Leading spa suppliers and water treatment specialists are expressing concern over increased sales of Tri-Chlor tablets, mostly via the Internet, to unwitting hot tub owners who are unaware of the potentially detrimental effect on their hot tubs, especially to heating components.
BISHTA
Brighton may have more than 400 restaurants, but you hardly have to walk 50 yards before bumping into a familiar face from the pool and spa industries during the annual SPATEX exhibition weekend.
Truly, a not-to-be-missed water leisure networking event, the 2013 seaside gathering takes place from Sunday February 3 to Tuesday February 5 at the Hilton Brighton Metropole Exhibition Centre.
Alex Kemsley, managing director of the Waterstream Group, based near Gatwick in West Sussex, is so confident of an Indian Summer, that he is guaranteeing the sunshine for anyone who buys a Ā£6k plus pool or a hot tub from them between now and the official end of British Summer Time – and paying them in hard cash if heās wrong!
An outbreak of Legionnairesā disease, linked to a display hot tub in Stoke-on-Trent, has resulted in 21 cases including two deaths, the Health Protection Agency has confirmed. One of the two victims was named as 64-year-old Richard Griffin, a delivery driver who supplied meats to the JTF Warehouse in Fenton, a discount superstore that is being blamed as the source.
Already weakened by the combined impacts of the economy and the weather, the spa sector is facing its severest challenge yet, warns Stephen Weller, one of the founder members of the UK and European spa trade. āThe spa and swimspa market is saturated with the industry currently out-performing double glazing and time share sellers in questionable sales techniques and dubious claims,ā says Stephen. āThe internet is expensive for legitimate companies while used by the worst rogue traders and this will not change while major consumer shows, in the past enjoyed by many companies, are now a sales monopoly for one supplier,ā Stephen continues.
Back garden hot tubs have been named for the first time among the top 10 causes of āgarden rageā in an annual survey BBCās Gardenersā World magazine.
Iain Crighton, the chairman and owner of Peterborough-based Crightons Hydropool, was honoured with carrying the torch for a leg of the 2012 London Olympics.
In a growing market that has seen some fierce competition in recent years, Spafix is one of the strongest contenders for the title of Europeās biggest spa parts suppliers.
With a turnover topping the Ā£1m mark ā Spafix has more than earned its reputation as a market leader. All the more astounding given that founder, Darren Waters, started the company from a spare bedroom of his Hampshire home just four years ago.
ļ»æKey players in the water leisure sector for more than 35 years, Golden Coast is now leading the way when it comes to the use of online and social media marketing within the industry.
The Hydropool UK team is celebrating record-breaking sales at a mammoth Ideal Home Show, topped off by a royal visit to their
prominent hot tub and swim spa stand by HRH Prince Charles ā who officially opened this yearās event ā officially the UKās number
one consumer show.
Making his second visit to Ideal Home in concurrent years, the Prince of Wales met Hydropool UKās managing director Jonathan
Bunn asking about the business; its products and its history as well as Jonathanās opinion on the economic climate and future
prospects.
