I was the general manager of a trades company for many years. Salespeople would come by the office on a regular basis. Each would make their sales presentation, usually taking a significant amount of my time. At the conclusion of their presentation they would leave, often without asking for the sale. More than a few…
By Lawrence Scofield Fiberglass pools have vastly improved over the past decade. There is rarely a problem with today’s shells. “If it’s installed correctly, you should never have a problem,” says Jason Hughes, vice president of River Pools and Spas in Tappahannock, Virginia. To prevent fiberglass problems, focus on proper installation techniques. “The backfill material…
Vehicles that transport workers and chemicals to and from job sites aren’t often front of mind when buying insurance for a pool service, building or retail company. Every business needs general-liability insurance, but it is more important to have the correct insurance coverage. “We find most pool-related accounts do not have proper coverage,” says Jeannette…
If there were a way to turn $1 into $38, would you do it? Bet you would! In its 2015 National Client E-mail Report, the Direct Marketing Association reported an average $38 return for every dollar spent on email marketing. That sounds great — but there are rules of engagement to put the email marketing…
Let’s face it: Nobody is going to buy a $10,000 hot tub, a $20,000 swim spa or a $50,000 in-ground pool before checking out your company’s reputation online. Having high-quality reviews on a variety of sites can make the difference in a prospect buying from you or your competition. Why Reviews Are Important Reviews build…
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…
Photography by Josh Goetz When Jennifer Del Vaglio was working as a lifeguard at a country club, she never dreamed it might turn into a pool career. She did, however, meet her husband CJ there, who ended up being the true catalyst. The couple was working in Connecticut — Jennifer as an event planner at…
Solar Pool Technologies has partnered with Pivot International to manufacture its robotic, solar-powered pool cleaner, Solar Breeze NX. “The relationship with Pivot is part of our strategy to achieve more rapid growth,” says Paul Sim, CEO of Arizona-based SPT. “This change will allow us to be even more efficient and is an exciting first step…
Pentair has been named a 2017 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year — Sustained Excellence award winner. Pentair has been an ENERGY STAR partner since 2013, and is being honored for its leadership in manufacturing ENERGY STAR certified pool pumps. “We are proud to earn our fourth consecutive Partner of the Year Award, and the…
The National Plasterers Council’s scholarship committee has awarded 10 scholarships, worth a total of $10,500. The Rey Perales Memorial Scholarship is given to the children of NPC members and their employees. The scholarship is determined based on academic achievement, an essay and letters of reference. This year applicants submitted a researched essay wherein they suggest…