Shell Bobber's Jeff Stafford answers THE QUESTION:

I spoke with Jeff Stafford from Shell Bobbers last week. I was interviewing him for the Shark Tank Blog. Jeff and his business partner Dusty got a deal with Mark Cuban on Shark Tank for their fishing bobbers made from shot gun shell casings. He told me how Shell Bobbers went from his partner Dusty's garage to a HUGE facility capable of processing shipping container sized orders.

We also talked a bout fishing, Shell Bobbers' deal with 7-11 stores and business in general.

As usual, I asked Jeff THE QUESTION:

"Do you put ketchup on your hot dogs?"

His answer:

"It's the ONLY thing I put on my hot dogs!"

Jeff better hope none of those shot gun shells are laoded!

Don Sandusky from Hamboards answers THE QUESTION

I had a chat with Don Sanduskey the other day. I interviewed him for the Shark Tank Blog. He's appearing on Shark Tank October 8 with his cousin Pete Hamborg. They're presenting Hamboards, the "really big skateboard," to the panel of Sharks.

Don told me about the origins of his involvement with the business and the family's Shark Tank experience.

As always, I got around to asking him THE QUESTION:

"Do you put ketchup on your hot dogs?"

His answer:

"ABSOLUTELY!"

For a guy with a PhD in Polymer Science, he has a lot to learn!

GoGoGear's Arlene Battishill answers "The Question"

I spoke with Arlene Battishill of GoGoGear the other day. Arlene and her business partner recently appeared on The Shark Tank to pitch their line of fashionable protective wear for motorbike riders. Their pitch was a success!

As I do anytime I interview a Shark Tank entrepreneur, I asked Arlene "The Question:"

"Do you put ketchup on your hot dogs?"

Arlene said...."I am a vegetarian, so I am OUT!"

Read my interview with Arlene HERE.

Local Internet Savvy Plumber Answers "The Question"

I interviewed Mr. Andy Rodenhiser, owner of Rodenhiser Plumbing today. His company made some waves around here last summer with this billboard:

Needless to say, the many billboards in the greater Boston area piqued people's interest and riled a few of the more Puritanical types around here. The URL linked to a portion of Andy's website on air conditioning repair.

I sat down with Andy to chat about local marketing from a business person's point of view- as opposed to the internet marketer's point of view folks so often read about. That interview, along with a few others, will be the focus of a story about local internet marketing over on RobMerlino.com in the near future.

As regular readers may know, whenever I do an interview, I ask "The Question."

So, true to form, I asked Andy: "Do you put ketchup on your hot dogs?"

His answer: "Ketchup ...boring... Chile, onions and real cheese, now you have my attention!

And bacon!!!!!"

I know mama Rodenhiser raised her boys right! Now if she could only get Andy's brother to show up for appointments!!!

Shark Tank Entrepreneur Stephan Aarstol answers "The Question"

I spoke to another Shark Tank entrepreneur the other day. Stephan Aarstol of Tower Paddle Boards, a west coast Internet entrepreneur who was funded by Mark Cuban, chatted with me about life after the Shark Tank and the current state of his business.

You can read my interview with Stephan on The Shark Tank Blog.

As usual, in addition to talking about the show, I asked Stephan "The Question:" Do you put ketchup on your hot dogs?


Unfortunately, Stephan's west coast roots influenced his answer. "Yes I do," was his answer.

I bet he'd change his tune if the Sharks used ketchup on entrepreneurs!

Profender Inventor Tony Devine answers "The Question"

I recently interviewed Tony Devine, inventor of the Profender, a basketball training tool recently showcased on The Shark Tank. You can read the interview over at The Shark Tank Blog.

Tony is a Special Education Teacher, Basketball Coach, and inventor.

He also likes Hot Dogs.

I asked him The Question, "Do you put Ketchup on your hot dogs?" his answer:

"ABSOLUTELY NOT! I put spicy mustard and sometimes onions, when they are available, on my hot dogs. And I don't put Mayo on Hoagies either!" 

Spoken like a true Philadelphian.

Tony asked me to look him up when I am in Philly and he promised to take me to some righteous hot dog joints.

Smart Bakers Daniel and Stephanie Rensing answer "The Question"

I spoke to Daniel  Rensing yesterday. Dan and his childhood sweetheart and wife Stephanie are co-founders of The Smart Baker. Their business was recently featured on The Shark Tank and I called Dan up to interview him for the Shark Tank Blog.

After we had finished talking about their appearance on the show, I asked Dan "The Question."

He was also authorized to answer for his wife, Stephanie.

As much as I enjoyed their appearance on The Shark Tank, and as happy as I am for both of them for their success, I am sorry to say they have brought the "childhood" part of the "childhood sweethearts" equation into adulthood. Despite their youthful appearance, Dan and Stephanie are well over age 18.

And they BOTH put Ketchup on their hot dogs! Stephanie actually confesses to having hot dogs with her ketchup- UGH! Dan tried to blame his mom for his current affliction, but I wasn't buying it.

While I am happy for their post-Shark Tank success, I think they need to have another look at the Rules.

Show No Shelly Ehler Answers "The Question"

Regular readers may know I also write for the Shark Tank Blog, which I co-produce with my buddy Kirk Taylor. One of the things I get to do for that site is interview entrepreneurs that have appeared on the show. 

I ask them questions about their experiences in the Shark Tank, but I also ask them "The Question."

I recently spoke to Shelly Ehler, one of the most popular entrepreneurs to appear on the show to date. Her product was funded ON THE SPOT by my favorite Shark, Lori Greiner. Shelly invented the Show No, a towel that allows kids to change in and out of bathing suits (or anything else for that matter) in a "modest" fashion. It's a great product- in fact she's sending one along for Little Miss' swim bag.

Shelly was a delight to talk to- she's well grounded, inspirational, and full of purpose.

When I asked her "Do you put ketchup on your hot dogs," her answer was:

"NO! I use mustard, I never put ketchup on my hot dogs."

It was a very emphatic "NO!" Shelly's folks brought her up right.

So there you have it folks. The REAL secret to success on The Shark Tank.....

Shark Tank Entrepreneur answers "The Question"

As regular readers may know, I have been working with my buddy Kirk Taylor on The Shark Tank Blog for the last month or so. The site has become wildly popular and has kept me pretty busy. One of the things I do is contact entrepreneurs who have been on the show and follow up with them about "life after The Shark Tank."

I most recently spoke to a guy named Donny McCall, inventor of The Invis-a-rack, a retractable pick up truck rack. Donny didn't get funded, mainly because he was unwilling to source manufacturing to China; he makes his product in the USA and wants to keep it that way. You can read about Donny HERE.

I asked Donny "The Question." Do you put ketchup on your hot dogs?

Now I like Donny, I really do. His stance on manufacturing in the USA is admirable. This country needs more entrepreneurs like him: committed to creating jobs, building community, and making things right here in the USA. I LOVE THAT!

BUT.......

...when I asked him "The Question," Donny said he puts ketchup on his hot dogs "sometimes."

I was disappointed, I explained The Rules to him, and I voiced my standard displeasure when people answer "The Question" in the affirmative.

The only solace I can take from this exchange is Donny uses ketchup that is made in the USA.

Do you put ketchup on your hot dogs?

I would like to do some statistical analysis on the age old question: "Do you put ketchup on your hot dogs?"

Please take a moment to answer the survey HERE.

Affiliates Answer "the Question"

I headed out to Affiliate Summit West 2012 with several objectives. One big objective was to get an answer to "the Question." 

The results are nothing short of epic.

I asked Nate Beal, Share-a -sale Product Quality Manager....

...Syed Balkhi answered it too...

...these two Canadian Affiliate Summit newbies weighed in...

...Jim McCormick from eahoy gave his answer...

....Jen and Deb from Blogworld gave dueling answers....

...Shoemoney had something to say....

...Affiliate Summit co founder Shawn Collins answered too...

...Philly Phanatic Ron Opher answered for himself and his kids...

...Richard Hauben and friend Terrence Taylor had a little something to say...

...DK, normally an In and Out Burger fan gave a colorful answer...

...Bruce Clay, SEO Overlord, gave an atypical Chicagoan response...

...John Chow let the world know his answer...

....Daniel Clark podcast his reply....

...Eric Hom had a good perspective...

...Hip Hop Preacher Eric Thomas had an inspirational answer...

...Blogger Lounge mistress Heather from Beautiful BC gave a north of the border perspective...

...Affiliate Marketing guru Ian Fernando put his two cents in....

...Shoemoney contest winner Julian Hooks gave a trepidatious response....

...even the Centurions from Caesar's Palace had an answer...

...fellow John Chow Gold Pass contest winner Cole Stasney gave a youthful perspective...

...my pal Kirk Taylor gave an entrepreneurial point of view...

...Affiliate Summit co-founder Missy Ward gave a vegetarian's perspective...

...Bryan Knowlton gave a reply that didn't blow....

...opening keynote speaker Jon Spoelstra gave the Baseball marketers answer...

...Blogger of the Year Tricia Meyer proclaimed her reply from her "pinnacle".....

...Ultimate Foodie and Football Fanatic Wade Tonkin gave the correct info....

...Jim Kukral gave such a good answer he asked me to contribute to his next book....

...and finally, I even got TV infomercial legend Matthew Lesko to give a proper, yet somewhat out of character, reply.

We all know THIS GUY's thoughts...

So what is the question?

CLICK HERE to find out on Hot Dog Stories.

Dirty Harry on Ketchup

Kinda sums up the whole ketchup on a hot dog thing.....



"God this stuff isn't getting to me - the shootings, the knifings, the beatings. Old ladies being bashed in the head for their social security checks. Nah that doesn't bother me. But you know what does bother me? You know what makes me really sick to my stomach? It's watching you stuff your face with those hotdogs! Nobody - I mean nobody puts ketchup on a hot dog!"

In another famous scene, Dirty Harry munches on a hot dog as he blows away the bad guys.

Ketchup on a hot dog.

Ketchup is very much a staple condiment-Ronald Reagan said it was a vegetable! Ketchup is great on fries, burgers-even eggs.

But not on a hot dog.

When I first opened, I would not put ketchup on a hot dog for my patrons. I had a basket of ketchup packets outside for the ketchup eating crowd. I would shell out a fair bit of abuse on the ketchup loving populace as well. Sometimes I'd ask for ID (the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council says ketchup shouldn't be put on hot dogs for anyone over age 18). Other times I'd say (incredulously) "KETCHUP?!?!? ON A HOT DOG?!?!?!" If there was a group of people and one guy ordered a dog with ketchup, I'd ask his friends if they could perhaps hold a hot dog intervention for him. Whatever insult I'd hurl, I'd sweep my hands contemptuously toward the Ketchup packets and say "I won't put ketchup on a hot dog, help yourself." This little schtick annoyed and amused the clientelle-it usually got a laugh and I have never been punched for it.

There was one guy who got wise to the act and ordered his hot dogs plain to avoid the abuse. He'd then sneak a few ketchup packets and go back to his car to eat so I wouldn't hurl abuse at him. This guy is a big Red Sox fan and we'd always chat about the Sox while he was waiting for his dogs. He is a seasonal worker so he wasn't out in the winter. In the spring of 2005 (after my Red Sox won it all) he popped by and told me he was going to see the Sox play on opening day in New York City. I asked him how he scored the tickets and he said he had a new girlfriend from Connecticut and she was a Yankee Fan.

I said "brother, if you can date a Yankee fan, I can put ketchup on your hot dogs."

So now you can get ketchup on your dogs at the Hot Dog Truck-I've even toned down the abuse.

Uh Oh

This funny little video of a commercial for the Vienna Insurance Group highlights another reason to NOT put ketchup on a hot dog!

Ketchup on a Hot Dog

Everyone knows I like ketchup on my hamburgers. But ask to put ketchup on one of my dogs and you'll get the ketchup, you might also get a bit of "commentary" from the Hotdogman!

For an interesting take on the subject, visit the Straight Dope on ketchup.

Dancin Ketchup

I still don't like ketchup on hot dogs, but this is a catchy little video. Look how happy the hot dog is!

Just not on a hot dog...

Here's a classic Ketchup Commercial. Campy, just like I like em-but please don't put ketchup on a hot dog!

If anyone knows what show this ad was from, I'd love to know.

Isn't the actor Buster Crabb?

Can I Take a Picture of Your Hot Dogs? What do you mean I hardly know you??

I finally found the battery charger for my digital camera and I brought it to the truck. When there was no line, I would ask the patron "do you mind if I take a picture of your hotdogs?" I couldn't do this on a cold day since folks usually grab their dogs and run for their car.
Luckily, it wasn't too cold today so I had a few takers who wanted their hot dogs immortalized on the world wide web. Pictured are 2 fabulous chili dogs (left) and 2 with ketchup and onion (right). Kinda makes you hungry, doesn't it?