FREE TRAINING VIDEOS AND COURSES = Hot Dog Vendor Success

I received a letter from Terry Shaw, a fellow hot dog vendor who wanted to share his recent startup story and successes!  Enjoy.

Ben,

I just had to say thank you! I’ve been studying the hot dog cart business for close to a year now. About 2 months ago I pulled the trigger and bought a used cart off of Craigslist because it was a price I could not pass up. Got the cart repaired, cleaned and looking business ready. Got my Health inspection, Tax ID number, DBA license and I was ready to go!! Only thing was I didn’t have a location. 

I was beating the pavement almost daily trying to find a location and getting discouraged and feeling like I may have made a mistake on the whole thing. I went back to your website again and went through the Free Training Videos once more. Something clicked. I grabbed a few of the flyers I had made and my business cards and headed out the door. 

In a nearby Industrial park I started going warehouse to warehouse speaking to the people in the front office. I introduced myself, showed a flyer that includes pictures of my cart along with some basic information. I began each conversation with “My name is Terry Shaw. I have a mobile hot dog cart. This is how I make my living. I already setup different days of the week to provide lunch to some of your neighbors here. How would you like it if we came by next week and gave it a try here?” Notice that wording is almost a direct lift from your ‘Free Training Video Part Six – Finding The Locations’. As a matter of fact, I stopped by a Big Lots store on the way to the warehouse district.

Well, a couple of things happened. First, at the Big Lots, they couldn’t have someone daily but they like to do weekend events several times a year. They stated they’d lost contact with their former hot dog guy and asked if they could reach out to me. Well sure! Secondly, At the third warehouse I stopped in the manager wanted a chance to think about it and get back to me. Later that afternoon he called and wanted to know if I could setup this week and see how it worked out. Well sure

At this point I have a steady account that I’ll be going to 3 days a week, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. I’ll also be going back to feed the graveyard shift, which is their receiving time, so not only 30 to 40 employees with no other place to find lunch at that hour but 50 + truck drivers delivering during that hour. I have the possibility of special events with the local Big Lots as well.

I reviewed your videos on Tuesday evening. I went to the Warehouses on Wednesday. I set up both Thursday and Friday at the warehouse that called me back.

So, once more, thank you so much for the incredible amount of information and training you make available to others!

Terry Shaw
Terry’s Lonestar Dogs

Well thank you Terry, for sharing your story and success!  I hope others find this as inspiring as I did.  I love the fact that you went back to review and scored again!  If you are needing to brush up, learn some new skills or even starting from scratch, please check out the videos and courses offered here.

If you have a success story you would like to share, please email ben@benscarts.com/learn