How much rain before you stay home?

Today we have one heck of a storm system rolling through the area.

Normally I am a warrior in such weather and work it regardless, because my usual late night location in under a big canopy. Now that I have the Lowes gig I have no cover other than my umbrella.

What is the consensus here on the board? Do you skip the wet days or work them? ...and as a follow up question, do sales go so slow on wet days that it is not worth it regardless?

We usually weather the storm regardless. If sales are really slow we might hang it up early, but we always try to make an effort. We have found that sales are usually slow during rain. Alot of times at some of the fairs, festivals, etc. that we go to, we are usually the only ones left open.
Having only an umbrella might pose a little problem though.

Why not invest in something like a 10x10 canopy/shelter? Most of them have sides you can attach, or just leave it open. Here's one I found on Amazon (Find them cheaper at Sams Club or Costco).
http://www.amazon.com/Embassy-Canopy-Instant-Shelter-Zippered/dp/B000SW4BAU/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1210268249&sr=8-2

Yes, I don't have to work any set hours. I specified that initially that so I wouldn't get hung out to dry during summer festival season.

I kinda messed up today i watched every weather report and all said rain thru out the day so even though it cleared up in plenty of time for me to get out there, i decided to listen to the majority!!! who knew. This week has been so lousy for me i think i just needed to regroup. I kinda feel the wind knocked out of my sails. Is the economy hurting biz or is it just me????? very bad week. But to answer your question..... i wing it some times (like today) i make a bad decision, sometimes i don't. Good luck Rick

Even if the economy is hurting people have to eat. Hot dogs are one of the more economical items you can sell. I know some are against selling the cheaper dogs at $1 per dog but it seems that during these ecomomic times that you maight have good sales. What do you have in them, .20? You can get 10 lbs at Sams for like $12.00 ( I think) which is 160 dogs. If you make .80 a dog and sell in volume I do not see why not go for it. Still make your higher end items but give the people a choice.

I used to operate in Snow, from my trailer, had an awning. I got some picts too. When I was vending from an easy up I put tarps on the side that the rain was coming from. CBB in PA

I have a trailer with an awning that I park next to a Dollar General and I don't go out on rainy days because sales are so bad. People just want to go from the store to their car. However, like Shelly, I too often believe the weather forecasters! Fie on them!!!
Still, with the amount of rainy days we've been getting here in the Ozarks lately, I might just have to buckle down and get any sales I can.

"What do you have in them, .20?"

How you going to serve them, on a stick? Buns cost at least 20 cents each unless you go to the day-old-bread store. What about the cost of the cart, the cost of the propane, condiments, insurance, license, rent, gas to get to the store and site and then back? That's a lot of slices into that whopping 80 cent profit.

quote:

Originally posted by kensandyeggo

"What do you have in them, .20?"

How you going to serve them, on a stick? Buns cost at least 20 cents each unless you go to the day-old-bread store. What about the cost of the cart, the cost of the propane, condiments, insurance, license, rent, gas to get to the store and site and then back? That's a lot of slices into that whopping 80 cent profit.

20 cents a bun? You must be paying retail prices there. Around here, wholesale, your looking at around 12 or 13 cents tops.. (Though that may soon change due to el presidente)... Been a year since I've bought day old stuff, but then it was 50cents for an 8 pack.. Not giving you a hard time there, just the regional price differences that get ya.. Amazing to say the least. (Though our fuel costs are about the highest in the country at the moment).

160 dogs in 10lb????

what you selling vienna sausages?

dogs usually range from

10 dogs per pound = 10 to 1
oscar mayer is 8 dogs per pound = 8 to 1

Uncle Vic, you can give me a hard time anytime. I can take it. I sell Vienna products in Charlotte and whether I buy the poppy buns wholesale here or have the authentic ones shipped from Chicago, the cost is about a penny apart, right around 20 cents. Because the local buns are not par-baked, they don't hold up in our steam table. The Vienna buns are bullet-proof. Besides these 2 sources, I haven't benn able to find any poppy seed buns around here (Charlotte).