Spas - Hot Tubs

Mike Hughes is the owner of Firemaster, a pool and spa builder and retailer in Evansville, Ind. AQUA spoke with him recently about a wildly successful sales event his company held that increased enthusiasm among salesmen in addition to reaping big revenues.

The new 2012 portable spas that will have your customers relaxing in no time.

Less than a decade ago, overseas spa sales were a mere footnote at the bottom of the balance sheet. Perhaps one in ten spas got a ride on a container ship.

Q & A with Bob Dooley, president, Lake Norman Pool & Spa, Statesville, NC

The dedicated, brick-and-mortar spa retailer faces tough adversaries in warehouse stores and internet sites, both of which offer low prices for equipment and chemicals. That's no secret. What is less commonly known are the ways today's successful spa retailers take advantage of the cut-rate competition's weaknesses to remain competitive and keep selling spas in a recession.

It's no secret that the staggering economy has caused customers to spend money more carefully. Endeavoring to overcome market forces is a group of former executives who have banded together to form the Swimming Pool Retail Academy (SPRA), an entity which is trying to first understand the challenges of selling in this market, and then to help solve them through education. A leader within the group is Larry Bloom, former president and CEO of BioLab.

Pool and spa retailers who want to present their products and business practices as eco-friendly face an uphill battle given what many of the products they sell are made of, and how they're made to work.

As homeowners demand more from their hot tub systems, manufacturers have responded with almost infinite combinations of jets, seating contours and other elements including lighting schemes and sound systems.

Near the end of 2011, acrylic spa giant Watkins Manufacturing announced that it had acquired the assets of American Hydrotherapy Systems (AHS), makers of the FreeFlow brand of rotationally molded portable spas. The move signaled a shift in philosophy, as Watkins began to focus on a part of the market President Steve Hammock admitted the company had previously given little attention.

In February, Oregon Hot Tub was awarded the Locksin Thompson Dealer of the Year award by Hot Spring Spas. The company was selected from more than 700 dealers worldwide, and Sue Rogers, president of Oregon Hot Tub, couldn't be prouder.

Retailers need to sell to the world as it is today. They need to understand what has changed in the psyche of hot tub consumers, and how to use that knowledge to help create the most-advantageous commercial environment and the strongest customer relationships.

Q & A with retailer Michael Wolf, Wolf Pools & Spas, Waukesha, WI

Jacuzzi Hot Tubs and Sundance Spas have added factory-installed UV water purification to their 2012 hot tub models.

One of the leading hot tub retailers tells us about her blog and how it helps her business.

Three retailers share how they sell swim spas.

These are the questions you'll commonly hear from a hot tub owner — and here's how you should answer.

Looking for a new portable spa to carry? We asked manufacturers to send us info on their new or bestselling spa models — take a look at what they shared in our product roundup.

No matter what kind of hot tub your customer has, these manufacturers have a cover or lifter to go with it.

We take a look back at the history of the hot tub industry.

How to properly drain a hot tub in cold climates.

Hot tubs boast scores of health benefits. Here, we look at the evidence that proves it.

Biofilm is a pesky, slimy substance often found at the waterline of spas. We examine how it forms and how you can get rid of it.

When should you fix the spa control system — and when should you replace it entirely?

We take a look at the various spa accessories to enhance your customer's spa.

This backyard utilizes a portable spa in a gorgeous installation.

Planning a big hot tub sale at your dealership? Two experts pass along their advice.

This Canadian Jacuzzi dealer has become one of the country's top businesses.

Hot tub rentals offer the chance to "try before you buy" — and often, people do.

Hard top, soft top, custom and more — check out the various hot tub covers on the market.