We caught up with the brilliant and insightful David Boyer a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

David, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?

Jupiter Moon started as an ice cream bike in 2019 and the driving force at that time (and still is) was to create an iconic and celebratory space with a goal of community connectedness through the joy of ice cream. In 2020, I opened the Jupiter Moon Ice Cream shop and the mission hasn’t changed.

While we take immense pride in crafting exceptional, high-quality ice cream in small batches, Jupiter Moon Ice Cream is about much more than just the ice cream itself. It’s about fostering a sense of inclusiveness, celebration, and happiness among people. Ice cream serves as a near-perfect medium for achieving this goal. With Jupiter Moon, my aim was to create a space where joy takes center stage, where smiles are plentiful, and laughter fills the air.

David, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Several years ago, my colleague and I engaged in conversations about how our corporate jobs had gradually diminished the joy we once found in our work. We were drained by endless meetings, undervalued efforts, trivial projects, and a lack of emphasis on community well-being. During our after-work happy hours, we delved into discussions about what truly brings happiness and joy. It didn’t take us long to realize that ice cream consistently emerged as a leading contender in our conversations. This sparked my curiosity, leading me to experiment with making ice cream at home and sharing it with my coworkers. Before long, the idea of transforming ice cream into a business took root, and thus began our journey to cultivate and spread joy through the medium of ice cream.

Despite having no prior experience in the ice cream industry, I sought advice on how to transform my ice cream-making hobby into something more substantial. That’s when I discovered the North American Ice Cream Association (NAICA) and decided to attend their national conference. At the conference, I quickly discovered that people involved in the ice cream business are incredibly kind-hearted (as one would expect!). I formed numerous connections across the country, many of whom became my ice cream mentors. Notably, the owners of Ice Cream Social in Tacoma, Washington, and Skipper Dipper in Long Beach, New Jersey, became dear friends whose invaluable advice and guidance helped shape my journey.

Soon, I rented a commercial kitchen and purchased an ice cream bicycle, and thus began my ice cream venture.

The response from the community was overwhelmingly positive, and that first summer, we served thousands of cups of ice cream at art fairs, music festivals, parades, and more. What struck me profoundly during that time was the universal joy that ice cream brought. Everyone smiled—without exception. Ice cream has a tangible and real power to bring happiness, validating the discussions we had during those happy hour conversations years ago.

The following year, I leased a space and moved production there, opening the Jupiter Moon Ice Cream shop in St. Joseph, Minnesota. As our business grew, I hired more staff and we were able to dedicate more attention to the art of making ice cream. We are committed to sourcing the finest ingredients, crafting the best ice cream, and uniting the community through the marvel and celebration of ice cream. All our ice creams are meticulously handcrafted in small batches, using local and sustainable ingredients whenever possible.

Our menu features 20 flavors of ice cream, which regularly change to offer variety, including non-dairy and vegan options. In addition to scoops of ice cream, we offer ice cream floats, sundaes, and freshly baked waffle cones to enhance your ice cream experience.

There really is something for everyone, and nobody leaves without a smile on their face.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

In addition to maintaining a strong social and consistence media presence, our mobile business and community engagement have proven to be the most impactful marketing strategies. Our journey began with an ice cream bicycle, and to this day, it remains a key part of our operations. We also have a vintage-style ice cream truck (technically a trailer, but it sure looks like a truck!) that traverses events throughout central Minnesota. Both our bicycle and truck are meticulously designed to embody the spirit of joy that defines Jupiter Moon. They always generate attention, evoke smiles, and create unforgettable experiences.

A testament to our mobile presence is when customers visit our store and remark, “We saw you at an event!” Being actively involved in the community, meeting people exactly where they are, has been a pivotal factor in our success. To be candid, it’s one of the aspects I adore most about this business. Being out and about always us to spread joy, forge connections, and celebrate in the heart of our community!

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Building a reputation for excellent ice cream is a straightforward process. By using high-quality ingredients, crafting with precision and care, you can achieve good ice cream. But if you go the extra mile, sourcing local ingredients and opting for natural food colorings and flavorings, you’ll elevate your ice cream to greatness. We take pride in our reputation for serving exceptional ice cream.

However, our reputation extends beyond just great ice cream. We have become known as a valued asset to our community, a place that transcends its individual components. Recently, the Queer Space Collective, a new organization in town, sought a venue for their community kickoff celebration. We were incredibly honored when they chose Jupiter Moon as the host for their event. It aligns perfectly with our vision of creating an inclusive and celebratory space.

Building this reputation has been as simple as walking the walk of inclusiveness and going the extra mile to ensure that every customer’s experience at Jupiter Moon is more than just a transaction. We strive to create an environment where everyone feels welcome and valued.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jupitermoonicecream.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jupitermoonicecream/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JupiterMoonIceCream
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/jupiter-moon-ice-cream-saint-joseph

Image Credits
Schadow Creative, Rubinski Visual