With everyone on the go these days, and everything getting pricier, people need an easier way to get their morning coffee. So it’s no wonder that mobile coffee shops are becoming more and more popular all across the country. It’s inexpensive, easy to set up, and a terrific way to make lots of money quickly.
Like with any business, there are plenty of pros and cons when it comes to owning your own coffee cart. While it’s an easy and rewarding venture, you still need to know where to sell, how to stay safe, and, of course, how to find the right cart for you. Yet as long as you know where to go and keep track of the competition, all those profits will be well worth any potential challenges.
Let’s take a look at all the biggest pros and cons to running your own mobile coffee business.
Pros:
It’s Completely Flexible
One of the best perks about running a coffee shop on wheels, or any mobile food business, is that you can work at any time when permits allow. Whether you’re out there once or twice a week or decide to make it your full-time career, how much you work is totally up to you. So if you’re seeking a job with an excellent work/life balance, this is definitely one of your best options.
Easy Business Model
Compared to other businesses, and even other food carts, running a mobile coffee business is super simple. You need less staffing and resources, can buy less products and supplies, and can sell it all year round. And thanks to all the information that’s readily available online, you’ll already know ahead of time how to plan and market yourself.
Great Year-Round Sales
It may come in seasonal flavors, but coffee itself isn’t a seasonal product. Unlike ice cream during the summer, you won’t have to scramble to make enough money before the temperatures change. As long as people are out and need their fuel, you’ll have great sales all throughout the year. Plus, if you purchase the right kind of cart, you can easily serve hot or iced coffee throughout the year.
Super Affordable
If you’ve always wanted to open your own coffee shop but don’t have the funds, a mobile coffee cart business is the perfect alternative. While it’s not exactly cheap, owning a cart costs you hundreds of thousands of dollars less than renting or buying out an actual store. Plus, most states don’t require a food license to sell coffee, saving you even more in the beginning.
No Two Days Are the Same
One day, you could be set up outside a big box store or office building attracting people coming in for work. The next day, you might be selling at a local festival or farmers market. And the day after that — outside a concert venue helping everyone stay alert. If you’re in the right area, there are so many locations to choose from that you’ll never get bored.
Cons:
Weather Concerns
When your business is based outside, you’ll always have to keep tabs on the weather forecast. Depending on where you live, you could be dealing with rain, heavy wind, snow, and extreme temperatures on any given day. That’s not to say you can’t make it work when things start to change, but it will definitely be more challenging. And sometimes, the best thing for you to do is to just pack up for the day and try again tomorrow.
A Saturated Market
Owning a mobile food business is easy and effective. Of course, the problem is that so many people want to own their own cart that there’s now more competition than ever. And you need to strike the right balance between somewhere with lots of people and somewhere with too many food carts. Pay close attention to where your competition is located each day, and choose an area that you think is missing a good coffee cart.
Having Enough in Stock
There’s only so much product you can take with you when running a mobile coffee business. It’s not like having a brick-and-mortar store where you can keep your entire stock close at hand. Instead, you’re constantly having to check how much product and supplies are on hand throughout your shift. Keep track of your busiest days and best locations, and always adjust your inventory accordingly. This way you’re less likely to bring too much or too little.
Building Relationships
When you’re just starting out, you may find yourself struggling to market your business and build community relationships. No matter how many people you know, it takes some time to be fully established. Yet there are some things you can do at first, such as social media campaigns, neighborhood events, or even trying your local park. And remember — while many people are dedicated to their regular coffee place, they’re always willing to try someone else if they’re in a rush.
Ferla Bikes Love: User Reviews that Win Hearts
“My Ferla bike mini is the best! I am the chef/owner of Heather’s Dessert Cart and Catering, LLC in Greenville, SC and I set up downtown and at local pop-ups and markets. The interior is the perfect size for two full coolers , my display stands, and all my supplies, but still small enough for me to pedal (with electric motor assist!) up and down the huge hills through my neighborhood. I absolutely love my bike and it gets all the best compliments when I am out, plus I love that this is a “green” addition to my business, as well. Thanks, Ferla!”
— Heather Walley★★★★★
“I recently purchased the Grande Cart to open a mobile coffee business. I was a bit apprehensive making such a big purchase without being able to physically see the product or sales person. Steven was extremely helpful and professional through the process. He answered most of my questions honestly and gave good advice on opening a new business. I was highly impressed on the packing of the cart. The welded steel box certainly protected the cart so it was perfectly intact. I have been welcomed wherever I go and people are awed at this product. I have people randomly taking pictures and giving awesome comments on it. Only complaint if you will is that no reference material/manual was supplied for the cart. I had to goggle info on the freezer and water system. Would recommend Ferla carts to anyone venturing into a new small business. Thank you! Dragonfly Espress___O!”
Is it difficult to start a mobile coffee business?
It’s one of the easier businesses you can start. With some basic equipment, a little research, and a good marketing campaign, you can be very successful in a short amount of time. If you’re not sure where to start, you can always check here for a full rundown.
How much does a coffee cart cost on average?
You can find a basic coffee cart for sale at around $5,000 or less, while a more sophisticated and full-equipped one can range anywhere between $13,000 and $20,000. Although some companies, like Ferla, give you the option of a payment plan to make things easier.
Is a mobile coffee cart business profitable?
It may take lots of hard work at first, but coffee carts are extremely profitable. In fact, coffee sales have a gross profit margin of up to 90 percent, so there are plenty of chances for you to make easy money.
Choose a Ferla Coffee Cart for Your Business
Ferla has helped many mobile businesses take off ever since we started. That’s why we now have five coffee bikes and two coffee carts for you to choose from, letting you find the right one even faster. You’ll get restaurant-quality features, plenty of counter space, temperature controls, and solar panel system so you can stay completely green. And if you choose a bike, then there’s no need to worry about transporting it — just hop on and pedal to wherever you want to go. No matter where you live, Ferla is here to help you start off on your new business venture.
How to Choose the Right Street Food Cart for Your Business
When many food establishments got hit during the pandemic, the street food cart market soared, with flocks of people continuing to enter the market today. With gelato stands and mobile cold brew stands popping up on street corners, It’s safe to say that people are finally starting to see the potential of starting their own business on wheels.
Benefits of starting a Street Food Cart Business
These are some of the most alluring benefits of food carts:
Relatively low start-up costs – In comparison to a brick-and-mortar shop, the initial investment of a street vendor food cart is very affordable!
Easy to manage – No need to manage lots of employees or have huge prep days; the idea behind street food carts is simplicity, which makes your job as an owner so much easier.
Great way to promote your existing food business – If you already have a business, this is a great way to spend your marketing budget. Why not make a profit while building your client base?
You set your hours – Decide when you want to work and for how long.
Work outdoors – Office life isn’t for everyone. If you find yourself gazing out the window at work, wishing you were outside, this might be your calling!
No rent – Soaring rent prices are making food carts an attractive option for restaurants and foodies.
Sounds pretty amazing, doesn’t it? Before rushing off to write your business plan, consider these important factors for your street food stand.
Important Factors to Consider When Choosing a Street Vendor Food Carts
Get clear on the product you want to sell
There are countless street food business ideas to choose from, so do your research and pick a market that isn’t already saturated in your area. If there are already lots of ice cream stands, perhaps consider waffles or coffee.
Once you decide exactly what you are going to sell, you can start prepping your cart with the right equipment. Here are some examples:
Cold brew coffee or kombucha carts need a special tap and nitrous tank installed for on-tap service.
Hot dog stands need a special steamer/heating installment.
It’s important to figure this out before making your investment to ensure that your total start-up costs are within your budget
Street food stands location and distance you’ll be traveling daily
This is an important factor to consider because it will give you an idea of the battery life that you need. Do you plan to sell close to home, or is there a busy area 30 minutes away that you’ll have to commute to each day?
Consider where your target market tends to hang out. Is there a place close to your house that gets decent traffic, or is it worth making that 30-minute trip to the park/beach where people are more likely to buy?
Most batteries for street food carts today provide an average of 25-70 miles of daily travel—a big difference for travel distance.
How much you’re going to sell each day
Next, you need to figure out how much product you are going to sell, as this will determine the size of the cart you need.
This generally depends on three factors:
Location – Do you live in a rural or urban area?
Foot traffic – Where do you plan on setting up your street food stand? A downtown street corner is going to result in a lot more potential sales than a suburban community center or park.
Intended hours of operation – Is this meant to be a part-time gig or do you plan on doing full 8-hour shifts? This also determines how much product you need in your street food cart to fit.
Depending on the size and intended use of your food cart, you may need a car trailer or truck to drop off your stand, which is another cost to consider.
County or state laws apply to street vendor food carts in your area
Some important factors to consider with local food permits are:
Zoning regulations that specify allowable areas for food truck operation
Taxes may apply when vending on public property, such as parks
May require food to be prepared (cooked) at a brick-and-mortar kitchen
It may require running water
Contact your local Health Department to get accurate information.
Local street food cart manufacturers
It’s always a good idea to do some research on any food cart manufacturers in your area. The advantage is that you can get a chance to see their models in person to gauge what style and size are best suited for your purposes.
For California residents, we recommend checking out Ferla food carts, an innovative and modern option with models for a wide range of popular street food business ideas.
If you’re feeling bogged down by 9-to-5 or you’re a foodie that had has always dreamt of starting your passion food project, a street food stand might be the perfect start-up for you. After all, being your boss and working outside is a pretty sweet deal for a relatively low investment.
While we laid out some basics here, it’s always a good idea to do your research and talk to others in the business before taking the leap. Happy vending!
If you’re looking for a simple yet cost-effective business venture, setting up a hot dog cart business is a terrific option. It’s less expensive to start than many other industries, lets you work almost anywhere, and can be done on your own time. In fact, depending on where they’re located, hot dog vendors can earn as much as $5,000 to $16,000 a month.
With that said, there’s a lot to do before you jump headfirst into hot dog vending. Fortunately, we’ve created a complete guide to help you understand everything from start to finish. From permits and licenses to buying the right equipment, following the right steps can make all the difference when it comes to starting a new enterprise.
Let’s take a closer look at all the things you’ll need to do in order to start and run a hot dog cart business of your own.
Steps Towards Owning a Hot Dog Cart
Do Plenty of Research
First and foremost, check if you’re located in the right environment for a hot dog stand. If you live in a college or tourist town, or an area with lots of families, then you’re already on the right track. Learn more about all designated vendor areas in your city for a better list of options.
From there, research all licenses and permits that you’ll need before starting your business. Learn about health department requirements and local laws regarding vendors and signage. The more you know ahead of time, the more likely you can avoid the potential hassle of fines and additional fees.Most states will also require you to pre-cook your food in a commissary; a rented commercial kitchen space used by food cart and truck vendors. This not only provides you with more space and resources but also prevents the risk of cross-contamination as opposed to preparing the food at home. Learn where they’re located in your area, and find resources that can help you gain entry for a reduced price.
Address all the Legal Aspects
As with any food service business, you need to meet several legal and health-related requirements before you start selling hot dogs. One of the first and most important steps is to apply for a permit at your local health department. During your visit, be sure to ask them for a full rundown of:
Equipment requirements
Cleaning and storage requirements
The food you’re allowed to sell
Local commissary recommendations
Your next step is to reach out to your county clerk and start the process of filing your business. Double check with them to see whether or not you need an employer identification number. If not, then your social security number will work just fine. You should also ask about getting a sales tax number if you intend to charge taxes.
Finally, remember to purchase an insurance plan to keep you covered in case of any accidents or legal disputes. You can get a six or seven figure plan for only a few hundred dollars from most insurance companies. Determine what monthly payouts you can afford and look for an agent to help you go over your options.
Create a Formal Business Plan
No matter what size your hot dog business is, it’s still a good idea to create a business plan to help you stay organized. In fact, you might even want to do this before you apply for all your permits. This way your county clerk can see that everything is planned out and that you’re able to make the right decisions.
Your hot dog cart business plan has to include the following three aspects:
A full breakdown of your budget
A sales forecast for all products
Strategies for sales and marketing
Research the cost of everything you’ll need to run your business and set a budget based on your total expenses. This will give you an idea of how much money you should make in order to recoup expenses and gain a profit. Some things to include in your budget outline are:
Food
Supplies
Labor
Marketing
Maintenance
Transportation
Monthly insurance
Legal expenses
Other operational costs
Set your sales target at twice your budget and calculate how much you’ll have to make during each month. This also means researching the busiest months for hot dog vendors, which is typically between Memorial Day and Labor Day, and plan your schedule around this time period. And don’t forget to account for unexpected weather events, such as thunderstorms or extreme temperatures, that would keep you from vending that day.
Finally, come up with your own marketing strategy and figure out how you’re going to attract attention in the beginning. This can include throwing a neighborhood party or contacting community organizers to ask them about upcoming local events. We also recommend creating social media accounts and campaigns to get the word out and let everyone know where you’ll be.
Pinpoint Your Locations and Target Markets
Once you know for sure that you have a target market, you need to learn where you can find them. As we said earlier, your most likely customers will be families, students, tourists, and anyone else looking for a quick and cheap meal. Therefore, you should make a list of all places in your area that regularly attracts these groups of people.
Below are the best possible outdoor locations for setting up your hot dog cart:
Parks
Big Box Stores
Mini Malls
Local Fairs
Large Venues
Tourist Attractions
Outdoor Concerts or Festivals
Flea and Farmers Markets
Schools and Colleges
Reach out to local administrators or venue owners to ask about permit and vendor requirements for these areas. Learn when these locations are at their busiest and set your schedule based around those times. Remember, the bigger the crowd, the more products you’ll be able to sell.
Purchase Your Supplies
Once you’ve taken care of all the legal aspects, it’s finally time to buy your supplies and food. There are plenty of second-hand sellers that offer slightly older carts at reduced prices. You can also purchase a less expensive and customizable option from a reputable business such as Ferla.
Buy all food and paper products at either a distributor, a supermarket, or at super stores like Costco, Sam’s Club, or Walmart. Aside from hot dogs and buns, make sure you also have plenty of condiments on hand as well as canned or bottled drinks. And because most customers want something extra, purchase snacks such as potato chips, popcorn, and different types of candies to offer up as well.
To sum it up, your regular shopping list for your hot dog cart should consist of:
Hot dogs and buns
Mustard packets
Relish packets
Sauerkraut
Additional toppings
Soda and bottled water
Chips and candy
Trays and napkins
Always keep track of your inventory and remember to purchase or order online well before your products run out. Make note of what items sell the most and adjust your regular shopping list as needed. And hold onto the receipts for when tax season approaches to make it easier to calculate your expenses and write anything off if possible.
What Can You Use Instead of a Hot Dog Cart?
It can be hard to find an affordable hot dog cart after dealing with all of the legal fees. Between the cart itself and your cooking equipment, expenses can range anywhere from $5,000 to $20,000. Thankfully, there’s lots of other options available that will work just as well in the beginning.
When you first start off, a good temporary hot dog stand can just be a foldable table and slow cooker or electric grill, along with a cooler full of sodas and water. Be sure to set up some containers full of condiment packets and napkins to let your customers pick whatever they need. As long as you have your permits on hand, you can easily do this at your local flea or farmers markets.
But even when you can finally afford a cart, you’ll still need an easy way to transport it. Fortunately, there are plenty of vending bikes on the market, and at very reasonable prices. You won’t have to attach them to your car or spend money on gas, and everything can be stored in one place while you’re traveling.
Start Your Hot Dog Business with Help from Ferla Bikes
Our Ferla Mini vending bike is the perfect option for new food vendors and can be easily transformed into a hot dog cart. It’s lightweight, reasonably affordable, and has plenty of features such as an extra large storage space and extendable counters. Furthermore, you can add on pedal assist in order to make it easier to maneuver.
A hot dog cart business is the perfect opportunity for you to earn extra income on the side, and Ferla can help make that happen. Contact us today to learn more about our incredible products and start your new business venture today.
Efficient Planning: How To Start A Business During COVID & Other Challenging Times
Whether you’ve been planning to start a business for years, or find yourself in need of a new line of income — times are tight for everybody, and so it’s essential to be efficient. The majority of us who have dreams aren’t sitting on a large pile of seed money. In contrast, the United States is home to a crippling level of student debt, and it’s no secret that COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on the economy.
We are proud leaders in the world of experiential marketing, and we regularly collaborate with brands on events and interactive campaigns. Including our customers in our product experience is vital to the success of Ferla Bikes.
To introduce our relationship to this world of innovation and fun, and explore the topic as a whole — we put together this guide on experiential marketing with Ferla Bikes.
Experiential Marketing Definition
The definition of experiential marketing is that it’s an advertising strategy, which uses events, and immersive branded experiences to build a customer base.
This proven marketing method, when applied well, creates meaningful connections between brands and potential customers. A strong experiential campaign creates memorable, immersive experiences that forge relationships between consumers and providers.
Across the vast array of experiential campaigns, strategies, and formats — the most effective build excitement and positive perceptions of a given brand. Our most proud campaigns have brought elements of our core values to life, and directly engaged future riders of Ferla Bikes.
To dig in a bit deeper, these are some of the most valuable benefits to building an experiential marketing campaign:
Expanding Brand Awareness
Among the numerous benefits of experiential marketing, brand awareness is the most important. Encompassing more than name recognition, it’s increasingly important for brands to let their customers learn their background, story, mission, and values. Experiential marketing encourages telling these stories in face-to-face environments to develop lasting connections.
Generating Authentic Interactions
When a consumer can experience a product or brand in person, the impact is far deeper. Pictures, videos, and links can only take a brand so far. By hosting events, setting up information booths, and offering demos — brands can gain one-on-one customer service benefits that exist nowhere else. Advertising live, in person provides an entirely unique emotional experience.
Making A Strong First Impression
More so than any other form of marketing or advertising, an experiential approach creates a genuine platform to make a strong, influential first impression. Our Ferla Bikes, for example, turn heads fast when businesses use them as mobile advertising bikes, and when we offer them to ride or view at an experiential event.
In such an environment, we can let the Ferla Bike shine with its obvious convenience, eco-friendly build, and unmatched mobility. Also, when a customer rides off in one, they themselves become invaluable mobile advertisers.
If you’re working with an innovative, stylish product like the Ferla Cargo Bikes, then do yourself a favor and take it to your audience. Connect with potential customers in their neighborhoods, all the while showing how your product and brand are essential to a better user experience.
How Experiential Marketing Beats More Traditional Methods
Aggressive ad campaigns through paid social media services, commercials, and billboards both annoy and limit consumers. In the age of the internet, such tactics are so overdone and outdated that they’ve crippled many thriving businesses.
According to these statistics from Influencer Marketing Hub, social media advertising increased by 25% in 2019, and internet advertising revenues increased by 16%. The average person is shown 1,700 banner ads per month, only sees half of them, and may interact with only one or two.
So, with all that in mind, it’s safe to say that marketing has become quite impersonal.
To learn how to bridge that gap, any brand can take a calculated approach towards getting familiar with their consumers.
The Four Core Approaches To Experiential Marketing
Experiential marketing can stand apart from other approaches to customer-client relations, because it can feature an atmosphere your everyday consumer will want to interact with. By using resources to cover the four core approaches to this practice, a brand can give itself the best chance possible at creating an attractive campaign.
Here, we will introduce each of these foundational approaches, which include: Events, Guerrilla Marketing, Brand Activation, & Retail Installations.
Experiential Event Marketing
The best way to make a company event effective in attracting customers, is to implement key experiential marketing strategies. To be clear, experiential marketing is not synonymous with event marketing, though an event can be experiential. Confusing? Let us clear it up.
Event Marketing vs Experiential Marketing
Event marketing campaigns deliver information in one direction — at the consumer. Just passing out fliers, and shouting out slogans makes for a static experience, and it overlooks the value of consumer interaction and participation.
An experiential marketing event separates itself by focusing on two-way communication. By gearing a marketing event towards interactive approaches like conversations, offering samples of a product, and curating games — a brand can directly interact with their consumers, while promoting their products and services.
This type of experiential event can serve to launch a new product, and sell merchandise. Its main purpose, however, is to create positive brand associations, foster new relationships with customers, and provide a memorable, in-person memory associated with a brand.
Examples of Effective Experiential Marketing Campaigns
One of our favorite examples of a noteworthy brand using an immersive experience to build customer relationships — Refinery29’s Annual Interactive Funhouse always impresses its attendees with hands-on experiences unique to each attendee.
The house features 29 different rooms, each branded to showcase the company’s latest technology, culture, and style. Each room invites guests to create something original, and then share it on social media, and every year features a new theme.
Another favorite of ours, is this experiential event hosted by Puma for a new release of a line of products named Puma Defy. Using our Ferla Promo and Ferla Vendor bikes, fully-loaded with Puma branding, graphics, and more, they set out to showcase their new shoes all over the city.
Collaborating with superstar Selena Gomez, with her own mini billboard, and using our amazing Ferla bikes to get their product out across Los Angeles — the minds behind this Puma campaign invited new customers along for a fun and influential ride. They handed out samples, hosted photo ops, and flaunted the Puma Defy sneakers.
Experiential events are key, real-world ways to attract new followers to a brand’s social media, which is key to any successful venture surviving the modern digital landscape. With an experiential event, brands can encourage guests to take pictures while trying their samples, and then they can get a post and a share in addition to a sale.
Guerrilla Marketing With An Experiential Mindset
Many of us associate guerrilla anything with warfare, but the word also refers to actions performed in an impromptu way, often without authorization. Essentially, the heart of this non-war-based guerilla is the element of surprise, which is a proven area of the experiential marketing philosophy.
Guerrilla marketing involves unconventional marketing campaigns, which capture the attention of unsuspecting people going about their everyday lives. Some benefits of this approach include that it’s often a grassroots leg of a campaign that can be far more affordable than typical forms of advertisement.
Guerrilla marketers who are successful invest their time more than their money, and by carefully planning performances, installations, and activities, they can generate attention. To help readers visualize an effective guerrilla campaign, we broke down some examples of common features of one:
An action that adds something eye-catching to a public space. Good examples include prominent statues or buildings, which you can decorate with your brand’s messaging.
Erecting attention-grabbing artwork on sidewalks, in highly-frequented indoor spaces, and on city walls.
Assembling a large group to draw attention with uniforms, performances, and presentations in public spaces.
One Of Our Favorite Guerrilla Marketing Examples
We are majore fans of this example of Volkswagen installing a piano staircase to capture the imagination of prospective customers in Stockholm, Sweden. The activators of the campaign painted an ordinary subway terminal staircase to look like piano keys, adding a message that read, Fun Goes Further.
This is an ideal example of guerrilla marketing, because it was implemented when nobody was looking, and then it caught the attention of off-guard, everyday commuters who on that morning were only expecting their same boring ride to work. The fun surprise brought joy to everyone who saw it, generated media attention, and created this beautiful story around the brand who put it on.
Activate Your Brand With Experiential Marketing
Brand Activation consists of the introduction, promotion, and roll out of a new product or company. This is a time when media attention is crucial. To put it simply, people need to know when a new product hits the market for it to have a shot at developing demand and getting off the ground. The most important goal in brand activation, should be to create a connection between consumers and a brand’s new product. By activating the existence of a product across the minds of a large group of consumers, a company shapes its brand identity.
The Best Experiential Method For Launching A New Product
Those on the hunt for effective experiential marketing methods for promoting new products should begin with simple product sampling. An exceptional strategy for getting your goods out there, is to mobilize your retail. Take for example how brands like TK UNDERWEAR BRAND have purchased our Ferla Vendor Bikes to bring their stylish undergarments to the people.
Creating an opportunity for customers to sample something is the most direct way to create positive impressions of a brand’s identity and values. Such impressions are how genuine relationships between consumers and companies form, and that inspires sales and customer loyalty.
A Couple Of Our Favorite Experiential Marketing Activations
Getting a new concept or business off the ground is no small feat, which is why making the occasion special is all the more important. One of our favorite examples of an experiential brand activation was a collaboration we did with the iconic TIffany & Co., when they had a pop-up promoting a new Beverly Hills Restaurant.
We custom-made Tiffany’s a vendor bike in their iconic blue, which matched all of the decor on the day of the pop-up. Carts served up tasty treats and drinks, and people permeated the space feeling happy and having fun, which created a positive association with this new restaurant and all the brands involved.
Another company that approaches brand activation with imagination as Starbucks. One of our favorite examples came from Starbucks Canada, and the Sparkle Shop promotion for Teavana Sparkling Tea Juices. Guests of the stores with installations met with “glitter specialists,” who bedazzled customers’ hair, nails, beards, and tumblers. Social media influencer LaurDIY among others was in attendance, and the event was a major success.
Ferla’s Brand Activation Vendor Bike Models
Check Out Ferla Bike’s Products to discover the perfect bike for your experiential event. We offer an extensive variety of high-end coffee bikes, ice cream bikes, carts, and vending bikes. Depending on the product and space — each could offer the ideal flare for introducing your business to the world.
The Ferla X is our newest model of coffee bike, and this piece of experiential marketing technology is optimized for food and cafe brand-activations. Designed as an all-in-one mobile restaurant concept, each bike is equipped with a sink, cash register, and freezer. Every component is hidden from plane sight, keeping a simple aesthetic so consumers can only see one thing — the branding.
The mobile nature and popularity of the Ferla X makes it perfect for pop-up events on busy street corners, college campuses, and other high traffic locations.
When we worked with Tiffany & Co, the timeless fashion brand ordered another Coffee Bike in the form of a custom Ferla Mini Cart for a pop-up in Beverly Hills to promote a restaurant of theirs named The Blue Box Cafe. We painted the bike Tiffany’s signature blue, and branded the front with the company’s name and logo.
Another brilliant piece of equipment for event marketing needs, the Ferla X – Glacier Edition. This premium, all-in-one vendor bike features cold brew and ice cream capabilities, a temperature controlled freezer, self-contained water system, solar panel system, and all-terrain wheels.
Among Ferla’s other highly sought after coffee bikes there’s the understated, yet classy barista’s Ferla Mini, the inviting, versatile Ferla Grande. Check out the rest of our coffee bikes, carts, and vending bikes, and start planning your next experiential marketing event today.
Benefits of Experiential Marketing
There are a number of attractive benefits of brand activations, including boosts in sales, building long-term customer relationships and brand support, and attracting new customers by evoking emotional responses in potential customers. Taking an experiential approach to launching your brand will get the word out on your product, and help build a fun, positive association with it. This is an organic way to build demand.
Shine For Shoppers With Retail Installation Marketing
Experiential marketing should expand beyond the street, and meet shoppers both in their digital and physical shopping locations. Retail Installations serve as one of the core approaches to an effective experiential campaign, as one that is well executed can turn an ordinary trip to the store into an immersive experience filled with entertainment.
Setting up a marketing installation in a shop captures the attention of not only avid shoppers, but also bored family and friends who don’t even enjoy shopping. A colorful display, free samples, an artful installation — each of these experiential modes can draw people into the store, capture their attention, increase their time in the store and the likelihood of them making a purchase.
This personal approach is especially influential nowadays, because the shopping experience in large part has become less personal. Digital orders, vast marketplaces like Amazon, two day shipping — these are all convenient elements of modern shopping, but also sterile ones. It’s important to offset convenience with personality and interaction.
In the hardest time to get people to the store, that physical space offers an experience shoppers miss. Face time with a brand, its representatives, and its products offers an influential approach that websites and email campaigns simply cannot.
In addition to serving a personal need in the shopping space, experiential retail also creates brand awareness by creating shareable experiences. Placing a customer’s engagement with a brand and its products over the sale resonates.
Summing up the value of retail installations in an admirable and succinct fashion, in 2020, Macy’s Chief Brand Experience Officer Rachel Shectman said,
The purpose of the format is three things: discover, community, and convenience.
Taking advantage of the appeal of physical creation, a brand can accomplish those three things in unique ways. It can provide something a consumer can’t get from sitting on the couch and shopping online.
Understanding Experiential Benefits With The Marketing Funnel
Looking back at the four main approaches to experiential marketing advertising, it’s easy to track how these strategies effectively build customer relationships.
If you look at the overall experiential strategy as one large marketing funnel, then you can follow the concept from its initial broad casting of media and experiences all the way to a sale. Building from spreading awareness, to building interest, to creating intent, and finally securing a purchase — the marketing funnel is a model every experiential marketing campaign should reference.
Here’s how we categorize the progression of the marketing funnel:
Create Awareness
In its most initial and broadest stage, the marketing funnel generates leads through spreading awareness. Thoughtful installations, guerilla campaigns, and other examples we went over when discussing the core approaches to experiential marketing are all effective methods towards building awareness.
Spark Interest
Once a brand has gotten in front of a potential consumer’s eye, it has to hold that attention with a worthwhile offering. Whether it’s the sample, the artwork, or the experience — sparking interest is an essential step towards turning customers.
Conjure Intent
By placing your product in an attractive experiential setting, you can inspire a desire in your visitors to maintain the special nature of the day. By showcasing your product as a way to maintain that feeling of wonder and uniqueness, you can turn newcomers into buyers.
The Buy
Whether it’s at your event, or down the road, the funnel ends at a point of purchase. When leads are turning into customers, you’re doing it right.
Pushing a brand to realize each step of the marketing funnel will help it ensure more purchases, as well as more loyal customers who will repeat buy, and spread more awareness. This is simple progression is the best way to understand the incomparable value an experiential marketing campaign can have for a small business looking to increase its base.
Grassroots efforts like those that constitute these marketing strategies represent the same spirit as
The Ferla Vendor Bike is an effective adbike, which is built for small businesses looking to promote products, interact with customers, and grow their brands. It’s an ideal starter for any professional looking to realize the marketing funnel, and take a comprehensive approach to an experiential campaign.
Let’s Talk About Experiential Branding
Looking beyond the campaigns and installations — what is the broad goal of it all, and how do you maintain positive growth? Experiential branding is the process of curating how your product lives in the world.
Modern consumers face a barrage of products and brands, and an overwhelming, never ending scroll of advertisements online and in town. Looking beyond traditional advertising and traditional marketing, brands are also now looking beyond traditional branding.
How To Break Through The Noise
To communicate effectively to potential customers, and deliver a message that keeps them coming back, an experiential branding campaign must be felt more than seen. How does the product best work, and how can stories of consumers enjoying a product the most get out to the world? The more powerful response someone has to a product, the stronger the brand’s impression.
If a brand can echo any positive response through a combination of marketing experiences, and content campaigns, then those positive reactions will replicate. The more people who get in touch with a brand’s values and beliefs, the more will have sensory reactions when interacting with their products.
Inspiring Loyal Customers
In conjunction with experiential marketing activations and its many facets, experiential branding is all about actively shaping a customer’s perception of a product to be positive. The first goal is then to secure a purchase, and the final goal is to inspire returning customers.
Focusing an experiential branding effort on building emotional relationships is how you prevent a buyer from looking for a cheaper option the next time around. Fostering familiarity and attraction and security all build up in the mind of the consumer, often moving them to prefer a repeat buy. Evoke an emotional response, translate an understanding of your company’s core beliefs, and you’ll keep the customer.
Experiential Branding On A Ferla
At Ferla Bikes, we provide a foundation for companies looking to increase their experiential branding efforts. Centering a service or an event around one of our bikes opens up a world of possible experiences that your customers won’t forget. A spontaneous food stand, an interactive product sampling event, and experiential installations are all possible with a Ferla Bike. Just reach out, and we can discuss which bikes are best for gaining an edge on competitors.
Is Experiential Marketing Effective?
We can talk endlessly about the philosophies and strategies that drive experiential marketing, but at the end of the day, the most important thing is whether or not it works. Looking at the numbers, it appears that it absolutely does.
Here are some of the more convincing experiential marketing statistics we’ve found that point to the efficacy of experiential marketing.
85 percent of consumers are more likely to purchase a product or service after attending a live marketing event. (EventTrack 2018)
91 percent of consumers say they have more positive feelings about brands after attending events and experiences. (EventTrack 2018)
75 percent of B2B marketers agree that experiential marketing has proven to be the most successful marketing tactic. (Agency EA)
41 percent of marketers believe that events are the single-most effective marketing channel over digital advertising, email marketing, and content marketing. That number marks a 32 percent increase since 2017. (Bizzabo 2018)
64 percent of Gen Z consumers, and 72 percent of Millennial consumers believe that brands should provide personalized experiences. (Adobe)
88 percent of companies use their event marketing data to inform wider marketing strategies, and make other important tactical decisions. (Freeman)
The most successful businesses are spending 1.7x the average marketing budget on live events. (Bizzabo)
The numbers don’t lie. Traditional marketing is old news. Magazine advertisements, billboards, and even commercials fail to carry the same weight they used to. Considering ad-free streaming services, ad-blocking VPNs, and fast-forward buttons, you can’t count on a customer sitting through an entire spot.
Experiential marketing is the future, because it’s personal and shareable. Traditional marketing promotes practices that result in a consumer passively receiving a company’s message. With an experiential approach, however, a brand can engage with consumers directly and create memorable experiences in the process. The strength of the feelings of connection that result from these engagements is apparent in the convincing statistics we’re sharing here.
The Ferla Family is proud to have collaborated with a number of household name brands over the years to create unforgettable experiential marketing campaigns. Among these notable corporations, some of the most well known include LuluLemon, Tiffany & Co., Sugarfina, and Jameson.
When we captured their interest, each of these rands had a different story to tell. So, we worked with each to build a custom Ferla Vendor Advertising Bike, outfitting them with each brand’s trademarked colors, and logos. Practical designs and upscale parts guide our output of vendor bikes that please the eye, and perform well at experiential marketing events.
Looking back on such events, these are some of our favorites:
The LuluLemon Ghost Races
Ferla’s campaign with LuluLemon featured the outpouring of a fleet of fully-branded vending bikes decked out with promotions for the Ghost Race in Chicago and New York City. Brand ambassadors used our Ferla Vendor advertising bicycle to hand out free merchandise to runners as they crossed the finish line of the storied 8K race. There were also reps handing out promotional gear, and water.
Helping runners replenish while promoting their brand, they captured an ideal experiential balance. Everyone involved had a positive experience with our convenient and stylish carts, and LuluLemon was able to elevate that for their own brand.
Sugarfina’s Mobile Pop-Up Shop
Sugarfina’sorder of Ferla Bikes were some of the most fun our builders ever put together. The gourmet candy shop purchased a Ferla Grande, which is our largest coffee vending bike. To elevate and customize the purchase, we installed a philodendron leaf canopy to the display, offering shade and accent for the colorful candy to pop.
Sugarfina was so happy with the pop-up they had with the Ferla Grande, they followed up with a purchase of a Ferla Vendor to use as a billboard bike and show off even more sugary confections at more events. The bikes and displays captured pedestrians attention, and built sales for both us and Sugarfina, and helped each company develop new loyal customers.
The Ferla Ice Cream Bike
Le Café de la Plage is a decadent ice cream shop based in Malibu, and when we met, they were looking for new ways to drive customers in. We worked together to create the Ferla Ice Cream Bike, which brings upscale ice cream to eaters in style.
The design featured delightful French accents to complement the brand, and a classy black-and-white color scheme. We included La Plage’s logos and decals on a custom canopy to capture peoples’ eyes, and it’s worked. Even when the bike isn’t out riding, it draws looks sitting parked outside the shop.
Working With Ferla
Looking to kickstart your experiential marketing campaign in style?
We offer customization and personalization on different levels, and some of our featured services include adding logos to canopies, wrapping entire bikes in a brand’s colors, and creating our most nique designs and experiences for your brand.
The best way to generate effective an experiential marketing campaign is to look to those that have been successful. Read up on the campaigns we did with Tiffany & Co., and LuluLemon — use their strategies of event building, and spreading awareness took shape.
The internet is your friend when expanding your research. Examine experiential marketing trends. Check out comprehensive articles, like this one from PYMNTS named How Experiential Retail Is Giving Physical Stores An Edge, which we referenced earlier in the article.
Use all of your research to inform how your product should introduce itself to the public. Choose a format like an installation, or pop-up, and begin molding its needs to your brand and product.
The most valuable experiential strategies utilize key insights garnered from research and data collection to make informed decisions, and create more impactful experiences. Essentially, in today’s day and age, company’s need to use everything at their disposal. While addressing the core approaches to experiential marketing, a company also needs to consider analytics when curating a campaign meant to actually secure customers.
Experiential marketing has the power to create unforgettable experiences and build lasting impressions. There’s nothing more valuable to a brand or product than a piece of branding that sticks to the minds of consumers. The more positive the experience, the greater a brand’s chances are of turning new friends into customers, loyal customers, and even brand ambassadors.
There are a lot of advantages and inspirations for brands to utilize experiential marketing. In the largest sense, these campaigns can offer a company a competitive edge, and opportunity to differentiate themselves from their industry.
These ideas aren’t new, but they take some energy, action, and imagination, which is why only some brands utilize them. When done well, an experiential marketing effort can evoke emotional reactions in consumers, create positive associations with the product, and funnel in more customers, increasing sales. Remember the stats above? It’s proven!
Make your taxes work for you! Buy a Ferla Bike by the end of 2020 for a tax deduction. Spend your money in a smart way. Get tax credit while investing in your business’s future.
Are you thinking about opening an ice cream business but are unsure where to sell your frozen treats? This list will help you get your business started! If you’re looking for the perfect way to start your ice cream business with low start up costs, press play on the video down below.
1. In front of restaurants
While people aren’t able to dine inside food establishments in many cities, people can stop and shop in front of them! Selling ice cream in front of your restaurant gives your regulars an opportunity to get out of the house and gives you the opportunity to keep your loyal customers satisfied. If you don’t own a restaurant, you can stop outside places (with owner’s permission) to satisfy the hunger people are seeking to fill with your own delicious food!
2. The beach
Because of Covid, people are eager to get out of the house – which is why so many people are spending time at beach on weekends! Everyone wants good ice cream on hot days, and the Ferla’s beautiful design will attract hungry customers wherever you go.
3. Neighborhood parks and lakes
Local neighborhood spots are where some of the best business is. People often go to local parks and lakes after work, sometimes bringing along their children. There’s no better way to bring families together than with ice cream!
4. Near trail entrances
After a long hike, people are bound to be hungry! Sell ice cream at the entrance and exits of trails to meet hungry hikers with cool treats they won’t be able to resist.
5. Make a strategic plan
Because you can bike anywhere with your Ferla Ice Cream Bike, try different locations every day and see what locations and times work best for you and your local customers! With Covid, having an outdoor business gives you the peace of mind to know that there will always be enough room to social distance and keep you, and your customers, safe.
Ferla X – The Ultimate Café on Wheels Walkaround Video
Do you want to see more of the Ferla X up close and personal? Check out the Ferla X Walkaround! In the video below, our specialist Brian walks you through all the features that make the Ferla X so special.
The Ferla X was designed to function as an all-in-one solution for any mobile business. With our new configuration, Ferla X is fully optimized to create the most pleasant and efficient vending experience for you or your employees. With the fully-functioning sink, cash register, and freezer unit all facing the vendor’s direction, you no longer have to frantically run back and forth to serve your customers.
We’ve also updated the Ferla X’s durability, now using a thicker plywood for the vending unit’s frame. Don’t worry– it’s still covered in our waterproof varnish for protection and longevity. The Ferla X is now equipped with thicker wheels to support its frame, so you never have to worry about an unstable vending bike.
We didn’t forget to include our original “smart sink” sink that you know and love. Our “smart sink” includes a foldable faucet and an optional upgrade to include water heating.
Need a completely electric vending bike? No problem. Upgrade your Ferla X with the pedal assist package. Pedal assist makes riding up hills and traveling long distances easier. With pedal assist, you can ride your vending bike in the morning, take it from your corporate headquarters to the beach, and convert it into a catering cart at night!
We created the Ferla X to show entrepreneurs and business moguls alike that starting a mobile café is so much easier than you ever would’ve thought.
Whether you’re thinking about starting a coffee business, espresso business, ice cream business, juice business, smoothie business, fruit vending business, or clothing business… it’s all possible with the Ferla X.
Turn your dream business into a reality with the Ferla X!
Looking for a way to boost business? We’re here to help. Here are five ways the tried and true Ferla Mini Cart can help grow and strengthen your business. The Ferla Mini Cart is the perfect way to make your business safer during COVID-19 because you have unlimited space to practice social distancing with your customers.
Experiential Marketing
The Ferla Mini Cart is perfect for experiential marketing campaigns! Whether you’re an established enterprise like Tiffany’s or an up-and-coming business seeking to create brand awareness, the Ferla Mini’s eye-catching, unique design will grab the attention everywhere you go. Its small size allows you to transport it easy to any location. Customize the Mini Cart to create a memorable customerexperience that gives new customers a taste of what your brand is all about!
Coffee Business
The Ferla Mini Cart is the perfect way to start your dream coffee business without having to pay for rent or utilities. Completely battery-operated, you can run your coffee business anywhere in the world while maintaining social distancing.
Ice Cream Business
Upgrade your Ferla Mini Cart and start your very own ice cream business! With our Temperature-Controlled Freezer-Refrigerator and Smart Sink, you can operate you very own ice cream, gelato, or frozen yogurt business from anywhere! With the sink, you can keep everything sanitary and have peace of mind that you and your customers are safe – no matter where you are!
Kiosk
Because you can use the Ferla Mini Cart anywhere, you can create a kiosk business selling products both indoors and outdoors! Place your Mini Cart in a food court, outside a mall entrance, in a park, at the beach – you can go anywhere people are! With the extendable side table, you can have extra counter space to distribute goods and keep a safe distance between you and your customers! With the LED Overhead Canopy, you can run business operations from dusk to dawn.
Events
Because the Ferla Mini is so easy to transport, you can easily take it to any location for any event! Whether you’re catering a wedding or birthday party or advertising your product or service at a corporate event, your Ferla Mini Cart will make your job easier.
Recently, Ferla was featured in the Washington Post’s article covering our trade with Demi from the Trade Me Project. We found Demi on Tik Tok and followed her journey of trading a bobby pin with the dream of trading all the way until she got a house. We were inspired by her creativity, drive, and passion, and wanted to play a role in helping her dreams come true!
We met with Demi to swap one of our Ferla Mini bikes for a MacBook Pro, which would help out our staff and help Demi get one step closer to reaching her goal.
While the Ferla Mini was worth more than the laptop, Feras said that he decided to make a deal with Demi when she told him she “hoped to trade up with somebody who had lost a restaurant job because of to the pandemic.”
As Feras put it, “I love that she wants to help someone, so I was all for the trade, and I’m really looking forward now to seeing where she ends up with all of this.”
We make bikes so people can make their entrepreneurial dreams come true, and we’re so happy we could help Demi in her entrepreneurial endeavor! As the Washington Post put it, we are:
“…an eco-friendly “food truck” bike from Feras Bashnak, a Los Angeles entrepreneur who started his company, Ferla Bikes, as a way to provide young people in the food industry with a means to make an income without renting commercial space.”
We’re so excited to see Demi reach her goal! You can find out more about the trade on our Tik Tok and Instagram. Check out the Ferla Mini featured in this article!
