Photography by Kris Knutson John Oldfield started small. After working two years for his father-in-law Dick Nichols, owner of San Jose, California–based Genie Pool & Spa Service, Oldfield purchased seven pool-service accounts from him in 2005. “There’s not a better guy to get your feet wet with,” Oldfield says of Nichols. “You couldn’t ask for…
Have you ever made a big-dollar purchase and found yourself frustrated at the service provider’s or contractor’s lack of communication? Communication is a fundamental component toward customer satisfaction, more referrals and goodwill. Three industry veterans offer what works well for them — and what messaging paths to avoid — in the world of instantaneous communication….
With the siren call over public pool water safety with regulations from various state health departments, automated chemical feeders have spiked in popularity. But what do the pool pros prefer? Troy McGinty, Hayward Pool’s global commercial product manager, says there’s strong demand for sodium hypochlorite and liquid chlorine. “That said, peristaltic pumps are the primary…
Cell calcification is the most likely problem with a saltwater chlorinator. Jandy’s new Pro Series TruClear saltwater chlorinator tackles calcification from installation and education to cleaning any buildup. “When you’re not cleaning [the chlorinator] properly the calcium buildup will kill the life of the cell,” says Amy Armstrong, product manager for water care at Jandy….
Pool construction in the United States is a $12 billion industry. According to global research firm IBISWorld, pool builders rely “much more heavily on the skill and knowledge of trained employees than the productive capabilities of machinery or technology.” At no time is this more true than during the estimation process. Although exciting new technology…
If you ask five companies that do regular pool service and cleaning how they pay their technicians, you’ll likely get five different answers. the location, number of accounts and the gallons of water they’re responsible for each week all come into play. “I’ve tried all of it,” says Jack Manilla, owner of Portofino Pool Services…
What good is investing in an email marketing campaign if you don’t see a lucrative return on that investment? Depending on emails as the only way to reach prospects will limit their effectiveness. Most people don’t do any follow-up on email campaigns, says Allison Reynolds, co-founder of and email campaign manager for The Get Smart…
By Amber Colley Strong lender relationships can be especially important for cyclical small businesses like in the swimming pool industry. Because cyclical business owners need to keep their business afloat during off-seasons, some may need to seek outside funding. Businesses have a variety of funding options, from online lenders to traditional lenders like banks. In…
Because of affordability and effectiveness, sand filters are among the more popular pool filtration options for consumers, removing dirt as small as 20-40 microns. As a pool professional, there are a few tricks to cleaning sand filters properly, and some choices when it comes to the quality of sand used. Heschmeyer Pools in Leawood, Kansas,…
A well-run service department should be making money, producing a 15 to 20 percent net profit. In fact, your service department should be the most profitable department within your company, but it’s usually not. There are two reasons most companies find service unprofitable. First, they are not priced properly. It costs a lot to run…