Subject: Renting Linen
Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2003 23:30:34 -0400 (EDT)
From: Tahloola@webtv.net (Anni M)

I was going to mail privately those who contacted me, but there's
something screwy going on with my e-mail.  So- sorry list- I'll have to
do it here.
     Renting linen is easy, and a good money maker.  You just need to
find a supplier that is right for you.  Many suppliers require that you
have a standing weekly order (I WISH!!) and they have the VERY best
prices.  The easiest was to go about getting a supplier is to A) call a
restaurant or hotel that you are aquainted with (they are of no
competition to you) or B) keep your eyes peeled- their trucks are
running around all over the place!!  (Seriously- you'll start noticing
them everywhere :)  
    Linen is great because there is no initial investment on your part.
You take the order, call it in to the linen company, they deliver it to
you, and then pick it up from you the following week.   The ones I have
worked with don't have any problem with delivering to your home.  Why
should they- it's a business.
     I pay 85¢ each for my 54 X 120's (for 6 or 8 foot oblong tables)
and rent them for $4,00.  That is the going rate in this area.  A person
can rent it elsewhere- we are all about the same price.  Any caterer or
party rental would be happy to rent you linen at a discount- but you can
bet your boots it won't be discounted $3.15!
    I would call a party store or caterer (as a "customer") and find out
what they charge for linen, and then charge accordingly.   Now the one
snag here is that there always seems to be a shortage of skirting- so I
bought my own to avoid the hassle.  you have to be careful who you buy
from.  I spent $1500 on skirts that were not the fabric I ordered, and
they wouldn't exchange them because they were "custom made'.  I now own
10 pain the the butt skirts that are impossible to keep wrinkle free.  I
got so sick of paying an arm and a leg to get them done, I went out and
bought the biggest washer and dryer you can put in your home so I could
do it myself. (which is actually kind of nice since I can do like 80
times as much in a load as I used to with my old set)
     Another snag is that the linen will only come in white.  You can
get colored- but it is ungodly expensive (my wholesale cost is like $7
on up PER tablecover) and you would have to go either through a caterer,
or linen company (not an industrial distributor like I use) to get it.
They won't deliver to you- most likely UPS it, and charge the freight
charges to you.  I had a gal get 8 perwinkle table cloths, and 30
napkins several months ago.  I made zero on it because I couldn't bring
myself to charge her the  $100-some-dollar rental price AND the $30
shipping charge on top of it.   What I do is rent white tablecovers and
skrts, and push the colored napkins.
    That's it.  Easy easy.   Good luck!
Anni McClung
Affordable Elegance PArty Supply
PS-Yes tina- we do candelabra, pillars, arches, columns, gazebos,
helium, trees, plants, catering and concession equip, AND tuxes