In 2011, I wrote about the life of hot tub sales reps (bit.ly/2011Reps). I not only liked hearing tales from the road, but I was also fascinated by the rep lifestyle. Far removed from my days in front of a computer and traveling to trade shows once or twice a year, I could not comprehend…
It’s long hours spent on the road. It’s being on call 24/7. It’s no such thing as set business hours. It’s friendships and comradery. This is a spa manufacturer sales rep: A hodge-podge career where a rep’s professional and personal life are often indistinguishable. On the Road Again “Go, go, go, — weekends included,” says…
When listing things that measure about 21 feet — a giraffe, Washington’s nose on Mount Rushmore, vaulted ceilings in million-dollar homes — a swim spa isn’t commonly counted among them. Its typical length ranges from 13 to 18 feet — that is, until Canadian hot tub manufacturer Coast Spas released its new 2100VE swim spa…
Ten years ago, salt chlorinating and web connectivity were top of mind for Canada-based hot tub manufacturer Arctic Spas. The company looked to create a competitive edge, says co-owner Brent Macklin, so Arctic started exploring options. “We actually went and bought a little hardware-software company,” Macklin says. “If we were going to build a spa…
Pride Pools, Spas & Leisure Products, with showrooms in Savannah and Claxton, Georgia, is heavily involved in the communities surrounding its two locations, supporting more than 20 charities. Owned by three siblings — Alex Smith, Sherry Buckman and Marshall Smith, who purchased the business in 1999 from their retiring father and company founder, Gary Smith…
Marquis started working with the Make-A-Wish Foundation in 2000 when the local Oregon chapter reached out to the company to help fulfill a wish. “Once the Marquis management and staff came to understand what it all meant to be involved in a Wish, and how a hot tub Wish offered so much more than a…
While manufacturer representatives find their jobs very rewarding — as partners in success with the dealers under their care — that doesn’t mean the job comes without challenges. “The hardest part is running into unexpected issues or delays, whether a vendor-related issue or with shipping and freight on product going to our dealers. We can’t…
Brian WasikOwner, Spas of MontanaMissoula & Helena, Montana I have [our reps] come at least a couple times a year and work with my guys — and I time the training during one of our sales, so I get to double up. The rep is someone you talk to quite a bit. You have to…
If you came out of tax season feeling like you left money on the table, it might be time for a new certified public accountant. More than just an accountant and a tax specialist, a CPA steers and guides business owners through complex financial hurdles. Whether you hire in-house or outsource the work, finding a…
In the spa industry, with its variable busy seasons depending on location, it’s crucial to have employee attendance policies. Such written policies should include who is and is not eligible for paid time off, or as 21st Century Pools and Spas in Vestal, New York, calls it: Flexible time off. For 21st Century, all salary…
Our tech-heavy culture has a tendency to turn nouns into verbs, not the least of which is “Google.” So when it comes to customers finding your business listing, the Google My Business service is not something you want to leave unmonitored. Kristy Verity, brand strategist and owner of Vee Media in New York, says hot…
You’re driving along listening to the radio, when ahead you see a big white tent with banners waving in the wind. There wasn’t one there yesterday. Curiosity takes over, and you look to see what’s happening. In big letters, the banners shout HOT TUBS plus a local business’s logo. There is a very good reason…