My favorite part of this job has always been talking to spa retailers on the front line selling directly to consumers. I love hearing the good, bad and ugly of selling hot tubs and swim spas. When time permits I prefer to visit retailers personally, but press deadlines and other time commitments usually force me to pick up the telephone instead. I consistently call 10 to 20 retailers a week ...

Some things are just better together: peanut butter and jelly, sun and sand, Batman and Robin, popcorn and movies and, of course, spas and off-site events. There’s no question that state fairs, home expos and garden shows just wouldn’t be the same without a few spa retailers pitching their hot tubs and swim spas to patrons. Off-site events are back in a major way and many retailers ...

I know, at first glance it seems like an oxymoron. For some reason our minds (at least mine) have trouble getting our heads around a socially explosive topic like “green” chemicals. During a 2008 Swiss study, 75 percent of consumers agreed with the following statement: “It’s not how much of a chemical you are exposed to that should worry you, but whether or not you ...

Unless you live in a cave or don’t open your mail, you know that the Int’l Pool | Spa | Patio Expo is quickly approaching – November 13-18 in Las Vegas. Few would disagree that this annual show is important and offers a unique opportunity to see new products, visit existing vendors, listen to informative workshops, take a few classes and even rekindle old friendships. ...

I know I, just like you, love the feeling of closing a big sale and the satisfaction I get from adding a new customer to our business. There’s little doubt you work hard to differentiate yourself from competitors and educate your customers on the value of doing business with you. Yet, many of you do little after the check clears to drive additional revenue through your service department. ...

This is my favorite issue of the year! Every year we create a SR issue focused on the success, ingenuity and resilience of spa retailers around the country. Our editors and photographers have worked tirelessly to interview and highlight the strategies that are working to drive traffic and increase sales. A special thank you also extends to spa manufacturers who nominated a large number of retailers who ...