Scott Petty, the global product manager for pumps and above-ground equipment at Hayward Pool Products, has many analogies for the benefits of variable-speed pumps. “It’s like going from standard definition to HDTV,” Petty says. “Once you’ve seen the benefits, it’s hard to imagine going back.” Or, “Single speed is like having a car that only…
By Lawrence Scofield For pool owners, recruiting, training and staffing lifeguards can be labor intensive and costly. As budgets shrink, companies have emerged to help lower costs associated with providing lifeguards. When American Pool Houston takes over lifeguard-management responsibilities at a pool that was previously self-run, says its president, Brooks Wedeking, pool owners often say…
Rebar, or reinforced steel poles, are a vital structural element of a pool. They are used to support the concrete, which would move and break if set against soil alone. Pool construction crews must place each steel bar and drop of concrete with precision to avoid future structural problems. The tendency is to lay rebar…
It’s an old topic but it needs to be revisited — again. Has your service department adopted flat-rate pricing yet? If not, it’s time to seriously consider the conversion. Most contractors have very strong opinions about flat-rate pricing, one way or the other. However, the reality is this: If you have actually sat down and…
People these days expect control of their homes on the go, says David Goldman, director of product marketing at California-based pool equipment manufacturer Zodiac Pool Systems, and Polaris’ newest robotic cleaner, the 9650iQ Sport, allows them to do just that. Using the iAquaLink app anywhere in the world, users can program, control and access all…
We are all familiar with the definition of insanity: doing the same thing over and over again while expecting different results. So the question is, do you have 30 years of experience — or one year of experience repeated 30 times? Wise, profitable companies review past performance, make necessary changes, and move forward. 2016 is…
When Scott Cohen began using drones for aerial photography in 2013, he was not aware of another pool builder using the technique in the entire United States. Three years later, drones have taken flight across the industry. The days of standing on barbecue grills and climbing on rooftops to get overhead pictures may be coming…
When the pool patio gets hot enough to burn your feet, is the pool still too cold for swimming? Therma-HEXX, located in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, has a solution. “ThermaPanel is a modular heat exchange system that collects, distributes and transfers energy,” says Robert Barmore, CEO of Therma-HEXX. Installed underneath the patio deck, high-density polyethylene panels…
Miguel Angel Mercado, owner of Ocean Gallery USA in El Paso, Texas, is equal parts entrepreneur, marketer and P.T. Barnum. Barnum knew how to create attention for his business endeavors and utilize what he called “printer’s ink” (the press) to his advantage. Mercado has assembled that puzzle by merging reality television with brokered (paid) TV…
If it weren’t for the monthly invoices customers receive, most would never know a pool technician had come around. Arizona entrepreneur Herman Gunther figured there had to be a better way for pool technicians to notify customers about pool servicing. Flimsy invoices fluttering across lawns, against pool pumps or soaked in pool water weren’t quite…
On December 1, 2016, new overtime regulations were supposed to begin, affecting nearly half of America’s 5.5 million small businesses. The regulations, ordered by President Obama in 2014, are designed to “put more money in the pockets of middle-class workers or give them more free time,” according to the United States Department of Labor. In…
Baby boomers are retiring, and millennials are entering the work force in droves. However, posting a general job listing may not be enough to get applicants, and millennials are a special breed when it comes to retention. The benefits of employing a younger generation make it worth a little extra effort. Benefits David Williams, CEO…