When Tim Murphy started his pool company in 1991, Maricopa County — which includes the Phoenix metro area — issued 8,000 pool permits. Presidential Pools and Spas at one time had 350 employees, 10 dump trucks and almost as many shotcrete rigs for its in-house crews. It built 2,200 pools in 2006 — 10 percent…
Zodiac Pool Systems claims its iAquaLink controller system is the most intuitive, easiest to use pool controller on the market. “iAquaLink 2.0 took a major step forward in terms of ease of installation and connecting to the home owners Wi-Fi network,” says Dave Goldman, Zodiac’s director of product development. “We’ve also been working with several…
Part of being a pool service professional is to make customer recommendations that result in optimal operation of their facility. Commercial pools burn a lot of energy making the water pristine for patrons. However, if the parts and chemicals aren’t working efficiently, your customers are likely wasting money. “Pool service companies should be auditing facilities…
Let’s say you walk into an auto dealer to buy a new car. You find the model, color and features you want, and the price is right. They even have the very model you want in stock; it just needs to be prepped for delivery. You can’t wait! You can already smell that shiny leather…
I’d like to ask you some questions: How’s your online marketing these days? What about your website? Is it delivering all the customers you can handle, or is it more like an online brochure? While we’re at it, let’s talk about your presence on social media — or should I speak with your social media…
Previously, we covered finding an email service provider (ESP) for your email campaign and some available options; now you need a strong list of contacts to receive this marketing — in their inbox, not the spam folder. First, implement email list-building tactics. “The best thing you can do is put a signup form or an…
I have been working with contractors throughout the trades for more than 27 years, and I have watched a lot of once-profitable companies go out of business. The process of going out of business is gradual, often taking three to four years, and most don’t even realize they are in trouble until it’s too late….
Do-it-yourself websites and television shows give homeowners the misconception that every project is compatible to their skill sets, including maintaining a swimming pool. Increasingly, homeowners are attempting to clean, chemically treat and even install new equipment on their pool without the aid of a professional. While some individuals can handle this, many soon find it…
Not following the payment structure I described in part three of this series can cause you big problems. Customers who deviate from this will cost you a lot of money, not only in not getting paid but also in attorneys’ fees. In your sales contract, add a binding arbitration clause. People argue this with me,…