Unlike many enterprises where the owner lives above the restaurant or business stand, a concession stand is either left by the owner at the business area or is towed away each day. Each of these activities has their own security risks and here are some tips on how to be able to secure your hot dog cart or stand each and every day.
If you leave your hotdog concession stand in your place of business, then this presents some problems for security. Here are some ways to secure your hotdog concession stand when you close shop for the night:
Lock down your concession stand
You need to do a complete look over of all the cabinets, wheel locks and fuel locks for your concession stand. This ensures that all the supplies you keep in your hotdog concession stand would still be there when you return the next day. You need to keep the wheel locks in place to prevent the hotdog cart from rolling away. As for the fuel locks, you need to be sure there are no leaks so that the propane does not dissipate and lead to danger to the surrounding areas.
Do not leave valuables in your cart
It is best that you bring home the day’s earnings and even the petty cash fund for your business. Leaving them in the hotdog concession stand would only be bait for thieves to raid your hotdog concession stand. Aside from money, you also need to bring home perishable items from your cart as they are also valuable for your business. This can keep them fresh and edible for the next day’s business operations.
If you bring home your cart each and every day, then there are some aspects of security for your hotdog concession cart that needs to be ensured. Here are some tips on handling the security of your business:
Lock Down before Transport
Before rolling down the highway, you need to make sure that the trailer is secured unto your vehicle. You also need to make sure that your trailer lights as well as your trailer wheels are in good running condition. This would avoid any problems as you travel from your place of business to your residence.
Lock Down your Cart
This lock down involves all the cabinets of your hotdog cart. You need to make sure all the implements of your hotdog cart are properly kept. You also need to make sure that the propane tank of your hotdog cart is fastened properly. This would prevent your supplies from falling all over the highway as you transport your hotdog cart.
Parking Properly
Many accidents with hot dog concession carts do not occur during transport but when the cart reaches the destination. When you park your cart, be sure that the wheel locks are in place and the trailer’s brake is properly set. Also, do a look over on all the cabinet locks and propane cradle to make sure that your cart is secured thoroughly.
These are but some of the basic tips in securing your hot dog concession stand. Always remember that your hot dog concession cart is a valuable investment on your part and doing these simple measures would prevent loss and damage for you and your financial health.
A hot dog concession often is a stand alone cart which caters to people on the go. The common hot dog concession stand does not have chairs or tables where customers can eat their meal. Often, they order on the go or take out their meal and this is where a lot of problems arise. Here are some common problems in serving take out and recommended solutions to them.
Customer in a Hurry
Since the area where you are located is heavy on foot traffic, many customers often are in a hurry to get to their next destination. Time is of the essence for them and many become impatient and irate when the service holds them back. In order to keep this customers coming back, set up your menu to be easily readable and have set menus for the individual on the go. By having set meals, you can easily prepare the meal for the meal that they want at the least amount of time. Then, you have to train your personnel, including yourself, as to the fastest and most efficient way to prepare the meal. In finding the best way, you are able to serve your clients while they are on the go.
Complete Orders
Always remember, speed and accuracy must go hand in hand to be a successful hot dog cart. You would often have customers with specific orders, such as no onions or hold the relish. If their requests are left unheeded, they often throw fits and you would lose customers because of this. Thus it is important that your order taking and food preparation skills are sharp as a knife’s edge to keep up with the orders of your clients. Do not forget also to provide napkins and other necessities for your customer’s needs. Another tip is before serving the food, recheck if the order is complete and make sure everything needed is in place.
Always Have Change
Nothing hassles a commuter on the go than a food seller not having change for the payment made. And you can’t run around and leave your food cart unattended as you look for change. You also cannot assume to keep the change with a customer lest you be accused of stealing. One way to avoid this is by having lots of change on hand. Another way to avoid this is by rounding off the price of the food, inclusive of taxes. This can help in avoiding fumbling for nickels and dimes in order to complete the order for your customers.
Take out is big business for a hot dog concession stand. Many would say that this business is almost 80% of all the revenue for an entrepreneur. In order to be successful, you need to be well prepared while manning your concession cart. You need to be prepared for those customers who are in a hurry. You also need to be efficient and accurate as you complete the orders for your clients. You must also have change on hand at all times since you need this to help your customers on their way. Once you have all these down pat, you are sure to make clients and lead to a successful business in the long run.
One of the keys to successful food enterprise is finding the proper location. Having a site with lots of foot traffic is the main ingredient in generating revenue for your hot dog stand. Aside from a high density area, being accessible is also a key to be easily reached by your would be and standing customers. The following are examples of prime hotdog places that can be located in your area.
Near Work Areas
If you find a location that is near work areas, you are sure to have a client base for your hotdogs at any given time of day. Locating your hotdog concession cart near offices, construction sites or other offices would keep you busy especially during coffee breaks, lunch time and after office meal.
Outside or Inside Large Gatherings
Large gatherings is the generic term for sporting events, concerts and other activities where there a large group of people in attendance. There are many people not only inside these venues, but there are also many others outside in parking lots or just milling about. Since you offer a hot meal at low cost, you are sure to have people lined up in no time to partake of your offered sandwiches to the public.
Schools, Parks and Playgrounds
Hot dogs are a children’s best friend. So go where the children are often located. Situating yourself near schools would surely give you the opportunity to earn from kids in the school nearby. It is best to be located near colleges and universities so that you can provide a low cost meal for those scrimping on money.
Food Courts, Malls and Shopping Centers
In these areas, there are sure customers out to purchase food. Having a hotdog concession stand in these areas allows for you to offer your menu of light fare at a low price to haggard shoppers and other denizens of the mall.
Location, location, location! Finding the right one can make you successful or finding a poor one can break your financial backbone. There are some areas known to be successful areas of business for a hotdog vendor. These are near work areas, inside or outside large gatherings, in schools, parks or playgrounds and finally in food courts, malls and shopping centers. These are known areas of heavy foot traffic and thus the primary client base for your hot dog cart.
Summer’s here and the sun is out all day. Many have chosen to enjoy the rays after months of being cooped up indoors due to the weather. As a business concessionaire, having the sun out means business for your hot dog stand. While this means good for your profits, there are some drawbacks to being out in the sun all day. Here are some suggestions for your concession stand while you enjoy the business out in the sunlight.
Get Some Shade
Putting up some umbrellas to give an area for your customers to get under while enjoying their meal is one way to make hay while the sun shines, so to speak. Having shades not only is a come on for those sun worshippers, it also helps keep your concession stand at a lower temperature to prevent heat from spoiling your meat and other condiments.
Cooling Off
You can cool off by hydrating yourself during the day. By drinking water or some other cool drink, you help your body lower your body temperature to prevent heat stroke. As for your clientele, offer drinks at a lower cost would certainly help them keep cool while having fun outdoors.
Sun Gear
One of the best ways to keep cool during the summer is wearing shades or sunglasses. This keeps the sun’s glare out of your eyes to help keep your eyes from being strained. You can also opt to wear a cap of any color or shape. The head covering prevents heat from affecting your forehead and cranium, allowing you to retain cool temperatures instead of losing it off the top of your head.
Beating the sun during summer while at your hotdog concession stand involve easy steps to take. One is by putting up umbrellas to provide shade for your clientele. You can also offer discounted drinks at your hotdog concession stand to keep your customers cool and fresh. You can also provide sun gear such as sunglasses or caps with your business name emblazoned on them. Not only do they help keep out the sun and maintain coolness, it would be great advertising and revenue for your hot dog cart.
The hotdog cart you purchase is a well-oiled and amply protected machine that can generate profits for you on any given day. In order to keep it in good condition and to avoid issues as you operate your hotdog cart, there are some aspects of the hotdog cart that you need to be well aware of for safety reasons. The following are three of the basic items you need to look after to ensure the safety and reliability of your hotdog cart.
Propane Tank
In essence, the propane tank is storage for highly flammable liquid used as fuel to cook your hotdogs at your concession cart. The basic components are the tank, the hose and the regulators. When purchasing a propane tank for your hotdog cart, you need to be sure that there are no leaks or weak spots in the tank that may cause the propane to seep out and cause a fire at your business area. As for the hose, you need to examine and clean the hose each week to see if there are cracks or breakage that may cause the propane to leak out and lead to a fire. Finally, you need to clean the regulators and burners daily so that the food residue do not cause rust, which in turn leads to cracks and eventual danger when using the burner.
Electricity
Many hotdog concession carts have a power box where they can attach to wires to be able to get a steady supply current of electricity. Since the wires are exposed to the outdoors, you need to be sure there are no cracks on the rubber insulation as well. Since the electricity contact points are also exposed to the elements, you need to check them regularly that they do not have built up rust or other things that can cause an electrical fire. You also need to make sure that the outlets on your hotdog cart are not near water or other flammable material as these may cause a short or worse yet a fire right there on your hotdog cart.
Wheels
Since your hotdog cart has a trailer attachment to it to make it mobile, regularly checking on the screws, nuts and bolts are important as they may loosen and thus give way while in transit. This can result in the total loss of your hotdog cart. Once you have chosen your spot for your hotdog concession cart, you need to make sure that your wheel stoppers are properly attached to the wheels, including the wheel locks, to avoid the situation that your hotdog concession cart suddenly rolls away in the middle of the business day.
To keep your hotdog cart safe and properly operating, you need to read the safety manual of the equipment. As an added measure, you need to be sure that the propane tank is solid and leak proof. You also need to make sure that the electrical outlets are safe and out of the way. The trailer and wheels need to be secure before you start on your business day. It may seem to be a chore, but these simple acts can go along way in keeping you safe and sound while operating your hotdog cart.