Success with Mr Funslush: Mikka Lavanto’s advice to other retailers


Our Sales Manager, Carina Hoisko, sat down with Mikka Lavanto to hear how he managed to turn slush into a real sales success in his store. From smart product placement and popular flavors to creative marketing tips – here, Mikka shares his best advice for maximizing slush sales all year round.
Hi Retailer Miikka Lavanto, thank you for taking the time to talk to me about slush – right in the middle of a busy workday! I was a bit surprised to see that all six chambers in your slush machines were still in operation, even though it's already October. Has the season been unusually long this year?
Yes, we filled the machines for the first time during Easter week in April, but now we’re getting close to shutting them down for the winter.

What made you start selling slush in the first place?
 This was actually my first summer as a retailer here in Uusikaupunki, but I originally started offering slush back in 2020 when I had a store in Pori. I wanted to stand out from the competition and thought slush would be a fun addition to the store’s product range.

I started out with rental machines and later bought my own when I became a retailer in Vaasa. The machines paid for themselves already in the first summer – that was a pleasant surprise! We sold 800 liters between mid-May and the end of summer, which equals about 2,400 servings. It probably would’ve been even more if we’d started already around Walpurgis Night.

Here in Nystad, people are already a bit more familiar with slush, and it’s not a typical student town like Vaasa, but sales have still gone well here too, with two machines, each with three chambers. The main customer group is young people, but during the heatwave in July, we noticed that adults were also happily buying slush.
How has the concept worked in practice – what do you think about the machines and the drinks?
The machines have worked exactly as they should – both the rented and the purchased ones – and they’re easy to use. We set them to night mode in the evening, and in the morning we just turn them on when we get to work. Cleaning is done once a week. Very convenient with modern machines! Our most popular flavours have been Blue Ice, Cola and Strawberry, but I definitely recommend offering six flavours if space allows it. A broader selection makes you stand out from the competition and attracts more customers. We’ve often heard things like, “Wow, you even have Kane’s!”

How has the collaboration with Nic worked out?
 I originally partnered with SnackFood, and now that it has merged with Nic, I order the concentrates via Nic’s webshop. Everything has worked great. I got help quickly when I lost my login credentials, and of course, it’s convenient being able to order 24/7. I can honestly say it’s been smooth from the start.
Who would you recommend this concept to – and what’s your top tip for someone wanting to start selling slush?
I think it would work well in many places, especially where there’s a campus or schools nearby. Also near a beach, concert venue, or shopping center... Wherever there are young people, there’s a demand for slush.

Also, make sure to promote your slush actively on social media – for example on TikTok and Instagram. Slush should be a reason to visit the store, not just something a customer happens to stumble upon!

Miikka’s tips for other retailers:
  • Slush works great as a self-service concept – customers enjoy mixing their own flavours.
  • Sell the cups and spoon-straws at the store’s checkout and place the machines after the checkout line near the entrance. That way, customers don’t have to carry their drinks while shopping.
  • There’s often a water station near the entrance, which makes it easier when it's time to empty and clean the machines.
  • Advertise regularly via K-marketing. For example, before cleaning when the tanks need to be emptied – then we sell slush for €1.99 instead of the regular €3.99. This helps reduce waste. Use push notifications!
  • We also sell slush to go in reusable hard plastic cups – perfect for the beach and can be reused at home.
  • Activate a slush loyalty card via K-marketing – for example, customers get every 10th slush for free.
Did the Slush concept catch your interest? Contact our expert Tom Lindberg, puh +358 500 422 174, tom.lindberg@nicice.fi

Success with Mr Funslush: Mikka Lavanto’s advice to other retailers


Our Sales Manager, Carina Hoisko, sat down with Mikka Lavanto to hear how he managed to turn slush into a real sales success in his store. From smart product placement and popular flavors to creative marketing tips – here, Mikka shares his best advice for maximizing slush sales all year round.
Hi Retailer Miikka Lavanto, thank you for taking the time to talk to me about slush – right in the middle of a busy workday! I was a bit surprised to see that all six chambers in your slush machines were still in operation, even though it's already October. Has the season been unusually long this year?
Yes, we filled the machines for the first time during Easter week in April, but now we’re getting close to shutting them down for the winter.

What made you start selling slush in the first place?
 This was actually my first summer as a retailer here in Uusikaupunki, but I originally started offering slush back in 2020 when I had a store in Pori. I wanted to stand out from the competition and thought slush would be a fun addition to the store’s product range.

I started out with rental machines and later bought my own when I became a retailer in Vaasa. The machines paid for themselves already in the first summer – that was a pleasant surprise! We sold 800 liters between mid-May and the end of summer, which equals about 2,400 servings. It probably would’ve been even more if we’d started already around Walpurgis Night.

Here in Nystad, people are already a bit more familiar with slush, and it’s not a typical student town like Vaasa, but sales have still gone well here too, with two machines, each with three chambers. The main customer group is young people, but during the heatwave in July, we noticed that adults were also happily buying slush.
How has the concept worked in practice – what do you think about the machines and the drinks?
 The machines have worked exactly as they should – both the rented and the purchased ones – and they’re easy to use. We set them to night mode in the evening, and in the morning we just turn them on when we get to work. Cleaning is done once a week. Very convenient with modern machines! Our most popular flavours have been Blue Ice, Cola and Strawberry, but I definitely recommend offering six flavours if space allows it. A broader selection makes you stand out from the competition and attracts more customers. We’ve often heard things like, “Wow, you even have Kane’s!”

How has the collaboration with Nic worked out?
 I originally partnered with SnackFood, and now that it has merged with Nic, I order the concentrates via Nic’s webshop. Everything has worked great. I got help quickly when I lost my login credentials, and of course, it’s convenient being able to order 24/7. I can honestly say it’s been smooth from the start.
Who would you recommend this concept to – and what’s your top tip for someone wanting to start selling slush?
 I think it would work well in many places, especially where there’s a campus or schools nearby. Also near a beach, concert venue, or shopping center... Wherever there are young people, there’s a demand for slush.

Also, make sure to promote your slush actively on social media – for example on TikTok and Instagram. Slush should be a reason to visit the store, not just something a customer happens to stumble upon!

Miikka’s tips for other retailers:
  • Slush works great as a self-service concept – customers enjoy mixing their own flavours.
  • Sell the cups and spoon-straws at the store’s checkout and place the machines after the checkout line near the entrance. That way, customers don’t have to carry their drinks while shopping.
  • There’s often a water station near the entrance, which makes it easier when it's time to empty and clean the machines.
  • Advertise regularly via K-marketing. For example, before cleaning when the tanks need to be emptied – then we sell slush for €1.99 instead of the regular €3.99. This helps reduce waste. Use push notifications!
  • We also sell slush to go in reusable hard plastic cups – perfect for the beach and can be reused at home.
  • Activate a slush loyalty card via K-marketing – for example, customers get every 10th slush for free.
Did the Slush concept catch your interest? Contact our expert Tom Lindberg, puh +358 500 422 174, tom.lindberg@nicice.fi