Unsung Heroes
We asked pool pros about their favorites among these ‘unsung heroes’ in their tool kit.
Fiberglass Pools to the Rescue Post-COVID
“Suddenly the local pool builder with an immediate opening is now the most sought after commodity in the country. We’re going to break records this season.”
My Burnout Story
“You’re only working 12 hours a day? What are you, weak? You’re only working half days. Listen, kid, working nine-to-five is just keeping up with the Joneses. Work nights and weekends also, then you’ll smoke ’em.” That was the mindset. And there is truth to that mindset. Kill yourself growing a business, and you’ll do…
Pop Ups
Robotic. Suction-side. Pressure-side. In-floor. Gone are the days when telescoping poles and handheld pool vacuums were the only tools for getting the job done. Gone, too, are the days when an automatic pool cleaning system was seen as a luxury. With in-floor pool cleaning systems, jets are built into the bottom of the pool floor,…
Group Dynamics
Jump into any one of the many pool industry Facebook groups, and you’ll find hundreds of professionals across North America and abroad sharing the good, bad and the ugly in the pool industry, motivated by a desire to connect and learn from each other. Jason Broswell, owner of Pool Service by Jason in Northridge, California,…
How I Built This
Part 2 of 2 In part two of this series, we look at three pool industry ventures that, born of necessity, changed the lives of those who dared to try something new. Pool Water Purification Products Harsh climate paves way for innovative water care Rick Lathrop says the evaporation rate in Lake Havasu City, Arizona,…
Pentair removes more than 1,800 SKUS from the internet
Pentair intended to take its time removing the pool equipment it manufactures from the internet. As of October 1, more than 1,800 Pentair product SKUs were scrubbed from online sales under the company’s TradeGrade policy, a program founded in 2016 that was recently updated to accommodate the large-scale change. Under the enhanced policy, Pentair provides…
How I Built This
Part 1 of 2 For self-starters who’ve already launched a small business, it may not be surprising that the entrepreneurial bug eventually bites again. In part one of a two-part series, we look at three pool industry ventures that, born of necessity, changed the lives of those who dared to try something new. POWERVAC Father…
Layers of Safety
It’s not an uncommon concern, but pool safety doesn’t often become a priority for homeowners until they’re brought face-to-face with tragedy or the scare of a lifetime. Mike Tellegen, owner of The Pool & Spa Medic in Molalla, Oregon, recalls the time he received a call from a mother who, after finding a door ajar…
In Search of a Zero-Injury Work Place
A few years ago, Lin Boyd, owner of Splash Pool Service in Kyle, Texas, found himself in a situation that might have been comical had it not been so serious. Alone in a remote area of Cedar Creek, Texas, Boyd was preparing to clean a 12-foot-deep pool when he slipped and fell into it —…
Horror Stories From the Field
Work injuries industry pros lived through teach imperative lessons Paul Goebel owner, Goebel’s Pool and Spa Maintenance Hidden Valley Lake, California “When I first started doing pools for a company out of Novato, California, I was adding muriatic acid to a pool. One of the rocks around the edge was not concreted in and it…
Symbiotic B2B
Misty Knight, technical sales manager for Zodiac Pool Systems, says her customers become like extended family. Bryan Banta, owner of B&B Pools in Pompano Beach, Florida, can attest to that. “Misty answers the phone when others don’t,” he says. “She’s available to me when I need her.” Establishing a strong B2B relationship between pool professional…