The SpaRetailer Podcast

Don Riling, owner of Olympic Hot Tub, joins Megan on the podcast to talk about COVID-19 and how it is impacting his Seattle business. Riling had to close all of his stores after the state issued a stay-home mandate, which meant laying off 16 people. Riling shares the techniques he’s using to continue to get hot tub sales despite his physical locations being closed and how he’s personally coping with the hardship. https://sparetailer.com/feed/podcast/ Let’s do our best to support each other and the industry right now! Join our Facebook group to share information, vent and find support during these difficult times. Read more of our coronavirus coverage:Retailer Reactions to COVID-19Taking it Day By DayIn Times of CoronaCOVID-19: What to Do NowPivot or Perish Let us know what you think about this episode and others by emailing [email protected]. You can also leave us a voicemail at 405-992-0160 and we’ll listen to your question on the air.

If you haven’t met Greg Welsh you’ve probably heard his name before. Welsh is a longtime sales trainer in the hot tub industry, having started his career selling hot tubs in Portland before working for Watkins Manufacturing. Welsh is now an independent sales trainer who works across many industries. He joins Megan and Jeff to talk about the importance of training programs, what type of training he sees that works and how to get employees to engage in the process. He’s also got some great stories from his life on the road, This episode is sponsored by Strong Spas. Experience true spa convenience at the touch of a button! Strong Spas’ fully-automated Dura-Shield HardCover is another example of Strong’s innovative engineering in a long line of industry firsts! Strong has taken the durability and strength of its HardCover and made the ease of use even simpler. Effortlessly open and close Dura-Shield with a simple turn of a key! Strong’s Dura-Shield HardCover holds 1,000+ lbs. and comes with a limited Lifetime Guarantee! Read more about the Dura-Shield HardCover here. https://sparetailer.com/feed/podcast/

Jeff and Megan talk to Steve Berens, the founder and CEO of Clear Comfort. Steve talks to us about his AOP system and what it does, but also what the next generation of hot tub buyers is going to demand from their hot tubs and buying experience. Let us know what you think about this episode and others by emailing [email protected]. You can also leave us a voicemail at 405-992-0160 and we’ll listen to your question on the air. This episode is sponsored by Marquis. AQUATIC TRAINING VESSELS HIGH FLOW THERAPY: FASTER, FITTER, FIERCER Aquatic Training Vessels are much more than a traditional swim spa. Hydrodynamic flow design and control plus a unique range of pumps and jet arrays deliver water flow users can customize for their aquatic workout. The Kona’s exclusive system design uses six Whitewater-4 jets to deliver water flow beyond the volumes created by the pumps, delivering up to 39% more flow than comparably sized competitive jets, plus two mid-vessel Buoyancy Jets that provide mid-to-lower torso lift during swimming. The V150 party/swim tub utilizes Whitewater-4 jets: three swim jets and two footwell jets, plus Directional, Conal and Orbital Jetpods in eight therapy seats. https://sparetailer.com/feed/podcast/

Jamie Novak, NC Brands brand manager at BioLab, joins us on the podcast. Novak is about to complete her MBA from the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School, and talks about new marketing techniques to help you stand out in all the advertising noise. A couple new tools Novak suggests are: UserTesting.com, which gives you feedback on your website from real consumers. SpyFU.com, which helps you research keywords that are working in your market. Highlights from NC Brands trade show appearances, the Chris Marcano hologram and dancing chicken. Let us know what you think about this episode and others by emailing [email protected]. You can also leave us a voicemail at 405-992-0160 and we’ll listen to your question on the air. This episode is sponsored by Bullfrog Spas. Does your spa business offer a customer experience that engages and excites? Bullfrog Spas is the only hot tub manufacturing partner with a program dedicated to retail experience. Power Per Square Foot is a set of customer experience best practices designed to elevate dealership performance. With game-changing products, interactive sales tools, and step-by-step planning guides, Power Per Square Foot by Bullfrog Spas provides the complete package you need to succeed in today’s retail environment. Visit bullfrogspas.com to learn about dealership opportunities today! https://sparetailer.com/feed/podcast/

Goodbye 2019! Megan and Jeff review the year for The SpaRetailer Podcast, the hot tub industry and their lives. We’ll be back with new episodes in February. https://sparetailer.com/feed/podcast/

Megan and Jeff talk to John Bokor, aka Legend, and the face of the YouTube channel Legendary Pools & Spas. A regional sales rep with Haviland chemicals, John and “the other John” put together fun, informational and educational videos about the pool and hot tub industry. Megan was at the filming of their Nordic Spas video (her hair even makes an appearance at the 2:30 minute mark). John talks about his background owning a pool and spa retail store, his move to Haviland and how and why they got the YouTube channel started. Other links from the show: John’s favorite video from last Thanksgiving. Marketing Outrageously by Jon Spoelstra Business Wars podcast The Men Who Built America on the History Channel https://sparetailer.com/feed/podcast/ This episode is sponsored by Strong Spas. Experience true spa convenience at the touch of a button! Strong Spas’ fully-automated Dura-Shield HardCover is another example of Strong’s innovative engineering in a long line of industry firsts! Strong has taken the durability and strength of its HardCover and made the ease of use even simpler. Effortlessly open and close Dura-Shield with a simple turn of a key! Strong’s Dura-Shield HardCover holds 1,000+ lbs. and comes with a limited Lifetime Guarantee! Read more about the Dura-Shield HardCover here.

Megan and Jeff talk to John Bokor, aka Legend, and the face of the YouTube channel Legendary Pools & Spas. A regional sales rep with Haviland chemicals, John and “the other John” put together fun, informational and educational videos about the pool and hot tub industry. Megan was at the filming of their Nordic Spas video (her hair even makes an appearance at the 2:30 minute mark). John talks about his background owning a pool and spa retail store, his […]

David Isaacs, owner of Isaacs Pools and Spas in Johnson City, Tennessee, talks about taking over the family business. The company went from a “small time” pool builder in Elizabethton to now having two retail locations in Johnson City, one that houses its Hot Spring line and the its Bullfrog line. Isaacs explains why he wanted to move the brands into separate showrooms and how each offers a different experience for his customers. https://sparetailer.com/feed/podcast/ Expansion Stars: Bullfrog Spas of Tri-Cities Widening the Funnel The podcast will return after Thanksgiving! Let us know what you think about this episode and others by emailing [email protected]. You can also leave us a voicemail at 405-992-0160 and we’ll listen to your question on the air. This episode is sponsored by Marquis. MicroSilk® SKIN HEALTH AND BEAUTY TREATMENT WHILE YOU SOAK Marquis’ MicroSilk beauty treatment moisturizes and hydrates at the same time. Micro bubbles envelope your body in a soothing, effervescent cloud of oxygen, diving deeply into pores to restore collagen. MicroSilk leaves your skin silky with reduced fine lines and wrinkles. A MicroSilk bubble is negatively charged, approximately 50 to 100 times smaller than a typical hot tub bubble. Negatively charged ions are credited with increased serotonin production which is associated with emotional stability, a sense of well-being and promotes restful sleep. MicroSilk is available on Signature line models Spirit, Promise (1 pump), Resort, Euphoria, Epic, and all Vector21 hot tub models. Learn More: http://www.marquisspas.com/accessories/microsilk/

Joe Stone in his original Manteca showroom in 2015 Most stores that sell swim spas started as hot tub stores and added swim spas down the line. When Joe Stone opened Swim Fitness in 2010, however, his focus from the start was selling swim spas. In fact, Stone thinks of his business as a swim spa store that happens to sell a few hot tubs instead of the reverse. https://sparetailer.com/feed/podcast/ If you don’t recognize Stone’s name from our magazine (he’s been one of our Retail Stars as well as a panelist), you may know him as one of the original founders of Balboa Instruments, one of the largest manufacturers of hot tub control systems. Stone sold his stake in Balboa in 2007 and briefly retired before Michael Phelps and Master Spas enticed him to give retail a try. Also, check out the CRM Stone recommends, Infusionsoft (now called Keap). This episode is sponsored by Strong Spas. Experience true spa convenience at the touch of a button! Strong Spas’ fully-automated Dura-Shield HardCover is another example of Strong’s innovative engineering in a long line of industry firsts! Strong has taken the durability and strength of its HardCover and made the ease of use even simpler. Effortlessly open and close Dura-Shield with a simple turn of a key! Strong’s Dura-Shield HardCover holds 1,000+ lbs. and comes with a limited Lifetime Guarantee! Read more about the Dura-Shield HardCover here.

Scott Clark has added four locations since he and his wife Shelley opened The Spa and Sauna Co. in Reno, for a total of five stores. But the last two stores he opened are more than 200 miles and a state away from his headquarters. https://sparetailer.com/feed/podcast/ Clark purchased an existing business in California, which added stores in Santa Cruz and San Jose. He talks about what it’s been like to integrate these stores into his company, the importance of making incremental changes and the surprises that came up along the way. Let us know what you think about this episode and others by emailing [email protected]. You can also leave us a voicemail at 405-992-0160 and we’ll listen to your question on the air. This episode is sponsored by Bullfrog Spas. Does your spa business offer a customer experience that engages and excites? Bullfrog Spas is the only hot tub manufacturing partner with a program dedicated to retail experience. Power Per Square Foot is a set of customer experience best practices designed to elevate dealership performance. With game-changing products, interactive sales tools, and step-by-step planning guides, Power Per Square Foot by Bullfrog Spas provides the complete package you need to succeed in today’s retail environment. Visit bullfrogspas.com to learn about dealership opportunities today!