Compiled by Kim Patterson Any store owner who’s changed locations or added a location knows the process comes with glitches. Sometimes major problems arise, and other times a series of smaller mishaps add up to big frustrations. It can be challenging to anticipate every detail that can go sideways. Here, retailers share their experiences. Coordinating…
When backyard renovations are on the agenda, homeowners often look for pictures of completed projects to start their brainstorming. And with more than 40 million unique users a month, Houzz has become the go-to platform for home design and renovation. “People invest in spas for [a certain] lifestyle and nothing communicates what someone is going…
Rohan Mehta Arctic Spas Durham co-owner Whitby, Ontario We sold trampolines, and they were amazing. We had enough showroom to have a couple on display; we kept an inventory in our warehouse that customers could pick up and assemble themselves. They were great to have in the showroom as kids would be occupied bouncing and…
Rene Huston Patio Pleasures Pools & Spas Owner/Vice President of Finance, Sales and Marketing We use Evosus. Before investing in Evosus, we used a very basic POS software but we outgrew it. Evosus seems to serve us well based on our business size. I especially like its inventory management capabilities, the purchase order process, the integration…
By Clearwater Pool & Spa To pull off a successful tent sale, evaluate the associated costs, examine the importance of coworker buy-in and earn community participation. Recognize the connection between these vital components and you’ll potentially sell an average of one spa per day over a one-month period. Costs Investing in the success of a…
Bill Renter Best Hot Tubs president Farmingdale, Westbury and Windham New York We have stores that are busy in spring and summer, and another location that is busy in fall and winter. This evens out seasonality to reduce stress in the offseason. Make sure your overhead is reasonable, and in the event of another…
Rene Huston Patio Pleasures Pools & Spas owner/vice president of finance, sales and marketing Sun Prairie and Madison, Wisconsin Huston was always drawn to entrepreneurship. Her background is in sales and marketing, where she built her professional career in the print and digital communications industry. In 2006, her family was approached with the opportunity to…
For more than 30 years, Bill Renter owned a landscape design/build firm, The Deck & Patio Company, which he recently sold. The company built decks, patios, pergolas and ponds, and did all the landscaping in between. Many those projects involved incorporating a pool or hot tub. Eventually, Renter went on to sell hot tubs and…