Buffet Hire is a business specializing in renting premium buffet and catering equipment for events.
Project Overview
Buffet Hire is an Australian event equipment rental service that required a fully customized WooCommerce-based system to manage their rental operations online. The primary goal was to deliver a seamless booking experience for customers, while ensuring business security through damage deposit pre-authorizations and accurate rental logistics. Recent updates focused on enhancing product visibility, refining user experience, and improving backend flexibility for the business.
My role
I led the end-to-end development and ongoing enhancement of the booking system. This included customizing WooCommerce to support rental workflows, integrating secure payment pre-authorizations, and designing a user-friendly interface from product browsing to checkout. In the latest phase, I implemented dynamic product displays, conditional related product logic, and refined layout behaviors to improve usability and conversion. I also ensured secure and spam-free communication by integrating a robust contact form solution.
Tools & Technologies Used
- WordPress & WooCommerce
- Custom CSS & Script
- Elementor for page design
- Bookings for WooCommerce Plugin
- Custom PHP hooks & filters
- WooCommerce Stripe Gateway (for pre-authorization holds)
- WPForms (for secure contact form handling)
Challenges & Solutions
- Email Customization: WooCommerce’s default emails lacked essential booking details. I added custom fields and redesigned templates to include pickup instructions, addresses, and rental specifics.
- Address Privacy: To protect the business, I configured WooCommerce to show only a general pickup location at checkout, revealing the full address post-confirmation.
- Deposit Handling: I integrated WooCommerce Stripe Gateway to support pre-authorization holds for damage deposits, avoiding upfront charges while ensuring security.
- Dynamic Product Logic: I implemented conditional logic to display related products based on category, improving cross-sell opportunities and relevance.
- Secure Contact Form: I replaced the default form with a secure, spam-resistant solution to ensure reliable customer communication.
Results
The enhanced system now offers a polished and intuitive booking experience, with dynamic product suggestions, secure deposit handling, and automated confirmations. These updates have streamlined customer interactions, reduced manual admin work, and strengthened the business’s online presence. The site now reflects a more professional, scalable solution tailored to the unique needs of an equipment rental service.
Project Gallery
Project Name
Buffet Hire
Project Type
WooCommerce Website Design
Role
WordPress Development
Timeline
2025