ice cream bikes?

[morby]

Hi all, im 18 and in full time work monday-friday 9-6.
i have just finished college and studied business studies.
im looking to start up my own business selling ice creams. getting everything set in place i have a very good location. (portsmouth) so i have gunwharf quays commercial road and fratton park. i will run it on weekends, but mon-fri depending on weather i will have staff of a young age, for example 2 sisters. who are reliable.

just a couple of questions,
where would the best place to get a bike from, internet new, a used one or build my own?

has anyone got any experience in this sector?


cheers all.

 

[benjihubbs]

Hi Morby,

With regard to the young staff you will have to be very careful about their age and the hours that they work. As I believe (but don't quote me) children under the age of 16 are only allowed to work for one hour before 9am and 2 hours after 3.30pm. There are also limits as to how long they can work at weekends too.

Now as for the bike, depending on what sort of ice cream you want to sell, depends on what you need from a bike. I.E. are you selling soft scoop ice cream? if this is the case then you need a freezer compartment, plus somewhere to stores cones etc., but if you just want to sell cornettos then you would just need a freezer compartment. Have a look on eBay to start off with, because you don't want to spends hundreds to start off with in case the idea doesn't take off.

Also you need to think about Food Hygiene and would possibly need to be certified in this area as well (as you are selling food items) and don't forget public liability insurance, what happens if you ride into somebody and they make a claim?

Hope this helps

Ben

 

[greenshaw]

Hi all, im 18 and in full time work monday-friday 9-6.
i have just finished college and studied business studies.
im looking to start up my own business selling ice creams. getting everything set in place i have a very good location. (portsmouth) so i have gunwharf quays commercial road and fratton park. i will run it on weekends, but mon-fri depending on weather i will have staff of a young age, for example 2 sisters. who are reliable.

just a couple of questions,
where would the best place to get a bike from, internet new, a used one or build my own?

has anyone got any experience in this sector?


cheers all.

http://www.businessonwheels.co.uk/bike_tradice.php

Nearing the end of summer by the time you get it though

 

[vvaannmmaann]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ice-cream...3?pt=UK_BOI_Restaurant_RL&hash=item3a68c759cb

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/icecream-...0637116773?pt=UK_Bikes_GL&hash=item2eb6e77165

 

[Ashley_Price]

Welcome to UKBF

Another thing is to approach the council about selling ice creams at these places; are there already ice cream sellers? If so they might have a licence to have that patch and may not take kindly to someone else coming along.

Also, aside from the legal aspects of having young people working for you, how do you know they simply won't be mugged or robbed of the money if they have no protection (like a van to lock themselves in)? I'm sorry to be so cynical or negative, but some people out there think nothing of nicking an elderly lady's bag for just a few pounds; whereas the two sisters will be holding A LOT more cash on them (even if you regularly pick up the money, they still need to have a decent amount as a float - to give change).

 

[morby]

that is a good point :/
but the fact you said they would have alot of cash on them fills me with confidence.

must mean that it is a feasible idea?

 

[Ashley_Price]

but the fact you said they would have alot of cash on them fills me with confidence.

must mean that it is a feasible idea?

No, I mean you have to provide them with a lot of cash at the start of the day so they have plenty of change, because you will have people wanting to buy a £2 ice cream with a £20 note. So they would need a float of at least £100 I would think.

 

[Mustaka]

No, I mean you have to provide them with a lot of cash at the start of the day so they have plenty of change, because you will have people wanting to buy a £2 ice cream with a £20 note. So they would need a float of at least £100 I would think.

I know Portsmouth quite well and the area he is talking about. It is about as safe a place as you could be to be honest.

OP - you might even want to talk to the company that runs the Ferry over to Gosport side. Might get lucky and they let you sell on their Ferry's. Captive audiance

 

[ellisfraser15]

Hi all, im 18 and in full time work monday-friday 9-6.
i have just finished college and studied business studies.
im looking to start up my own business selling ice creams. getting everything set in place i have a very good location. (portsmouth) so i have gunwharf quays commercial road and fratton park. i will run it on weekends, but mon-fri depending on weather i will have staff of a young age, for example 2 sisters. who are reliable.

just a couple of questions,
where would the best place to get a bike from, internet new, a used one or build my own?

has anyone got any experience in this sector?


cheers all.

Its pretty nice to try your own business at that age for the bike you could check the internet for used one or create one yourself it will be the less investition so you will get your money you spent in easier and start gaining profits.

 

[morby]

Thanks for the feedback guys. yea it was just a little idea i created in the head. get permission from the council, get insurance. being in hampshire and portsmouth the new forrest ice cream down here is beautiful. with that the stock i have fratton park, gunny wharf quays, spinnikatower southsea sea front and the best bit is it on a bike so if the area is poor ill be able to ride around see the views. it doesnt need tax like a van and your be able to pick up more customers. if i get the details sorted then it could be a nice earner imho.

 

[K-rado]

Well done Morby. 10 outa 10 / 100% top idea and I wish you the very best of luck and every success. There are a few barriers to the market and a few pros and cons as mentioned but all in all these can be overcome and will prove an excellent grounding to a long life in business.

Safety will be you biggest concern and not to mention supply/stock. there is nothing worse than having run out of one type of lolly or ice cream and on a busy time you would need a runner. This would of mean an increased overhead/reduction in profit but if you could run-operate 3 bikes then the cost would be split/reduced. Maybe you could do the running and employ 3 sellers? No doubht you will have it all sorted out in your biz plan. I really hope it works out for you. I like it a lot. K.

 

[morby]

cheers i seen a couple of franchisors that do this kinda thing, also thinking well ahead of mysef but renting the bikes out, fully stocked and coming back and splitting the profits. my dad is in the army, i and know nothing worse when he has 2weeks leave and nothing to do, also the old guys that are retired but sti want a job or to earn a few bob here and there. ob course there would be all the legal stuff to get through but hay why not its a smal start with the possibilities to go big. (fingers crossed)

 

[K-rado]

cheers i seen a couple of franchisors that do this kinda thing, also thinking well ahead of mysef but renting the bikes out, fully stocked and coming back and splitting the profits. my dad is in the army, i and know nothing worse when he has 2weeks leave and nothing to do, also the old guys that are retired but sti want a job or to earn a few bob here and there. ob course there would be all the legal stuff to get through but hay why not its a smal start with the possibilities to go big. (fingers crossed)

Why not indeed and good-on ya!

Just a thought, and this is off the cuff, I know somebody mentioned that ice-cream selling is only a seasonal thing and yes they are right. so what about the rest of the year? Tea - Coffee, Pop-corn, snacks? Christmas goods, Valentines day, so on and so forth. I recon you could keep it going all year round. Ok, It may need a bit more thought and change of stickers from season to season. never the less, in principle you would be selling to the same type of customer on the go. Sell what people want and they will buy it. With your Bike/'s you will always be in the right place at the right time.

 

[morby]

bike now to get me a bike! haha. ima just wait for the best time to pop up. and thank you for the thought. maybe a mobile seasonal shop. hotdogs and hot drinks at football games in the winter, xmas cards and goods ect. cheers for the idea

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

I wish you well but I really think you need to look more closely at licensing and the competition.

The council round these parts puts adverts in the local paper inviting tenders for certain sites around town, such as the main parks.

If you can't get the okay to sell in the areas you've identified you could try the local shopping centres who have set costs for static barrows, stalls and displays and the like. Some towns have monthly farmers markets set up in the high street where again you can negotiate a fee.

Also...


I don't wish to alarm you but.......

There was a documentary on TV a few years back about the ice cream *'Mafia' which was all about the intimidation and fights for prime London locations such as outside the Tower of London. The Hot Dog *'Mafia' is alive and kicking and I know of the people who are alleged to be involved but not in your part of the world. You don't argue with them.:|



*No connection with the italian crime sundicate but a name coined by overzealous journalists

 

[matt seymour]

Morby,

Not a bad idea. As a fellow inhabitant of the city of Portsmouth I can honestly say I don't think I have ever seen an ice cream bike in any of the locations you mentioned.

If the ice cream thing doesn't work out, get yourself a burger van and try and pinch Mick's Monster Burgers pitch up on the hill. That bloke must be a bloomin' millionaire by now!

 

[numbertwentybandb]

hi,
i have run these bikes-its a great idea do not be put off by people putting a downer on it. instead put your energy into thinking it through and resolving any problems. get a good second hand bike for about 1300, do not make one they are not safe and tip. u need a hawkers licence about twenty quid.create desire for your product -maybe good quality juice lolly s on hot days...do not cut corners with cheap crap. treat customers and staff with respect, keep everything clean. ice cream sells on hot days with lots of people, ask Duncan valentine. don't listen to all the advice people try to give you- lots of peeps talk rubbish! good luck