Maintaining the proper water level for swimming pools has always been a challenge for pool service companies. But with the help of a few products, it doesn’t have to be. Some of the major problems due to low water levels can cost the homeowner big money in repairs, so it’s critical the homeowner and the…
What do you want from your life? Such a loaded question and not easy to answer. Most have a general idea within a few minutes; a more detailed definition is usually a week or so away. The problem with this question is the societal and self-imposed walls and limitations we put on ourselves. As young…
It comes as no shock to pool builders that the popularity of tile finishes is on the rise nor that clients are increasingly asking for glass and translucent glass tile, which brings its own set of challenges. In early 2014, Brian van Bower, president of Aquatic Consultants, Inc., and a co-founder of Genesis 3 told…
Photography by Travis Carroll In 1985, Joan Struckhoff persuaded her husband Fran to purchase the pool division of the company for which she worked. At the time, Fran was working in sales in a different industry. “I said, ‘I really want to do this, but I’m going to need some help,’ ” says Joan Struckhoff….
For decades, the only way for most people to light their pools at night has been to use one or two large, bright niche lights. They are usually placed under the diving board or in a spot that won’t shine back at the house. And while improvements have been made on that light, a new…
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…
As a pool dealer, you probably carry a dizzying menu of chemicals. When a customer comes in with questions about proper use of chemicals for one situation or another, it’s a perfect opportunity to build a relationship on the consumer’s terms, provided you can supply the right answers, backed by working knowledge and expertise. Just…
When Noel Conley, Jr., went to college, he took a job working for a swimming pool company. He says he graduated, moved away and got a “real job.” But it wasn’t long until Conley found himself back in north Texas, back in the swimming pool business and giving back to his community. “I had worked…
“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…
The swim team at Brophy College Preparatory, an all-boys private Jesuit high school in Phoenix with more than 1,200 students, has won 26 consecutive state titles (36 total) and one national title. But the team’s swimming pool was more than four miles away and not accessible to the rest of the students and staff. “Brophy…
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…