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The milkshake market has expanded rapidly in recent years. As consumers increasingly look for new, innovative products, drinks retailers are looking for fresh ways to shake up the sector. Today, you’ll find everything from avocado and coconut milk vegan milkshakes to ‘freak shake topped with cream, brownie bites and as many other goodies as you can get your hands on.

So, how do you get started? Here are our six top tips for launching a successful milkshake bar.

1. Create a diverse product offering

Today, consumers have a huge range of dietary requirements and eating habits, so, if you want to maximise your profitability, you’ll need to offer a variety of different products. If your business isn’t a specialised ‘healthy shake’ bar, why not add plant-based milkshakes or fruit smoothies alongside your main offering?

You may argue that customers come to your shop to get their sugar fix. But diversifying your menu will help you make money from your customers’ health-conscious siblings, vegetarian parents or ‘Veganuary’-partaking friends.

2. Stay on top of the latest trends

If you start a milkshake bar, your target market will predominantly be young people. This demographic’s frequent use of social media helps trends develop and grow at a rapid pace. So, to get the most out of your business, consider taking note and working out how you can use them to your advantage.

Of course, basing your entire business around a trend could spell disaster when consumers move on to something else, but adapting a number of drinks could prove lucrative. Whether it’s incorporating a popular ingredient or boosting protein content, there are plenty of ways you can attract customers into your milkshake bar.

3. Bag a prime location

A milkshake bar needs to be in an area with high footfall if it’s to be successful. There’s no use in starting one up in an industrial estate or a quiet village in the countryside. The ideal location for a milkshake bar is on a busy high street with plenty of surrounding businesses.

By opting for a site in the middle of a popular shopping district, you can borrow the trade generated from other businesses to sell your shakes. A nearby cinema or fast-food restaurant, for instance, can offer plenty of customers looking for a sweet treat.

4. Hire great staff

Taking on the right employees can make all the difference in retaining customers. These are the people who will represent your brand’s personality, and if you get it wrong, your milkshake bar could fall at the first hurdle. While shoppers might not come for smiley staff, they’ll definitely be more likely to return if they are greeted by helpful, friendly people.

After all, visiting a milkshake bar is an ‘experience’. Customers should be able to watch their chosen milkshakes being made and have a chat with employees about their favourite flavours. After this, customers should feel more like a part of the brand and be more enthusiastic about returning than they would if they had been faced with indifferent staff.

5. Anticipate seasonal slumps

Inevitably, you’ll sell fewer milkshakes in the winter than in the summer. For this reason, you’ll need to make sure you save enough money in the summer months to cover your outgoings during the winter.

There are ways to increase sales during the winter to help you stay afloat. For example, you could bring out a range of new milkshakes and offer free tasters for passers-by to sample them. Alternatively, why not launch a promotional deal to encourage shoppers to indulge in their favourite drink?

6. Launch local marketing campaigns

If you join a franchise, you may find the franchisor takes care of nationwide advertising for you. You may have to contribute to a marketing fund every month in order to benefit from a promotional activity that takes place on a brand level.

But there’s plenty you can do in your local area. Again, giving out free samples and launching money-saving deals can help draw in customers, or you could advertise your unit on a local radio station. Finally, one of the cheapest ways to get the word out is to set up social media profiles. Posting high-quality photos of your delicious milkshakes should not only get people talking about your brand but visiting your store too.

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