The pool industry sells leisure and fun. One of the easiest ways to reflect that is to fill your store with good vibrations.
Which leads me to “Good Vibrations” by The Beach Boys. A great song, but perhaps a little too obvious for a pool store soundtrack.
That’s why I've compiled what I believe is the perfect audio backdrop to keep shoppers browsing for pool floats and sanitizers.
(Why should you care about music in your store? This is why.)
Keep in mind, in order to legally play these songs in a retail establishment, you’ll need to procure the proper licensing rights. To get clearance to pipe tunes through your sound system, you'll need a music license from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. Paying an annual fee gives business owners access to millions of songs. Or you can go through a service like Mood Media, which will not only program music for your store, but also navigate the thorny legal stuff.
Now that we got that out of the way, here’s a handful of feel-good ditties to inspire cannonballs or lazy poolside lounging.
Song: Day Drinking
Artist: Little Big Town
Why it works: It's an easy, breezy jam about getting the party started before the sun goes down.
Sample lyric: Everybody's always waiting on Friday
Watching that clock and sitting on go
Whatcha' say we find a little warm sunshine
An open umbrella on the patio
Song: Toes
Artist: Zac Brown Band
Why it works: A chillout anthem about escaping the big city and having a beer on the beach could just as easily be about enjoying your own backyard retreat.
Sample lyric: I got my toes in the water, ass in the sand
Not a worry in the world, a cold beer in my hand
Life is good today. Life is good today.
Song: Island in the Sun
Artist: Weezer
Why it works: If you don’t look too deeply into the meaning of the lyrics – (It’s probably about doing drugs, or a broken relationship. Who knows?) – this laidback rocker evokes memories of sipping margaritas on your favorite floaty.
Sample lyric: On an island in the sun
We’ll be playin’ an’ havin’ fun
And it makes me feel so fine
I can’t control my brain.
Song: Hot Hot Hot
Artist: Buster Poindexter
Sample lyric: (A whole bunch of rum-bum-bumming, ole ole-ing, and feeling Hot! Hot! Hot!)
Why it works: It’s the seminal summer party song! You may have customers doing the rhumba while they wait for their water-test results.
Song: Cheeseburger in Paradise
Artist: Jimmy Buffett
Sample lyric: (Like you need the lyrics!)
Why it works: It’s about eating a cheeseburger in paradise. What more do you want?
Song: Red River Rock
Artist: The Ventures
Sample: N/A
Why it works: What pool store playlist would be complete without some swingin’ surf rock instrumentation? This mid-tempo toe-tapper strikes the right chord.
I’m sure there are dozens more that would suit a pool store. Place your recommendations in the comments.
Off the Deep End is an occasional blog from PSN Senior Editor Nate Traylor. Follow him on Twitter @n8traylor.
