One of the best business ideas that will never go out of style is selling iced delicacies and desserts. Who doesn’t fancy a scoop of ice cream or a cup of shaved ice, right? It goes well after people have a delightful meal or if the day’s too hot and they want to cool down and enjoy the excellent weather. There are just really times when you can’t resist your cravings for sweets during cold times. So, if you’re planning to start your own ice business, we say “GO FOR IT.”

An ice company’s minimal start-up and operational expenses make it a viable option for entrepreneurs. You can make a fortune if you operate a successful ice-making enterprise and advertise your product well. As long as the water is the sole ingredient, the process of making ice seems to be nothing but straightforward. According to Ice Maker Pros, you can convert a simple ice-making business into a thriving company by using the right creative advertising strategy. Here’s how:

First thing’s first: Determine who you are selling to.

Before you can determine if you want to establish an ice-related business, you need to identify your target audience. Determine whether your business idea will pique the public’s interest and entice them to try the products you offer in this specific type of service.

In other words, be confident that you are launching a successful business that will attract the people you intend to allure.

Make sure your working station is safe for food-making.

Ensure the area is safe for making delicacies by getting it approved by your local health agency. The processing, preservation, and freezing of food and frozen goods in food-safe facilities must follow many regulations. Purchase a variety of health-safety plastic bags. As a result, you’ll be able to provide ice in multiple lengths. The more you ensure that everything in your kitchen is safe for the customers, the longer your business will run and the more chances you will thrive in the industry.

A good location makes a significant difference.

The location of your company is critical since the temperature may have a significant impact on your profits. Businesses in chilly climates may have to shut down temporarily since they won’t have clients initially. If you’re going to start an ice-related business, you might like to take some time to think about where you’ll have to open your shop. After determining your target audience, make sure your business is located in an area where the products you offer will be in demand.

Purchase a reliable ice-maker.

When ice is exposed to contaminants in water systems or particles in groundwater sources, you might alter the flavor. Invest in an industrial ice maker or a corporate ice machine. It’s a large expense, but it’s essential to your company’s success. Your client’s safety and the perfect name you have in the community will be assured if you use a high-quality ice maker. Don’t only sell things; advertise them by demonstrating their high level of quality and garnering nothing but positive feedback.

There are several ways to use ice, making it an ideal business opportunity. Now that you recognize what to check out for, you can start your business plan and make your dream ice shop a reality!

Management teams have different ways of determining who deserves a promotion. Some will promote employees who showed consistent excellent performances over time. Others will host a panel interview. It’s also possible to get tested through a business presentation. The other candidates for the post will do the same. If you know the presentation will make or break your desire for a promotion, you must prepare for it. Here are some tips.

Understand the core values of the company

When you’re gunning for a higher post, prove that you know what the business is about. Managers want to promote someone who understands why the company is operating in the first place. Sure, profit comes first. However, there are greater values that make the business what it is. During your presentation, show how well you understand these values and how you intend to use them when given the chance to lead.

Prepare what to say

You can also impress the people in the room with the meat of your presentation. Research every detail and include the latest information. Statistics will also help back your claims. Prepare some slides as visual aids. Be in the meeting room early to set up the place. If your company has a projector mount like those from Unicol, it’s easier to project your slides. You don’t have to keep adjusting the projector. You can also prepare quickly and get things done before the meeting begins.

Prepare for possible questions

The team will also test your knowledge and ask questions related to your presentation. Some of them might be tough. Regardless, you should prepare. Know your presentation well since some questions might come from what you just said. Don’t feel nervous about the questions, just answer them confidently. However, you can’t make things up to prove your point. Be honest if you don’t know the answer or if you can’t provide a complete response at the moment.

Be friendly

Your character also gets tested during the presentation. It’s not only about what you say or how well you know the job. Your character also plays a critical role in your promotion. You will be working with a team, and you must display team spirit. Show you’re capable of leading the team. If you have a terrible attitude, it doesn’t matter how knowledgeable you are. It will be challenging to offer you a higher post.

Show how much you want the position

It also helps if you show passion for the job. Everyone in the room wants to see how much you want to get the post. Sure, you want to try your luck, but you must also display confidence in what you do. If you have apathy for the position, everyone will know. The chance will go to someone more prepared than you.

It’s not easy to get a promotion. If you’re in the running, make sure you do whatever it takes to reach the top. The opportunity might not come again any time soon.

Thinking about starting a sustainable food business? If you’re an eco-conscious cook, barista or baker, there’s a lot to think about to make your start-up a success. Here are a few tips to making your doughy dreams a reality.

Is Sustainability in the Food Industry Important?

Numerous stakeholders within the food sector are backing a number of new sustainability initiatives. These changes are set to help minimise environmental damage while helping top-level investors engage with the most reputable and sustainable food businesses, promoting a more sustainable future for everyone.

As consumers and high-level authorities become increasingly aware of the environmental impact of food systems, businesses across the entire sector need to sharpen their focus on sustainability. Now seems to be the perfect time to launch your eco-friendly idea, but how can you get it off the ground successfully?

How to Start an Eco-Friendly Food Business

No matter what stage you’re at, it’s worth considering the following factors to make sure you’re getting everything right when you start your business:

1. Choose the Right Business Structure

Different business structures are available depending on where you’re at with your venture. If it’s a solo project, setting yourself up as a sole trader is the most straightforward way to formally set up your business. Forming a partnership or limited company are also worth considering, so weigh up your options and pick the trading structure that suits your business best.

2. Set Up Sustainable Sources for Ingredients

Using organic ingredients won’t just score points with your customers; the return on investment for higher quality ingredients will improve the quality of your products and reduce the environmental impact of your business. Set some time aside to research your suppliers and learn more about their businesses. Keep your eye out for Certified B Corporations as these businesses balance purpose and profit to ensure sustainability across their operations. These companies treat their workers ethically and have community-focused initiatives, as well as environmental action.

3. Make All of the Necessary Information Available

Recently, food regulations have been updated to protect consumers with allergies and intolerances by helping them understand precisely what the food they purchase contains. As of October 2021, all UK businesses are required by law to provide full ingredient lists and allergen labelling on foods packaged for sale on their premises. The updated regulations fall under “Natasha’s Law”, requiring businesses to clearly state:

• The name of the food
• A full ingredients list with allergenic ingredients highlighted (for example, in bold, italics or a different colour).

The legislation applies to businesses in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, so if you plan to sell pre-packaged food or drinks in these countries, you’ll need packaging to comply with the latest regulations. 

4. Use Eco-Friendly Packaging

Providing the information stated above is a legal requirement, but more legislation is coming into effect regarding the type of packaging you use. The UK government plans to ban single-use plastic plates and cutlery to curb plastic waste and pollution, and it’s only a matter of time until most plastic-based packaging currently used by food and drinks businesses are outlawed. To mitigate the risk of being caught short, use eco-friendly packaging for food and drinks to slash your carbon footprint and maximise sustainability.

5. Keep Your Actions Consistent with Your Branding

Branding is one of the most important elements of your venture, second only to the actions you take as an eco-friendly business to protect the planet. Anti-greenwashing measures are being rolled out as part of the latest initiatives by the UK’s Environment Agency, calling out businesses that promote sustainability without acting upon it. Be sure to stay true to your word, and don’t be tempted to inflate your offering. 

Connecting with genuine consumers about the environment can help promote your brand, driving growth and exposure. Keep your brand messaging clear and consistent, focusing on the most eco-friendly aspects of your business.

Starting Your Eco-Friendly Venture

Starting your food or drinks business can be challenging yet rewarding. Staying true to your vision and values while navigating a competitive space isn’t for the faint of heart. Whether you’re planning on opening a café, running a street food stall or operating a home-baking business, sustainability should be at the forefront of your philosophy. Not only will you help consumers enjoy guilt-free food and drink, but you’ll be doing your bit to protect the planet and make the future a little brighter for everyone.

The term ‘digital nomad’ has grown in popularity recently. It refers to people who prefer to be able to live and work anywhere in the world, utilising telecommunications technology rather than being a part of a traditional workplace. 

It might be that you have never considered specifically hiring digital nomads in the past – indeed, most businesses still focus their recruitment around local staff. But, hiring digital nomads can actually be very beneficial to your business. Here we take a look at why. 

Access to talent

Perhaps one of the best reasons that businesses have to consider hiring digital nomads is that it opens up their potential workforce. If your business will only employ within a reasonable commuting distance from your base, you are limited to the people who are willing to commute. Opting for remote workers can provide you with access to talent.

And this could be a crucial time to do it. There is a well-publicised digital skills shortage and if you need to get specific digital skills into your business, it can actually be very expensive. This problem is worsened significantly if you limit where these skills can come from. 

In this sense by working with digital nomads you are actually opening yourself up to the possibility of saving significant money on staff. That’s before you consider the ongoing costs of not moving forward with plans, or not having them completed by skilled professionals. 

Access specific skills

It’s not just the fact that you can access a greater number of potential staff. Being open to working with digital nomads gives your business the chance to bring in the specific set of skills you need for a period without having to hire someone locally. Indeed, many of those with advanced technical skills may be more interested in working as a digital nomad.

For example, 84% of chief technology officers (CTOs) understand the benefit of moving to the cloud but not enough companies have the skills to do it. Digital nomads can provide the kind of technical skills that you need without having to hire someone on a full-time basis. When you need high quality skills for a specific project, this can be a great way to get them. 

Different perspective

Remember that when you bring someone into your business, you gain more than just the skills on their CV. There can be a danger that if all of your staff come from the same area, you will only get a very narrow perspective from them. While it is good to have staff who all understand each other and can work towards a shared goal, there is also much to be gained from a diversity of perspective. 

When you hire a digital nomad into a business that is primarily made up of in-office workers, you get someone who is more likely to think in a different way to them. This can bring a hugely valuable perspective difference that can spark new ideas or encourage creative thinking. 

Businesses can very easily miss out on new opportunities simply because they do not know that they exist. Hiring digital nomads can help broaden horizons and make it less likely that this situation will occur. 

Offering flexibility to staff

There can be no doubt that the pandemic changed a lot of working habits. Many people were forced to work from home – while others found themselves changing their hours to suit their schedules better. But, as businesses have returned to the office, there have been some who haven’t continued offering that same flexibility to staff. 

By re-embracing the possibilities of remote working and hiring a digital nomad, your company can once again enjoy the benefit of providing staff with more flexible opportunities. Some members of the team may have preferred the working situation where they could change up their hours as necessary. 

Hiring digital nomads can act as the catalyst to offer this kind of working arrangement permanently. This might be more effective than you think – it has previously been reported that over a third of staff would prefer flexible working to a pay rise.

Save on office space

Undoubtedly office space remains one of the major expenses of any business. Having to pay for a property all year round can be a huge cost, especially if you have to rent a working space that is much larger than you currently need to give you the room to be able to grow. Digital nomads offer you the opportunity to grow without using office space. 

Without having to worry about finding space (or, worse) actually moving office, you can focus on more important aspects of recruitment. 

Move forward as a digital business

If you have never considered digital nomads for your workforce before, it may be that your business hasn’t fully embraced the possibilities with digital technology. Working with a remote member of staff can actually open up new opportunities and allow your business to thrive as a modern, digital operation.