When you are starting out anew in the hotel or any hospitality business, the first thing that is taught is to make the guests, showing up at your hotel, feel at home. Providing great service and amenities during their short stay at the hotel will not only make their stay memorable but also enable them to prefer your hotel for any future trips. In addition, their word-of-mouth review of your service proves to be a great advertisement for your hotel.
Guests feel happy and comfortable only when they are given due care. That begins by providing branded soaps and shampoos as their quality itself speaks volume. One may think brand to be synonymous with high-class or fashion. But, that is not the case. Brand products are preferred for hotel supplies mainly because of their make. Such products do not contain any allergens and do not irritate skin on contact. The same can be said of the savouries supplied. The guests should not fall sick on eating them. Hence, ill-manufactured, low-cost, packed savouries have to be avoided at all costs. Attention to all these minute details plays a great role in elevating your hotel’s reputation. For these reasons, it is important to find a good supplier who supplies quality products at an affordable price.
Choosing the Right Supplier for Your Hotel Soaps and Shampoos
Suppliers are essential for any sort of business. Without the right kind of supplier, your business can go downhill. Suppliers can be categorized as:
#1. Manufacturers: Manufacturers are those who produce the products. They also act as suppliers and supply products from their own warehouse to clients directly. The price offered is comparatively lower than the market available one. You can approach the companies but note that only bulk orders are accepted.
#2. Distributors: They are also referred to as brokers or wholesalers. They tend to buy goods from different manufacturers and other warehouses in order to sell to retailers, as a middleman.
#3. Independent Craftspeople: If you plan to support your local artisans, you can very well do so by buying handcrafted soaps and shampoos for your hotel. The mini versions that you keep in the bathroom might entice your guests, and they will want to buy the full-sized products later on. This is a complete win-win situation for the independent craftspeople and your business!
#4. Import Sources: If you are looking to provide exotic products to your guests, you can do so by choosing a domestic retailer who deals in foreign goods. As these are foreign goods, you can be easily misled and so it is very important to double-check such products. You can also take a connoisseur’s advice.
How to Find a Good Supplier for Hotel Soaps and Shampoos
It is true that many growing hotel businesses focus on one main trait of their suppliers and that is the price. Once quality is lost, it is useless to carry on the business in this industry. In other words, your entire business depends on the supplier and his products. There are certain factors, which should be considered while evaluating your vendors and suppliers.
#1. Location: The supplier must be closer to your place of business. This helps in two ways:
− There is no delay in delivering products due to transportation. This is particularly useful in the case of perishable goods.
− Any urgent requirement can be met immediately since the supplier can be contacted easily.
#2. Quality: Since the supplier is a local agent, his reputation will be well known. Also, it is easier for you to check with his other referrals to infer about his products. This inquiry is further supported by online reviews about his dealership.
#3. Cost: Based on the type of the supplier you are approaching; the rate of the products differs. Contacting manufacturers or wholesalers directly is the preferred choice. The rate fixed by them is less than the retail price, and you can strike a good bargain if you are placing bulk orders.
#4. Reliability: It is necessary to contact a supplier with good credibility. If the supplier practices fraudulent activities such as hoarding and supplies fewer quantities and different product than that bill, it is better not to have a contract with him.
Once a supplier has been decided and a contract is established, it is imperative for both parties to follow the clauses of the contract. Just as a supplier needs to supply quality products, you need to make the payments on time. No one will want to work with you if your payments are delayed.