19 Feb How To Buy Toilet Paper In Bulk In 5 Easy Steps
Step 1. Considerations in terms of set up
In step one we have to look at what type of business or commercial premises you have, we also need to take a deeper look into the type of customer you are and what expectations your customers have when they visit your washrooms and the style and type of facilities they expect when visiting your business, office, school etc.
The common practice for purchasing sanitary products is bulk buying. Just what do we mean when we say bulk buying? Do we mean simply that we place a large order? Well lets take a deeper dive into it.
After deciding on the type of paper you would like your customers to use, it is at this point that you need to look at the type, finish and style of the paper dispensers you would like in place. Common questions are do we use plastic, stainless steel dispensers and where to locate them, what type of toilet paper do we use..
The most common question we have come across in the sales process is, how can we match our current setup with new paper types or indeed an upgrade to dispensers, how much does this cost.
Step 2: Dispenser types
When choosing dispenser systems it is best practice to decide firstly what style or finish is required for the building or washrooms. This can vary from modular white plastic to brushed stainless steel, and can also vary in colours to suit almost any environment.
The two most common types used in commercial settings are:
- Smart one toilet roll dispenser
- Bulk fill toilet roll dispenser
When looking into the smart one dispenser you will find that the dispenser is designed with one thing in mind, saving money. The system comes with a single or double-loaded chamber to receive 1 roll or 2 rolls of paper.
Firstly you remove the core of the roll, load the dispenser, retain the locking key in a safe place and feed the paper through the unit. The system as the name suggests is designed to deliver one sheet of paper at a time. After feeding a sheet or 2 through you lock the unit with a click and the system is ready to use.
If you have ever entered into a washroom and seen a dispenser where it gives a sheet at a time but also has the means to deliver sheets in a clump, this is an older fashioned bulk fill dispenser.
Simply put it is like a napkin dispenser on its side. This system offers cheaper paper but is in our opinion more likely to cost you more money in the long run.
We will take a look in step 4 into the differences between branded paper products and non-branded toilet papers and hand towels. Is there a difference other than cost?
Step 3: Hand soap dispensers
One very important point when choosing a hygiene supplier is to test the quality of handwash liquids or lotions. Do you require a foaming product, one that also saves money, when considering the end-use cost of everyday use.
Dispensers for liquid soaps and lotions normally come in 2 formats, bulk fill and pouch loaded or cartridge systems.
When using bulk fill soaps and lotions they are just as the name describes, a free pour of a chemical into a filling chamber, simply close the unit and place the lock key in a safe place and the customer is free to use.
Pouch systems are beneficial in terms of ease of storage, but can often leave a usable amount of soap in the pouch which cannot be dispensed correctly.
Pouch systems like cartridge systems mean that you as a customer are tied into a contract or agreement of sorts in terms of having to use this product and this product alone.
Meaning if your current supplier decided to discontinue or they stop selling this brand it will leave you in a situation where your dispensers cannot be filled and must be replaced.
Automatic dispensers:
A fantastic way to dispense liquids and foams into the hand. With the onset of covid and the reluctance of the general public to touch things, especially in public.
The one major drawback when using this system is a warranty and the reliability of the internal mechanism. Simply put automatic dispensers are not all made equally. Most offer a 12-month warranty, but let’s be honest have you ever tried to return an item to china.??
We have seen a huge rise in faulty units, units dripping onto the floor damaging tiles and carpets and units clogging with alcohol-based hand sanitizer or worse still corrosion from alcohol-based liquids or gels.
The best system from reliability and economy-based viewpoint is a foaming dispenser. Depending on the dosing adjustability within the unit a customer can see a saving end-use cost of 40% with foaming hand soaps and hand sanitizers.
Ward hygiene’s top tip, use 1. Manual foaming dispensers with bulk fill liquids.
Step 4: Branded or non-branded paper supplies
When we speak with clients, sometimes we visit them in their business setting and find they were fitted out by the bigger paper and washroom suppliers with branded consumables such as Torc, Lucart, Kimberley Clark etc.
The systems these companies provide are indeed very good, generally very reliable and quite often free on loan, wait did I say free on loan? Yes but that is a loaded statement.
These companies will offer their customers a range of fancy dispensers free on loan generally on contract and then they supply the paper and hand towels etc at an inflated price, to put it in comparison, it is like the phone company model, we offer a free phone but my world do you pay for it over a 24-month contract or something similar.
As the old saying goes if it sounds too good to be true it generally is, to that end, it is best to pay for the dispenser upfront and negotiate a better price on the paper itself or at the very at least do or have your proposed supplier do a cost analysis for you on exactly just what you’re getting in terms of sheets per roll, meters per roll, 1ply or 2 ply paper, virgin paper etc.
So often we come across a situation just like a school we recently signed up who were paying 40% extra for the exact like for like toilet roll and hand towel papers.
This contract has saved them in excess of €3000.00 per annum even after installing over €1000.00 worth of new dispensers. So it really does make sense to shop around. A little time and energy in the right areas of your business can save a small fortune.
Step 5: Environmental impact and sustainability
Making sustainable choices is very much a part of life these days. We all have a role to play, excuse the pun when buying toilet rolls and hand towels. Surely the bottom line is not just the only consideration for the masses?
Well, hopefully not and there are certain criteria to meet to be considered green, eco, sustainable, or biodegradable. You can find out from your supplier if it is an important factor or core principle of your company to only deal with a sustainable supplier.
Looking at Kimberley Clark as an example as they are one of the global leaders in toilet roll manufacturing the stats aren’t that great for the planet.
The proportion of recycled wood pulp used by the company has fallen over the years. In 2011, just under 30% of the total fibre used was recycled, but by 2017 this figure had fallen to 23.5%. Its popular Andrex brand used to offer a recycled/bamboo range but this was discontinued in 2015.
Let’s hope that market leaders around the world continue to strive for a greener future. But at the same time, we need to be realistic, it,s not looking great for the trees.