A Bathroom Discussion…

A most excellent question via email…

Steve,

I have a couple questions, please!

As a newbie…Have you ever done a survey to determine what your readers do
about going to the restroom while working their carts? Do they leave their
cart?  Who watches it while they are gone?  Have they ever had any problems
when they leave; theft, etc.?

What do all of the women do that seem to be in the industry?  What about at night, outside of a bar nightclub, etc OR an event/festival?

It certainly determines your location for selling…doesn’t it?!  Just curious…

Thanks!

Buddy-

OK readers, let’s hear how you handle this delicate situation. Comments!

Hot Dog Cart Condiment Tray – Sale!

I sell a pretty nice hot dog condiment tray over at HotDogProfits.com (in the accessories section), but it’s kind of pricey. $43.87 to be exact.

Here’s a great alternative…

HDCN reader Steven Pruner just alerted me to this condiment tray for $17.00 – WOW!

If you need one, or think you might need one down the road, Click Here to get yours today.

That’s a really great deal. Don’t snooze – you might lose.

Thanks again Steve P.

-Steve

Pics Of The Most Beautiful Hot Dog Cart In The World!

EZ Built hot dog cart

I’m totally blown away…

Totally.

Check out this E-Z Built Hot Dog Cart covered with custom hand painted murals. If you are from Chicago (like I am) you will be sure to recognize these scenes.

I don’t mind admitting that I teared up a little when I saw these famous scenes from my old home town gracing the sides of a hot dog cart that I designed, built by one of my customers.

This is why I do what I do here at HotDogProfits.com.

I’d like you to read the email sent to me by Larry and Ruth, owners of this rolling work of art.

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Hello Steve,

My wife and I are both retired. We were looking for ways to generate some extra cash. Our daughter works for a large insurance company and kept telling us she got a lot inquiries about coverage on a hot dog cart.

So after ignoring that for 4 months I decided to look into it. I ordered your E-Z Built Hot Dog Cart videos and plans one night and thought I could build it without much trouble. But I wanted it to stand out from other carts or its just another hot dog cart, not that that’s bad. We are quite proud of it, what do you think?  

Hope you like the pictures. I was thinking of building one with the St. Louis Arch on the back do you think there would be any takers?

Thanks,

Larry and Ruth, Patriots Hot Dogs

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Larry and Ruth – you made my year!!!

I hope everyone enjoys these pics as much as I do, and if you have a finished E-Z Built Hot Dog Cart I want to see your pics too!

And you all need to leave comments for Larry and Ruth – they deserve it!!!

-Steve

And the winner is…

You people are serious about your contests!!!

We set a new record for the number of comments in a single post – 148!  Don’t you have anything better to do?

Just kidding. I love it! You guys are the best. And when I say guys , I mean it in a non-gender specific sense. Because fortunately, half of you aren’t.

Guys, that is.

Anyhoo, I had a really hard time picking a winner so I did what I always do when faced with a very difficult decision.

I bent the rules.

I picked three. You each win a pair of chip clips, courtesy of HotDogProfits.com.

Third place goes to the workhorse. Funny or not, you posted more comments than anyone else (yes, I got a laugh out of them).  Jim –  you’re a winner!

Second place goes to the most creative online name. Dog and Coney Show (that cracked me up – very creative) – you’re a winner.

And first place goes to the comment that made me giggle for most of yesterday evening, “Honey do you think this house makes my bun look bigger?” Truly funny stuff Rick, aka The Dogfather.

You’re each getting a pair of chip clips. Congratulations.

I’ll send each of the three wieners an email today asking for your shipping address.

This was awesome!

-Steve

Butler’s Hot Dogs – Another Customer Success Story!

 

This is awesome – I LOVE stories like this!

I just got an email from Mike Butler in Michigan. Mike just got his hot dog cart up and running and he’s enjoying success right off the bat. Continue reading “Butler’s Hot Dogs – Another Customer Success Story!”

Hot Dog Cart Radio – Interview With Joel Goetz of “DreamMaker Hot Dog Carts”

Today you’re going to hear an interview I did with Joel Goetz, owner of DreamMaker Hot Dog Carts (formerly known as American Dream Hot Dog Carts) in St. Petersburg Florida.

Joel has a long history in the manufacturing sector, including RVs, custom vans, and now mobile food vending carts. If it has wheels under it, Joel has probably been involved in some shape or form.

After retiring, Joel got a hot dog cart and fell in love with the business. This naturally led him to dust off his manufacturing mojo and he started producing his own line of carts.

DreamMaker is now one of the largest hot dog cart manufacturers in the US, shipping carts all over the world.  Joel is always available to take your questions and he makes his staff available as well, so you can be assured of getting the answer you need.

Whether you need a small cart to get started with, or a full walk-in mobile kitchen, Joel can set you up.

Visit his super pretty web site at www.DreamMakerHotDogCarts.com or better yet, give him a call at (800) 408-1802 and please tell him Steve sent you.

Click the link below to listen online or right click to download the MP3.

Hot Dog Cart Radio – Special Edition
Interview With Joel Goetz of DreamMaker Hot Dog Carts

Video – The “Grateful Dawgs” Hot Dog Cart

I got a nice email from HDCN subscriber Russ Hiltz. Russ is living the dream in Lafayette, LA. Here is his story in his own words…

Hi Steve!

I enjoy getting your e mails.  I have been reading your site and updates since a few months before I got my HDC and started business.

I have been blessed with great success so far!I have gone from 3 hour lunch weekdays making $50 to now grossing over $150 every day (open 11-2).  I am the only street vendor in a thriving downtown section of a sophisticated southern city of over 100,000.  My son and I come out on Friday and Saturday nights, and when the bars close, and there is no restaurant open, we sell out, grossing between $250 to $300.

My net is 85% of the gross.  I pay no rent for the best location possible. There is a world of wonderful difference, being on a merchant’s private property, and being on one of the 11 city permit locations.  I still display my city permit, but need not renew it if I stay put.  The merchant says I add “ambience to the facade”!!

The weekly Independent (theind.com) in Lafayette, Louisiana did a nice piece about my hot dog cart operation.  There’s even a video.

They even did another piece on my award winning BBQ sauce, which I sell from the cart, and offer as one of the many condiments!

Oh, and I placed an ad in the “Quik Quarter” weekly.  Cost me $25 for two weeks.  I was at the cart when the lady called 2 days ago, asked did I want to run the ad again, I said no, but later that day, 2 people who saw it booked me and my HDC for their events, and they are happy to pay me my private/civic/charity rate of $50 an hour, 3 hour minimum.   The commercial rate is $100/hr.  Altogether 3 upcoming events away from my usual spot downtown, one being a supermarket grand opening.  None more than 3 miles away!!

Oh, and from home to my downtown site is less than 3/4 of a mile!!

It’s all good!!

Usually, life is a never ending succession of opportunities not taken, or realizing what one should have done, too late.

But maybe for once I am in the right place, etc.  I have never so enjoyed what I do.  Yesterday, the Independent hit the news racks across south Louisiana, and we were fairly swamped, non-stop.  Big crowds of nice folks conglomerating around my hot dog cart.  The shop owner loves it too.  And he, his family and staff all buy my food.  Starting today, we are starting an half hour earlier, 10:30.  I am tired of hungry, non breakfast eaters clamoring for Dawgs while my rig is warming up!!  When I tell them come back at 11, they usually wait and talk, or come back.  But sometimes, they split.

P.S. – speaking of Dale Carnegie, I am exercising my ancient mind, and actually learning everyone’s name, and calling them by their names.  As DC said, the sweetest sound we can hear is our names spoken with kindness. The other day, I rounded down on the price for a regular, she asked why, and I said it’s cuz she’s my best customer (I have many “best”!)  Do you think she walked away, delighted with her dawg, smiling ear to ear?!

A month ago, I saw “Harvey” for the ninetyninth time, and was reminded how Elwood P. Doud (Jimmy Stewart) is sincerely interested in everyone, and treats everyone with compassion and respect.  Learns their name, and invites them for dinner   Just like on the HDC!!

Steve, y’all have a blessed day!!

Russ Hiltz

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Thanks for the great story Russ, and congratulations on your new business. Looks like you are very happy!

-Steve

Original video from The Independent Weekly.

The Return of the King (King Weenie That Is…)

Here’s some video of me and the E-Z Built Hot Dog Cart working my annual block party last Saturday. If you don’t know my story, I started, grew, and sold a successful hot dog cart business using carts that I built myself. When I sold “King Weenie Hot Dogs” I signed a non-compete agreement which prohibited me from Continue reading “The Return of the King (King Weenie That Is…)”

Gig Post: “Help…I can’t find a hot dog cart to hire in Buena Park(near Knots Berry Farm) if my life depended on it….”

Just got a desperate email from a California car dealership that needs someone to serve hot dogs for a four day gig.

It’s THIS WEEKEND, so don’t lollygag or you’ll miss it. Here’s the email I got… Continue reading “Gig Post: “Help…I can’t find a hot dog cart to hire in Buena Park(near Knots Berry Farm) if my life depended on it….””