Pain Points Of Ordering Bathroom Amenities

[Taylor143]

We are a beauty brand focusing heavily on the traveler. We've truncated as many bottles as possible into single-use, tear open towelettes to minimize liquid quantities, space, and limit spillage in transit. This line of skincare will coexists with a complete line of TSA size-approved body and hair products; all available directly to the consumer via our website as well as low minimum wholesale to boutique hotels and Airbnb hosts.

We are launching in September and before we do we want to make sure we provide the best possible experience for you as our potential partners. If you have a spare moment we'd love your response to the following.

1. Do you find it hard to purchase bathroom amenities that your guests like?

2. Have you tried working with a distributor whose minimums are too high for you to meet?

3. Would access to analytics and purchasing history help you in your planning and organization?

4. What's your biggest pain point in the process of you ordering products currently?

Thank you!

[Alexandra316]

1) No, I use a hotel supplier with low minimum order quantities (50 pieces of each amenity minimum). They specifically have quantities that appeal to Airbnbs and smaller businesses. 

2) No, see above. 

3) Probably not: with my small Airbnb business it's fairly easy to see when I'm running low. I have two properties.

4) Quality and appearance of the amenities is lacking: I would like something a little nicer. The ones I buy aren't bad, but there is room for improvement. My supplier used to carry Aveda, but they're no longer doing that. I tried contacting more boutique places, but the prices were either massively overbudget or I wasn't happy with responsiveness. 

[Taylor143]

@Alexandra316 thanks for the response! That makes much sense!  Seems your pain point is finding quality amenities at competitive prices and stellar customer service. The trifecta. 🙂

[Jess78]

My pain point is keeping toileties afforadle for hosts, high quality/luxury feeling for guests, AND mostly importantly for me persoanlly eco-friendly. As such, I do not use single use plastics as toiletires. It is listed as an "eco-home". I refill large pump containers that stay at the rentals.

Personally, the airbnb rates have been driven so low by compeition in the area that I cannot afford to go to high-end products even though I'd love to do that. Margins are thin these days, so your company would gain my business by putting together some kind of "package" of toiletries and being up front about the per-guest cost of each package.

I offer make up remover (must-have to save my white linens) , q-tips, conditioner, body wash, and shampoo.

[Taylor143]

@Jess78 Thanks for the response. Good to know. Our single use products are packaged in compostable sugarcane fiber instead of plastic. But I am hearing that larger options are a priority and will keep that in mind. Thanks again!!

[Sandra126]

I don't use any single use products. Refillable only for eco reasons.

[Sarah977]

@Taylor143  What's painful is seeing people in this day and age so unconcerned about the environmental impact of single-use products that they think it's just fine to promote them. 

[Taylor143]

@Sarah977  and @Sandra126 I agree! that's why our company is using sugar cane fibers instead of plastic. Companies should do better. One of our values is we give a sh*t. We prioritize chemical-free ingredients and environmentally-safe packaging whenever possible. Being green is a given, not our selling point. 

I'm glad to hear that is a pain point we're able to address!

[Mark116]

@Taylor143  That's good to know, I would think the packaging being compostable would be a huge selling point. 

For us, we get our toiletry products from Trader Joe's [shampoo/conditioner/soap] in regular size bottles, and we use Crabtree & Evelyn or Body Shop shower gel and body lotion which we buy in the largest possible bottles [from Marshall's so about 1/3 of the seller's price]  and random selections of bar soap that we find in various stores, for environmental reasons and because then the guests won't perceive they are there for the taking.  I might, stress, might, consider single use if they were compostable, but our system works pretty well as it is, the only challenge is that Marshall's gets things in at random so it's sometimes difficult to find the stuff in the scents we like.

[Taylor143]

@Mark116 Thanks! We didn't want to sound like another gimmicky brand making money off of the green movement, but we are definitely reconsidering leading with that to avoid any confusion. 

[Mark116]

@Taylor143  I can see that, but if you really are selling compostable containers, then that is a legit selling point, because as you can see, some people will immediately say no to single use because of the plastic issues.  It may not be your number one message, but should definitely be clear to any prospective buyers.  Good luck!