Steps for Taking Inventory of an Ice Cream Shop

Written by: Gelato Products

On a hot summer day, there’s no better treat than a cold cup of sweet frozen yogurt, ice cream, or gelato. Available in a variety of flavors, and topped with options ranging from chocolate candy to fruit, these desserts can be personalized to suit every one of your customer’s needs. Those customers, however, will quickly decide that a shop is not for them if their particular needs are out of stock. This is why taking accurate inventory is a key element to a successful business.

If you’re opening a new store, it’s important to your ice cream shop supplies inventory to see if you are missing anything you might need for the grand opening. There are different machines available to create whichever treat you plan to sell, for instance. When choosing your equipment, take into consideration the variety of product you’d like to offer, how much you plan to sell, and the amount of space available in your shop for the machinery. These three factors will largely affect your choice of equipment.

Once this is taken care of, you’ll need to order all the ingredients to make your product. The amount ordered and the particular ingredients needed will depend on the type of product you choose and your predicted sales. For example, ordering Gelato supplies for a small corner shop will be very different than ordering supplies for a large store in a popular mall. Keep in mind, while it’s important to have plenty of ingredients, it’s also important to purchase according to your budget so that money isn’t wasted on product that doesn’t sell.

The next items to inventory are utensils, bowls, cups, napkins, storage bins for the product, and other serving items. There are many odds and ends in this category of stock, so take into consideration everything needed for the entire serving process. Frozen yogurt supplies, like sample spoons and napkin dispensers, shouldn’t be overlooked. Different supplies will be needed for the back area of the business for your employees, as well. It’s critical to take into consideration current health codes and make sure you have all the products needed to meet sanitation requirements.

Lastly, if your shop has a restroom, it’s important to maintain a full stock of those necessary items, including toilet paper, hand soap, and paper towels. All customers, especially those with small children, will appreciate this. Ordering inventory can be tricky, however, the process will become easier once your business opens and you can begin to keep track of your customers’ needs.

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