Shipping Container Concession Stand: What to Sell and How

If you’re in the food and beverage business, or even just starting out, a portable concession stand is a low-cost, convenient and mobile way to operate your venture. Modified shipping containers act seamlessly as a shipping container concession stand that can include climate-controlled environments, electricity and running water.

Such portable concession stands and snack bars are not only fast but affordable as well – the next generation in modular construction. Best part is, you can place them anywhere, such as a concert venue, baseball field, or fair.

The first step is to decide on footprint, or size if you will. Most shipping containers come in 20′ or 40′ lengths, usually 8′ wide by 8’6″ or 9’6″ high. For simple operations, you will only need one container, but there is the potential to create more complex designs.

5 Benefits of Portable Concession Stands

There are many reasons why using shipping containers for your concession stands is a good idea.

1. Durability

Because shipping containers are made of steel that has been sandblasted and corrugated, you know you’re getting the strength and durability you need. All shipping containers feature load-bearing corner posts with a steel roof panel. Portable concession stands made out of steel shipping containers offer more durability than wooden ones.

2. Weather Resistance

Because shipping containers were designed to transport cargo across the sea, you know they can withstand harsh weather conditions and sea salt, which can cause rust. Prior to a shipping container leaving the manufacturing plant, it gets an undercoating or primer, which offers two benefits.

First, it offers a layer of protection against the weather. And second, it makes it easier for paint to adhere to the container. Once the primer has been dried, many layers of paint will be added for further protection.

3. Pest Resistance

Wooden structures attract pests that feed off the materials, such as termites and carpenter ants. A shipping container’s floor features plywood panels which are treated with a pest-resistant varnish.

4. Time Savings

With shipping container concession stands, you don’t have to be at the mercy of the weather.  If you were to construct a concession stand with traditional construction methods from scratch, the project may be delayed due to weather. Weather-related delays not only add to your timeline for completion, they can add costs to the final price tag.

Saving time with a shipping container stand allows you to reduce labor costs so you can start earning money with your business sooner.

5. Environmentally Friendly

Did you know that one-third of the material in landfills originates from construction projects built on-site? Since portable concession stands are essentially making use of shipping containers that are already in existence, there’s only a small amount of materials necessary to create them.

Plus, it’s easy to add solar panels to the flat roofs of shipping containers so you can be more energy efficient and save on operating costs.

Reasons Why You Need a Shipping Container Concession Stand

Portable concession stands can be found at many different events, such as fairs, festivals, music fests, farmer’s markets, and at high school football games. Concession stands can also be placed in the parking lots of non-competing businesses like gas stations, university campuses or retail shops. Permanent versions are found at high-traffic venues such as airports, movie theaters, sports stadiums and entertainment arenas.

Operating a concession stand can lower your operational costs and keep your overhead low. According to the National Association of Concessionaires, operators say that nearly 79 percent of their revenue originates at the concession stand vs. 21 percent from catering operations.

Concession stands pull in 40 percent of the net revenue generated by any given movie theater. Likewise, concession stands at Major League Baseball parks across the country boast profit margins that make traditional business owners envious.

Overall profit margins can be as high as 97 percent, so it’s a no-brainer to operate a food concession stand provided you have a great location, a steady flow of customers, a clean structure, and low operating costs. A shipping container concession stand, since it can be moved anywhere as needed, is the perfect solution.

So, whether you’re a seasoned professional in the food and beverage industry, you’re a college student looking for a fun way to pay for college, or you’re a retiree looking to bring in some extra cash, concession stands can generate more income than a traditional job in an office or retail shop.

What to Sell

In most situations, food and drinks are the primary products sold at concession stands, but merchandise like jerseys, noise makers, and sweaters may also be available.

Since you use your portable concession stand for your business, you have free range for the items you sell.

Who Can Sell

Storefronts are costly, but the affordability of shipping container concession stands makes them accessible to a broader range of sellers.

Cooks and bakers who have sold their goods primarily online will likely make great use of a portable concession stand. 

Transporting your concession stand to different locations will expand your customer reach, which may lead to booking requests for events and parties. Your sales can be off the charts despite the low costs you put into your transportable business.

The benefits of shipping container concession stands will also assist artists and fashion designers who are seeing a rise in sales but still haven’t reached large enough profits to rent a storefront in a high-traffic location.

Artwork, floral arrangements, clothing, and jewelry are always in demand. These industries are expected to grow by 8%, 7.58%, 1.96%, and 0.78% year-over-year in the US, respectively. (Statista)

Taking your portable shipping container to weekly farmer’s markets and street fairs gives you access to more customers who will likely return to those weekly events and make additional purchases. About 12% of American consumers shop at farmer’s markets regularly, so this is an excellent business choice. No matter what you sell, it’s essential to research licensing and permit requirements for your state.

Contact DRYBOX

Here at DRYBOX, we can connect you with the perfect container to modify as a concession stand. To learn more, call us today at 866-549-9823.