bed and breakfast supplies

Flame Retardant and Room Darkening Curtains

InnStyle is proud to announce a new line of window treatments that are as decorative as they are room darkening and fire resistant. Firefend™ blends fire proofing with style and washing ease of care. The ignite-not™ thermal coating make these window treatments double as thermal blackout room darkening curtains that reduce outside light, noise and save you on your heating and cooling costs. Tested and certified by independent laboratories, Firefend™ meets standards set by the National Fire Protection Association.

Firefend™ Solid Color Panels – Back-Tab/Road-pocket is available in sizes including 44″x63″, 44″x84″ and 44″x95″.

Sound Asleep™ room-darkening curtains are the ultimate blend of fashion, function and design. The Thermaback technology applied to the curtain fabric blocks penetrating light, unwanted noise and helps to control heat and cooling loss. The draperies are made of a versatile, woven textured chenille fabric enhanced with light-blocking properties to help create the ultimate sleep environment.

Sound Asleep™ Window Panels is available in sizes including 42″x63″, 42”x84”, 42”x95” and 42”x108”. Backtab Window Valance and Rod Pocket Valance is 42”x18”. Panels and coordinating valances sold separately.

For questions, or to order these flame retardant curtains, please contact us or call us toll-free at 1-800-877-INNS (4667).

InnStyle Representative to Attend 2013 Innkeeping Leadership Week

The Professional Association of Innkeepers International (PAII), the group dedicated to the education, information, networking, advocacy, business opportunities and research relating to the innkeeping industry, will be hosting “Innkeeping Leadership Week” on
April 15 – 18, 2013, in Charleston, South Carolina.

PAII provides continuing education programs in many formats, the largest being the annual Innkeeping Conference & Tradeshow, where experienced innkeepers are challenged and new innkeepers brought up to speed at events featuring dozens of workshops, nationally known experts, and the industry’s largest trade show.

But learning extends far beyond the annual conference and include such opportunities as interactive Webinars; weekly and monthly e-newsletters; Innkeeping Quarterly (IQ) (the industry’s only magazine exclusively serving the needs of the professional innkeeping community); and a variety of areas on the Website (http://www.innkeeping.org/) most notably the Online Forums, which bring an invaluable interactive exchange that benefits both posters and readers alike.

2013 Innkeeping Leadership Week is another of the many and varied learning opportunities for innkeepers. The agenda of this event includes:

Monday, April 15th: 9:00am – 5:00pm – Key Leaders Retreat and Innkeeping Leadership Banquet – “Getting B&B Associations on the Right Track” – Workshop Facilitated by Bob Harris, 6:00pm – 7:00pm – Cocktail Hour, 7:00pm – 8:30pm - Innkeeping Leadership Banquet.
Tuesday April 16th: 9:00am – 5:00pm – Advisory Council Meeting (includes PAII board members), 6:30pm – Advisory Council and PAII Board Dinner
Wednesday April 17th: 9:00am – 12:00 pm – Advisory Council Meeting, 12:00pm – 5:00pm – PAII Board of Directors Meeting, 7:00pm+ – PAII Board Dinner
Thursday April 18th: 9:00am – 12:00pm - PAII Board of Directors Meeting

For information or to register visit http://www.innkeeping.org/event/leaders or contact Michele McVay at Michele@paii.org.

As part of the Advisory Council, InnStyle will be attending this event. InnStyle has been the source for innkeeper supplies and linens at wholesale pricing since 1952. Offering a wide variety of inn supplies including sheets, towels, blankets and much more.

Contact InnStyle for your fine linens and Personal Service at Wholesale Pricing. Or call 1-800-877-INNS (4667).

InnStyle To Be An Exhibitor At The Mid-Atlantic Innkeepers Trade Show and Conference

InnStyle is excited to announce that they will be participating as an exhibitor at the 6^th Annual Mid-Atlantic Innkeepers Trade Show and Conference. This event will be held from March 10^th – 12^th at the Hunt Valley Inn, Hunt Valley Maryland.

InnStyle is delighted to be named among the exhibitors of the 6^th Annual Mid-Atlantic Innkeepers Trade Show and Conference. This must-attend event is for new, seasoned and aspiring innkeepers from all over the eastern seaboard to exchange innovative ideas for their business – all while enjoying a refreshing time away at the Hunt Valley Inn outside of Baltimore, Maryland.

The 6th Annual Mid-Atlantic Innkeepers Trade Show and Conference is presented in cooperation with the West Virginia Bed & Breakfast Association, the Pennsylvania Association of Bed & Breakfast Inns, the Authentic Bed & Breakfasts of Lancaster County, the Empire State Bed & Breakfast Association, the Bed & Breakfast Association of Virginia, Preferred Inns of New Jersey, Select Registry and other state B&B Associations.

The trade show will showcase exhibitors with products and services specifically geared to owning, operating, managing, and marketing bed & breakfasts and country inns. The conference, featuring a wide variety of innkeeping courses and bed and breakfast seminars, will be the most comprehensive and affordable innkeeping conference in the entire Mid-Atlantic region.

InnStyle is a perfect fit at this event and offers a wide variety of B&B and country inn supplies and services, from institutional to designer quality, for the innkeeper and hotel manager. Customer attention and satisfaction is InnStyle’s hallmark. Its staff is exceptionally knowledgeable of the bed & breakfast industry and understands the products needed for a particular inn property. In addition, InnStyle offers its quality products at wholesale prices.

New at the tradeshow this year is a conference app, which is free and available through the iTunes App Store or, Android Market Place. Search for “Midatlantic Innkeepers” and click the download/install buttons to set it up. Participants can flag favorite sessions and begin to participate in many of the app features. There is a small registration step to participate in some of the app features, which requires email verification. As with any app download, Wi-Fi access is necessary.

InnStyle, a wholesale fine linens supplier for bed, bath and dining for the innkeeping industry, was established in 1952. A family business, it began by providing hotel fine linens to local bed and breakfasts, country inns and restaurants in their community. It expanded nationally when the need for innkeepers to purchase fashion at wholesale pricing became apparent. Over the years, InnStyle has expanded the product line to fulfill the needs of their customers who prefer “one stop shopping.”

Call a knowledgeable InnStyle representative at 800-877-4667 and ask about the B&B or inn startup list, or take the opportunity to have them assist you in furnishing your hotel or inn at wholesale prices.

InnStyle To Be An Exhibitor At The 2013 Innkeeping Show in Las Vegas

The wholesale fine linens supplier will assist hundreds of innkeepers and industry vendors at the most important conference and trade show in the innkeeping industry

InnStyle, a wholesale fine linens supplier for bed, bath and dining for the innkeeping industry, is proud to be participating at the 2013 Innkeeping Show, January 28-31, at the all new Tropicana in Las Vegas.

The Professional Association of Innkeepers International (PAII) hosts this Innkeeping Conference & Trade Show, which is the most important conference and trade show in the innkeeping industry.

The focus for the annual conference is to bring each innkeeper in attendance the very best selection of cutting edge education and tools available in the industry, as well as to help innkeepers and industry vendors to gain important insight and ideas to succeed in meeting and exceeding business goals. The PAII also provides attendees with much needed time and space to swap ideas with peers, and meet personally with the vendors such as InnStyle who provide much needed information on products and services.

The 2013 Innkeeping Show is the ultimate experience, with over 50 classes to choose from. Developed to allow innkeepers to spend a few days away from the inn in order to focus and get connected, or reconnected to the passion that drove innkeepers into this business. Additionally, innkeepers can save money as they shop and chat with exhibitors such as InnStyle!

InnStyle, a wholesale fine linens supplier for bed, bath and dining for the innkeeping industry, was established in 1952. A family business, InnStyle began by providing hotel fine linens to bed and breakfasts, country inns and restaurants in the local community. Over the years, InnStyle has expanded its product line to fulfill the needs of customers who prefer “one stop shopping”, carrying a wide product line on its website. Six sales staff members are dedicated to personally assisting customers, throughout the United States and Canada to the Virgin Islands, to find the items needed for their particular property.

Contact information:

TollFree:1-800-877-INNS / Phone:1-267-354-6020

info@innstyle.com
www.innstyle.com

Why should I use a mattress pad?

A mattress pad is designed to lie on top of a mattress. It can have an elasticized skirt that is placed over and around a mattress, similar to a bottom fitted sheet. Or it can have anchor bands at the corners that keep it in place.

A mattress pad serves several purposes:

It offers extra cushioning, enhancing the overall comfort of the mattress. You experience the added softness of a mattress pad, while not taking away from the support of the mattress.
It provides an added layer of warmth between the mattress and your body. In colder weather, or in well-air conditioned rooms, a mattress pad acts as insulation and helps keep you warm.
It acts as a buffer between the sheets and the mattress, helping protect against stains. An unprotected mattress can become stained very easily, even from natural perspiration.
It protects the integrity of the mattress, especially the stitching along the seams. A protected mattress will have a much longer useful life.

InnStyle carries a complete line of Mattress Pads at wholesale prices. Call us Toll Free at 1-800-877-INNS (4667). We offer Personal Service at Wholesale Prices.

SFERRA’s Easy-Care Table Linens: the Advantages of Ring-Spun Polyester Yarn

SFERRA, the preeminent supplier of fine Italian table linens, traces its roots back to the late 1800’s and the grand seaside resorts of the East Coast of the United States. Catering to the sophisticated tastes of a wealthy and discerning clientele, the very name SFERRA became synonymous with exquisite bedding, bath and table linens that reflect refinement and luxury– a deserving reputation which lasts to this day.

Sferra Orchard Tablecloth-Wholesale Fine Linens — Orchard Tablecloth

SFERRA continues its century-old tradition of excellence, capturing the elegance and beauty it is famous for in two styles of easy-care table linens, Orchard and Juliet. These styles grace table cloths, dinner and cocktail napkins, placemats and table runners.
Both styles are constructed of yarn-dyed woven jacquards using ring-spun polyester yarns (as opposed to open-end spun which is constructed more quickly and less expensively but yields a lesser-quality yarn). The ring-spun polyester yarns used to create both the Orchard and Juliet styles take five times longer to manufacture, and results in significantly stronger and softer fabric. Other benefits of ring-spun yarns over lesser quality open end yarns include:

Superior soil release properties
Greater resistance to fading and discoloration
Twice the tensile (i.e. capability of stretching) strength
Higher abrasion resistance and durability
Lower pilling propensity
Improved wrinkle resistance
Enhanced color retention
Lighter weight fabric with a more luxurious and natural drape

Sferra Fine Linens for the Hospitality Industry — Juliet Tablecloth

Ostensibly, the only difference between the Orchard and Juliet styles is aesthetics. The Juliet is comprised of elegant lattice pattern that comes in Fern, Ocean, Persimmon, Taupe and White.

The Orchard boasts graceful scroll work and comes in Butter, Cinnabar, Ivory and White.

Unlike the debonair sophisticates that first enjoyed the luxury of SFERRA linens over a century ago, today’s discriminating consumer has the capability to research for themselves, and make an informed decision, about the investment in quality that SFERRA represents.

View our large selection of fine table linens – many styles, fabrics, sizes and colors available. Or call us Toll Free: 1-800-877-INNS (4667).

Choosing Bedding for Use in a Bed and Breakfast Need Not Evoke Angst

With so many choices available when purchasing bedding for the bed and breakfast or hospitality industry, it can feel overwhelming to the point of complete brain-melt down, thus contributing to a case of decision-avoidance-syndrome. Buying bedding need not be such a drama-inducing experience however, as long as one adheres to a few simple and basic bedding caveats.

At first blush, “loft” seems like bedding industry specific term meaning, well… I didn’t quite frankly know. Loft, I’ve come to discover however, is not such a mystery after all and simply refers to the quality, aka “fill power”, of the down products used in bedding stuffing. For example, a down comforter that possesses fluffy masses of high quality down, with comparably fewer ounces of inferior quality types of down, is said to have high “fill power”, otherwise known as “loft”. This higher quality comforter is subsequently lighter and warmer than an inferior comforter with less fill power.
When deciding on a blanket purchase, one needs to be clear about the intended use of the blanket. For example, for use in the summer months choose among easy-to-care-for cotton or thermal varieties. These types allow air to pass through and are more comfortable for the warm-weather guest. For cooler weather, the finest-quality and warmest choice would be merino wool. Synthetic blankets on the other hand are less expensive, easier to wash, and are non-allergenic–but offers less in terms of warmth.
Flannel notoriously shrinks. When purchasing flannel sheets, make sure the label indicates it has been pre-shrunk. Otherwise, unless your mattresses go on a diet, the sheets will cease to fit over time.
For the crafty inn keeper, avoid the expense of purchasing a fancy duvet cover by easily making your own. Purchase two flat sheets and simply sew them together on three sides (inside-out, of course!). Sew grommets into the forth side and complete the look by enclosing the comforter with decorative ribbon. Viola! You have created an inexpensive, practical and easy to maintain duvet cover your customers will notice and appreciate.
When filling a decorative sham, buy an inexpensive queen-size pillow. The result is a decadently over-stuffed sham, with an aesthetic quality that only looks expensive.

When purchasing hospitality supplies in general, and bed and breakfast supplies specifically, there are purchases that you must splurge on, and purchases that you can skimp on. The trick is to understand how these decisions will impact the comfort and satisfaction of the inn customer, which ultimately impacts the comfort and satisfaction of your wallet.

For more information on our bedding or any other wholesale supplies we offer, please contact us at 267-354-6020 or toll-free at 1-800-877-INNS (4667).

Bed Bug Protection and the Bed and Breakfast Supplies Industry

Warning: This Post Is Not For The Squeamish

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania has much to be proud of.

It is a unique city comprised of neighborhoods, each with its own identity. The quality of life is affordable. Sports fans are the most fiercely loyal (and unabashedly honest) in the country. Several of the nation’s finest colleges and universities calls Philadelphia home. The art and music scene is world-class. There are countless fine-dining experiences and even more amazing neighborhood restaurants and cool diners to satisfy any palate.

Hoagies. Cheesesteaks. Pretzels.

And then there’s the history. It goes without saying.

However, Philadelphia has just been bestowed a rather dubious “honor”, overtaking New York City, as being the most bed bug infested city in the nation, according to pest control giant, Terminix. Miami, Houston, Dallas, San Francisco and Washington DC have also been named as cities with a growing bed bug infestation problem.

In Philadelphia, as well as across the country, the rampant bed bug issue has become a major source of concern for the hospitality industry. Once eliminated by the use of DDT (which was banned for use in the US in 1972), bug bed infestation has grown steadily due to greater international travel, the use of non-effective treatments to which the pests have now become resistant, and a general disregard of the advancing epidemic over the years.

InnStyle, the source for innkeeper supplies and linens since 1952, offers many solutions to the bed and breakfast and the hospitality industry. For example, InnStyle carries products to enclose and defend vulnerable soft surfaces from the pests, such as mattress and box spring encasement, anti bed bug sheets and pillow protectors. InnStyle also carries Rest Easy Bug Spray, an environmentally green and all-natural product proven to kill bed bugs and prevent infestation. It is easy for hospitality staff to use and has a natural cinnamon scent.

InnStyle also offers tips on how to defend the hospitality property from this bed bug epidemic. Please visit their website to take advantage of this helpful tip sheet at: https://www.innstyle.com/images/BEDBUGSmay609.pdf.

With diligent attention and protective products from InnStyle, the hospitality property or bed and breakfast proprietor need not fear that these pests will negatively impact their business.

Even in Philly.

Contact InnStyle for more information on how to protect your property with Bed Bug Protection – Call us at 800-877-INNS (4667)

Pilling Got You Down? Consider Percale

Percale is defined as a fine woven cotton cloth, used primarily for sheets and industrial uses, has 17th century French origins (ooh la la!). The word itself is believed to be derived from the Persian pargālah, meaning rag.

Why is percale weave, such as Grande Hotel, Orlo, Celeste or Sereno, a good choice for customers who yearn for the smooth, sleek feel of pill-fee sheets? The answer is simple, if one has just a little education on the nature of fabric. It is a common, yet mistaken belief that the answer relates to the fabric content (i.e. cotton, polyester or a blend thereof). Not true. Rather, the solution is hidden deep in the core construction of the fabric and in the length of the fibers themselves. Simply put, the longer the fabric (known in the industry as long staple) and the tighter the twist of the yarn, the more resistant to pilling.

Here’s why:
Pilling occurs when fibers in the fabric break, tangle, and “ball up.” The shorter the fibers used in the fabric, the more likely the chance for breakage, leading to tangling and inevitably to pilling. The shorter and more brittle the fiber, the more breakage (pilling) will occur.

And what exactly causes fiber to break and getting intertwined in itself? In the case of lesser quality sheet (i.e. that which is constructed with short, brittle fibers) the simple act of using the sheets as intended, that is sleeping, causes fibers to snap, twist and pill. As an individual sleeps, the predictable act of tossing, turning and moving against the short, weak fibers creates friction which, over time, causes fibers to break. This is why fitted sheets tend to pill more heavily at the foot of the bed, the very place where the most abrasive and recurrent movement occurs.

It should be noted that even high quality sheets, such as Sferra’s fine linens, can pill without given correct care. Sferra uses only long staple (long length) fibers; however, even the finest of fabrics can pill without proper handling and laundering. The most common “abuse” such fine linens endure is the use of chlorine bleach and excessive fabric softener (which can weaken the fibers), followed by drying at high heat levels (which can cause fibers to break). Weakening + Breakage = Pilling.

Fine linens must be handled like the investment that they are by following the prescribed care instructions. For the care of Sferra’s fine linens, we recommend a short wash cycle with gentle detergent. Then, use a low-heat setting during the drying cycle and remove the bedding while still slightly damp. Please take note that even the agitation of the washing machine or the tumbling of the dryer can cause breakage, so never overfill the washer or dryer to avoid additional friction during these cycles. Also, avoid laundering your sheets with other items, such as towels, for the high nap on a towel may cause a breakdown of the cotton fibers. To be safe, launder sheets separately.

Your fine linens will give you years of satisfactory, sleek, smooth use by following a few simple rules. Although its origins maybe in the word “rag”, if handled correctly, your fine percale linens will not be reduced to such a state. Even the most discerning Persian would agree.

For more information on our cotton Percale sheets or our best selling 600 thread count ‘wrinkle free’ sheets please contact us at 267-354-6020 or toll-free at 1-800-877-INNS (4667).

Why Fabric Softener is Not Recommended for Use in the Hospitality Industry

Fabric softener is a conditioner, made of oils, waxes and fragrances, designed to coat fibers with a thin layer of chemicals, making fabric softer to the touch and preventing static cling. In use since the 1930’s, the demand for fabric softener increased dramatically in the 1950’s with the introduction of synthetic fibers and detergents, as well as the modern washing and drying machines. The result of these advances was clean but scratchy fabrics that were less than appealing to wear, or in the case of sheets, sleep between.

Although popular for home use, Fabric softeners may not be a good choice in the hospitality industry. The build-up of chemicals left behind by repeated use of fabric softener can damage the fabric, causing yellowing and reducing the absorbency of towels. Most good quality all-cotton towels do not need to be treated with fabric softener and with repeated washings and dryings, will become softer naturally.

The chemical build-up of fabric softener also clogs the pores of Egyptian cotton sheets, preventing them from breathing, thus decreasing the luster and gloss that customers come to expect when staying at a quality hotel or bed and breakfast. Like towels, sheets will become softer with repeated laundering without the assistance of the clogging, water-repelling residue found in fabric softeners.

One way to expedite the softening process of towels and sheets, without resorting chemical agents, which is often highly scented and thus toxic to many sensitive customers, is to “beat” your laundering despair away – literally. Plastic dryer balls, available to purchase through distributors that provide bed and breakfast supplies, wholesale hotel supplies and hospitality supplies (or in most large chain stores), are a perfect alternative. These balls pummel the fabric while in the drying process, increasing fluffiness and reducing static cling as it tumbles.

Another excellent method to soften clothes without commercial fabric softener is using 1/8-1/4 cup vinegar in the last rinse…it softens and leaves linens fresh without any scent or fragrance as it removes any detergent left in the laundry.