Quick but powerful topic today: What’s the number one thing that you did in your hot dog biz that made all the difference?
Let us know in the comments!
-Steve
The Number One Thing on your Hot Dog Cart
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Simple. The UMBRELLA is the first and most important thing the people see of your business. It actually calls to them! What could be more vital?
The first step in the sales process is getting noticed.
I bought a second set of pans for my EZ built hot dog cart and an extra waste water tank. I pop the dirty set out for cleaning at the commissary kitchen and pop the clean set in. I drain the hot dog water into the extra waste water tank for easy disposal at the kitchen. I also got a tonno cover for the back of my truck which minimized the loading and unloading process. My canopy and drink coolers along with other equipment stay in the truck bed in between gigs. This greatly reduced the number of oops I forgot to pack that…. moments.
Great operations tips. Thanks Mary Jane!
Swoosh Signs! High visability from a distance. With or without a breeze, people know what is under the Hot Dog banner!
Attention is key!
Honestly, we added freash squezed lemonade to our cart. Best investment ever! On a nice hot day the lemonade signs bring people to the cart in groves.
Good margins on lemonade too!
I think it is customer service. Talk to customer joke with them entertain them make it an experience ! It will make them want to comeback
Right on Jerry!
Use a hot dog you cannot get around here (Kayem Schonland Recipe Natural Casing). We steam themand the buns too. Plus come up with original versions (for us anyway) like:
Pizza Dog: Thinly sliced pepperoni lays between the bun and the dog to which we bathe in hot marinara sauce and top with shredded mozzarella cheese.
BBQ Delight: Jacke Daniels pulled pork used as a topping for the dog then drizzled with Williams Bros. tangy BBQ sauce.
Double Dog Zilla: Two dogs on a little bigger bun nailed with everything we have.
Scratch Made Items: We always sell our scratch made items like Cole Slaw, Chili, Red Beans & Rice, Hot Chocolate.
On our Chicago dogs we do use Vienna’s poppy seed rolls, bright green relish and sport peppers, and an 8″ all beef Sabretts Natural Casing frank. We try to always use natural casing on our dogs and sausages as we want the customer to experience the snap of biting into it.
Lastly, if you do not accept plastic you should as our sales have been as high as 60% plastic at certain places. Do note we do not this ful-time as of yet and while the “boys” are in school I will be doing some solo missions.
I got excited typing and had a few typos. Sorry. I almost forgot the one important thing. The website template Steve makes available is worth it’s weight in gold. We were at a place and our customer was on the phone with her husband looking at our posted menu while he was on our website at home looking at too. He gave her his order and we packed it all up to go. Then she paid with plastic and it was an educational moment for the boys. If it were not for the techonology the sale would not have happened more than likely. Cool moment.
Glad you like it Charlie! Slingers – get yours free at http://hotdogprofitspremium.com/blockbuster-marketing-machine/
You’re making me hungry Charlie!
BE DIFFERENT, lets face it you can go to many places or go home to get a hotdog.My dogs are made by a local butcher I use great buns amish made ketchup, mustard and barbecue sauce.Amish made deep fried pies and I feel im way different and the best around.Find that one thing that makes you different that people will talk about.And believe as I do im the best….The dog pound.
Yes, set yourself apart and folks stop comparing prices. They are willing to pay more for something they can’t get anywhere else.
Would love to try one of those dogs!
A hot dog boat in 1985 was then a very unique idea.
Every year we have customers that have never seen anything like it.
Probably the most important thing is a quality product.
There were & are still few places to to get affordable food on the Ct. River.
Location, location, location matey !!! Can’t beat the view.
We love being there & many boaters make us a destination !
1St Mate Jim.
You all are certainly unique!!!
Signed up with square and started taking credit cards. Made more sales than I would have otherwise and get bigger sales! Customers who don’t know I take them come up with $5 in hand asking what they can get for that much. I point them to the signs and let them know I take cards and they take off like a rocket buying up everything in sight!
True! I love my Square Reader.
Sell Snow Cones! Best money maker I have found.
Cost .19 to make, sell for $2-2.50 ea. At events where you have kids, they wont let mom and dad escape without one, or more!
Love it!
A smile
Smiling is very powerful. Good one Kim!
PRAYED ON IT AND GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY !
Awesome!
Having a template of an invoice made that I could email invoices to Corporate accounts.
Always looking to be as professional as my customer. Invoices with Letter head, Logo, and columns that show different categories of charges, not forgetting a gratuity box.
This form has been a definite money maker over the years.
joe
I like it Joe. Very pro.
Focused on iconic hot dog brands and charges accordingly.
Love it Joel! Many of us are still undercharging for a great product and an experience that is worth charging more for.
Great Customer Services
Yep!
Social Media (ie: Facebook)
Very good, however with Facebook’s new emphasis on paid ads business pages aren’t getting near the reach in the newsfeed as they used to. An email list that you own is your biggest asset.
To start with, I hope I can remain in the group. I intended to purchase another cart but had to back out due to health reasons.
We wish we stayed with a cart rather than go with a trailer. The (home made) cart allowed us to maintain a closer contact with our customers. We sold more because we were giving them an experience. I put on a hot dog hat as a joke on our first day slinging. It became our trademark. It identified our brand.
People heard about our great food and identified us from the description from their friends. Parents brought their kids there because their kids had to have a hot dog from the hot dog man. I had to pose for more pictures than I can count. Not just with children but some hotties as well. Give them an experience as Steve teaches us. The hat was my best move!
Remain in the group? Once you’re in you in for good, like it or not, lol!
I remember your hat well. Good gimmick!
This April will be my first year at slinging. Although this is not my first rodeo, it is the first time I’m riding hot dogs instead of bulls. I’m setting up in a medical community with 3 hospitals and multiple medical offices/clinics and pharmacies surrounding them. Works are already in progress with the VA hospital to do a Memorial Day benefit for our vets. I’m donating all profits to help our vets. I’m also getting my suppliers involved to donate. A walk for cancer goes past my site in mid summer and I will do another benefit for them. Late summer or early fall I will give to the childrens hostipal. Am I giving my business away? No! I am investing in my community and in turn hoping they will invest in me.I also give discounts to law enforcement, fire dept. and all vets active or retired. The food on my cart is second to none so once the public has tried it, they will be hooked!
Jimbalaya aka Hank’s Franks
Sounds like a great location Jimbalaya! Giving to the community is a good thing to do all by itself, however you will find that it pays great dividends. It will come back to you.
The first thing was the name heavenly hot dogs then the umberella and then location location location…….
Special umbrella?
Maybe a tie on that one Steve: I have an incredible knack for creating the yummy smell of onions, and hot dog sauce that I have seen people in wheelchairs, that said they could smell the sauce over four blocks away My most important thing is I put love in every single hot dog I serve and sell, I positively love what I do, and love may be the most amazing invisible ingredient, they can not pinpoint, but this hot dog slinger loves and endorses each and every hot dog I sell That love for what you are doing will sell more hot dogs silently, than any thing else you could fit on your hot dog menu! Gary that hot dog man with the hot dog plan!
I love it!
Hi Steve, I believe it is a kind smile and great personable service for every customer! I have been at it now for a little over a month, finally nailed the location and am getting repeat customers! I know my business is in its infancy and I have a lot of room to grow, but if you treat the customer right (oh and serve delicious food!) ….they keep coming back!
Sandy aka Sandy’s Hot Rod Dogs
Congratulations on your breakthrough Sandy! Awesome!!!
As a Newbie, I am loving this blog! I plan on learning as much as possible from all of the points given. I would rather do things the right way the first time, and the most profitable way, vs beating my head against the wall making mistakes. Thank you Steve, Please keep it going!
Let me know what you need Todd!