Nelson's Ice Cream : Selling an experience (9.7.2013)

http://www.nelsonsicecream.biz/

This place though, seriously. On Saturday the 7th, after traveling to Stillwater with Josh to see his family, we all took a 10pm venture to Nelson's Ice Cream, and were thoroughly  warned and cautioned by Ellie to

GET A CHILD'S SIZE. Do not get a small. Seriously. Split a child's size. Just do it.
Okay Ellie. Is it really that bad?
Yes.
Okay.

Thank you for the warning and advice Ellie. Because oh man do they serve you up a huge serving of ice cream. As it was 10pm and who really has business eating that much ice cream that late at night we did decide to split the child's size which was a good choice, because although that ice cream was SUPER YUMMY, there is no way we would have been able to finish a whole one ourselves.

The stats (child's size):
Challengers: Josh and Abby
Cost: $3.25
Size: enough for (3 regular sized scoops/1 nelson's sized scoop) of two different flavors
Flavors: Monster Cookie and White Chocolate raspberry
Awe: mouth gaping disbelief


As we stood in line, Joe posed a question regarding what Nelsons was actually selling.

They aren't selling ice cream here, what are they selling? Abby you should get this.
They're selling an experience.

Nelsons sells an experience, they sell a wow factor, they sell excess, they sell consumerism, they sell indulgence, and variety with their extensive flavor list, they sell to a wide range of tastes, they sell being overwhelmed, they sell summertime, they sell a challenge, and they sell it out of a building so small the ice cream must be kept in a separate building. They sell the fame you get for finishing the legendary lumberjack, and the novelty of the congratulatory tshirt. They sell the "Aughh!!!" you get when you tell your friends you went to Nelson's. Nelson's attracts consumers of a good time, and groups of friends for sharing the ice cream with. They encourage variety by providing the option for trying multiple flavors, and they attract you back again and again because there are so many flavors to try. They also sell their story by posing news articles and photographs on the walls. And they sold me, I'd totally go back again!