It’s our first issue of 2022! We are kicking off the new year by taking a closer look at putting hot tub pricing online. I recently spoke at a manufacturers’ dealer conference, and much of the feedback concerned retailers revealing their prices online without upsetting their manufacturers and/or other retailers. The pandemic has only accelerated…
Online Pricing With the COVID-19 pandemic, widespread shutdowns and the dramatic increase in online shopping, more and more spa retailers are showcasing online pricing for hot tubs on their websites. Historically, it was uncommon for spa retailers to share their prices online, as many manufacturers did not allow it. Retailers have also preferred not to…
Manufacturers are staying proactive with expansion plans designed to speed production and streamline processes. From additional work shifts to building out larger spaces, greater output is great for the industry: More facilities mean more jobs, more economic growth — and more hot tubs delivered sooner. As some manufacturers settle into new facilities and refine processes,…
Steepleton, the home leisure company that calls itself “Kentucky’s choice for home entertainment, games and outdoor fun,” has evolved over the years, but the core remains a sharp focus on family and customer service. The company, which has locations in Lexington and Louisville, was started in 1910 by Clyde and Claude Steepleton. Initially, the business…
Megan KendrickEditor in chief Megan grew up in North Dakota but escaped the cold to attend college in Phoenix. She went on to get her master’s in journalism from Northwestern University and got her first post-graduate job at Bigfish Publications in 2008. In 2018 she bought PoolPro and SpaRetailer from Bigfish and started Kendrick Content….
Predicting hot tub lead times remains a serious planning headache for dealers. Like much of the pandemic’s timeframe, it’s anyone’s guess when products will land on a dealer’s or customer’s doorstep. “To say it is frustrating is a serious understatement,” says David Isaacs, owner of Isaacs Pools & Spas and Bullfrog Spas of Tri-Cities near…
With the recent launch of its Summit series of swim spas, PDC Spas focused on creating an optimized user experience, whether for swim or relaxation. “We felt there was a consumer need for a product that offered a powerful, effective fitness experience along with the optimum of hydrotherapy that other models and brands did not…
Inspired by the desire to alter the experience of spa owners — making it less of a chore and more about escaping into relaxation and focusing on wellness — Solenis, which recently merged with Sigura Water, leveraged consumer feedback and data from the best-selling products in its previous BAQUASpa and Brillance spa care brands (now…
CBD-infused bath-and-body products are touted for their ability to coax users into relaxation. When Aqua Quip, based in the Puget Sound area of Washington, recognized an increased interest in CBD products from its customers, they added a CBD bath bomb to their offerings in 2019. But it quickly…bombed. “It was clouding up our customers’ water,”…
There are many possibilities when designing an outdoor living space. Luckily, greater freedom of choice and customization exists through Toja Grid, which offers modular pergolas and accessories for consumers to DIY their dream backyard. Toja Grid offers dozens of pergola kit options as well as nearly every conceivable bracket style for customization. Planters, hammocks, tables,…
As of January 1, Steve Hammock retired as president of Watkins Wellness, shifting into an emeritus position until his last day on April 1, 2022. Hammock says it’s time. “I’ve been at this for 40 years,” he says, “so whether we are at the top of our game or somewhere else, it was my time…
In the 2021 show issue of SpaRetailer, we issued a challenge to show us your ‘red sink’ designs. As columnist Linda Cahan explains, a ‘red sink’ is something every store should implement: a visual “wow” a customer will remember long after leaving. Spa dealers are proving they have what it takes to leave a lasting…