Hot Dog Cart Season is Always in Season

If you think the it is too late to buy your first hot dog cart think again. The best time to buy your new business is when the season is slowing down and people are beginning to plan for next year's events. Most event planners begin planning their events at least a year in advance for a successful event. Hot Dog Vendors in the US and other countries need to plan their event calendar the same way. Every event you want to rebook should go down in your calendar of events fist. Then call and send emails all winter long trying to book the calendar as full as you possibly can stand it for the following year. I would not recommend booking too many events prior to March or you could end up running your hot dog cart in the snow if you live in the Midwest or Fort Wayne, Indiana. If you want to know more about the hot dog cart business, call Osborne's Dreammaker Hot Dog Carts in Fort Wayne Indiana. Our experts have been running successful businesses for years and years now. We still operate a hot dog cart locally and have a blast at some events. This month will be going on the road to Columbus and to Michigan and back again to Aetna with our Tasty Taco Wagon. You never know where you will see us next but you can be sure that we will bring the most innovative hot dog vendor cart in the industry and our food will be good and hot just like our customers like it. Check out our newest selection of hot dog carts and mobile food stands at www.dreammakerhotdogcarts.com . We look forward to meeting you !

Labor Day Activities in the Dog House

It was a very busy Labor Day Week at Ds,  and at the Doggies Gourmet Hot Dog Mobile Food Cart. We set up in Auburn, Indiana at the Antique Auto Auction newly owned and hosted by Auctions America on Wednesday. The heat rolled in and started heating up our hot dog buns almost immediately. Even though heat index was projected to be in excess of 100 each day for 3 days straight we got to work. We knew that the show must go on, even if we expected the worst and acted like we were out to give our best. The best is what we gave them, the worst is how we felt but you could never tell by the smiles on our face as we saw our regular customers roll up to our little hot dog cart by the pond in it's 10th anniversary showing. We relished each customer, one and all. As they got to the front of the line and smiled and said give me one..burn it as always and aked "do you remember me?" Of course, I remember most of my customers who have been faithful out there over the years. Do I remember their names...? Honestly, no. Do I remember their kind faces or their smiles? Of course I do, I even remember their food requests. I remember that they like my smoked sausage the best, majority like burnt dogs, this weenie wagon is not for kids by any means. Most of the hot dog cart customers noticed that we had a new innovative hot dog cart, yes... this hot dog cart was manufactured by Dreammaker Hot Dog Carts, Indiana, owned by Osborne. It boasts of 2 large storage drawers, a nice stainless grill to burn dogs on, 2 full size steam tables that held the temperatures well. a full size customer service shelf and a back prep shelf for the 2nd operator. In fact my cart  was so well planned out that I was able to reduce my labor from 4 people to just 2 people in the front and one prep person in the back saving me labor. One plus was the bun warming drawer, the prep person was able to roll dogs in foil wrappers and fill the bun drawers with the buns as I slipped them quickly into the steamer unit for just a few seconds. Our customers commented on how tasty their steamed buns were and how well they loved the new operation. Although they did miss the brightly colored hot dog cart that looked like a bun they did not miss the smile on my face or our food which is so famous at the Auctions America Auction Park in Auburn Indiana. Some say that the Antique cars are the draw for customers there...we like to think that the little hot dog cart in front of the pond area for the last 10 years is the draw for some nationwide from Florida to Wisconsin, to Michigan, Ohio and Indiana.

Our dogs were hot, our feet were barking, we couldn't keep up on the sunscreen or ahead of the dehydration as temperatures exceeded that triple digit heat index but the tired smile on our face displayed the love of our time ... our tradition at the Auctions America. Sales were down, over 60% but spirits soared and our customers were so happy to see us. It is encouraging to be so loved by your customers. The money wasn't enough to pay the rent or retire on, that is for sure but we will continue to come back as long as they want us and our hot dogs.

To all of our faithful customers, from shytown, Danny, Don, Hoot, Steve, and our neighbor vendors like Jim-the sunglass man, fi-fi's momma and brother.. We love you all, May God keep you all safe until next Labor Day weekend where we have been meeting and falling in love with all of you at the hot dog cart by the pond for the last 10 years.

New Hot Dogger in Ohio

Welcome our newest hot dogger, Roy Foster from the Cincy Ohio area. I wish you the best in your new adventure and will be here to support your efforts if you need me. :)

 Roy is sure to be a success in his new mustard and ketchup cart shown here. Good luck Roy and serve em up hot !!

Is there money in the hot dog cart business?

A resounding "yes" is heard from coast to coast from vendors who are new and old in the business of hot dogs. The question is do you want to be an average hot dog vendor or do you want to be one of the top dogs in the industry? Here are a few tips for finding a profitable location in your area that I have found to be money makers. Keep in mind that in order to make money you do not want to sacrifice the quality of your food.

1) Call or visit your Parks and Recreation Department in your city to inquire about any independent food service contracts that are available for bidding. When bidding these contracts always bid a % of sales up to 20% but never over this amount. Take into consideration what they provide. Some may reasonably provide you with commissary, electricity, water and storage room..some may even have access to ice and other necessities to reduce your overall cost of doing business in the industry. These kitchens are almost always equipped as commercial kitchens although small in nature could serve as a home base for your business and you only pay when you make money. These contracts are normally signed in one year agreements with a multiple year renewal. I usually ask for 4 years. Common in the political arena.

Example: You contract for concessions for 3 city pool locations, these locations gross 10k per month which is very realistic, they furnish the facilities, you pull the license, hire the staff, pay the wages and sales taxes and 15-20% which will likely be 70% of your total income and pocket the profit of 34% because your overhead is fixed for utilities, rent etc at the 15-20% mark. Best of all you do not physically run any of the locations yourself. During my career as a restaurant owner just my food costs could run around 30%, employees 35% not including my rent and utilities by the time I was finished for the month I may have only net a mere 5% for all of my hard work.

Soccer fields are great for income, however keep in mind that you must be hearty in your mission as this sport occurs in the midwestern US during the coldest months of the year. Early Spring and late fall are the most profitable times of the year.

Dont limit yourself to outside contracts, as a vendor, become a caterer and diversify your business so that you may operate year around.

Dog House Carts, Inc located in Fort Wayne Indiana can manufacturer you a custom made hot dog cart with electrical capabilities for indoor use. Turning your business to an all year food service business can increase the odds of your success while increasing your bottom line. Although in most areas of the upper midwest you will have to close your business sometime in November, the line can form inside...and being a hot dog vendor you wont' want to miss a business opportunity.

2) Fairs & Festivals, special events. By all means, schedule your life and make it easy. If you choose this avenue you can expect to make big money and not work the traditional 5 day a week work week. Make sure that you dont find yourself buying bad hot dog cart vendor real estate as I call it. Fair and festival boards have a common goal in making money. They don't offer rain checks so dont gamble on a large event with big dollar entry prices unless you are willing to loose it should mother nature decide to take it from you. You may be willing to do the work during a stormy day but your customers have the choice of eating inside a building...nice and cozy instead of eating out in the rain and getting soggy buns.

What Hot Dogs do I use?

I can not tell you how many times a week, a month or a year that I am asked this same question. Does it matter what brand of hot dogs I use? Well, of course it does. Regardless of what some non hot dog lovin people think, quality, price and region matters. People in certain regions have come to trust and love brand names that are indigenous to their area. In Florida, people love Sabretts famous brand, in Penn people love Smith's hot dogs, in Chicago people love Vienna Beef hot dogs.

My favorite hot dog is Boars Head due to it's No cancer causing nitrates and no fillers, just high grade meat. These are sold in a continuous link, all connected like the old day vendors use to buy for their hot dog carts. They are commonly found in fresh markets and whole food stores. I also like the new angus beef hot dog from Oscar Myer meets. It is nitrate free too. I am not into "healthy foods" 100% of the time but I quit smoking years ago to live a little longer, to see my grandbabies grow up why would I choose to have proven cancer causing agents in my hot dogs?

You have to like the hot dog that you serve, if you would serve it to your family, friends and eat it as your hot dog of choice, it's the dog you should use. Yes, price consideration is important but backing your product quality is important too.

There are many things to consider in your new business, but your main choice should be quality food, after all that is what the industry is all about.

From Hot Dog Vendor to Hot Dog Cart Builder

You would think that if you were down for count, the count was 3 that your spirit would be a little crushed. After someone taking all that you have worked so hard to build for over a decade what would you be expected to do? I have been meaning to write a bit about this situation on my blog, get it out of my heart and soul and send it in a balloon or something, just let the feeling go for once and for all. After all, it's been almost a year. I am healthy and happy to be in a loving enviroment among friends who respect and know me. That I am thankful for. There is one thing that I am most thankful for, my husband and friend. James Osborne..he is brave, he is honest and he is the hardest working man I know. He may not be the most romantic man in the world..he doesn't buy me diamonds, he doesn't take me out for high class meals at fancy restaurants as a matter of fact he feels quite uncomfortable at those places.

So what does my husband do that makes him so special you ask? Let me tell you.... HE MAKES ME HOT DOG CARTS..not just any hot dog cart, but beautiful hot dog carts.

You see when all of my dreams were crushed by someone much bigger and richer than I he saw me cry...he wiped my tears and he cried with me when I lost my hot dog cart business due to making a deal with the devil. He wanted to fix it...he didn't know how. I gave up, I pursued another career leaving my old expertise behind due to pain and sorrow and added to the pain was the death of one of my good friends. I gave up, I stopped being the happy person I knew before I met this horrible fate. My trust was gone..... no promises came true.

This is my story, I have been waited a long time to tell it. I have been hurt very deeply by those I trusted with all I built, trust was destroyed a bit at a time until all that was left inside was hate. But my husband...the greatest man I know builds me hot dog carts and I love him for it.

Hot Dog Vendor Season Arrives

It's here, we can feel it in our bones. Hot Dog Cart season is upon us. I can hear the fabricators at Dog House Carts, Inc buzzing with excitement as the custom cart orders come in for the 2011 hot dog cart season and they determine how they will keep up with their orders. To see the quality carts come off the press is amazing. The new wood cart that was hand fabricated by an amazing wood craftsman out of Georgia is just amazing !! Talk about a touch of the past, this cart is nostalgic and speaks with measures of elegance. A Hot Dog cart that even makes me want to fire up the flames !!

My life is much different this season, as some that are close to me know that I am no longer acting (for now) as the Queen of weenies, I am making an honest living helping those with skin care battles win their war. I am now a Indiana State Licensed Esthetician and perform microdermabrasions, chemical peels and constantly research methods commonly only derived from the fountain of youth. My new website is up and running now and the new business promises to be awesome. See me at http://www.behindenemylinesllc.com not only does this name depict what we sometimes feel when we are hiding behind a face that has seen too much sun in it's years, acne concerns, dryness, aging and just looking like we are tired beyond our years. I can turn back time with tried and true methods of anti youth serums, and procedures that make you feel and look younger.

However, I do volunteer to run a hot dog cart from time to time, show up for a now and then again lesson to new vendors in starting up and running their new business. Menu consulting for new hot dog vendors and cost analysis which in this age in time is ever so important. I am also currently contemplating reving up my ebay store where I sell those hard to find vendor accessories. Dog House Carts, Inc of Indiana has agreed to provide me with custom made accessories, swing away grills that attach in tow to your push bar and drop in condiment shelves. They have amazing equipment drawers with cam locks that are both secure and storage in their carts that I only dreamed of being a vendor. I don't know about you but the packing and unpacking of all of my supplies when I did an event to keep them from bouncing all over in my cart...gets old, real soon. The guys at Dog House Carts, Inc have solved those storage problems. And much much more, when I want a hot dog cart that is girl friendly I think of the models that are fabricated at Dog House Carts, Inc because they don't expect you to lean over a hot steam table to get to your on board cooler.. they have inovated a cooler that slides out so that you can easily get to your products without being burnt or worrying about setting something on a surface that you have to move on the top of the cooler every time you want to open it. I love the guys at Dog House Carts, Inc. That just may be because one of them is my husband James Osborne and Engineer, Hot Dog Cart Designer...Steve Schaefer. These guys really now how to make a vendor happy.

Jim and Steve would love it if you checked out their site, http://doghousecarts.com as they grow and progress. And if you need colored cart you should check them out. Wow, these carts are cherry red and bright yellow.....nice and the best thing is that they don't cost any more money. Give their sales department a call and talk to Greg Price about getting your amazing new cart.

And if you want to be the best looking hot dog vendor in the field, come see me.... I will make you look brand new.

Hot Dog Cart Spring Start up checklist

So you think you are ready to take that hot dog cart out of storage and get it ready to go for the 2011 hot dog cart season? Well, a few things need to be taken into consideration prior to starting a successful vending cart season. Follow this checklist and you will rest assured that you will have months of interrupted food preparation.

1) remove your fresh water tank from your unit and flush with a food grade disinfectant. You can use chlorine bleach, however per the food safety guidelines you will want to mix it to be 50 ppm. No need to rinse out the container after the bleaching process unless you are using more than 100 ppm chlorine mixture. I recommend that this be completed at least once a month to keep any bacteria from growing in your water tank during the hot days of summer.

2) Check all of your water supply lines, make sure that there is no bacterial/dark growth going on in your supply lines. Flush with disinfectant solution also or replace the lines every 3-5 years on your hot dog cart to make sure that your water supply stays as clean as it needs to be.

3) Check your burner system, light it and make sure that your fire stays lit in all of the burner gas supply holes. If only a portion of the burner is working you may either see if you can get it unclogged by using a steel brush or powerwashing technique. Another option would be to replace the entire burner ring and the hose assembly if worn and non working. Check the propane supply hoses really well for any weakness as this can cause a fire during your seasonal operations and possibly shut your cart down for a few weeks. Very few vendors can afford to loose time during the active hot dog cart season.

4) Take your cart to a powerwashing facility that has hot water, wash it thoroughly, then sanitize each portion. After washing and sanitizing your cart, use stainless steel food grade polish or baby oil to protect it. This procedure should take place after each major event or at least a few times a week for the daily operator.

5) Throw out any old serving paper products that have been open and exposed to bacteria during the off months. Including paper towel, hot dog boats, napkins & any other serving ware. Unfortunately if you didn't protect it from the environment..it's probably not worth risking bacterial contamination over. You could make someone sick.

6) If your cart is a towable cart the next thing you want to check is the wheel bearings. Some manufacturers tell you that they are lifetime bearings, be sure that they are. If not you could find yourself in a heap of trouble. Just take the bearing cap off and make sure that there is plenty of grease in the bearings. If they look damaged or dry, you may want to replace them.

7) Tires, check your tires for wear and tear including dry rot. If a hot dog cart sits in one place for any length of time it may cause the tires to be flat on one site and you are in for a rough ride when hauling your cart. An entire tire assembly is available at most Walmart stores for less than $40.00 each.

8) Check your onboard cooler and make sure that it is sanitized by flushing it with the bleach mixture as stated above.

9) Check all locks, rivets and latches to see that they are in working order.

10) Make sure your graphics are nice and clean and neat. I would recommend replacing every 5 years or so to keep a professional look to your business.

11) Your umbrella, your open sign, if it's dirty, torn or dingy, replace it. It doesn't have to be an expensive adventure. Go to your local Sams club and pick up a multicolored umbrella for just around $25.00, you may want to buy two.

12) The impression you present with your cart will determine your success. No one wants to hire a dirty mobile vending cart. It is likely that if the owner doesn't care about the cart he doesn't care about you.

Next thing, make calls, make menus, order hot dog cart business cards and Tshirts and you are ready to start the New 2011 hot dog season out right.

New Hot Dog Manufacturers in Indiana

Look at these two innovative hot dog cart manufacturers ! The smile on their face surely tells you that they know something that makes them feel like spring is just around the corner in the hot dog cart industry. Steve Schaefer makes sure that his engineering degree is not wasted by designing the industry's most vendor friendly carts the mobile food industry has ever seen. Jim Osborne his partner in the business is no stranger to the pristine way of manufacturing quality made hot dog carts as he has worked for some the nations highest quality driven manufacturers in the last 15 years.

New hot dog cart designs boasts of something that no other manufacturer offers in the industry today. A huge pull out bun storage drawer where the operator can be more than ready to do a large amount of business in a very short period of time. No more burning your bun bags on the top of your hot stainless steel hot dog cart, just wrap them in foil and they are ready when you are. Two large full size steam table cookers make sure that you will never run out of food even for the hungriest of crowds. Easy to use pull out cooler is ready when you need it and slides neatly inside the cart when you don't need it. No more bending over a hot steam table and getting burnt or possibly catching your clothes on fire, just slide it out, get what you need and slide it back into place. Mobile vendor friendly design. We have also designed an add on stainless steel grill that swings out so that it is vendor friendly. No more having it where you don't need it. It also locks into place when the hot dog vendor is closing their cart for the day. One of the most important features is our affordable canopy top for our hot dog carts, yes if you like you can still use an old umbrella, however once you see this unique canopy... you will never go back to the traditional umbrella. Call Dog House Carts, Inc 877-490-6655 for an estimate on your new canopy set up for your used hot dog cart and give it a new shine for the upcoming season.