Podcasts – SpaRetailer.com

For more than a decade Multi-Tech Products has been supplying acrylic repair materials to the hot tub and bath industries, working behind the scenes with manufacturers and acrylic suppliers. Under new ownership, the company is now stepping out in front of the industry, hoping to streamline the ordering process for retailers and consumers. Meet the new owners and hear about their plans for the future, and what they've seen going on in the hot tub industry from their unique vantage […]

The International Hot Tub Association has been working to protect the hot tub industry since 2008. Now part of the PHTA, the chair and vice-chair of the organization's leadership team joins the podcast to talk about its membership drive. Steve Stigers, vice president of marketing at Watkins Wellness, and Tracine Marroquin, vice president of marketing at Jacuzzi Group may be competitors, but the two work together to ensure the hot tub industry doesn't get roped into undo legislation. To do […]

Gunnar Graven is the second generation in his family at the helm of Steepleton in Louisville, Kentucky, but the fourth generation overall to run the business founded in 1908. Graven has turned his company's website into its third location — making a concerted effort to ramp up online sales, including selling hot tubs online. Graven talks us through the evolution of their website and how they beat his ecommerce sales goals six times over. This episode is sponsored by Marquis. AQUATIC […]

Ben Poggemiller is back on The SpaRetailer Podcast to share what his company has been doing to sell swim spas. Before 2021, there hadn't been much of a focus on swim spas at Urban Life Pools & Hot Tubs, but now they are all-in. Hear Poggemiller's tips to putting together a successful swim spa marketing campaign. Hear Ben Poggemiller on other episodes: Episode #54, The Long Game with Ben Poggemiller Episode #46, Find and Convert Online Leads with Ben Poggemiller […]

This episode's guest is NASCAR racer Ryan Truex. Truex drives the #40 Chevrolet for Niece Motorsports, emblazoned with Marquis logos. As a Marquis brand ambassador, Truex has done lots of fun promotions and collaborations, unlike what is typically seen in the hot tub industry. He also hosts his own podcast from his Marquis hot tub, with guests joining him in the water. Truex says his Marquis spa is an integral part of his post-race recovery. This episode is sponsored by […]

In addition to the supply and demand stress that everyone in the industry has felt, BioLab had the added challenge of a factory fire. Hurricane Laura caused a fire that destroyed its plant that manufactures trichlor, one of the main forms of chlorine used in the swimming pool (and sometimes spa) industry. Alicia Stephens and Andrea Chaney from BioLab are on the podcast to help explain what happened and why, besides the fire, you’re experiences chemical shortages and delays. They […]

No matter how good or bad you were at marketing and promoting your pool and spa business in 2020, most of the dealers and manufacturers listening to this podcast had a significant increase in sales in 2020 and are forecasting a good 2021. In today’s podcast we talk about the pandemic, but it’s in the context of why some dealers were more prepared and faster to adapt to the changing retail landscape and do so more efficiently and with less stress.   […]

Ted Lawrence, the corporate category retail manager at Poolcorp, brings a global perspective to hot tub and swimming pool retail and supply chain. We talk about setting up buy-online-pick-up-in-store (BOPIS) and how it’s not as hard as it sounds, as well as other marketing, merchandising and retail trends you should be up on. Don’t miss Ted’s last episode here.

If you’ve learned more about the global supply chain in the last year than ever before, you’re not alone. Today we’re talking to Bob Confer from Confer Plastics in North Tonawanda, New York. Confer supplies the hot tub industry with a variety of blow-molded plastics products like steps and hot tub siding. In addition to sharing more about his company and how it got started, Confer talks us through the plastics manufacturing process and why the February freeze in Texas […]

We’re talking about expansion again. Obviously, it’s a weird and interesting time to think about adding a new location. On the one hand, there are some amazing commercial real estate opportunities out there, on the other, how are you going to get enough product to fill a new space?  Brian Quint from Aqua Quip in Seattle joins us again to talk about expanding during this strange time. Aqua Quip moved a location and opened an entire new store in the […]

Have you ever gotten so frustrated with your business that you threatened to “burn it down?” Earl and Josh Michels from Backyard Leisure don’t recommend it. When a fire destroyed their flagship location in 2018, the father/son duo used what could have been a tragedy to move their business forward. Hear how they overcame the fire, opened a new location during the pandemic and their plan to be the Bass Pro Shop of hot tubs.

Ted Lawrence, the corporate category retail manager at Poolcorp, brings a global perspective to hot tub and swimming pool retail and supply chain. Lawrence talks about the successful changes he saw retailers make during the pandemic, the larger trends in retail the industry needs to prepare for and how supply/demand will impact 2021.

Andy Tournas, founder of ThermoSpas, Hot Tub Products and the International Hot Tub Association, joins us on the podcast today to talk about all three. Andy reflects on his time in the industry, and shares some of the new products and services Hot Tub Products is bringing to the industry. Check out other stories in SpaRetailer about Hot Tub Products: Lifting the Burden Hot Tub Products Launches New Marketing Campaign

Ben Poggemiller from Urban Life Pools & Hot Tubs joins us again to share what’s changed in his business since we spoke at the beginning of the pandemic. He talks about how they’re handling ordering, selling and customer follow up now that hot tubs are sold out. Listen to our first episode with Poggemiller here. Join Poggemiller’s Mastermind Facebook group. Let us know what you think about this episode and others by emailing podcast@sparetailer.com. You can also leave us a […]

Ronak Shah runs Oklahoma-based Galaxy Home Recreation with his sister and extended family. Two years ago they started construction on a new location in Edmond, Oklahoma, an affluent suburb of Oklahoma City. The store was scheduled to open in March 2020, but then COVID hit. Ronak shares how his father, Mukesh, started Galaxy and its evolution from pool tables, to coin operated machines, to hot tubs and how he and his sister Nimisha took over when Mukesh died unexpectedly. Now, […]

Dennis Gentek has pretty much seen it all in the hot tub industry. His 32-year career in the industry, spent almost exclusively as a rep for Jacuzzi/Sundance, spans almost every dip, recession and worldwide crisis, which now includes the coronavirus. Gentek shares how his life as a sales rep has changed during the pandemic (a lot less travel), the industry trends he thinks are here to stay and the smart things he’s seen dealers do to stay ahead.

We’ve all become keenly aware of supply chains in 2020 — from toilet paper, to groceries, to all the things that make a hot tub. Custom Molded Products, or CMP, is one of the vital suppliers for hot tub manufacturers making everything from jets, valves, lights, sanitation systems and the list goes on. We talk to Allen Kalkomey, vice president of sales and marketing, and Vic Walker, director of marketing and product design. Kalkomey and Walker bring different perspectives to the […]

When Sabeena Hickman joined the newly formed PHTA in the fall of 2019, she thought she knew what her biggest challenge would be — continuing to merge two legacy associations. What neither she, or anyone, anticipated was the world being turned upside down by a global pandemic. Sabeena talks to us about how coronavirus changed the PHTA and industry’s year and how that impacted its new strategic action plan. To become a member of the PHTA/IHTA visit PHTA.org This episode is […]

How he went from being a wild kid, to a star Yellow Pages salesman, to hot tub industry entrepreneur. For every business partnership that’s soured, Greer has the opposite tale. We talk to him about his life in the hot tub industry and what happened to Core Covers during the shutdown and order influx. 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 […]

Neither Jeff nor Megan were able to enjoy the libations during this conversation between two industry legends. Haviland graciously recorded a podcast episode for us, and John “Legend” Bokor, who we had on back Episode #39 chats lakeside with longtime Haviland president Art Harre. Harre is retiring at the end of 2020 and reflects on his time in the industry. Sit back and enjoy fun tales of the industry past, and some ideas on how to tackles challenges of the […]

Aqua-Tech Pools, Hot Tubs and Bathrooms has pivoted to not only survive the pandemic, but to thrive. Showroom manager, Kathi Belcourt, shares what they’ve done to keep sales flowing. 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 […]

Ben Poggemiller is a digital marketer turned hot tub business owner in Manitoba, Canada. He’s used his marketing background to put together a successful system to collect leads and sell spas without ever seeing a customer face-to-face. We interviewed Poggemiller before the COVID crisis, and he was kind enough to

Listen to a rebroadcast of a free webinar conducted by Clear Comfort and SpaRetailer. Megan is joined by Steve Berens to discuss how to conduct business while also social distancing. A few of the things covered include: Technologies for engagement and revenue Virtual selling  Training Staff Build comfort and trust 

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

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

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

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:

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.

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

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

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

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. Clark purchased an existing business

The second half of our conversation with Justin Miller, the founder of pHin. We talk about how pHin specifically works in hot tubs, and how Jeff is planning on using them in his company. We also touch on the inline hot tub version of pHin that’s currently being tested. Not

Justin Miller has a background unlike any other we’ve had on the podcast before — NASA, Apple, eBay and Comcast just to name a few. His focus on customer experience at those companies helped lead him and a partner to develop pHin, a water monitoring device for pools and hot tubs.

Megan and Jeff are back with a new season of The SpaRetailer Podcast. We chat about our sudden departure last season, what we’ve been up to this summer (Megan reveals a big surprise) and what we’ve got coming up on episodes this fall. We also introduce the SpaRetailer 10 — 10

Sean Doyle, longtime marketer and author of Shift, joins us on the podcast to discuss the marketing challenges facing small business owners. Sean works with businesses to help evaluate their marketing and develop a better strategy. You can learn more about his business, or get a copy of Shift, at

Dan Friedman from The Hot Tub Store joins us on the podcast to talk about reviews. He was recently interviewed for a story on Yelp, and we talk about that as well as Google reviews. Jeff and Dan’s stores both use Broadly to help them manage reviews, but there are

In the February/March issue of SpaRetailer, we outlined how the trucker shortage was impacting hot tub retailers. This week on The SpaRetailer Podcast we talk to a transportation expert about some of the issues facing that industry. Doug Punzel, president of Celtic Intermodal, has worked for more than three decades

Longtime SpaRetailer columnist, Linda Cahan, joins us to talk about the right way to merchandise hot tub chemicals. Not the prettiest part of spa retail stores, you can still take a thoughtful approach to stocking chemicals. Visit fastener website that Linda mentions here. You can check out all of Linda’s

In January Leslie’s Poolmart purchased independent retailer Aqua Quip. Aqua Quip’s president Brian Quint joins us on the podcast to talk about the acquisition and how they had readied their company so they could pounce on the opportunity. Brian mentions several resources for business owners, which you can find below.

On January 22, the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals and National Swimming Pool Foundation announced (again) that they were going to merge. Today we’re joined by Larry Caniglia, CEO of APSP, to discuss the reasons behind the merge, where they’re at in the process and what the industry can

Part 2 of Jeff’s journey to purchase Spring Dance Hot Tubs. Surprise — the deal actually gets done! But there are a lot of bumps along the way. Thanks for all of your support this year! Let us know what you think about this episode and others by emailing podcast@sparetailer.com.

We finally go in-depth with cohost Jeff about the process he went through to buy his company. Jeff is candid about some of the obstacles he faced, things that went wrong and the costs associated with everything. While each business transaction is unique to the company and people, if you’re

Megan and Jeff meet in Las Vegas at the Pool | Spa | Patio Expo and chat with Troy Derheim. Troy is the owner of My Aquatics Services — a pool construction, service and hot tub retail company — in the Fargo/Moorehead area. But we’re talking to Troy about his

Norm Coburn from New England Spas in the Boston metro has been attending the industry trade shows for 30+ years. In this episode he tells us when he starts planning for the show (six months in advance!), what he tries to accomplish when he’s there and his strategy for shows.

In this episode Megan and Jeff talk to Tom Junck, co-owner of Combined Pool & Spa in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Tom’s store has won the Caldera Dealer of the Year award the last five years. The company also have more than 280 Google Reviews and is rated at 5

You may have already read about Flint Hills Spas in our last issue. But we think this story is so unique that it’s worth returning to. Megan and Jeff discuss the unlikely partnership that has formed between the former and new owner and the confidence and respect it must take.

We’ve revamped The SpaRetailer Podcast! We’ve got a new intro and are welcoming Jeff Bailey to the podcast as our new cohost. Jeff is the owner of Spring Dance Hot Tubs, which has three locations in the Philadelphia metro. In his first episode we talk about how Jeff got into

It’s a buzz word that Linda Cahan has been talking about in SpaRetailer a lot. We talk through what experiential retail is and practical ways it can be applied in your store. After this episode we’ll be taking a summer hiatus — see you in August!    

Longtime columnist Linda Cahan joins us to discuss some of the good and bad things she sees in hot tub retail stores. A few topics we cover: — The decompression area — Clean bathrooms (with changing tables) — Using mannequins (Linda likes mannequinmadness.com) — Lighting — Signage  

Megan talks with My Retail Coach, Danielle Lavallee Wasson, about how you can create the ultimate shopping experience for customers in your hot tub showroom. For 25 years, Danielle has coached hot tub retailers on four continents, helping them grow their retail businesses. We know she’ll provide some valuable insight for your business too.