Month: March 2009

Huge Inspiration From A Small Classified Ad

I ran across a help wanted ad looking for someone to work a San Francisco hot dog stand. My interest was piqued by the starting wage they offered so I did a little research and discovered a very inspirational fact about the company – their annual earnings. If the figure I’m about to share with you doesn’t make your pulse quicken a bit then you’d better put a mirror in front of your mouth and make sure it’s fogging up like it should…

But first, here’s the original ad from Craig’s List:

HOW ABOUT A FUN, OUTDOOR JOB THAT PAYS WELL?
We have several openings, 32-40 hours a week, for individuals who can do ALL of the following:
1. Sell hot dogs, pretzels, and drinks from our “Stanley’s Steamers” hot dog stands in Union Square and Fisherman’s Wharf;
2. Drive our company Ford Econoline van a few shifts a week helping make deliveries to and from our carts;
3. Work in our commissary several days a week helping to prep food for our cart operations.
Applicants must be able to vend, drive, and work in our commissary, and must have open availability, mornings and evenings, 7 days a week. In addition, the job requires a clean driving record and the ability to lift coolers weighing 75 pounds or more.
We will be interviewing this Tuesday for trainings starting this Wednesday. To apply, please send us your resume with references. It always helps to include a personal note telling us something about you.

If you aren’t contacted for an interview by 9pm Monday night, please assume the spots have been filled. Thanks for your interest!
* Location: Union Square
* Compensation: $13.50/hour starting wage
* Principals only. Recruiters, please don’t contact this job poster.
* Please, no phone calls about this job!
* Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.

As you’ll recall, what sparked my curiosity was the $13.50 starting wage, and therein lie two lessons:

1. The owner is making way more than $13.50 an hour and he doesn’t even have to be there.

2. If you want good help, pay ’em to keep ’em. The owner is a smart operator who knows the value of a reliable consistent employee. That’s why he can play golf at noon anytime he wants.

So who is this company? San Francisco Carts and Concessions.

Dun and Bradstreet puts their annual income at $400,000. Here’s the scoop:

Company Name:      San Francisco Carts Concessions
Est. Annual Sales:     $400,000
Year Started:     1999
State of Incorp:     CA
SIC #Code:     5812

Data above provided by D&B.
2008 Dun and Bradstreet, Inc. All Rights Reserved

So there you go little leaguers – something to shoot for, and proof that it’s possible. Thanks to Craig’s List for $400,000 worth of inspiration!

-Steve

Grilling vs Steaming…Which is Best?

I got an email from a student of mine asking my opinion about cooking methods.  Thought you could benefit from the answer…

Q: “Steve,  I bought your book etc. and have been listening to the cd’s on the way to & from work. I wish i’d have bought them sooner.  I’m planning on purchasing a Top Dog hot dog cart and will have the capability of griddle “flattop” cooking. Don’t they taste better that way?    Thanks,   Dave J. –  Dave’s Dogs”

A: Hey Dave!  Grilling and steamimg are two very different prep methods which produce very Continue reading “Grilling vs Steaming…Which is Best?”

Law Firm Refugee Opens Hot Dog Cart Biz

Bert Martin, hoping to get a loan, sat down and handed over his business plan to the banker.

The banker read the sheet of paper and took issue with only one part, at the very top. It was Martin’s goal: To make the best hot dog possible.

“He reads that and goes, ‘Aww, a hot dog is just a hot dog,'” Martin recalled. “I said, ‘Oh, no, there’s good hot dogs, and there’s bad hot dogs – I don’t plan on selling bad ones.'”

Martin got the loan and, in March 2007, opened Texas Style Hot Dogs, a stand he sets up either Continue reading “Law Firm Refugee Opens Hot Dog Cart Biz”

Big Lou’s Hot Dogs – Weekend Warriors

From the Bandera Bulletin, By Jessica Hawley-Jerome – Managing Editor

There’s nothing more American than a good old fashioned hot dog, or so the saying goes. Capitalizing on a need that would benefit both their family and hometown, Ben and Andrea Guajardo are representing county and country – one order at a time. Continue reading “Big Lou’s Hot Dogs – Weekend Warriors”

Out of Work? You Don’t Have to Be!

Michelle recently commented on a previous post and asked some really good questions.  As I was answering her I realized that not very many people would see it buried 8 comments and several posts deep.  So I’m reprinting our exchange here for all to learn from… Continue reading “Out of Work? You Don’t Have to Be!”

Free Publicity For Your Hot Dog Business Start Up

Marilyn Gardner, staff writer for the Christian Science Monitor is in the process of writing an article titled “STARTING A BUSINESS AFTER A LAYOFF”.  She is looking for someone to interview for the article, so if that describes your hot dog cart startup here is your chance to get some free pub.  Her deadline is 5pm on the 12th so don’t dilly dally.  Contact her at Continue reading “Free Publicity For Your Hot Dog Business Start Up”

What to Serve? My Hot Dog Expert Can Tell You.

What procucts should you serve on your hot dog cart?  Which brand of hot dog will sell the best? What kind of chips will make me the most money? Does it matter what kind of soda pop I stock on my cart?

In this article I’m going to introduce you to an expert that I know.  You’ll be able to ask him anything you want. Read on…

I recently got an email from Don asking if I had access to any information on which is most popular, Coke or Pepsi?  Having lived all over the country, I can tell you that soft drink preference is a regional thing.  In Chicago it was Coke.  Here in St. Louis it’s Pepsi.

I have no idea why, but then again I don’t really need to know why.

All I care about is having accurate information, but until I found an expert to tell me, I had no better than a 50-50 chance of getting it right.  I’ll tell you who my source is in a minute.

But first let me tell you about my expert in hot dog cart customer tastes and preferences.  This person can tell you exactly what your customer wants with an astonishing degree of accuracy, and their knowledge isn’t limited to soft drinks.

My expert can tell you what kind of chips will sell the best on your hot dog cart.  What brand and what size hot dogs the customer wants.  Skinless or natural casing?  Grilled or steamed?  The best condiments?  This person knows for sure and can tell you in an instant.

I’ve never known my expert to be wrong.  Ever.  Not once.  And the best part?  You can get my expert’s opinion for no charge.  Who is this person?

Your customer.

I’m constantly amazed that 99% of beginner hot dog vendors spend weeks researching which cart they want.  They rigorously check out all the manufacturers, all the optional equipment, prices, delivery, etc.

Then they agonize over the perfect location, driving all over town scoping out traffic patterns, pedestrian flow, and all that stuff.

Then they just GUESS which products to sell from the cart!  Or even worse, they assume that because they like something, their customers will too.  It doesn’t make sense.

Here’s what you can do right now.  Today.  You don’t need a cart or anything.

Start asking everyone you see a simple question. “Coke or Pepsi?”  Then ask what their favorite chips are.  Don’t think you will remember their answers because you won’t.  Keep a small notebook with you and track the results.  In a few days you will see trends appearing and the most popular choices will emerge.

This survey method will give you the answer to every customer preference but one.  You won’t be able to find out what hot dog brand to serve until your cart is operational, because you’ll need to do a taste test.

On day one, stock two different brands of hot dogs and have them heated and ready to serve. Now cut some dogs into bite size pieces and serve on a toothpick as samples.  Then let the customer purchase the one they like best.  If you stock equal quantities of each, you’ll be able to tell which sold the most at the the end of the day.

On day two test your winner against a third brand.  Then pit that winner against a fourth brand on day four.  The winner of day four is the dog you should serve.  Of course you could serve two kinds if the results were very close.

My expert will give you perfect knowledge of your market.  It’s not guess work.  It’s math.  And it’s super easy so you have no excuse not to do this, especially when it can give you such an edge on opening day.

-Steve

Hot Dog Cart Manufacturer Opens New US Location

Willy Dog, Ltd will open up their first US Hot Dog Cart showroom called Carts of America, Inc in Fort Wayne Indiana. The location will have a large warehouse showroom where customers can browse the newest models, purchase and take their purchase home the same day. Continue reading “Hot Dog Cart Manufacturer Opens New US Location”

The E-Z Built Hot Dog Cart – Customer Photos

I think I’m seeing double…

I got an email today from one of my customers, Jim Steffen of Ohio.  Jim purchased my E-Z Built Hot Dog Cart Video and Plans Package and proceeded to build not one but two hot dog carts to be used in his new business. Jim was kind enough to send along several great pictures for us to look at.  Awesome Continue reading “The E-Z Built Hot Dog Cart – Customer Photos”