Above ground pools were the come back kids of 2013 as both temperatures and sales soared to levels not seen for almost a decade. With sustained summer sunshine throughout July and August, 2013 turned out to be a vintage year for above ground pools.
Now, with 74% of weather forecasts predicting a record breaking 2014 summer, there is an unprecedented clamour to restock above ground pool shelves. From soft sided inflatable pools, through to steel-framed models, right up to the top end luxury and timber pools, demand is at its highest for many years. “If we experience just a few similar spells of good weather like in 2013 we are anticipating over 20%-30% growth in this category this year,” declares Tom Ellyatt of Wilton Bradley Ltd, distributor of Bestway Pools UK. Norman MacMillan of BTU, distributors of Intex pools agrees: “We hardly need to remind the trade how good the above ground pool market was last season,” he says. “It is not just about the pools themselves but also the complementary add-on product sales such as pumps and covers that we need to be ready for,” stresses Norman.
With new containers now arriving on UK shores, BTU is offering generous margins for bulk, early bird purchases on its Intex range of splasher pools. “Last year we saw that fortune favoured those with healthy stocks of above ground pools so the trade cannot afford to be unprepared this summer,” urges Norman.
FIRST RUNG
BTU is urging the trade to be prepared for this year’s predicted summer sunshine.
Above ground pools offer not just a quick swimming fix to back garden swimming but for many, they are the first rung on the permanent home pool ownership ladder. “The above ground pool market is growing – we’ve seen customers trading up for bigger and deeper pools over the last few years,” says Tom of Bestway that recently launched its Hydrium steel wall pool range, a premium pool that can be left out in the garden all year round.Â
Laghetto is an above ground pool supplier that already has a reputation for offering quality products that scream sophistication and elegance. As the inventors of the above ground pool concept Laghetto has chalked up nearly a quarter of a million sales in more than 100 countries worldwide. Their quality offering includes scope for huge above ground pools boasting dimensions up to 33m x 90m. In 2007, the company launched the highly successful Dolce Vita range of pools. The advanced technology used in its production, combined with classic Italian style has made the Dolce Vita one of Laghetto Pool’s bestselling products. Adaptable and hardwearing, Dolce Vita pools can be installed either in-ground, partially in-ground, or above-ground.
“The latest above ground pools excel in terms of aesthetics and superior quality,” enthuses Andy Gallienne of Laghetto Pools UK. “Today’s most popular products are directed towards luxury, designed with coatings and quality materials such as stone and wood. “Often a luxury above ground pool can be of a superior quality to a low-level in ground pool,” challenges Andy. “The higher standards we are seeing now are down to the attention paid to the advances in design of filtration systems, structure and materials,” he says. Staying with the higher end above ground pool option, Plastica is reporting unprecedented interest in its range of wooden above ground pools.
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Plastica
www.plasticapools.net
Tel. 01424 857857
Doughboy UK
www.doughboyuk.co.uk
Tel. 01273 495971
Laghetto Pools UK
www.laghettopools.com
Tel. 01202 849751
Bestway Pools UK
www.bestwayswimmingpools.co.uk
Tel. 0845 576 6020
BTU
www.btupoolsupplies.com
Tel. 01483 727444
