What can a hot dogger learn from a pancaker?
This morning we had a pancake breakfast at church, catered by a company called Chris Cakes out of Kansas City. Talk about creating a customer experience – this was off the charts.
They set up a huge flat top griddle and had a machine that poured four pancakes at once down the length of the griddle. At two minutes cook time, that’s 1440 pancakes an hour.
That was cool, but the best part was delivery. They flipped the pancakes onto our plates from 20 feet away. Check it out…
My pastor was the only person to drop one but that’s because he tried to catch it behind his back!
The effect was total customer participation and the feeling that we didn’t just get breakfast, we got a show. Everyone was laughing and smiling and eating and smiling and talking and smiling.
I know I’ll tell at least ten of my friends about Chris Cakes in the next few days and I immediately thought of our recent discussion of Unique Selling Proposition.
Chris Cakes has one. Do you?
-Steve
How cool! Really gives us something to think about in creating a USP. But I will say, if I “flip dogs”, the four-legged critters, not the customer, will love me! ;p
wow, that must be an exciting experience.
Promotion, Promotion, Promotion!
Nothing gets the customer more enthusiastic about your product than the way you promote it.
There in lies the proof if you build a better mousetrap it will sell like Hotcakes!
I am envisioning hot dogs flying through the air with a squirt of mustard following each one. How does the three second rule fit in with food safety?
WOW! It’s ironic that you posted this video. Just last week I was talking with a guy about providing food for GOBA. It’s a bicycling group that takes these very long trips, sometimes covering hundreds of miles.
The guy told me about this Chris Cakes guy and said that he will provide the breakfasts for all of the cyclers and support peole. He was describing it but I had no idea what he was talking about.
He said the guy would wear hiking boots and if anyone asked for a waffle he would throw a pancake on the floor and then stomp on it leaving the sole pattern in it and then he would scoop it up and put it on a plate and say “here’s your waffle”. Too cool.
Being the “green horn” that I am, I’m still trying to figure out what my USP is. What are some of you folks doing out there that turns your food into an experience or a show and not just another meal?
I guess the only show that my customers get is looking at me, but they do get good clean food at a fair price (-:
I guess my customers only show is looking at my pretty face. They do get good, clean food at a fair price (-:
About 10 years ago I was looking at a machine some thing like this one, is was in the thousands of dolllars, very nice. Now just think if you could do the hot dogs this way. wow what a show you would have. nice job and enjoyed the video
Tony
That is awesome … I wonder how far I can fling a dog and have it land in the bun … and then shoot a shot of mustard from a squirt gun and a catapult for the pickle
That was an excellent video. I’m bulding my cart now. Seems like its taking forever to get all paperwork done. love the site. makes a guy think
I can see a whole lot of product on the streets…. But our satisfaction index will skyrocket with our dog owners… 🙂
my mind is spinning after that now what kind of a witty inovation as the word says can i come up with let you know steve
i got it alredy get a grill like chrises put your dogs , brats, nokers, smoked sasuages. polish on the grill get a rod as long as the grill lay it on each row move the rod to turn the dogs a row at a time move the rod the dogs turn automatic tada
Isn’t there a machine that makes the little hot dogs? Turn the crank and out pops another one… I wonder if the HD would make us get a Processor’s license? Great video Steve…
The pancake thing is awesome ,try your best dog wraped in a pancake ,they are delicious. On an unrelated note im almost done my not so easy built cart lol your design kicks but but i tackled it with diamond plate and stainless steel which made for some engineering fun .The eccotemp works awesome when its finished this week I will post some pics.I have seen some of the carts the other doggers have built on here and they have all turned out awesome .
Hey Guys! Glad you liked our food and “delviery”! Chris Cakes has been around for 41 years! I’ve done it for 26 and love my job!
-sh
Very inspirational. Ican’t wait to convert my old camper in to a hotdog cart.Thanks Steve
I myself decided to go the extra mile with the cart I am building only because I am a contractor and a huge over achiever.I am in the process of building a 16 ft full kitchen.However,I am going to have sound system with outdoor speakers,disco lights and rope lights.I am also selling shaved ice.I may also make some carnival like games for the kids.Trying to give like a little theme to the whole experience.Plus the fact that I have like 15 stuffed dog recipes that take time to make,trying to keep customers occupied so they don’t leave WHEN the lines are ridiculous.Just thinking outside the box and what I would like if it was me going to a dog trailer!
Welcome to HDCN Chris Cakes! Very cool of you to drop by!
-Steve
you are an over achiever! i just have a couple of folding chairs for the customers who are waiting & they can listen to my ipod speaker with me singing along for entertainment.
I saw a YouTube video of a hotdogger with flair. But instead of throwing hot dogs around he would make like the group Stomp and clang around his lids and tongs. Made people stop and watch. I say hi to everybody that walks by and let the delicious hot dogs and sausage sell themselves. Keeps me busy…
Lucky Dawg; I just saw your YouTube video; Very nice!!
I love seeing hot doggers and pancakers in action.
Chris Cakes, that sounds like a lot of work AND a lot of fun! I had thought of adding pancakes to my menu (I have a griddle), but I’m not much of an early bird.
Louise
hey guys that is a nice video thanks steve
[…] USP Part Two […]
I saw Chris Cakes on an internet video somewhere about 3 years ago, I think. I was very impressed and the video actually inspired me to consider doing some kind of pancake catering biz, which later on led me to hot dog vending. I still like the idea of doing a breakfast gig with pancakes and such.
Awesome to see that there is a Chris Cakes right here in Golden, Colorado, which is just west of me in Denver. I gotta go see them work their flying pancakes magic in-person sometime.
like you say,it is the expreience.i never have seen one like this.ROCK ON
A big wow for Chris Cakes. I have a feel good button on my cart ,when they make a purchase they press the button.It plays James Brown singing I feel good.It gets a lot of laughs
Perfect Dane!