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[rgeczi]

You know I am always on the lookout for new eateries or whatnot, that cater to the "foreign tastebuds".  Well, this one comes from my wife's cousin.  It's a young guy, backed with a little seed money to start his own hot dog cart business.  It's not much, but it could be a great entry point if done right.  As many of you know, there was a hot dog place that opened before, which I am sure Tim will sooner or later comment on here, and I saw the interest generated from that, in a short time.  There are always ways to try to improve things that have happened in the past, and I have tried to give my "two cents" to my cousin in law about my thoughts regarding hot dogs.

The dogs aren't exactly my kind of dogs, but it's what's available, and for a great price.  So, he is running with that for now.  I might advise him to offer a "premium" dog, using a better quality hot dog, but for now, he will go this route.  He is planning on starting this around the October holiday coming up, so when I know the location he will do it from, I will let you all know, and you can head down there to "show some love".    I am not going to hype it up any more than what it is, but it's simply a "Hefei-style dog", at an affordable price.  I think he wants to price them at 4.5RMB a piece, and with that, might set it up as a "pick your own topping" kind of way.  If he decides to change it, I will post the kinds he chooses to use here on H.E.

In addition to this, I also advised him to sell hot chocolate, seeing that winter is rolling around, and I know people love to keep warm here.  Why not down a hot choco while you are out and about?  So, we'll see if he can set that up as well.  Any thoughts you guys have, let me know.  And if you guys end up trying it out, let me know your experiences.  He will be very open to ideas, if it can fit the price margins, obviously.

[Aussie Mike]

First idea that comes to mind is...

Give us his number and when a crowd of us are hungry, we'll call him and he can wheel is whole cart over at 3.00 am to feed us!

[rgeczi]

I appreciate the feedback, Mike. 

At the moment, he has his sights set on the October holiday, so we'll see how that goes.  If it goes well, he might do orders depending on the distance he has to go. 

By the way, not sure if the 3:00am time would be suited for him.   

[chowder]

Hey Ron, that hotdog corner is a nice idea.. i tried there hotdog sandwich across hefei community students university and it was simple but taste nice... i suggest you should also add sandwiches and other sweets!!!

[rgeczi]

Chowder,

The one you went to, most likely is near the Agriculture University, right?  If so, and you think that tastes nice (which I don't), you will like my relatives' hot dog.  The reason why I say this is he will add more toppings, such as various vegetables, and other things.  So, I think it's a better bang for your Reminbi.

Anyways, I will keep y'all posted on when he actually gets this thing off of the ground.

[rgeczi]

Alright everyone, biz is now open for customers.   

Today, I went to see my wife's cousin doing his thing at his hot dog cart near the Agriculture Uni.  It was the second day on the job for him, and he already is doing quite well, which I am happy about.  I pointed out a few things that were missing from his total package (signage for people to notice him, drinks to compliment the food you are selling, and maybe a bullhorn to alert the masses), which I hope he can rectify in the next few days or so.  The thing I am worried about is that when the holiday time hits, that place might be deserted, so he will have to rethink his strategy at that time.  For now, meaning tomorrow, he will be there, from 8pm - 11pm.

The thing that I was most surprised is that he decided to sell the dogs at a lower price (3RMB, down from the original 4.5RMB) that I mentioned earlier.  But, the finished product looked ok, darn, forgot to take pics.  Anyways, will do next time.  Usually I don't, but heck, it's a relative, so.....I am going to do what I can.     If you can, for tomorrow, Sept. 30, go to the Ag. Uni door, about 20 meters west of it, cross the street, and around there, should be his cart.  I am hoping that he gets some signage up soon, if not, you guys will be left to fend for yourselves, in the quest for the ever elusive hot dog cart. 

Because the holiday time most Uni. students go back to their hometowns, or travel, that place might not have the foot traffic he wants/needs, so if he chooses to relocate, possibly to near a park, I will let y'all know where he is at.  As well, for those that can speak some Chinese, I can post his cell number here, and he can give you directions, making it a lot easier.  If I were to give him a name, it would be "Ghost Dog".

[Aussie Mike]

I guess the BreadKing has close competition now 

Post what he can be distinguished by, e.g. Big Yellow Umbrella...

[rgeczi]

Trust me Mike, that's the thing that is killing me at the moment.  Speaking with him last night, I HOPE he made the changes that I mentioned to him, one, and the most important one, is to be visible to people that are looking to find his cart.  Yesterday, he had nothing.  So, I am hoping to get more info on that soon, as the time right now is 5:40PM, and he should be doing the shift he did last night which is 8 - 11.

I will give him a call, and see if he has made the changes, and post up new data within the hour or so.

[rgeczi]

Well, looks like he might wait until after the holiday to do this thing.  He felt the foot traffic wasn't there, which I assumed would happen.  After considering other options, he felt to just shut it down for now, until things get back to usual.  I will keep you all posted on his next move.

[rgeczi]

Well, he's back at it.  After a little time off due to the holidays, he is hot doggin' it once again.  Today, I was pleased to hear that in only 30 minutes, he sold out his 20 hot dog limit.  It was bad that he ran out, but, he hit a milestone with those 20 hot dog sales tonight.  So, he is planning on going back out there again for sure, tomorrow night, same place as I mentioned before.  This time, my wife will paint his umbrella that he uses for rain and so on, with some artwork for his cart, using his logo.  I will post a link to Flickr or whatever, showing you the logo for any future visit you might do.

Also, I thought it might be a good idea for him to make his own hot dogs, which after scouring the net, and talking with various people, know it can be done here in Hefei, and for a good price.  So, when that goes online, I will let you know.  It will be homemade hot dogs, that will be "cased" by a guy we know who has the machine for it, then prepped for sale.  The price for that, he is trying to get it to around 4.5 - 5RMB per dog, which is great I feel.

Anyways, will keep you all up to date, and if you have time tomorrow night, check him out.  He will supposedly be armed with a 50 hot dog count to handle any possible uptick in visitors.

[chowder]

hey! i tried to look for the hotdog cart last night but was not lucky again.... .. can you please tell me what road.....plssssss.. thanks!!!

[rgeczi]

Hello Chowder.

Sorry, he underestimated how many hot dogs he would sell, and ran out.  So, he had no choice to leave.  Also, his supplier of breads only had the amount they gave, which was 45.  So, once that was sold, off to home he went.  I am trying to secure some more stock for him, and for a better price.  We'll see how that goes.  Anyways, tonight he will be out there, 8:30 - 11:00.  He is arming himself with 65 dogs/buns, and he is hoping to hold down the fort.  If he sells out, once again he will head home. 

I of course don't believe this is a great thing to do, but he is working with what he has at the moment, and with him just starting out with this thing, there obviously are some kinks to iron out.  The one thing I know is that he secured the spot right in from of the student dorms, just across the street from the north gate of the Ag. University.  So, that is something good for him.

The vegetables he has at the moment, again, depending on availability, are lettuce, tomatoes, corn (if not too pricey), and purple cabbage.  And for the condiments, the usual, ketchup, mustard (not sure, but I think yes), mayo, and a few others I don't know of yet.  I saw some squeeze bottles, but didn't ask.  With all the stuff he is putting in, 3RMB per dog is REALLY cutting him tight, so we are trying to lower the cost of the bread, and hopefully the dogs.

[chowder]

Ron,
The truth is i'm really not sure if i REALLY know where the Ag.Univ is ... i was just assuming the school near the HONEY HOTDOG STORE is the Ag. Univ.!!!! is Anhui Agricultural Univ the same as Ag.Univ? or?

[rgeczi]

Yes, it is.  Near that god awful place (Honey Hot Dog). lol

He is located across the street, and closer to the intersection, of where you see the students cross from their dorms, to the school.  So again, he is parked right outside the gate, of the student dorms area.  If anything, I can try telling you over the phone.

13966665683 By the way, when you call me, I just have one request.......can you please call me Rob?  You might ask why, but......to be honest, that's my name. ha ha  I didn't want to correct you, but if you are going to be calling me, I think the truth should be known. 

Anyways, will see you there, if his stock doesn't get depleted again (I hope he does, drives me nuts to have business lost). 

[rgeczi]

I'm sorry.  He sold out again.  Just got a call.  He was at the southwest gate or side of the Aus/China University or whatever it is.  People told me about this just a couple of days ago, before that, I didn't know that inside the student dorms area on one side there, has a school like that.  Anyways, he sold out, 65 dogs.  As I said before, I am happy for him, but man, the time is only around 7:00, and he still has the night to go if stocked properly.  I have to talk with this kid. 

Anyways, once again, I am sorry, he is sold out for tonight.  I might prod him to open a shop or something, so we can harass him for more stock, at a centralized location.