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FlavorSnow FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions) Table of Contents (Click on a question to see the answer.)
Also see our "What's Involved" page for additional information about the Shaved Ice business! 1. Why should I choose shaved ice as a business?Because of its high profit potential and maximum operational flexibility. It's an all cash business and there's a huge demand for gourmet quality Shaved Ice, especially in the warmer spring and summer months of the year. Low initial investment to get started and a very, very low cost to produce the finished product when using the FlavorSnow System™. Back to Top2. Should I sell shaved ice from a mobile unit or a "fixed" permanent location?Either way can be quite profitable but mobile units are usually less expensive to start and offer greater flexibility. In a mobile setup, you can "go where the crowds are" like fairs and festivals or operate part time such as weekends only. Permanent or "fixed" operations can be very profitable too - you just have to make sure you're in a good location. Many vendors operate from small portable buildings fixed in place that operate as a permanent location. If the location isn't as good as you thought, these small buildings can be easily moved to a better location. Back to Top3. How do I get started?It's a good idea to have a location or two in mind but first you'll need to contact the appropriate local and state government agencies for business permits. This "red tape" is necessary before opening any business. This is also the time to find out about the rules and regulations you'll be expected to follow such as zoning restrictions and health code requirements. Back to Top4. Why should I choose FlavorSnow™ as my supplier?Because we're a non-franchise business opportunity and we offer excellent products and service. We have the experience - established in 1932, we've been supplying the shaved ice industry with the finest products on the market for over 74 years. We offer quality, value and service. There's no middleman markups - it really pays to deal directly with the manufacturer. FlavorSnow™ has shipped and continues to ship its products to some very far off countries including Australia, Belize, Bermuda, Botswana, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, South Korea, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates just to name a few. We also regularly ship to far off destinations in the USA such as Alaska, Guam and Hawaii on a regular basis. So, as you can see, with our level of quality, value and operational efficiency, it would be hard to find another supplier that would be better for your business than FlavorSnow™ - regardless of where you're located! Back to Top5. What do I do on a daily basis?You and/or your employees will shave powdery fine snow into a cup, dispense the requested flavored syrup onto the snow and serve it to your customers on a per order basis - it's that simple! Back to Top6. What else do I need before I begin the process?In addition to the best location you can find, you'll need a good, dependable source for ice. You should check your local icehouses for beverage quality ice. If you can't find block ice we sell block ice makers specifically designed for our shaver. All serious Shaved Ice vendors will eventually want their own block maker or cube ice making machine sooner or later, whether they can get ice locally or not. Along with sugar for your sugar water syrup, ice is one of your most basic raw materials - why not make it for cost? Back to Top7. Can I shave the snow in advance, store it and serve it to my customers at a later time?No - not gourmet quality Shaved Ice at least. True high quality Shaved Ice is custom made in front of the customer and served immediately. Snow quality is lost if you try to stockpile snow and serve at later time. Back to Top8. Is the ice shaver hard to operate?Not a bit. In fact, many shaved ice outlets employ teenagers. The FlavorSnow™ Ice Shaver is designed to produce high quality shaved ice at a high volume output and speed with a minimal amount of effort. The Hatsuyuki HC-8E Cube Ice Shaver is great for those of you on a budget or can't get block ice easily. The Hatsuyuki shaver is very easy to use and takes up very little counter space. Back to Top9. How do I work with flavors?With our system you make your own "simple syrup" (or unflavored sugar water). This simple syrup will be the base for the FlavorSnow™ line of liquid Flavoring Concentrates (a.k.a. Extracts). Every 4oz of our concentrate will flavor 124oz of simple syrup to produce 1 gallon of the best tasting Shaved Ice syrup on the market. Back to Top10. Do I have to make my own syrups?Well no, you don't have to, but you'll want to anyway. It's the most economical and cost effective way to run a shaved ice business. When using the FlavorSnow System™ you become the producer of one of your most basic raw materials - sugar water. It's much more economical to make your own than to buy your syrups "ready to use". You also have more flexibility and control over the taste of your finished product. With "ready to use syrups" (a.k.a. RTU syrup), you're "stuck" with what you get. With our system you have the ability to make better tasting syrups - for cost. And the same goes for block ice. Back to Top11. Is it hard to make syrup?Not at all! If you can sweeten your tea or coffee you can make syrup. In fact, the only thing you're doing is dissolving sugar in water. Hot water makes it easy. You can also easily preserve your syrup with preservatives from FlavorSnow™ to prevent spoilage. And, unlike powdered flavorings, the use of liquid flavoring concentrates like ours allow you to produce your sugar water in batches, greatly reducing your workload as well as cost. Back to Top12. Do I have to make one gallon of syrup at a time?No - it's much too labor intensive to make your syrup one gallon at a time. Making your syrup by the batch is the most efficient way to do it. Mix a batch of syrup, preserve it and store it in gallon jugs to be flavored as needed. The larger the batch, the easier it is. We recommend batches of at least 20 gallons in size. Systems that use powdered flavors force you to make one gallon of syrup at a time. These type systems increases your workload, waste your time and cost a lot more than liquid flavor concentrates. Back to Top13. How many flavors should I offer?Because consumers love variety, we recommend carrying as many flavors as you and your facilities can possibly handle. We offer over 80 different flavor varieties. From that you can easily blend an unlimited number of your own concoctions. Specialties like creamy flavors, chocolate and shaved ice sundaes can also add a large amount of menu items. Permanent locations tend to offer longer menus as well as many specialty flavors to keep the customer returning. Mobile setups usually offer a shorter menu. Operations at special events, such as fairs and festivals, usually offer the fewest flavors because speed is the most important factor. Time is money at special events and you'll want to serve the long line of customers as fast as you possibly can. Back to Top14. How many employees will I need to run my business?A typical shaved ice business will be owner operated with one or more additional employees at busy times. What your business will require in the form of help depends on your location and sales volume. A location that has a short but consistent line of customers can keep two people busy. But remember, time is money at high volume operations and, in most cases, the more help you have the faster you can serve your customers and the more money you will make. Back to Top15. How do I get the recurring flavor and supply orders I'll need to keep operating?By mail order! Orders received from anywhere within contiguous 48 States are conveniently hand delivered to your door by a dependable national delivery service. We currently use UPS for small recurring orders. UPS provides fast, dependable and economical door-to-door delivery service to all parts of the country - even remote rural areas are serviced. By the way, FlavorSnow™ also... 1. adds no handling fees whatsoever to supply shipments. You're charged exactly what the shipping services charge to deliver your merchandise. 2. processes 99% of orders received within 24 hours. So you will never wait weeks to receive your FlavorSnow™ brand supplies. Even the farthest deliveries usually arrive within one week. And some areas close by will even get next day service at no extra charge! Back to Top16. What if I run out of something important?UPS offers special services like UPS' Next Day Air service so you're guaranteed to get your products fast in case of an emergency. Back to Top17. How do I order from FlavorSnow™?Our office hours are 9:00am to 5:00pm, Mon. - Fri., Central time. We have a voice mail system for ordering after hours. You can also send your orders in by e-mail for prompt processing 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We're also very proud to say that 99% of our orders are shipped within 24 hours so it's never too long before your order arrives - regardless of where you're located. Back to TopMORE QUESTIONS? You can call FlavorSnow™ at (972) 832-1274. For any information we haven't addressed here on the FlavorSnow FAQ's™ page, please give us a call and we'll be happy to explain everything in complete detail over the phone. Our sales office is open from 9:00am to 5:00pm, Monday through Friday, central time, except national and local New Orleans holidays such as Mardi Gras. Overseas inquirers can call (972) 832-1274 to speak with a sales representative. You can also e-mail us at your convenience 24 hours a day. Copyright
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