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Industry News

• Sales of VGB Act-Related Products Rising
  - Pool & Spa News
  An uptick in sales of drain covers and suction vacuum release systems indicates an increasing awareness of the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act among pool operators.
  
  
• Industry Groups Court U.S. Spa Makers
  - Pool & Spa News
  Hot tub manufacturers take note: Now, two advocacy organizations will be asking for your support.
  
  
• Owners Scramble to Make Pools Safe
  - Star Tribune
  
  
• Most Pools Fail to Comply with Safety Act
  - Aquatics International
  
  
• Aquatics Facilities are Showing up in Unusual Places
  - Aquatics International
  
  
• End of Housing Downturn May Be in Sight
  - Builder
  
  
• Green Building Going Strong
  - Builder/ecohome
  
  
• Retrofit May Force Closure of City Pool
  - Times-Gazette
  
  
• Phelps Suspended from Competition, Dropped by Kellogg
  - CNN.com
  
  
• Should Phelps Be a Role Model?
  - AP
  
  

Service Tip

A great way to sell energy-efficient pumps to consumers is by using a wattmeter. In many cases, the pool pump can be the single most energy-consumptive appliance in the home. By calculating the current, voltage and power factor of an appliance, a wattmeter shows exactly how much electricity is being used. Showing your customer this readout should make the pump sale more convincing, especially in a time when people are looking to cut costs.

— Thanks to Jeff Farlow, program manager for energy initiatives for Pentair Water Pool and Spa in Sanford, N.C.

Top 50 Builder Buzz

Cecil Fraser
President
Swan Pools (No. 9)
Lake Forest, Calif.

What new initiative are you working on?
We’ve started installing photovoltaic panels for the home. It’s one of the brighter spots in our horizon this year, especially with the tax credits offered by the federal and some state governments.

How does it work?
We’ve been on the roof doing thermal solar for pools for 25 years, and the buzz today is about green and green energy. It’s a market that’s very similar to the swimming pool industry, in terms of the technical, practical and business requirements. We already deal with homeowners associations and cities. And our sales force is home-improvement salesmen working in the house in the evening, so it just fits almost right down the line.

The installation is pretty straightforward. Our plumbers and electricians have been working on the roofs before, so we have the talent there. Right now, we’re tooling up our sales guys to be able to work on a product that doesn’t have the same sex appeal as a pool, spa, barbecue and entertainment area.

Snapshot

Going behind the scenes with:
Robert Stuart
President
Springs Spas & Home Recreation
Colorado Springs, Colo.
It has been an ugly season. To survive, we’ve gone from offering an expensive name brand line that consumers didn’t know to [another firm that] stepped up and designed a line of spas that fits the economy. People know the name and appreciate the price.

We’re also looking at taking on appliance repair. We cut our facility in half. A year ago, I had more than 90 spas in stock. Now, I have less than 20. We’re trying to pay as we go in most cases. I am trying to concentrate on my service business as well. We’ve increased our trip fees and other charges. Customers aren’t thrilled with it, but it’s how we are going to survive.

I have a pretty [varied] resume, but I sold spas because it’s fun. But it’s no longer fun. Customers are volatile and angry. I think people need to quit being scared. They have the money, but we need to come up with products that meet their needs. We need to ride out the storm and see if we can get this to turnaround.

Featured Article

Selling on Sunday
Retailers must decide whether
to abandon the traditional day of rest.

Trade Show News

Call for Presentations
The International Pool | Spa | Patio Expo has issued a Call for Presentations for the 2009 Expo, which is slated for Nov. 13-18 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. Those interested in sharing their knowledge and business expertise must submit a Call for Presentations Form by Feb. 15. Final selection will be made by the conference manager and committee members.

Submit forms to Tracy Beaulieu, Conference Manager, P.O. Box 612128, Dallas, TX 75261-2128. Phone: 972.536.6366. Fax: 972.536.6365. 

Exhibits: Nov. 16-18, 2009
Conference: Nov. 13-18, 2009
Mandalay Bay Convention Center | Bayside Hall
Las Vegas, Nevada USA
972.536.6350
www.PoolSpaPatio.com | info@PoolSpaPatio.com