My motto for aspiring hot dog cart operators has always been, “Don’t just sell a hot dog, sell an experience.”
One of the best ways to do that is to create your own “signature” gourmet hot dogs using unique combinations of toppings. Then be sure to give each hot dog creation a catchy and memorable name.
For example, I serve a dog on my own cart called The Buffalo Cruncher. It’s a 100% black angus beef hot dog topped with ranch dressing, Louisiana hot sauce, and French’s crunchy fried onions. If you like hot wings, you’ll LOVE the Buffalo Cruncher.
By creating a unique hot dog with a catchy name you are setting yourself apart from the competition and creating customer loyalty. I have many customers that come to my cart once or twice a week because they just love the Buffalo Cruncher and my cart is the only place they can get one.
Well my good friend and fellow hot dog slinger Esteban Guzman (Stevie’s Red Hot Weenies) is taking this concept one step further.
He just sent me a video of his latest hot dog cart marketing tool. How cool is this?!!!
Stevie bought one of those digital picture frames and loaded it with pictures of his hot dog creations. The frame will sit on his cart so folks passing by can see how delicious and unique Stevie’s Red Hot Weenies are. Now THAT is an attention grabber and experience enhancer all in one!
There is only change I would make. I would use a photo editor to print the name of each hot dog on the picture. That turns the slide show into a digital photo menu!
I’m definitely going to be using one of these on my own cart this season. I suggest you do too, slinger!
Thanks again Esteban (mi hermano de otra madre!) What an awesome idea you came up with and were nice enough to share with the Hot Dog Profits community!
-Steve
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Love it. Been kicking this idea around for a while. Just trying to figure out a weatherproof way to mount it to cart.
I don’t think I’m going to permanently mount mine. I’d want to take it off for transport and storage. Let me know what you come up with Sam!
Thanks for that great idea Esteban and thanks for sharing it with us Steve!
Our pleasure.
-Steve squared.
What my brother said!
Super Idea ! Nothing works like “visual”.
Yep.
My son had been harping that point to me for a while now, he’s going to flip out when he sees the I have put his idea into play! If it looks good, it will sell itself!
Outstanding marketing tool Esteban! I will definitely incorporate on my hot dog cart. I am so excited to get started! Dapper Demand Hot Dog Stand is very close to “Grand Opening” status! Thanks for sharing the concept Steve!
Dapper D,
Dapper Demand Hot Dog Stand
Mobile Hot Dog Vendor/Caterer
Sacramento, Ca.
Let me know when you get up and running. I’d love to see some pictures!
Not a problem Dapper D, congratulations and good luck on your grand opening!
Great Idea!!!!! I will try to incorporate that into what we do as well at some point.
Great idea will have one soon! Thanks
What a great idea matey !!
That would work out well on the sides of the cabin of the boat.
Having a caption is a big plus.
Looking forward to being back on the water soon !!
1St Mate Jim.
Great idea. Only one suggestion: Take the pictures of the dogs resting on a non-reflective surface. On this end (laptop, viewing online video), it’s difficult to tell where the dog ends and where the aluminum foil begins.
Straight out of the… DUH!!! why didn’t I think of that? files. Nice one Estaban!
What size frame are you getting Steve? The bigger the better obviously, but I was hoping to run a battery powered one as opposed to a plug in variety so that might limit my size options. Fully agree with the Menu name on the picture but I will go one better! 🙂 As soon as my site is finally up I will also put the photo menu on the web site. Won’t this idea save a lot of questions, humming and hawing over what to buy. Very clever Estaban thank you.
Love the rotating pictures on the website idea Richie good job!
Hey Steve, great idea. What did we talk about on Friday, It is all about “Presentation, Presentation, Presentation.”
That’s right Chappy!
Esteban,
Thank you for sharing this idea! For a while I have been playing with the idea of attaching an I-pad to the cart to run commercials of my business and customers at the cart, but worried about how to make sure the ipad doesn’t walk away while I am busy – you just answered my problem! Great idea and thanks for sharing!
Love it! I never thought to make a menu there for my hot dogs but, we have taken images from Google Images to promote things that we sell on the cart such as five hour energy drinks, grandma’s cookies, Wrigley’s gum ect. Also, when looking for a nice spot to set up, you can offer to advertise for businesses that allow you to set up on their property and sling!
Great point Scooby. Including a few photos of your host’s business and offerings would go a long way toward getting a spot on his property! Awesome.