Wait a minute, ranch flavored ice cream?
Hidden Valley Ranch Ice Cream is one of seven new spring flavors from Van Leeuwen. Sweet Maple Corn Bread, Blood Orange Chocolate Chip, Carrot Cake, Strawberry Shortcake, Honey Graham Crackers, Limoncello Cake… Most flavor alliances seem logical. The vast majority of us were able to settle on a cone of one of these flavors.
But ranch? According to a tip from Hidden Valley Ranch associate her director Rachel Garrison, it makes sense.
“Top a scoop with crushed pretzels or potato chips for the perfect salty crunch,” advised Garrison.
An unlikely alliance at work
For centuries, British apple pies have been served topped with melty cheddar cheese. A favorite snack in Italy is melon wrapped in prosciutto.
Time for a hot apple pie topped with melty cheddar cheese and two scoops of lunch ice cream.
In an unlikely alliance, you won’t know until you try. For example, pineapple on pizza. did you know who?
An unlikely partnership with a small business owner
Small business owners have two ways to make unlikely partnerships.
- Existing products can be modified, as Van Leeuwen did. Think of all things pumpkin spice flavored for fall.
- They can partner with another small business owner. For example, what do a specialist craft shop owner and a niche candy maker have in common? Nothing on the surface. But having candy makers provide snacks for knitting and quilting classes improves the overall customer experience.
why do you do that?
There’s a reason we think outside the box, improve our products, and work with other businesses.
- It can be the center of attention. They made the announcement, as did Van Leeuwen and Hidden Valley Ranch. The major news outlets picked up on the story. Mentioned as a short news item in broadcast media, it went viral on social media. His six other special spring flavors alone probably wouldn’t have garnered as much interest, but other new flavors are riding the lunch his ice cream momentum.
- It helps two or more unrelated companies to tap into each other’s customer base. You can work together for a single event or form a long-term cooperation. For example, in Farmington, Maine, a local business executive bought a defunct grocery store. The space is currently occupied by about a dozen entrepreneurs who rent out the space and sell their handcrafted items. They take turns staffing the store and processing transactions. Entrepreneurs could not have made a presence in a downtown storefront on their own.
- Small business owners can always benefit from networking. Ideas and knowledge are exchanged when one business collaborates with another.
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Image: Hidden Valley
