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Hi All
First - I am not a host. I am here to ask a simple question.
If there was a website where you could buy, for relatively cheap (ie,. $6.99) a pretty, small box of
travel-sized of toiletries that come with
Soap
Shampoo,
Conditioner,
Toothbrush& paste
Showercap
similar to what guests would find at a hotel.
Would it be something a lot of hosts would be interested in?
Had a small business idea and thought getting actual hosts’ input would be guiding in the decision making
You’re probably going to get lots of negative replies. We get people posting about this every so often and I’ve yet to come across a member here who thinks it’s a great idea.
You see, non-hosts with these business ideas don’t understand the realities of hosting. Let’s say I leave for my guests the items that you mentioned - one pack for every guest.
I can tell you right now that in my experience, no-one ever uses showercaps. Toothpaste and brushes are rarely used. With shampoo and conditioner, hosts are often left with bottles that aren’t quite empty so the remaining contents need using or wasting and the usually non-eco-friendly containers go to the landfill. That annoys us.
Soaps are invariably used by the guest but only a proportion of the bar. So again, the host has to find a way of using it, or feel guilty and wasteful for throwing it away.
So a host buys a few dozen packs at $6.99 but after just a short while finds that he/she has no soap left but dozens of showercaps and toothbrushes.
You also have to consider that if a host wants to buy travel-sized toiletries, and many don’t, there are many such packs on the market already.
Other than that, fine. 
Not at all interested for the reasons listed above. Plus I decided to use liquid soaps and shampoos only, which I buy in bulk and refill dispensers as needed.
THIS. We can buy anything we need on Amazon for a fraction of the cost and package it in a basket from Dollar Tree. and it will look fabulous
The reality is, we’re running businesses with very small margins and “luxury” items like this would be wasteful, expensive, and cut into our profits.
Try zero hosts. We don’t take kindly to being spammed on this forum.
Most hosts are trying to limit single-use anything. Even many hotels are trying to change their practices to be more environmentally sound. It’s a disaster for the environment , and the planet is drowning in garbage. Please pursue business ideas that are part of the solution, not ones that add to the problem.
I provide refillable liquid soap containers, a travel size bar of soap that costs me 30 cents and comes in a cardboard carton, and as far as other toiletries go, guests almost always bring their own.
Even if I did provide single-use items, all the things you listed, I could purchase locally for a total of about $2. And I’ve never known anyone who uses a shower cap.
I’ve actually had requests for shower caps and I get mine at Dollar Tree. But then again, by “requests,” I mean 2 guests and a friend over 3 years…
I don’t understand the realities, that’s why I am here to ask! : )
In regards to environment - that was of concern to me too. A few months ago I looked, and found that there a quite a number of suppliers whose product (bottles, shower caps, toothbrushes, etc) are biodegradable.
“So a host buys a few dozen packs at $6.99 …”
The idea, however, is that a host buys a box that comes with all those items, for each guest.
It doesn’t make sense for guests that are paying $100 or less - but for guests that are paying $300+, i figured a nice box of toiletries awaiting for them would be memorable.
At one point i even thought of getting a laser engraving and engraving the guest’s name on the box before shipping out.
This idea came to me because I’ve stayed in a lot of Airbnbs & Vrbos.
A lot of them had old shampoos and conditioners in the showerbox - i’m talking about
crusty-ring around the hole old.
And the other were almost empty
I also noticed that a lot of my hosts in the pasts lived in different cities from the property, and I am not sure how/who took care of these things - I assume the cleaners.
So guest books → hosts orders a box - box arrives → cleaning people leave it on their bed
That is my potential idea.
I appreciate everyone’s feedback - even if negative!
thanks all.
How exactly am i scamming?
I am simply trying to see if a business idea i had is viable.
I haven’t shared any links , asked for any action, etc
I think she meant spamming. which is what posting plugs for one’s busines on discussion forums is considered. But I don’t feel you’re spamming, just doing some market research. And you’ve been quite respectful.
I’m not sure what kind of Airbnbs you’ve stayed at, but I can pretty well assure you that none of the hosts on this forum leave out old crusty almost empty bottles of things for their guests.
And I can’t imagine that anyplace that charges $300/night would, either. Did you stay in one that did?
And even if the containers are eventually biodegradable, why use a bunch of little bottles when a host can just refill a large pump container with products they buy in bulk?
With respect, your notion seems to be a solution that is trying to find a problem. Many guests bring their own stuff when they travel. People are often picky about their own shampoo etc.
We provide pump bottles with shampoo and body wash. It does the trick and they are still going strong after all these guests.
Our Per Guest consumable expense for such things is much lower than $6.99.
With so much in the news about climate change and the need to reduce/ban single use plastics it’s not something I would buy.
I am finding on my current travels around SE Asia that more hotels are switching to wall mounted dispensers doing away with small bottles of toiletries.
As a host myself I supply full sized bottles of shampoo/shower gels etc.
Many guests however still bring their own. Many women especially have a favourite hair product.
I do supply a shower cap, one that can be washed and reused but I think its been used a handful of times.
I personally would not buy or use mini sized toiletries.
The environmental impact is too high.
Even in India (the most polluted place we’ve seen) they are taking steps to eliminate single use plastic. Many hotels are not allowed to line bins with plastic bags instead just emptying them and rinsing them out.
I’m sorry if this is dampening your business idea but I would advise maybe thinking along a more environmentally friendly way.
All the best in whatever you decide to do
To be honest, it would be costly and more plastic for the environment. I buy oversize toiletries at the dollar store and refill dispensers. It ends up costing me pennies per guest.
A $300+ night stay means an entire house. Which translates into 4-5 bedrooms and toiletries for 8-12-14 guests.
If, as you say, you’ve stayed in a lot of AirBnBs, then you would know that 99% of hosts do NOT have old shampoos, etc.
Sorry, but as a long time entrepreneur and business owner, it looks like you’re pushing for something you’ve been told no one wants.
As for those “biodegradable” containers - they’re not. While I was in CA, one of my sailing friends took some expensive “made from corn” plastic cups and put it in his very hot compost heap. Six months later, it was still plastic.
If you have had issues with crusty bottles, then contact the host to make it right. Don’t try to sell us on-demand, laser printed, expensive, wasteful crap.
And how the heck are you going to laser print, drop ship for same-day delivery? We all have card stock and we all have color printers for custom welcome signs. Or chalk boards.
As for cleaning people managing to leave stuff like this on beds - get a job cleaning AirBnB rentals for a month. Go ahead, tell me what your time is worth, how you get through a checklist, and if you actually even remember to dust.
By throwing out a business idea that you’ve been told crops up regularly and no one wants, you’re scamming the actual hosts here to do your market research and business plan.
It’s not viable.
Apparently I am in the vast minority for using a shower cap! 
As a host, we purchase very cheap shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. Four months into hosting and we are barely halfway through any of those bottles. I’m a former flight attendant and still have a lot of extra hotel toiletries (even a couple shower caps! 
) I leave them in a small basket for guests and as far as I know nobody has ever taken or used any of it.
As a guest, I always bring my own stuff. Even if a listing notes there are toiletries provided I still don’t rely on that. Plus I spend way too much on my hair color to not use my fancy salon stuff (and I know there are lots of ladies that feel the same).
So there’s my input as both a host and a guest.
Curly girl here… also in the shower cap club. If you want to provide these for your guests go to Sally (or any beauty supply) and get a bulk pack of processing caps. Put one in a mini zip baggie with a few Qtips in the bathroom. If it gets used, do up another. That’s what I did, but I used supplies I already had/use myself.
Great idea! I have a huge bag like the one you mentioned for myself. I’ve had it for years and have probably only used a few since I reuse them until they get too worn out.
Great. Another entrepreneur who has come up with a poorly thought out solution to a problem none of us have.
Now, if someone came on and said “Hey! I’ve got a source for self ironing sheets that also fit themselves to the bed automatically”, I might be interested.
On the other hand, I probably wouldn’t be; I’ve got my forum bed making squad on call for that 
JF
I’m waiting for self-folding sheets. Especially bottom sheets!