Hot Dog Cart News reader Cary Budach wrote in a while back to tell me about the PHENOMINAL success he’s having with his hot dog cart business, “Game On Dawg!” Cary writes…
Steve:
We started our ‘Dawg’ business in September of 2009 with one cart, and a bunch of hope.
Our first location was an outdoor mall and traffic was good. Once winter came, it was ‘dog -no more’. So we started planning for the spring season.
With a little online research, we found several websites that listed local village fairs and festivals. Our first gig was in late April (it was COLD!), and it was a smash! Since then, we’ve done 25 fests with a total of 69 gig-days. We’ve gone from one cart to five and have even had to hire-out a few gigs to other local doggers.
This winter, we’ve managed to land an indoor flea market on the weekends, and indoor minor league hockey at a local rink (30 games thru March). Although our menu is primarily ‘dogs’, we’ve also done Brats, Fried Chicken, Pizza, Italian Beef/Sausage, and a full breakfast menu.
The biggest draw we’ve found, is our presentation. Large banners with our logo, and recently, we’ve found our ‘theme’ – black and white striped umpire shirts, matching tablecloths, and inexpensive awnings surrounding our 10×10 tent.
We also built our own kiosk. It’s 8′ x 3′ (on wheels), with removable canopy and banner rack. Inside is plenty of room for anything we could imagine including a fridge and microwave, and doors that lock, keeping our supplies safe when we’re away. We’re planning on incorporating a 2-pan steam top into the unit, but currently we still do our cooking in either propane or electric carts. We transport the unit in a box trailer, which makes our set-up time about 5 minutes.
We’ve also found a designer to create a unique logo (if you need a logo designed, contact me and I’ll point you to an exceptional designer!) and have business cards to match.
Our festival gigs have generated many new leads. One village has asked us back 4 times(!) and we’ve made LARGE DOLLARS). ***I dont’ know if I want to mention several $1500-$1700 days)*** Next year, we are hoping to ‘staff-out’ 7 or 8 carts.
My most important suggestion to someone looking to get into the dog business is: Follow your dreams and get your hot dog cart training at HotDogProfitsPremium.com!
Cary Budach
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Game On Cary! Your ingenuity and presentation are a true inspiration. This is a perfect example of what I always say – “Don’t just sell a hot dog, sell an experience!”
Thanks for sharing your highly motivational story with us,
-Steve
I had never thought of doing that for a front counter! I will be building one next week for sure ! Great Idea !!
Send me pics Jim. I’d love to see what you come up with!
-Steve
I love to hear success stories and yours is quite inspiring. You have been quite busy with all those festivals and building your business. Being new and logo-less I’d like to take you up on that artist. What website do you use to find all these festivals? Congrats once again and don’t have a boss ever again!
What an Inspirational story! Thanks for submitting it. Can’t wait to get started myself!!!
Real nice logo…..
Great story, you are rockin it. I would love that designers name.
Cary,
You can just leave the designer’s contact info here in the comments.
-Steve
Check out CraftmasterNews.com and festivalnet.com for events.
Best of luck!
GREAT LOGO! The enthusiasm your artist expressed makes me feel like I’m at a ball game. And what could go better at the All American Game than the All American Dog!
What a great looking kiosk !! The stripes really stand out. Great story & best of luck in your venture.
1st mate Jim.
Cary and I have finished kiosk #2 and are excited about the many double gig days in the near future!!!
Cary,
Would really like to hear the name of the designer.
Love it just another great story,and makes my blood flow with more great IDEAS !!!!!!!!LOVE IT !!!!!!!!
Like the logo and the presentation good luck and continued success with your expanding business
Here is the designer I use. He may be the same one Cary uses…
http://hotspotgraphics.com/
-Steve
I get more and more enthused every time Steve sends me info like this. Thank you Steve and THANK you Cary. I have NOT been procrastinating, I have almost everything I need now to continue building, and I’ll be out there with you within the month … (keeping fingers crossed).
Cary, your kiosk is stunning, and I can see why you are doing so well. Just keep it up.
@Gary Causer, you misspelled CraftmasteRNews.com, but I discovered the missing “R” easy enough. Thank you for that info, if just ~may~ come in handy.
Skip
Nicely done. So exciting, isnt it? Starting something new and having it “pan” out…LOL
Great job Cary! I’m curious as to what kind of pizza you can cook in your kiosk?
Steve, our logo designer is my VERY talented brother. I am trying to get in tough with him to make sure it’s OK to share his info.
in touch I mean..
Hi Cary,
You sounds like you are doing everything right. I am happy for you. Please let me know who your logo person is. I could use one along with business cards.
Thanks,
Mike
I too will say good job! I’m encouraged and impressed. I wish you continued success. Did you build all of your new carts from Steve’s cart plans, or did you buy your many carts. And do you find it hard to run multilple carts ?
Janet
Okanagan,
Cary modified some used carts. Outfitted them with bigger burners and converted some to electric.
-Steve
thank you for the new out look i just got my first cart trying to get all the perpents need
Good Story, Good set up, Please tell me you don’t sell sneakers from that stand as well. Keep Doggin it!
What a great set up, wish you guys all the best. keep it up.
Great job, Cary!
Any feedback from your brother, Mrs. Walsh?
Great logo!! Who put together the design? I am in the process of starting up and would like to get rolling on the logo.
Wow, thank you all for such wonderful comments and compliments. [We] are taking all the hints from ‘Hot Dog Profits Premium’ to promote, and expand our ‘doggin’. We started with a good product, and quickly learned that ‘presentation’ is all a part of the experience for the customer. Our ‘kiosk’ idea worked very well.. Doubling our sales almost instantly. Kiosk #2 is 99% complete, and is a bit ‘fancier’. Running multiple carts is as easy as the people you have on staff. Logistics is a bit of a load, getting everything ready and on-site, but worth it! I used Steve’s ideas when modifying ‘stock’ hot-dog carts.. I like to go ‘high heat capable’ carts…. bigger gas burners, multiple electric burners, etc. My next prototype ‘cart’ will use immersion heaters… Very efficient, and cheap! Again, thanks all!
Nice set-up and logo!!! “GAME ON”
what an awesome success story . love story’s like this.
Thanks Cary! I am just getting started and a little of leary of building a cart since I am a woman but hope it achievable. I work at a hospital and I threw the indea out of my hotdog cart to one of or Drs. He first looked at me strange and then said he loved a Chicago dog. I asked him if he like Sonoran Dogs…and he said he hated bacon, mustard, and chicken skin! I laughed out loud and said well, when I get my cart I ‘ll have a “Darryl Dog” (his first name) and make sure theres no mustard or bacon or chicken skin! We have another Dr. we call BIG DADDY so we came up with a dog for him lol! I am trying to get hosp to let me put my cart at there site 🙂
You can contact our logo designer at logoguy@rocketmail.com
Great story I purchased a cart and have been out two saturdays in a row. Reading all I can and enjoying all the great success stories. Cant wait to tell mine Good luck and great cart!!!
What kind and brand of dogs do you sell.
We sell 100% beef name brand dogs, in various sizes. We like to use the ‘natural cased’ dogs, for the ‘snap’, but at times we go with the skinless dogs. A 7″ dog looks real good on a 6″ bun..
Great story. Very inspiring. Do you have pictures.
Hey Cary good to see you after all this time. Mary , Lombard Illinois