Giles Leisure is one swimming pool company that won’t be in hot water despite the tough economic climate and increasingly erratic winters. Passionate about getting more people to swim and creating a weather-proof extension to the business, Giles Leisure has created a unique Hydrotherapy Centre at its pool shop in Lewes, East Sussex.
Pool & Spa
The draft publication of a combined set of European standards for residential swimming pools is now ready for public consultation. The documents relate to pool construction and installation for in-ground and above ground pools.
With an estimated 972,700 in ground and 633,500 above ground pools, France is one of the world’s biggest private pools markets, second only to the USA. The value of the French pool market is an estimated 1.5 billion euros, more than 70% made up by 930 specialist companies, employing 23,250 workers, with nearly 20% of their turnover based on export. The French Federation of Pool Professionals (FPP) recently presented its seventh annual pool awards, recognising, at the same time, some of the most dynamic pool builders across France.
UK-based Mineral Supplies International (MSi)has confirmed the appointment of Victoria Plompen-Philip as director of European sales with responsibility for Belgium, Holland and Germany. Involved in the European pool industry for 12 years, Victoria has witnessed the growth of MSi brands such as Zeoclere30, Jolly Gel, Clear ‘n Clean in addition to a range of own-label products. “The beauty of products such as Jolly Gel and Zeoclere is that they offer high performing, no problem products so once the customer has bought, they are highly likely to come back for more,”
For the charismatic head of Surrey-based Tanby Pools, Martin Borley, taking on the role of BSPF President, was always a question of destiny.
As pool and spa businesses look to maintain standards but trim overheads, a leading insurance provider is launching a bespoke service tailored specifically to the water leisure sector.
More than ever, traditional pool and spa businesses are questioning the wisdom of maintaining a shop or showroom location. With increased competition from on-line retail sales, for some, the burden of rent, rates, display stock and staffing costs is becoming more and more difficult to justify. But other retailers are turning a negative into a positive by honing in on the Internet as a crucial marketing tool that can drive visitors to their shop sites and vitally, once there, maximising the potential of that visit.
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.
One of the most fired up water leisure teams gearing up for 2013, is the newly formed line up of Interhiva UK. Initially focusing on spas but also steadily building the swimming pool portfolio side of the business, the Interhiva UK team offers a wealth of industry knowledge and experience.
No-one can doubt the way the water leisure industry is changing with more corporate enterprises and more global players. But the backbone of the UK trade business remains husband and wife teams and family businesses that continue to be handed down through the generations. It was back in the famously scorching summer of 1977 that David Adams, the founder of Golden Coast, decided to build a pool for his sons.
