Lowes

Got a location at a Lowe's, but it doesn't seem to be really super busy, just started Monday, just dogs, chips, and drinks. Is it me or do I need to let it get going, I thought it would be crazy busy. Im between the contractor overhang and the exit which is where the manager wants me, but I thought it would be straight out. Maybe it's too early, any opinions out there?

Sorry to hear that. Is the location not busy or is it busy and people are not buying? Do exiting customers know you are there? Do you have the aroma of onions and peppers and signage working for you? Attach a picture so we can see.

Seems like your location should be great to catch both contractors and non-contractors. Curious for others operating at a Lowes or Home Depot where they are located and what % of business is from contractors?

Curious, how did you go about securing that spot?

Some of those store like home depot and lowes are great spot but most are not.I have seen quite a few vendors come and go...very few last long.

"Woody's Chicago Style" has most of the Lowe's in the western U.S. under contract. The busiest cart is in Colorado Springs. I think he has 2 carts at Lowe's stores. He grossed over $19,000 last month. The 10th busiest grossed $11,700. Woody's has almost 100 franchised carts and about 95% are at Lowe's.

I suggest giving it some time. Unless you have another spot in mind try at least 90-120 days. Have a good product and enjoy chatterboxing with people. If that doesn't work, then yeah, consider another location. I know this puts you through the end of summer and into fall, but it will take time to get you on peoples habit list.

quote:

Originally posted by kensandyeggo

"Woody's Chicago Style" has most of the Lowe's in the western U.S. under contract. The busiest cart is in Colorado Springs. I think he has 2 carts at Lowe's stores. He grossed over $19,000 last month. The 10th busiest grossed $11,700. Woody's has almost 100 franchised carts and about 95% are at Lowe's.

Not in southern Arizona. The guy at my store on the southern fringe of Tucson is independent and his stand is where I had my first "Sonoran style" dog:



I don't know if this is a good time to depend on the home repair/building industry, though. Business is pretty slow everywhere. But in most places where they compete, Lowe's is kick HD's butt.

Just keep sauteing them onions and peppers... Let the smell do the talking and attracting..

I only sell hot dogs (at this time) but have thought about maybe branching out to sausages cause everyone asks about them, but I don't have the gear for it, Im gonna give it some time and see how it pans out...

BT,

I said "most, not all. I heard that if there's an indie and a Woody's franchisee wants the Lowe's spot, the indie will get booted. I think Lowe's has also contracted with some other national supplier of cart locations and they and Woody's have worked something out. But I believe an indie may get the boot. If I'm wrong..........never mind.

Delta, if you sell hot dogs, you can offer bratwurst, Italian sausage and Polish sausage. The ones from Vienna are pre-cooked, so you can steam them all, boil them all or grill them all....or just lay them out in the sun until they're warm enough.

Delta, I suggest only selling hot dogs. I'm a firm believer in the one ingredient restaurant philosophy. We've attempted chili dogs, cheese dogs, pulled pork, and chicken noodle soup off the cart. They all bombed. Why? Customers expect a hot dog at a hot dog cart. Other choices create a competition for your dog.

CSD

What CSD says is true. All newbies go through this huge menu crap. The customer is going to buy one thing so you are just creating more work for yourself and you will throw most of it away.

So Chicago, you only do dogs. No Polish, no Brats, Nothing else? Do you have only one kind of dog?

CC, I only sell one dog and it's a 5/1 Vienna Beef Polish for $3.00.

Very interesting. I've never had a cart. We have a 400 sq.ft. fixed location. Makes sense to just sell one premium-style dog. Chicago, do you mention or post that it's a "Polish," and do you get any objections when they don't know what a "Polish" is or prefer a "regular" dog? Oh wait a minute. You're in Wisconsin if I recall, not North Carolina, like me.

We handle the whole gamut of Vienna meats and mostly sell 8-1 "Carolina Dogs" with mustard, chili, chopped onions and slaw on the poppy-seed bun. I never heard of one until moving here and wasn't going to offer one because it sounded weird. I'd have been cutting my own throat. Actually, our slowest seller is the regular 5-1 Polish. The spicy 5-1 Polish sells much better. Our "Jumbo" is the 5-1 dog and we round it out with bratwurst, meatball, Italian beef and Italian sausage sandwiches.

Id recommend a menu/price board and maybe a 2dog and soda special.
I grabbed a dog on the spur of the minute recently outside a new art supply store, a decent tasting dog, nice bun, yellow mustard, raw onions and relish but I was taken back by the $4.50 price..needless to say, I wont stop again..

Ive got a special, two dogs, chips and soda for $5.00, it seems to be going ok, but I thought it was gonna be a lot busier, Gonna try the weekend for the first time this weekend.

You can do silly things that are different from others,I offer a Double Barrel Dog , it is just 2 dogs on one bun...Some really like it and it is the same as a 1/4 dog.

Well, being Monday, I set up a sign on the OTHER side of the exit that Im on, and it seems to work, so far, 2.00 for a hot dog and it was pretty brisk today, will see tomorrow, but the weather hasnt been cooperating much, thunderstorms, high humidity, and the power went out in the area for about 2 hours, though it didnt affect me. Has anyone heard of heated onions for the dogs, I have cold diced onion, but would like to get the "smell" out there?

I fully understand Chicago's view about having one thing on a hot dog cart. This applys ONLY to areas in which hot dogs are boos or king.
Here in my selling spot i'd die a slow death selling just hot dogs. I only sell one its a Best Kosher for 3.00. My number one seller is Ribs,#2 Pulled pork,then its, as the Blacks would say Meals.
In the location we were at before this one, it was Dogs, Geno's Philly Cheese steaks. Different areas different Wallet sizes.

I'm not in the Dog business, but I noticed that both the Home Depot and the Lowe's had hot dog carts at one time, now they are no longer there. Always wondered what happened to them as I would grab a dog from time to time, maybe there just wasn't enough business.

On the other hand, out in the middle of nowhere, taking the back way to North Scottsdale from Fountain Hills, a guy sets up every day for lunch at a 3 way stop and does quite well, always busy.

Down in Queen Creek it is the same scenario, kinda out of town, two leggy women in Hot Pants and Halter Tops set up at a corner where a large amount of construction traffic passes by, they start about 8AM and are usually sold out well before lunchtime!

DD

quote:

Originally posted by desertdog



I'm not in the Dog business, but I noticed that both the Home Depot and the Lowe's had hot dog carts at one time, now they are no longer there. Always wondered what happened to them as I would grab a dog from time to time, maybe there just wasn't enough business.

On the other hand, out in the middle of nowhere, taking the back way to North Scottsdale from Fountain Hills, a guy sets up every day for lunch at a 3 way stop and does quite well, always busy.

Down in Queen Creek it is the same scenario, kinda out of town, two leggy women in Hot Pants and Halter Tops set up at a corner where a large amount of construction traffic passes by, they start about 8AM and are usually sold out well before lunchtime!

DD

Until I read your post I had completely forgotten about all the scantily clad women who used to "man" food carts all over south Florida. I'm sure they didn't own the carts but the people who did figured out how to attract business, especially from all the construction crews around. Don't know if that's still done as I haven't been to that part of Florida for years.

Well, the sign appears to have an effect, Ive had twice as many people stop by than before, and CSD, your right, when they see people there, they come there, time will tell, but boy its hot out!!!

the bikini clad hot dog gals are almost a thing of the past...speaking for Palm Beach COunty they were outlawed a few years ago. Not sure if it applied state wide...the gals caused quite a stir especially the ones in thongs. Most of them owned their own carts. It was a great way to work on their tan...

So are you at the contractors exit or the main exit. You need to be at the main exit, more people more customers

Every time I see a stand outside of Home Desperate or Lowes I think of the bit that Larry the Cable Guy did about eating a barker or whatever and then walking in seeing all the porcelin thrones lined up. I'm sure you can all get the visual. Very funny. Chow Jim

Im in between the main exit and the contractors exit, business is doing pretty well now, with some signage, I think it made a big difference.

quote:

Originally posted by DeltaIve had twice as many people stop by than before,but boy its hot out!!!

Love that heat. Embrace that hot sun, because soon it'll be cold
as hell or are you going to work the winter months?
Jack

Gonna give it a go unless its 30 below out, figure I can stand near the boilers

Hey Deltaq didn't know if your still around. How business so far since you started at lowes??

Well, In my regular job, I went to days instead of first halfs, so Lowes was put to the side for the winter, and not sure if we will start up again, probably going to focus on some events for now. Been trying to find someone reliable to work it, but to no avail