Practical Ways to Boost Profits with Ice Fountains

The UK hospitality industry is constantly evolving. If venues don’t keep up, they’ll get left behind.

A guaranteed way to gain traction is using ice fountains: those mesmerising indoor sparklers that create a stunning visual display when attached to champagne bottles, cocktails, or desserts. Beyond their wow factor, ice fountains provide a tangible opportunity to boost your venue's profitability through strategic implementation. Here, we look at some actionable strategies for UK bars, clubs, restaurants, and event venues to maximise returns using these dramatic indoor fireworks.

What is the business value of a visual experience?

Experiences drive today’s hospitality economy; customers are willing to pay a premium for memorable moments. Ice fountains deliver exactly that—a dramatic visual spectacle that transforms ordinary service into something Instagrammable.

Research consistently shows that visual enhancements significantly influence customer spending behaviour. When venues create striking visual displays using products like ice fountains, customers perceive greater value in their purchase, justifying premium pricing. A bottle of prosecco presented with a sparkling ice fountain can easily command a markup of 30-50% compared to standard service.

This perception of exclusivity creates natural upselling opportunities. Once one table receives a bottle with an ice fountain, nearby tables frequently request the same service, creating a domino effect of increased orders. This visual marketing happens organically within your venue, requiring no additional advertising costs.

Premium Pricing Strategies

Implementing a tiered pricing structure around ice fountains can significantly boost your average transaction value, like this:

• Standard service: Base price

• Service with single ice fountain: +15-20%

• VIP service with multiple ice fountains (and extras like special music): +30-50%

This approach allows customers to self-select into higher profit margin experiences based on their desire for visual enhancement and special attention.

Profitable Ways to Use Ice Fountains

1. Special Menu Items

Creating signature menu items featuring ice fountains turns ordinary offerings into must-have treats. Consider developing:

• Celebration Cocktails: Design visually stunning signature cocktails featuring ice fountains that become a talking point and social media favourite. These can command premium prices while costing only marginally more to produce.

• Dessert Spectacles: Partner with your kitchen team to create desserts specifically designed to showcase ice fountains. From elaborate cakes to flaming puddings, these high-margin items create memorable moments customers willingly pay extra for.

• Champagne Experiences: Develop champagne or prosecco packages at various price points, all featuring ice fountains but with increasing levels of theatricality and exclusivity.

Learn more about optimal presentation in our guide on how to use ice fountains at your venue.

2. Event Packages and VIP Experiences

With ice fountains, there’s an excellent opportunity to create tiered event packages that increase overall spend:

• Birthday Packages: Offer special birthday packages featuring bottles with ice fountains, reserved seating, and personalised service, creating an irresistible upgrade for celebration groups.

• VIP Booth Enhancements: Include ice fountains as standard with VIP booth reservations, justifying higher minimum spends while creating visual distinction between standard and premium areas.

• Corporate Event Upgrades: Develop corporate packages featuring branded displays with multiple ice fountains for maximum impact, perfect for product launches or milestone celebrations.

3. Themed Nights and Celebrations

Dedicated themed events offer concentrated opportunities to make the most of ice fountains for profit, such as:

• Luxury Nights: Host regular luxury-themed evenings where all bottle service includes ice fountains, creating an atmosphere of indulgence that encourages higher spending.

• Seasonal Celebrations: Capitalise on peak celebration periods with special promotions featuring ice fountains. Our guide on seasonal promotions with ice fountains provides a month-by-month calendar specifically for UK venues.

Marketing and Social Media Leverage

1. Creating Shareable Moments

One of the most valuable aspects of ice fountains is their inherent shareability. When customers capture and share these moments on social media, they're essentially providing free marketing for your venue.

To maximise this benefit:

• Create dedicated photo opportunities with proper lighting where ice fountains will be displayed

• Establish a venue hashtag and encourage its use

• Train staff to offer to take photos for customers when ice fountains are presented

2. Encouraging User-Generated Content

User-generated content is invaluable for venue marketing. To encourage customers to share their ice fountain experiences:

• Create a photo wall featuring customer images with ice fountains

• Run regular social media competitions for the best ice fountain photos with prizes like free bottle service

• Reshare customer content on your own social platforms with permission

For more creative ideas on how to make your venue go viral with ice fountains, check out our detailed guide on how to use ice fountains to make your venue go viral.

Practical Tips for Maximising Profit

1. Staff Training for Effective Upselling

The effectiveness of ice fountains as a profit-boosting tool largely depends on how well your staff can promote and present them. Invest in comprehensive training to:

• Teach servers to confidently explain and demonstrate ice fountains

• Develop specific upselling scripts for different customer types

• Create incentives for staff who successfully upsell packages featuring ice fountains

Remember that enthusiasm is contagious. When staff are excited about presenting ice fountains, this excitement transfers to customers, making them more receptive to premium offerings.

2. Timing and Presentation for Maximum Impact

Strategic timing significantly enhances the impact of ice fountains:

• Present bottles with ice fountains during peak times when the venue is busiest to maximise visibility

• Coordinate presentations to create waves of visual impact throughout the venue

• Train staff on proper ice fountain holder and bottle clip usage for efficiency and optimal presentation

The presentation should always prioritise both visual impact and safety. For detailed guidance, refer to our comprehensive resource on ice fountain firework FAQs.

3. Bulk Buying and Cost Management

To maximise profit margins when using ice fountains, effective cost management is essential:

• Purchase in bulk to secure better unit pricing with options for higher-volume venues

• Consider your venue's usage patterns: smaller venues might start with 80 ice fountains while larger operations might benefit from wholesale ice fountains

• Stock adequate supplies of bottle clips in bulk to ensure smooth service during busy periods

Check our ice fountain price guide and order the quantity you need.

Reusable Ice Fountain Bottle Clips Price Guide

For venues hosting performances, consider hand-held ice fountain sparklers for dancers and performers to create coordinated visual displays that enhance the overall atmosphere.