How Catering Works

Have you ever entered an event, such as an engagement party, an anniversary, or just a friend's Bar Mitzvah, where you noticed the food, table settings, and lighting were all really fancy? If so, you probably had a great catering service to thank. While catering is the concept of serving food, it actually consists of a lot more. Many caterers try to appeal to the five senses, but when feeding a party of 50 or 500, the main goal is to satisfy the customer.

The biggest failure a customer can make is to think only of the budget. While important, a strict budget doesn't mean you can't have the type of party you want. You may have to have a less-formal, casual party. If you have an experienced caterer that you are working with, they will know the types of questions in which to ask to find the type of party that will fit both your budget and the person whom you are throwing the party for.

Take, for example, a couple that was married last year and decided to have an engagement party, but had to pay for the entire occasion with their funds. They both worked but had limited funds to pay for an elaborate engagement party. Both has full-time jobs, although they weren't making over $60,000/yr when combined.

The couple enjoyed music and concerts, friends and family were most important in their lives. When arriving at the catering company they decided to use, they were concerned about their budget; fortunately, the company was well versed in what they did, recognizing that although the couple could only afford a simple engagement party, it would be an elegant affair.

The party resulted into everything the bride had ever imagined... simple elegance that was exactly what a catering company should do: ask a list of questions to figure out the situation, and then deliver an event that is exactly on budget, as well as exactly what the person what the person envisioned-creativity at its' finest.

The couple was happy (which is often a rarity in Special Events Catering), and it resulted in great feedback. The catering business received more business from friends and family that had attended the party, due to the exquisite and elaborate affair. Good business and great customer service always equals new customers from word-of-mouth recommendations.

So how does catering work? Identifying with the customer by asking questions to discover the clients' taste, then delivering with great customer service and creative, yet effective and memorable event planning. It's all about new ideas-each client is a new idea waiting to happen. As a caterer, you have to be the one to find out what that idea is.