Since its modest 1947 beginnings in founder Al Whittell’s Southern California garage, Raypak has manufactured all manner of heating products, including high-efficiency residential and commercial swimming pool heaters. Now headquartered in Oxnard, California, the company has been a subsidiary of Rheem Manufacturing since 1985. Last December, Raypak introduced the AVIA pool heater, which the company…
The overall concept of the Sutro Smart Monitor water system for pools and spas is quite simple: The monitor automatically tests the water three times a day and gives exact instructions on how homeowners should treat the pool. Customers purchase the Sutro, drop it into their pool and get readings on an app. Ravi Kurani,…
Lenny Maffei, one of Poolcorp’s first-ever hires and a major contributor to its staying power, retired March 1. Since Maffei joined the company, it has grown to over 400 branches nationwide. Maffei credits his drive and focus to his faith in God and his family, who have given his hard work a purpose. “I call…
Being in or around a pool, working or playing on a hot day or even driving to a job site presents unique safety hazards. Top Safety Products offers solutions for those moments where things do not go as planned. Incorporated in 1991 by Gerald Kutsop, Top Safety Products Company, Inc., assembles quality first aid kits,…
When I first bought the magazine, I had grand ideas for new products and changes I wanted to make right away. About five months into ownership, though, I realized they were unrealistic in the timeframe I had envisioned. I’ve since realized that changes in business, at least in ours, look more like this: Create goal,…
In 2018 we wrote an article about running a stress test on your business (January/February 2018 “How Low Can You Go”). That article posited that if sales stopped or slowed tremendously, there were certain actions you’d need to take to survive. The last couple of years have shown us that threats to small business are…
The guys from Pool Nation are tired of answering one question about their business: “ ‘How profitable is it? How are you gonna make money off it?’ ” says founder Edgar De Jesus. As hard as it may be to believe, De Jesus and his partners John Chakalis, co-owner of J&J Flawless Pools in the…
An Austin, Texas, ordinance allowing pool builders to use third-party inspectors on their projects has fostered a more streamlined experience for both builders and city municipalities. “Due to the lack of available city inspectors [in Austin], it can take days or even weeks to move onto the next part of the pool installation process,” says…
In my consulting work, I encounter pool operators who bemoan how little management understands about the work that goes into running a commercial swimming pool. At the same time — often in the same facility! — I encounter managers who bemoan how little pool operators understand what’s at stake in terms of customer reviews and…
Pool service nets may not be the most high-tech pieces of pool equipment, but they’re an integral part of a pool pro’s tool lineup. While the pool net’s purpose is to aid a pool tech in pulling debris from the water, different types of debris pose different challenges. That’s why pool pros often carry more…
In April of last year, Poolside Tech of New Hope, Pennsylvania, launched a pool automation system called The Attendant, which connects all pool equipment, no matter the manufacturer, allowing it all to be monitored and managed together through a smart device. “So many of our homes are connected and communicating with us, having the intelligence…
Ultimate Water, Inc., San Diego-based manufacturer of the Chlorine Genie, prides itself on making work easier for those who maintain pools. While standard methods for getting chlorine into a pool are to add either chemicals or salt directly to the water, the Chlorine Genie skews in a different direction, resulting in water free of additives….