Pleasing Kids at Your Ice Cream Shop
Kids and ice cream are inseparably linked in the minds of the average consumer. Most ice cream shop owners know that children are the driving force behind any ice cream establishment's ultimate success. Without at least a few elements that appeal directly to children, an ice cream shop may have a hard time attracting customer traffic. The great news is that it is not hard to appeal to children. The words "ice cream" are usually all that is required to get kids excited. However, you can please kids even more by using just a few of these kid-friendly ideas.
Use Color in Your Décor
Bright colors in your décor are a great way 
to appeal to a younger generation of ice cream lovers. Kids love bright colors, and studies have shown that bright colors are appetite enhancers. This is a plus when you own and operate an ice cream store. Fill your walls with bold colors to make the kids feel comfortable and hungry.
Find Unique Ice Cream Flavors
Don't be afraid to get creative with the ice cream flavors featured on your menu. Flavors like bubblegum and cotton candy may sound strange to adult ears, but kids go crazy for the strange and unique. You can even give flavors creative names that use famous children's literature characters or funny words and phrases. Many kids choose ice cream flavors based solely on color and appearance, too, so don't forget to consider the look of your ice cream when advertising the finished product.
Let Kids Use Their Creativity
Another great way to make lifelong fans out of the children who visit your ice cream shop is to let them use their creative energy to make their own ice cream concoctions. Kids have a very different idea of what tastes good or appeals to them than adults. Kids do not need to sample gourmet flavor combinations in order to be happy. All a child cares about at an ice cream shop is the thought that he or she is going to receive a delicious creamy treat in a matter of seconds. So offering kids ample opportunities to choose their own flavors and unique toppings will leave a long-lasting impression on your young clientele.
Children are extraordinarily important to the success or failure of an ice cream shop. While many of your customers will be adults, it is the children who are often the driving force behind a visit to an ice cream shop. Kids will keep your ice cream shop in business, so it is important to cater to their needs and desires when you are designing the theme, décor, menu, and operation of your store. Incorporating just a few of these child-oriented elements will dramatically increase the positive reactions you receive from your "pint-sized" customers.