Who doesn’t love ice cream? While traditional permanent ice cream menu boards can look great, digital menu boards let you update flavors and pricing instantly and keep signage current—no reprints or delays. Menu boards are one of the most essential parts of an ice cream shop, right after the ice cream itself.
Why Do You Need a Digital Ice Cream Menu Board?
You may have a static menu board today. Even if it “works,” a digital board can do more. With a digital ice cream parlor menu board, you can capture the following benefits and more:
1. Display Information Easily
A digital menu board offers a creative way to include the ice cream shop menu with more information. Here are some common ice cream shop menu ideas you can consider:
- Unique flavors and toppings
- Ingredient lists and calorie information
- Allergy-related information
- Specials and limited-time offers
- Take-home ice cream pints
- Loyalty programs
- Other options, such as milkshakes, sundaes, and so on
You can tailor content for different zones of your shop, such as ordering areas or seating spaces. For example, use one screen near the cashier for your main menu and another in the seating area to promote items such as take-home pints.
You can also update content instantly as your menu evolves, with virtually no downtime. In contrast, traditional signage requires major modifications or entirely new signs every time you update your offerings.
2. Capture Every Opportunity at the Right Time
One key marketing strategy is ensuring your promotions, campaigns, and offers launch at the right time. To do so, you need to figure out the following:
- Which days and times your sales and foot traffic peak or slow down?
- Which ice cream flavors and toppings are top sellers (especially high-margin ones), and which age groups visit most often?
- What kind of promotions will your customers be interested in? BOGO or time-sensitive deals?
Digital menu boards can use Dayparting feature to automate content by time of day or week, so breakfast, lunch, or late-night menus switch automatically without staff involvement. You can also schedule everything in advance, and your menu content will update automatically when the time comes.
You have full control and can update menus anytime without delay. This automation saves staff time and ensures promotions run consistently without manual updates. It also lets you adapt quickly as your shop’s busy hours or seasonal trends change, keeping promotions aligned with customer demand.
3. Bring Your Menu to Life with Graphics
Unlike static signs, digital menu boards use dynamic photos, short videos, and subtle animations that both engage customers and bring your menu to life. Stand out from the competition and show customers your high-quality products by:
- Images: Show your best-selling ice cream photos, share your recent awards, and promote other offerings, such as take-home ice cream pints.
- Videos: Show behind-the-scenes videos, deliver your brand message and values, and share heartwarming moments to connect with your customers.
- Animation: Let’s not forget about the animation! Use animation creatively to capture attention and make your offerings appealing—for example, add subtle background motion or playful effects like dangling fruit or icy fog.
The best part is that with digital menu boards, you can update your images and videos anytime with different ice cream menu designs to achieve your sales goals.
4. Attract Organic Foot Traffic
Statistics show that 8 out of 10 consumers enter a store because digital signage has caught their interest. So, a well-designed digital menu board can increase business by attracting people who weren’t even planning on getting ice cream! You can install digital signage according to your ice cream shop layout to show tailored content and catch the attention of passersby. For example, consider a digital window display to tease ‘Flavor of the Day’ and time-limited deals.
Also, did you know that 79% of customers believe that signage reflects the quality of the business and the products/services the shop provides? Plus, digital signage has been shown to decrease perceived wait times by up to 35%. A well-designed digital menu board not only strengthens your brand image but also reduces perceived wait times, improves the customer experience, and encourages repeat visits.
How Many Digital Menu Boards Does Your Ice Cream Shop Need?
There are many factors you need to consider when you’re choosing the number of digital menu boards you need for your ice cream parlors:
- Menu: What do you want to show on your ice cream parlor menu boards? Do you want to include all the ice cream flavors or only the popular ones? You also want to avoid over-crowding your menu boards to ensure the legibility of your menus/offers. Aim for ≤30 items per screen (≤20 with images) to maintain legibility. That way, you have plenty of room to add images without it looking too busy.
- Ice Cream Shop Layout: Does your shop have enough space for the amount of menu boards you wish to install? You will also need to consider the viewing distance, as it will affect the legibility of your menus and whether your customers can view the content easily.
- Size of TVs: For size, the TV must be big enough to display all of your information. A good rule of thumb is to use a 43” or larger display, the most common commercial digital signage size. It should also have an HDMI port for the digital menu display, which is standard on most modern TVs.
- Type of TVs: When it comes to the type of TV you use in your ice cream parlor, the brand doesn’t matter. However, you want to consider what type of TV you would like to install. Consumer TVs typically have 1-year warranties and aren’t rated for continuous (16–24/7) operation, whereas commercial displays are built for constant use and include 2-3 year warranties.
Creating an Ice Cream Menu Design
Designing a digital ice cream shop menu board is easier than you might think. Rule of thumb: avoid overcrowding—keep layouts simple so customers can read key items at a glance.
There are two main ways to create an effective design:
- Templates: If you are working with a limited budget, templates are a practical option. While they are less flexible and not custom-built for your shop, they can still display your menus effectively. Look for a provider that offers editable animation templates so you can update your content while keeping the animations. Ensure your Content Management System (CMS) supports scheduling and remote updates across multiple locations.
- Custom Design: If your goal is to build a long-term brand image and maximize the impact of your digital boards, custom design is the stronger choice. Many design services are available, but it is best to choose a provider experienced in digital menu board design to ensure your menus are both effective and on-brand. Request legibility proofs at target viewing distances and a content layout that highlights upsells or high-margin items.
Of course, there are other elements you need to consider when designing your digital menu boards. If you are still curious, you can continue and read our blog on tips and tricks for creating digital signs to learn more.
Quick Preparation List
You’ll need:
- 43″ or more commercial display
- Media player or System-on-Chip (SoC) display
- CMS software to design, schedule, and update content
Final Thoughts
Have questions about designing the perfect digital menu boards for your ice cream shop? Talk to our professional design team to learn best practices and what to avoid when creating digital menu boards. Contact us today to book a free consultation!
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