How to choose what flavors you should offer?
Start with the most popular flavors. After all, you need to give your customers what they want.
Popular Flavors
You can check our list of most popular flavors. This is a good guide. However, this is just an average, based on all our vendors.
Each region and location will have different favorites, although many of the most popular flavors are pretty universal.
If you are just starting out, you’ll need to experiment. For example, you can start by offering 6-8 “permanent” flavors. In addition, also offer 4-6 “flavors of the week” options.
Then, each week rotate through different flavors. This will give you a better idea of what will sell.
Start Small
Best to start with a smaller selection, which you can always expand later. Everyone thinks they love choices, but the reality is, too many choices is confusing.
On a busy summer day you don’t want your line held up by customers trying to decide what they want.
Just as importantly, until you know what will sell, don’t invest in a ton of flavors that you may get stuck with.
Extras
Extras, also known as toppings, are a favorite way to customize what you offer. It’s also a way to increase your sales!
Common toppings include gummies, strawberries, and whipped cream. Condensed milk is also super popular. Some folks love a scoop of ice cream with their shaved ice. Just like they do in Hawaii!
There are other regional favorites, too. Here in Texas, people like pickles, dill pickle juice, and even cayenne peppers.
Do your own research and be ready to experiment.
As with flavors, don’t go overboard with too many choices. Start small. And ask your customers what they would want. Remember, the customer is always right!
Sample Your Flavors
This seems obvious, but you should like your own product. You may not like every flavor you offer, but you should like the overall quality of the flavors.
That means you should sample the different brands before settling on anything. Everyone claims their syrups are the “best”, but taste is subjective, so decide for yourself. Most suppliers offer small sample sizes so you can buy flavors without spending too much.
Many owners like to pick and choose certain flavors from different brands. That may require ordering from different suppliers, but if you like to be picky, it may be the best way.
Popular Syrup Brands
There are many different brands of syrup. Here are some popular ones:
And of course, here at Ragg’s Supply, we carry Southern Snow, Parasol, and our own Ragg’s brand, as well.
Consider the Syrup Ingredients
If you want loyal, repeat customers, you’ll want to consider the quality of your syrup, including the ingredients.
Some syrups use high fructose corn syrup as the sweetener, which will be perfectly fine for many folks.
Serious shaved ice fans will refuse to eat that. They will insist on syrups made with pure cane sugar.
Each business is different, so you get to decide what’s right for you.
Sugar-Free Syrup Options
While we’re discussing sweeteners, it may be a good idea to include some sugar-free flavors on your menu.
The sugar-free flavor options are more limited, but that’s ok because so is the demand.