Cool items for hot dog vendors

Every now and then vendors submit some awesome ideas or things they have found.  Here is the last batch of innovative attention getting ideas.

The hot dog gun                                                         

How bout the mustard and ketchup monsters.  One vendor sales these from the cart.  I think doing a kids part or catering event it would be fun to use them.

Squeeze ketchup out of their noses.


















I used these some.  Nothing like having a line full of people and asking the next customer what they want on their dog and picking up the ketchup or mustard trick bottles and aiming it at their face and squeezing.  Out pops yellow or red string and startles the unassuming patron.  Fun Fun Fun!




Squirt bottles





The hot dog pen and magnet.  Write in style.

For those whom success has left you with extra cash to spend, try this 6 foot high statue that should be in the living room of every serious vendor.

Click to get yours now!

Show your team spirit with these handy grillers.  Many teams to choose from.





If you have a suggestion or have found something cool, please email me.

New Place For Vendor Conversations!

NAHDV (National Association of Hot Dog Vendors) has created a private page on Facebook.

Why you say?  So vendors can connect, get advice, share advice and help each other out.  It is awesome!  

Even better:  It's private, which means anything you talk about there - stays there.  No one else can read your comments unless they are in the Facebook group.  Your posts and theirs will appear in your newsfeed, but they will only be seen by you.  There will be a little padlock image beside the post in your newsfeed that indicates that the conversation came from the private group and no one else but you can view it.

So come on over, there are many knowledgeable vendors and because we haven't all been vendors all our lives, we bring knowledge from our past experiences that can help in the vending business.

Click here and request to join.  It's free and easy!   

Hot Dog Cart - Buyer Beware!

Today I received a phone call from a gentleman that purchased a cart from a manufacturer online.  He states that he read carefully through their website and even gotten it pre-approved.

After receiving the cart he had the health inspector come inspect.  IT FAILED!!!

WHY?  The website states ( and I have reviewed) that the components meet or exceed related NSF standards and specifications.  They even display the NSF logo on the photos.   This lead the inspector, during the pre-approval review to suspect in fact the cart did meet NSF/ANSI standards.

Well it doesn't and here is the short list of violations:

1. Rivets around the prep and cooking area.
2. Improper edge gaps
3. All plumbing was not certified compliant by NSF/UL, only the pump.
4. Storage tank non-compliant.

This is the short list.

Note:  Not all but some manufacturers use diamond plate steel for the carts, this allows them to use inferior grade metals and allows them to use thinner metal.  It does look good on some carts, but when you find diamond plate used in areas where you cook or clean, RUN!  Diamond plate has ridges and is harder to clean and so most states do not allow it in the prep, storage and cooking areas.  

This cart may pass inspection in some states, but it didn't for him.  He has spent his money to only find that this Florida manufacturer offered misleading information and it even misled the inspector.

Ways to avoid this problem:

• Do your research online, search the manufacturer name, check with BBB, do a search at Ripoffreport.com, get on facebook and look for them, talk to other vendors and also check out Roadfood.com
• Take multiple pictures to the health inspector for pre-approval.  With pictures, the health inspector would have noticed the problems before he purchased.  He had only taken the schematics.  Also take the full description.   
• If the manufacturer is new and there isn't anything online about them, ask for references.  

There are several great manufacturers out there.  Don't get to rushed and do your homework.