BBQMAN Goes Roadside Vending Part II- UPDATE

BBQMAN · Last edited by BBQMAN on Apr 08 2010; edited 3 times in total

So it's fore-gone conclusion that the BBQMAN is not going to make even beer money at the last location. Shocked

So what do we do now?

Find a new location, of course! Very Happy

I have an industrial client that we cater to a few times a year.

They are located off of a major road (read "easy to find"), and the neighborhood has in the vicinity of 10,000+ employees.

No fast food close by doesn't hurt a bit either. Wink

One of the other major corporations in the area is also a client. One group has 800 employees, the other in the newly opened corporate headquarters has about the same. I'm fairly sure that the director would approve of a company-wide e mail that we are available for lunch orders.

I'm awaiting permission from the owners. The initial response I had from my manager contact was "sure, we would love to have you".
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BBQMAN
"I Turned A Hobby Into A Business".
Providing "IMHO" Since 2005.

SoEzzy · Posted: Jan 10 2009 Post subject:

OK so it was only yesterday that you dropped the last one, and here you are finding a site 5 times as big as the last one... WTG on the search.

Keep up posts as this idea moves forward, if you can?

I know there are a number of people interested, to see how it all pans out, with HD approved equipment as a roadside vendor.
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Here's a change Robert.

I still work here!

adolpho · Posted: Jan 10 2009 Post subject:

That's great to have a mobile kitchen to move around when one location doesn't work out.

Good luck on the next site!
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"Tag line? We don't need no stinkin' tag line!"

Virginia Q · Posted: Jan 10 2009 Post subject:

Good Luck BBQ Man. We just went throught the same issue. Our last site was good but we are after great and have moved locations and will open tomorrow in a location we previewed last fall. Wish us luck as well!
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Virginia Q
"The Best of the Wests"
Lang 84 with dual smoke-n-pits mounted.
Killer cabinet smoker.

SoEzzy · Posted: Jan 10 2009 Post subject:

Good luck to all road side vendors this year! Wink

_________________
Here's a change Robert.

I still work here!

BBQMAN · Posted: Jan 10 2009 Post subject:

Thanks, and best of luck to you as well Virginia Q.

Our friend Chef Hog does a similar gig in Virginia, and stays in one spot.

I have another friend a little south of us that does quite well on the weekends. His clients know that he will be in the same spot week after week.

As noted in my original post, this is not intended to be a full time proposition, but rather as filler for weekdays and a way for my step-son (and myself) to make a little extra scratch.

It wasn't until this summer that I had the (legal) ability to do this type of vending, so it's somewhat new to me even though I am not new in the business.

I have some great equipment, so why not have it work for us!
_________________
BBQMAN
"I Turned A Hobby Into A Business".
Providing "IMHO" Since 2005.

BBQMAN · Posted: Jan 10 2009 Post subject:

Just a side note:

as per Part I, this type of venture doesn't always wind up in fist-full of cash, while you do a jig down to the bank yelling "yahoo" Laughing

I try to show the down side possibilities in this business as well, not just an 'it's great 100% of the time" view.

Now I've heard of folks making a mint doing roadside (and festivals) but I have not found that pot of gold yet............................

I never imagined exactly what it would entail, but I knew up front it wasn't as simple as getting a cooker, and raking in the big bucks.
_________________
BBQMAN
"I Turned A Hobby Into A Business".
Providing "IMHO" Since 2005.

Virginia Q · Posted: Jan 10 2009 Post subject:

as per Part I, this type of venture doesn't always wind up in fist-full of cash, while you do a jig down to the bank yelling "yahoo"

Doesn't always? You mean that it sometimes does? Laughing

Gives me hope as I sit here at 3:00 am tending fire in order (probably) to not sell tomorrow as the weather forcast just went from fine to very bad right after we emailed our 200 or so frequent customers that we would be open.
I didn't know there was a potential "fist-full" of cash involved for some, I thought we did it because we were nuts and because it is good for the ego to have people regularly tell you that your food is the best they have ever eaten. Very Happy

Once again BBQ Man(and all you others out there), good Luck
_________________
Virginia Q
"The Best of the Wests"
Lang 84 with dual smoke-n-pits mounted.
Killer cabinet smoker.

Harry Nutczak · Posted: Jan 11 2009 Post subject:

Well that sucks!!

Did you at east get the initial onslaught of curious patrons, or did things just start slow and continue that way?

Did you need to pay rent for the spot or was it a freebie?

Maybe you just didn't allow enough time for your clientele to build?

I heard there is a prime location between Apollo beach and Ruskin on Hwy 41 that may be open. The location at the baptist church on Hwy 301 In palmetto has had someone operating there for years already, otherwise that would be a pefect spot if you were armed to the teeth with full auto weaponry.
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Just remember that the toes you may step on during your climb to the top will also be attached to the a$$es you'll be forced to kiss on your way back down!

Oregon smoker · Posted: Jan 11 2009 Post subject:

good to hear that you have another shot quickly. you do have multiple rigs so maybe you can service both spots, especially if you hear from the 1st location that they are missing your services.

BBQMAN · Posted: Jan 11 2009 Post subject:

As chronicled at the previous post, we had 30-40 on an average day at the old location. And no, the numbers did not get bigger, just smaller.

As a comparison, we had a line 5-20 people deep yesterday at the market from 11-2. I sold over 200 pork sammies along with a standard compliment of everything else.

The old location was a "gimme" (I could hardly afford to pay for the priviledge of being there).

The new location (if approved) I will give the company employees a very good rate on their meals as payment.
_________________
BBQMAN
"I Turned A Hobby Into A Business".
Providing "IMHO" Since 2005.

BBQMAN · Posted: Jan 11 2009 Post subject:

Bluegrass BBQ · Posted: Jan 11 2009 Post subject:

BBQ MAN, as well as all vendors, good luck on your venture. I have been told that the three most important items in vending is location, location, location. Just because you have a large number of people in these buildings doesn't mean you will have a lot of traffic. Will you have a lot of exposure for drive by traffic? Have you considered providing take home for evening meals when they get off work? As you well know keep it simple with great quality! Weather is such a big butt buster in this type of operation. Good Luck.
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Bluegrass BBQ
"Smoked to perfection"
http://www.smokedtoperfection.com/

BBQMAN · Posted: Jan 11 2009 Post subject:

Jim, unlike the last location, this one is easy to find and located off of a major through-county corridor.

And even though the immediate area is predominately business, this road also leads directly into an affluent residential community.

The company will allow me to post signs directly off of this road (BIG plus).

Yes, I do plan to offer take-home meal packs (ordered and paid for in advance through my website via. Paypal).

I don't plan on offering ribs daily unless they are ordered in advance for take-home (at least to start). It is an issue with keeping them fresh................

The weather here is stunning 8 month's out of the year. The hot summer month's will be ok too- people still gotta eat lunch.

Having AC will make a big difference this summer to the BBQ guy's!
_________________
BBQMAN
"I Turned A Hobby Into A Business".
Providing "IMHO" Since 2005.

marvsbbq · BBQ All Star Joined: 15 May 2005 Posts: 6186

Mike, did you pick ya up a generator for those HOT days yet???

BBQMAN · Posted: Jan 11 2009 Post subject:

Marv you may not remember, but I did purchase (and provide a review) of the Yamaha Inverter quite run gen set that I purchased last summer.

I converted it to propane, and it works quite well!

Runs quite (only hard enough to power what is being used in economy mode) and has been a great (although very expensive) purchase.

I did the 100 hour service on it myself (I'm a former bike mechanic) and it was straight foward and do-able by the avearage Joe with some basic mechanical skills.

The insides (I pulled the valve cover to set the lash) were clean as a whistle.....................

My porch fans, water heater, lighting etc. all need power.

The satellite radio and LCD TV have not been purchased as of yet (I'm on a budget) but are on the list of "wants" as opposed to "needs".

Inverter gen sets provide "clean" power for electronics of all types- another plus for this style of unit.

The HD (here) will not give a MFDV lis. unless you meet all of the requirements, hot water being one of them.
_________________
BBQMAN
"I Turned A Hobby Into A Business".
Providing "IMHO" Since 2005.

chef_hog · Posted: Jan 12 2009 Post subject:

vexter1 · Posted: Jan 12 2009 Post subject:

Wow - these guys aren't playing!! Ouch!

Bluegrass BBQ · Posted: Jan 12 2009 Post subject:

bbq man, I read a story that a fellow up in Mich or Minn. Gave customer order ticket used toplace oreders to go. It got to the point people would drive by and he would stand on the corner and they would had them his orders on there way to work. They just handed them out the window and and wrote down what time they would pick. According to the store he has a pretty sweat operation along with the walk ups.
_________________
Bluegrass BBQ
"Smoked to perfection"
http://www.smokedtoperfection.com/

Virginia Q · Posted: Jan 13 2009 Post subject: