I am sick of the coronavirus. Not to mean that I’m physically sick with the virus (thank goodness!) but just sick of reading about it, writing about it, and thinking about it.
I dare say you’re probably feeling the same way — afflicted with a bit of virus fatigue. It’s exhausting in and of itself.
So I think it’s time to change focus and look ahead. What happens for our pool and spa businesses now? How do we prepare for the rest of the year? What practices will we continue to put in place as we plan for the future?
Our latest issue is pretty much dedicated to that theme. First, we have service expert David Hawes offering practical advice to service techs on maximizing profits in “How to Evaluate Pool Service Processes for Maximum Profitability." Anyone who puts his suggestions to use is bound to see an improvement in their bottom line.
But what about companies who have had to cut expenses to survive? Many times, one of the first cuts is to the marketing budget. Paul Winans, in “Why It’s Important to Call Your Past Clients ... Now!" shares how reaching out to past customers can actually produce leads for your company. At the very least, these calls will keep your company’s name present in the marketplace. His column provides valuable scripts to make this endeavor even easier to implement.
There’s no doubt that many companies have had to make changes to survive during a long shelter-in-place order. No one group has had to meet that challenge head first than our pool and spa retailers. These hardworking folks have had to provide new contact-free ways for customers to shop, and it looks as if these services are here to stay. In “Taking the e-Step," Pam Vinje of Small Screen Producer and Scott Reynolds of The Get Smart Group offer tips on how retailers can establish and maintain an e-commerce site that will serve customers well through the pandemic and beyond.
The need for contact-free services doesn’t end with retail, though. Many pool builders have had to make adjustments to their design approach with homeowners, turning to technology to meet virtually with customers. In “How to Hold a Design Meeting via Videoconference," a few builders share tips on how to successfully conduct Zoom meetings with your customers.
We hope the information in this issue will help you with your business as you move forward in a post Covid-19 world. What other methods has your business had to implement to get through this crisis? Please reach out and let me know.
