Who is slinging hot dogs through the winter?
Hey Slingers!
The weather is getting cooler but that’s not necessarily a reason to put the hot dog cart away. If you can get outside you just might sell more hot dogs in January than you will in August.
The truth is that hot food sells better when it’s nippy out. All you have to do is dress for the weather and you can make really great money all winter long if you want to.
Of course you don’t want to be outside in a blizzard but most winter days are pretty tolerable if you come prepared.
The number one thing you need to take care of is your feet and your ears. They are the parts of the body most susceptible to the cold.
Get some good boots. Buy them one size too large and wear layers of socks. This will keep your tootsies toasty all day!
I hate hats so earmuffs are usually my first choice of head protection.
And don’t forget about your cart. Water lines can freeze and burst overnight if not taken care of. Be sure to drain all your water, especially from your water heater. Blow the lines out with compressed air and store your cart indoors when you’re not using it.
If you don’t want to drain the water every day you can cover your cart with blankets and put a 100 watt utility light inside to help keep everything above freezing temp.
How about you? Do you have any cold weather vending tips? Let’s share them in the comments below!
-Steve
P.S. If you’re thinking about getting started in the hot dog biz don’t wait for warmer weather. Get started now! You’ll get a jump on the competition and you can start booking private gigs now. Go for it, and let me know if I can help you in any way.
Hi Steve, We’re year-round here in Birmingham. No noticeable drop in business each day, but there are definitely more days where we simply can’t set up. I read once about a guy in Portland, Maine. If he can keep selling through the winter, then so can I! I agree with your advice… keep selling!
Good for you Greg.
Coastal Northern California gets pretty wet at times but it rarely snows. My Commisary rent and power bills still keep coming so putting out the cart whenever possible is a must. Sure as anything, if I close down for any reason I’ll get a bunch of regulars saying “I came by yesterday but you weren’t here!”
I’m going to get someone to sub for me when I get a new hip in January/February. You gotta keep your cart in their thoughts all the time. If customers are not 100% sure you will be selling you won’t always be where they go first for lunch!
That’s very true Jim. We need to be as consistent as we can.
I’m starting my business this winter. Never slung a dog but Im excited for the opportunity. Im extremely nervous but I know there are great opportunities once I get out there! Any tips would be appreciated. Thank you so much for your help, Steve!
We were all nervous when we first started. No worries, your nervousness will turn to happiness on your first day. As for advice, if you haven’t joined the slingers in my Premium Membership you really should. We’ll show you everything you need to know to be successful. http://HotDogProfitsPremium.com
With the colder weather, Davey Dogs is now offing coffee. A 2.5 gallon cambro keeps it hot for hours. Maybe some hot chocolate for the kids (big kids too). Think about partnering with folks who are selling Christmas trees during the evening and on weekends.
Good move Dave!
A nice heavy pair of insulated Gortex boots from LL Bean are awesome. They keep your feet warm, they breathe, and allow the moisture (sweat) to evaporate but they keep moisture out. That’s real necessary for spending any amount of time outdoors in the normally colder regions.
Right on Tom!
I wear Long johns, plus my cover alls!! I put warmers in my feet and I double up through the torso!! Somedays I’m over dressed but still it cold!! I think this ur tho I’m not going out below 30degrees!!!
If our customers can be out in in, so can we.
try selling hot lemonade, yes HOT LEMONADE make it with hot water no ice. so good on a cold winter day!
Never tried that. Sounds good. When I lived in West Virginia the banks served hot Dr. Pepper in coffee urns during the winter. Its was good!
Nothin like hot grub when the winter witch bites yer Arrrrrrrs !!!
Arrr har har !!
1St Mate Jim.
Aye mate! Ye be speakin’ the truth. A cup o’ grog don’t hurt much either…
The hot pack things. You can put them in your boots, pockets. They last 8, 10 hours or so. Relativity cheap.
Yep. Thanks Tony!
Long as the high gets to 28 degrees at some point in the day! Hoping for El Nino!!! May still have to get a job for a couple months.
Hopefully it won’t come to that but if it does, it’s just temporary.
Thanks to Ft. Hood, I am able to sling all year long. The spot where I’m located at, the wind can whip around the corner so it gets pretty cold, not to mention that it messes with my burners. Sometimes I wonder what the hell I’m doing when the temperature dips below freezing with wind chills in the teens or lower but the soldiers are still working and protecting our freedom so the least I can do is be out there for them and feed them.
Way to go matey !!
Takin care of the troops.
1St Mate Jim.
I know you served in Iraq, amigo. Thanks for what you did for our country!
I wish that would work out here in Canada. People here are conditioned to expect you to close come Sept. / Oct. They consider us summer carts. lol But being from a cold country I can assure you layering your clothes is the safest and best way to deal with the ever changing weather. Best of luck to you folks in warmer weather states.
What if you were the only one open? Sounds like a great opportunity to me!
I am in Phoenix, AZ, so this is our good season. We have had a couple of chilly (to us) rainy days, and will most likely have a week or two of deep freeze nights and chilly days (50- 60’s) the end of Dec or early Jan. Not cold enough to keep us in. This is our favorite time of year, but we feel for you. Now, when the real summer hits…how do you sling the dogs in 110 plus heat, especially during monsoons (humidity, NOT a dry heat) and dust storms, and nights that still hang in the hundred degree range. We are trying to figure out what to do during these 3-4 months. Popcorn maybe? Lol
A different set of weather challenges for sure. I suggest shaved ice, lemonade, etc.
Hey Steve,
Gonna work thru the winter as much as possible here in Roanoke, VA, during the winter. Although reduced days, my customers know to check my FB page for my schedule. Already made through some cold days here (set up only for lunch-time downtown), but still wearing shorts (with layered shirts, sweatshirt, jacket – keep the core warm) – my goal is to wear shorts into December – lol
Regarding my reduced schedule; I refer to it as “Disney” scheduling – you know how they funnel everyone who stays at their property resorts into certain parks everyday? With me setting up 2 or 3 days a week, seems I’m netting out about 60% of my summer income with the cutback schedule when it’s cold- my regulars plan their week around my schedule.
I’m good to go for December, January, and February!
I’m a shorts guy too. I hope you make it all year!
It’s getting pretty chilly here in NW CT. Mornings are 18 degrees, mid-day is 38. We will shut down once we are unable to keep our condiments from totally freezing.
I see some of you are using warmers in your shoes and hand mitts You should think
of selling Hot Hands on your cart. You can probably get a deal at Hot Hands.com or
even buying them at Wal Mart by the box and marking them up 70% should yield
additional profit to your business.
Excellent idea James.
Just to confirm cold weather makes for hungrier customers Steve. A slinger I met bought his cart solely for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics and yes he was up at Whistler! He told me his minimum daily gross was $2300.00 and other days he was as high as $3500.00 Not a bad haul but also the point I hope is not lost… Winter events can be as lucrative or more than summer events. That caramelized onions smell can waft for blocks and it is a cunning form of hypnosis IMO! So quick does that aroma register with the brain in cold weather. Hey I’m hungry you hear that inner voice say and in winter that drive to satisfy your craving is stronger than ever. Dress warmly for sure but if we are talking really cold consider warming that mayonnaise and mustard with a nicely toasted poor boy that would be next to impossible to resist!! ????
Yep. The body craves food when it’s cold out. Great story Rich!
I have a question for all. Could you please describe to me what the best winter location would consist of? It looks as if I’m going to have a warm weather location, but it will probably not work for cold weather unless I can figure out an effective wind break.
Same as summer. Lots of foot traffic.
I know I’m kind of late getting in on this one, but take a tip from skiers; hand and toe warmers. Unwrap, stuff in boots and pockets. Bingo! Warm hands and toasty toes for the next 8 hours!
Thanks Robin!
Me and the the wife are slinging on the weekends through Christmas at nearby Premium Outlet Mall. I’m geared up for all day on Black Friday and wearing my long underwear. People are still buying our lemonade, in spite of the brutal winter here near the SF Bay Area. A chilly 55f is predicted…
Jonny
Famous Jonny’s Gourmet
Hot Dogs and Lemonade
55 degrees! That’s great slinging temps!
Steve, what’s a good recipe for chilidog?
Funny you should ask. I’m working on a new chili recipe as we speak. Stay tuned!