The following is a guest post by Tim Van Dusen of Get Grilled Foods…
You have your cart built or bought, the health department has checked it out, and now you are ready to go.
You have a colorful cart. It attracts attention. Your sidewalk signs are ready.
But deciding where to sling dogs can be a real challenge.
Should you concentrate on festivals, fairs, town events or street gigs? Or do you want to do all of them? Here are some of the tactics that I have used in my hot dog business. Some work better than others, but I have used all of these with success at one time or another in my own hot dog cart business, Get Grilled Foods.
Street gigs are the bread and butter of hot dog carts. Finding the right street location can set you up for retirement fast. (One of the goals I work on is to build the street business in order to sell it for a profit, then start another one.)
Research your spots keeping in mind population, public access, and best set up times. If you’re in a downtown area and all the business people go home at 5pm do you really want to be set up after 6? Maybe you do – when does the downtown night life start? Bars can be a huge money maker.
Here is how I get my street gigs. Once i find a good spot, usually in front of a business, I drive up with my cart in tow and ask to see the owner or manager. I never go in cold without my cart. Seeing the cart puts them at ease and erases any doubts about your professionalism.
Let them know that you would like to set up there and offer to fix them lunch at no cost. Always, always, always step into the business like you already own the place.
Remember to explain the advantage of increasing sales for them too. Mention that you attract a lot of people and ask them if they would mind if you funneled more shoppers into their place of business?
Offer them and their employees free lunches, within reason, during the time you set up.
Confidence can go a long way to getting the door open. Be ready to be told no, but expect to be told yes. If you stop looking for a good spot after your first no then you really don’t want it that bad.
I have also flooded the area with flyers about “the local hot dog vendor”. After a week or two of everyone looking for it, walk into the business you have targeted. They will have heard the buzz about this new hot dog guy too. Just introduce yourself and explain that you are looking for a better spot to set up.
The people you know can be a great way to find a spot also. Ask your friends if they know any business owners. Then you have an introduction and you don’t have to go in cold. This will really increase your chances of success.
These are not the only ways to get a street spot but they have worked for me.
Events like fairs and town events can be a real money maker too. Event homework is most important.
How many vendors are already booked? What is the estimated attendance? Is it free to the public or is it paid admission? How many years has the event been going on?
I do one event that is 39 years old. The take is over $1,000 dollars a day and we can not keep up no matter how hard we try. We’re leaving money on the table.
I also have one event that is only four years old in a town with a population of 800. It is a one day town event and last year we took in $900.00. But the money makes the sore feet and back well worth it.
Use the chambers. There is no guarantee of a good profit so the more you know the better you can make an educated decision about which event to book. I use local chambers of commerce to book events. That is an extremely good place to go.
They usually have an event calander on their chamber website. I have booked events as short as one week away by finding the right chamber. I also use the website Festival Network Online. It has more then enough contact and event information to fill a seasons schedule.
Make sure you know what the local health department requires. Event coordinators usually have that info.
Also chat up your street customers. I have booked a few gems by checking out what they tell me. Also check out the local fairground websites. The bigger ones have events going on all year, not just the yearly fair.
All of these methods are tried and true. They have worked for Get Grilled Foods. I hope you find them helpful, and keep doggin’!
Tim
Very cool Tim!! I know you will be a huge help to many out there. I know because you where a huge help to me 🙂 BEST OF LUCK!!
I am extremely humbled and proud that Steve has allowed me this opportunity to get doggers the help they need to get started. I have been using the HDP method since I began my own hot dog business. It works!
If your having trouble getting started don’t hesitate to contact Steve. And we can get you some hands on HDP training. I love hot dogs, Keep Doggin’
Thanks Tim!!! That was pile of info for me! You’ve given me some great ideas to increase the local take in a small town.
Great job, Tim!
I have my cart set up in front of the court house from 11am to 2pm Monday through Saturday. Sort of a small college town. Great location. Had the same woman here for 29 years and she didnt apply this year and I did. Actually on facebook to boycott me for replacing / taking her business. The rest is history as they say. I grill my dogs and sausages and steam my buns where as the previous person only offered boiled/steamed dogs and sausages that would sit in the water all day.I have only been here for 6 weeks and have a group of regulars from day one that come to my cart almost daily, and am also opening a stand with dining for about 20 people two blocks down from this location that will open in about a month.Valpo Viennas. I hope to get the approval for the court house location again next year and operate both locations. I was recently contacted by the HR Dept. of a local distribution center for a national drug store chain asking if I would cater their employee picnic of anywhere from 150 to 200 employees and family members. One of their employees ate at my cart and came in raving about my food. The rest is history…lol.. location..location..location!!! Also the local college has contacted me to be in their upcoming street fair. What amazes me is all the people who have the cajones to come up to me and ask me about my cart trying to start their own to compete with me because they see how busy I am compared to the previous vendor that was here. Have so many other stories I can post Steve would have to give me my own page on this site. And only six weeks into the biz. HOT DOG!!!
Good stuff Tim! Sell em’ all!
Well Steve and Tim…
Good explicit timing on this one!
It has been on my mind as we did our first fundraiser last week (pictures to come shortly).
This subject is probably the best of interest to any Dogger, I would suspect!
I look at this/these ideas and put plenty of strategic thought into it relative to “what is the best and most effective way”
to market my business. I love the idea that Tim mentioned about pulling up in front of a proposed spot “with your cart” to build the thrill for the potential Landlord. Great idea!
On the positive side, let’s talk about one big issue that seems to be left out here – Zoning. Yes, that has been the big mountain for us to conquer.
I know that the quasi governmental bodies differ in so many ways. Where we are, there is a permit required for everything. I took time to speak with HD vendors to monitor they’re thoughts as to “what brought them to their locations”. One is where he’s at because the city charged him a small fee of $35 to set up on private property and market his goods, he did not want to go to the preliminary hearings of his town. Another one, who inspired me to do so, went to a village board meeting and was Charged $25 for the permit, and he pays $25/month to rent from his landlord; A good deal indeed.
I literally went to a village board meeting in another town, to pay $250 by a village who told me, you pay the fee first, (non refundable) and if we like the idea, well discus what the permit fee will be, in other words, the $250 was just that, an application fee, or an if we like your idea fee.
I am now working with another village and will attend a board meeting next week to present my idea as we had to apply for an additional use permit, relative to what the current zoning was only good for. Alot of vendors do not want to go thru this, so they choose shows.
I can tell you what worked for me, as you and I have had this discusion prior, DO NOT EVEN MENTION $ or rent, or as Tim suggested, act like you own the place!
I impressed the owner that the presence of a HD Cart with an umbrella is a definate large attraction for the public, and that it would help his business in the sense of putting me out by the road to help get potential Customer’s in his lot. The outcome is: he does not even want to charge me rent.. just do it he said.
I wanted to share this story with everyone who might be going through this as they are contemplating how to get more locations or a better spot.
I ingestestd Tim’s idea of flooding the area with flyers… GREAT IDEA, as if your spot does not work, maybe some of the other local merchants will want you on their lot.
Tim’s idea with concentrating on Chambers is the best I could perceive, as a Chamber has it in with the Village/Township, and if they want you bad enough they will make it work for you and them.
This business is not an easy sell, and as Tim mentioned, “If you stop looking for a good spot after your first NO, then you don’t want it bad enough”, well he’s right!
It is the challenge that makes it interesting and makes you dominant to make it work, remember self gratification!
Tim, that was great reading, enjoyed it and I agree with everything that you said, you hit the dog on the top. I also do alot of private events, like bithday parties, vacation bible school events and a few business events. The last place that you would think to find a hotdog cart is where you will find me or at my street spot. I have found that hotdogging is what you make it but you will have great days and you will have not so great days but you have to make it fun and always remember that it is business.
Duggs Doggs
Good!! Good!!
Great Customer Outreach! Tim is a great guy with much to offer The Newbie as well as the Veteran Dogger…. Good luck Steve..Good Luck Tim…and anyone who uses this service…No wishing of Luck will be necessary!!!!
Much of my weekend business has been through word of mouth. We make our living through the mouth don’t we? I offer a punch card that is also a business card so that my customers always have my info. If someone hears about an event needing food they have my info to get us in on the job. SPCA is always having events and we have gotten a lot of gigs from their org.
Stay Lucky!
Very interesting and timely topic. Enjoyed reading and getting some important info. We are at the stage now where we are waiting for the Health Dept to let us know to bring the cart in for the final inspection. Also think we have a spot in mind and are waiting for approval from them. Easy spot right by freeway access and is owned by a local farmer who does fruits and vegetables in season.
Keep up the good work!
Thanks again
Thanks for all the kind words, folks. I just have one comment about luck. Luck is a by-product of hardwork. Not much in life is easy. But Hot Doggin is the most fun you can have at making a bucket full of cash everytime you step out there.
I’m a great believer in luck and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it. ~Thomas Jefferson
Excellent article Tim! Anyone interested in training from Tim will not regret it. Tim is an exceptional individual with alot of smarts and a great heart. Sign up today and take advantage of a great opportunity.
yeah, but make sure when you book an event that you are the only guy or two selling hotdogs etc….I just did one and out of 8 to 9 vendors 6 were selling hotdogs donated from the local food store so I could not compete with $2.00 hotdogs $4.00 pork chop sandwiches and 8oz ribeye steak sandwiches for $4 to 5 dollars, vendors like the fire station, knights of columbus. don’t even bother because people are cheap and will go for the cheap dog all the time. they can care less if its a vienna beef dog with an s rosens poppy seed bun and fresh toppings, they would rather have the 2 dollar dog with squirt bottle toppings. I worked close to 40 hours in those three days setting up, operating and taking down to gross, GROSS only $715.00, waste of time and propane.