Get summer ice cream customers back in winter

An ice cream parlour can be packed on a May evening and nearly empty in January. Families who came every weekend in summer simply stop thinking about ice cream when the weather turns. Rent and freezer electricity do not stop. Vega Circle lets a parlour add Vega Coins on summer purchases, so customers carry a balance into the colder months. They can spend it with you on a hot chocolate, a sundae or a party order, or at member shops nearby, and you can remind them that you are still open.

Winter at an ice cream parlour

• Summer crowds disappear when temperatures drop, and the parlour sees a fraction of its usual sales.
• Customers do not know you sell anything beyond ice cream, so winter items go unnoticed.
• Birthday and party orders could fill the gap, but families forget to call you for them.
• You have no list of summer regulars, so there is nobody to tell when you add winter items.

How a parlour plans for winter

1. Build your list in summer. Join before or during the busy season. Add coins on every summer purchase. Customers confirm once with an OTP. By the time summer ends, you have a list of regulars and families who came often, each holding a coin balance.
2. Introduce winter items. Add hot chocolate, brownies, waffles or whatever suits your parlour. Then send a WhatsApp message to customers who opted in, mentioning the new items and their waiting coins. Customers who loved your summer ice cream may try your winter menu.
3. Target party and birthday orders. Families with children have birthdays all year. Remind opted-in customers that you take ice cream cake and party orders. Coins waiting in their wallet are a reason to call you rather than a bakery chain.
4. Accept coins from winter shoppers. Customers shopping at member boutiques, sweet shops or kiranas during the wedding season carry coins. They may stop at your parlour to spend them. The circle settles redeemed coins to you, minus a small settlement fee.
5. Get event leads from members. Caterers, decorators and banquet halls in the circle may post leads for wedding or party desserts. Pick them up on the referral board. Winter is wedding season in much of India, and dessert counters at functions can fill the gap.

How Vega Circle helps

Summer customers carried into winter

Coins earned in summer remain in the customer's wallet. That balance is a reason to visit when they otherwise would not think of ice cream. A message reminding them of their coins and your winter items can bring a family back on a cold evening.

Parties and functions fill the gap

Winter is full of weddings and birthdays. Reaching families directly and picking up leads from caterers and decorators gives you orders that do not depend on the weather. These can make winter far less painful.

Walk-ins from nearby shopping

Customers busy with festive and wedding shopping at member shops carry coins they can spend with you. Your parlour becomes a stop on their shopping trip, which brings footfall even in months when nobody is walking in just for ice cream.

If your parlour depends on summer, use this summer to build a list you can reach in winter. Join on the free plan and add coins on every purchase through the busy months.

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