, lactose, and sugar. This creates the thick consistency and strong flavor.

US News & World Report reported on the health benefits of Greek Yogurt in a recent article.

Nanci’s Frozen Yogurt is excited to introduce a new Greek Frozen Yogurt recipe. We don’t feel you can really capture the essence of Greek Yogurt by simply adding a flavoring, so we’ve created a recipe that gives you the best and most authentic Greek Frozen Yogurt on the market.

Contact us for the details at info@nancis.com or 1-800-788-0808.

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Two Magic Numbers for Frozen Yogurt

The correct temperature setting on your soft-serve machine is critical for making a good frozen yogurt product and for extending the life of your mix. Every frozen yogurt shop owner should have a good food thermometer like this one: https://frocup.com/product/digital-thermometer/

Use a thermometer to check the temperature in the hopper (the reservoir where you pour the mix) and the temperature of the product when you dispense it from the machine.

Magic Number #1

Hopper Temperature = around 35 degrees F (between 34 to 39 degrees)

The hopper temperature is critical for keeping the product fresh The temperature in the hopper should be under 40 degrees F. Any warmer and the product can go bad. It should also be warmer than 32 degrees or else the product in the hopper will freeze. If you see the product freezing in the hopper, just raise the temperature a degree or two.

Magic Number #2

Finished Product Temperature = 17-19 degrees F

The temperature of the product when it is dispensed should be between 17-19 degrees F. This would also be the temperature of the freezing cylinder. Because Nanci’s Frozen Yogurt use pure fruit sugar, the temperature for our mixes needs to be a little lower than for cane sugar mixes. A sugar mix might come out stiff at 22 degrees, but Nanci’s mixes are better at around 18 degrees. This can easily be adjusted on your machine – just consult your manual or contact the manufacturer if you need help.

If your product ever comes out wet, soupy, or melted then you need to lower the temperature. Frozen yogurt should come out stiff, creamy, and frozen (not wet). It’s amazing what a difference a couple of degrees makes.