Articles

  • In Memoriam

    The pool industry lost an iconic figure on November 17, 2021. Bob Lowry, 75, was broadly known in the pool and hot tub world as an instructor, author and innovator of many specialty pool and spa chemicals. On the night of his passing, I was honored to accept on his behalf the Lifetime Achievement Award…

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    National Plasterers Council 33rd Annual Conference

    Atlanta February 9–11, 2022 InterContinental Buckhead Convention Center Registration includes the opening reception; all education classes; breakfast and lunch provided on Thursday and Friday; the Friday evening exhibitor reception and entrance to the auction. NPC’s Start Up Technician Certification course on Wednesday, February 9, has an additional registration fee. The main class on Thursday, February…

  • Survival of the Fittest

    Service-based pool companies often rely on contractors. Instead of having an employee clean pools and providing them with a vehicle, tools, insurance and paying out the appropriate taxes, they hire 1099 contractors, who need to provide their own transportation and equipment and are responsible for their own taxes. When the status for contractors changes by…

  • I listed my pool on Swimply. Here’s what I found.

    Swimply: A potential pool service nightmare Pool service pros who maintain vacation homes in destination cities know these accounts require two to three visits a week. Abuse of these pools leaves them looking rough, even on a good day. Treat these like a typical once-a-week residential, and now you’re hating life. This is not something…

  • Bidding Municipal Projects

    Many suppliers become frustrated when their commercial swimming pool bids are unsuccessful because they lack an understanding of the nuances and complexity to the decision-making process. The process is intentionally antiseptic and impersonal (nepotism and favoritism are crimes in the public sector), but transparent and fair if you learn the factors at play. Let’s say…

  • Service Truck Tetris

    The goal for reconfiguring how Manning Pool Service in Houston, Texas, loaded and organized its service trucks was three-fold: maximize efficiency, safety and vehicle longevity. The project, now called the Manning Pool Service Truck Planogram, began in spring 2021 when managers were discussing how the service trucks’ branded wraps looked great, but the inside of…

  • Wintry Work

    Since the pandemic began, countless more people have seen the value in having a pool in their own backyard, and this trend doesn’t show signs of slowing.  Jacob Beninati, owner of Beninati Pool and Spa in Utica, Michigan, says his company is prepping all customers by telling them upfront about the increasing costs of building…

  • National Pool Partners continues rapid expansion

    National Pool Partners (NPP), a multi-regional pool service company, announced the acquisition of Ambiance Pool Service & Supplies of Tucson, Arizona. Ambiance will serve as NPP’s consumer-facing pool service brand in Tucson while Aquaman Pools will remain its brand in the greater Phoenix, Arizona area. Since its launch in January 2021, NPP has become the fastest growing pool…

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    December

    Today, we sit down with Megan Kendrick to talk about the most exciting products featured at the recently held International Pool | Spa | Patio Expo™. We kick things off by sharing our experience of finally seeing each other in person a few days back at the expo. We follow that up by running through…

  • POOLCORP acquiring company that owns Pinch A Penny, Inc.

    Pool Corporation signed a definitive agreement to acquire Largo, Florida-based Porpoise Pool & Patio, Inc., including its main operating subsidiaries, Sun Wholesale Supply, Inc. and Pinch A Penny, Inc. Sun Wholesale Supply, Inc. is a wholesale distributor of swimming pool and outdoor-living products, including a specialty chemical packaging operation, selling primarily to Pinch A Penny…

  • Tuff Coat announces brand refresh

    Located in Hickory, North Carolina, MRT Products subsidiary Tuff Coat — manufacturer of water-based, rubberized non-skid coating that provides optimal traction for pool decks, splash pads, locker rooms, commercial/industrial applications and much more — has launched a brand refresh. With significant investments over the last six months to improve its technology, branding, product offering and…