Resilience in business is an essential skill that Northampton-based hot tub dealership Hot Tubs At Home has mastered to a fine art. Specialising in Coast Spas, chemical products and spa accessories and serving Northamptonshire and the surrounding counties, Hot Tubs At Home occupies a large showroom at the Bell Plantation Garden Centre in Towcester.
The family-run company started from humble beginnings nine years ago at a time when the country was facing economic gloom. Co-owner Jennifer Angood explains: “We opened our doors, with just three hot tubs on display at the moment the economy collapsed. Everyone thought we were crazy – our friends and families included! “But we journeyed on and decided it wouldn’t beat us. We kept our stock levels low, our staff levels manageable, our outgoings low and debt even lower.”
After scraping through the last few years of the credit crunch and having overcome several business hurdles along the way, the Hot Tubs At Home team finally came out on top. The showroom now measures 2,500sq ft – five times its original size with 18 hot tubs on display, plus log and thatch cabins, a 14ft swim spa and an exclusive infinity edge swim spa.
“I believe we are different to other companies because of our sincere passion for this industry and doing everything to a standard we would only be happy with ourselves,” says Jennifer. “We have been known to cause ourselves extra work by being so fussy and having such high standards, but we don’t mind. If you’re going to do something – do it right.”
The driving force behind the business is Jennifer’s husband Daren who oversees the day to say running of the company as well as managing the sales team and four fully trained technicians. Earlier this year Hot Tubs At Home picked up three prestigious awards at the Coast Spas International Dealer Seminar in Vancouver, Canada. The company received a Platinum Club Award for its outstanding sales performance, along with an Outstanding Customer Service Award and it was the only company to receive the international Outstanding Growth Award.
Jennifer continues: “Our main goal always has and always will be to provide a high level of customer service whilst helping each individual customer to find their perfect spa. “Our long term goal is to keep our standards up and continue on improving them to reach an even broader audience through word of mouth – after all, that is our best form of advertising.”
