7 Things To Know Before Buying Wholesale Hotel Supplies

Lower costs and better results

A small bed and breakfast may be able to get by with buying supplies here and there as needed, but searching for wholesale hotel supplies is an everyday business reality for large hospitality organizations.

At Walmart Business, we understand you’re always looking for ways to improve guest satisfaction while maintaining a healthy bottom line. That’s why we’ve assembled this list to keep in mind as you refine your approach to buying hotel supplies wholesale.

1. Look into supplier reputation

Hospitality businesses thrive by building solid reputations. You work hard to earn positive reviews for your business, and you should hold the wholesale hotel supply vendors you work with to the same high standards.

One of the best ways to get a feel for a potential partner’s reputation is to consult your network of hospitality professionals. Whether you’re calling up references, visiting a conference or catching up with colleagues over coffee, these are good opportunities (and mutually beneficial) to compare notes.

Pay special attention to any names that come up repeatedly and you’ll end up with a solid list of candidates to investigate—or avoid.

2. Focus on your guests 

You know the types of guests your business caters to better than anyone. Creating a persona of the ideal guest can help you make the right purchasing decisions when searching for hotel wholesale supplies.

Use that persona to find places where you can exceed your guests’ expectations—say, by upgrading to 300-thread-count sheets—while sticking to your budget.

Don’t forget to solicit feedback from real-life clients and implement it as you choose wholesale hotel supplies. If guests regularly compliment the quality of your towels while complaining about unpleasant-smelling soap, you already have some great data points to use in your next order.

3. Be realistic about costs 

Some high-end, brand-name goods will make a big impact on guests. In other cases, it’s fine to opt for discount hotel supplies that perform just as well as their more expensive counterparts. The trick is learning the difference.

If your hotel has used a certain product for a long time, don’t be afraid to mix things up and experiment. A/B testing is great for this: give three-quarters of your rooms your current product and the other quarter a more affordable alternative, then solicit guest feedback on how they liked it.

If the feedback isn’t noticeably different, you can start scaling up your use of the more affordable product with confidence.

4. Investigate product standards

You will receive damaged, misshapen or otherwise unusable hotel bulk supplies from time to time. Prioritize working with wholesalers who take a proactive approach to remedying these situations.

On a similar note, consider having staff occasionally perform quality checks on shipments of bulk hotel supplies, especially when working with a new vendor.  

5. Buy local when you can

Bringing in elements of local culture such as decorations or accent pieces is a classic way to set your hospitality business apart. Taking the same approach to buying hotel supplies wholesale can have a similar effect.

Using locally made products contributes to your business’s story; it can also save money on transportation expenses, improve your ecological footprint and contribute to your community.

While it likely won’t be practical for all of your wholesale hotel supplies, buying local for high-impact items can make a big difference.

6. Be consistent

You may have started by searching for specific kinds of hotel wholesale supplies, such as the cleaning products your housekeepers use. Don’t stop at just one category of product.

Apply the same framework to all the supplies your business purchases, especially those that have remained the same for years. This consistent approach is a great way to ensure each part of your guest experience remains up-to-date and competitive.

If you continually reassess your wholesale hotel supplies, measure them against your ideal guest persona and real-life aggregated feedback and then apply the results. It won’t take long for you—and your guests—to notice a positive difference.

7. Keep your supply change agile

Even the best plan for buying hotel supplies wholesale can’t account for everything. But you don’t have to let the unexpected throw you—or your busy employees—for a loop.

Sign up for Walmart Business+ and you’ll unlock free delivery* from your local store as well as free shipping**. You’ll earn 2% back on $250+ orders*** as you keep your daily essentials stocked and get access to limited-time savings from top brands. You’ll even be able to see how much you save with detailed data our Spend Analytics tool provides.

*Restrictions apply. Additional fee applies for Express delivery.

**Excludes Marketplace & oversized items, location & freight surcharges.

***Exclusions apply. See full terms for details.