South Jersey Linens makes visits to the shore worry-free

Ten years ago, Ben Duncan was a real estate agent who decided to try his hand at starting a new business of bed linens rental.

Today, Duncan is a businessman who summer vacationers turn to for ensuring they have everything from bed sheets and bath towels to beach chairs, umbrellas and even a wagon for carting items to the beach.

He is the owner of South Jersey Linens, located at 231 West Avenue in Ocean City.

“Eighty percent of the business is linens and towels, and 20 percent is beach equipment,” Duncan said. “Every year, we’re looking at something new to offer.”

SJ Linens helps vacationers have a worry-free visit to the shore by renting quality bed linens, pillows, blankets, mattress pads, crib sheets, bath, hand and kitchen towels and bath mats.

In addition to household linens, SJ Linens is also a source for renting cribs, playpens, high chairs and safety gates.

Heading to the beach? The company can supply beach towels, beach chairs, beach umbrellas and beach carts.

SJ Linens offers customers the convenience of delivering their rental items to their vacation property prior to their arrival. Items are picked up from the property when their time at the shore is over.

All available rental items are listed on the company’s website and orders for reserving rentals can be placed online.

Duncan is still in the real estate business. It was while he was solely a realtor that he first realized the need for a bed linens rental business because many rental homeowners require those staying at their property to supply their own linens.

“Only about 10 percent of our business is homeowners. As the rental prices go up, like $20,000 to $25,000 per week, homeowners aren’t expecting guests to bring their own linens and towels. So, it has to make sense for homeowners to use our service,” Duncan said.

For that reason, the majority of SJ Linens’ customers are vacationers.

    South Jersey Linens owner Ben Duncan started his business with just one delivery driver, but now has 25 employees for the busy summer tourism season.
  

Being a realtor and working the relationships he has developed with fellow real estate agents over the years has been a big help to Duncan in building a large customer base.

“We do a ton of marketing, a lot of online,” he said. “I also partner with other real estate agencies and depend on a lot of referrals. We have repeat customers. Some of our customers have been with us since year one.”

When Duncan started South Jersey Linens in 2016, “it was just me and one driver for the first two years,” he noted.

Over the years, as the business grew, he hired office workers, more drivers and now needs a staff of 25 employees to handle the summer crunch.

“We’re open year-round. But during the summer we are super, super, busy. I spend all summer working on the business. We do about 95 percent of our business during the months of May to September,” Duncan said.

He noted that the warmer September and October often extend his company’s summer business.

“We also get some business during the holidays, including Easter and Christmas,” he said.

SJ Linens currently services an area spanning from Ocean City to Stone Harbor.

“I’m trying to expand,” Duncan said of offering his services to more regions of South Jersey. “Next year we’d like to branch out into Long Beach Island.”

Getting to the point of entering his 10th year in business has been a major undertaking, but Duncan does not plan on slowing down.

“We’re happy to announce ten years in business this summer and hopefully continuing to grow in the coming years,” he said. “It’s a lot of work. It keeps me busy, and I want to keep growing every year.”

For more information on South Jersey Linens and the services it offers, visit sjlinens.com or call (609) 840-6539.

    South Jersey Linens owner Ben Duncan, his wife, Collette, and their daughters, Sylvia and Cece.