Truck wraps, logo uniforms…pool companies have used these and other means to brand and promote their businesses for years. Here, a group of success-minded retailers offers six tested concepts that keep them visible and produce revenue. No. 6: Direct Marketing Brooke Rossi, retail general manager at Wilmington, Illinois-based DesRochers Backyard Pools & Spa stores, makes…
Experts say every commercial pool operator should consider making an old technology new again. For years, ultraviolet water treatment has been used to help sterilize drinking water and has been used in wastewater treatment plants. But only in the last handful of years has UVC technology made its way into the commercial pool industry. It…
As an organization grows, processes and standard procedures evolve. The new person needs training, so someone jots down the steps in a couple of key procedures. Perhaps a prospective customer wants to know how you’ll service their account, so you put it in your proposal. Gradually, stopgap procedures and one-time solutions begin to accumulate. You…
By Christina Blakeslee-Sexton, Zodiac Pool Systems Lights add drama and sizzle to any pool or spa. Most pool professionals are familiar with traditional niched incandescent lights that for swimmers can mimic the sensation of moving head-on toward a locomotive. Fortunately, advances in pool lighting technology mean pool builders can leave those eye- and energy-burning incandescent…
When it comes to PVC renovation for swimming pools and decks, RenoSys is an industry pioneer. For almost 30 years, it has manufactured and distributed products specifically designed for the commercial swimming pool industry. One of its top products, RecDeck, is an ideal solution for customers looking for slip-resistant, nonabrasive products. “It has a very…
Zodiac Pool Systems’ MX8 ELITE pool cleaner is the first to use scrubbing brushes that come into direct contact with the pool surface. This cyclonic scrubbing action powers away algae and fine, stuck-on debris that other cleaners often leave behind. “Most mechanized cleaners do not make active contact with the floor,” says Skye Svenningsen, product…
in the last two years, marketing on Facebook has become very sophisticated, and advertising there can be profitable when done correctly. In 2014, a Gallup poll showed social media influenced only 5 percent of consumers’ buying decisions. The tide has turned since then, says Thorin McGee, editor-in-chief and content director of Target Marketing magazine. “This…
It creates massive frustration for you and your customers: A customer pays for the technician to come out, check the water chemistry and clean the pool; any chemicals added are noted as an additional expense. Unless the customer knows about these charges in advance, the bill can lead to heated debate when it arrives in…
Tracking fleet vehicles has become standard operating procedure for many businesses, including the pool service sector. There’s a high-tech name for this technology, too: telematics. You might even have a telematics device in your vehicle and not know it. “Telematics is better than GPS,” says Kelly Frey, vice president of product marketing at California-based Telogis….
You’re driving your family on a road trip, back before GPS or Google Maps. It seems like you should have arrived at your destination by now. The kids are asking, “Are we there yet?” Your wife gently suggests you might be lost. What’s your reaction? “I’m not lost; we will arrive soon.” Twenty minutes later,…
Have you ever made a big-dollar purchase and found yourself frustrated at the service provider’s or contractor’s lack of communication? Communication is a fundamental component toward customer satisfaction, more referrals and goodwill. Three industry veterans offer what works well for them — and what messaging paths to avoid — in the world of instantaneous communication….
With the siren call over public pool water safety with regulations from various state health departments, automated chemical feeders have spiked in popularity. But what do the pool pros prefer? Troy McGinty, Hayward Pool’s global commercial product manager, says there’s strong demand for sodium hypochlorite and liquid chlorine. “That said, peristaltic pumps are the primary…