
As a relative newcomer to the UK’s spa and hot tub industry, O C Spas is already making waves. Within its first year of business, the Cornwall-based dealership notched up two industry awards, including the Artesian Spas New Dealer of Excellence Award and a Silver Standard in the Showroom of the Year category at the 2016 UK Pool & Spa Awards.
The company was formed in 2015 by husband and wife team, Jonny and Lucy Bottrell. Jonny had spent 20 years as an electrical engineer within the dairy industry, working with high-tech and high-spec electrical systems. Prior to having children, Lucy was Front of House Manager for Christie’s Auction House, South Kensington. Jonny oversees the all technical aspects of the business, from installations to servicing and repairs and to assisting clients with any water maintenance queries they may have. Lucy’s role within the company is client service; she is responsible for the day to day running of the showroom, and liaising with all clients to ensure they are happy with the products and service.
FUSING SKILLS : “We had a desire to work together and create a family business and wanted to fuse our individual skills together; Jonny being the technical side and me bringing my knowledge of client service within the luxury market,” explains Lucy.She continues: “Our main goal is to provide a fantastic product, backed up with fantastic after-sales service, where nothing is too big or too small for our clients. After that, our goal has always been to try and enhance the image of a hot tub showroom/dealer and to do our best to support the industry.”
Located next to Goonhavern Garden Centre near Truro, O C Spas is an exclusive Artesian Spas dealership, with a selection of hot tubs, swim spas, chemicals and accessories on display in the modern showroom. “Our showroom is the most important aspect of our business as it is unlike any other showroom in the UK – it is luxurious and contemporary,” says Lucy. “We offer all potential clients the opportunity to wet test our showroom spas; we do this after opening hours where they get the showroom all to themselves, and we give them a couple of hours of pure indulgence. We have changing rooms equipped with fluffy towels and O C Spas robes, and a fridge fully stocked with prosecco and handmade chocolates.”

PERSONAL PURCHASE : Lucy adds: “Around 90% of our clients are extremely affluent, who require a more discreet and sophisticated level of shopping. “A hot tub is an extremely personal item, and the relationship they have with their chosen hot tub dealer doesn’t just stop at the point of purchase. It carries over in to their home and with their families.” O C Spas target the upper, luxury end of the market, and so therefore sell predominantly spas in excess of £10,000.
Their bestselling hot tub models are the Antigua 52 and the Nevis 45, both from the Island Spa range. The range offers a selection of hand sculptured, high quality hot tubs, chosen for their hydrotherapy, energy efficiency and water quality enhancing features. The hot tubs also feature Artesian’s patented Helix jet design. Lucy comments: “The Island Spa range is the highest-performing, best looking, premium spas on the market which always perform consistently at the top of its class. “We sell Artesian Spas exclusively, and do not offer any other hot tub brand. We are committed to selling the best and do not want our clients to feel that we have split loyalties to our suppliers.”
VITAL SUPPORT : She adds: “Artesian UK have had the most influence on our business and have given us a huge amount of support. “They are such a fantastic company to work with and have never let us down; they share a similar ethos to us, in providing an excellent product, and giving on-going support, which in turn gives us the confidence to be able to pass that on to our clients.” Looking ahead to the next 12 months, Lucy and Jonny are hoping to build on the success of 2016: “Right now our focus is on doing what we’re doing, and getting that absolutely perfect,” says Lucy. “Last year we exhibited at the Royal Cornwall Show, which was a huge success and we will probably look to do more shows of a similar nature in the future.”