Hi Steve,
Here are some pics of my cart. I started building her the first of March, the reason it took so long was I kept running out of money. I’m retired and still have a mortgage, (kids at home, don’t retire before you pay your home off).
I made a few variations on the plan. I upgraded the faucets so I could
turn them off with my elbow or forearm if the HD preferred.
I also thought about crossing customer traffic to use the sinks so I switched the locations of the water heater and the hand washing sink. That way I can serve from the right side and use the sinks without fighting a massive crowd.
The health inspector said I did a great job and wished me luck, I think we will get along fine.
I hope to be selling the second week of Sept.
Oh, about forgot, I was going to name the business “the Green Weenie”, have the cart painted green, but received alot of flack from friends.
Then I remembered a story my mom told me about her following her dad around their house when she was little. He was a carpenter and they pulled these trailers behind their trucks to haul material and called them jodogs.
My mom’s name was Jo Ann, her dad nic-named her Jodog, I named the business “JoDogs”.
Thanks Steve for everything. Hot dog school is really going to start now!
Randy
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Awesome workmanship Randy – as good as any I’ve seen. I also love the JoDogs name and the story behind it. Use that when talking to your customers. It’ll stick in their brain.
When customers hear details like that it makes them feel like they know you. It’s good for business and it’s good for making new friends, both of which are high on my list.
Let’s hear it for Randy in the comments…
Sell ’em all Randy!
-Steve
Click the pictures to see a larger version…
nice job!!!! So what was the final cost?
Very nice. I especially like the fancy faucets n the placement of the sinks. Not to mention paper towel dispenser. Top notch.
Good job, man, I love those sinks! No wonder the HD loves you!
Good looking rig …. Best of luck to you !!
Roger
Really nice job on the cart Randy. I really like the JoDog name and the story behind it. I agree with Steve, tell the story when you talk to your customers—it will stick with them.
JoDogs… Great story and a Great cart. Best of luck!
Great job Randy!! I really like the 3 sink setup you’ve got. Keep us posted on your progress.
Randy, nice job! Personally, I like the name the two of you decided to go with!
Also like your 3 sink set-up!
Best of luck to you!
Randy you did an awesome job, let us know how opening day goes for you! Go JoDog!!!
Those sinks are cool!
NICE JOB! Love the sinks! Best of luck to you!
I’m retired too, take your time, ask questions, tell your story everyday and people will love it. Just have fun. Make sure they know you built the cart. The local news paper will give you some great “Free ” Advertising….
Duggs Doggs
Good!!Good!!
Good Luck Randy
JoDogs is in the House!!! Awesome looking cart! Good Luck and remember Always Have Fun!
Thanks for all the great compliments, doggers. Doghouse, it took me a while to tally all those receipts, whew I made a lot of trips to Lowes & Menards. The grand total is $1054.00. I must admit I splurged on some items like faucets and sinks but I wanted it that way. BTW the pans for the 3 sinks are 1/4 x 4″ deep. Also I just found out that I will be between a Carquest Autoparts and a Big O Tires in Mooresville, IN this Saturday. Is 10 am too early for a hot dog? hmmm
Every thing looks really neat,best of luck!!!!!!!
Awesome job on the cart, good luck!
Matt
Great job, Randy! One piece of advice, if they’re old enough, charge the kids rent. It’ll help them become independent and help with the mortgage.
The best of luck.
Jodogs!!! Go get em and make some money!
The cart looks great, well thought out, good placement of everything. May I ask, how much the extra sinks cost and where they were purchased?
I love the sinks and faucet! Nice job on the cart, others may have given up! Best of luck to you, (it’s really not luck, it’s planning) LOL You go girl!
Excellent construction, Randy, and I really think your switching the sinks to aid customer flow is a really good idea. I, like apparently everyone else, really appreciate both the utility and the look of your triple sink setup.
Best of luck in this, but if you attention to business detail is 1/10th your attention to construction detail, I have no doubts you’ll do famously.
Don
Again, thanks for the compliments and well wishes, I am truley blessed. Terri-the sinks are 1/4 size x 4″ steam pans and they cost me $10.25 each at a resturant supply house in Indianapolis. As Steve said I will probably experience small successes and hopefully small failures and learn from both. I won’t sleep much Friday night. Thanks so much!
There is one more thing different about my cart. The plans call for an 8″caster wheel on the front of the cart. I mistakenly bought the 10″ caster wheel. Luck would have it, the 10″ worked out OK, I just had to rigg up different mounting.
Randy,
Congrats on a job well done! Those sinks are incredible!
Sounds like you have a winning spot and I’m sure that you’re going to do great.
I’m training my kids early about this business and so far, my son is really getting involved in helping. Maybe your kids should pitch in a shift or two a week to help out! Lol!
You sound like a very loving mom and totally motivated entrepreneur.
I struggled with my first cart (not home built) which had a lot of workmanship issues. I hung in there and now I just grabbed a larger cart to add to the “fleet”. Paid that off with the first cart’s earnings.
I intend to use Steve’s course to build a small fleet over the winter to bring my business to a few other cities.
Keep on Doggin’ & Smiling!
Hello doggers, I thought my first day went well. I sold 15 8-1’s, 11 angus beef 5-1’s, 5 cajun sausages, 14 sodas,4 waters and 5 chips. BTW, the angus and cajun sausages were free samples I got from Gordon Foods, you might check that out. I didthis in 4hrs, then I did the neighbor kid’s b-day party-heated their dogs and servered them, good practice. I rolled the cart across the street forgot my umbrella was still on and snapped the lower pole section. All good except that last part. One thing, had my meat stored in small cooler w/frozen water bottles in bottom and still wasn’t 41 deg.F, need help with that. Randy