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Industry News
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Video Gallery
 Check out the videos featured in the Pool & Spa News Video Gallery. The videos showcase the latest products and equipment, as well as in-the-field demonstrations.
Latest video: See how to retrofit a spa drain to become compliant with the VGB Safety Act.
• Watch Videos...
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Service Tip
With pool openings in full swing, you can add to your cash flow by offering customers the opportunity to pay for their seasonal service upfront. Instead of separate charges for opening, closing and monthly services, give customers an option for an overall discount — around 2- or 3 percent — by paying a single bill at the start of summer. The single-bill method cuts down on accounting and ensures your work is paid-in-full by the homeowners. The client may also be more comfortable with a single number rather than five or six separate charges.
— Thanks to Jonathan Broga, owner, Potomac Pool Service, South Riding, Va.
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MOD Design Tip
 What great design concept are you working on?
There aren’t many homeowners looking for something new, different and exciting — or who have the money. But we are finishing up one of the largest commercial jobs we’ve done.
Describe the project.
We had a country club that wanted to bring in younger members to its pool. The existing L-shaped pool had a 75-foot-long leg for competition. As it turned the corner, it went into a 12-foot-deep diving bay. We took the boards away and brought the diving bay up to a 3-1/2-foot depth. We put a 14-foot slide and splash pads on the other side for the kids. Then at the end of the children’s area, we put in a beach entry and smaller kiddie slide.
Their current membership is very excited about the fact that they have something new, different and more in keeping with families. And the owners feel that they can increase their membership quite a bit now that they’ve made these changes.
That pool was about 110,000 gallons after we brought the floor up. Originally, they were going to tear out the pool and put a smaller one in its place. I said we could save thousands of dollars by working with the existing pool. They got a bigger pool than originally planned, and we saved them about $90,000.
— Doug Staples, president, Cimarron Circle Construction Co., Tucson, Ariz. (2007 Masters of Design Winner – Concrete Pools)
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Snapshot
 “Our business has three divisions. I’m seeing strong business on the service end. Retail had a slow start, but it’s busy now and we are going to be up through May. New-pool construction, though, is definitely going to be off.
“There are fewer leads, but they are higher quality. The people who are shopping are buying. They know what it takes financially to put in a pool. They aren’t going to waste anybody’s time. We went from being order takers in the last few years, to dealing with customers who are looking for deals. Margins are compressed, that’s for sure, and we’re including optional items that we wouldn’t have in the past.
“One thing that we did do several years ago is take more of a total-project-management approach to pool sales. We now do fire pits, grill islands, putting greens … retaining walls. We’re doing fewer pools, but our average sales ticket is higher. That’s worked out well for us.”
— Dave Hobaica, president, Easton Pool & Spa Inc., South Easton, Mass.
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Trade Show News
Certified Pool-Spa Operator Basic Course
If you’re a pool/spa operator looking for a better understanding of pool care management, make plans to attend the 2009 International Pool | Spa | Patio Expo.
Come early to the show and take advantage of the leading education and certification program for pool and spa operators, engineers, service techs, health officials, retailers, property owners and other professionals who help protect aquatic venues.
This is a basic licensure-level program that satisfies the educational requirement for commercial pool and spa operators in many jurisdictions and follows industry best practices.
Successful completion of this program will result in the student achieving the designation of Certified Pool-Spa Operator® and will enable the student to appropriately and safely operate a commercial pool and/or spa. Included is a best-practice handbook. Attendees must bring a government issued photo ID and a calculator.
| Program schedule: |
| Friday, Nov. 13 |
5-8 p.m. |
| Saturday, Nov. 14 |
7:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. |
| Sunday, Nov. 15 |
7:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. |
 Exhibits: Nov. 16-18, 2009
Conference: Nov. 13-18, 2009
Mandalay Bay Convention Center
Las Vegas, Nevada USA
972.536.6350
www.PoolSpaPatio.com | info@PoolSpaPatio.com
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