Chapter 19
The Big Secret
Hold it right there! I caught you didn’t I? You haven’t even read a single page of this manual yet. You’re just going to go charging straight in for the BIG SECRET.
OK, you own an HDP Premium Membership. Do what you want.
So you want to learn how to blow the lid off your profits? There is one thing that you can do to double or triple the money you make with the customers you already have. This tip alone is worth the price of the entire Hot Dog Profits system.
Go ahead, keep reading…
Question: What can you sell from a hot dog cart?
Answer: Whatever you want!
The greatest most powerful thing about a hot dog cart is that it’s a retail store on wheels. You don’t have to limit yourself to only serving food. Think about it. What do you see all around the cash register on the countertop of every gas station in the country? JUNK 4 SALE!!! Cigarette lighters, watches, energy pills, flowers, jewelry, candy, figurines, shot glasses, belt buckles, and on and on.
I know a man who own three gas stations. I asked him if I could set up my cart in one of his lots. He said …no.
I asked why not? He said that he makes ALL of his profit on what people buy inside the station. He actually loses money on the gas. It’s a loss leader to get people inside the station. He doesn’t want people spending money outside the station before he can get them INSIDE. Did you know that? I didn’t.
Check this out – a recent article in Entrepreneur Magazine tells the story of Wally Rizza. Wally sells sunglasses from a mobile cart at large sporting events. He made $184,000 his first year. He now has three carts going and expects to make $500,000 this year. A half a million smackers selling sunglasses!!!
Your food has a profit margin of approximately 70 percent, which is great. Do you know what the markup is on some of that gas station counter stuff? 200 percent, 300 percent, and up. You can go on eBay and buy 100 pairs of earrings for $125. Think you can get $8.00 a pair on your cart? You bet you can.
That’s $675 in profit for the lot.
What if you had ten products like that on your cart? That’s $81,000 a year. Profit. People do it all the time. What if you had twenty products? Products that don’t spoil. Products that don’t need to be inspected. Products that don’t need a commissary.
At this point you might be tempted to give up the hot dogs. DON’T!!! The hot dogs are the goose that lays the golden egg. Don’t kill it. People come to your cart for the food, THEN they spend money on the merchandise, not the other way around.
The hot dogs are the “gasoline” that they need, then they go inside and buy the things they really want. The BIG money is in the wants.
I just told you how to make an extra $81,000 a year with your hot dog cart. I made this membership too cheap… 😉
Now go read it from the beginning.
after my dad was in the gas station buiz for years i never put 2&2 together until now. thx for slapping me steve!
You’re welcome Thomas 😉
Thank you for the tip. Can I make candy and sell it? Can I sell my families weird but funny artwork?
Artwork yes. Candy – depends if you have the blessing of your health inspector. You may need to make it in a commercial kitchen.
next question could I bottle my own water and sell it wicked cheap ?
No.
Tell me of some of the restrictions. I can’t sell certain team logo apparel, books, etc
What ever you can legally buy at wholesale, you can sell at retail as long as you follow local codes.
I must say I was quite good Steve, I read the first 18 chapters but one before the Big Secret – thanks for this fantastic tip, I won’t tell anyone!
Awesome self control!
I was very very patient. I just read the first chapters and clicked next page until I arrived here.
LOL! Another person with awesome self discipline. I’m impressed LaTeisha!
I have waited two days to get here and read this I had this idea in my head for a few products that I thought would sell with my hot dogs… I feel like a fool that I had this idea and did not realize how big it was.
Thanks Steve to you and your team this info is so awesome!!!!!!!
I heard rumors of a hot dog guy here in Peru Indiana that used to set up in town…. When I got to the point of being able to get this info I MET HIM!!!!!! By chance one night told him who I was and that I wanted to be his competition he invited me to come sell from his cart ….(I do not have mine yet) His words were “I welcome the competition and will show you the ropes just come see what I do” After three days We are talking partnership in our chats, yours was the first internet name that came up he has been in business for 8 years and is a big fan of yours I have not started yet but am hooked on Steve! I think together we are going to turn this town upside down for hot dogs……. Thank you again to you and your team!!!!!!!!!!
Awesome info!!!!!!!!!
Good for you Bernie! Say hi to your potential partner for me. Sell ’em all!
Are you kidding me! So far I read this book 4 times! The I re-read it, the more I want too read it. It’s like I can’t get enough!! I suggest that people every single page until you van recite every page by heart. I’m not saying that everyone should be like me, what I am saying is that the information in this course is GOLD!! Aborb it, NEXT TO THE BIBLE THIS MOST LIFE CHANGING READ, IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE!
Steve, I had this in mind right from the very beginning. For years I had a small side business selling T-shirts, decals, caps etc. at flea markets. Here’s a tip: I bought a heat transfer press from ProWorld along with a bunch of transfers. Next, bought some shirts in bulk from one of the main suppliers, ball caps also (need a different press for the ball caps though) follow the instructions for the transfer design, put a bunch different shirts, ball caps and if you have sublimation printing capabilities and a mug press you can make a a ton of stuff to sell from the cart. You can even make your own logo and stick it on a mug or shirt etc… Just a thought. I also have a vinyl cutter to make signs, banners and decals and my own transfer designs. Just a thought.
GREAT idea Nelson! Thanks for contributing that!!!
Now that’s a good idea.
Forgot to add that my business is an LLC Mizpah Springs Outfitters from which I am forming a DBA from for the hot dog cart business I’l be adding to it. “Weiner Chef” Just finished the magnetic signs for my car with the ne Weiner Chef logo.
Send me pics of your logo. I’d like to see it!
Steve, just got done reading your book (chap. 19 “the big secret” was my motivating factor/ lol)…its a one stop- shop. Mucho Mahalo for sharing all you know. My question is: my original purpose to buying your system is that I wanted to open a snow cone cart (I thought hot dogs were unhealthy, but now I know I can get healthier dogs like chicken or turkey– got any thinkinking on this?) Can I also serve / sell snow cone along side of my dogs…?
Sure you can! It’s a great add-on profit center.
Steve, So the big secret is to sell sunglasses from your Hot Dog cart. Be a hot dog with my sun glasses.
The big secret is that you can sell almost anything from your cart, not just sunglasses and hot dogs.
Bonjour Steve, je suis de France, et je mets un temps fou à traduire votre cours Hotdogs Profits; Mais il fallait absolument que j’arrive vite au chapitre 19 : Le big secret… et je ne suis pas déçu ! Bravo.
Mon entreprise va démarrer en février ou mars 2015, mais je me prépare et lis tout ce qui me passe sous la main. Même si c’est en anglais … tant pis, j’aurai dû apprendre l’anglais à l’école, mais merci google !!!
Formidable voter approche, merci encore, et bravo à tous mes futurs collègues vendeurs de hot dogs.
Jean Marie
France
Hi Steve, I’m from France, and I put a lot of time to translate your course Hotdogs Profits; But I absolutely had to quickly get to Chapter 19: The big secret … and I am not disappointed! Well done.
My company will start in February or March 2015, but I prepare and read everything that comes to hand. Even if it’s in English … too bad I will have had to learn English in school, but thank you google !!!
Formidable vote approach, thank you again, and congratulations to all my future hot dog vendors colleagues.
Jean Marie
France
Salut Jean Marie , je suis heureux que vous aimez mon cours , en particulier le grand secret . Bonne chance pour votre jour d’ouverture !
Your opening line pegged me. Steve it cracked me up, well now I’ll read the book from the beginning…. Thx
Dan Katz
Ha – got ya!
This was a very good book. I read it from virtual cover to cover.
Thanks Steve for the very helpful info.
My pleasure!
Hahaha this is great Steve I love it 🙂 I didn’t notice this page until I clicked the next button ( was I suppose to read the index ?! Too excited jumped right onto the first chapter !! )
LOL.
Steve just finished the book, kept my attention with very valuable info. smartest investment we made.
Thanks Doris!
Busted! Great idea…just starting to educate myself on starting my own empire, and feel pretty overwhelmed. Early retirement from my flight attendant career, and can’t wait to be my own boss. I’ve already got plenty of experience working on food and beverage carts….at 30,000 feet!
LOL! Welcome aboard Carey. Everything you need to know is right here inside HDP Premium. The overwhelm should subside shortly.
What a fantastic idea.I made it through Steve.Now to implement it all. Doggies on the run , let’s go have some fun.
Right on Julie!
Question . For those that have added on from your idea on the big secret, does it have to be set upon your cart or are you allowed to use a separate area for these types of products. For those in kid friendly areas you can sell silly bands, glow in the dark bands, silly string , small balls , glow in the dark balls, wands etc… any other suggestions, I love the sun glass ideas . For anyone doing this how do you get started. Hot dog vendors are outside , fun in the sun with hats and sunglasses are a great supplement. Thanks
I hate to sound like a broken record (do people even know what that means these days? LOL!) but you’ll have to check local codes. The best way (for me anyways) is to just go ahead and start selling your stuff in the manner you think will be most successful. If you’re breaking a code someone from the city will let you know. You won’t get fined or go to jail. They will simply tell you how to comply.
Ok. Thanks. This community is awesome !
Just have to ask if you used a translation program or do you speak French?!
So, use your cart to sell [stuff] AND hot dogs at the same time??
Do you have examples of how merchandise is set up? This was something I’ve been thinking about and would love some pics.
GREAT COURSE! A bargain and a wealth of information. Kudos and sincere thanks!
Mary, Delish Dawgs
I speak a little Spanish, but no French. Gotta love Google Translate! LOL.
I read all the other chapters first because I thought if I cheat on this one point that is really an easy one NOT to cheat on, won’t that make it more tempting to cheat on other things that are more challenging? I want to do this thing right from the word go. Thanks Steve, and yes- you made this program too cheap!????
HA! I love your discipline Lee!