When most of you read this, the 2021 pool season will be about to kick off in earnest. There are so many unknowns this year: Will this pandemic go away? Will you be able to get the products you need? Will your costs go up dramatically? Will a natural disaster hit your community? We cover…
For many pool service professionals, the question of whether to raise prices can be tricky. The biggest concern, of course, is losing customers, especially if the company operates in a competitive market. Unlike building a pool, where the rising cost of materials is more readily apparent, raising service prices may not be palatable for customers….
This year, Texas got cold — really cold. It’s been 72 years since the Dallas area saw minus 2 degrees like it did in February, when winter storm Uri hit North America. Texas residents were slammed, and the state was unprepared. “The storm was the worst to hit Texas in decades,” says Scott Waldo, president…
Sometimes, you just need a little help from your friends. Pool pro friends, that is. If you’ve been in the industry long enough, it’s likely you have a handful of trusted experts, colleagues and fellow professionals you turn to on a regular basis. “I absolutely have people who I’ve met throughout the years that I…
“You can spend your whole life chasing the dollar, and I’ve seen it. I wanted to be there for my kids.”
Chris CavanaughOwner Cavanaugh PoolOwensboro and Madisonville, Kentucky After 2020, price increases were inevitable due to supply and demand. Most of our price increases were like a normal year, but there were several that hit harder than normal. Steel vinyl-liner pool kits are continuing to rise, due to lack of raw material and huge demand, and…
1. SELLING COMPLIANT PUMPS IS BENEFICIAL FOR BOTH YOU AND YOUR CONSUMERS. When selling ultra-high efficiency pump models that comply with the new DOE standards, everybody wins. You benefit from the higher price point; consumers benefit from energy savings and quieter performance. And with new XE Series ultra-high efficiency pumps from Hayward, consumers benefit from…
What to charge for pool service is not often discussed in our industry due to fear of anti-trust laws or price fixing. But while we need to be careful, everyone must figure out what to charge to run a profitable business. I’m not talking about cash flow or moving money around; I’m talking about understanding…
Scott Petty had used every car metaphor he could think of to describe the benefits of variable-speed pumps. But when new Department of Energy WEF ratings for pool pumps take effect in July, he’ll need some new ways to explain. “With the DOE terminology and metrics, I hope the benefits are clear to the pool…
Homeowners have their ultimate pools in mind, and builders have ideas on how to make those dreams happen. What they both sometimes fail to consider is how that aesthetically pleasing backyard getaway will be serviced. A pool may be a dream come true for the homeowner but a nightmare for a service technician. Jason Broswell,…
Branching out into pool tile cleaning can be lucrative for your pool business — after all, calcium and scum buildup on tile is inevitable over time — but not every pool company is equipped with the skills and tools to clean it well and prevent damage. It’s important to first learn from well-versed experts. Superior…
You know Virginia Graeme Baker, but do you know Abigail Taylor? Abbey was a 6-year-old girl eviscerated by a drain in the wading pool at the Minneapolis Golf Club on June 29, 2007. Despite nine months of hospital care, 16 surgeries and multiple organ transplants, Abbey died from her injuries. Do you know Zachary Cohn?…