Hey Steve,
Please keep me and my location anonymous on this one if you share it.
I’ve been reading your emails with all the great tips, etc. I wanted to share with you and maybe your readers a recent discovery. I am going in to my first full year with a cart. Last fall was more or less a test run with a couple of events and flea markets. I have been looking for a full time place to set up.
There is a guy here in town that has a great location. I constantly hear from folks who frequent his cart and/or talk about how great he is doing. Gotta say that I was intimidated by this hot dog legend and worried that I just wouldn’t “cut the mustard”. I had driven by a few times, he did seem busy and he really does have the location squared away. How in the world could I compete with this guy?
Yesterday a friend and I stopped by to have a dog and see what was so great about this cart. With much consternation on my part we pulled in for the research run. What did this fellow have? Besides the location, nothing. In fact the cart was filthy. There was a small table (looked like a cheap living room coffee table), with various bottles of unlabeled condiments, it also was dirty. The person serving us reached in with bare hands and grabbed a bun to place the dog in it, no glove, tongs…etc. In fact the tongs were only used for the heated items. Of course without washing they also took the money and made change. At four bucks for the basic dog, which did include heated onions and kraut if you dared, you would expect greatness.
Despite what appeared to be the health risk, I had to try the dog. I tasted a day+ old bun, and a mediocre dog. I was finished.
Two things that I learned:
1) Don’t let the competition beat you before you even start.
2) Location, location, location.
This guy had me beat by word of mouth alone. The bar is set so low that I couldn’t limbo under it if I was twenty five years younger and double jointed!
If you decide to share this, maybe there are some stories from your readers about the big dog in town that they thought you couldn’t possibly compete with will inspire someone to just get out and do it!
I gotta go for a drive and find that perfect spot…….see ya!
Thanks for what you do,
Mr. X
Well my advice Mr X is,
If he has such bad food an service , you know where to beat him at..my advice is go to the
corner across from him..cut your price to 3 or
3,50..maybe once they try you they will stop
going to him..
I mean gas stations sometimes are 3 to a corner
ever wonder why it’s like that..it’s called competition, and this is what this guy sounds like he don’t have.
After all you had to get the same permits an
licenses he got..there’s no permit that says you have to set up only in 1 certain place correct..
I mean the people are there already let them
choose who should stay an who should leave..
by what you say i think you will win out in the
HOT DOG WARS..good luck
P.S. You never did mention how long he was
at the location..takes a while to build up a
following..
Location…shmation
Having a dog cart in a town that has other dog carts is the same as having a convenience store or a McDonalds in a town that has a plethora of both… there is still room to make an impact and have success.
I always tell my employees to wash their hands and put on the gloves like it is a marketing skit. To combat this guy, never say anything bad about him, but make it so everyone notices how obsessed with sanitation you are. They’ll notice and figure it out.
Some cities have permits that are very location specific. It’s a way for the existing restaurants and carts to keep out competition.
I agree with Yank’s Franks, never say. Disparaging word about the other “guy” but let your actions, product and presention do all the talking! Let word of mouth do all the work for you and then you will see who the real top dog is!
I’m also looking for a locations and seeing who is out there. I have come across some very dirty trucks and very moist buns. It’s a wonder they stay in business. They give the hot dog business a bad name and deserve for a clean truck to move into there neighborhood . But there also are some out there that I have been very impressed with and have also given me some great tips and ideas. I will not be moving next to the good ones.
Makes me want to charge 4.25 for a dog and put up a sign that says, “Come find out why!!”
Bob,
I agree with everything you said but be careful about cutting your price. A lot of folks think that the only way they can compete is by having the lowest price in the market. Really bad business move. Offer an awesome product and great customer service and charge for it.
Wayde,
There have been marketing experiments that have shown that higher prices actually increase sales. I would be interested to hear of your results.
Right on Rick.
Yanks,
Great point. After all, everything is marketing.
I agree with you 1oo% Stevie!
Dawn,
Don’t be afraid of the competition, even the good ones. Competition is good for business.
People are not stupid. Can you imagine how well you can do, if you would just do it with excellence.
“Can you imagine how well you can do, if you would just do it with excellence?”
Quote of the day. Thanks Chappy!
I sell $1.00 regular hotdogs, just ketchup n mustard, and i have the special hotdogs at fifferent prices but the one dollar sign attracts eveyone to me.
So …. how do you get a good location? Just pick a corner and drop your cart there? What would keep someone from blocking you out of your spot? Lots of questions …. I would appreciate some answers.
I fully agree with presenting the best product you can give your customers and not compromising on your price. They will be back once they taste your product and see how clean your cart is. Has worked for us and our best advertising is the word of mouth from our customers.
Hey Mr. X sounds like you care which is great for all of us who strive to be the best. My advice is just be you, and you will always come out on top! Sounds like your already in your way.
Best of luck!!
from the stand point of being a consumer, and stopping by that fellers cart, and observing the health risk issues (which my house hold does), that would have turned me around and fled the scene 🙂 Even though we pray over everything that goes in our mouths, knowing that it might make us sick, but not dying from it, cause it was blessed. Number two issue would have been Smut, Gossip and Slander about some body and their issues.
this was excellent advice y’all, and certainly y’all are a team with integrity!
Rich, I wrote an article on that very subject a while back. How To Get The Best Hot Dog Cart Locations
Cowboy knows what he’s doing!
Bubbadogz – great words of encouragement. Thanks!
Mach,
I do have the best readers in the Dogosphere. A GREAT bunch of people!!!
Hey my friend, I would be wary to cut my pricing! I would stay at the same price, and have a spotless clean cart ! People will notice! Be friendly, good dog, good price, clean cart= lotsamoney!
Yep.
Y’all are getten it Down Now! 🙂 Cheap is just what it says it is! “Lowest Hot Dogs in Town”, tells me that yer hurting and therefore I still would want to barter for the chips or soda? Empty yer trash for a Soda 🙂
However when I take my wife out for a steak, I expect what the rich expect, Good Food, Service and a Smile, and no dirt under the fingernails. 🙂
Clean cart….Fair prices….Salemanship…and Consistency, Consistency,Consistency!!!!!
Where I’m at, the Health Department only responds to a complaint or a question of compliance. I was the new dog across the street from a very “dirty” dog vendor. Called my health department to come out and re-certify my cart while it was on location….all carts have to be certified prior to getting a vending license. (they were happy to comply for my “check-up”). Well two days later he showed up and I got a perfect score:-). I took my “perfect score report” ..framed it and mounted it front and center by my menu…in less than a week I was hearing from “friends” that my competitor was being asked where his certificate was and why he didn’t have one…in less than a month I was at the intersection by myself….good business practices will be their own reward..I leave it to the general public to talk “stink” 🙂
Well, I will say the following: I am the only hotdog cart in my little town. I set up in front of the local bank and have resturants 4 doors down in both directions (one has hotdogs on their menu)(both owners and empoyees eat at my cart from time to time). 2 block away I have 4 addional resturants and at least 2 store that sells hotdogs for .50. These do not count the McDonalds, KFC, Burger King, Sonic, Huddle House, Bar-B-Que place and other resturants within driving distance. I do a few festivals every year around 15 of these type events, with a few Private, Grand Openings, Customer and Employee Days and Corp events tossed in here and there just for spice. I always have people that sell hotdogs, sausage dogs and at about 75% cheeper than I do. I sell my dogs for $2.00, Sausage dogs for $4.00 and Big Dogs for $4.00 drinks and chips are $1.00 each. In saying all of this I have had my best days at festivals with these same people within a few feet of me everytime. At my street location I normally work about 3 hours a day (note I have 3 spots that I am authorized to set up at when I want too). We did have a guy going around in a truck selling hotdogs and sausage dogs but the HD caught him and put him out of business. I run my cart “parttime” and my sales have increased every year about 30% that I have been in business. Your business is what you make it no matter where you are or what you are doing. The secret is: Make a Plan; Plan the Work; then Work the Plan…..
DUGGS DOGGS
Good!! Good!!
Consistency! YES! I know of one dogger who is constantly changing the menu hoping that people will like the variety. I find that customers like knowing what they’re going to get. Also, keep the hours as consistent as possible. Weather may play a role, but customers understand that. Just be there on every nice day you can. My customers know that if the wind is blowing a gale off the lake, I can’t work. I’d spend the day chasing napkins and plates all over the lot. Nor can I be there if it’s raining. It hasn’t hurt my business at all. It’s better this year than ever before!
What is fear but fear it self, what beat fear is action, action, action, baby.!!!! (*_*)
DO NOT CUT YOUR PRICES to be lower than him. If anything, charge .25 more.
Where’s the Health Department when you need them? That’s a darn shame
I just got started in my town, but I do know that a successful business is birth through excellent service.
I think that guy has a relative with a cart here.
“Lowest Hot Dogs in Town”, tells me that yer hurting.
Right on Mach.
Yes, Dogs on the Run – consistency is very important.
Tiki Java,
Great example! I congratulate you on your integrity and love how you came out on top because of it!
It doesn’t hurt to be so darn good looking either.
“Good!!! Good!!!”
Robin,
Sound like you are among many here whose business has increased year after year. Nice!
Lenzie-
Absolutely agree. The best antidote for fear is taking massive action.
“If anything, charge .25 more.”
Right on Kevin!
Greg,
See Tiki Java’s awesome comment…
B&D,
Good luck and great success!
JohnB…
LOL!
Don’t discount your price! Nobody wins in a price war. Especially with a guy who has a cheaper, inferior product. Charge a fair price and offer excellent service.
Sell a great product , and most important in my opinion …. STAY CONSISTANT …. To many people bait people in with a quality dog only to change .. That can kill you with getting regular customers .. Good luck and happy doggin
Tony
Uncle Bibbys sausage shack
Yes Steve I kept the name and am making my uncle proud and look down on me licking his lips..
Strive to be predictable. No gimmicks!
A hot dog orders a beer from the bar.
The bartender replies ” Sorry, we don’t serve food here”.
Hey slinger’s my name is Patrick Mullican
I am not a slinger “YET” but I am going to be.
A little bit of my history, I was in pest control for 17 years, there is one thing I have learned while being in the service industry for as long as I have,
That is Higher prices do sell.
Most of the companies I worked for did not fall in to the price war trap, those that did, did not last in the business.
There is a little saying that every consumer has heard and believes, and it is true
“YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR” The consumer will pay that little extra for a better service, product etc. good luck every one and hope to be slinging dogs with you all very soon.
Pat!!
“YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR” How true Pat. Welcome aboard and let me know if I can answer any questions for you!