Today I talk with Hot Dog Profits Premium member Paul “Chappy” Chapman. Paul is a Pastor, Coast Guardsman, and Hot Dog Slinger from Stockton California.

Paul has a unique story. He got into the hot dog biz as the result of building an E-Z Built Hot Dog Cart as a rehab project after emerging from a brain hemorrhage induced coma.

Be sure to check out the pictures of his cart with on-board refrigeration at the end of this article. He did a great job!

In addition to being inspired by hearing how Paul beat the odds, you will really benefit from listening to him share his tips and tricks about selling more hot dogs from a cart.

In this interview you will learn:

• the importance of presentation
• the fast track to passing inspections
• how to increase sales with a simple menu trick
• how to increase tips in your jar
• the truth about paying taxes in an all cash business
• how to harness the power of a million dollar ad budget for free

It’s all in this edition of the Original Hot Dog Cart Radio – Broadcasting from HotDogProfits.com since 2009.

Click the link below to listen. I hope you enjoy it!
Hot Dog Cart Radio – Paul Chapman – Pastor, Coast Guardsman, Hot Dog Slinger

-Steve

click the pictures below for a larger version

Hot Dogs, Guns, Family, and American Small Business

Hot Dog Profits Premium Member Lew W. just did his first gig with his red, white, and blue E-Z Built Hot Dog Cart. You gotta see what Lew did graphics-wise. This is a work of art.

Keep reading to see tons of pics of Lew’s first event.

Lew writes…

Hi Steve,

I know you really love to see all the hard work you’ve put into your site and videos come to fruition as another slinger builds a cart from your lead.

Patriot Franks is now an official business here in ‘lil ole Corinth, MS. My family did the Firearms Freedom Rally in Guntown, MS Saturday. The promoter told us there would be an attendance of about two thousand and in reality there was probably about 350.

The day started out terrible with heavy cold rain. But by 10:30 or so it cleared and got sunny. We still turned a couple hundred dollars profit. Not too bad for our first time out.

The cart you designed ran flawlessly. In fact when I had it inspected last Friday the inspector kept telling me it was the “kewlest” thing he’d seen in a long time. He gave the cart a 100!

As a kind of nice accident there was local news coverage of the firearms freedom event as there were state candidates running in national senate primaries at the rally. 

We have secured a site across the street from one of our major grocery stores, right before a signaled intersection that Google streets says gets 7500 cars a day traffic. We’ll be setting up there for the first day of our Mon – Fri business tomorrow. I’ve attached plenty of pics from the rally. (Will send a couple emails to get em all to ya)  Feel free to use as you wish.

Steve, the motto on our cart says “Taste American Liberty”, with your help I’ve realized that dream for myself and my family. Thank you so much! Even though we’ve never met face to face I’ll always consider you a close friend.

Lew

***************************

Beautiful E-Z Built Hot Dog Cart Lew! I really like what you did with the red, white, and blue theme. That flag graphic is awesome!

I also love the blue painted fenders and the graphic that continues around the sink. Your attention to detail made such a huge difference.

The Family that Slings Together…  I know how much you must have enjoyed selling those tasty looking hot dogs with your daughters. I run my own cart with my oldest girl on occasion. She loves slingin as much as I do and we have such fun together. It’s a great way to spend a few hours of quality time with our kids and teach them about the rewards of honest work in the process.

The Theme of Your Cart Says it All. Lew, you have the freedom to start a small business because that right has been constantly protected by our brave men and women in uniform. They also fight for our right to bear arms, and our right to peaceably assemble. All three of these rights were proudly on display at the rally you were slinging at.

Thanks for taking part in such an important event. I am honored to have been been part of it in my own small way. I wish you the best of luck going forward, and let me know if you ever need anything my slinger brother!

-Steve, Colt, Springfield, and Mossberg

click the picture for a larger version

Hey Slingers,

I just got back from slingin’ dogs today at a parade for the 175th anniversary of the town just north of me. I had a great time, talked to tons of nice folks, and got to see the Budweiser Clydesdales!

HOWEVER…

Even though we might be in vacation mode this weekend, let’s not forget to pause and give thanks for those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for you and I.

It is because of these brave individuals that you and I are free to start and run our own businesses in the greatest country on earth.

-Steve

 

Hi Steve,

I have a quick question. I was recruited to sell hot dogs for an event taking place this coming Saturday, May 24th.  It is a First Annual Run for Addiction, which has morphed into a bigger event which includes, in addition to the run with over 175 registered runners, a family fun day complete with bounce houses, face painters, balloon artists, magic shows, a stage for dance demonstrations, martial arts, etc, . . . and a bunch of vendors representing local businesses.

It’s an all afternoon thing now. There are only two food vendors, myself and a funnel cake/dessert truck. No one seems to have any idea of exactly how many people to plan for, but from the way this event has grown from a simple run to all this other stuff because everyone wanted to get involved, it’s definitely much bigger already than anyone originally thought. 

The facebook “likes” for this event are close to 700—don’t know if that means anything or not. My question is. . .if anyone can help here. . . how do I even begin to know how much food to take? I’ve never worked an event like this before–so I can’t draw from experience, and while I’m really excited about it, I don’t want to buy/take so much food that I end up with a ton left, nor do I want to get out there and find out I could have sold 200 more hot dogs. What to do???

Thanks for your help. I love reading all your posts and value the collective wisdom of all those seasoned slingers out there.

Sincerely,
Lynelle
Cool Cats Hot Dogs

**********************************

Hi Lynelle,

Here’s how I see it. There is an easy option (A) and a more difficult option (B).

The easy option is only available to you if you run your hot dog cart daily, or at least a few time a week. The answer in this case is to take a LOT of food, knowing that if you don’t sell out you can move it from your cart in a few days.

The difficulty comes into play if you don’t sling hot dogs very often. In this case you must plan much more conservatively, otherwise you will have a bunch of product in your deep freezer that you won’t be able to sell.

Based on what you have told me about the event, I would bring:

A. Enough product to serve 600 meals and be prepared to bring product home.
B. Enough product to serve 200 meals and hope to sell out.

As you can see, there are big advantages to getting out there as often as possible. You can afford to take bigger risks at events like this because you can move any unsold product very quickly at your daily gig. That increased risk tolerance allows you to maximize your earning potential.

But that’s just the tip of the iceberg…

• You will build your brand faster
• You will stay in the forefront your customers’ minds
• Your set up and tear down go much smoother
• Your business benefits from the natural momentum
• You will have a much more stable and predictable cash flow

OK my seasoned slingers, what would you do in Lynelle’s situation? Let us know in the comments!

-Steve

Party planning company looking for a hot dog cart to rent for this weekend and possible 4th of July weekend. They do not need an operator, they only want to rent the actual cart. Clearwater Florida area. They are making a decision either today or tomorrow so time is of the essence.
If you are interested, please phone: 727-596-8824
Gina Thiemann
Florida Destinations

Hi Steve,

My season is off to a fantastic start!  And after I went out to go shopping after a phenomenal day, I got a word of tremendous encouragement that has had me walking on air ever since!

First, I had a great day with a great deal of business.  Far more than usual at this time of year. I actually sold out for the second time this year; today on hot dogs and last Tuesday on the pork.

Then, After work, I went out to shop for more supplies.  When I got to the store that was about 20 miles from home, I parked a bit of a distance from the store where there was some space away from other cars.  I started walking toward the store and spotted a young lady looking at me from a good distance.  She hollered over to me that she had a question.  She said, “I have heard of this before, but I don’t know what it is or what it is about.  Please tell me, what is Lakeside Lunch?” 

I filled her in and told her that was the name of my business, where it was and that I sell hot dogs and other things there.

She then told me she had heard people talking about it, but she couldn’t join the conversation and wondered what it was. I was a little excited to know that people were talking about me, so I asked where she had heard about me.  She said “At the mall.”

AT THE MALL!!!  THAT’S 30 MILES FROM WHERE I WORK!  And on top of that, it’s in Danbury where there are a gazillion food vendors, restaurants and just as many IN the mall!!! 

So I asked her what they were saying and she brightened up and told me they were saying “Very good and very nice things about you and that you have real good food.  But I didn’t know where it was so I didn’t know where to find you.”  So she asked for my web address and said she would look it up.

I COULDN’T BELIEVE IT!  30 Miles from home, in the middle of one of the biggest cities in CT, surrounded by food businesses all over the place and they were talking about ME!!!

This is going to be a great summer!!

Thank you again for all your mentoring!  I’m still learning from you.

Robin

*********************
I’m so happy for you Robin! You are obviously doing it right.

I know exactly how you feel. I can remember the first time someone recognized me when I was away from my cart. Makes you feel like a mini-celebrity, LOL!

Keep up the good work and thanks for being an HDP Premium member!

-Steve

Hot Dog Profits Premium member Dale Schroeder and his E-Z Built Hot Dog Cart are on TV in Reno.

Dale was interviewed for a news piece about eliminating permit fees for street artists. Great publicity Dale!

Hot dog vendors needed in the Houston area for June 6th and 7th.

The job pays $650 for 3 hours of serving on Friday from 3 to 6, and 3 hours
of serving on Saturday from 11 to 2.

Promoter pays for all food and supplies.

Please call Mark at 260.271.9144