Now that the weather is getting cooler I’ve been receiving a lot of questions about stand in hot dog carts.
It seems that those who have regular hot dog carts all aspire to a stand in cart. They believe that a stand in is something to “graduate” to.
However, those who have stand in carts have a little different take on them. Yes, being protected from the elements is really nice when it’s cold out, but there are some downsides too.
Many stand in owners have told me that their trailers get awful hot in the summer. I can see that. But they told me something else that really surprised me.
A lot of them told me that when they went from a regular hot dog cart to a stand in hot dog cart their sales decreased.
How could that be?
One word. Visibility. Think about it. When you sling dogs from a stand in cart or trailer you remove your biggest customer draw – visibility. People love to see their food being cooked. They love feeling like they are a part of the experience.
Standing right next to the slinger as he works his magic is HUGE fun for the customer. A stand in cart hides the whole show.
Many of my stand in owners report that customers often look intimidated when they walk up to the window. It might sound silly to us, but there is a lot of psychology going on during the buying process. The customer doesn’t know what they are going to get because they can’t see it. This feeling is especially strong if it is their first time visiting your hot dog biz.
That being said, there is definitely a place for the stand in cart. I have personally had more that one day when I thought how great it would be to be slinging indoors. Perhaps the ideal would be to have both a stand in hot dog cart and a regular hot dog cart. If you have the budget then fine, but if you can only have one I would probably stick with a regular cart.
I guess what I’m saying is that a stand in may not be the holy grail that so many of us think it is.
So all you regular ‘ol slingers, please don’t feel like you have to step up to the stand in hot dog cart someday. You may not be missing out on all that you think you are.
Always remember – YOU are the show. We don’t sell hot dogs. We sell an experience.
Thoughts? Comments? What do you think?
-Steve
Thanks for the great word of wisdom and thought. I had those thoughts and now I don,t.
Jim
Just trying to present both sides of the coin. For some situations a stand in is the ticket, but it’s definitely not for everyone.
Hey Steve, you are right! Our customers like seeing us make their DAWG’s. Now that we are inside for the winter they stick their heads inside the window to watch us, really funny. We love it.
Marge Rivera
TWISTED DAWG
Send me pics of your indoor set up Marge!
Try this,,,,,instead of a stand in, a 10×10 canopy with side curtains along with a propane heater. It will not only keep you warm but your customers will enjoy the warmth also.
Yes, and the initial investment is do-able for anyone.
Steve, we live in Washington it rains all the time. We just opened Dec 1st and we use a pop up canopy.
Good choice David.
When you vend in one location I agree that an open cart has advantages however when running a route, the stand in cart rules the day. Minimal set up an brake down time between spots and since the primary customer is at the location that you are going to, they already know your coming so visabillity is not a problem. As far as the heat, a portable air conditioner and a mechanical heat exhaust makes all the difference. One could get fancy and put a roof mount RV ac on it as well.
Good point Joe. Email me and tell me more about your route and how you like that style of vending.
they are starting to become very popular.
Just make sure your hd don’t want a expensive fire hood system in it.
Good point regarding the fire system. Thanks Corey!
Due to age & health(or lack thereof) I moved to a stand in trailer. It’s great for bad weather, but it is hot in summer, and many shows don’t have enough electric available to run an air conditioner. I sat up next to an open lemonade shakeup stand under a tent last summer, and watched them sell 8-10 shakeups before anyone approached my trailer, and I use lots of signage. Having watched how they made their shakeups, mine were far superior to theirs, but those folks will never know what they missed. My trailer is a Fibercore, and is open and screened on three sides, much better than a small serving window, but still doesn’t give the open feeling of a cart under an umbrella or pop up tent. I have my trailer for sale on Craigslist and am looking at a cart again.
Papa Smurf
Very interesting. Thanks for sharing your story Gary!
You nailed it Steve with your last line. Our customers want the personal touch and will go somewhere else if they don’t get it from myself or our employees.
Hot Dog Cart is the way to go for us.
Glad your cart is working well for you!
Thank you , my wife and I thought about that for next year! Glad you brought this up !
My pleasure Steve. Just some more food for thought.
Hi steve you can not have your cart under a tent in Phoenix az so check out the codes for your town dogers
Interesting.
Hey Steve thanks for the info because I was beginning to think that the stand in was the way to go. I now believe that if your running routes than the stand in would come in handy as far as tear down and set up is concerned, iBut i will still work the cart for the mobility and visual that is needed for our customers.
Very good!
I feel that people want to participate in the tradition of a hot dog cart and help you in your propagating of a small business. The square box also removes the “cute factor” which is part of the draw. People like to see what you do and also in the first few seconds want to be sure you are clean and sanitary.
Right on Roger!
I also started out with a cart but when the weather turned cold I built a food trailer. I still sell the same great dogs along with BBQ and a host of different drinks. I never saw a drop in sales. The customer can still watch me make their food. Great food and great service will always win the customer over.
That’s good to hear. And you are right on about great food and great service!
If you get a trailer that the whole serving side opens, people can see everything and be more comfortable. Or set up and serve from a rear window that is full width.
Good ideas Mary. Thanks!
You’re right. I love the give and take (conversation and jokes) that abound around my stand in. If it rains too hard, I just close up.
Me too. It’s like tending bar without the drunks. A lot of fun!
Steve, just want to offer my experience from my Italian Ice push cart. The kids just want to look inside the cart. They know what I have and they still wan to look! They also want to help you out!
From Italian ice to hot dogs, everyone is curious about us slingers!
Cook ’em outdoors…that’s what hats,gloves, coats and umbrellas are for !
I worked an outdoor event here in Denver this past Saturday and the huge paycheck kept me nice and warm for 4 hours !
People love to see those dogs comin’ out of those steamy trays and right into their cold
hand !
Booyah!!!
NiCe!!!
Yes! always hot and fresh. make those dogs a show. people don’t want a dog that’s stashed away wrapped in a hotbox.
they can get that anywhere else. and they will fetch people for you.
Yep.
Another Winter season question for everyone: I’m just now getting my EZ Built completed, and I’m wondering if it would be a good idea to open up in the Winter, or just wait until warmer weather hits? I’m in Illinois, so it can get cold here. Also, does anyone change up their menu for cold vs. warmer weather? …and if so, what are your best selling items for cold weather? Thanks! 🙂
Definitely go for it in the winter at least part time. When the weather gets to be 45 or above with little wind, it’s really quite bearable. Hot food sells great in cool weather. At the least you will gain experience and work the bugs out for the spring sling opener!
Thanks, Steve. I def don’t want to miss out on 4 or 5 mos. of potential sales to wait for “Summer time”! …….And, I’d love it if you’d make a Winter Menu edition for your blog. Looking for the best sellers for cold weather. Also, do you run your water system dry for Winter, or do you use something like an RV winterizing antifreeze? Thanks again!
Hi Todd. Anything hot will sell great. Winterizing is another topic entirely, but yes I run my system dry and blow it out with compressed air when I’m storing my cart in cold weather. Two cracked heaters taught me that lesson the hard way.
Thanks, Steve,…… I’ll be keeping you posted!
Pics, pics, more pics!
Just remember, whether you are selling in a inside cart, or from your own hot dog cart, first impressions are everything Show that smile of yours, make eye contact, greet them with a hello whether they are passing by, or stopping to see the hot dog show You use the old hook and lure for customers in all kind of ways Most customers, do not see a hot dog cart in most small cities, and many will come back next time around to see your hot dog show, and of course buy your hot dogs Always be excited, let them see your smile, I love what sell, and every hot dog I put the magic ingredient of love for what I sell It keeps them coming back for more and more hot dogs! gary the hot dog man!
Love your enthusiasm Gary The Hot Dog Man!
another thing is thou, a cart you can pull with a tiny car.
and enoght supplies to hold you for hours.
even a small trailer with require a large car or truck and hitch to pull.
but you can have freezers and fridges in it holding much more supplies.
That is true. Your tow vehicle is a big part of the equation.
I build my stand in trailers with a serving window that is only a foot from each end. They are at least 30″ high and everyone can see what is going on inside. I also put 4 sinks in so the health dept. deems it a mobile food kitchen and lets me serve anything that I want. My trailers are only 4′ X 8′ and light enough for me to push around in the grass yard by myself. So, they can be pulled with any vehicle larger than a “SMART CAR”. I don’t find them hot in the summer nor cold in the winter and the serving windows have flaps that make awnings for my customers to stand under while waiting for their food. I much prefer the trailer to my carts (I have both) any day. I have never had a decrease in sales in the trailer. It is a matter of personal choice, but I like the options that it affords me. Happy slinging.
Thanks Leon!
There’s a woman in town who has a mobile unit in town. She’s super sweet & puts out a really good plate. Here’s why I won’t go to her…The unit is SO loud we can hardly hear her. We have to yell at each other to place & get my order. I do not suffer any hearing loss and my children can’t hear her either, so that’s not the issue. It’s just so loud, plus the inside is dark & the screened windows are so dark & small that we can’t even see her enough to try to read her lips. It’s just so frustrating that it’s not even worth it. I’ll stick with my cart, thank you. Like you said, way more personal.
The TOTAL experience is what matters. As Scrump points out you can get 9 out of 10 things right, but if you mess up one part of the show badly enough you will lose sales. A lot of sales. Thanks Scrump!
Steve you nailed it on the head. The stand I worked on as a kid was open. We rolled it off the truck had a 4 pole awning above us and a cooler to right of us. Later they used a double axle trailer where all sides flip up for the same open experience but not as labor intensive with unloading; which is still used today.
Here is what I have found to be a drag with the trailer:
1. Power is your drug. You are either looking for it or feeding the generator that can handle only so much.
2. Really need 2 AC units in summer because it is hot.
3. Tried to get to a couple of events and one would only allow food trucks while the other would only allow tents.
4. Pulling 22′ from tip to tail, fully self contained with freezer, sandwich prep unit, soda fountain w/ice maker, plus everything else is not for the faint of heart.
5. I am better taking off the peak of hot summer because controlling temperatures of food at proper levels is always first and foremost.
6. Refrigeration produces a lot of heat. I have to make ice before I leabe to balance the heat and electrical load.
Here is what is great about a stand in:
1. I have much flexibility in varying my menu because of a 7 foot burner set up.
2. The entire rig is your billboard.
3. When the weather is nasty out inside is an oasis.
4. When we pack up, we’re done and totally cleaned up and ready for the next gig.
5. Our window is 8′ x 3′ with an 8′ counter underneath it. People can see the entire process. What I like to do is make a big deal out of the pick up side: “Chicago Dog!”, “Double Dogzilla”!, “Red Beans & Rice”!, “Go Nuts ITalia Sausage”!, “Hot Chocolate w/whipped cream”, “Strawberry Shortcake”!. Etc. Etc.
6. People say they have never seen a hot dog trailer like this.
7. When you’re plugged in at a gig and it is more than one day it is nice to lock everything up and leave it for the next day.
A little longer reply than I expected but thought some of this perspective might help.
Charlie Hehn
Charlie, thank you so much for the detailed comment. Very valuable input for all slingers, me included!!!
thanks for all the input, but I will stick with my cart even in the cold
Keep your feet warm. Your toes will tell you how long you can stay out.
I always remember the first slinger who convinced me I could sling. He had basically a chest of drawers ( all stainless ) with the BBQ on top and nifty steam drawers beneath for buns. It was 2′ deep maybe! 3′ wide and about 4′ tall. Tiny right? Certainly no high output event cart but here is the key he was busy all winter all summer because buyers subconsciously support the little guy. He simply walked his cart wherever like a stroller. More telling other slingers were NOT busy a few hundred feet away. Talk about cozy with your customer they are as close to the BBQ as the slinger almost. This was 10-15 years ago and then the cart was not cheap! $10,000.00 but the guy was busy ALL THE TIME 🙂
David and Goliath. Awesome comment Rich!!!