HDCN Reader Rob Marsden just sent me these pictures. Better put on your sunglasses before you look at them. This is a lesson in attention getting!
Rob writes…
*******************
Steve,
I just wanted to take a minute to say thanks for being an inspiration to us as we followed our dream and built our concession business. I subscribed to your newsletter sometime early last year, and although our plan was not for a hot dog cart, we found that many of the ideas and principles from the hot dog cart business also apply to full size concession trailers. I remember hearing “flash is cash” from one of your posts, and we kept that in mind as we designed our concession trailer and business plan. We went live with our operation early last summer, and although we got a bit of a late start, we had a great first season. Now, we are gearing up for 2012, and preparing for a much busier schedule. I have attached some pictures of our rig below in case you want to share with your readers. We had the concession trailer custom built, but all the paint work we did ourselves. We primarily attend motorsports events, but also do some fairs and independent shows.
Thanks for everything,
Rob Marsden
STS Motorsports Concessions LLC
***************************
Totally awesome graphics on your trailer Rob! Thanks for sending me your story.
Trend: I’m seeing that a lot of my E-Z Built Hot Dog Cart students are now graduating to trailers. They got a great start by building their own carts and are now using the E-Z Built construction methods to outfit used trailers, turning them into rockin’ climate controlled money machines. Pretty cool to see so much success!
-Steve
Click the picture below for a larger version.
Nice rig looks like about 75 to 100 grand investment when equipment is added.
Nice looking trailers, I did our with bright colors, yellow with different colored graphics also, we have two trailers, and the yellow color alerts customers to the fact that we sell lemonade, gets their attention quickly as they are walking through the large number of vendors.
Very nice. Something like that I would like to have.
Good luck with your business.
Hey jonbe,
It doesn’t need to cost anywhere near that. Start with a used trailer and do it yourself. Paint and graphics can be partially bartered for through advertising.
-Steve
Hey Curtis,
You are right about the bright colors. Grabs eyeballs for sure!
-Steve
Awesome paint job! It does command a second look!
Kinda like a pink cowboy hat… right Robin? 😉
Very nice! Good luck in your 2nd year. I am in the process of doing a used van with 7’x10′ box, doing the work myself. Planning to do some exciting colors to catch the eye, hopefully barter some of the cost with advertising.
Great job! Eye catching for sure.
nice looking trailer good luck !!!!!
Give us some figures on what a rig like that might run. It’s realy nice.
Very nice indeed.
Send me pics of the construction process Jim!
Ed,
It all depends on equipment, whether you buy new or used, etc. I have a customer who just finished converting a construction trailer and if I remember this correctly, he said his total costs were under $5000. He used the E-Z Built plans to build it out.
Hey Sam, Joel, and Country Cruiser! How’s it going this morning?
This is one Great Looking set up.Love it…………………
@Steve, RIGHT! I’ve had people come in and told me that’s what caught their eye! Never planned it that way, but if it works, why not?
Nice job Rob. The trailer looks great. Lots of room. Great colors. And shelter form the rain, wind & cold. My son is considering a smaller trailer to start up with.
Hey Robin, how did you upload the pic ??
1st mate Jim.
Steve, will send some pics as I go along. Using your E-Z Built plans to build it out.
It’s exciting to see how you have went from the small cart venue to a larger more modern piece of equipment. I am just learning to walk still with the hot dog business – will start this spring and I have had my idea on a concession trailer one of my neighbors have that hasn’t move from their driveway in a couple of years. With Steve’s plans, I could probably get a good deal on it and finish it out for a reasonable cost. I love the ideal of the bright colors!
I think your outfit looks really good. I’d buy food from your trailer.
All the best in 2012.
@Jim, do you mean the pic for my gravatar? It’s all part of Steve’s tutorial on building a website. Did you check out my site? Lakesidelunch.com
Nothing short of gorgeous! A fantastic rig that should pull folks from miles around. I’m looking forward to additional rigs as well.
Those EZ plans are sooooo versitile!
Nice looking rig! Happy Selling!
Everyone should check out Robin’s website. She is one of my star marketing students. A month ago she knew nothing about websites and now she has her own. A month ago she knew nothing about marketing and now she has two local business men that want to buy advertising space on her site.
Incredible.
@ Robin. The pic in the news comments section.
I did check out your site. Nice job ! I still want to take a ride & have lunch. Couldn’t make last season.
1st mate Jim.
@ Jim, HMMmm, the news comments section? I have so many pics on my website now I’m not sure which one you’re talking about. Can you be more specific?
@Steve, Thanks for the glowing compliments. Couldn’t have done it without you!