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Be Vanilla

May 30, 2025 by Michael Shea PA

Last night, my family and I visited The Joinery in Lakeland, a unique spot housed in an old train depot freight dock transformed into micro kitchens and a brewery. The micro kitchen setup for start-up restaurants was impressive, offering a diverse range of food options. Among them, an ice cream place caught my attention with its unconventional flavors like browns butter chocolate chip cookie, mint monster, and lavender melange, to name a few.

While standing amidst the array of wild choices, I couldn’t help but reflect on the absence of classic flavors like vanilla and chocolate. This experience led me to ponder the balance between innovation and sticking to core offerings. Drawing from my past in the beverage industry, where our success lay in our core four flavors, I realized the importance of catering to the fundamental preferences of customers.

Delving into ice cream sales statistics, I discovered that 40% of sales are attributed to the timeless trio of Chocolate, Vanilla, and Strawberry – the core three flavors. Despite the allure of exotic options, I personally found comfort in the familiarity of traditional choices, echoing the sentiment that sometimes, simplicity is key.

The lesson learned at The Joinery resonated with me: embracing the essence of “being Vanilla” can hold significant value. Understanding your customers’ preferences, avoiding the allure of excessive choices, and focusing on what truly resonates with your audience can be pivotal in business success.

In the realm of entrepreneurship, it’s essential to recognize that adding too many services or options can inadvertently detract from your core business. By aligning your offerings with customer preferences and behavior, you can steer your creative endeavors towards targeted and profitable outcomes.

In conclusion, the wisdom gleaned from this experience echoes a simple yet profound message: sometimes, being Vanilla is the key to success.

 

For more on buying and selling and running small businesses contact Michael Shea of Transworld Business Advisors Tampa.

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Filed Under: Business Management Tips, Selling A Business, Selling Your Company, Tampa Business Sales Tagged With: businessbroker, customes, tampa, tampabay

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