POOL PEOPLE: Graham Mander

pool peopleCutting his teeth shadowing his dad at GVS Swimming Pools, Graham Mander is now a business development manager, a key member of the Pollet Pool Group’s UK sales team.

What was your introduction to the pool trade?
I started to learn my trade in the pool industry as a young boy of about seven or eight years on site passing my dad pipe fittings, cutting the pipe to length, adding DPD 1 and Phenol Red Tablets into the test kit on a Saturday morning.

And next steps?
From there I progressed into the showroom at GVS Swimming Pools Ltd. in 1995 as a Saturday boy at 15 years old giving advice to customers on general pool maintenance and various swimming pool products.

First full time role?
My very privileged apprenticeship, led to a part time role and then a full time position in 2002. Having attended various dealer seminars and working in a very varied role at GVS, from showroom sales to plant room repairs and helping with construction, I have developed a great all round practical knowledge of hot tubs, swimming pool construction, water treatment, trouble shooting, filtration and heating. In 2017 I became a member of ISPE through my experience in the industry.

Tell us about your PPG role?
As Business Development Manager for the North of the UK, my role is still very varied and I am enjoying seeing the industry from ‘the other side of the fence’. I am on hand for product support, quotations, and often just able to offer general advise due to my experience in the industry.

How has that early retail experience helped you?
My background helps me engage with my existing and potential clients. Having a similar background and experience, I can relate to the products and services that they are trying to provide and what they expect from myself and Pollet Pool Group.

What aims to support/work with customers?
My aims are to meet with as many existing clients as I can quickly so that I can start planting roots to a good working relationship that will grow and be trusted. By making sure our customer network is maintained with good products, product knowledge, improved communication and after sales care the business should grow to the mutual benefit of both.

Why should the pool trade be talking with you about PPG?
The PPG team care about supporting the pool builder/retailer. I think we do this really well by offering our own unique PPG branded high quality products. We are all passionate about protecting businesses from online price wars which do not benefit the retailer or pool builder. Combine that with our outstanding products like Bayrol and Dryden Aqua and you see how we offer everything the pool builder could need.