Where to sell hot dogs – good places for hot dog carts
One of the key factors that will determine whether you are a success or a failure in the hot dog business is your ability to identify and secure great locations.
Some spots are so good you can almost milk them full time all day, every day. Other locations may have serious downtime when business is dead, but there are certain hours when you can really clean up. For some places, it all depends on the weather.
Let’s take a closer look at the typical places you can sell hot dogs, how to find those places, and some of the factors that make one place better than another.
Here are some tips for finding the best hot dog cart spots.
Positioning near a crowd
When deciding where to sell hot dogs, you should first observe the traffic flows of that particular location on a typical day to get a good idea of volume and potential. The best locations are often close to where people live, work, study or frequent. Position yourself near a hungry crowd and you can’t go wrong.
The hot dog is a common fast food item that is particularly sought after by busy people. You’re looking for people who are in a hurry and don’t want to waste time sitting down in a restaurant to eat.
Locations and time
During the day, you can place your trolley near office blocks, shopping centres, educational institutions or transport hubs. At night there is good trade outside of bars and clubs or large factories that have a night shift.
Some places may only be good for a few hours a day. You may find that you can maximize your earnings by moving if you have a permit that allows you to do so. Keep accurate records of your hot dog sales at various locations and you’ll soon learn where you need to be and when you need to be there.
Do not forget the habitual nature of people. Once they start counting on you being in a certain place at a certain time, they will be disappointed if they find you are not there. Remember that your customers have schedules too. If your hot dogs can become a part of the customer’s schedule, then you have found yourself a regular customer who will be worth a lot in the long run.
Competition
While you shouldn’t necessarily fear places that are already being handled by other caterers, you should still consider this factor. Healthy competition can mean that the area offers excellent potential and you can jump in and get your share of the pie. A place with no competition can be a gold mine, or there may be some very good reasons why other vendors haven’t been successful there.
Pedestrian or vehicular traffic
Hot dog stands on the East Coast are usually located in densely populated urban areas and sell mainly to pedestrians. Foot traffic is usually easier to sell. However, in the southern and western United States, some hot dog vendors have roadside stands that appeal to passing motorists. If people see your sign, you have plenty of time to slow down and a place to park, then you can do really well on a busy stretch of freeway.
Locations need time to develop
While you’ll get a feel for a location’s potential after spending a few days on the job, it’s hard to make a judgment call after such a short period of time. It may take weeks or even months for locals to discover your cart and try your hot dogs.
After a while, you will build a rapport with the people in the area and get customers coming to you regularly. So don’t give up on the spot after just a few days. Unless things are looking really bad, you should give a location at least a month to reveal its potential to you.
Selling hot dogs at events and festivals
One excellent opportunity for a hot dog stand owner is to obtain the right to operate a concession stand at a fair, concert, show or other type of event. If such an event will be attended by a large number of people, then you should be able to do quite well if you know how to run a booth effectively.
Once you make the right connections and learn how to get access to these gigs, you can literally write your own paycheck. Many hot dog vendors work at such events only four or five days a month, but earn as much as those who work in permanent locations.
As a hot dog cart business owner, you should always be open to looking for promising new places to sell your products. The old adage from the real estate industry also applies to the hot dog business, “Location, Location, Location.” Knowing where to sell hot dogs is a talent that is just as important as knowing how to run a stand.
#sell #hot #dogs #good #places #hot #dog #carts
