Make more money in Butty Van

linny02

I have a roadside bacon butty van( +3 years) and while Imake a profit I wondeod if there was anything I coud do in quiet periods to make some extra money . I thought of selling cake or doingsome sewing-perhaps things to sell as have got a mini sewing machine abd van has elecricity. Any suggestions would be lovely

Hoody

Considering you have the van already, do you use it for things like popular car boot sales or markets at the weekends? Also thought about adding a doughnut machine? these always seem fairly popular?

System

Have you thought about slightly expanding the products on your van? Maybe a few desserts (f you just have chocolate or whatever now) maybe things that are wrapped up and could be taken away?

priyascalculator

I agree with doughnuts! thinking ice creams? but dont know how viable that would be alongside hot food?

hermum

I would have thought that expanding your range would be the easiest way, do you do jacket potatoes with various fillings, they'd appeal to women & then add on healthier type snacks if you're in a place where women are likely to buy from you.

I can't see that very many people would want to buy anything sewn in your van as it will all stink of greasy food.

k3lvc

Offer free wi-fi with every spend of over £x - probably not easy in a 'mobile' location but a good way of encouraging the passing business people from the local McD's etc

googler

Offer variations on your current product, improve the quality of your current product and charge more, or relaunch with different product that you charge more for.

There's all manner of programmes on Food Network that you could poach ideas from.

How flexible can you be with your location?

droopsnoot

I have to say that when I used to buy sandwiches for lunch, the biggest thing that started me looking for a different vendor was a lack of change in the menu. Every place I used to use started out great with some nice "different" sandwiches, but then two years later the range hasn't changed and it's become boring.

So if I was a customer, I'd want to see new stuff appearing on the menu quite regularly, maybe as a special to start with and then becoming a regular item if it was popular. And make sure people know there's new stuff on that they can try.

I recall two things (cliched, but relevant) - first, it's much less costly to keep an existing customer than find a new one, and second, remember the "upsell" and try to have things that complement the existing range that you can add on for a little extra profit.

Suarez

Do you do deals?

Like a burger, drink and snack/dessert for £4 or along those lines.

mikecmr

its getting into summer how about branching out into selling icecreams?

Lilyann

I haven't got a burger van, but these are some fantastic ideas!!