InventryBookDress rental business: how to stop double booking a lehenga
InventryBook team ·
The costliest mistake in a rental shop
A bride books the red lehenga for 2 to 4 December. A week later another customer asks for it for 3 December, and someone at the counter says yes because the register page for December was not checked. On 3 December one of them goes home angry, and the shop loses a customer and its name in the colony.
Most rental shops have one-of-a-kind pieces: a bridal lehenga, a sherwani, a costume in one size. These need a different rule from items the shop has ten of.
Rule 1: Book by dates, not by "is it on the hanger"
A piece is free or not for a set of days, not right now. A lehenga hanging in the shop today may be promised for next Saturday. Every booking should name the piece, the pick-up day and the return day.
Before saying yes, check the piece for every day of the new booking, including the day it comes back from the last customer and needs cleaning.
Rule 2: One of a kind can never be booked twice
For items you have several of (chairs, safas, kurta sets in common sizes), you may sometimes book more than you hold and arrange the rest. For a one-of-a-kind piece there is no "arrange the rest". The rule must be absolute: if it is held for even one of those days, the answer is no, and the counter should be told who holds it.
Example. "SH-001 is one of a kind and is held by booking RB-12 for Priya Sharma, 2–4 Dec." Now the counter can offer a similar piece, or another date, instead of a promise the shop cannot keep.
Rule 3: A damaged piece is not available until it is repaired
A lehenga comes back with a torn border. If it goes back on the rack, it will be booked tomorrow and handed over torn. Mark it as in repair the moment it is returned, keep it out of every booking, and release it only when the tailor sends it back.
Rule 4: Return the deposit that is theirs, not the whole deposit
Take a deposit at booking or pick-up. At return, work out what the customer owes: the rent, any late days and any damage. Give back the deposit less that amount, and write down what was kept and why. Handing back the whole deposit and then asking for the rent separately is how rent goes unpaid.
Example. Deposit ₹5,000. Rent ₹2,500, one late day ₹500, a missing dupatta pin ₹100. Return ₹1,900 and note "₹3,100 kept: rent, late day, pin".
Rule 5: One customer, one history
A family that rents for every wedding season should have one record, with every booking and every rupee. Find them by phone, not by name: two Priya Sharmas are common.
Doing this in InventryBook
InventryBook's rentals book each piece by its dates and show what is free on any day. A one-of-a-kind piece can never be booked twice for the same days, and the refusal names the booking and customer holding it. Damaged pieces are held as in repair until you mark them ready again. At return, the deposit offered back is the deposit less what the customer owes, and the kept part is shown on the bill. Bookings can be found by garment name, code or barcode. See it for dress rental.
Frequently asked questions
How much deposit should a dress rental shop take? Many shops take 50–100% of the rent, more for bridal pieces. Whatever you choose, write it on the booking slip so there is no argument at return.
Should I charge for late return by the day? Yes, a fixed amount a day is easiest to explain. Say it at booking and on the slip.
Can I book a piece for a customer who has not paid yet? You can, but a small advance at booking stops people holding pieces they never collect.