Choosing the best commercial linen for your venue involves considering a few things.
Here are some steps to help you make an informed decision.
1. Figure out what you need:
Think about your place. Is it a restaurant? Hotel? Both? Self-catering? Decide what kind of linens you’ll need, like tablecloths, napkins, bed linens, spa robes. Consider the style and fabric quality that match your vibe.
2. Count ’em up:
Work out how many sets of the things you’ll need. How many beds do you have? How many covers? A general rule of thumb is to have 1 set ‘live’ and 1 set in storage. Ideally, your stored set remains as complete as possible, without over-ordering as there should be no need and it just costs you money. The industry lingo for 1 set of everything is a ‘par’. Not to be confused with the golf term, hehe! Check out How much commercial linen should I order? for more info on calculating linen levels.
3. Cotton or polyester?
Linens come in all sorts of materials. You’ve got cotton, polyester, linen, and blends. Think about what’s important to you: durability, stain resistance, easy upkeep, or comfort? You’ll want a linen that can handle lots of washes and still look good. A commercial linen hire supplier will offer linens that do just that. For beds, cotton mixes are best. If you’ve got a restaurant, cotton tablecloths look great but crease easily, so polyester tablecloths are ideal as they can be laid out in half the time with no ironing needed and still look good.
You might consider using a polyester tablecloth and a cotton napkin. Efficiently elegant!
4. Go white:
Simple, elegant and crisp white is most guests’ preferences and what commercial laundry and linen services suppliers will offer. Fancy injecting some colour into your space? Introduce it through soft furnishings such as the cushions, throws and curtains instead.
5. Toughen up:
Commercial linens need to be durable. Look for sturdy seams, strong stitching, and a thread count that suits your needs. Go for quality – 200 thread count bedding is finer and smoother than 130. A 600gsm towel is bulkier than 500gsm but it will feel great to a guest and will last (if not stolen or misused!). Check out product reviews and ask around for recommendations to find out which suppliers have the best quality. If Shortridge isn’t one of them, we’ll eat our hats.
6. Look after it!
A commercial laundry and linen hire service will make sure the linen chosen for your venue is of good quality. It will be made to stand being washed thoroughly time after time. But! Keeping your hired laundry in good nick though is important – for your pocket, for the commercial launderer and the planet.
7. Watch your wallet:
Set a budget for hiring and maintaining the linens and delivery. Cost matters, but don’t skimp on quality. Invest in linens that can handle the demands of your place and give off the vibe your guests are after.
8. Get recommendations and compare:
Talk to other people in the industry, your colleagues, and fellow venue owners. Ask them where they hire their linens from and get a recommendation. Look into different suppliers, compare prices, delivery options, and customer service. Make an informed choice for your place.
And, if Shortridge isn’t on that list, let us know so we can go cry in a corner wondering why after 178 years of doing this, we’ve not made it yet. 😉
By following these steps and considering what works best for your venue, you’ll find the perfect linen to make your place look great, fit your budget and please your guests.
