What do you absolutely need to have ready before you can start selling?
As SmoothieCompany.com, we specialize in setting up smoothie bars as stand-alone smoothie shops and as in-store profit centers so we get A TON of questions asking us about the products, accessories, equipment, signage and more that is needed to start selling smoothies. We’ve listed out below the absolute necessities for opening and running a profitable smoothie bar. (Quick FYI: Before you start sourcing scoops and pumps and purees- everything except the sink comes included in our turn-key starter packages.)
EQUIPMENT
Equipment is the difference between a crunchy smoothie and a delicious smoothie. In other words, equipment is the difference between a returning customer and a lost customer. That means $$$$. Quality equipment is absolutely necessary for running a profitable smoothie store. We recommend purchasing commercial blending equipment because the motor will be able to handle a larger volume without burning out and your smoothies will be consistent. Click here to view our starter packages that include equipment or click here to learn more about automated and manual blenders.
QUALITY PRODUCTS: SMOOTHIE PUREES
The modern customer is an ingredient savvy individual. They’ve heard all of the buzzwords: No HFCS, fat-free, gluten free, low calorie, no artificial colors, no artificial flavors, soy free- you name it. And you can bet that they consume products based on at least one of these claims. The food standards of consumers today are much higher than they were even a few years ago. When it comes to smoothies, the modern customer is concerned about sugar content, protein, added supplements and more. They want their smoothie to taste great and natural at the same time.
As a smoothie bar owner, you’ll find that it’s tough to find a product that fits these requirements and still makes you a healthy profit. Many of our competitors offer a product just as healthy as ours but it requires refrigeration which, frankly, is a pain in the butt and produces a lot of waste for you. And then other competitors have a completely shelf stable product but it is packed with artificial yuck that you can’t brag about. We are proud to say that our products fit the bill when it comes to consumer satisfaction and profitability. Check out the nutritional info here for yourself.
ACCESSORIES & SUPPLIES
Now of course you need cups, lids and straws for your smoothie bar but you may also need supplies that you haven’t thought of. We include portion pumps with all of our purees and liquid products not hooked up to an automated dispenser to minimize human error and product waste. We also suggest providing napkins, placing any powders and scoops in air-locked containers and placing any free standing product bottles into bottle racks. You may also need items like countertop menus, recipe cards and sanitizer. You can view all of our included items in our starter packages here.
MENU BOARDS
We recommend displaying professionally designed menu boards that list all of your flavors and offerings. We steer people away from chalkboard menus or anything handwritten because these generally look inconsistent and are hard to read for the customer. Professionally designed menus, displayed digitally or in print, provide a cleaner and more cohesive look for your smoothie bar. Click here to view our menu board options. Our menu boards are printed, mounted and displayed in frames.
SIGNAGE & PROMOTIONAL ITEMS
Again, we recommend professionally designed signage and promotional items. We are unique in that we offer posters, table tents, coupons and more as well as ongoing new promotional materials so that your signage always stays ‘fresh’. Additional marketing boosts sales and increases your brand value to the customer. Every smoothie bar should have a large form of marketing like outdoor signage, banners or posters. We also recommend countertop posters or table tents. Finally, every smoothie bar should have items that customers can take with them. This can be a take-home menu, loyalty cards or limited time coupons.
A BRANDED CONCEPT
Your smoothie bar should look like a complete entity. You should have a logo, a name and, ideally, a social presence. At SmoothieCompany.com, we provide exactly that. You are able to use our trademarked logo and SmoothieCompany.com name without any franchise fees or ongoing royalties. We also have a social media presence and encourage all of our locations to use our website made specifically for their smoothie-drinker, SmoothieCompanyLifestyle.com as a resource and promotional tool.
