Back-to-Business: Is Your Linen Program Ready for the Busy Season?

Fall is right around the corner, which means many Michigan businesses are heading into one of their busiest times of the year. Restaurants are preparing for events and holiday traffic, hotels are getting ready for increased bookings, and healthcare facilities may see changes in patient volume as seasonal illnesses pick up.

Before things get busy, it is worth taking a closer look at your linen program. A little planning now can help prevent shortages and last-minute problems when your team has the most on its plate.

Take a Look at Your Linen Inventory

Start by looking at what you are using now and how that compares to your expected demand in the coming months.

If your restaurant typically goes through more towels and napkins(opens in new tab) during the holiday season, or your healthcare facility(opens in new tab) sees higher linen usage during the winter, make sure your current inventory can keep up. The same goes for hotels preparing for higher occupancy and more frequent room turnover.

Looking at past usage can give you a good starting point. It can also reveal products that consistently run low during your busiest periods.

Do You Have Enough Service to Keep Up?

Inventory is only part of the equation. Your delivery schedule matters too.

If your business has grown, added employees, increased production, or experienced a change in customer volume since your current service program was established, it may be time to reevaluate your delivery frequency and product quantities.

The goal is to have enough clean products available without having to constantly monitor what is coming back from the laundry or worry about whether you will have enough for tomorrow.

Do Not Wait Until You Have a Shortage

A linen shortage is especially frustrating when it could have been prevented with a little planning.

Before the busy season begins, talk with your linen provider about upcoming changes in demand, special events, seasonal schedules, or anything else that could affect your normal usage. Giving your provider advance notice allows more time to plan for additional inventory or make service adjustments.

It is much easier to prepare before demand increases than to try to fix a shortage once you are already in the middle of a busy week.

Is Your Current Program Still Working for You?

The start of a new busy season is also a good opportunity to ask a simple question: Is our linen service still meeting the needs of our business?

If you are regularly running short on certain products, dealing with inconsistent deliveries, or spending too much time managing your linen inventory, those are signs that your current program may need a closer look.

Your linen service should(opens in new tab) support your operation, not create another problem for your team to manage.

Get Ready Before the Rush

At Valley City Linen, we work with businesses across Michigan(opens in new tab) to provide dependable linen, towel, uniform, mat, and facility service. We understand that demand can change throughout the year, and we work with our customers to make sure their service keeps pace with their operation.

If you are preparing for a busy fall and winter season, now is a good time to review your linen program. 

Contact Valley City Linen(opens in new tab) to talk through your current service and make sure you are ready for what is ahead.