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

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 

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

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 <

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 

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 

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: 

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 

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

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