Buying loose in your rental: the eco-friendly gesture!
How and why should you offer package-free, loose ingredients in your rental?
Buying loose is becoming more and more mainstream. Above all, it is increasingly accessible on a personal level. So why not bring this everyday habit into your rental too?
What can I buy loose?
The great thing about buying loose these days is that you can buy ANYTHING this way. And there are more and more shops offering it. Our favourite, because we find everything we are looking for there, is Day by Day.
To meet the needs of your guests, and your own when it comes to cleaning in particular, here is what you can buy:
- Coffee, tea, a few biscuits, sugar, salt and pepper, some dried fruit and nuts...
- Washing-up liquid, hand gel...
- Dishwasher liquid, laundry detergent...
- Wooden brushes for vegetables, for cleaning...
To go 100% of the way, you can take your own containers along: either glass jars directly, though be warned, they are heavy, or fabric or plastic bags. For cleaning products, simply take your empty bottles with you!
How do I let people know?
The simplest way to encourage your guests to do the same, or to let them know that you buy loose, is still to tell them in person. But with the excitement of check-in and the tiredness of the journey, some may well forget.
That is why our digital welcome book will come in very handy for adding a short paragraph about this green gesture of yours. With our welcome book, you can also negotiate a discount for your guests with your local shopkeeper, and that is the really good idea! Thanks to you, they will be able to do their shopping for less. And there you have it: your rental is now a little greener! And thanks to you, some guests may even convert to buying loose themselves, who knows?
Here's what you can buy in bulk and how to communicate it to your guests.
| Category | What you buy | How to communicate it |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome | Coffee, tea, biscuits, sugar, salt, pepper, dried fruits | Verbal on arrival or digital welcome book |
| Household | Dishwashing liquid, hand gel, laundry detergent, dishwasher liquid | Paragraph in the digital welcome book |
| Accessories | Wooden brushes for vegetables and cleaning | Information verbally or in the welcome book |
| Containers to bring | Glass jars (heavy) or fabric/plastic bags; empty bottles for household products | To note when visiting the store |
| Guest advantage | Information + negotiated discount at the merchant | Digital welcome book: guests keep it throughout their stay |
Frequently asked questions
What can I buy in bulk for my rental? Just about everything, and that is what has changed in recent years. For your guests, think coffee, tea, a few biscuits, sugar, salt and pepper, dried fruit. For housekeeping, washing-up liquid, hand soap, dishwasher liquid, laundry detergent, and wooden brushes for vegetables or cleaning.
Do I really need to bring my own containers? That is what makes the whole thing consistent. Glass jars work perfectly well, but be warned: they are heavy to carry. Fabric or plastic bags do the job for dry goods, and for cleaning products, simply take your empty bottles along.
Where do I find a bulk store? There are more and more of them, and they are increasingly easy to reach, including for your own shopping. Our favourite is still Day by Day, because we find everything we are looking for in a single trip.
How do I let my guests know that I shop in bulk? The simplest way is still to tell them when they arrive. Except that between the excitement of arriving and the tiredness of the journey, the message gets lost. A short paragraph in your digital welcome book keeps it available for the whole stay, right when they are planning their shopping.
Can I get a discount for my guests? That is the really good idea here. With your welcome book, you can negotiate a discount with your shopkeeper and pass it on to your guests. They shop for less thanks to you, and some may well leave converted to buying in bulk.
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