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,…
The U.S. government continues to report a bag of mixed blessings on new-home starts. While starts have shown modest upticks across different communities and regions month-over-month, it is mostly a sluggish industry compared with year-to-year. According to the New Residential Construction Report from April, new housing starts trail 2014 numbers. David Crowe, chief economist for…
When Zodiac designs a product, Steve Gutai, director of technical sales and marketing at Zodiac Pool Systems, says it does so with three markets in mind: consumer, pool builder and service technician. The company’s new closed-combustion chamber heater, the Jandy JXi, which the company released this spring, benefits all three groups equally, Gutai says. “The…
Membrane Concepts in Massachusetts is one of a handful of companies in the nation that installs custom 60 mil PVC in-ground pool liners. Owner and general manager Ron Melbourne has three employees who travel all over the nation together installing pool liners. All of them say they couldn’t be happier in their jobs and having…
Photos by: Robert Lipscomb Winky Vaughan grew up in the pool business: Her parents owned a swimming pool company in northern Virginia. When she graduated from Virginia Tech, she decided that she wanted to own her own pool company. In 1977, she and her husband Jim started National Pools of Roanoke. Soon, her parents —…
If the majority of your workday is spent planning pool service routes, it may be time for a new strategy. Depending on your needs and budget, there are a variety of ways to effectively retool your service routes. What the Process Looks LikeDan Lenz started working for All Seasons Pools, near Chicago, in 1987. He…