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Industry News |
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Web News Roundup
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Sneak Peek
Be the first to read an article that will be appearing in the next issue of Pool & Spa News:
 The Solution Book: Chemistry
Question: A paperclip fell into the pool and left some metal stains on the plaster. How can I get them off?
Answer: There are plenty of products on the market that will quickly remove a metal stain without damaging the finish of the pool. And, there’s a little trick to dealing with rust on plaster. Run the pool’s water through an oxidation reduction process first. That’ll make the stain pop right off when you treat it.
Read more solutions to this and other water chemistry issues.
To see an extensive list of readers’ pressing questions — and expert solutions — turn to the July 30 issue of Pool & Spa News.
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MOD Design Tip
 What great design concept are you working on?
We’re certainly doing a lot more glass mosaics than ever before, whether it’s just a tile band around the pool, or an entire pool or whirlpool.
How does it work?
We’ve done a lot of racing lines and tile bands with glass mosaics, which is a great detail. The racing lines really look amazing when they shimmer. A racing lane can tend to look kind of ugly and industrial, but when it’s glass it looks a lot more fancy.
We’re seeing a trend where people are going with thicker glass tile, which shows more depth. It almost gives the tile more of a three-dimensional feel. You can actually see through the tile to the back, which creates a lot of refraction. It’s quite spectacular. It’s not cheap, but it seems to be a lot more popular for some of the high-end pools out there.
— Rob Danieli, sales and estimates, Alka Pool Construction Ltd., Burnaby, BC, Canada
Pool & Spa News Masters of Design — 2007 Concrete Pool Winner
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Field-Tested Tips
 Simple Ways to Track Your Marketing ROI
When you’re running a small business, it’s often difficult to slow down and figure out if your marketing efforts are working.
Tracking your return on investment will help you find what works best and keep you from throwing money away on lackluster promotions. Here are simple ways to track your marketing efforts:
• Ask customers how they heard about you.
While it might seem obvious to ask, a surprising number of small businesses overlook this. Whenever someone walks through the door or gives you a call, politely ask how they found you.
• Code marketing materials and emails.
Whether you place an ad in a local newspaper, send direct mail or hand out flyers, place a unique four-digit code or word in each message and ask customers to use it when they contact your business. This will help you track which method reaches the most customers.
• Hand out coupons.
If you attend an event, give participants a coupon that gives them a special offer on your products or services. When people come in with the coupon, you’ll know where it came from. Also, provide other businesspeople you meet with coupons they can give their customers — it’s an easy way to refer them to your company.
For more tips on tracking your marketing ROI, turn to the National Federation of Independent Business.
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Trade Show News
Attend the Service Power Panel at the International Pool | Spa | Patio Expo
Come hear leading experts discuss the overall direction of the industry — including trends, innovative technologies, industry challenges and growth issues — and how they affect your service business.
Moderator Tom Odeski, president of Crystal Clear Pool Service/Pool Cover Resource, will lead the discussion featuring:
- Dave Hawes, owner, H & H Pool Services
- Rick Woemmel, president, Bi-State Pool & Spa
- Paul Wahler, owner, Pool Service Co.
During this fast-paced, interactive session, you will have the opportunity to ask questions and hear the panel offer real solutions for tackling today’s toughest issues. Bring your entire team to strengthen your operation.
A new feature for 2010, the Panel will be held Wednesday, Nov. 3, from 9:45-10:50 a.m., just prior to the opening of the show. This exciting Power Panel is absolutely FREE, but registration is required so register now!
Questions? Visit www.PoolSpaPatio.com; contact Info@PoolSpaPatio.com; or call 972.536.6350.
 2010 International Pool | Spa | Patio Expo
Exhibits: Nov. 3-5
Conference: Oct. 31 - Nov. 5
Mandalay Bay Convention Center | Bayside Halls
Las Vegas, Nevada USA
972.536.6350
www.PoolSpaPatio.com | info@PoolSpaPatio.com
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Adversaries Gridlocked Over NEC