food truck event Archives - Custom Concessions https://www.customconcessions.com/tag/food-truck-event/ Mon, 02 Aug 2021 17:36:59 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.1 http://www.customconcessions.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/cropped-Fav-32x32.jpg food truck event Archives - Custom Concessions https://www.customconcessions.com/tag/food-truck-event/ 32 32 How to Make Your Vehicle Stand Out at a Food Truck Festival http://www.customconcessions.com/how-to-make-your-vehicle-stand-out-at-a-food-truck-festival/ Mon, 02 Aug 2021 17:36:06 +0000 https://www.customconcessions.com/?p=13851 As of 2018, there were almost 6,000 food truck establishments. That number has doubled since 2013! Are you thinking about offering your food at the next local food truck festival? Then you’ll want to know how to make your vehicle stand out from the crowd. Read on for our best tips! Make Sure […]

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mini food truck selling frozen yogurt

As of 2018, there were almost 6,000 food truck establishments. That number has doubled since 2013!

Are you thinking about offering your food at the next local food truck festival? Then you’ll want to know how to make your vehicle stand out from the crowd. Read on for our best tips!

Make Sure Your Branding Is on Point

When you think of major food brands, what pops into your mind? With McDonald’s, it’s the golden arches—with Wendy’s, it’s their red-haired mascot.

Having strong branding means people will quickly recall your business name and image. What does this mean for you? You need to make sure the branding on your food truck is on point.

Often, the best thing is to keep things simple but striking. This strategy gives you maximum impact and also minimizes confusion.

Use a Vehicle Wrap to Attract Attention

A vehicle wrap is an excellent way to not only attract attention, but also to bring your branding to life. You’ll want something that stands out, but make sure you keep it in line with your branding to form a cohesive message.

Lettering on the vehicle wrap should be large enough to see in a crowd or from a moderate distance. The text might look plenty big when you’re standing right next to it, but take into consideration how big it needs to be for someone to see from a good ways. That way, you’ll draw in more potential customers.

The same goes for any images you use. If you have an exterior TV menu with food photos, make sure they are large enough for people to see from farther back in the line.

Perk up the Front of Your Food Truck Area

People don’t just attend food truck festivals to stuff their faces. They go for the overall experience, which is why you’ll often find entertainment such as bands, piano players, and more at the best food truck festival in town.

To add to this atmosphere, you might want to consider sprucing up the area right around your food truck.

For example, if you’re selling lobster rolls, you can expand on this theme by placing beach chairs and umbrellas up front. For an extra touch, you can even put a few beach balls around and have a sprinkle of sand on the ground.

The sky is the limit, just make sure any extra flair you add complements your branding, and that it’s allowed per festival rules.

Stand Out at the Next Food Truck Festival

Now know what you can do to make your vehicle stand out at your next food truck festival!

While it’s true that your food should speak for itself, good marketing is a way to snag first-time customers. Otherwise, your food won’t even get the chance to reach people’s palates. Branding piques their interest; your amazing food is what keeps them coming back again and again.

Looking to upgrade your food truck? Get in touch with us now!

Want more food truck advice? Check out more blog posts here!

Thinking about starting a food truck? Request a free custom quote and one of our food truck specialists will help you design the truck of your dreams.

Stay up to date on everything Custom Concessions has to offer! Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

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Why Catering Should Be an Essential Part of Your Food Truck Business http://www.customconcessions.com/why-catering-should-be-an-essential-part-of-your-food-truck-business/ Tue, 13 Jul 2021 13:35:56 +0000 https://www.customconcessions.com/?p=13820 Looking for ways to maximize your revenue at your current business? If you are in the food or beverage industry, this is one aspect you don’t want your business to miss out on! Food truck catering provides significant opportunities to broaden your horizons while adding additional means of revenue. Read on […]

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food truck vendor holding a hot dog

Photo by foodiesfeed / Freepik

Looking for ways to maximize your revenue at your current business? If you are in the food or beverage industry, this is one aspect you don’t want your business to miss out on!

Food truck catering provides significant opportunities to broaden your horizons while adding additional means of revenue. Read on to find out how you can benefit.

Broaden Your Abilities and Location

One of the more interesting trends to recently emerge is the popularity of food trucks. There are over 26,000 food truck businesses in the United States as of 2021. It has become more trendy to be in such a business with many offering unique flavors and fun pop-ups.

With so many in the game, you set yourself back when you don’t join in on the fun. A mobile food truck allows you to take your business anywhere. That means you always have the perfect location.

Great food pairs with great events, so it makes sense that food trucks are a popular choice for many when planning.

Weddings

From the smallest to the largest of weddings, it’s likely that they’ll need some food. It makes it easier for you and your clients if you have food truck wedding catering. Some might even make your truck a key part of their big day. This is more exposure for you and you are forever engrained in the memories of that day.

Here’s a fun fact that shows just how much you might make off of one wedding. The average couple spends anywhere from $1,800 to $7,000 on their catering alone.

Work Events

Work events are another big occasion that many choose to opt for a food truck or catering. So, how does catering for these kind of events work? Depending on your setup, you may come by at a scheduled time and drop off your food, or you may spend a set amount of time at the event working from your truck.

Festivals

It seems like every other weekend there is some kind of event or festival happening. There are art walks, gatherings downtown, vendors set up on the street, and even music festivals. If you have ever wished that you could bring your business to these events it’s time to realize you can!

Beautifully customized food trucks are no stranger to these types of events. In fact, food trucks are almost the main event for many attendees. It’s fun to try out new foods as you walk around and enjoy the rest of the entertainment.

Free Advertising

You’ll essentially be driving around a big billboard that exposes passersby to your logo and brand. Not only have you added another stream of revenue but you’ve put your investment to work for you. Bringing this giant advertisement to events is a wonderful way to increase awareness.

Keeps Costs Low

Have you ever wished that you had started your business elsewhere? Maybe a supposedly perfect location wasn’t really right after all? Well, food trucks are significantly less expensive than creating an additional physical structure or moving your business altogether. If you don’t think you’ve landed in the right surroundings, try taking your truck to a couple events in a place you’d be interested in relocating to see if it could be a good fit.

Food Truck Catering

Food truck catering is increasing in popularity. You can add another revenue stream, keep your costs low, increase exposure, and take your business essentially anywhere. As you weigh the pros and cons, remember that there are others out there who are already doing it!

We can help get you started with your food truck setup. Contact us today!

Want more food truck advice? Check out more blog posts here!

Thinking about starting a food truck? Request a free custom quote and one of our food truck specialists will help you design the truck of your dreams.

Stay up to date on everything Custom Concessions has to offer! Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

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4 Valuable Summer Season Preparation Tips for Your Food Truck Company http://www.customconcessions.com/4-valuable-summer-season-preparation-tips-for-your-food-truck-company/ Mon, 14 Jun 2021 06:00:00 +0000 https://www.customconcessions.com/?p=13790 The summer season is potentially the most profitable time of year for a food truck company. There are more outdoor events, and people naturally spend more time outside in the hot and sunny weather. However, if you are unprepared, you could miss out on huge business opportunities. Fortunately, you can […]

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white food truck parked on city street

Photo by Rachel Claire from Pexels

The summer season is potentially the most profitable time of year for a food truck company. There are more outdoor events, and people naturally spend more time outside in the hot and sunny weather.

However, if you are unprepared, you could miss out on huge business opportunities. Fortunately, you can take several key steps to ensure you work efficiently and maximize your profits.

Read on for 4 essential summer season food truck tips and tricks.

Prepare for the Season

Because the weather is more favorable, you could be attending events and posting up at outdoor locations every day during summertime. It’s important to look after your health by keeping your air conditioning unit in good mint. 

Also, you can’t afford for fridges or ice makers to stop working in the heat. Food could go off more quickly, in which case you might have to leave a busy location early. You don’t want to miss out on those potential sales! It’s important to check these appliances before and after every use.

Cleanliness is vital for a food truck business. While it’s crucial for your appearance, it’s even more important for food safety. Use a food truck cleaning list to ensure you don’t miss any areas, and give your truck a deep clean before the busy season. 

By keeping a regular maintenance routine, you can make sure your truck is ready for the whole season.

Look Out for Events

There are endless opportunities to attend music concerts, sporting events, outdoor cinemas, and other popular events in the summertime.

Try to free up some time each week to go onto Facebook groups, local authority websites, and even check on shop noticeboards. Form relationships with other business owners who can keep you in the loop about local events.

If you can find an opportunity your competitors don’t know about, you could make a healthy profit and boost your reputation within the local community.

Seasonal Menu for your Food Truck Company 

Choosing a menu isn’t quite as simple as offering what you think customers might like in warmer weather. You also need to consider current popular trends! And you might want to keep in mind that summer is also diet season for some people. 

Look online to see what’s popular. You may find a new juice drink or a popular type of Mediterranean salad that is all the rage.

You can install new equipment for different foods and beverages before it’s time to meet your hungry customers. This can give you an edge over your competition. 

Connect With Customers

An important step when connecting with the modern-day customer is to advertise on social media. Regularly take high-quality photographs of your food and post them on multiple platforms.

Many businesses think this is enough, but the best food trucks take it further. Post questions about what people want to eat to get engagement. If you offer healthy meals, explain why it is good for the customer.

The more detailed information you provide, the more likely a customer will choose your food truck for their needs.

Don’t Get Beat by the Summer Heat

Don’t let summer go by without taking advantage of the benefits it holds for your food truck company. 

Want to expand your food truck fleet or open your first truck? Contact us for a free quote on your custom truck!

Want more food truck advice? Check out more blog posts here!

Thinking about starting a food truck? Request a free custom quote and one of our food truck specialists will help you design the truck of your dreams.

Stay up to date on everything Custom Concessions has to offer! Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

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5 Tips to Survive the Unexpected as a Food Truck Owner http://www.customconcessions.com/5-tips-to-survive-the-unexpected-as-a-food-truck-owner/ Tue, 23 Mar 2021 19:25:29 +0000 http://www.customconcessions.com/?p=13650 Did you know that in only three years food truck revenue increased 300% industry-wide?  Food trucks are more popular than ever and owners are making smart decisions to earn money all year long, especially when it comes to preparing for the unexpected. Below we’ve compiled this list of five tips to never get […]

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patrons getting food from a yellow food trailer

Photo by Karen Zeng on Unsplash

Did you know that in only three years food truck revenue increased 300% industry-wide? 

Food trucks are more popular than ever and owners are making smart decisions to earn money all year long, especially when it comes to preparing for the unexpected.

Below we’ve compiled this list of five tips to never get caught off guard. Keep reading to learn more. 

1. Always Have a Back-up Plan for Bad Weather

As the owner of a food truck, you need to stay on top of the weather forecast. Watch local television reports and download a reliable weather app on your smartphone.

Not every forecast is 100% accurate but you should always have a back-up plan to avoid losing business.

2. Develop Business Partnerships To Survive the Unexpected

Always keep an open mind when it comes to expanding your business. One thing you can do is reach out to a major company in your community to see if they will reserve a spot for you. 

This could help develop a steady revenue stream and increase your customer base. Customers will start to expect to see you at that location on certain days.  

3. How Food Trucks Survive the Off-Season With Seasonal Menus

Meal preferences change throughout the year. Customers may love salads or tacos during the summer months but once it gets cold they’ll be desiring soups, casseroles, and hot drinks like coffee or tea. 

You should start switching up your seasonal menus to ensure you’re filling customer demand. It could be as simple as using more seasonal flavors like pumpkin or mulling spices. 

4. Try Catering Local Events During the Winter 

Wondering how to survive the off-season? Many food truck owners will cater over the winter months. They do it on their own or partner with another local business. This is perfect for customers who crave your food all year long.

If you start taking orders, there are a ton of food delivery services to use: Grubhub, Uber Eats, or Doordash. Trying to cater or deliver your food will ensure you don’t lose revenue in the slow months. 

5. Develop Winter Marketing Ideas To Attract New Customers

Every successful business embraces marketing. This is true for food trucks as well. You’ll need to switch up your marketing several times throughout the year to address customer behavior.

Winter is the best time to offer seasonal sales, ramp up your online presence, or expand your business into other areas. 

Marketing tools you should be using include social media apps, an SEO optimized website, local online listings, online ordering, an e-newsletter, and a brand loyalty program. 

Don’t Let the Unexpected Hold You Down

This article should provide you with more ideas on how to survive the unexpected. Besides partnering with local businesses in the bad weather, you can also use social media apps or food delivery services to keep earning when it’s slow. 

Want more food truck advice? Check out more blog posts here!

Thinking about starting a food truck? Request a free custom quote and one of our food truck specialists will help you design the truck of your dreams.

Stay up to date on everything Custom Concessions has to offer! Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

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4 Fall Food Truck Tips To Help You Sell More http://www.customconcessions.com/4-fall-food-truck-tips-to-help-you-sell-more/ http://www.customconcessions.com/4-fall-food-truck-tips-to-help-you-sell-more/#comments Thu, 10 Sep 2020 06:00:00 +0000 http://www.customconcessions.com/?p=13366 Photo by Ylanite Koppens from Pexels In the summer when the weather is hot, so are your food truck sales! Everyone knows that food truck sales are at their highest when folks are outside enjoying those beautiful sunny days. That being said, all good things do come to an end. As summer closes, the days will become […]

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decorative photo of assorted fall pumpkins

Photo by Ylanite Koppens from Pexels

In the summer when the weather is hot, so are your food truck sales! Everyone knows that food truck sales are at their highest when folks are outside enjoying those beautiful sunny days.

That being said, all good things do come to an end. As summer closes, the days will become shorter and cooler, and before you know it, fall will arrive. Cooler periods normally mean a dip in customers, and that’s something many food trucks simply can’t afford to have.

The good thing is that there are things you can do to combat that inevitable sales shortfall. What you need are some solid food truck tips and a bit of ingenuity to sell just as many items—or even more—during the cooler times as you did during the warmer seasons. This article goes into detail with what you need to know about navigating fall food truck madness. Read on to learn more!

1. Enter a Contest

A food contest may not sound like something you had in mind, but this is a great way to get your company name out there and make some impressive sales. Most food contests have an entry fee. However, chances are you’ll easily be able to make a return on the investment when you sell your goods at the event. Does your city or county have a chili cook-off? Or a pizza making extravaganza? Signing up to show off your skills will get your name out there, and it’s an even bigger bonus if you win! Consider making sample-sized items of a few of your menu favorites. That way contest-goers can purchase a variety of things to try from your truck. 

2. Take on Catering Gigs

Instead of waiting for the customers to come to you, why don’t you go to them? Catering gigs are becoming a very popular way for food vendors to distribute their goods. Often, food trucks charge a flat rate up front for an appearance at a private event, plus making money on whatever sales go above and beyond that. If you can get in on that big Halloween party in town, the sky is the limit!

3. Find Fall Festivals & Activities

Working a festival can be a great way for your truck to earn some extra income in the fall. You may need to branch out a bit from whatever town you are based in to find places nearby hosting fall events. Once you have secured your spot, think about tailoring your menu a bit to highlight whatever fall food is being celebrated. Working a maple syrup festival? Add a maple bacon burger or maple glazed donuts. 

You could also offer to set up at pop-up fall activities that only last for a limited time, such as your local farm’s corn maze or haunted forest. Nothing makes people hungry like being active out in the cold. Strike up a partnership with the hosts and offer them a percentage of the profits in exchange for the right to sell on their property. Be sure to have a variety of things to choose from, including meal items like soups or hot sandwiches, snacky foods such as popcorn and caramel apples, and hot drinks like apple cider, hot chocolate, or spiced lattes.

4. Add a Delivery Service

Food delivery has become increasingly popular in the last few years, so much so that there is an entire industry dedicated to delivering food to people. By delivering food to your customers, you make cash while also opening up another avenue for service. 

Fall Food Truck Tips

Now that you’ve got a few ideas to help you in the fall, you may have some other questions about the food truck industry! Check out our blog for even more food truck tips.

Want more food truck advice? Check out more blog posts here!

Thinking about starting a food truck? Request a free custom quote and one of our food truck specialists will help you design the truck of your dreams.

Stay up to date on everything Custom Concessions has to offer! Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

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Social Media Marketing: How to Engage Your Food Truck Customers on Facebook http://www.customconcessions.com/social-media-marketing-how-to-engage-your-food-truck-customers-on-facebook/ http://www.customconcessions.com/social-media-marketing-how-to-engage-your-food-truck-customers-on-facebook/#comments Mon, 06 Jul 2020 19:30:32 +0000 http://www.customconcessions.com/?p=13265 Facebook can be a critical free marketing tool for your food truck. If you don’t have the time or money to invest in creating a website for your food truck business, having a Facebook business page is probably your next best bet.  Not sure what to post or how to […]

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photo of a smiling young white woman looking down at her phone with overlay of animated floating Facebook likes, hearts and emoji faces emanating from the phone screen

Photo: Rawpixel

Facebook can be a critical free marketing tool for your food truck. If you don’t have the time or money to invest in creating a website for your food truck business, having a Facebook business page is probably your next best bet. 

Not sure what to post or how to get started? Let’s explore some of the ways you can keep customers engaged, and possibly attract future regulars to your truck!

Food Truck Facebook Tips

1. Share Your Location & Schedule

Share your daily location and any changes in your regular schedule. This is especially important if you don’t set up shop in the same place regularly. How can customers buy food at your truck if they can’t find it easily? If you are set up in front or in the parking lot of a business, consider tagging them in your post so potential customers can find you easily.

2. Post Food Specials

If you have a rotating menu, post your daily or weekly specials. Have a different special every day? You might want to share a brief menu for the week on Sunday or Monday so customers can plan ahead to eat at your truck on days their favorite food is being served. Follow that up with individual posts throughout the week of what the special is for each particular day.

Sharing these types of posts works especially well when you have an enticing food photo to whet your followers’ appetites.

3. Personal Updates

Post occasional personal updates about yourself or your employees, or just life around the food truck. This could include sharing big life events, new hire announcements, or photos of employees doing daily tasks with a smile. Something short and sweet will be easy to put together and showcase a personal touch.

For example, you could share a photo of a new team member and say something like, “This is Julia, the newest member of our food truck family. Her favorite food on the menu is … Welcome to the team, Julia!” Followers will enjoy getting to feel like they have an insight into operations on your food truck.

4. Food Truck Humor

Post memes or gifs that you find funny and relatable to your food. Customers will love seeing your humorous side.

5. Advertise Event Participation

Invite your followers to community events that your food truck will be participating in. Fairs, festivals, block parties, and holiday celebrations are all fair game. Posting a few times in the month leading up to the event is a great way to build anticipation and maximize your reach. In these posts, be sure and tag the organization putting on the event to get even more eyes on your content.

6. Get Customer Feedback

Post surveys for customer feedback: voting on upcoming menu specials, giving feedback about their customer experience at your truck, getting suggestions for people with dietary restrictions or kids, etc. The most engagement on posts occurs when you give the customer a question to answer that is relevant to them in some way.

This kills two birds with one stone: it gets your customers thinking about your truck and your food, and it also gives you helpful information that you can use to better tailor your food truck operations. Getting customer feedback will help you provide the best possible customer experience, which will in turn get you more business in the long run.

7. Use Hashtags to Expand Your Reach

Use relevant hashtags to make your content more easily searchable on Facebook and other social platforms you might use. This will boost the number of people who could potentially see your content. Just be careful not to overuse hashtags. A couple of concise and pertinent tags will do the trick.

8. Engage with Comments

Be sure to regularly check and moderate your comments! This is especially important if someone has a complaint that they decide to share on social media. By ignoring negative comments, you could signal to potential customers that you don’t care about their customer experience.

Be calm and professional when responding to negative feedback, but equally, thank people for taking the time to write something positive about your truck as well. This can be a good opportunity to invite them to come back in the future.

9. Use Facebook Ads

As a food truck owner, you might not have much of an advertising budget built into your business plan. This is where Facebook can really make it easy for small businesses to promote themselves. You can spend as much or as little as you would like on ads for your truck, and make sure it is only reaching relevant audiences, like people in your surrounding area.

Even if you can’t advertise on a regular basis, you might want to consider paying for a short run of targeted ads if you have a big event coming up, like a festival or fair in your area.

Facebook as A Food Truck Marketing Tool

We hope these tips have been helpful in getting your Facebook game on point. Social media is a powerful tool for sharing information and connecting with your customers, so don’t miss those opportunities. Now that you have some direction, get out there and start posting!

Don’t have your dream truck yet, or want to upgrade? Contact us for a free quote.

Want more food truck advice? Check out more blog posts here!

Thinking about starting a food truck? Request a free custom quote and one of our food truck specialists will help you design the truck of your dreams.

Stay up to date on everything Custom Concessions has to offer! Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

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5 Food Truck Festival Mistakes You Could Make (And How to Avoid Them!) http://www.customconcessions.com/5-food-truck-festival-mistakes-you-could-make-and-how-to-avoid-them/ Wed, 01 Jul 2020 15:01:21 +0000 http://www.customconcessions.com/?p=13258 Did you know that the Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival made 29.6 million dollars in 2019? There’s no doubt that there is good money to be made as a festival food truck. Yet, there are so many mistakes that can take a bite out of your profit. Here are 5 common food truck festival […]

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photo of an orange and blue food truck at night time with a neon donut sign

Did you know that the Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival made 29.6 million dollars in 2019?

There’s no doubt that there is good money to be made as a festival food truck. Yet, there are so many mistakes that can take a bite out of your profit.

Here are 5 common food truck festival mistakes and how to avoid them.

1. Failing to Know the Competition

One of the most common mistakes people make when joining a festival food truck event is forgetting to inquire about the competition.

The number of attendees is important to know, but you also need to find out how many other vendors there will be. You’ll especially need to know if there is already another vendor selling the same cuisine.

Depending on the size of the festival, it might not be worth your effort to attend if the competition is fierce. 

At the very least, be sure to ask the event organizer to put your stall far away from any direct competitors.

2. Having an Expansive Menu

Another mistake is trying to reel in more customers by having a wide variety of menu options.

The more choices on your menu, the longer it will take you to move customers through the queue. When choices are plentiful, and lineups are long, many customers will simply choose elsewhere.

Consider cutting out the items on your menu that take the longest to make. Festival food trucks need to keep up a high speed of service.

There’s no reason not to have a festival menu that is simple for you and your customers. Plus, lowering the number of your offerings means that you can buy ingredients in bulk for cheaper.

3. Wrong Pricing 

A rookie mistake many food trucks make at festivals is with menu pricing. Remember, foodies are attending in order to sample as many options as possible.

Having a few low-cost menu options will bring new customers to your stand. Remember, lots of people will have cash with them. Keep that in mind when pricing items and keep it simple.

Items for $2, $5, and $10 makes paying for it and getting change easy peasy.

4. Not Buying Enough

You buy double the ingredients you think you will need. Yet, you still run out. Then, you have to rush to the store to buy ingredients at a higher price point.

Not only is that bad money management, but it’s also stressful and drives customers away.

Be sure to come to the festival armed with more ingredients than you think you could possibly go through. As long as your truck has plenty of dry and refrigerated storage, it’s OK to have leftovers.

Having extra after a busy day is better than the alternative. 

5. Ignoring Social Media

If you aren’t posting on social media before, and during the food festival, you are missing a huge opportunity to get your name in front of festival foodies.

Plus, all the other vendors will be promoting on social media, so you should too.

Be sure to use the festival hashtag in the weeks leading up to the festival. Make a point of engaging with people who are excited about the upcoming event.

Post pictures of your festival menu a day or so beforehand. This allows foodies to plan what they will eat on the festival day.

Also, make sure you let people know your location during the festival.  

Have A Successful Festival Food Truck

There you have it! 5 of the worst festival food truck mistakes people make, and how to avoid them.

Are you in the market for a new food truck? Contact us today to discuss your needs.

Want more food truck advice? Check out more blog posts here!

Thinking about starting a food truck? Request a free custom quote and one of our food truck specialists will help you design the truck of your dreams.

Stay up to date on everything Custom Concessions has to offer! Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

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Running a Food Truck on a Hot Day? Here’s How to Keep Your Customers Cool! http://www.customconcessions.com/running-a-food-truck-on-a-hot-day-heres-how-to-keep-your-customers-cool/ Thu, 25 Jun 2020 07:00:00 +0000 http://www.customconcessions.com/?p=13252 As a food truck operator, you know that in order to earn big you need to make the right choices in operating your food truck. Here are some tips on how to keep customers cool and happy when the temperatures are up.  Set Up Near Green Spaces  Heat islands are a phenomenon that […]

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summer watermelon popsicle sticks on a tray with ice cubes

Photo: Freepik

As a food truck operator, you know that in order to earn big you need to make the right choices in operating your food truck.

Here are some tips on how to keep customers cool and happy when the temperatures are up. 

Set Up Near Green Spaces 

Heat islands are a phenomenon that makes it feel many degrees hotter in urban areas than it is in surrounding greener areas. 

A jumble of roofs and pavements work together to bump up the temperatures. So, instead of a parking lot in a business park, opt to set up near a green space. Especially on those days where it is going to get hot, hot, hot.

Look for any patch of green: a golf course, a football field, a park. If you can find some trees to park under, even better!

Not only will trees block the sun from beating down on your customers, they will also provide cooling shade for your truck. 

Park Strategically

Running a food truck involves a lot of strategic decisions. One of them is where you will park. 

If you are attending an event, ask if you can choose the parking spot. Try to pick a spot where you are not in direct sunlight.

If you are not at an event and just trying to feed hungry people in the city, this still applies.

If you park facing north or south, it usually means that the sun will not be in your customers’ eyes. Depending on the time of day, you may even want to swivel around to face the other direction to give them some shade.

Also, look around and park where there are shaded areas nearby. If there are picnic tables that’s a bonus! Customers are more likely to stick around and buy from you if it is convenient for them to eat in the vicinity too. 

Pack an Umbrella

You pack a lot of gear and ingredients in order to run your food truck, we know. You have a list of food truck expenses. If you don’t have an attached awning, packing an umbrella and stand is one extra item to lug around and one more expense. 

Yet, this can make a huge difference in your business. Set up your umbrella near your order window. Try to angle the umbrella to cast shade towards the lineup. 

That way customers get some relief as they stand in line. Chances are people will stick around to wait for their order if they aren’t roasting. 

Ask Your Customers Their Names 

On those scorching hot days when the asphalt is melting, standing in a lineup is torture.

Don’t do that to your customers. Take their name down as you take their order. Tell them you will call their name when their food is ready.

Doing this takes just a few seconds. Then your customers can go stand by a tree or a building where there is shade.

They will appreciate not having to stand in the open where the sun is fiercest. 

Play Some Music

Playing music won’t lower the temperature at all. But, it can do a lot to boost the mood.

People naturally feel happier when there is music on. Even if they are so hot, sweat is dripping down their back. Put some music on and suddenly they feel like they are on vacation at the beach!

Running a Food Truck Is All About Customer Satisfaction 

There you have it! Some fool-proof tips for running a food truck during a heatwave.

Remember, running a food truck is just as much about customer service as it is about good food.

Contact us today for more info on our state-of-the-art food trucks.

Want more food truck advice? Check out more blog posts here!

Thinking about starting a food truck? Request a free custom quote and one of our food truck specialists will help you design the truck of your dreams.

Stay up to date on everything Custom Concessions has to offer! Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

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How Do I Book a Spot at Summer Food Truck Festivals? http://www.customconcessions.com/how-do-i-book-a-spot-at-summer-food-truck-festivals/ http://www.customconcessions.com/how-do-i-book-a-spot-at-summer-food-truck-festivals/#comments Thu, 18 Jun 2020 06:00:00 +0000 http://www.customconcessions.com/?p=13242 Photo by Arturo Rey on Unsplash Are you a food truck owner thinking of taking the plunge and participating in a food truck festival? If you are, the good news is there’s probably one taking place near you. The Food Truck Festivals of America has seen an explosion of food truck […]

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Photo of a woman waiting in front of a vintage blue and white food truck where a man is cooking crepes

Photo by Arturo Rey on Unsplash

Are you a food truck owner thinking of taking the plunge and participating in a food truck festival? If you are, the good news is there’s probably one taking place near you. The Food Truck Festivals of America has seen an explosion of food truck events with each passing year.

The bad news? It’s not always easy to secure a spot. With so many applicants clamoring to participate, the competition can be surprisingly fierce.

But there are a few things you can do to increase your chances of getting accepted. Here are some tips on booking a spot at food truck festivals.

Make Sure You’re a Match

The first step is to find a food truck festival that your brand and menu are a good fit for. If you have a burger and hotdog food truck, you don’t want to apply to vegan or vegetarian festivals.

You also need to consider whether the festival will help you turn a profit.

Many food truck festivals require that all truck vendors give a percentage of their sales in addition to the application fee. This may require you to raise the price of your menu items for the event. However, if you increase them too much, it could turn people off and negatively affect your brand.

When you come across a festival you may be a match for, read the application process carefully and do some number crunching to make sure it’s worth the invested time and money. Be aware that renting additional equipment and services at a festival can rack up additional fees. 

Apply for a Spot

Once you’ve found an event that seems like a good fit, you’ll have to submit an application once the organizers start accepting them.

This may require more than listing the name of your food business and menu items. Think of it like applying for a job — you’ll want to introduce them to your brand and provide a little history on it. Include links to your social media profiles and any positive press written about your food truck business.

You’ll also need to propose your menu for the event, focusing on dishes that can be prepared quickly and meet the festival’s criteria.

Follow the Rules

Once you’re accepted, you may need to secure the necessary business license and health permits and equip your truck with the proper fire extinguishers — you don’t want to have to deal with a fire.

Read over everything in the festival application carefully so you know exactly what you need before the event.

Put Your Best Foot Forward

Make the outside and inside of your truck shine by cleaning and disinfecting it before the big day.

Remind employees to smile and greet every customer. This is an important opportunity to elevate your brand, so do what you can to make a great first impression.

Increase Your Chances of Getting Accepted at Food Truck Festivals

Participating in food truck festivals requires a little extra work on your part, but it can be a wonderful way to introduce new customers to your menu and brand.

Are you thinking about starting your own food truck business? Learn more about our mobile kitchens and request a quote!

Want more food truck advice? Check out more blog posts here!

Thinking about starting a food truck? Request a free custom quote and one of our food truck specialists will help you design the truck of your dreams.

Stay up to date on everything Custom Concessions has to offer! Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

The post How Do I Book a Spot at Summer Food Truck Festivals? appeared first on Custom Concessions.

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