In This Issue:

Survey Results, Part Five

History-Making Event!

July Schedule

MONTHLY FLAVOR REPORT

SURVEY RESULTS, PART FIVE (as in FINAL)

This is the last in our series discussing the results of the recent customer survey. As mentioned last month, we’re discussing your responses to our questions about the Internet, Facebook, and Twitter. And frankly, we’re relieved.

You see, there’s been a lot of talk about how every business simply MUST develop a plan to engage in the new social networks like MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter. You can’t turn a page or see an ad that doesn’t scream “Follow us on Twitter!” or “Become our friend on Facebook!” It’s kinda like the late 90’s when everyone said that every business simply HAD to have a website.

Granted, we’re old enough to have used punch cards and a DEC-10 (for those of you under 30, Google it), so it’s not that we’re uncomfortable with new technology. But for our business we didn’t see much value in starting a blog or a new Facebook page. And, thankfully, most of you agreed. The majority of you don’t rely on these new-fangled technologies as much as we feared thought, so we’ll keep to what we’re doing – the website and the monthly newsletter, and leave it at that.

There ARE some innovative ice cream people out there – many shops in large metro areas have Facebook/Twitter sites that keep customers on top of flavors, changes, etc. One does a “Tweet” (Twitter post for those of you techno-challenged) as to where their mobile ice cream truck will be each day, and a shop in St. Paul, MN actually has RFID (radio frequency ID chips) in their flavor signs so that they can give their customers real-time updates on all the available flavors in its dipping cabinet.

It’s all a little too high-tech for us right now. Mamma Zinger says the real reason I don’t want to use Twitter is because I’d have to limit myself to 140 characters. I don’t think that’s the case, as I can regulate my communication pattern so that I speak concisely and don’t go on and on so that the liste

OK, maybe not. More about ICE CREAM and FUDGE next month.

HISTORY-MAKING EVENT!

Speaking of the Internet, the most popular page on our website, www.ZingersIceCream.com, is our History of Ice Cream page. By far. We average more than 5,000 hits PER DAY on our site, and at least 80% are directed to the history page. There’s a reason – that page is linked to several education sites that encourage students to find out about the history of ice cream, the first ice cream maker (patented by a woman!), and other such fascinating tidbits. In fact, we found so many “Great Moments in Ice Cream History” that we created a special line of t-shirts (made with organic cotton, of course) and created a special new online emporium in which to distribute these history-making shirts (get it?) to the general public. For a fee, or course. Get yours now at: www.CafePress.com/IceCreamHistory.

JULY SCHEDULE

Our July schedule is pretty simple: Daily,1pm-10pm

Oh, except the Fourth of July, when it’s Noon-9pm (after the parade, before the fireworks).

MONTHLY FLAVOR REPORT

Here’s the lineup for this month:

THE STANDARDS (back row): Butter Pecan, Chocolate Almond, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Coffee, Just Plain Chocolate, Licorice, Marionberry, Mint Chocolate Chip, New York Cheesecake, Oreo Cookie, Strawberry, and Very Vanilla.

THIS MONTH’S SPECIAL FLAVORS: Black Walnut, Caramel Cashew (L), Caramel Peanut Chip (new), Chocolate Covered Banana, Coconut (L), Honey Roasted Peanut (L), Lemon Custard (L), Malted Milk Ball, Oregon Black Cherry, Peppermint Candy, Pistachio, Toasted Marshmallow, and White Chocolate Chip.

(L) = Last month for this flavor.

NOTES…our Chocolate Covered Banana returns for the holiday, and July also sees Mango and Root Beer Float in limited runs. Also, Oregon Hazelnut, Butter Brickle, and Caramel Cashew will be back later in the summer, as will Peach and Lotsaberries.

MAIL CONTACT

If you have questions about this newsletter or about Zinger’s Homemade Ice Cream, contact us via e-mail: newsletter@zingersicecream.com