Two popular fixtures in Philadelphia’s frozen treats sector, artisanal West Philly popsicle store Lil Pop Shop and Fishtown concept Weckerly’s Ice Cream, have been sounding boards for each other for years.
Being confronted with the pandemic only strengthened that bond, and the two entities are trialing a partnership aimed at driving new business to each shop. Prior to Covid-19, Lil Pop Shop operated a Rittenhouse Square location that carried Weckerly’s ice cream products, which are created by Weckerly's co-owner and trained pastry chef Jen Weckerle. The idea was that in spring 2020 Weckerly’s would begin carrying Lil Pop Shop popsicles at its Fishtown outpost, but the arrival of the pandemic adjusted that plan.
Lil Pop Shop didn't renew its Center City lease, and instead is now co-operating its 265 S. 44th St. store with Weckerly's, said Jeanne Chang, co-owner at Lil Pop Shop. The collaboration launched mid-April, coming after the businesses spent more time working together on the now-paused Joy Box artisanal product delivery service of last spring.
In addition to its standard popsicle offerings, which include flavors like coconut hibiscus, matcha mochi, and Vietnamese iced coffee, Lil Pop Shop is carrying a full menu of Weckerly’s products like scoop ice cream, pints, and ice cream sandwiches. In Fishtown, Weckerly’s is carrying a selection of popsicles, too.
A major component of the partnership is the new dual-branded Popalong Truck, an events ice cream truck the two businesses launched in May.
The fully staffed truck can be booked for events starting at a base price of $550, plus a fee per guest. There are two packages: “Party in a Truck” offers up to six flavors of popsicles and three variations of ice cream sandwiches for $4.25 per person, and the “Local Hero” option features popsicles, ice cream sandwiches, and up to four flavors of scooped ice cream for $5.25 per person.
The partnership — which the businesses plan to explore making a legal arrangement — drives new customers to each concept because of a broadened product offering, said Andy Satinsky, co-owner of Weckerly’s. Revenue and operating costs are split so if one business makes a higher percentage of revenue, it reflects in their share of costs to avoid "uneven distribution of expenses,” Satinsky added.
About $20,000 was spent on revamping the 44th Street shop as a co-branded venture, according to Chang. Lil Pop Shop had the events truck since 2013, and the companies commissioned local design firm Smith & Diction to rebrand it.
The truck is seeing steady bookings for weddings and corporate and university events as employees and students return to offices and campuses, Chang said. More volume is anticipated moving forward.
Weckerly’s and Lil Pop Shop reinvested capital to fund the partnership, using cash that was available because aid programs like the federal Paycheck Protection Program helped offset operating costs throughout the pandemic, Chang and Satinsky noted.
Benefits of the partnership include pooled staff and operational resources, as well as having additional business partners to lean on while navigating the pandemic.
“Having more minds working on a problem … always just feels better,” Chang said. “I think that it has helped us tremendously.”
