Because catering events run the gamut from less than formal to extremely formal, you often find that you'll need to dress staff appropriately. With a buffet line you may need little to no service staff but some events require staff to wait on the guests at their place setting. For times like this you need to decide how you're going to dress your staff. There are two different ways you can approach the uniform situation to give a professional appearance.
Consistent Uniform - This is one of the best ways to ensure that your staff is visible during an event, because everyone will be dressed exactly the same with the same style uniform. With a consistent uniform, the color and design never really changes and your logo remains the most prominent piece on the uniform to ensure visibility.
The major benefit to this is that your costs are kept simple by running off the same uniforms. That makes replacement for employees easy, and easy to get new ones for a new hire in your wait staff. The other benefit of course is that you don't have a bunch of stuffy looking wait staff running around in white shirts, ties and black pants.
There's always a downside of course and if you require your staff to wear a consistent uniform then you'll have to eat the cost of supplying it. Typically you have to give employees a limited number of replacements and after that you can require them to pay for new shirt, new pants, etc. Consider too that while you have a uniform color and design, you'll need to have some formal and informal variations as well as a variation for cooler and warmer weather.
Custom Uniforms - The other option is to create custom uniforms for each individual event that takes place. This can be greatly appreciated by the clients you tend to as the uniforms not only match the color scheme but they tend to match the overall theme as well.
The major benefit in this regard is that your staff will stylishly blend into the environment and the event but they will still stand out, making it clear and obvious that they are staff working the event for the benefit of the guests. Additionally, if you save these uniforms you may be able to apply them to future events with similar themes or color schemes.
The downside of course is the cost of custom uniforms for each event. Not only do you have to factor in turnaround time but you'll also have to work your uniform costs into events which will increase the overall cost to the client. That can make it a little more difficult to compete against other catering companies.
Catering Supplies - Lastly you'll need to decide if you want your kitchen staff in their traditional work wear and chef garb or if you want them to match the other staff in a similar type of uniform appropriate to the kitchen. In any decision you make when it comes to the uniforms, try to buy and fit your staff based on comfort and not on price.
Stop trying to find the best deals on chafers for sale. Buying catering supplies by price alone is only going to lead you to the clearance rack at your local Wal-Mart. Instead, shop for items like a roll top chafing dish based on quality and durability. Only CateringEquipment.com offers the highest quality stainless steel at the most affordable prices.