How to Choose the Right Concept for Your Concession Stand

Concession stands are a popular way to make money at events, festivals, and other public gatherings. Many people find that running a concession stand helps them to make a steady stream of income, as well as gain valuable experience in the food industry. However, there is more to running a successful concession stand than just showing up with some snacks and drinks. Choosing the right concept for your concession stand is key to success.

Assessing Your Audience and Location

The first step in choosing the right concept for your concession stand is to assess your audience and location. Depending on the event or venue you’ll be attending, you may have a very specific audience with certain tastes and preferences. For example, if you’re setting up at a children’s carnival, you’ll likely want to offer items like cotton candy, popcorn, and other treats that children enjoy. On the other hand, if you’re attending an adult-oriented event like a craft beer festival, your menu should focus on offerings like hand-crafted sandwiches, gourmet cheeses, and other more sophisticated items.

It’s also important to consider the location of your concession stand when choosing a concept. If you’re setting up on a beach or at an outdoor event, you’ll likely want to choose items that are easy to transport and serve outdoors, such as premade sandwiches or packaged snacks. However, if you’re setting up indoors, you may have the opportunity to offer items that require more preparation, such as freshly grilled burgers or homemade empanadas.

When selecting items for your concession stand, it’s important to consider the cost of ingredients and the time it will take to prepare them. If you’re setting up at a large event, you may want to focus on items that can be prepared in bulk and stored for a long period of time. This will help you save time and money, while still providing your customers with delicious food.

Identifying Your Unique Selling Points

Once you have an idea of the type of concept you want to offer, it’s time to identify your unique selling points. What sets your concession stand apart from others? What can you offer that nobody else can? A great way to stand out is by offering something locally sourced and/or organic. Locally sourced items like produce and freshly made dishes can be a great way to draw in customers who are looking for something unique and high-quality.

It’s also important to think about how you will market your concession stand. Will you focus on convenience, such as offering pre-packaged foods that are quick and easy to grab and go? Or will you focus on being the “tastiest” stand at the event, offering high-quality items like freshly baked pastries or specialty entrees? Thinking about how you will position yourself in the market will help you to determine what type of concept will be most successful.

You should also consider the type of atmosphere you want to create. Do you want to create a fun and inviting atmosphere with bright colors and upbeat music? Or do you want to create a more relaxed atmosphere with comfortable seating and calming music? The atmosphere you create can have a big impact on the type of customers you attract and the overall success of your concession stand.

Researching the Market and Competition

Once you have an idea of what type of concept you want to offer, it’s important to do some research into the market and competition. Take a look at what other concession stands are offering at similar events and venues. What seems to be popular? Are there any gaps in the market that you can fill? By researching what other concession stands are offering, you can get an idea of what concepts are already popular and what concepts could be successful.

Creating a Business Plan

Before you start setting up your concession stand, it’s important to create a business plan. A good business plan should include a detailed budget, list of potential suppliers, target market, pricing structure, marketing strategy, and more. Having a well-thought-out business plan will help ensure that your concession stand is successful.

Choosing the Right Equipment

Once you have created your business plan, it’s time to choose the right equipment for your concession stand. Will you need a food truck or cart? Or can you simply set up a table and some chairs? Consider the size and layout of your space when choosing equipment. Make sure that your equipment is in good condition and meets all safety regulations.

Setting Up a Vendor Agreement

Before you start operating your concession stand, it’s important to set up a vendor agreement with the property owner or venue where your stand will be located. This agreement should outline all of the costs associated with running your stand, as well as any rules or regulations that must be followed. Make sure to read through the agreement carefully before signing.

Developing a Menu

Once all of the paperwork is in order, it’s time to develop a menu for your concession stand. Your menu should include all of the items that you plan to offer, as well as prices. Consider offering items that can be pre-made in advance, such as sandwiches or salads, as well as items that can be quickly prepared on-site. Keep in mind that it’s usually best to keep the menu simple so that customers can make their decision quickly.

Creating an Eye-Catching Brand

Creating an eye-catching brand is key to attracting customers to your concession stand. Your brand should represent who you are and what you offer. Consider designing some creative signage for your stand that includes your logo and tagline. You may also want to create some fun giveaways or promotional items that customers can take home with them.

Ensuring Quality Control

No matter what type of concept you choose for your concession stand, it’s important to make sure that quality control is one of your top priorities. Make sure that all of your ingredients are fresh and that all of your food is properly stored and prepared. Additionally, ensure that your staff is properly trained and follows all safety regulations.

Calculating Your Costs

Before opening your concession stand, it’s important to calculate all of the costs associated with running it. This includes not only the cost of ingredients and equipment but also labor costs, rent/fees for the venue, marketing costs, etc. Knowing exactly how much money it will cost to run your stand will help you understand how much profit you can make.

Advertising Your Concession Stand

Once everything is set up and ready to go, it’s time to start advertising your concession stand. Consider using social media or other online platforms to reach potential customers. Additionally, if allowed by the venue, distribute flyers or post signs in the area where your stand will be located. The more people know about your stand, the more likely they are to come by and check it out!

Maintaining Your Concession Stand

Once your concession stand is up and running, it’s important to keep up with maintenance and cleaning in order to ensure that customers have a great experience every time they visit. Make sure that all of your equipment is always clean and in working order and replace any items that are worn or damaged. By following these steps, you can ensure that your concession stand is always ready for business.

Choosing the right concept for your concession stand is key to success. By assessing your audience and location, identifying your unique selling points, researching the market and competition, creating a business plan, choosing the right equipment, setting up a vendor agreement, developing a menu, creating an eye-catching brand, ensuring quality control, calculating your costs, advertising your stand, and maintaining it properly, you can create an enjoyable experience for customers and make money at the same time.