AquaStar Pool Products Inc., has been making equipment for pools, spas, water features and water parks since 2003 and is continuously striving for innovation. The vertically integrated company is capable of doing everything from designing initial engineering concepts to finishing and producing in-house, says Todd Pieri, chief operating officer. “We always listen to the industry’s…
When a customer dreams up the perfect backyard oasis, supply shortages, delays and communication breakdowns usually aren’t part of the fantasy. But with the state of the pool building industry over the past year and a half, that can often be the reality. When lines of communication are broken with customers, they lose confidence in…
The tides are turning for the pool service industry. With more companies entering the market aiming to acquire smaller pool service companies, the industry is seeing a shift toward consolidation, which started in earnest in 2020 and continues to gain momentum. “There are many people out there who love the industry, but they don’t want…
October through January is prime time for recruiting when you run a business that has its Christmas in July. Everybody starts to ramp up as your season winds down, and if you look at the opportunity correctly, that’s a good thing. It could also be your key to filling your employment needs for the upcoming…
From slowed part production and raw material shortages to job market woes, pool and spa customers are experiencing an increase in the time between purchase and delivery. Jennifer Gannon, proprietor at BonaVista Pools in Ontario, Canada, says customers “are finding out that the supply chain is sort of deeply altered for all retailers.” With this…
The signs are everywhere: Now hiring. Help wanted. Bonuses for new employees. But good help still is hard to find. Frank Disher, a Poolwerx franchise partner in Texas, says COVID has had a huge impact on the employment status of local pool pros in his area. He receives a ton of applications but can’t seem…
Successful employee-recognition programs have little to do with the awards themselves, and more to do with a company’s culture. Kim Peters, an executive vice president at Great Places to Work, a global authority on workplace culture based in Oakland, California, says before singling out individual employees for awards, build a culture of trust. “Otherwise, these…
Founded in 1994 in Richfield, Minnesota, ECOsmarte strives to offer environmentally friendly products, eliminating harsh chemicals from swimming pools and the environment through copper ionization. The founders of ECOsmarte were familiar with copper ionization from its use by NASA in the late 1960s, says marketing manager Mike Dewar. “(NASA) knew they couldn’t send chlorine up…
For more than a decade, Coastal Pure Inc., has been using an affordable, effective technology called copper/silver ionization (CSI) to reduce chemical impact for our commercial clients. Slashing chlorine demand while providing cleaner, healthier water consistently saves customers thousands of dollars in annual chemical operating costs. In 2021, pool operators using CSI gained a bundle…
When Amy Morgan saw that Boost by Jobber was offering grants for home service entrepreneurs, she checked to see if the company she co-owners with her husband, Cody, would qualify. Indeed it did, and Amy submitted Pit Stop Pool Service in Cypress, Texas, as a contender. “I said ‘Well, why not – let’s apply. Somebody…
Commercial accounts can be a lot of work for little to no reward. Look for solid management. The neighborhood doesn’t always matter — rich or poor, they are all on budgets. Are they easy to deal with? Polite? Understanding? The budget impacts repairs getting done in a timely manner to keep the pool safe and…
Remember when we were supposed to have a commercial issue last year, but instead there was a pandemic and everything we planned went out the window? Yeah….me too. So instead of 2020 being our inaugural commercial edition, we are launching it in 2021. For a few years, I’ve been tossing around the idea of becoming…