Kentucky, Indiana Ice Cream Shops Should Adopt This Michigan Parlor’s Name Game Concept

Yes, it's fall, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't want free ice cream. In case you haven't noticed, we haven't had the most seasonable fall weather this year, not that what we have had has been unpleasant. But that doesn't matter, warm or cool, hot or cold, I'll take the ice cream.

To be honest, I prefer it in cooler weather, but we can get to that another time, if we need to. Let's get back to free ice cream. After all, that gets everybody's attention, right?

Every business that serves some kind of food throws contests our way, periodically. Sometimes they're easy; sometimes they're quite involved. Many of them, like the ones curated by The Takeout, would have participants eat as much of [FILL IN THE BLANK] as they can handle. I don't know if I could do that with ice cream; no one wants to get tired of eating ice cream.

The Corner Cone

If I want ice cream, I seek out the locals. There's a Nashville chain called Jeni's, and I don't leave Music City without stopping in. If I'm ever in Davison, Michigan, the same story will play out at The Corner Cone.

The Corner Cone Name Game

One way The Corner Cone has been making people smile for more than 20 years is because of its very simple contest. If you have the right name on the right day, you get a free cone.

How easy is that? Put a name on the sign, and if it's on your birth certificate, you get a free cone. Michigan is not an easy drive, so how about it, Kentucky and Indiana ice cream shops? You won't need big promotional meetings; you just need a book of names, and you're done.

And you'll load up on visitors; of that I have no doubt.