Running a Successful Concession Stand

You can find concession stands just about anywhere. Many public areas like shopping malls, sporting venues, fairgrounds, beaches and local parks allow vendors to sell food. Depending on the types of foods you want to serve, open a permanent location concession stand or a mobile stand. With a mobile stand, you can travel to different events and venues with your food items. Permanent stands are best if you do not want to travel to different events or venues.

Do Your Research

Take the time and research to see what the best fit will be for your lifestyle and goals. There are many ways to research the concession industry, but the best way to find out is to get out there and do hands-on research. See what other concessionaires are selling, how their menu is priced and what type of equipment they use. Go to several places and check out the competition to get a better idea of what you would want to do and how you want to set yourself apart.

Talk with peers, venue and event planners. Find out which food sells best and what they are pricing their menu at. Ask the venue and event planners what their needs are from the concessionaire, like specifications for carts, mobile tents or stands they might have.

Determine Types of Food

Determine the types of concession stand food you will be selling and create a menu. Some concession stands serve a variety of foods, like hot dogs, hamburgers, french fries, onion rings and desserts, while others concentrate on sandwich and salad items. If you are renting or leasing a concession stand owned by a venue, it is always best to contact the venue manager to see if there are any limitations in the types of foods you can sell.

Prep work includes cutting and chopping, cooking meat products and assembling food platters to reduce the amount of food preparation needed when selling at the concession stand. Purchase your equipment, such as a microwave, fryer, small refrigerator or ice chest to keep drinks cold.

Market Your Concession Stand

Market your concession stand by creating a sign that attracts attention with eye-catching colors, bright lights and a quirky name. You can also use a menu board to list food items, sizes and prices.

Visit Schubert Equipment Supplies online store for all of your concession stand equipment. Share with us if you are thinking about starting a concession stand or mobile stand on our social media.