The Benefits of the Server Uniform
Catering businesses offer a variety of services and event types, and one of the most common is the buffet service. While many clients opt for this type of spread, there will likely be events where a client requests a more formal evening with individual table service and wait staff. If you've got server staff then you'll have to decide how to present those staff at an event. Essentially, how are you going to dress your team? There are a couple different ideas on how to approach the uniform issue with your wait staff and kitchen staff.
Consistent Uniform - The consistent uniform is one of the ways you can ensure your servers are visible and easy to identify. What's better is that if the uniform is branded, your team becomes a walking billboard. With the consistent uniform, the color and design never changes regardless of the event and it promotes your overall brand.
The benefit here is that your costs are kept simple with just a few minor variations of the uniform (usually size) and getting replacements are simple. This is also the best way to get away from the boring white shirt black pants worn by so many servers in commercial restaurants.
The downside to a consistent uniform is that you're requiring your staff to wear a custom uniform. Law dictates you need to provide or subsidize the first round of uniforms. Ethics state you should just provide the first round of uniforms. For future replacements you can require the employees to replace their own uniforms if they exceed their standard replacement for work garments each year. With a consistent uniform you'll also need to make sure you have a variation for formal and non-formal events fitting for all occasions.
Custom Uniforms - Customer uniforms are the other option that could potentially resonate well with guests and clients. A custom uniform that is meant to blend with the theme or color scheme of the event can make the evening that much more enchanting.
The benefit to custom uniforms is that your staff will always blend appropriately with the environment while standing out. It makes it obvious that they are the weight staff and it eliminates the possibility that some poor schmuck will come dressed in the exact same outfit as a server. If you save your custom wardrobes you may be able to use them again if a similarly themed event comes around again.
Catering Supplies - With custom uniforms however there is the major downside of cost, which rolls the cost of custom uniforms into the event cost for each client. That can make it hard to stay competitive if other competitors aren't increasing their rates for simply uniform adjustments.
Catering Supplies - Should you make your kitchen staff match the server staff? That depends on the location and layout of the event. If the kitchen and cooking area is visible, you can get a uniform look to your entire staff when their garments match - and it's always a bonus to bring the team look together.
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