A pillowcase is a small item with a big job on the shelf. Customers who buy a duvet cover often only think about pillowcases once the cover is already in the basket. If you offer pillowcases in the right place and in the right packaging, the add-on sale becomes a regular part of the receipt. This article walks through the choices buyers make here: packaging, size, colour and the link with the rest of the bed.
Pillowcases in pairs: the logical sales unit
Most consumers sleep with two pillows, or buy pillows in pairs. A pair of pillowcases fits that directly. Customers don't have to do any sums and your staff don't have to explain anything. The shelf also stays easy to read, because you manage one pack per colour and size.
Single pillowcases remain useful, for example for hotels, for customers with just one pillow or for those who want to add a decorative pillowcase. Many retailers therefore make pairs the standard and only offer singles where demand is clear. For a webshop, a pair is practical too: one product variant, one photo and fewer returns caused by wrong quantities.
Sizes: keep the range compact
With pillowcases, a clear size structure prevents plenty of questions at the till. Common sizes in our market are 60x70 cm and 40x60 cm, supplemented by 50x70 cm. Put the size prominently on the packaging and repeat it in the product name online. A pillowcase that is slightly too loose or too tight often comes back.
Pay attention to the closure as well. An envelope closure looks calm and keeps the pillow neatly in place. A zip closure is sturdy, but less pleasant with frequent washing in hospitality. Fix the choice per quality, so that your range stays consistent.
Colour families: build the shelf around a core
Think of colour not per pillowcase, but per family. A colour family is a set of shades that combine with each other and match your duvet covers. A practical structure:
- Core: white, off-white and sand. These colours sell all year round and suit almost any duvet cover.
- Neutral dark: grey and anthracite. They are practical and combine well with patterned duvet covers.
- Seasonal accent: one or two colours that you rotate per collection, matching your duvet cover line.
- Plain next to patterned: with a patterned duvet cover, offer the plain pillowcase in the dominant colour as an alternative.
Keep the core colours in the range permanently and only rotate the accent. This keeps the shelf recognisable and stops a discontinued shade from leaving a gap.
Linking with duvet covers and fitted sheets
The strongest add-on sales happen when pillowcases, duvet covers and fitted sheets come from the same colour world. A customer who chooses a duvet cover in a particular shade wants to coordinate the rest of the bed with it. So place the pillowcases next to the duvet cover rather than in a separate corner of the shop. Online, a "complete the bed" block on the duvet cover page works in the same way.
Pay attention to fabric choice. A pillowcase in the same fabric as the duvet cover gives a matching look and matching washing behaviour. When pairing with a fitted sheet, match the colour family, but look at quality too: a jersey fitted sheet has a different look from a percale pillowcase. Take a look at our full pillowcase range to see which colours and sizes fit your current collection.
Hotels follow a different logic. Here it is all about uniformity and washability, so you work with a limited choice of colours and fixed sizes that you can easily replenish.
Frequently asked questions
Is a pair of pillowcases better than a single pillowcase?
For consumers, usually yes, because it matches how they use pillows. Single pillowcases are mainly useful for hospitality and for additional sales.
How many colours should I stock?
Start with a permanent core of a few neutral shades and add an accent colour each season that suits your duvet covers. Only expand once the core is selling well.
How do I show the quality of the fabric?
State the fabric type, size and washing instructions clearly on the packaging. If an item carries a quality mark, this applies per item, with a certificate.
Would you like to add pillowcases to your shelf or webshop, or make your existing colour families fit your duvet covers and fitted sheets better? Request a retailer account at mpstextiles.com and view the range with your own purchasing terms.
