If your dealership goes through a high volume of paper towel refills, you already know how quickly those supply costs can add up. But here’s the catch: many dealers are still buying brand name paper towels and hand towels (you know the top brands!) — assuming they have no other choice.
But. that assumption is costing you money.
Let’s clear up the confusion: in most cases you don’t need to use the original brand to refill your dispensers. In fact, high-quality alternatives are available that fit the same dispensers and offer the same performance at a better price.
The Truth About Paper Towel Brand Names
There’s a common belief that once you purchase a paper towel dispenser from a big brand, you’re locked into their refills. They often have this built into their messaging — but it’s just not true in many cases.
Plenty of alternative paper towel refills are manufactured to the same specifications, offering perfect compatibility with those major dispensers. That means you’re often paying a premium for the label not the functionality.
What Are Alternative Paper Towel Refills?
Alternative paper towel refills (also known as universal or private-label refills) are designed to match the size, core diameter, roll length and material quality of top-tier brand refills. Think of them as the “store-brand” option but in many cases they come from the same manufacturing facilities as the name brands.
For example:
- Brand name paper towel and hand towel dispensers often accept compatible coreless refills from other manufacturers.
- Folded paper towel dispensers typically fit interfold or multifold options from private-label brands.
And no, you won’t lose out on absorbency or durability.
How Much Can You Save on Paper Towel Refills?
It’s not unusual to see 10–30% savings per case when switching from a paper towel brand name product to a compatible alternative. Over time—especially in busy service drives, break rooms and bathrooms—that adds up to thousands of dollars annually.
At FLADCO, we regularly help dealers compare branded vs. alternative products and the savings are real.
How to Find the Right Paper Towel Refills Alternative
Still not sure which refills fit your dispenser?
That’s where we come in.
We’ve organized products so you can view brand name and compatible paper towel refills side-by-side. You can search by dispenser type or SKU to find the perfect match. Our team is always available to help you identify the right fit and answer compatibility questions.
Browse and compare your options.
Stop Overpaying for the Same Paper Towel Refills
Your customers expect clean, well-stocked restrooms. You don’t need to overpay for a name brand to deliver that. When you choose alternative paper towel refills, you protect your bottom line without compromising quality or functionality for your hand towels.
Take a minute to check what you’re currently using. If it’s a name-brand refill, there’s a good chance we can match it and help you save.
This blog was originally posted on Dealer One Stop’s blog – you can find the original post here.
