Top Rated Local® is pleased to announce that Occasions Catering is an award winner in 2019.
If you are looking for a catering company that will wow the guests at your next big event, look no further than this award-winning company!
Occasions Catering has received many overwhelmingly positive reviews across four different verified sites with an average rating of 4.93 stars, earning them an impressive Rating Score™ of 4.93 and a 2019 Top Rated Local award for ranking as one of the top 50 businesses in Vermont!
Here’s just one of their many five-star reviews:
“I would HIGHLY recommend Occasions to any bride and groom out there. They were sooooo helpful, kind, professional, prepared, and fun, and the food was awesome! We had a big barn wedding in Williston, Vermont, and they did both our food and bar. I give them five–plus stars and lots of kudos…!” – H.K.
It is because of excellent reviews like this that Occasions Catering is now able to call themselves a Top Rated Local award winner!
Not Your Average Catering Company
We were excited to learn all about Occasions Catering and how they have gotten where they are today, so we sat down with the owner, Connie.
The first thing we wanted to know was what it is that makes Occasions Catering stand apart from its competitors. Connie told us:
“I’m not sure how much this comes through to the customer, but I want to say that integrity [is what sets us apart]. I try to portray that to my employees and expect the whole team to do the right thing. So many people push the easy button and take short cuts. I want to put in the time it takes to provide the best experience possible for our guests.”
She continued:
“The caring, nurturing approach is one thing. I am always trying to be as responsive as possible when people request information. Our attention to detail is another. I personally am still very involved [in the process]; whereas, a lot of people hand it off. I am usually the first and last one on the job. I try to set the example for my servers to show that. I don’t expect them to do anything I won’t do. We make the service very personalized and offer more natural presentations, making the food attractive.”
When we asked Connie about the Occasions Catering business mission, she told us:
“We give our customers more than they expect, and we give the customer a stress-free experience. We let our customers know that, when they work with us, they are handing it over to someone they can trust and who knows what they are doing. [We are] experienced professionals.”
Building Success Through The Years
Occasions Catering has earned a fantastic reputation, so we asked Connie how they have managed to grow their business and get their name out.
“I think the secret to a strong online presence is the same secret to having a good reputation before the internet — you can’t let your guard down! As an entrepreneur, it’s important to be available, be seen, and be responsive. Of course, it’s good to set personal limits and take mental health time for yourself, but the most successful entrepreneurs are the ones who make themselves available to clients, attend community events, and respond to inquiries the same day. When it comes to reviews and accolades online, it certainly doesn’t hurt to ask for them, but you also have to earn them. We work to give every customer more than they expect and create rave reviews.”
In addition to building the kind of online reputation that any small business would envy, Occasions Catering has spread the word about who they are and what they do by finding ways to stay involved in the community. Connie told us that she started her business from her home kitchen in 1984, when her kids were babies. She had no marketing budget and no plan, but she started to read books about guerilla marketing, have interactive cocktail parties with the community, and participate in fundraisers. Her success started to grow from there.
There are many businesses out there that are looking to build as impressive a reputation as Occasions Catering has managed to. We asked if Connie could share any expert advice with these companies. Here’s what she had to say:
“One thing is to believe in yourself and have the faith to hang in there for the long haul. There were times I didn’t think I could make a living doing this. I feel like I am not tuned into the online presence as I should be, but if you can’t, hire someone who can. Recognize your own strengths and weaknesses, and fill-in with others who may be better at certain things.”
Connie ended our chat with these lovely words of gratitude:
“Thank you to my family and team members! I couldn’t do all of this if it was just me. It really does take a village, and there are so many different aspects to what we do. I really do depend on, and I am very grateful for, the entire team.”
Congratulations to Occasions Catering for being a 2019 Top Rated Local award winner, and special thanks to Connie for taking the time to speak with us!
