The following is a guest post from Michael Wood, owner of Duggs Doggs. Millions of people across the world agree that  Michael truly is “The Best Looking Hot Dog Man in Georgia”.

Hello fellow Hot Dog Cart News readers! It’s time again for the 7th Annual Boss Hog Cook Off in Waynesboro, Georgia 11-12 May 2012. This is an official Georgia State Championship BBQ Contest with over $11,000 in prize money which attracts top notch competitive BBQ teams from across the country including “Big J and the Butts”, “Lip Smackin’ Oinkers”, “Swine-O-Mite”, and “Butt Naked and Smokin'”. They even have their own commercials!

The first question that you will ask is, “Why are you talking about Bar-B-Q when you do Hot Dogs?” Well, I’m going to tell you all about the best secret that I have. I have been doing events like this for the last 3 years. The first year I was the only food vendor other than the 30 teams that were trying to win the Bar-B-Q Cook Off and sell their Bar-B-Q. The second year they added more food vendors but I continue to be the only hot dog vendor at these events.

Dare to be different. People that attend don’t all like Barb-B-Q and most parents will spend $3.00 for a hotdog for their kids faster than $12 for ribs. Most of the cook off teams know me from other events that I attend. The locals know me from my spot in town and come by to say hi. They all come over and have a Sausage Dog, Big Dog or All Beef Hot Dog at DUGGS DOGGS “Good!! Good!!” served by “The Best Looking Hot Dog Man in Georgia”.

Sometimes all you need to do is ask. Last year I talked to the coordinators of the Boss Hog Cook Off and asked if I could co-sponsor the “Waynesboro Weiner Hot Dog Eat Off” at the event with William Mizell Ford. I figured that being the co-sponsor of the event would be a better fit than the co-sponsor the year before which was a local garage. The answer I was given was, “That would be great!”

Nothing to it. I was told that the Waynesboro Weiner Hot Dog Eat Off was being setup by a real nice lady that would do all the hard work and that all I had to do was provide the hotdogs. That fit the bill great. All I have to do is show up and fix hotdogs? I know how to do that! Well, it almost went like that. The day of the eat off a summer storm came up and everything was pushed up by 30 minutes. There I was with half cooked dogs, running around like a chicken with my head cut off. The next task was to get 60 hot dogs together and to the stage in just a few minutes, cut the burners up, and make my wife mad. Bingo… The Waynesboro Weiner Hot Dog Eat Off was a success!!

Don’t do it all by yourself. Ok, now for who really gets the credit. The nice lady that I noted above is where the real credit should go. Jayne got the three young men in the pictures below (Mustard, Ketchup, Hotdog) to dress up in the outfits all day and ride around during the event in the back of a golf cart talking people into signing up for the hotdog eat off. She also did the MC duties and talked about a dozen other people into being spotters during the eatoff. She also presented the prizes which consisted of $100 for first place, $75 for second place and $25 for third place, all provided by Mizell Ford. I gave the three winners a “DUGGS DOGGS” Tee Shirt. Oh – the good looking guy in the picture with the funny hat is me…

It doesn’t have to cost you much. The cost of this Hot Dog Eat Off to me was the cost of the hot dogs , three tee shirts, running around like a chicken with my head cut off, and making my wife a little mad. The result was so much free advertising for my business that I cannot put a price on it. Sales increased 37% from one year to the next at this event. My total year over year sales went up 19% overall. I did have fun too….

The lessons learned:

  • Make it fun.
  • You can sell hotdogs anywhere even at a Bar-b-que cook off.
  • Advertising can be free and should be free.
  • Word of mouth will increase your sales.
  • You can figure that most people cannot eat more than 6 dogs each in a timed event and 5 minutes is a long time.
  • Don’t’ use your normal dogs in a hot dog eating contest. Get the cheap ones, they will not know the difference.
  • If you attempt to do an event like this ensure that you have a disclaimer form that will release you from liability. Here is a sample application with waiver that you can look at. This is only a sample. I’m not an attorney. It’s your responsibility to make sure your waiver complies with your states laws.
  • Advertise the event.
  • Get as much help as you can.
  • Get other people and sponsors involved.
  • Spend other people’s money not your own.

And finally – it does not hurt to be the best looking Hot Dog Guy in Georgia too. DUGGS DOGGS GOOD!! GOOD!!

-Michael Wood