I just got back from a nice vacation and I’m totally unprepared for today’s HDCN article. What to do?
CONTEST!!!!
My lack of planning could be your gain. Here’s what we’re playing for: A copy of my best selling Hot Dog Biz 101 course including free shipping (‘cuz having to pay shipping on something you won would suck).
Now here is where you find out how truly behind I am. I don’t even have a contest made up so I want YOU to suggest something.
Leave your contest idea in the comments below. I’ll pick what I think is the best one, and that person will receive a Hot Dog Biz 101 Platinum Package.
This is a true win-win. You get my course for free and I get a contest idea that I can use the next time I get stuck like this.
Sometimes I scare myself with the way my brain works…
Good luck, and you can embarrass me by sharing my beach photo on your Facebook. Just click the blue “f Share” button at the left.
– Steve
P.S. My wife says the tongs make me look fat…
How about a contest to pick the “Best Caption for Steve’s Beach Photo”?
Do bigger buns make the sausage look smaller?
Oh a contest.. How about coming up with the cheapest and most effective marketing plan for your cart… I’m sure alot of folks have some simple idea that puts them over the top!
Hot Dogs and History.
Historical phrases or quotations with the aid of the Dog.
Examples: Four hot dogs and seven beers ago
We have nothing to fear but hot dogs with ketchup
Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do with a hot dog
I hope these help I mean times are tough, hey buddy can you spare a dog.
A photo contest of the craziest food vendor costume, slogan, or the funniest thing someone has done for a free hotdog in public. Leave a short description telling the story in your craziest way.
Love the picture.. who knew that under your normal gear there was this body??
Perhaps other Dogger’s are hiding photos that show their better side. I’d love to see them.
Welcome back:
Contest idea number 1: Best new innovation to a cart (never before seen on hotdogprofits.com)
Contest idea number 2: Most innovative Hot Dog marketing idea, actually put into practice.
Contest idea number 3: Photo of cart in most unusual selling place
Contest idea number 4: Most unusual Hot Dog Topping ideas (must have sold at least 100 hot dogs with that topping)
Contest idea number 5: Big Wieney Contest – Most hotdogs sold in a single day.
Well, it’s late and I am off to bed — Happy Doggie Dreams!
Polar
Myrtle Beach S.C. vacation ? Boy, that muscle milk is unbelievable!!!Did you have Chocolate or strawberry this time!!!HAHAHA.keep dreaming!!!
Wife is right even if you think otherwise SORRY BUDDY ….25 years married to 4foot
11inch LITTLE FIREBALL that came with a matching MARBLE ROLLING PIN and holster to carry it in ….need I say more….
Steve, bad picture, or was that just a bad dream… but thinking about pictures how about a best picture contest. But keep it clean, please.
Duggs Doggs
Good!! Good!!
ps don’t know how you are going to look at the pictures.
MY SUGGESTION IS A CONTEST FOR THE BEST CREATIVE, EYE POPPING, OUTTA SIGHT, WHO-WOULDN’T-WANNA-BUY-FROM-ME-WHEN-THEY-SEE-THIS-SIGNAGE-OR-WHEN-THEY=SEE THIS- CUSTOMER-ATTRACTING-IDEA!
It’s something I believe we can all benefit from and I know there are people out there with gloriously creative, eye catching ideas. I can’t wait to hear them, then give it a try and watch my daily sales increase.
What a great idea to let us suggest contest ideas!
Ciao….Brook
I think from my point of view that given the prize offered that the contest should be an essay written by those of us out here that would benifit most from the prize. Just a short story from those of us who are still waiting for one reason or another to launch our hot dog business.So here goes I’m a fifty two year old male that knows that when i start my hot dog career that i will never have to work another day for someone else and that once i’ve gotten started i will acheive amazing success and be the best hot dog slinger the hot dog world has ever known. Just like alot of you who are doing what i so desperately would like to be doing i have looked at this from every angle and i know that it is what i ‘m going to be doing for a long time but all that i am lacking is a vehicle with which i can learn as much as can be learned from someone who knows exactly what to do and when and how to do it. Now with all this being said i’ve been watching this website for along time and i’m convinced that Steve has all the answers to all of the questions that someone like me needs in order to do this and do it right. This is to anyone else out there that knows exactly what you want to do write your own story and post on Hot Dog Cart News and may the best future hot dog business owner win the prize.
Steve, how about a best dog contest. all the doggers send in thier aloha, chili, slawdog, etc pictures and you choose the best new idea. this also might help bring in a few new recipes that other doggers will want to try out?
Well Steve there are customers in any business and then there are your bread and butter customer. Who is your repeat customer of course because if he keeps coming back YOU KNOW he will be spreading the word about your product. So here’s my suggestion the customer is always right they say but what is the best etiquette tip out there to reel in those all important repeat customers? Oh one more thing Steve you’re looking so jock like in that “swimsuit” I just voted you as grand judge of the contest, NICE TAN LOL! 🙂
It’s National Hot Dog month! Naturally it should be a picture of the best hot dog!
Hot Dog Limrick Contest~Must include the name of your business and some of your products Three Stanzas~
….Steve ,
Those Keegal Exercises are really paying off your lookin great this Thong & Tong Season!!
Or how about a “Most Original Hot Dog Topping” contest?
Add on sales… What do you do to increase your bottom line?
how about a contest of the best Photoshop picture that is hot dog related.
Unique names for your dogs… (One of my favorites is the Contractor dog, served plain and you add your toppings).
CONTEST- DESIGN AN ADD ON FIXTURE/EQUIPMENT/ETC INTENDED FOR USE ON OUR STANDARD CART DESIGN (YOUR CART DESIGN ACTUALLY).
RULES-
1)MUST BE “DO IT YOURSELF” CONSTRUCTION AND INSTALL . EASE OF CONSTRUCTION, INSTALL AND USE TO BE JUDGED.
2) MUST BE 80% DIY. BOLTING A GRILL FROM HOME DEPOT ON SIDE IS A NO GO! ORIGINALITY AND POST INSTALL CART APPEARANCE TO BE JUDGED.
3) TOTAL COST OF CONSTRUCTION, INSTALL AND ANY REQUIRED ASSIST ITEMS TO BE UNDER $100.00. IF AN EXTENSION CORD IS NEEDED, IT COUNTS. IF A 400.00 GENERATOR IS NEEDED TO RUN THE $15 SNO CONE MACHINE- ITS OUT.
4) THE ITEM IS INTENDED TO INCREASE SALES REVENUE. IT CAN STORE AN ADD ON ITEM, COOK A NEW ONE OR ALLOW FOR FASTER PRODUCTION OF THE CURRENT PRODUCT ETC. DESIGN, COST LIST AND SUPPLIER, INSTALL DIRECTIONS AND INTENDED USE ARE TO BE SUBMITTED. ALSO DESCRIBE HOW ITEM WILL INCREASE REVENUE. THE ASSUMPTION BEING – MODERATE TO BUSY CONDITIONS OVER A 2 HR PERIOD ( AVERAGING 39 TRANSACTIONS PER HOUR). INCLUDE A MOCK PROJECTION OF INC REVENUE OVER 2 HR VEND WITH NEW ITEM. OF COURSE YOU’LL JUDGE ON POTENTIAL BASED ON YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF BIZ.
AN IDEA THAT COULD INCREASE VEND SPEED TO 52/HR, OR ADD 2 BUCKS AVG TO 39 VENDS OR REDUCED OPERATING EXP OR COGS COULD BE A FULLY FUNDED IRA FOR A WEEKENDER! THIS CONTEST COULD MAKE EVERY CART BUILDER HAPPY…NOT JUST THE WINNER.
Contest idea: I’m thinking of a number…..
How about home recipes for unusual toppings? I have a relish from my great-grandmother’s time.
How about a Photo contest. It has to be a real photo of a real hotdog that you made and you have to take the photo. Best looking dog wins!
Wanda –
Are you implying that the above picture isn’t 100% authentic?
-Steve
How about a competition with Hillbilly Hot Dogs in West Virginia to see who can out do their Home wrecker hot dog.
Hey Steve, what kind of hot dogs you been eating? You look like a superhero—–Wiener Man!
As for the contest…how about
“Best way to bring in new customers”
Could be some great ideas out there.
Are you sure your wife did not say “Bring your “thongs?” I am pretty sure my wife would never say that…..must be tongs.
Lucky Dog,
The health inspector didn’t like my uniform. I showed him how clean my tongs were but he was still unimpressed.
-Steve
How about how many ways you can make a hot dog.
How many ways you can name a dog in different fixens.
Your photo shows the beach how about names to match the dog in the area you are working in
Tony
Tony
I’m thinking a contest that lists the additional items you can sell on your cart that are “cash cows” that don’t require you to do anything additional for it to be profitable, i.e. if you sell hot dogs w/ chili & cheese, get some containers and nachos and sell nachos with chili and cheese too. Same ingredients, more products = happy customers!
I think a :30 video/commercial would be fun. Or a :30 video showing your best cart tip. You could gather some of those best videos and put them on a DVD at a nominal cost to doggers or just post clips to your site for traffic.
Best hotdog stand/cart name!
Describe your greatest tasting hot dog in a short story 100 word maximum- Use your big words guys and gals. ie. It was a sun soaked afternoon on the boardwalk when I pulled this delectable dog from my steamer. Fragrances of mustard and ginger filled the air surrounding my EZ built as I…… Sounds fun huh!
Best business Slogan- Mad Dogs- Dogs that bite back!
Unusual add on sales – like roses for a midnight bar crowd
Or maybe a how to get Steve like rock solid abs on a hot dog diet????
What was the winning number of hot dogs eaten in the Nathan’s Annual Hot Dog Contest and by whom???
Steve,
How about a photo contest showing actual locations and commessarys to help out the newbies?
The secret to rock hard abs is… Photoshop!
You know my motto – “No pain, no pain”.
-Steve
How about the QUEST for the PERFECT Hot Dog contest. Ok. This is a little self serving since I am already on that quest, but someday I wish to own and operate a Hot Dog cart. But I want to serve a healthy (or healthier) version of the Tube Steak that also taste’s great and that will hold up in the steam table as well. Basically a nitrate/nitrite free, low saturated fat hot dog. That’s my idea. Thank Steve, for the great info/blog. Your course would help jumpstart my business.
Steve,
This is a contest in itself! But I like the idea of Limericks or slogans. I think the most catching slogan for our carts would be a good one.
How about an archive contest? You pull out a few exerts from the HDCN archives and the first person to post the articles in which they are derived from wins. You can make it as hard or easy as you like and the time scouring through the archives to find the correct exerts is time well spent for us beginners who learn more each time we read an article.
Wow. Black shirt hides a lot!!! LOL
I think there have been so many wonderful adaptations on the EZ build, that a contest to show the most creative sales creating adaptation would give us all some inspiration.
Nice Speedo, btw.
Maybe a contest on which cart gives back to the community in the biggest or most unique way. Might be a good way to share ideas and bring about more community involvment (which is good for business by the way)!
Hey Steve,
I was thinking that the contest should be something that builds the dream of being an entrepreneur beyond the 1-cart operation. Myself as a reader I have been reading a ton of these postings and listening to your links to the hotdog radio and the things that get me jazzed up more than anything is hearing more about the successes of the seasoned veterans and how big their has grown. So I would say that I myself would like to see a contest of the most improved. A story telling about how small of a business they started out with and how big they have grown. You could even throw a time frame on it like 1, 5, or 10yrs in the biz. It would be great to be grossing 300-500 per day but what about the possibility of pulling in thousands and thousands per day. I would be psyched to hear about that.
How about a hot dog recipe contest.
Internet votes count 1 pt
Steve select panel can award up to 500 pts to various dogs
The dog with the most points wins!
In a tie we can have a dog off and vote on them.
Best part you wont need software or camersa to play. And possibly those trying to get in the biz can play. And those in the biz can pimp steves site to get customers to visit and vote on the dog they like the best.
And bonus customers will be thinking making and eating dogs! And biz owners might learn a new dog to sling.
Nice pic! Ah, the boys of summer. ;-p
How about the most creative idea for an apartment dweller to build & store an EZ Built, with limitations like no garage, no yard and no construction in the apartment.
i would like 2 see how 2 make the food cart but with sides like a trailer. that way im out of the weather. like to see who has made some of these up and how they did it…
How about who has the best security for there cash and themselves in and around there cart or stand ?
I have been wondering how everyone does it
Thanks
I like the business slogan idea. My business is called ‘DOG BITE” The slogan is “Bite The Dog Before The Dog Bites You”
Most amusing photo shop’d picture. Must be HDCN appropriate.
I like the idea of the best new innovative idea for your cart and the best new condiment to add to your dog. Also the coolest way to show off and utilize your condiments on your cart is also a great idea.
Contest –
The oldest American to give birth to a baby girl in Brazil on yesterday….? I win!
Picture contest! My quote: Steve, your looking a little “pastey” for the beach”!!
How about a contest involving how dog slingers give back to their communities through their hot dog biz. It would be a great pr move and great for their business as well as their communities. I’m not in the business yet but love your newsleters and look forward to getting started. Thanks for all the insights.
Hank
Thanks to Photoshop I didn’t even have to take P90X out of the box.
-Steve
How about you challenge everyone to online rock paper scissor….o = rock, l = paper, x = scissor……send out the mailing and request everyone respond for first round by nTime and after that you are dq’d….so on for the next round…….:)
How about ideas used to draw in kids – and their parents to your cart? Increase sales and I would think most ideas would be easy for us to copy cat.
You could give the prize to the 100th poster.
How ’bout the funniest (clean) sign to attract business?
How about pick a date and time the NFL lockout ends.
hows about a celeberty dog contest…… best picture of you photoshopped with one of us dog slingers……. may the best weinee win….. must be creative….. posting your top 5 and letting us vote for the weinner
I recommend a contest for the very best home-made condiments, like ketchup, mustard, relish, chutney, salsa, etc. I love to make new sauces and my customers get excited with new things. Everyone wins, and not just from the contest. Thank you
How about a contest for the best hot dog BUN recipe?
How about a contest who can create the most unique hotdog combination that sounds like it might just be good. This contest could spark creativity in us all and even change up a couple of peoples menus.
Must have pic with it
Who can come up with the largest list of bonafide regional hot dog brands and method of preparation. Besides being fun it would be helpful to all of us.
how about a picture contest everyone submit a picture 1 only of thier set up the cleanest and most profreesional lokking should win
Jim & Kay
I THINK WE ALL SHOULD GET ONE. !!!
I agree with Dwight. I’m 65 and my wife and I need all the real info we can get and Steve’s Course is it. Our plan is to start small, build our cart and get our family and friends involved. Thanks Steve for answering my questions before buying anything from you. Thanks all!
How about a contest for the best made and best looking hot dog! Who wouldn’t want the rights to say that their hot dog is the best looking dog in the country? Send in the pics already!
Ideas on ways to transport your cart in the cleansest fashion.
I.E. do you wrap in in a tarp before you hit the road. Do you have a “splash guard” on the back bumper of your vehicle to prevent water/slush spray.
It’s got to be something that both seasoned pros, newbies, and people who are still in the planning stages can do.
You could do a hot dog word jumble. Mix up the letters on a dozen words that have to do with hot dogs. For example: ketchup could be ukpetch and mustard could be stumdra. The first person to unscramble and post all the words correctly is the winner.
Perhaps the contest can inspire offerings that would most help someone to make the transition from their job or unemployment to having their own hot dog cart biz using Steve’s products and services. Maybe a 10 step plan or something like that.
Lets see who can find the oldest picture of a hot dog and the chespest price?
needs to be an old sign
How about a treasure hunt. Post questions about hot dog business. Provide hints throughout website and facebook page. Encourage everyone to visit both to find the answers. Try not to make it difficult.
A contest to see who has the best looking ez-built cart. Best colors, modifications, and over all appeal to the public. Extra points for cool logos.
Hi, Folks. I’m a pup, living in Asheville, NC. I agree with Dwight, we pups need Steve’s course. I’m 65 years young and my wife and I are excited about a “mobile food cart” biz (Dept of Health term). I’m wanting to build my first cart and grow slowly involving family and friends. A free course from Steve would get me off to a positive start. I really appreciate this forum and your selfless comments. Success to all. A senior pup.
Best ideas for keeping people coming back and for promoting your business through existing customers.
Hi Steve
Way up here in the frozen land of canadians, Calgarians to be specific, our condiments need to be of the non cooked variety, unless your cart has gallons of water and a spetic system.
I read up above regarding toppings. Id love to hear about crazy mixtures that can be squirted out of a bottle…
BTW, I already own your manual but if chosen would love to pass it on to a future business man considering the hotdog business.
how about most unique looking hot dog cart , must be homemade, not commercially built , and other items on a cart , like meatball subs or french dip subs that can be sold on a hot dog cart ?
How about a contest with the best mascot, many doggers have someone dress up like a hot dog or something or their dog dressed up like a hot dog, I’ve even seen inflatables at some stands. This would be cool, I think.
How about a contest that is based on what are the best games to offer our customers to play for a chance to get $1.00 off combo? I use a bean bag toss and that probably gets me another 20 customers that I may have lost without it. I have a ring toss too. We’re in this together and I know I’ve had $100. days. Let’s focus on a promotional idea that will benefit Everybody.
Hi Steve,
The food business as well as any other business has to be sold and your article on prospecting and landing in the right location made a GREAT deal of sence to me…All to often when(and I don’t have a cart YET)we get someone to stop or walk up to us for our product goods or service we lose our heads and start telling them ALL THERE is to KNOW about what we are selling….Steve,although selling is a transferal of feeling and the more amped we are about what we sell the better chance we have to sell.Now,here’s my point.We as good sales people need to relize our customer has a problem(could be they are hungry)and we are the problem solver of our customer…That is where the questions asking CLOSE comes in…You see the more Q’s we ask of our customer the closer we come to closing a sale and more often then not ,more Q’s more multiple sales ..How about a contest on [closeing questions?] ie,closeing question technique…And/or throw a stopper out there (such as customer says,”No Thanks HotDogs arn’t that healthy”!)and have a rebuttal question to keep the sale opened and move closer to the close,You may then provide a bit of information and end with a Q. back at Mr./Mrs prospect……So there is my idea for a contest,What is the best Q to ask at the time when Mr and Mrs. Prospect are riding the fence between a HotDog or a funnel cake or what ever,or unhealthy,or not natural…well you get the picture,,,,
Questions,questions,questions,,,,,The more you ask ,,,the MORE YOU CLOSE.,,,,really truely!
I look forward for my HDCN to hit my mail every few days and yern to be in the field slinging eventhough I never have,I have worked the public and it is so much fun,,,,,Very,very hard work too if you as a sales person does your job right, but most rewarding,,,,,,,,
Blessing for the weekend to all
Luke from Nebraska
A contest for the most creative tag line or LOGO for the Hot dog business…
How about a contest where every one that is actually in the business sends a picture of thier set up
“You’ve got nuthin'” LOL, yeah we can see that in the picture.
Every girls crazy bout a sharp dressed dog!
Is that a hot dog in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?
wiener, wiener, hot dog deener.
Contest could be……….How many ways can you dress a dog (since your “under dressed”) in the picture. (i’ve come up with 48) I’ll list them when you send me my Biz 101 course.
How about a contest about ideas on how to drive more business to your cart, or ideas and tricks on how to keep cool on these 100+ degrees summer days, like a portable fan blowing over a block of ice.
One last thought Steve, how about a contest involving us hot doggers and our experiences. I know I have some funny moments to share. The contest can be “the most outrageous hot doggin’ story”
Lucky D.
I would love to see you guys have a contest on who could sell the most hot dogs dress exactly the way you are in the picture above.
Best original NEW hot dog toppings idea or original toppings recipe. The spaghetti Dog for example, with picture and recipe submitted.
How about a contest for the “best” bad Photoshop with a hot dog cart theme?
The contest should be derived from creating a challenge for contestants to grow their businesses while participating in the Contest.
For Instance which business can produce the best interactive Facebook page and acquire the most “friends” within, let say, a month. Easily tracked and you can have a vote on the contestant content along with their total addition of “friends”
Now you created a contest that is truly a challenge for Hot Dog boys and girls to compete and grow their businesses at the same time
C
You could just go with the first person who responded (which would be me….) 😉
The most creativity in a cart design, and the use of different and unique materials. It taking the
EZ Built to a new and greater level. And still holding down the cost.
How about a contest for the best creativity in night lighting for a cart? Sounds good to me.
Here’s a contest… What day really is National Hot Dog Day… ??
Following all my news feeds, today is the 3rd one I saw for this month.. (I posted on my Facebook page that everyday should be NHDD)!
Steve are you pulling a Tom Jones on us? Ithought he was the only one that carried golf balls around with him. (LOL). HOW ABOUT A CONTEST ON HOW TO KEEP YOUR DOGS FROM LOOSING TASTE, AND COLOR AND THERE FIRMNESS.
I like the idea of other products you can sell and I mean that sell good and how they make them. I am sure your location would be important also. a lot of great ideas are already posted HOW ARE U GOING @ PICK ??????? Thanx Steve
The best cart logo might be interesting
[…] the basis for a contest the next time I come back from vacation with nothing more creative than a faked body building photo… […]
How about a contest for July a very busy month to see who has the highest Health score. If a tie draw names. Lets see how we’re really doing.