Why Hotel Managers May Need Anti-theft Hangers
Posted on August 29th, 2010 in Product Reviews, Technology | No Comments »
Any big chain of hotels knows that stealing cuts sharply into the profits of their business. With small penalties for attempting to steal items, you can bet most hotels will see attempts several times a week, if not daily.
Hangers that are able to be nailed to the inside of a closet are an inexpensive solution. One problem hotels have with them is that they can be broken if they are bumped into with enough force- and it will do more damage than what you might expect. Instead of replacing a hanger, you might be replacing drywall and then the hanger in addition.
Metal hangers may be purchased that have a simple locking system- much like a pair of handcuffs the average police officer carries around on the job. Expensive versions can be unlocked, while cheap versions will instead have to be removed by force or by removing the bar in which they are placed on first. The lock is more stable than the nail-based hanger, but it’s also more expensive for initial costs.
If you already have a nice stash of hangers in your possession, consider buying the hardware to lock down the hangers instead of buying the hangers outright. You will save money, but at the sacrifice of your own time or labor costs. Installing the hardware isn’t as easy as it sounds. You also have to verify the hardware will fit the hangers you currently have in stock. Cheap hangers and plastic hangers don’t work so well in most cases.
Small budget hotels can’t buy a lot of hangers for their inventory. Even buying the hardware can be expensive. An alternative would be with simply installing hooks into the closet that are either nailed or screwed into the interior. These hooks can function just as well as the hangers, are easy to install, and are quite cheap. They won’t earn your hotel the five star award, but they work for hotels with less reputation.
Put a simple notice on the front desk that any items missing that were there previously will have high penalty fees. This way you can have normal hangers, just like five star hotels will. You will also get a profit from the ordeal if you charge enough for the fee. The only downside to this plan is that accidental thefts do happen, and it can hurt the reputation of your business if the customer becomes mad from paying for the replacement.
Final Thoughts
Hotel managers that are tired of seeing hangers disappearing should look into anti-theft hangers. Also consider alternatives in installing your own system, or even trusting customers to not take the hangers and instead charge high fees if they do happen to do it- even if on accident.
Learn more about walnut and brass hangers and belt hangers.