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Industry News
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Masters of Design
 Visit our 2009 Masters of Design Showcase, where we celebrate some of the most spectacular works created by industry professionals.
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Service Tip
Corrosion and calcification can add difficulty when taking a pump apart. To remove the seal plate, use a ratchet (or socket wrench) instead of a regular wrench for better leverage on the bolts. However, if the bolts still refuse to budge, you may want to use an extension on the ratchet for additional torque. You can use a piece of smaller PVC as a breaker bar to achieve this leverage. Note that you may have to physically break apart the corrosion on the bolts with a hammer or wrench to successfully remove them.
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Top 50 Builder Buzz
 What new initiative are you working on?
We’re continuing to bring pools into compliance with the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act. I think there’s still a big segment of them that haven’t complied, so it will go on for about another year.
How does it work?
In all, I would say we’ve reached about 40 percent of the apartment owners. Originally, we went after larger property managers who held multiple properties. With many of those now in compliance, we’re actually down to owners of individual apartment buildings. I recently did a Webinar with the California Apartment Association to talk about VGB, which drew some business. But now it’s swimming season, so they aren’t doing anything as far as VGB.
When we do a VGB presentation, we back it up with an energy audit. We figured why not knock down two birds with one stone, once the health department allowed us to utilize the variable speed pump with an SVRS in it. Now you can sell them something that’s going to cost a little more than the typical SVRS system, but will pay for itself through energy savings. We actually calculate their current expenses and then tell them approximately what their savings could be. Among the larger property management firms, about 70 percent put in the new pump.
— Mike Geremia, president, Geremia Pools Inc., Sacramento, Calif.
PSN Top 50 Builder (No. 35)
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Retail Snapshot
 “Everyone wonders how a spa company can survive a recession because we sell such a discretionary product. But, the people we cater to are in the know; they can’t live without a spa. In fact, most of our business has been coming from our past clientele. They’re coming back for their second or third spa.
“We’re leaner now, though. We had to cut staff so everyone is multi-tasking, which I think has been good to a certain degree. No one is sitting around doing nothing, and that helps the morale. It makes you feel like you are doing a good job.
“We’re also getting more aggressive about acquiring trade ins, and selling them as quality, certified pre-owned spas. This is a growing market. It helps us match prices with the big box companies. We’ve always sold a higher-end product, but there’s that price point we miss. We can [offer] that price point now with these pre-owned spas that will outlast the cheaper new products that are built for the mass merchants.”
— Jeff Claypool, president, Lifestyle Outdoor, Van Nuys, Calif.
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Trade Show News
APSP Career Institute
Make plans now to attend the 2009 International Pool | Spa | Patio Expo for advanced education that tackles the important topics challenging today’s pool builders and service companies. Presented by APSP, each program offers a unique and remarkable curriculum that is guaranteed to grow your skills and enrich your personal development.
APSP Builders Institute
Nov. 14 | 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Nov. 15 | 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
From emerging technologies to code changes and everything in between, the Builders Institute is a rigorous educational experience that will give you the tools to compete on a higher level within the industry. Features three classes on Saturday and four on Sunday. Presented by APSP Builders Council.
APSP Technical Service Institute
Nov. 15 | 8 a.m.-5:15 p.m.
Management-level presentations for owners, supervisors and managers of service companies, including five classes, lunch and a behind the scenes tour of the Mandalay Bay Shark Reef. Presented by APSP Service Council.
Receive discounted registration rates — register online now!
 Exhibits: Nov. 16-18
Conference: Nov. 13-18
Mandalay Bay Convention Center
Las Vegas, Nevada USA
972.536.6350
www.PoolSpaPatio.com | info@PoolSpaPatio.com
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