In pictures

Explainer

Chart

Explainer

Volume discount off list, by pieces per line

In this article

Pool stock against dedicated stock
Why fewer lines earn more
A spec most hotels will accept
Two tiers, not ten
Sizes: the awkward part
Identifying your stock
Consistency is the whole point
Buying it

Short answer: pool stock is linen with no hotel's name on it, made to one spec, so the laundry can send any clean piece to any customer. It needs fewer pieces in total, simpler sorting and bigger, cheaper orders. The skill is choosing a spec good enough for your best customer and affordable for the rest.

Pool stock against dedicated stock

One spec, any customer

Pool stock

Sorted by item only

Lower total stock

Large orders per line

No stranded stock

One hotel's own

Dedicated stock

Sorted by item and customer

Each hotel has its own buffer

Small orders per line

Logo, colour, weight to order

	Pool stock	Dedicated stock
Who it belongs to	Any customer	One hotel
Sorting	By item only	By item and by customer
Total stock needed	Lower, peaks are shared	Higher, each hotel has its own buffer
Order size per line	Large	Small
Customisation	None	Logo, colour, weight
Risk if a customer leaves	None	Stranded stock

Why fewer lines earn more

Volume discount off list, by pieces per line

2,500 to 4,999 pieces15 to 20%

5,000 to 9,999 pieces22 to 27%

10,000 pieces and above30 to 35%

Every extra line is another stack in the store, another sort at the folding table and another small order at a higher price. Our volume curve shows the effect: 2,500 to 4,999 pieces earns 15 to 20 percent off list, while 10,000 pieces and above earns 30 to 35 percent. One line bought in volume beats four lines bought in small lots.

A spec most hotels will accept

Item	A workable pool spec
Bath towel	White, 70 x 140 cm, 500 to 550 GSM
Hand towel	White, 50 x 90 cm, same quality
Bath mat	White, 50 x 80 cm, heavier weave
Flat sheet	White, 200 to 300 thread count, percale or poly-cotton
Pillowcase	White, housewife style, same fabric
Duvet cover	White, plain, same fabric, button or bag closure

White with no pattern is the rule. A satin stripe or a border is a brand decision, and brands differ.

Two tiers, not ten

Most linen-hire companies end up with a standard range and a premium range. The premium towel is heavier and the premium sheet finer. Two tiers cover nearly every customer. More than that and you are back to dedicated stock by another name.

Sizes: the awkward part

Beds differ between hotels. To keep sheet sizes down:

Choose flat sheets generous enough for the deepest mattress in your customer base.
Use one king size that also serves queen beds.
Avoid fitted sheets in pool stock. They fit one mattress size only.

See sheet sizes that fit the bed.

Identifying your stock

Pool stock is brand-neutral for hotels but should still be yours. A woven tag or a coloured thread in the hem identifies it as your property and can carry a batch date. A date mark also lets you track how long each batch lasts.

Consistency is the whole point

If this year's towel is whiter or thicker than last year's, hotels receive mixed stacks and complain. Keep a retained sample from every batch and order against it. See how to make a reorder match and why laundries pay for consistency.

Buying it

Bed linen for pool stock is on our page for T250 and T300 hotel sheets. For UK operators, Indian linen enters at 0 percent duty under CETA. For EU operators, budget 12 percent.

To price a pool-stock range, send us your lines and yearly volumes.