The COVID-19-induced home improvement boom continues to bring historically high inquiry rates for spa retailers. During this fortunate sales increase period, industry business leaders have been searching for tools to help ensure quality customer service, and chatbot/web chat technology seems to be one of the trending answers. Jennifer Gannon, owner of BonaVista LeisureScapes in Toronto,…
Doug RobinsonOwner, Virginia LeisureChesapeake, Virginia We carry Breezesta patio furniture. Another retailer was carrying it down in south Florida, and my store manager thought we should bring it in. First, we brought in only Adirondack chairs to put out front to gain attention. Most ancillary products were just to get people in the store…
Geolocation technology can help you hone in on people who are right in your area, even if they’re just there for a short time. For those who are unfamiliar with geolocation marketing, the term (as well as geomarketing and geofencing) refers to using geographic information in strategizing and aiming marketing activity. Mobile devices transmit location…
Doug RobinsonOwner, Virginia LeisureChesapeake, Virginia Prices are going up quickly. I sell four manufacturers’ hot tubs, and two of the four have had significant [freight] price increases. That makes it even more imperative that when we buy spas, we buy them by the truckload. If we buy them half truck and send them LTL…
Doug Robinson Owner, Virginia Leisure Chesapeake, Virginia Doug Robinson began his industry career in sales at Orlando’s Rec Warehouse in 1992, eventually becoming a regional manager and moving to Virginia Beach. As Rec Warehouse met financial difficulty, Robinson began to dream of being his own boss. He opened Virginia Leisure in Chesapeake, selling outdoor…
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…