InTents IDEA Book 2023 - 30

tents | linens
KEEPING IT CLEAN
C
leaning linens can be an arduous task, and one
that is growing increasingly expensive. As a result,
companies are being creative in keeping cleaning costs
affordable. " We now wash fi rst and then spot clean after
only if a second wash is needed, " says Mitchell Bluethman,
general manager at Jomar Table Linens. " We formerly did
the opposite. This saves chemicals, water, labor, etc., all of
which make laundry very expensive. "
Choice Party Linens Inc. launders its own linens and
linens for some of its customers in-house.
" We use hot water and, believe it or not, sometimes we use
Simple Green®
. Also, always use a water softener. It will save
you money in chemical costs, " says Michelle Harris, business
development manager at Choice Party Linens.
A-1 Tablecloth also does all of its cleaning in-house. One
tip Jimmy Onello, creative director at A-1 Tablecloth Co., often
shares with others in the industry-for diffi cult stains, use a
citrus-based degreaser.
" This can either be used as a spot treatment or in the wash
wheel, " Onello says. " It is safe for your linens and very effective. "
Industry challenges
Anyone who is importing inished goods
is unfortunately experiencing supply
chain issues, and the linen industry is no
exception. Visoky points out that the biggest
issue Liba Fabrics is facing is delays at
ports in the U.S.
" Containers are taking twice as long to
clear as they normally do. We are managing
this by ordering well in advance compared
to how we did before the pandemic, "
Visoky says.
Indeed, industry experts agree that
Consumers are embracing vibrant designs
and colors in linens that are appropriate
to the season. Floral designs, for example,
can easily be paired with solid napkins to
create a celebratory feel. Photo courtesy
of A-1 Tablecloth.
while the supply chain for fabric is better
than a year ago, it is still slower, historically
speaking.
" Anticipating client needs and requests
is harder than ever and requires purchasing
larger inventories, " Bluethman says.
" When you run out of a fabric or color, it
takes longer to receive new shipments. "
And while everyone is dealing with supply
chain issues in some way, A-1 Tablecloth
is currently holding a strong position
thanks in part to its deep inventory.
Furthermore, the company does all of its
manufacturing in-house in its factory in
New Jersey, which provides more lexibility
and a quick turnaround time.
" As far as tariffs and other increased
costs, we are trying to absorb as much as
30 intents IDEA book 2023
we can in an effort to weather the storm
in the hope things will come down a bit
and stabilize, " Onello says. " We have opted
to implement temporary surcharges
when needed as opposed to permanent
price changes. "
Companies are also dealing with increases
in material costs as inlation
ripples through those supply chains. Liba
Fabrics provides fabric to the majority
of the largest linen manufacturers in the
country, but their size has not insulated
them from rising costs.
" As a result, you might see the cost of
your inished linen increase, " Visoky says.
" On the positive side, freight prices are
going down, which is helping to alleviate
some of the issues that importers faced
in 2021. "
Onello adds that it's important for
event planners and rental companies
to determine what is most important to
their customer and organize the budget
accordingly. " Some people are more
interested in decor than food, others in
entertainment, " Onello says. " Be realistic
about what is truly the most important to
the client and go from there. "
Maura Keller is a freelance writer based
in Plymouth, Minn.
InTents IDEA Book 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of InTents IDEA Book 2023
