I feel like we’re missing the ship on this one Steve, and want to fix it now as we are becomingly rapidly popular here in the few short months we been dogging!
We need some of your savvy advice. We have 2 pretty good locations which we were originally invited to when we first started last summer. We frequent one more often than the other, and that is the training school for the Paul Mitchell hair salons.
The 2nd is in front of our local waste/recycling facility here which is actually my personal favorite activity wise because it’s on a dead end circle in a large industrial area with Kaiser Aluminum, Honeywell, etc.
We typically start at about 11am and occasionally run to about 3 or so, and an occasional weekend. There have been times when customers roll up around 10:30 or so which is about the time I throw the dogs in.
We’ve been struggling with pinning down our hours/days etc. Admittedly we are not consistent with our days at either location which I personally think might anger some of our frequent customers (who do not have the ability to check our location on Twitter or Facebook) as I feel a lot of them sorta count on us being there for the lunch hour and sometimes we’re not.
We definitely don’t want to ruin a good thing, but as we’re learning about living here in the Northwest (Washington), we’re sorta at the mercy of the weather unlike our former home in CA. We learned to always lug around our two matching red and white striped EZ-UPs which we’re sorta known for now.
Can you or our fellow vendors please give us some direction and feedback on days, hours of operation, etc. as we really want really nail this down Steve.
Thanks to you and everyone in advance!!
Matt and Sandi Wasteney-“Bubbadogz”
Spokane Valley, WA
******************************
First of all – CONGRATULATIONS! I’m glad to hear that you have become so popular right off the bat.
You are already doing several things right.
1. You are branding your business by using the red and white pop up canopies. Anything that you can do which gives you a consistent look will help customers remember you. The unique canopies are a great visual cue that Bubbadogz is there and open for business.
2. Your locations sound great. That is one of the main parts of the equation and you have it nailed.
3. You are using social media sites like Twitter and Facebook to connect with your customers and let them know where they can find you. Nice!
Now let’s talk about your hours of operation.
One of the many awesome things about being a hot dogger is the large degree of freedom we have to work where and when we want. But this can come back to bite us if we’re not careful.
80 percent of your sales will come from 20 percent of your customers, either directly through purchases or indirectly through word of mouth advertising.
It takes a lot of effort and time to turn a casual customer into a regular, and even more to turn a regular into a raving fan that spreads the word about your hot dog stand far and wide.
The raving fans compose that 20 percent. They can make or break your business.
Now imagine that your raving fan is sitting at work. It’s 10:30 and all she can think about is chowing down on your delicious dogs at lunch time. Her mouth is watering. Her stomach is grumbling.
The clock ticks.
Finally – it’s lunch time. She grabs three of her friends and proudly says, “Come with me for lunch. You have GOT to taste the unbelievably good hot dogs that I discovered. Let’s go!”
They arrive at your location and…
There’s no one there. (Sound of crickets chirping)
“No way!”, she thinks. Not only is she disappointed, she’s embarrassed because she dragged her friends along.
How many times do you think that raving fan will come back? Maybe once more, and if you’re absent the second time she’ll be gone for good.
How much was her business worth? How much would her three friends have spent with you over the years if they had become regulars? How many people would they have told about your hot dogs?
There is an easy solution and it doesn’t involve keeping long hours or working seven days a week. That would suck.
Decide what hours you want to work at each location, make your schedule fit your needs, and then BE there. Consistently. Week after week.
This allows you to “train” your customers to be there when you are. No more wasted trips for the customer. No more disappointed regulars. No more lost fans.
The beauty is that is doesn’t matter if you want to work one day a week or five. As long as you are consistent every one will be happy.
Be sure to put your hours on your menu and fliers, and continue to update your customers on Twitter and Facebook, especially when bad weather forces you to stay home.
So set your hours to fit your lifestyle and then go live the dream!
-Steve
P.S. If you want to learn how to make money with your own hot dog cart business, either part time or full time, go to HotDogBiz101.com and I’ll teach you how to get started.
YOU HAVE TO DECIEDE IF YOUR PLEASING YOUR COSTOMERS OR YOUR SELF…..I FOUND THIS ALSO WITH SERVING GOD IS THE SAME HIM OR YOURSELF U ALL PUT GOD FIRST IN YOUR BUSINESS HE WILL CAUSE YOUR BUSSINESS TO GROW LIKE THE WORD SAYS ” YOU FIND FAVOR WITH ME AND I WILL CAUSE MAN TO FIND FAVOR WITH YOU ” WE DO THE SAME THING DAY AFTER DAY AFTER DAY AND EXSPECT A DIFFERENT OR BETTER RESULTS COME ON LET GOD BE YOUR PARTNER
Steves right. I sell Bacon wrapped quarter pound hot dogs for 4 bucks each and my customers love them. Your regulars will always expect you to be their.
That’s the advice I give to the guy I buy my hotdogs from. Be there OR loose out!! It’s that simple.
Hot dog’s are GREAT ( BEEF ONLY )
I think in St Louis it would be hard to sell Hot Dog’s thoughout the winter months.
As usual, great advice!
Get a Facebook account (free) and set up a page for your business. I’ve got a page and haven’t even started my business yet (waiting on permits) and I already have 90 fans.
With a Facebook page, you can update your location and hours status daily, run “friends only” special like a coupon deal available only to the people who follow you on FB, and use it to announce upcoming events you plan to work at. It’s free so why not use it?
Steve,
In my 15 yrs of roadsiding with a different product and having 34 dealers, I did a step I think is being missed out by these folks regarding their business hours.
Do a little survey about the hours of operation such as:
“Hi Folks we are determining what hours would be best for you our customers.”
1.What hour should we be opening?
2. How late should we stay open?”
3. Any other comments you’d like to make?
They may find out if they stayed open 1 hour later they would get lots of traffic from a factory second shift or a specific lunch hour hour or a special break time.
Then yes , put the hours on their promo menu pieces.
Hope this helps.
Ken
SPECTACULAR ADVICE! Wow, how simple, yet potential upside. The “locals” know the lay of the land, so to speak, and that niche knowledge is just there for the asking. The price is right, too. GENIUS!
Thanks you Steve, and all our fellow vendors. We knew we could count on you guys!
Matt and Sandi
Steve,
I’m excited! I’m just getting my food truck, it will be here this weekend. Relatives brought it up for us from Florida, we bought it on ebay. Anyway, it is used but I hope it doesn’t take me too long to get it up and running. Other than cleaning it and painting, what would my next step be, call the health inspector? I have your book so I need to read up again, I love your site, so helpful..
Margaret
@Marc,
Hot dogs sell even better in winter than in summer. If you can keep your toes warm you can make a lot of money in the winter.
-Steve
Steve, we use the interlocking fatique mat from Harbor Freight. It’s nice and thick and also acts as an insulation by keeping your feet off the cold concrete. Also two pairs of good wool socks also helps. That’s what we did in MI.
Great idea. I used to stand on those mats for 10 hours a day when I worked in the auto parts factory. I don’t miss that but the mat really helped.
@Margaret,
Congrats! Read through Carts of Cash one more time. The answers are all in there. Send pics!
-Steve
@California Doggz – Nice!
-Steve
@Ken,
Great advice!
-Steve
@Matt and Sandi,
Thanks for letting me use your email as the subject for this lesson. You guys are kickin’ it!
-Steve
Help me spread the word. Click the Facebook Share button (upper left side of this page).
Thanks everyone!
-Steve
Great idea about Facebook! I just joined recently. I’ll have to look it over.
Consistency! Always! I let my customers know that if Rain or thunder is forecast during my work hours, I won’t be there. My town won’t even let me put up a canopy yet and I have no way to keep things from getting wet. Other than that, Steve, I’ve gotten a lot of word of mouth going around about both my hot dogs and especially my pulled pork. I don’t know of any other vendors here that feature that and my recipe is a definite hit. One guy came and got one for lunch. His eyes popped on the first bite and 2 hours later his boss came by with glowing reports! Moral of the story is: Make yourself known with something unique and don’t skimp on quality.
Congrats Bubbadogz! Sounds like you just have a few minor things to work out.
I have to agree with Ken. A survey would be a good way to go. Let your customers decide your basic hours for you. They are the ones buying the yummy dogs. Also use Facebook and Twitter.
Good Luck in finding your solution!
I started out at my spot just being there from 10 am to 3 pm and now my day as grown from 10 am to 5 pm, I found myself getting regulars every day and they depend on me being there for them. If I cut my hours back I will lost money, so choice is lose money or gain some freedom. I went into the dog business for money, freedom can come later on in life
Tony
Steve, you are right on! Your comment, “It takes a lot of effort and time to turn a casual customer into a regular, and even more to turn a regular into a raving fan that spreads the word about your hot dog stand far and wide.” Well said, bud! No futher comment is necessary. Consistantly selling a great product exceeding our guest expectations one customer at a time is the only way to build your business! I’m with you Steve,
Thanks,
Jason
Hi Sandi and Matt…and Steve,
I hope you guys are having fun! This post has me smiling from ear to ear! Nailing hours is crucial.
So as stated. Bring a product that is worth the time for someone to get. Be consistent on set up times.
Learning the hours that your regs travel (the 20%) is a good thing to learn. Business crowds travel at lunch. The early customer and the late customer only make you feel bad, not an effect on the business.
Again as stated, train the customer. You’re a novelty, when you set up at first. You’re either a coffee clutch or a memory after that.
I had early customers and late customers everyday on the street this year. You serve them if you can. otherwise it’s time to say, “give me five or see ya at 11 tomorrow morning”. don’t burn fuel and food for that one stray pick up. hit your market, get your cash, and enjoy the day. Have Fun!
california doggz: What’s the secret to cooking bacon wrapped dogs?
Hello everyone! This is my first time responding but I”ve been reading this site for over a year. I started this August primarly serving the bar crowd from 10pm until 4 am Friday and Sat nite and doing special events. I started a FaceBook page and currently have over 300 friends and every weekend I list a “Phrase that Pays” for special discounts to anyone that tells me the phrase. I was just onTV for a special concert that I am the exclusive food vendor forthe weekend and ths all came from FaceBook. So I love the free advertisement from FB. Hope this helps and I will try to attach my link for the morning TV show that aired yesterday.
Campfire Grill-Jason-, I think your cart Rocks. I really like the way you laid it out. I am thinking on building one like yours. I would like to know where I can find a griddle like the one you have. What is it the you prepare on it? Thanks for your response. O.K. that out of the way, I too think that you need to have hours of operation and stick to them. That is how you build your clientel.
@Tom,
The secret to selling bacon wrapped hot dogs is not to get caught 😉
-Steve
I get to my spot at 9:00 and start selling at 9:30/10:00 to 3:00,
P.S. Don’t forgat your TIP jar!!!! alittle trick on your tip jar, Add about $5.00 in ones to it so people see it and they’ll keep adding to it as well!!
And reread Steve’s books over and over!!!
Hey John, My Grill is a Griddle Q, it works great!
Jason
Campfire Grill, Thanks for the information. I will check it out. John
Not sure about bacon, but I also sell pulled pork BBQ on my cart, I started about a year ago putting the pulled pork on my large BIG dog call it a big pig dog add bbq sauce and a little slaw soooo good and my customers love them and $5.00 is not bad for it either. Just an option that works for me.
You’re making me hungry!
This really is a great forum. Thought I would through my two cents in for what it’s worth.
If you are working two different locations in addition to posting your hours you will be there also include what day’s of the week you will be at each location. Use a small chalk board to post on you cart for the one that don’t follow Facebook or other social networks to see where you will be set up. .
Good luck
Nice.
I Allways Said If Consistency Persistancy Originality All Hold True !!! All Of Us Slingers Will Rule This Planet Before We Are Through !!! Allways Be There !!! Do It Once Do It Right !!! Or Dont Do It At All !!! Hot Dog Mike Is Back Doing It New York Doggie Style At The Jersey Shore !!! Wildwood !!!
HoT dOg MiKe!!!!
I am stuck in a bit of a situation as well. I have established myself as the guy in my little area. Smack in the middle of town, right by the train station, 3 bus stops, and walking distance to the farmers market. The town, in its best judgement has decided to move the farmers market outside of town proper. Not only killing my sales but the sales of other local business. I understand being consistent, but the reduction of walking traffic is killing sales. Scouting new locations, maybe a Lowes, a garden center, something.
That’s too bad but that’s why we have wheels under our restaurants. Be glad you didn’t invest in a brick and mortar hot dog joint by the train station. Only one thing is constant and that is change. Being mobile gives us tons of options. You’ll do well!
Hey guys,
Seems all the posts are pro/con about everything! lol – guess that’s just a sign that you have to find what works for you.
I have a permanent spot also (in a downtown location) well, permanant in the fact that this week I’m moving to another location this week in the same downtown community (annual lease from $5100 to $2400, only two blocks south on the same street). The owner of my new location, who is a customer, felt I’d be a great fit in the direction his condominium properties were going toward. WOW, my little business a “great fit” – haha
Anywho… Two things work for me;
My bright red/yellow umbrella – when its up, I’m serving, and posting my weekly schedule on FaceBook.
After 15months in business, I’m lucky to say people search me out, and as one customer tells me, “I stalk you on Facebook EVERYDAY!”
My schedule varies, I set up downtown 3-4 days a week usually, for lunch only 11a-2p. That leaves me open to be mobile for other things on weekends – which going forward, probably will be downtown in my new location, because I’m now only about 100ft from the upper entrance from the cities outdoor amphitheater Elmwood Park (concerts, festivals, sporting events…)
So for me, weekly and daily FB updates, the umbrella, and of course, delicious all-beef frankfurters on a bun!!!!
That’s great Mike. Gotta love those folk who become fans of your business! Good job!
STEVE, I AM PLANNING ON PURCHASING ONE OF THOSE AIR SUPPLIED FIGURES, THAT WIGGLE ALL THE TIME, BUT IN THE SHAPE OF A HOT DOG , WOULD THAT HELP AS MY BRANDING POINT? YOUR THOUGHTS PLEASE.
Yes, absolutely. The first step to making a sale is getting attention. That should do the trick.
This is for Ken, re: the blow-up;
Of check with local zoning first before investing. I found out in my locality, there’s a city wide ban on banners, freestanding flags, etc…. If there is such an ordinance in your area, it’s only gonna take ONE business to file a complaint, then you can’t use it anymore – that happened to me. The brick&mortar hotdog restaurant filed a complaint on me last April about my flutter flag, so one warning from the city, and of I put it up again, then I get hit with a $100 fine. CHECK FIRST!
That’s an excellent point Mike. Thank you for adding that!
I love the pulled pork idea , where did you make it ? Also Steve who do you go to ask to go in front of Lowe’s and big box stores and soccer fields etc… I love all the fantastic advice this site offers us all.
Talk to the Lowes store manager. You may be able to deal directly with him/her. Otherwise you will have to go through a concession management company called Street Eats.
i was wondering howyou cook bacon and wrap it around the dogs.
You wrap the bacon raw around the hot dog then grill it on a flat top. Most health codes don’t allow this on an open cart. Some health departments will let you make a bunch at the commissary and hot hold them on the cart. Always check first.