 Episode Summary:  In today’s edition of Business Tip of the Month, we’re joined by Eddie Skehan, Vice President of Operational Excellence for National Pool Partners.  Our discussion today is all about fleet management. In particular, he speaks on the advantages of GPS tracking, which include heat mapping, using gamification to promote good driver habits, performing preventive maintenance, recovering lost vehicles, and geo-tracking.  He encourages every business owner in the industry to make the investment into the latest GPS technology since “the fleet is probably the biggest expense that you have.” He adds that, ultimately, you will reap significant savings down the line.  Topics Discussed:  00:45 - A brief introduction to Eddie  01:41 - A primer on GPS tracking  03:05 - Driver habits  04:28 - Preventive maintenance  05:27 - Recovery  07:10 - Justifying prices on cutting-edge software  09:45 - Fleet management should be your top priority  11:25 - Geo-tracking  Connect with Guest:  Website  Facebook  LinkedIn  Connect with Pool Chasers:  Website  Instagram  Facebook  Facebook Group  Twitter  YouTube  Patreon  Key Quotes from Episode:  The fleet is probably the biggest expense that you have, and maintaining it is something I can’t stress enough.  When we look at where [technology] was 20 years ago, it seemed like it took forever to get somewhere. And now, every day, whatever you have today is outdated tomorrow.  With the rapid advancement of technology, we’ve seen a rapid decline in prices for these services.  Fleet maintenance is a big thing, and incorporating that with GPS will really put you on top of it, and you’ll see significant savings the longer it goes on.  

Pool Chasers Podcast

Episode 172: Fleet Management - Business Tip of the Month with Eddie Skehan of National Pool Partners

 Episode Summary:  Today we speak with Mark Jones, Owner of the New Orleans-based Blue Street Pools. Mark has been immersed in the world of sales from a young age, but never imagined himself touching the pool industry until quite recently when he decided to look for better opportunities as a new father.  Not long after losing his job in Corporate America, Mark found his first account in a neighbor who asked him to clean his pool. One summer and another nine accounts later, Mark had completely replaced the income he made as an employee. He never looked back.  Mark entered the pool industry in 2017, marketing himself solely through flyers which he disseminated around his neighborhood. But his breakthrough would come in 2020 when he settled on TikTok to promote his business. Encouraged by a friend, he created an account on the social media platform. Six months later, Mark had gained 100,000 followers on TikTok. Today, he has over 2.1 million.  Listen in as Mark discusses how to build an online brand as a pool pro using TikTok. He explains the value of “giving out the game” and the importance of transparency and a love for the community you build.  Finally, Mark shares his five-year plan to take an already unbelievable career to the next level.  Topics Discussed:  01:34 - Mark's background  06:37 - Learning the ins-and-outs of cleaning pools  08:33 - How Mark started marketing his pool business  12:40 - Mark’s rapid business growth via TikTok  21:42 - Mark’s commitment to his work  29:25 - How Mark creates videos from beginning to end  39:55 - Answering the Thousands of comments he gets  42:25 - Dealing with trolls  50:15 - Advice for those who want to be successful on TikTok  55:03 - Why perfection doesn’t matter when posting content  1:02:07 - What’s next for Mark and Blue Street Pools?  Sponsors:  Pentair  S.R. Smith  Lyon Financial  Acid Magic  Connect with Guest:  Website  Instagram  TikTok  Resources:  CNBC Video  Splice  LumaFusion  Connect with Pool Chasers:  Website  Instagram  Facebook  Facebook Group  Twitter  YouTube  Patreon  Key Quotes from Episode:  It was a slow start [when I began cleaning pools], and I wanted it to be that way because I didn’t want to get too busy and, next thing I know, I don’t know what I’m doing and my company has a bad name.  Where I started with the marketing was: Identify a certain area I want to service, pass out flyers to specific pools that I want to do, and go from there.  My [TikTok] page has turned into a community of people who are really understanding how to take care of their pool. It’s just a whole mix of a whole bunch of people from all over the world trying to figure out the same thing, and that one thing is, “How do I keep my pool clear?” That’s all I care about.  At the end of the day, what I’m creating, being in the pool industry, are memories for families.  My content is not for people in the pool industry. My content is for the homeowners that want to take care of their pools.  If you show people what you’re doing and tell them why you’re doing it so they can understand, that’s where people will start to gravitate to you—when you’re teaching someone something they don’t know about. That’s what TikTok is all about.  

Episode 171: Green to Clean TikTok Star Mark Jones (@poolpromj) of Blue Street Pools

 Episode Summary:  Today’s special episode is the October edition of our “News & Notes” series, in partnership with Pool Pro Magazine.  The news stories we cover include a new mobile app out of Austin, TX called “ATX Swims”, through which users can directly purchase tickets to the city’s swimming pools; an accident involving a falling tree branch at a resort in Honolulu; an initiative to teach primary school children in Marle, France how to swim using a mobile pool; and Scottsdale, AZ’s green pool and mosquito problem.  Megan then goes over recent industry news, including a number of recent M&As and emerging movers and shakers.  She also gives a shout-out to Patriot Pool & Spa, who once again was named the fastest-growing pool service company in the U.S. by Inc. 5000.  Tyler and Megan speak on upcoming events for pool pros, including those of AQUA Magazine, the Virtual World Aquatic Health Conference, and the International Pool | Spa | Patio Expo™.  Topics Discussed:  03:17 - Flowbird’s new app for Austin, TX, ATX Swims  04:19 - Seven people injured at Hilton Hawaiian Village  05:33 - A mobile pool to teach children how to swim  06:59 - A century-old pool is set to be remolded  08:02 - Green pools and mosquito problems in AZ  09:31 - Recent M&As in the swimming pool industry  11:08 - PHTA creates education cohesive pathways  12:45 - Patriot Pool & Spa Inc. of NPP on Inc. 5000 list  13:08 - AQUA Magazine's new trade show  14:27 - Tyler discusses PIE show visit  16:37 - Virtual WAHC and the International PSP Expo  18:00 - New movers and shakers in the industry  18:51 - Highlighting an article in Pool Pro Magazine        Resources Mentioned:  In the News  Flowbird’s App for Austin, TX  7 Injured by Falling Tree Branch  Learn to Swim Mobile Pool  Century-Old Pool to be Demolished  Green Pools Causing Mosquito Problems    Industry News  Fluidra Acquires S.R. Smith  Pentair Acquires Pleatco  PHTA Education Pathways  Patriot Pool and Spa Makes Inc. 5000  AQUA Magazine Launches New Trade Show  WAHC Conference Goes Virtual - December 7th-9th  IPSP in Dallas - Nov 13th-18th      Movers and Shakers  Ted Lawrence to Biolab/KIK as new VP of Sales Excellence  Sabeena Hickman to NDPA Board  Pool Pro Magazine Article Highlight  Sure Thing  Connect with Guest:  Website  Facebook  Instagram  Twitter    Connect with Pool Chasers:  Website  Instagram  Facebook  Facebook Group  Twitter  YouTube  Patreon    

Episode 170: October - News and Notes with Megan Kendrick of Pool Pro Magazine

 Episode Summary:  Jim Conti is the Head of Sales at Sutro. The brainchild of founder Ravi Kurani, Sutro began with a focus on ORP technology before the company made the pivot to reagent-based testing with photometry, resulting in Sutro’s flagship product, the Sutro Smart Monitor.  Jim explains the limitations of ORP and what led the team at Sutro to home in on incorporating Reagent Cartridges by LaMotte into their current technology.  He compares the evolution of Sutro to that of the iPhone and that the future of the product will see the addition of even more features that add to convenience such as one-tap remote chlorine checks.  “We’re an absolute extension of smart home technology,” says Jim. He goes on to share the many exciting plans the company has to make Sutro an indispensable tool for pool service professionals of any size.  While he accepts that some service pros will always prefer old-school, analog systems over what’s cutting edge, he hopes that Sutro will change the game by looking at the product’s development as a “two-way street”, where customers have a say in how the technology will continue to evolve.  Topics Discussed:  00:55 - An introduction to Jim and Sutro 07:47 - Why reagents are a better choice over ORP 15:56 - How the Sutro Smart Monitor works 26:28 - The evolution of Sutro’s technology 35:18 - How to set up the Sutro Smart Monitor 37:58 - Why it’s important to embrace new technologies 46:26 - How to introduce Sutro to your routes 52:47 - What the future holds for Sutro 1:00:14 - How to get more information on Sutro Sponsors:  Sutro  Pentair  Primate Pool Tools  Anderson Manufacturing  S.R. Smith  Connect with Guest:  Website  Facebook  Instagram  YouTube Full Review  YouTube Pool Pro Review  Connect with Pool Chasers:  Website  Instagram  Facebook  Facebook Group  Twitter  YouTube  Patreon  Key Quotes from Episode:  When you talk to most people, test strips are good, reagent-based testing is better, reagent-based with photometry is best—it takes out the human element and you don’t have to guess what colors you’re looking at.  If you look at where we are today, we’re the iPhone 3. Now look where the iPhone 13 is with all the features they have added over time. That’s the evolution Sutro will follow.  We want to partner with the service techs and the pool guys—not cannibalize their business. In fact, we’re trying to make them more profitable and try to make them more efficient. It’s a partnership. This gadget does not solve all.  I don’t think everybody is going to adopt [new technologies] but the folks that will achieve the most success and profitability will embrace technology to be more efficient, more profitable, and to do more than less.  We look at technology as a two-way street. What we’re showing you is not the Holy Grail. We’re not saying, “Hey, it’s over. Take it as it is.” We’re saying, “Here’s what we have, Mr. Service Guy. What do you think it should be, and what would you like it to be?”  

Episode 169: Sutro - The Future of Pool Water Chemistry Controlled by an App & Professional Reagents with Jim Conti

 Episode Summary:  In today’s edition of Business Tip of the Month, we’re joined by Justin Kuperberg, Chief Development Officer at NPP.  Our discussion centers on what we believe are the three things that owners should consider when thinking about the future of their business: legacy, net worth, and intangibles.  Listen in as Justin speaks on the common factors that sellers overlook when selling their business and the steps that immediately follow.  He also encourages sellers to put themselves in the shoes of their buyer, and in fact for sellers to make sure that they are nurturing a relationship with the buyer that results in both parties experiencing total confidence throughout the transaction.  Topics Discussed:  00:42 - A brief introduction to Justin  02:52 - Legacy and considerations around selling your business  06:00 - Net worth and getting clear on your balance sheet  08:13 - Building a business versus running a business  09:38 - Negotiating with your company’s potential buyer  10:59 - Intangibles and tying up loose ends following the sale  12:55 - Finding the right buyer  Connect with Guest:  Website  Facebook  LinkedIn  Connect with Pool Chasers:  Website  Instagram  Facebook  Facebook Group  Twitter  YouTube  Patreon  Key Quotes from Episode:  Every deal is different. There are owners that are concerned with the financial aspects of the deal. There are owners that are concerned with their employees. [...] Those are questions that an owner needs to think about, write down, and quiz potential buyers of their business to understand the exact ramifications of what will happen to what they’ve built.  What you’re taking out of the business takes a degree of introspection to analyze.  As a seller, before you engage in that conversation, you should be thinking about all the things that are important to you, whether it’s, “What will my children think?” or, “What will happen to the holiday party we do every year?” Those are all valid questions that I answer all day long because those are all unique aspects of every deal and important in their own right to the individual sellers.  This is a relationship. As a seller of a company, you should be speaking to other people that have gone through the exact same mental exercise that you’re going through now and talk to those people about how their experience was. [...] If you can’t have access to those people, or if you can’t have those conversations, you should pause.  

Episode 168: Valuing Your Legacy - Business Tip of the Month with Justin Kuperberg of National Pool Partners

 Episode Summary:  Today we do a deep dive into AquaStar Pool Products. Founded in 2000, AquaStar grew to become a vertically integrated company that offers a variety of products such as spa jets and fittings, skimmers, ozonators, chlorinators, cleaners, and—as we talk about at length in today’s episode—VGBA drains.  In this conversation, we sit down with AquaStar Pool Products COO Todd Pieri and Director of Science and Compliance Steve Barnes. Listen in as Todd and Steve illustrate the importance of referring back to the fundamentals through the lens of sports (leading Todd to tell the story of how he won a bet with Michael Jordan on the golf course).  Steve goes in-depth on the history and function of the main drain and what pool professionals must be ready to explain to owners with regard to staying safe around their pool’s main drain. Steve also shares how AquaStar built their state-of-the-art facility and explains how the main drains are tested as well as how they must meet NSF standards.  The two also discuss the story of AquaStar and how it grew to be the multifaceted company it is today. They speak on AquaStar’s meticulous attention to detail and push for cutting-edge design, particularly when it comes to their drains and drain covers.  Topics Discussed:  02:40 - An introduction to Steve  06:09 - Steve’s personal entrapment experience  17:35 - An introduction to Todd  21:43 - Athletics helped Todd appreciate business fundamentals  28:28 - Todd’s experience winning money from Michael Jordan  35:47 - The history of the main drain dating back to 1915  39:05 - Main drain safety  56:12 - The AquaStar origin story and vertical integration  1:04:15 - AquaStar’s state of the art hydraulic testing facility  1:15:27 - NSF certification  1:17:23 - What AquaStar looks at in a drain cover  1:26:55 - How the changes to the VGBA law affects the trade  1:29:38 - What the future looks like for AquaStar        Sponsors:  AquaStar  Pentair  Lyon Financial  S.R. Smith  Acid Magic    Connect with Guest:  Website  Facebook  Instagram  Twitter  YouTube    Connect with Pool Chasers:  Website  Instagram  Facebook  Facebook Group  Twitter  YouTube  Patreon      Key Quotes from Episode:  Fundamentals are paramount in whatever you’re doing, whether it’s sports or business. I’ve learned early on that if you take care of the little things, they make a big difference. ~Todd  Is it going to be a residential pool or a commercial waterpark with five thousand gallons a minute? Everything in between is a different answer, and the only way to know those answers is to test. We can’t guess. We’ve got to test. ~Steve  Our whole goal is going to be efficiency and safety: efficiency for the homeowners, efficiency for the installers, and safety for both as well. ~Todd  We are the science. We are looking at optimizing absolutely all aspects of anything where we’re moving water. The pool industry 20 years ago was the Model T: We were getting stuff around and we were square, boxy, and underpowered. [...] We want to go to that modern vehicle: energy-efficient, powerful, fun, sexy, and safe. ~Steve    

Episode 167: AquaStar - Vertical Integration, State of The Art Research Facility & VGBA Updates with Todd Pieri & Steve Barnes

 Episode Summary:  Today’s special episode is the second in a new series we’re calling “News & Notes” in partnership with Pool Pro Magazine.  With the NFL season kicking off soon, start things off with an interesting pool story connected to Dallas Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott. We talk about a couple in Virginia Beach that turns out to be the tenth of a series of customers unsatisfied with the service of a particular swimming pool contractor. We also discuss another tragic piece concerning a semi-truck carrying pool chemicals crashing into a bank building in California. Finally, we give our thoughts on over ten stories of drownings that occurred in September.  Megan then goes over recent industry news, including the 2nd quarter earnings coming out for the major companies that are public and what that means for the industry as a whole. She also references a Reuters article covering why “the spot price per container on the China-U.S. East coast route- one of the world's busiest container lanes - has climbed over 550% from a year ago.”  Tyler and Megan also speak on the various regulatory changes in the industry, as well as exciting new events that pool professionals can look forward to in the coming months. Finally, Megan gives an announcement on the upcoming September-October issue of Pool Pro Magazine exclusively covering the commercial side of the industry.  Topics Discussed:  01:36 - An update on last episode’s news stories  03:04 - Recent notable pool-related news stories  06:45 - MCR Hotels begins charging for their amenities  08:42 - Public companies 2nd quarter earnings  12:12 - Freight has gone up 550% in the past year  14:09 - Industry standards and regulations changes  16:10 - The “Every Child a Swimmer” bill passed  17:14 - The PHTA’s new apprenticeship program  17:55 - IPSSA’s new affiliate membership  18:44 - Upcoming events for pool pros  20:05 - New movers and shakers in the industry  20:57 - Swimming in the 2020 Olympics  23:10 - Pool Pro Magazine’s September-October issue  Resources Mentioned:  In the News:  Champlain Towers update  Six Flags chemical leak update  Modpools Dwell article  MCR Hotels charging for amenities  Ezekiel Elliot’s dog allegedly bites pool cleaner  Couple wins $25,000 judgement  Semi with chemicals crashes into bank  DC Fire honors lifeguard  Police Officer saves man  Pool Industry News:  2nd Quarter Earnings (POOLCORP, Hayward, Pentair, Latham, Fluidra, Leslie’s)  Freight has gone up 550%  Virginia Graeme Baker (VGB) Updates  Department of Energy (DOE) Updates  Every Child a Swimmer Bill passed in FL  PHTA Apprentice Program  Upcoming Industry Events  Pool Industry Expo (PIE)  National Recreation and Park Association  Casual Market  World Aquatic Health Conference  Athletic Business Show  Movers and Shakers  Erin Brothers to Automatic Pool Covers  Rowdy Gaines to PHTA  Sept/OCT Pool Pro Magazine Issue  Commercial Pools Issue  Connect with Guest:  Episode Webpage  Website  Facebook  Instagram  Twitter  Connect with Pool Chasers:  Website  Instagram  Facebook  Facebook Group  Twitter  YouTube  Patreon  Key Quotes from Episode:  [The drownings this month are] just a reminder to the pool pros that we have a responsibility to do our part in promoting water safety to our clients in any way we can. ~Tyler  I do not know about the stock market. I am not an expert in studying these things. But I do think it’s interesting to look at the numbers because it does give you an idea of where the industry is at and what sales are looking like and how much we’re up as an industry. And right now, everybody is up. ~Megan  

Episode 166: September - News and Notes with Megan Kendrick of Pool Pro Magazine

 Episode Summary:  Chad Christensen is the Group Vice President of Wholesale at Leslie’s. Today known as “The World’s Largest Retailer of Swimming Pool Supplies”, Leslie’s had a humble start when it was founded 54 years ago in March 1963 as a small pool supply operation working out of a backyard shed in North Hollywood, California.  Leslie’s pool professional customers have always had access to their 925 store locations and over 17 commercial locations; but now, they will be able to enjoy the convenience of being able to shop for all their needs through the brand new Leslie’s Pro website at www.lesliespro.com.  Chad explains why Leslie’s decided to launch the website, taking into account rapid changes in consumer behavior in the last 18 months.  For pool trade professionals specifically, this new online platform by Leslie’s offers the ability to source and view inventory across their entire store network and the ability to view both wholesale and retail pricing with ease.  Overall, convenience and a personalized shopping experience is Leslie’s ultimate goal with the launch of the Leslie’s Pro website.  Topics Discussed:  01:12 - Catching up with Chad  02:55 - Why Leslie’s launched their new Pro website  04:00 - Designed specifically for pool professionals  05:14 - How consumer mindset has changed  08:47 - Convenience before & after hours  10:08 - The design and functionality of the website  13:12 - Share your feedback on the website  18:38 - How it adapts to the pool pro schedules  23:17 - The top three features of the website  24:39 - How to sign up for Leslie’s Pro website  27:41 - Different options to receive the ordered product  33:40 - What Leslie’s does to manage inventory  39:12 - Using a credit account to purchase products  39:35- New enhancements to the Pro Partner Program        Sponsors:  Leslie’s  Pentair  S.R. Smith  Acid Magic    Connect with Guest:  Website  Pro Website  Facebook  Instagram  Twitter  YouTube    Connect with Pool Chasers:  Website  Instagram  Facebook  Facebook Group  Twitter  YouTube  Patreon    Key Quotes from Episode:  Leslie’s, as a company, has wanted to be at the forefront for all of our customers to have the platforms and the ability for them to shop the way they want to shop and in the way they feel most comfortable.  The ultimate goal [for the new Leslie’s Pro website] is to provide the opportunity for pool trade professionals the avenue and the platform to shop the way they want to shop.  You look at what Leslie’s has done in the last year-and-a-half: We’ve completely converted our business to be an omni-business, because you have the functionality of being able to buy online and pick up in store and see real-time inventory in that area.  

Episode 165: Leslie's Pro Website with Chad Christensen

 Episode Summary:  Today’s special episode is the third in a new series we’re calling “Business Tip of the Month” in partnership with National Pool Partners.  Listen in as Chad offers his thoughts on nurturing a growth mindset as a pool professional. He explains why it is important to constantly be working at refining your customer base and why market saturation gives you an edge over your competition.  Your brand message ultimately consists of your core competencies. Chad encourages business owners to embrace their particular niche in the industry and to be unafraid of refining or tweaking their brand in response to market changes.  Finally, Chad explains why it pays to always be hiring and how hiring helps you keep a pulse on the market.  Topics Discussed:  00:44 - Introduction to Chad Nikkel & Aquaman Pools  01:46 - Why it's important to always be looking for new clients?  03:55 - Refining your brand on a regular basis   06:26 - How Chad relays brand changes to his team  07:30 - Why should you always be hiring?    Connect with Guest:  Website  Facebook  LinkedIn    Connect with Pool Chasers:  Website  Instagram  Facebook  Facebook Group  Twitter  YouTube  Patreon    Key Quotes from Episode:  You should constantly be working at refining your customer base.  Market saturation gives you an edge over your competition.  Successful business owners are those that are not afraid to tweak their brand slightly and get better at their core competencies.  Today’s clients are not the same as they were four months ago. They’re definitely not the same as they were two years ago.  

Episode 164: Growth Mindset - Business Tip of the Month with Chad Nikkel of National Pool Partners

 Episode Summary:  Mike Farley founded Farley Pool Designs in 2013 and exclusively serves the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex in partnership with construction team Claffey Pools. As a designer, Mike has produced over 300 YouTube videos where he offers information on the design and construction process of one-of-a-kind swimming pool and outdoor living projects.  He is the co-founder of the Million Dollar Pool Design Challenge with Reid Schindler. This yearly project stages the ultimate design challenge which is open to anyone and provides fellow pool designers the opportunity to learn from each other’s experiences and an up-close-and-personal look at different solutions to the same design challenge.  Mike has written over 100 articles with Watershapes to help provide educational resources for those in the pool industry and for over 20 years has been one of the most popular instructors at International and Regional Pool shows on design.  Listen in as Mike shares how he made the transition from landscape architecture to pool and outdoor living design, his unique approach to designing pools and where his best ideas come from, and why he developed the Million Dollar Pool Challenge.  Topics Discussed:  01:33 - An introduction to Mike Farley  18:42 - Mike on his mentors growing up  25:28 - Taking inspiration from nature  31:35 - How Mike approaches his designs  41:10 - Mike’s process for designing a pool  47:12 - Projects clients often underestimate costs on  53:14 - How Mike stays inspired  1:05:51 - Working with others who excel at your weakness  1:12:38 - Developing the Million Dollar Pool Challenge      Sponsors:  Pentair  Lyon Financial  Ledge Lounger    Connect with Guest:  Episode Webpage  Website  Million Dollar Pool Challenge  Instagram  Facebook  Pinterest  YouTube  Houzz    Connect with Pool Chasers:  Website  Instagram  Facebook  Facebook Group  Twitter  YouTube  Patreon    Key Quotes from Episode:  Anybody can fake it for a week. Some people can fake it for two. But in three weeks, you’re going to have to deal with yourself.  It’s not the shape of the pool that creates the environment—it’s the setting.  One of the cool things about what I do is I don’t have a style. [...] My philosophy is: I take the architectural style of the home, I take the yard, I take what the clients want—I create from there.  The best experience is somebody else’s; not yours.  There are certain things that you’re good at. There are other things that you’re not good at. Find what you’re not good at, hire someone to do that work, and you can be more productive. Quite honestly, they might love what you hate. It makes a better all-around team.    

Episode 163: Farley Pool Designs - Creating Outdoor Transformations Encompassing Client Lifestyles with Mike Farley

 Episode Summary:  Today’s special episode is the first in a new series we’re calling “News & Notes” in partnership with Pool Pro Magazine.  We kick things off by sharing our thoughts on some notable pool-related stories—from the recent success of the company known as the “AirBnB” for pools to Will Smith trying out the world’s deepest swimming pool in Dubai, to an arrest made in Florida of a woman who snuck into a retiree’s yard to swim naked in their pool.  Megan then goes over recent industry news, including a rising trend of pool companies going public as well as acquisitions being made in the industry, the long-awaited apprenticeship program that is finally being launched by the PSATC, BioLab rebuilding their facility, and movers and shakers in the industry.  Finally, we highlight two of our favorite Pool Pro articles from the latest issue.  Topics Discussed:  01:03 - Intro to Megan and Pool Pro Magazine  01:50 - Recent notable pool-related news stories  07:05 - Pool companies going public  10:08 - Acquisitions are on the rise  13:05 - PSATC’s new apprenticeship program  16:58 - BioLab rebuilds its facility  18:04 - Pool Industry movers and shakers  19:32 - The issue of plastic, leaky bottles  22:54 - Using different chemicals such as CalHypo      Resources Mentioned:  In the News:   Champlain Towers Collapse  Deep Dive Dubai Swimply (Airbnb For Pools) Six Flags Chemical Leak California Car in Pool Colorado Car in Pool Baby Deer Saved Skinny Dipping Florida Woman  Pool Industry News:  Companies Going Public (Leslie’s, Hayward, Latham) Acquisitions (POOLCORP, NPP, Fluidra/CMP) California Apprenticeship Program (Article, Website) BioLab Rebuilding Jeff Gray to Water Tech Jamie Novak to AquaStar Wendy Parker to Pool Troopers   Pool Pro Magazine Article Highlights:  Packaging Perils Beyond Trichlor  Connect with Guest:  Episode Webpage  Website  Facebook  Instagram  Twitter    Connect with Pool Chasers:  Website  Instagram  Facebook  Facebook Group  Twitter  YouTube  Patreon    Key Quotes from Episode:  Everybody in the pool industry knows that things are going really well right now. It’s booming. There are a lot of challenges, but there’s a lot of money coming into the pool industry.  Make sure that you and your employees are prepared from a safety perspective and are ready to do what you need to do to stay employed and keep your pools cleaned.  

Episode 162: August - News and Notes with Megan Kendrick of Pool Pro Magazine

 Episode Summary:  Today we do a deep dive into the recently established National Pool Partners. Officially launched in January 2021, the multi-regional pool service company has changed the game by partnering with local businesses to provide them the scale and resources of a national enterprise to better serve their customers, teammates, and partners.  In this conversation, we sit down with National Pool Partner CEO Augusto Titarelli, VP of Operational Excellence Eddie Skehan, and President of Texas Hal Denbar. All three of our guests are founding partners of the company.  Even with over 10,000 accounts under its belt already, NPP strives to maintain a kind of relationship with its partners typically only formed between local businesses and local customers. It does just this through its heavy involvement with the business of local brands and doing everything it can to nurture direct relationships with customers, elevate the standard of living of its employees, and support the front line.  Listen in as Augusto, Eddie, and Hal explain how their paths crossed—leading to the groundbreaking consolidation of pool companies in the form of NPP—and where they plan to take the brand from here on out.  Topics Discussed:  01:05 - Augusto's intro and NPP’s origin story  06:56 - Eddie’s partnership with NPP  12:47 - NPP’s approach to acquiring local companies  14:18 - Systemic process for listening to employees  18:05 - Bringing Patriot Pools into the NPP fold  26:13 - Why pool companies have never consolidated before  35:58 - NPP is creating opportunities that have never existed  38:43 - What changes Hal and Eddie are most excited about  41:55 - Freedom for leadership to do what they're passionate about  50:02 - The importance of supporting the front line (technicians)  58:46 - Catering to strengths and providing growth opportunities  1:05:30 - NPP’s overall vision for the industry  1:11:37 - Why aggregating companies unlocks new opportunities  1:18:12 - Where NPP is now and where they plan to go in the future        Sponsors:  NPP   Pentair  CCH  Primate Pool Tools  PoolRx    Connect with Guest:  Episode Webpage  Website  Facebook  LinkedIn    Connect with Pool Chasers:  Website  Instagram  Facebook  Facebook Group  Twitter  YouTube  Patreon    Key Quotes from Episode:  There’s a huge responsibility when you become a very large organization. We do $1.7 billion dollars of service in one single company. You can have that level of respect by building local brands. ~Augusto  You have to exist to support the front line. That’s your only mission. If you’re not there to help your tech do their work well and know everything he or she needs to know to do that work well, you have no reason to be there. ~Augusto  The only reason I partnered with NPP is because we were aligned on the value for the employees, the customers, and the company. It has to be all three. If you don’t have those three, together, it’s not going to work. ~Eddie  I like swimming pools. I might say I love swimming pools. But I’m not in the swimming pool industry because of swimming pools. What I’ve always found enjoyment in is creating jobs and opportunities for as many people as possible. That’s what gets me up in the morning. ~Hal  Passion is going to drive this industry; but, when passion is subject to the bureaucracy of having to get things done right, passion kind of gets smothered. ~Augusto  Whenever we improve any core area of a company such as leadership, that has trickle-down effects that affect everybody else. ~Eddie  It’s not about how you’re going to fix something that’s broken; it’s how you’re going to make it better. ~Augusto    

Episode 161: Revolutionizing Pool Service Through Partnership with Augusto, Eddie, and Hal of NPP (National Pool Partners)

 Episode Summary:  In today’s edition of Business Tip of the Month, we’re joined by second-generation swimming pool company owner Bryan Banta of B & B Pools.  With labor and many products in short supply and skyrocketing prices, it’s more important than ever to know your costs, including on a per-client or even a per-visit basis.  Listen in as Bryan gives his take on tracking and optimizing chemical usage. He explains the importance of having a system and focusing on margins if you want your business to thrive.  Bryan speaks on identifying problem pools and knowing which customers you need to fire. He then addresses the shortages and how the industry has adapted to newfound challenges and limitations.  Finally, Bryan touches on how to not let all of these rising costs run you out of business.  Topics Discussed:  00:48 - A brief introduction to Bryan and B&B Pools  03:16 - Why is it so important to know your costs?  05:48 - Setting up your system to gain more freedom  08:30 - Why is it so important to track chemical usage?  13:07 - Why do you need to identify problem pools?  18:20 - How pool professionals have adapted to the shortages  23:14 - How to not let costs run you out of business      Connect with Guest:  Episode Webpage  Website  Facebook  LinkedIn    Connect with Pool Chasers:  Website  Instagram  Facebook  Facebook Group  Twitter  YouTube  Patreon    Key Quotes from Episode:  [Knowing your costs] has never been more important than it is right now. For years and years, we’ve enjoyed consistency and plenty of availability of the chemicals we use. We took a lot of that for granted. Now we’re having to really struggle with that around the country.  Great businesses fail not because of the business or the owner, but because of low margins.  Being able to identify those problem pools is equivalent to a price increase if you can get rid of them.  It’s an extremely challenging time in our industry. I personally think, five years from now, we’re going to look back on this and it’s going to be the best thing that’s ever happened to our industry because a lot of companies are raising prices and those prices won’t come back down  

Episode 160: Know Your Costs - Business Tip of the Month with Bryan Banta of National Pool Partners

 Episode Summary:  Today, we sit down with Pentair’s Aftermarket Program Manager James Roberts, Program Manager of Energy Initiatives Jeff Farlow, and Associate Product Manager for Pool Pumps Kevin Harms.  Vital to the pool industry is the Department of Energy, which among other things promotes the raising of energy efficiency standards in every sector throughout the country. Pools are identified as the second-largest energy users in homes out of what Jeff calls the “big three”:  air conditioning, pool pumps, and hot water heating.  Listen in as Jeff, James, and Kevin discuss the DOE’s new Dedicated Purpose Pool Pump (DPPP) regulations which go into effect on July 19, 2021, and what pool companies need to know as these regulations are rolled out, including sales tactics for communicating to homeowners the need and benefits of switching over to variable speed pumps.  Topics Discussed:  00:47 - Jeff Farlow, James Roberts, and Kevin Harms Intro  05:06 - Why the DOE is vital to the pool industry  09:13 - DOE’s new Dedicated Purpose Pool Pump (DPPP) laws  12:01 - How pool professionals can explain these laws  22:10 - Variable speed sales tactics and tools  31:55 - Suggestions to homeowners who aren’t willing to upgrade  39:53 - Converting backyard opportunities into cash  50:47 - Setting up variable speed pumps for maximum success  54:58 - Converting data to sales  58:26 - Training offered by Pentair on the DPPP regulations  Sponsors:  Pentair  Leslie’s  Primate Pool Tools   Anderson Manufacturing  Skimmer  Connect with Guest:  Episode Webpage  DOE Website  Website  Facebook  Instagram  Twitter  LinkedIn  YouTube  Connect with Pool Chasers:  Website  Instagram  Facebook  Facebook Group  Twitter  YouTube  Patreon  Key Quotes from Episode:  Energy efficiency is one of the most cost-effective ways to improve the climate impact that we, as humans, are having. ~Jeff  The pool professional is the number one influencer on the consumer as to whether they purchase pool equipment. ~James  A variable speed pool pump can do everything that a single speed pool pump can do at least as good as, if not better. So, you’re not sacrificing anything, you’re getting everything you need to do with your pool, and you’re just minimizing the waste. Regardless of where you sit on that spectrum, it’s all about using what you need without waste. To me, that’s what energy efficiency is best defined as. ~Jeff  If you take a variable speed pump and run it fast enough for a couple of hours close to full speed, then run it at a minimum for the rest of the day, it keeps the water moving all day and keeps the filtration going. ~Kevin  

Episode 159: DOE Law and VS Pump Sales Tactics with Jeff Farlow, James Roberts, and Kevin Harms of Pentair

 Episode Summary:  Today, we sit down with Scott Frost, who has served as Senior Vice President of Sales for North America at Fluidra for almost three decades.  Since its founding in 1969, Fluidra has grown into a well-respected multinational group in the pool and wellness industry, operating in more than 45 countries through its subsidiaries with a team of over 6000 employees. Fluidra’s portfolio includes a number of prestigious brands such as Jandy®, AstralPool®, Polaris®, Cepex®, Zodiac®, CTX Professional®, and Gre®.  Scott says that, after over 28 years, nothing compares to this particular crisis. He speaks on how the pool industry has been impacted by the pandemic since the beginning of 2020 and what opportunities emerged in the new normal among the radical changes that the industry has undergone as a whole.  However, Scott also notes that there are more positives than negatives in the long run and that one of the most important ways for companies to thrive is for them to have open, honest communication with their customers as everybody continues to navigate these uncertain times.  Topics Discussed:  01:05 - An introduction to Scott Frost  05:32 - The past year was both “an exciting and challenging time”  11:05 - Tackling challenges and rethinking just-in-time systems  16:03 - How the pandemic has influenced Fluidra’s decisions  18:33 - Why no other crisis compares to this one  19:45 - The pandemic’s positive effects on the industry  25:44 - The pandemic’s negative effects on the industry  28:15 - Texas freeze effects  33:25 - Suez Canal, trucking, and freight effects  35:47 - How manufacturers are alleviating supply chain issues  40:11 - How to help customers navigate these tricky times  48:34 - How dealers can adjust consumer expectations  52:06 - How Scott sees the industry recovering        Sponsors:  Fluidra  Pool Pro Mag  Connect with Guest:  Episode Webpage  Website  Facebook  Instagram  Twitter  LinkedIn  YouTube    Connect with Pool Chasers:  Website  Instagram  Facebook  Facebook Group  Twitter  YouTube  Patreon    Key Quotes from Episode:  “Just-in-time” only works if you have historical basis to understand what the future will bring, and there is now such a lack of understanding of what the future holds.  A positive from the pandemic is that I’m now spending a lot more time talking about the convenience and the fun of owning a pool. It’s put us on the radar.  We’re in the backyard entertainment business.  The easy thing is to react to what the consumer wants. “I need my pump fixed,” or “I need my pool cleaned.” That’s reacting. Being proactive and looking at your business with a proactive approach is a good practice.  

Episode 158: State of the Pool Industry with Scott Frost of Fluidra

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