There are plenty of options for borrowing money for business needs, but knowing which to choose can be a challenge. Business owners often look to bank loans and lines of credit. With a fixed loan, the borrower is given a specific amount of funds for a certain amount of time, sometimes at a fixed rate…
Twenty years ago, people found service providers through friends, neighbors or the community board at a local business. Those days are long gone, replaced by social media and search engines. In the last decade, Facebook and Google became kings of the internet, and while they still hold sway over most of the digital empire, it’s…
Numerous hazards lurk within the walls of the swimming pool pump room, toxic chemical fumes and carbon monoxide chief among them. In some commercial properties — apartment complexes, condominiums, hotels, country clubs and the like — the pump rooms are properly ventilated, but in far too many, this is not the case. The result is…
Pool service professionals often acquire service routes, typically because another company has gone out of business, or the route owner has retired or moved. This can be an efficient way for an established company to expand, or for new pool service companies to get started in the industry. However, the owner of a new service…
Pool pad design is an intricate task for builders to create an optimally functional and aesthetically pleasing equipment layout. Increasingly, builders are turning to three-dimensional design programs to make this process easier. “[Designing with 3D] has multiple perks,” says Rick Chafey, co-owner of Red Rock Pools and Spas in Chandler, Arizona. “It gives us additional…
Photography by Javaughn Henry and SSG Bridges, factories and performance halls aren’t exactly the structures that come to mind when considering a pool company’s construction portfolio, but they are every bit a part of what South Shore Gunite Pools & Spas has grown into over more than 40 years in business. Headquartered in Billerica, Massachusetts,…
Rocco Russo is a national trainer for Zodiac Academy, a service provided by Fluidra, which hosts a series of weekly hands-on technical training workshops across North America. Russo and his fellow instructors teach product installation, service, repair and troubleshooting, and when the Carlsbad, California, manufacturer launches new and improved products, they teach pool pros the…
Many years ago, a good friend in the industry told me something I will never forget: “Never abandon what got you to where you are.” That statement can mean lots of things, but when it comes to being successful within the trades industry, the meaning is pretty clear. At some point in building your trades…
One panelist shares her experience doing both Heather Lintonco-owner Swim Carefree, LLCCarrollton, Texas ResidentialPool Cleaning, Repair and MaintenanceRenovations, Remodels and InspectionsEmployees: 9Accounts: 150 We purchased a route in 2010 or 2011. We were brand new into the business and we had one route, but my husband wanted to get out of where he was working…
I can hardly believe that 2020 is upon us. 2019 was an eventful year, to say the least: As many of you know, I welcomed another daughter on October 10. I appreciate all the well-wishes that were sent my way and your graciousness as I care for an infant while running a business. We’ve got…
Pentair, a water treatment company and manufacturer of pool and spa equipment, received the “Best New Product – Equipment Pad” award for the third consecutive year at the 2019 International Pool | Spa | Patio Expo for the WhisperFloXF Variable Speed (VS) Pump. “At Pentair, we work to deliver smart, sustainable solutions to help pool…