When a homeowner makes their first call to a pool/spa builder or service company, they are looking for the expert help only a trained professional can provide. Unfortunately, many of these potential customers, who are often eager to spend money on whatever they need to make their backyard getaways perfect, are met with silence. Calls are not answered. Voicemails are … Read More
The Ins and Outs of Job Costing
For many in the pool and spa business, money is looked upon as a taboo topic not to be openly discussed. It is true that in any form of business, competitors are restricted by laws from getting specific when discussing pricing, overhead and profit margins with one another. However, understanding these factors in broad, general terms (which are legally discussable) … Read More
Measure the Success of Your Business Beyond the Bottom Line
As a startup owner, you obviously want to figure out the best way to measure success. In the early stages of business ownership, financial gains are not necessarily a good measure of forward movement. Instead, look out for these positive reinforcers as a way to measure your startup’s success. How To Measure Your Startup’s Success 1. The Industry is Taking Note … Read More
Feeling Overwhelmed? Here’s How These Entrepreneurs Stay Productive.
Ever feel like you are on a treadmill running through peanut butter? Like there is always more to do than you can possibly get done in a day? If you are a business owner, you probably know this feeling well. Running your own business often means wearing many hats all at the same time and juggling responsibilities that, in a … Read More
5 Pillars of Small Businesses Success
What does it take for a small business to achieve success? Whether you’re already in business, or preparing to start a business, it takes hard work, tenacity and drive to achieve a high level of success. Lori Greiner, star shark of ABC’s Shark Tank says, “Entrepreneurs are willing to work 80 hours a week to avoid working 40 hours a … Read More
How to Overcome Price Resistance and Make a Profit
Like any good businesspeople, most pool and spa service providers try to do everything right. They hire service people with a good aptitude and attitude and give them distributor- and manufacturer-sponsored training. They promote their companies to the local community and make considerable investments in various marketing initiatives. Having put their best foot forward, a customer calls to make a … Read More
How to Train and Hire Temporary Employees
Certain things are inherent to the role of operating a business: meeting with vendors, picking out a POS system and, of course, hiring that all-important staff. But before an employee is deemed fit for face-to-face customer contact, or even to spend days logging inventory in the stock room, he or she must be trained in the ways of the store. … Read More
Improving Pool Maintenance Department Efficiencies with Smart Service Routes
Service is the backbone of the aquatics industry. Once a pool and/or spa/hot tub is installed, it needs to be serviced so homeowners continue to enjoy their backyard investment. In most cases, the service technician is the face of the business and is the customer’s regular contact; therefore, they should be punctual and exemplify professionalism on all levels. For some … Read More
Mind the Gap: Strong Teams Are Built Through Communication and Understanding
While they have been around for years, millennials seem to be all the buzz in the workplace these days. What do millennials want in the workplace? What do they want from work in general? How are they different from other generations? And, the most common question this author has heard, how does one even communicate with millennials? To answer these … Read More
Using Team-Building Exercises to Achieve Business Success
Every company has goals, but does every employee know what they are? More importantly, do they know how to measure and attain them? It is easy to determine the top-level goals, but it can be challenging to make sure every employee can state what they are at any moment of the day. It is also difficult to create measurable sub-goals … Read More