Imagine practicing archery blindfolded, or hunting with your eyes closed. Not that easy, if not impossible without seeing your target. The same concept can be applied to your business. Whether you are a business owner or thinking about opening a store, your business plan must include the following objectives: research and learn as much as… Read more »
Whether your patrons are the type to pop in quickly on their lunch break from work, or those who prefer to sit and stay awhile, creating an ambience within your store will send positive vibes to consumers, creating a memorable dining experience. What does the word boutique mean to you? Do the words unique, trendy… Read more »
Gelato’s undeniable popularity is international. It’s Europe’s crowned artisanal frozen delicacy, and North America is becoming more and more saturated in the sweet waves of authentic gelato and delightful swirls of soft serve. The magnitude of the dessert’s notoriety has gained a solid presence inside the borders of our northern neighbor, Canada, thanks to flourishing… Read more »
Sometimes your business is so packed, there are no free tables, you have a long line, cash keeps pouring in and time seems to fly. Unfortunately, there are other times in which nobody seems to come to your establishment, time stands still and you wish you weren’t open at all. Your slow times can be… Read more »
To Provide exceptional Resources that Encourage unique and inspirinG experiences, Enriching the Lives of our customers and their communities. This is the mission statement of PreGel AMERICA, the U.S. branch of PreGel’s specialty dessert ingredients global empire headquartered in Reggio Emilia, Italy. In 1967, Dr. Luciano Rabboni was moved by the struggles of gelato makers… Read more »
There’s a FROG epidemic invading America! Since 2009, the Southeastern region of the United States has been experiencing an explosion in the population of FROGS. That is, location upon location of SweetFrog, a frozen yogurt chain that is growing by leaps and bounds every day. In this Q&A segment of Views from the Tree, Victor… Read more »
The world of pastries and desserts is a world of intrigue and craftsmanship. Desserts have been around for ages; and yet, they continue to evolve through time as chefs and dessert makers become more and more creative and daring in their ingredients and methods. Some of these creations are truly works of art, created from… Read more »
If anyone ever said gelato couldn’t help cure the ills of the world, then they never met Matthew Holguin, founder of Working to Give, LLC. With a business that is driven by positive purpose rather than making money, Matt utilizes his company’s three DBA’s (Doing Business As) – Colossal Gelato, Legendairy Gelato and Popular –… Read more »
“Buy One Get One,” “Free!” and “For a Limited Time” are all promotional phrases seen everyday. From posters and commercials to emails, they have become part of the general population’s purchasing decisions and experience for years. Promotions are a great way to get new customers to try what you have to offer, or to keep… Read more »
Pushing peas around the dinner plate and sneaking Brussels sprouts to the family pet have both been despairing and time-consuming activities at numerous American dinner tables throughout the years. Such traditional behavior could be due to the average American consumer not associating vegetables as a “mouthwatering treat,” but a “boring obligation” to be endured for… Read more »
In 2002, an acorn began to grow in the land of opportunity, when PreGel established its North American headquarters within the southeastern state of North Carolina, USA. Shortly after, PreGel AMERICA’s Professional Training Center (TC), which epitomizes its credo “Your Passion. Our Education.,” began churning out thousands of highly informed budding entrepreneurs and established business… Read more »
First, imagine a dream as the seed of an acorn; and to make that dream sprout it would need to be nurtured with the water and oxygen of resolute ambition combined with unrelenting will. Now visualize a young, thirty-two-year-old Italian man armed with a wealth of knowledge and passion about the Italian delicacy that shaped… Read more »
Think back to the last menu that you saw. You’ve probably seen one recently, considering that, according to the National Restaurant Association, Americans spend 49 percent of their food dollars at restaurants. Did the menu leave an impression on you, or was it just a means to an end? The unsung art and science of… Read more »
The first step to understanding how to deal with your own off-season is trying to determine what people want when they don’t want what you are selling. I bet you veteran business owners can recognize the last day of your busy season. Or more accurately, you can probably pinpoint the first day of your slow… Read more »
Imagine welcoming smiles and diverse menu options that display mouthwatering pictures of epicurean delights alongside sumptuous meal descriptions. Add to that the irresistible visuals of adorable children enjoying a cone of gelato, or an inspiring view of pride-filled owners living their dream realized—these are the images that one sees through a virtual visit to European-style… Read more »
A Guide to Getting Started In the ever-changing digital age, Internet presence has become a major MUST in business visibility. But, let’s face it, we don’t always know where to begin with the complicated ins-and-outs of building a company website, let alone optimizing its visibility and usability. The following are basic steps toward launching an… Read more »
The previous three articles in this series explored trouble areas in every business including location problems, involving customers to give them a sense of value, and utilizing social media to promote your business in the digital world. Last, but not least, we look at how to incorporate press and advertising: which outlets are relevant, how… Read more »
Quick! Without looking down, what color clothes are you wearing today? Are they your favorite colors? What do you think those colors say about who you are as a person? These questions may seem pedantic until you consider that a study by the Institute for Color Research has found that upon viewing, a subconscious judgment… Read more »
The East Has Eats! From the swanky eateries of New York City to the wholesome richness of southern fare, the East Coast of the United States is synonymous with fine cuisine. Incorporate the artisanal elegance offered by gelaterias like Tommy 2 Scoops of New Jersey and Sugarland of North Carolina to complete the equation of… Read more »
A FOUR-PART SERIES Last time, we looked at how integrating your business within the community better facilitated bonds between your business and your customers by allowing your business to become a source of local support. The next step in the process of reevaluating your business is getting your customers more involved. When people feel as… Read more »
The perfect food of your dreams is back and better than ever. With nostalgia reigning supreme among culinary trends since the late 2000s, it was only a matter of time before pies came back into vogue. For one, they are exceptionally practical; for another, they are infinitely customizable and seasonal. As if you needed more… Read more »
Standard Inventory Management Terms First, it is important to understand frequently used inventory terminology and definitions: Cycle Count: A periodic count of all supplies and inventories. Reorder Point (ROP): The inventory level at which a new order should be placed. Economic Order Quantity (EOQ): The quantity to order once the reorder point is reached. Minimum… Read more »
The guiding principle for consistently dishing out addictively delicious gelato not only depends on the quality of ingredients used, but also how and when the gelato is made. Producing fresh gelato, batch by batch, on a daily basis is what continuously draws customers back, sometimes twice in one day, to enjoy the final result of… Read more »
There’s a good, a bad and an ugly to the world of social couponing. The best way to avoid seeing your marketing investment flounder is to understand the intricacies of the strategy and investment before handing over your business’s marketing budget. A solid knowledge base and commitment to the program can result in a hefty… Read more »
A FOUR-PART SERIES Part 2: Commiting to Your Community After taking an assessment of your business, its physical location and gaining an understanding of what steps can be taken to improve your business, let’s look at how community involvement can strengthen your ties to the people that comprise your customer base. Deciding How to Get… Read more »
You would be hard-pressed to find anyone in America who doesn’t know what vanilla is. It’s the best-selling flavor of ice cream with a segment share of 27.8%, according to a recent study by the NPD Group.To put that in perspective, the next best-selling flavor is chocolate with 14.3%, followed by strawberry and chocolate chip,… Read more »
Gelato has been a frozen dessert delighting many for thousands of years, and is the original muse for modern treats such as American ice cream, custards and today’s froyo. With the zeal of American gelaterias like Ciao Gelato and Cold Spoons Gelato, as well as passion-driven ice cream retailers like OwowCow Creamery, it is no… Read more »
A Four-Part Series Part 1: Problems with Location The New Year is a time for reflection, and while we think of it only on a personal level, it is the perfect time to evaluate and improve your business too. As business slows in the winter months, take the opportunity to determine what is working for… Read more »
America has proven to be a melting pot of different nationalities, cultures and backgrounds, resulting in an assortment of diverse flavors, spices and exotic taste experiences across the nation. Some of the most delightful and pleasing food experiences herald from the family of European specialty desserts made up of gelato, sorbetto, fine chocolates and sophisticated… Read more »
A closer look at the BIG trend of reinventing classic desserts As a professional marketer in the food industry, researching and reviewing the major trends in the industry and evaluating their staying power is a part of the everyday job. There are many trends that come and go like the seasons, while others are staples… Read more »
The value of formal education continues to be a widely debated topic among culinary professionals. Some of the industry’s most revered chefs have risen through the ranks of a family-owned bakery or restaurant, while others studied at some of the best culinary institutions around the world. So what is it that makes chefs and culinary… Read more »
In between the haute restaurant cultures of New York City and Chicago lies a business in the small town of Huron, Ohio, that is cultivating its own chic food culture through artisanal produce and herbs. From micro greens and herbs to specialty edible flowers, The Chef’s Garden, a sustainable family farm, is luring in top… Read more »
Discover the Secrets of Dessert Fare Served Across the U.S. from Three Unique Dessert Providers Americans have a weakness for a wide variety of sweet treats. In our search for heavenly palate-pleasers, top-quality service, impeccable taste and overall satisfaction, we’ve come across a few providers who make the dessert experience even more worthwhile. The overall… Read more »
Experience an Excursion of Tasty Treats from Across the Country California/West Coast Often setting trends that take the rest of the country by storm, the West Coast is known for its beautiful geography and beautiful people. Healthy items are at the top of the list for celebrities and locals alike in Los Angeles, CA, where… Read more »
Americans are hungry all day. It’s hard not to notice the abundance of dining options available for every meal; one could easily find a place to eat at any hour, day or night. And it’s not just meals – we love to snack too! Our ravenous appetites have not gone unnoticed by the restaurant industry,… Read more »
We all have a favorite “hang out spot” or eatery that successfully draws us back again and again. It could be for the superior service, the excellent fare, the welcoming atmosphere or all of the above. In the case of these three dedicated gelateria owners and loyal PreGel customers, ensuring that their clientele enjoys a… Read more »
Part 6 – Prepare to Open Your Business Time to reap the benefits of this long-awaited journey As our series comes to an end, it can only mean one thing for your business – it’s time to open your doors! If you have missed any of the series’ articles, let’s quickly review the steps that… Read more »
Remember in old movies when the year 2000 was expected to have flying cars and moving sidewalks? Even though it is 2010 and cars are still very much grounded, technology has advanced at an exponential level in only a matter of years. Computers and gadgets are getter smaller, TVs are getting thinner and automated operators… Read more »
Part 5 – Marketing, a Critical but Often Sparse Component in Small Businesses Have you ever heard the expression, “You have to spend money to make money?” Aside from the expense of your location, machinery and products, it is absolutely necessary that a part of your budget be put towards marketing your business. Marketing is… Read more »
You open your store and your dreams lie before you. The customers line up at the door and the register starts ringing. Your shop becomes your home away from home. Then, your shop becomes a home away from home for others. Mixed in with the enjoyable customers lie the unpleasant. Learning how to navigate through… Read more »
