250-300 customers for hot milk, but he still sells kulfi in winter: Indore vendor’s smart business move

A roadside milk seller in Indore has sparked a conversation about an unexpectedly smart way to think about business. While most vendors would focus only on what sells during the current season, this seller is already preparing for months when his main product will see a sharp drop in demand. His strategy involves selling kulfi in winter, even when far fewer people are buying it. A social media post about his approach highlights a simple lesson: today’s customers can help create tomorrow’s revenue.

Why is the Indore vendor selling kulfi in winter?

Social media user Pratham took to X and shared the story after visiting Indore with his family last winter. While exploring the city, Pratham spotted a roadside stall selling hot kesar milk. The stall was drawing significant crowds, with around 30 to 40 people waiting for their turn.

But something else caught his attention. Alongside the hot milk, the vendor was also selling kulfi, even though it was winter. Curious about the unusual combination, Pratham asked the vendor, “Who buys kulfi in this cold?” The seller's answer revealed the thinking behind the unusual business move.

Vendor gets 250-300 hot milk customers in winter

According to the vendor, his hot milk business performs particularly well during winter. He told Pratham that he currently gets around 250 to 300 customers a day for hot milk. However, he expects that demand to fall dramatically once summer arrives.

In summer, the number of customers buying hot milk drops to just 20 to 30 a day. Instead of waiting for the seasonal slowdown to arrive, the vendor decided to prepare for it in advance. That is where kulfi comes in.

He is building demand before summer arrives

The vendor explained that he had started selling kulfi during winter even though the immediate demand was relatively small. His goal is not to make a huge profit from kulfi during the colder months. Instead, he wants customers to become familiar with the product.

As he explained, even if he sells only 5 to 10 kulfis a day, people are getting to know that his cart sells kulfi. By the time summer arrives, he hopes those customers will already associate his stall with the frozen dessert.

The business lesson behind the strategy

The vendor's approach is essentially about preparing for future demand instead of reacting to it. Rather than abandoning his cart when hot milk sales fall in summer, he is using the winter months to introduce another product. The relatively small number of kulfi sales today could help create a customer base for the months ahead.


His strategy also shows why building awareness can matter even when immediate sales are modest. A customer who buys kulfi once in winter may remember the stall when they want something cold in summer. Pratham summed up the lesson in the post with the line: “Use today’s customers to build tomorrow’s revenue.”

For a small roadside business, the idea is remarkably simple. Instead of waiting for demand to change, the vendor is using his strongest season to prepare customers for what he plans to sell in the next one.