You hear through the grapevine that a local school district is looking to bid out their pool service and maintenance work. You’ve built up a pretty sizeable residential service route and would like to add some commercial clients; this could be the perfect opportunity. But before you send over a proposal, and become responsible for…
When Forrest Walterson, general manager at Mr. Pool Inc., in Boulder, Colo., sat in an office to learn about a new chlorine-free sanitation system, his reaction was exactly what you’d expect. “That all sounds great, but can you show me?” Walterson remembers saying. Walterson was meeting with Clear Comfort, which sells a two-stage sanitation system…
“I SAW THAT ONLINE FOR A LOT LESS.” Each one of us going out on sales calls has heard this from customers. Over the past five years, the swimming pool industry has dealt with underpriced Internet items and improper installations. Pentair, one of the leading manufacturers of swimming pool equipment, recently helped level the playing…
Every year, pool builders look at new ways to market the latest trends and technology to potential customers. While finding ways to get ahead of the competition is important, one thing will never change: Before builders can promote a brand or a feature, they have to sell the idea of owning a pool in the…
I can hear it now. “C’mon, man,” you say. “What’s this all about? Talking yourself out of a sale? Really?” You may be saying to yourself, “I have enough problems talking myself into a sale. Now I have to worry about this too? You can’t be serious.” Au contraire, my pool and spa selling friend:…
2 Wheel PoolCleanerPoolvergnuegenthepoolcleaner.comhayward-pool.com In December 2013, Hayward Industries, Inc., acquired Poolvergnuegen. Poolvergnuegen’s cleaners, branded as the The PoolCleaner, bolster Hayward’s offering in the automatic cleaner category. The PoolCleaner’s suction cleaner comes in two- and four-wheel configurations. One patented feature of the cleaner is its self-adjusting turbine vanes, which look like a paddle wheel. The adjustable…
Gather ’round, kids, and let me tell you about the tough times when there were no whiz-bang apps to operate your pool with your smartphone. Heck, before smartphones we had dumb phones that only allowed you to make or receive calls; no texting, surfing the web or playing Candy Crush Saga. Facebook, Pinterest, LinkedIn —…
Diving boards are an excellent opportunity for a service business to increase its bottom line. This particular piece of pool equipment is less common than in the past, yet a diving board is a great source of fun and entertainment in the right pool. Many technicians choose not to service diving boards due to liability…
Are you still trying to tweet your way to more pool sales? Step away from Twitter and Pinterest while I tell you about the one social medium every pool builder should be using: Houzz.com. Pronounced just like how’s (as in “How’s your mama?”), Houzz is a match made in heaven for pool builders — especially…
Swim University does not offer a four-year degree or doctorate; no sheepskin is earned and there are no football tryouts. Instead, Swim University offers a flood of knowledge from its founder and creator, Matt Giovanisci. If it has to do with the operation of your pool, Giovanisci’s media-rich and enlightening website, swimuniversity.com, probably has a…
How can a small insect wreak so much havoc on swimming pools? For two years, I have been explaining to customers why their pools are turning green and their patios are turning black: The whitefly infestation is taking Florida by storm. After about two months, I gave up and called around for help. I couldn’t…
What is your policy or how do you respond when a customer asks for part or model numbers when you’ve recommended they replace a piece of pool equipment? / What’s your policy on installing and/or servicing parts and products you did not sell? “Some people call to ask for a quote for hot tub covers,…