Rita's Italian Ice

Implementation

The Howard design team interviewed several Rita's corporate staff and select franchisee partners to learn what worked and didn't work in the treat stores. The immediate need was to support existing systems while developing the new menu boards. A database compiling menu board size and style from all existing stores was generated. A webstore with a direct link from their personal logins on their "CoolNet" website was created for franchise partners to easily order annual updates and products. Because the database had already identified their menu board needs, it was a fairly simple task to make the annual flavor and product update kits in custom sizes for each franchise partner.

The expansion plan was focused on creating a menu board for new walk-in stores in strip malls around the country, so developing a non-illuminated menu board featuring a prominant banner proclaming Rita's promise of "Ice made fresh daily", easily updated and interchangeable dimensional graphic product panels and easy to change flavor strips became the primary design emphasis. Keeping the Rita's trademark blue and red color scheme was also an important design need. The curved front layered look of the new panel menu board was a hit with both Rita's corporate and their franchise partners!

Not forgetting the walk-up stores, a similar panel board was designed to hang on the exterior of the store fronts, above the order windows where customers standing in line would have a clear view of the product line and flavors of the day. This system was also magnetic and easy to change. Inside, the Today's Ice Flavors board was accessible for sliding flavor strips out as needed.

As franchise partners became interested in selling Rita's Ices at sports venues and on food trucks, The Howard creative team designed and developed concepts to adapt to these new situations.