4 Tips for Growing a Sustainable Business

4 Tips for Growing a Sustainable Business

The following excerpt is from Wendy Keller’s book Ultimate Guide to Platform Building. Buy it now from Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes In the old days, before online rating places like Yelp, TripAdvisor, OpenTable and even RateMyProfessors and HealthGrades, the worst that would happen if a company or service provider dished out poor goods or lousy service is that they’d get a bad reputation. … Read More

Learning to Prevent and Respond to Crisis Situations

Learning to Prevent and Respond to Crisis Situations

For all pool and spa professionals, maintaining a safe workplace for both staff and the general public is the ultimate goal, one that can be best achieved by conducting regular facility audits. Audits can significantly impact how an organization prevents, prepares for and responds to emergencies, and they are an integral component of any risk management plan. In fact, a … Read More

Understanding Pool Construction Terms and Techniques

Understanding swimming pool construction terms and techniques

When a client requests a concrete pool, spa, or water feature design, what they are essentially asking for is a vessel constructed of a mix comprising aggregate, sand, cement, and water that is placed over structural steel. One of the great benefits of designing a concrete vessel is the only limitation is the builder’s imagination. The execution of building the … Read More

What Does the Future Hold for Pool and Hot Tub Automation?

What Does the Future Hold for Pool and Hot Tub Automation?

Imagine giving customers the ability to sit poolside on a warm summer evening, touching a familiar screen, and bringing their backyard to life in a way that suits their particular mood. One tap of their finger can transform their outdoor living space to reflect an ambiance or theme that matches the way they felt during that particular evening. Builders have … Read More

Mobile Apps for Pool and Spa Care Professionals

Mobile Apps for Pool and Spa Care Professionals

There’s no question that mobile apps are popular, and while no one knows exactly how many are out there, analysts estimate the number of app users is growing by nearly 30 percent annually, with 4.4 billion expected worldwide in the next few years. So it’s not surprising that mobile apps are flourishing in the pool and spa industry. There are … Read More

Solving the Saltwater pH Problem

Solving the Saltwater pH Problem

California Polytechnic State University’s National Pool Industry Research Center conducted a study examining the rise of pH levels in swimming pools sanitized with salt. Researchers tested pH levels every Monday, Wednesday and Friday over the course of several weeks. pH was adjusted to 7.4 after every Friday reading. Over the weekend, pH spiked from 7.4 to 8.0. The pH in … Read More

Swim Ponds Present Safety Concerns

Swim Ponds Present Safety Concerns

The pool industry is keeping a watchful eye on swim ponds. These natural alternatives to traditional swimming pools have gained in popularity in recent years, yet questions remain regarding its use. “We don’t make ponds necessarily for swimming,” said Fred Pape, specialty project manager at Aquascapes in St. Charles, Ill. But Aquascapes does build ponds large enough for swimming. “We … Read More